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Abacus Inn Chinese Restaurant-Arrowhead
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
33 reviews for Abacus Inn Chinese Restaurant-Arrowhead
33 reviews in English
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Review from Stella C.
Peoria, AZ
5/21/2012
I have been coming to this location about 4 or so odd years and I have been very happy with them. If you want a cheap lunch with large portions, you have come to the right place. When you first enter a friendly server will seat you and then leave you with two menus. Then the server will quickly return with a hot steaming pot of tea, glasses of water, and then ask if you are ready. If not then they will return in a few minutes. I must say that I have never had more attentive servers than I had have here, and even better they are quick. That includes take out as well.
Here is a break down of pros and cons.
Pros:
-The lunch prices are amazing. You get so much food for what you are paying.
-Their hot and sour soup is absolutely divine.
-The tea tastes very good and the type they chose acts like a pallet cleanser.
-The food is very good quality. The rice is cooked in a traditional Chinese way, their meat is tender, and chowmein is never over cooked.
Cons:
-Dinner can get a bit expensive so I suggest you eat lunch here.
-The chicken was diced way too big and tended to be overwhelming, but when I returned I saw that they fixed that.
I have only been disappointed once because the food wasn't cooked very well, but they jumped right on it to straighten it out. I had a problem, they understood the problem, and then took care of the problem. I appreciated their understanding and commitment to their customers. If you are in the area, check them out because their lunch prices are worth the visit! -
Review from Nick R.
2/28/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken.
Got it?
Ok. I'll let you order an eggroll too. Their orange chicken is seriously good. -
Review from Eric C.
Sun City, AZ
2/23/2012
Abacus is the best! They have the best hot and sour soup I've ever tasted. Eggrolls are awesome too. I've tried many things on the menu and have never been disapointed.
I can't comment on the table service because I always get take-out but the cashier has always been very nice.
Be sure to ask for thier special mustard, it's awesome too. -
Review from Shannon K.
Glendale, AZ
5/11/2012
This place is GREAT!!! My husband and I have been taking out from here for a couple years now, everytime the service gets better! The girls at the front are sooooo polite and meet your needs! The food is the best and plenty for days of left overs! Love our ABACUS INN NIGHTS!!!
GO CHECK THEM OUT 5 STARS!!!!! -
Review from Julie S.
Phoenix, AZ
4/28/2012
If I could give it a negative star I would! Fried wontons stale & awful, Kung Pao chicken was so dry it was not worth eating, sun devil pork was stringy & filled with gristle! Awful! We didn't even eat any, told the waitress how awful it was & she did nothing. Had coupon for free dinner b1g1 & they refused to take it! Do yourself a favor don't go!
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Review from Viet D.
Glendale, AZ
1/25/2012
Take-out order review.
Overall the food was decently good, better than Pei-Wei, Panda Express, and those chain restaurants. Quick service, friendly.
Hot and Sour soup was too watery and too sweet and not enough sour.
Steam rice was cook correctly, not dry from sitting around too long.
Mongolian beef was good. Meat was tender and not overcooked.
Cashew chicken was excellent, vegetables not overooked and limp but firm and crispy.
Teriyaki chicken was also good, lots of meat, chicken tender, not too much sugary flavor.
Plenty of food for the price.
My biggest complaint would be not enough spices, chili pepper, or heat in general. Need to kick it up a notch.
Would eat here again but ask for more chili. -
Review from Bill F.
Centennial, CO
12/27/2011 1 photo
Abacus, used to add subtract, multiple and divide. In this case, it's subtraction. The food was very bland, we ordered take out. Should be trash out. We've eaten a lot of Chinese takeout over the years. This is a place we won't order from again when in Glendale area. My wife thought it was horrible.
Food we ordered: pupu platter for 2, hot & sour soup, House special chow mein, moo shu pork, orange beef (requested not spicy) total with tax $49 + change.
pupu platter: poop poop - egg rolls tasteless, bbq pork overcooked, flavorless chicken wings and drumettes, fried shrimp (neutral) crab puffs, (deflating)
Hot & Sour soup (afraid to try it for now, will prep myself to try it later)
House special chow mein, definitely not special, flavorless, and if you like thin tasteless linguine like noodles with a hint of diluted brown color sauce as flavoring, then you might like it.
Moo Shu Pork, sorry, should call it shoo shoo pork. go away go away.
Orange beef: not use to having orange beef that is breaded battered fried. In my book, placing an orange slice garnish on the food doesn't make it orange beef. Call it a day and call it a lemon. Let's hope my wife and I find a better place. We ordered from this place, based on Yelp reviews, proximity of where we're staying and didn't have a car to get around.
