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Category: Chinese
1132 E Plaza Blvd Ste 205
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Finally a REAL chinese spot. By real I mean it has what makes good chinese food authentic: cheap prices and msg. Usually go to golden chopstick which is less than a block away.
Walking to the building it looked a little ghetto. The windows were covered makinf the restaurant look abandoned. The place is really small and looks more like someones dining room. Service is very chinese, they are all business about getting your order, bring the food, give the check.
BIG fan of the wings here and apparently everyone else is too. Just look around the place and every table has it like its candles setting the ambiance. Very good walnut shrimp and huge portions. Fried rice was perfect and not too oily like some places.
This place is a big deal. On a Wednesday night for the hour we were there, people were picking up huge platters of wings and other food the entire time. Word of mouth really has made this place popular and it deserves it. Finding a place with delicious food and hardy portions at low prices is hard to come by now a days.
SALT N PEPPA CHICKEN WINGS!
The BEST item for Potlucks! Everyone LOVES them! I promise you it's the first dish GONE! Highly recommended calling them in advice and then pick up. Nuff said.
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$29 $56 [ ]
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$66
140 Pieces
I've been going to this place since I was a lil' girl with my family for over 20 years now. We have take-out at least once a week or twice a month. We always order the same things ..
-salt and pepper chicken wings
-mandarin soft noodles
-kung-pao chicken
-egg drop soup
All gooooood stuff!!!
I've been goin to this place since I was a kid...nothing has changed much...i love this place. the msg wings are the best!...I even have friends that come all the way down from Mira Mesa to pickup some of their famous salted pepper chicken wings...
Salted Pepper Chicken Wings
+
Spicy Crispy Beef
+
side of Rice
=
big belly and smiley face :)
Salt.and.Pepper.Chicken.Wings.
That's all I ever get. It's great for potlucks...and its usually everyones favorite dish!
You can clearly see the MSG it's coated in. Yum-o.
Make sure you order ahead, I think you have to go there and pay in advance.
Enjoy! :)
Hands down the best Salted Peppered Chicken Wings in San Diego Area. They are so fricken good. It's one of the things to try in SD.
I've driven over to National City about 5 times now to pick up an order of Salted Peppered Chicken Wings. I usually buy the 60 piece (medium) tray. Runs me $31.85 with tax. These chicken wings have made me a huge hit at parties...lol
Call ahead and place your order. But be warned if Manny Pacquiao is fighting that night the line will be out the door for orders even if you called ahead. I waited over an hour before the Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao fight. People were getting all crazy and the staff was stressed out. I ended up changing my order to Salted Peppered Chicken nuggets just to get out of that zoo. They were good but not as good as the wings.
Their hours are 10am to 10pm
This place brings back so many childhood memories. I remember my family would always eat here after church and I could never wait til we finished so I could play at the Chucc E. Cheese's a few stores down. I feel like I can't give it anything less than 5 stars or else I'd get in trouble or something!
All I have to say is that this place is AWESOME! It usually gets busy around lunch and dinner time, so beware. The decor is very traditional, what you would expect from a Chinese restaurant. The lights were kind of dim, but hey thats way I like it. Sets the mood off right and for some reason always makes me hungry!
The people here are very friendly. They always seem to have a smile on their faces no matter what, even through all the commotion of customers picking up their food on a busy day, especially holidays. For some reason I never find my glass of water empty because someone always comes around and fills it up without asking! Now thats how a real waiter/waitress should do it!
The prices are cheap and you definitely get more than what you pay for. The portions are very hefty and always seem to fill me up right. You can expect to pay at least 7 or 8 bucks for a hearty meal, and you might even have to get a to go box to take home.
Simply put, good ol' fashioned Chinese Restaurant. Friendly service, great prices, clean (don't believe in all that vermin talk. may be true, but they sure have cleaned up their act if you know what i mean), and tasty food! What more can I say?
all i hear is "hi cwissss (chris)"!! my homie cebo is like the zack morris of royals. you gotta let… Read more »
THE SEAFOOD HAPPINESS MAKES ME HAPPY...
Actually I will be honest, the whole menu ROCKS my world! HAHA! My family is always at this place and we use them to cater a lot of our family functions!
We order EVERYTHING from the menu! It's amazing, fresh and very DELICIOUS!!
I remember coming here YEARS ago... did it change that much? Because when I walked in the other day, the place looked more cramped and bland than I remember. But I got over it once I ate the food.
