China Palace Restaurant
| Address: | 7089 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945, USA |
| Phone: | +1 415-892-6563 |
| Site: | chinapalaceonline.com |
| Rating: | 3.8 |
| Working: | 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 4–9:30PM |
Location
Photos 78
Reviews 8
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Misha Metrikin
This place is awesome. I recently started working in Novato and had a craving for Chinese food, done in that Americana - cooked meats and sweet fluorescent colored glaze poured over it, kind-of-way. I came in, and was instantly seated and served tea upon my request. The waiter asked if it was OK to withhold water and I said "yes." Extra points for being considerate to limiting water waste in California China Palace - good job! I ended up sitting an extra-ten minutes after I had decided on my order, but this is so common in Chinese restaurants that I expected it. After placing my order the first item arrived fairly quickly. It was a bowl of hot and sour soup and it was some of the best that I have ever had. The pieces of tofu were the right firmness, the broth had a nice thickness and the spice lingered just so at the end of every bite. One of my favorite dishes done so incredibly well. They also included a free spring roll, which came hot and was beautifully golden and crunchy. When I bit into the spring roll the outside shell crunched perfectly and the vegetables inside were just that right little bit of firm meets soft to make every bite taste fresh and crunchy. Next my lunch course of lemon chicken with rice arrived. Having eaten at Chinese places for year of my life, I had gotten used to "Lemon Chicken" being, little pieces of chicken fried however, and drowned in a gelatinous sauce that tasted like lemons about as much as 7-up tasted like fresh limes, meaning, not much. What came out of the kitchen for me was entirely different than what I expected! The chicken was laid out flat and cut into nice thick strips of golden brown fried deliciousness, and the white meat exposed on the edges of each cut was juicy and tender, and had a smell of FRESH cooked chicken. Fresh! can you believe that!? These guys serve fresh food. That is why the soup and spring-rolls were so great, and why the chicken was drizzled lightly in a yellow sauce that had a taste of real lemon to it, instead of drowned in lemon-jello like most places would do. I have not eaten lemon chicken like this since over 10 years ago when dining at a newly opened high-end restaurant in my hometown. After thinking all Chinese food was like this, I was disappointed to see that restaurant change into a place that no longer made dishes as fresh and beautiful as the ones I was served at the China Palace. It is difficult, and sometimes not financially rewarding to cook inexpensive Chinese dishes with fresh ingredients, but these guys do it! Finally I asked for a to-go order of Wor Won Ton Soup, and paid my check (under $20!) with a full stomach. Even the fortune cookie somehow tasted fresher than most fortune cookies Ive eaten! Later in the day I opened the bag of Won Ton Soup to find it was incredibly delicious with the dumpling flavors subtlety infused in the clean and clear fresh tasting chicken broth, after taking a few bites I went to my pantry to find a little soy sauce, as all Won Ton soup is made amazing with some soy sauce. Sadly after a moment of rummaging I found only an empty bottle. Somewhat dejected I went to recycle the brown paper bad from the China Palace and lo-and-behold, two items fell out of the bag. One was a packet of Soy Sauce, and the other.....a second after-dinner fortune cookie. Classy move China Palace! It was a nice surprise. Oh, and, this place is a beautiful restaurant with an attractive website for you to check out. Overall, it really is a place that deserves your patronage. It is run by people who put care and attention into making fresh Chinese food and taking care of their customers by anticipating their needs and making them happy and full. Beat that Panda Express!
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A Private User
If you love authentic Chinese food, this place is the best. This is the only place worth going to in Marin and compares favorably to the best Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, the Richmond, or the Sunset. Our favorite is the Westlake soup, scallion fish, and salt and pepper pork chops, but we have tried many other dishes and have been very pleased. Good portions too. Another benefit is that it is clean, clean, clean unlike the aformentioned SF restaurants. Service could be better, but its not too bad. Sometimes I want to give the owners a lesson on customer service, but not sure how that would go over. Im actually headed there now to pick up my favorite meal.
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A Private User
Unfortunately, there is no good chinese restaurant in Novato, and this one is no exception. It depends on whos cooking that day whether you good okay food, but its never great like some other restaurants with much lower prices. And, yes, their prices are extremely high for the quality they serve. And did I mention that the two owners (brother and sister) have to be the snootiest people Ive ever met, which is another reason I dont patronize this restaurant any longer. Food is fair, prices are way too high, and non of the staff are friendly.... unless, of course, youre an asian customer.
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A Private User
So Ive visited here twice. The first time was disappointing. Very bland food, slow service. However, despite this, I decided to give it a second chance, but despite a booking I waited over 15 minutes to be seated, another 15 minutes to order, and then 30 minutes longer without any sign of food, we left. This restaurant tries to pitch itself as an upmarket Chinese, but fails terribly. It clearly needs stronger management, and needs to add some excitement to the menu. However, I for one will not be giving it another chance.
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Amalia Camara
Having dinner with my friend we(I decided to go there craving it) we got there they sit us down very quick gave us the menus not even 10 seconds later they were asking if we were ready to order we told them NO first ever seconds later same question pretty annoying we order they brought us our SOUP which for my taste was colder than my water five seconds later brought us our main dish Wich were ok! We havent even touch our food cuz we were fish with the soup and ask us if we wanted boxes to go
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WebMarketing Pro
Well I tried to experience the China Palace but never got past the attempt to order food to go. The person that answered the phone was extremely gruff, couldnt answer my question about the won ton soup (specifically how many people it served; they have 3 sizes so that seems like a fair question to ask) and then he said in an aggressive tone "call me later, ok?" and hung up on me! Im entirely certain that I wont be calling him later - no food is worth that kind of treatment. Skip it.
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Tim Snead
The food is average - but as good as any of the other Chinese options in Novato. They do have a couple interesting dishes on the menu that you wont find everywhere. The place seems fairly clean on a regular basis and you get seated promptly. This seems to be one of the few places that I can get in and out for lunch in a timely manner. If you want some decent chinese during your lunch break - head here. Its reasonable, prompt, clean(er), and decent food.
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Myong Oh
worst experience ever in restaurant, was there about year ago and told myself never go back, but my friends wanted to go, and there is one water with shaved head both side, same person i experienced year ago, how he serve customer, i felt get up punch him, NEVER GO AGAIN ( the way he talk and act totally out of line) maybe he is related to business owner.