This take out food reminds me of Chinese food from the 1950's and 60s. My wife said you can't even call it Americanized, it's worse than that!! -
Review from Wendy H.
Martinez, CA
4/10/2012
We just moved to phoenix from the bay area of ca where we have been eating great authenic chinese food from a great mom and pop chinese place for the last 5 years. We've been searching high and low for good chinese since we moved here, we were really hoping this was it as it delivers! The girl on the phone was very nice portions were large, delivery guy was nice and prompt but thats the best I've got to say. We didn't enjoy the food. It was not the authenic food we were hoping for, no where close to what we are used to in san fran. The food was over salted, over sauced, and all fried. It just didn't have much flavor. The sweet and sour chicken was filled with canned pinapple?!The search continues, this place is not the answer to great chinese food here.
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Review from Stephanie B.
Gilbert, AZ
2/13/2012 7 photos
Great egg drop soup. Kung pao chicken - meh. Beef broccoli - yum.
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Review from Ross L.
Glendale, AZ
11/21/2011
LOVE this place. The sweet & sour pork wasn't phenomenal, but the orange chicken was. The sauce they used was a perfect combination of citrus mixed with a sort of teriyaki spice. Also, their servings were huge in comparison to any other Chinese restaurant I've ever ordered from. They stuffed mounds of food into plastic containers that dwarf the traditional midget-sized white take-out boxes.
I ordered delivery about 10 minutes before they closed and they were happy to oblige. Not only did they still take my order happily, but they had the food delivered less than 20 minutes after I placed my order.
I will certainly be eating here again; I recommend you do the same. -
Review from Sarah K.
Phoenix, AZ
4/19/2010
Let me preface this by saying that I am not a Chinese food connoisseur. But I do love to have lunch over here whenever I'm on this side of town.
If you're looking for some gong bang for your buck, you've found it. The lunch servings are generous, and the prices are low. All lunch items come with these yummy fried won ton crunchy things, a cup of soup, fried rice, an egg roll, and of course, whatever you ordered. All meals - lunch and dinner- also come with hot tea.
I've been for both lunch and dinner, but I really recommend going for lunch if you're in the area, because it's just a great deal. And the selection is pretty wide, as well as vegetarian friendly.
My favorite thing here is their hot and sour soup. I had honestly never eaten soup at a Chinese food restaurant before Abacus, because they always grossed me out. But I love their hot and sour soup. It has just the right amount of hot and the perfect amount of sour. This soup even inspired me to try making it myself at home because I started craving it, but I live so far away.
Oh yeah, every meal also comes with free dessert: a fortune cookie My last one said that I would start writing some great reviews. But I don't think you're really supposed to add "in bed" to the end of that one. -
Review from Matt N.
Bayside, CA
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
This Chinese food is the best I have had so far and I have tried many Chinese places the service is amazing as well their half size soup is the standard large in most Chinese restaurants the only thing I don't like is you have to add white pepper salt and chile oil to make the hot and sour soup spicy I ordered the general tso chicken and they where able to do it non battered which is a plus for me because I have the gastric bypass can't have alot of deep fry all waiters waitresses and bussers have a smile this is something I see no where anymore amazing serving sizes perfect for price very genorous
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Review from Christine T.
Chicago, IL
1/27/2010
.......Where are the chopsticks?
A Chinese restaurant is clearly not Chinese when there are no chopsticks on the place setting! Tea was lukewarm upon arrival, tasted unauthentic, with the help of any ambiguous American tea bag. The hot and sour soup had peas...peas! Side of rice was stiff and tasted as if it had been in the cooker all day. Had the stir fry vegetable dish that consisted of broccoli, snow peas and mushrooms overly cooked to mush; where was my bok choy or kai lan or any type of actual authentic Chinese vegetables?!
One thing I do give them credit for: service was clean, fast, and efficient.
Other than that, your money's better off at Panda Express right down the street. Same quality of food, and at least there you won't have to pay for tip! -
Review from Sean L.
Peoria, AZ
8/27/2011
We Order takeout here quite a bit and the food is fantastic. The food always taste fresh, I suggest the mongolian beef and the cashew chicken. The special chicken is great too if you like your fried foods. the only downside I have ever had is it took an hour and a half for delivery one time and I was pretty upset but the food makes up for it
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Review from Christopher S.
Phoenix, AZ
8/19/2008
Here we go everyone heres the newest thing to hit your face, play by play detailed scoring information all you yelpers need to know.
Abacus Inn is on the north east side of 59th ave and the 101. Which makes the drive super easy. great freeway location (+.5)
- "As you walk through the door in which is enclosed with bamboo your greeted by this cute hostess (+.5).