My boyfriend and I came here and ordered the dinner special. For a little under $6, you get quite a bit. They start you off with egg drop soup with those... cracker.. things. Sorry, I don't really know what they're called. But whatever they were, they gave us a huge bowl of them with our small (but still satisfying) bowls of egg drop soup. Then for dinner, you get a few pieces of their salted peppered chicken, a mound of fried rice, and some beef. They were all yummy! I loved it.
I guess I realized that I've eaten Royal Mandarin pretty often due to it being at almost every single birthday party/debut that I've attended. I'm not complaining though - I can never get enough of that chicken.
-looks at a nearby sign on the wall-
"Why do they serve... calamansi juice? That's not Chinese."
..Hm.
5 stars for slammin salt n pepper chicken wings. The brothas who know what's up, come here. Very decently priced and soo goooood! Also available in party trays! I tried other dishes like the honey walnut shrimp and the salt and pepper calamari and they were just 3 out of 5.
I was coming back across the Coronado bridge today and saw the sign for National City. My first thought was to take a detour on my way home and stop for some of those awesome Salt and Pepper Wings!
They are so good and even though I'm not a fan of any kind of wings, I would go out of my way (and do) to have these.
The chicken wings are great esp if the MSG coating doesn't bother you. Other dishes are OK with me as my family owns a Chinese restaurant back home...so it's pretty difficult to compare other Chinese food to ours. The place however needs some serious housekeeping, doesn't really look appealing but I don't think that's affected business much =)
My answer now that Wing Wah of Chula Vista has been gone for a while. This restaurant has it all. It is a great substitute for me, the only thing is that they don't have the Almond Duck like Wing Wah did. BUT, all the food that we've ordered from Royal Mandarin HAVE BEEN GREAT! Wow. . .unbelievably tasty.
The Honey Walnut Shrimp, the other staples like Sweet and Sour Chicken, Pork, Noodles. . .Fried Rice. SOOOO GOOD! Super Fast service. Their cashew chicken is tasty fo' sho! Dark sauce is used, which is my fave. Lots of cashews...yum! The snow pea sauteé is also good! Love them snowpeas, mang! Salt & Pepper tofu is crispy outside, soft inside...niiiiice. Salt and Pepper chicken wings...yeeeeauuuuhhh. Freakin' delicious! Now, another one of this Filipino's favorite...Salt and Pepper Tilapia! A whole tilapia...that's how I get down. Yup.
Dine in or take out, what a great restaurant. Great food, but if you are looking for great personality from everybody...not everyone has. Now, if I can just figure out how much MSG is put on their salt & pepper wings, tofu, or tilapia. Who cares! It's so good!
My friend Eleanor first introduced me and my friend Isabel to this place in 2008 when we decided to sit in to eat. That was the last time I sat in the restaurant. After that, I've had it for take-out whenever I stay in Chula Vista at my friend Izzy's house and her family always orders Royal Mandarin. I've had it take out a few times this year. Each time, I have never been disappointed. The restaurant itself is that large, but the food here is so good and the prices are decent. I absolutely love the peppered chicken wings, chow mein with beef, and the fried rice w/ shrimp. Those three dishes by far are my favorites. If I could, I would go here a lot. However, it is quite a distance from my house in Mira Mesa. But whenever I stay over at Izzy's house, I know I am in luck because they love the food at Royal Mandarin as well! :) I would have to say this food trumps the food at China Chef II in my neighborhood.
Cheap lunch specials with large portions. You may even have to pack your leftovers.
AND THE SALT AND PEPPER CHICKEN!!!
Go! NOW!
They also do party trays.
I think it's on every Filipino family's speed dial.
I've been going here since I was little...and I'm pretty sure the rest of the South Bay can say the same! You can find the salt & pepper chicken wings at any family party, usually paired with the fried rice and Mandarin soft noodles. And am I the only one that knows about the pungent shrimp? Oh man, I could eat the whole box myself if I really tried.
The food here is delicious, but the service here is hit or miss...especially on game days or Pacquiao fights! It gets super busy and disorganized. If you can, try to schedule your parties on a Wednesday to avoid this.
You can't fade their Salted Pepper Chicken Wings. I moved to Murrieta/Temecula and will drive down just to pick some up or if a friend is coming up from San Diego I will ask them to grab some.
Salt and Pepper Wings... that's it.... it's the only thing I've tried, but I'll ive down from Carmel Valley for a special occassion. There's always a line, but it's worth the wait.
I don't know what happened...
One minute I'm excited to eat what I thought was going to be a delicious filling dinner and then it hit me.... This isn't that great.
I don't know if its my tastes buds but the Salt and Pepper chicken did not please me like the good old days. It was really dry and I usually dig the Salt and Peppery skin but I just couldn't eat it. In fact it made me a little sick =/
The Egg Drop soup was okay but not special. There was a lot of egg and little flavor. I bought the biggest cup too and now it's just sitting in my fridge =//
Then I ordered my favorite cream cheese won tons. I've never tried them here and I was told they're pretty good so I was confident that these were going to be the one thing I enjoyed, boy was I wrong. Everyone makes their won tons different and I wasn't ready for theirs. The ones I'm used to look like a flower and are filled with lots and lots of cream cheese. The won tons I had from Royal Mandarin looked like they were carelessly made, had very little cream cheese and were burnt. They looked like squares! Not pretty mouth watering orgasmic creamy cheesy flowery won tons! =///
I wasn't just upset, I was heartbroken. Royal Mandarin and I have had a solid relationship but after last night I don't think we can continue on this journey as a happy couple...
I'm sorry Royal Mandarin, we're going in different directions and I think it's time for me to move on. Don't be sad, you're still worth 3 stars but that's not enough for me to be faithful to you. We'll always have our memories and maybe... Just maybe I'll come back... But only to check on you so don't get your hopes up...
Until then... Goodbye my sweet Royal Mandarin =////
*ring ring*
"Royal Mandarin"
Me: "Yea.. pick up... Salt & pepper chicken... Large egg drop soup..…
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I can't stress enough how good of a chinese place this is=)
-Salt&Pepper Wings
-Shrimp Fried Rice
-Salt&Pepper Fish...IT IS TO DIE FOR!!!!
-Egg Drop Soup
prices are reasonable ,but I'm telling you the food is the BOMB!
This place has fallen off. The food is just not the same anymore. The salt & pepper chicken wings always taste burnt, like they cook them in the morning and then re-fry them when you order it, to re-gain that crispness and heat. Sometimes their fried rice is dry, as if it were leftovers from the day before. One time my bf got the dinner special and it was way too salty. Really, not the same anymore.
If you want good S&P wings go to Mandarin Canton in Chula Vista. I like theirs now.
Now, I've been coming to this place since I was young and I still love to go here. I didnt know… Read more »
I came here last week to pick up some food for my niece's birthday party.
Yeah, never again.
I was told to pick it up at 1pm because that's what they told my brother. I got there at 1. I went in and paid right away. Mind you this was almost $400 in food so I got my ticket and they told me to go to the back so they can load it.
I get back there and wait another 20 minutes. They finally come out with the food. I give them the ticket then they start asking all sorts of questions about what food was ordered, what's the phone number attached to it, the name of the person who ordered it, etc...
I gave them what info I had but that wasn't good enough. I called my brother who got on the phone with them then the worker walked back into the kitchen with my cell phone, not cool.
I was really agitated by that time and even more angry that they took the money then refused to give me the food.
If I knew I had to pass a freaking background check to pick up some food then I wouldn't have agreed to do it.
The food is not that great for that amount of agitation. I will never again go back to this place nor would I recommend it. Well if you want agitation and chest pain then go for it.
Boo on you Royal Mandarin!
The food you eat here probably isn't the healthiest but it's the best chinese food I've ever had! I've been coming here for years and the ladies are so kind. Yeah, I probably don't understand them half the time but they're always smiling. Try the BONELESS salted pepper chicken with the Mandarin Fried Rice and you'll be in heaven.
If you dine in, they fill the plates so it's practically overflowing. You definitely get your money's worth.
I've been going here since I could remember. I crave the salt-pepper chicken wings all the time. Every time I visit San Deegy this has to be the one of the first places I have to go to get food. Ignore the MSG. It's worth it in my opinion.
I have to start by saying that normally I not a huge fan of wings. Wings are seemingly a lot of work for not a whole lot of meat. To me wings are like the red headed step child when compared to pork baby back ribs when it comes to eating meat on bones.
Anyway...