You then proceed to order right when you walked in, because there was no wait. (+1)
On the hostess' stand you grab the easy access, bland takeout menu xerox, skimming each item with the tips of your fingers. Atlast! Your eyes zoom in like eagle eyes onto the item named "orange peel chicken" (+.5).
Your orders in. 10 minutes later its ready. You walk in and the hostess remembers your name (+.5)
She hands you the bag. Done and done.
Already at home through the magic of story telling You are now sitting at your table, chop sticks in hand you begin to dig in. You then decide orange peel chicken is really tasty (+1).
Your dog buddy stares up at you with those damn eyes which is obviously are saying "I know orange peel chicken is tasty too, let me have some toooo!" -
Review from Josie G.
Phoenix, AZ
1/26/2010
I'm of Asian descent born in the states and I am pretty familiar with my Chinese food. Parents were visiting from the Bay Area and we had already visited the Chinese Cultural center, so I thought we could hang closer to home.
Very cute and clean restaurant. Plate full of fried wonton skins as well as a pourable container of sweet & sour sauce were awaiting at every table. Which made me skeptical as to how long it had been sitting there. Decent prices. Service was fast and friendly.
My parents had the egg drop soup to start. They said the soup was not bad as it had pieces of chicken and water chestnut throughout. Good start. My mother had the teriyaki chicken and my father and I had the shrimp in lobster sauce. Large portions and wafting aromas were very promising.
I was so hoping that this place would have good Chinese food. It is freeway close, not too many miles from home. Alas, we were very disappointed in the meals. The teriyaki chicken (bummed also that it did not come with any veggies) over rice was drowned in a heavily salted and sugared teri sauce. There was not one iota of white left in the rice. She had 3 pieces and stopped. Granted the chicken was not over done and it was all breast meat. The shrimp with lobster sauce, also drowned, but in a heavily salted lobster sauce. Lots of shrimp, but not very edible on our taste scales. -
Review from Lance H.
Glendale, AZ
5/6/2010
I read the less than stellar reviews on here and decided to try it anyway. The restaurant is located next to Albertson's on 59th Ave, just north of the 101. It's a smaller restaurant, probably 10 tables and 10 booths. We were greeted promptly by the hostess and given the choice of a booth or a table... we took the booth (of course). Tea was served promptly. The menu tells a little back story of the restaurant and how it was voted best Chinese food in Phoenix in 1999 by the Arizona Republic.
The menu has all the usual suspects for a Chinese restaurant, and a couple of newcomers. I decided to branch out and get the Sun Devil Chicken (ASU Baby!). It's white chicken (all their chicken dishes are) with a creamy garlic/jalapeno sauce and with fresh sliced jalapenos mixed in. She got orange peel chicken. We decided to share an appetizer of crab puffs.
I barely got through one cup of tea by the time they arrived. They were hot, fresh and were huge! 8 of them came in an order, along with hot mustard and sweet and sour sauce. Normally judge a Chinese restaurant by the quality of their crab puffs. Abacus may have the best I've ever had.
Soon after the entrees arrived. Both were HUGE and had a complete bowl of rice. I tried both dishes, both were good... I won't go into the "It was so savory with a hint of spice" crap that everyone on here thinks they are giving an audition for Iron Chef. We ended up taking about half of each home and will be going again without question.
Price was decent. Both dishes were $8.25 and the crab puffs were $5.50. The check came with 2 fortune cookies. Mine said "You will soon be surrounded by luxury"... her's said... well, we'll never know... because she ended up eating the fortune. Which prompts, thing's you are very unlikely to hear at a Chinese restaurant.... "Did I just eat my fortune?"
They have lunch specials and also deliver between:
35th Ave & 83rd Ave
Bell Rd & Jomax Rd. -
Review from Maanya R.
Glendale, AZ
12/28/2010
Today I was in the mood for Chinese and we had a coupon for this place, so off we went.
The restaurant ambiance was nice and cozy and the food came super quick. I ordered a shrimp foo yung based on a Yelp review. The quantity shocked me, it was so large! Taste wise, it was alright. Too much of fried stuff in it kind of turned me off.
I also ordered the veggie Chowmein which was nice. My husband ordered the Sun Devil Pork (garlic and jalapeno sauce) which he thought was alright.
Maybe we need to go back and order something else next time that will be nicer. All in all, the variety is great, service is excellent and its well priced too. -
Review from Albert H.
Scottsdale, AZ
5/7/2009
Don't be turned off by the strip mall location. This place is cute on the inside, clean, and has above average food. Prices are reasonable and portions are healthy. Veggie fried rice to go is only $5 and easily feeds two healthy adults.