The salt and pepper wings from Royal Mandarin are by far the best damn wings that I have ever had, period, bar none. It was like giving a crack head a big bucket of crack. I just couldn't stop eating them. I actually licked my fingers. Those wings, nice and hot, tender and juicy, perfectly salty... The are quite simply yummy. All things considered I think that I would take the wings over some mediocre sex.
As for the rest.
The rice, the steamed rice and the fried rice, they were just barely okay. I mean it is rice, even I can consistently make good rice. The poor rice showing was the principle reason for four stars in place of five. Bad rice at a Chinese restaurant is like bad pasta at an Italian restaurant... Just doesn't jive.
The won ton soup, it was excellent. I will say, I wish that they gave just a few more wontons, but I say this about every Chinese place.
The cashew chicken (awesome) and the beef dishes that we ordered, well, they were all excellent on their own. They reminded me more of the style of Chinese food that I would get when I lived on the east coast as opposed to the food that one would find in San Francisco. The only problem with the chicken and beef was that there were still a few chicken wing stragglers... Nothing compared to the wings.
I have eaten there and I have gotten take out. Each time that I have gotten take out, the food was ready when they said that it would be ready. Given a choice, I would always eat it there.
Love this Chinese resturant. You have to order Salted Pepper Chicken wings. It's the best! I been eating there for 14 years. My family always order to cater our family functions. They are the best.
Royal Mandarin is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner pickup and you can never go wrong with their infamous salt and pepper chicken wings. For example, today I had a picnic to attend and it was potluck style. I call in for a pick up order, small tray of wings, and it's ready in 10 minutes! It's hot, it's fresh, and you can't help but try out a wing to make sure that it's safe for everyone else =)
Their calamari is good too, very similar to the way the salt and pepper chicken wings are made, breaded and deep fried with speckles of red peppers and some green onions in the mix.
The fried rice and the chow mein is ok, not the greatest but I prefer other places for these. I only pick them up if I have a party to throw. Other than that, I bypass and go for the chicken.
Have their number on your cell phone so you don't have to wait. Their service is good, the people are cool, and the prices are very reasonable.
Love this place, it might be 40mins away from where we live, but it's well worth the drive.
Salt and Pepper Chicken is the best and it comes in BULK! Another of my favorites is the Steamed Tilapia we tried a couple other dishes and thought they were ok.
salted pepper chicken wings..where it's at.
I always end up picking these up for get togethers. friends and fam love it. the salted pepper chicken seems like a staple right along with the lumpia and meat kabobs at my family gatherings..haha.
a tip: make sure you ask for a box to put the oily tray of food on so don't have to line your car with free random newspaper.
Probably my favorite Chinese restaurant in National City. I've been a fan for many years now and surprised many of my friends by bringing them here and making them realise that yes, there is a quality Chinese joint in National City.
If you're a fan of salt and pepper, then you have found your Shangri-La. They even have salt and pepper french fries but Ive never ordered that.
They do have menu items that are familiar to Caucasians that most Chinese will never order, such as egg foo yung, orange chicken, broccoli beef, sweet and sour pork, chicken chow mein etc etc.
Well, neither I or any of my friends have ordered stuff like that, unless we're at an extremely whitewashed place, which is unlikely.
If someone in my group ordered any of the above items I would seriously rip the menu out of his/ her hands and just have them eat what the rest of the party is ordering. Yes, I would do that.
Be a little daring and ask your server for his choices if you dont know what to order. By the way, just because its a Chinese joint doesnt mean that you're obligated to get eggrolls, know what I mean Vern ?
The name of the restaurant itself is pretty generic but at least the food is good. By all means, get the wings.
This is such the neighborhood joint that I once polished my shoes outside while waiting for my salted pepper wings. TruFax!
Although not the ultimate cheapest place to buy greasy americanized chinese food it is by far one of the best places. The fried calamari, chicken wings, and egg drop soup are reasons we go here over many other options but if you order anything else from the menu you will not be disappointed.
Seats are cushy even though they have got to be older than I am. Staff is friendlier than most chinese joints and the lighting is perfectly greasy spoon dim.
PRO TIP: There's one way to improve on their wings and that's SIRACHA!
I'm notoriously picky about restaurant food; rarely get excited about eating; and have never liked chicken wings before...
But Royal Mandarin gets five stars for their salt & pepper chicken wings alone. They are AMAZING.
These crunchy nuggets of golden fried goodness, topped with scallions, are among the most delicious things I have ever tasted. For real. When my co-workers haul in a big pan full of these bad boys, I shamelessly dig in, professional decorum be damned!
I've only dined in once; it was a bit hard to pick out the storefront amidst the strip mall anonymity, but service was good and portions generous. The other dishes we ordered (chicken fried rice, fried calamari and a broccoli dish) didn't measure up to the salt & pepper chicken wings... but I'm not sure anything could!
Can't believe there is only 48 reviews on this place...this place has been here forever...I remember coming here as a kid. Located right there next to the bakery (remember that place as a kid too...always got my bday cakes there) this is the spot for your Chinese food craving.
They have awesome specials...Anything from Kung Pao chicken to the Beep
Brockori...and the prices are perfect!!
My friends and I come here a lot. My best friend is a regular..they know his order before he even orders.
Imagine two hot guys coming in to eat and asking for a table for two and they give them the booth table. If you saw them eating together would you think..aww how cute!?..well the food here is worth that ridicule...and the guys you just imagined was me and my best friend...haha
We aren't down like that...but we are down for Royal Mandarin and the same good food they have been serving for years!!
Faves: number 8 white meat chicken with egg dwop soup..add my crab ragoon for a dolla more and you got yourself a fine tasting meal!!
other notables:
salt and pepper chicken wangs
kung pao chicken
salt and pepper fries(yes they salt and pepper everythang!!)
4 stars only cuz the bathroom isn't the cleanest.
salted pepper chicken wings & fried rice.mmmm :)
always pretty busy.
This is my "GO TO" place for my chicken wing fix... Whenever I have parties, everyone knows we'll a PHAT tray (or two) of these! ALWAYS good!, even at room temp. it's the "crunchiness" of them that makes them soo good!
The Salt and Pepper chicken wing are not the only good thing on the menu. Other yummy dishes are:
- Upside down Crispy noodles
- Chicken Fried rice
- Salt & Pepper calamari
- Buddha veggies
Now, I'm hungry!
Greetings! I absolutely LOVE this place. The food is amazing it's anything but bland. It defiantly has some spice in its mix. The prices are very reasonable - but don't go there expecting fantastic service. We can't have it all people. I typically go with a group of friends and the kiddos, the portions are huge. Let me tell you, since I moved to the Bay Area every time I go down to San Diego I have to eat there. Yum Yum! Muy Delicioso!
My recommendations are:
Salt & Pepper Chicken
Chicken Chowmein
Sweet & Sour Pork
Orange Chicken
Broccoli Beef
This place is simply amazing, as many others have said the salt & pepper chicken wings are addictive to say the least! My friends and I have dubbed it "crack chicken wings" as you can't have one and you're always wanting more of it.
I'm from NYC and started eating at Royal Mandarin in 1998 and every trip to San Diego, I will definitely make my way to Royal Mandarin. In the recent years I've been going to LA instead of SD, but I will still take that 2 hour drive just for the wings, no exceptions, any trip to Cali has to include the wings.
They know me there know by face and know me as the "guy from New York." Each time I usually order 2 XL trays of the wings to fly back to NY, but end up with only 1 tray left, as we'll usually eat them before.
To bad they don't ship as I would definitely pay extra to have them shipped over. Hmmm well if anyone from SD is willing to overnight the wings to me I'll compensate them for their expenses as well as something extra - easy money!
1 tray left in my house, about 150 wings, I don't think it's going to last more than a week.
There' s a place across the street that tried to copy the wings ... but they have come up short! Royal Mandarin's are the best and I'm still in search of something similar here in NY (no luck yet).
This place is awesome for cheap greasy chinese food. REALLY CHEAP! and yummy. I had a problem with the hot and sour soup because it wasn't hot AT ALL. But I have to give it 5 stars because of the price. Me and my husband spent less than 20 bucks on a three course meal and we had soooo much leftovers!! it was great!
I love greasy yuumy noodles...this is the place for me.
CRACK HEADS!!!
I think about their plight at 4 in the morning when they want crack and can't get it. I feel their pain.
It's currently 3:54 in the morning and there's almost nothing I wouldn't do for some Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings. And I mean ANYTHING. Bob Sagat status over here.....
National City, CA
Category: Chinese
Neighborhood: Chula Vista
Category: Chinese
National City, CA
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: South Bay Terraces
Category: Chinese
Neighborhood: Chula Vista
Category: Chinese
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