Service is fairly reliable and not a lot of kids here because it is a narrow dining area (if there are noisy kids, the whole restaurant will hear it). -
Review from Jeff M.
Peoria, AZ
3/20/2009
Not the first time I have been here and won't be the last. Good Chinese food at a good price. The egg flower soup had a generous portion of chicken in it, making it very much like another order of food and not just an appetizer.
The sun kept shining through the window as we at near sunset, so that was the only detractor of the decor.
In addition to the soup we had the sweet and sour pork, beef broccoli, and teriyaki chicken (mostly 'cause our kids are picky.) All were good. -
Review from Brooke K.
Glendale, AZ
5/11/2011
I love their Hot and Sour Soup..but order a half size or you will have left overs for a month. Their Mongolian Beef is really good as well.
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Review from Moses Z.
Glendale, AZ
5/17/2010
This is a nice, clean, and small place. The service is prompt and friendly. The food is good. Ive come here more than a couple of times.
The only reason I gave this place a 3 star review and not a 4 or 5 is because Ive been getting sick. Ive noticed that the last 2 times I got sick I had Abacus Inn prior to getting sick. It doesn't happen every time but I think I've narrowed it down to the egg rolls. Every time I get the egg rolls I get sick.
I will be returning. The food is good. I will just try and stay away from the egg rolls. -
Review from Paul B.
Glendale, AZ
5/9/2011
The BEST Hot-N-Sour Soup anywhere. Lunch specials are great and very reasonably priced.
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Review from Sully B.
Saratoga, CA
1/3/2011
Big portions, but it is a bit expensive. The delivery guy showed up an hour after I ordered. The shrimp fried rice so far after going through almost half of it had only ONE SHRIMP lol. I recommend avoiding this place if you can, but for chinese place that delivers, you can do worse.
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Review from Brian A.
Peoria, AZ
7/4/2011
We have tried every Chinese food restaurant in the Northwest Valley...for the last 10 years, this is by far our favorite. We especially like the value of the lunch specials.
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Review from Rob L.
Peoria, AZ
2/11/2011
They use good quality ingredients and the food is good. I love thier chef's special salad (cabbage and chicken).
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Review from Jeff L.
New River, AZ
8/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
Ordered "Inn" last night. Pun intended.
Orange Chicken, Pu Pu Platter and House Chow Mein (I freeze most of it so I can have dinner when needed.)
Everything was perfect!
Orange Chicken was not a thick breading like most other places. It was very thin and flavorful.
Everything in the platter was not overcooked.
Chow mein...no clue. Froze it.
Will be my number one Chinese delivery...as long as they keep up the good product. -
Review from GLORIA H.
Glendale, AZ
3/19/2009
For Chinese food, THIS PLACE IS THE BOMB! It's not a fast food greasy take out joint!!! This is a little cozy spot, very low key but Oh man let me tell you the food is great! My kids get the beef broccoli and usually I'll get the sun devil chicken or the orange chicken with steamed rice, It's not over breaded and the meat is all white no skin! Soooooooooooooo yummy! Prices are super good too, very inexpensive meal! I promise! Abacus you rock!
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Review from Joey S.
Phoenix, AZ
7/29/2010
Wife and daughter ate here and got food poisoning. They had the shrimp lo mein. Beware!
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Review from Lucy S.
Santa Barbara, CA
9/17/2010
Not the best... or even average. I ordered take out from here, and just finished eating right now. I got the crab puffs which had been highly reviewed from a fellow yelper. I was very disappointed, yes they were large. but not filled with crab or anything tastey...just filled with cold cream cheese.
my entree much in the same. it was cheap chicken that was oversalted. i think that the chef must be a smoker because he obviously cannot taste the salt content in his food.
The place was pretty full, so i'm guessing some of their dishes must be alright or people wouldn't eat there. I dont think ill be going back anytime soon, or ever at all.
Next time ill just go to Panda Express across the street. its alot cheaper. -
Review from Tara M.
Phoenix, AZ
2/7/2010
The Abacus Inn was very clean and the customer service was excellent. On the other hand the food was terrible it tasted as if it came from the freezer or out of a package. I have had better chinese food from the grocery store. The tea had to be Lipton and lacked all the flavor normal tea has in Chinese restaurants.
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Review from Lora F.
Glendale, AZ
6/4/2010
Good chinese for a chain. Always consistent. Hot and sour soup os my fav. Actually has a bit pf spice.
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Review from John L.
Roseville, CA
12/14/2009
For the most part, Abacus Inn is a clean and reliable choice for Chinese. The prices are reasonable, about like you would expect, in the 7.5 to 11 range for most dishes. Some of the chicken dishes are a little dry, but I really enjoy the beef with snow peas and chow main.
