Honestly, we came here because the Phở Pasteur across the plaza didn’t take cash. The smell of fried chicken in the middle of the parking lot helped to decide the dinner factor. I didn’t know what to expect, I was taken back a little when I saw Xi Bao. It was like a twist in Filipino/Chinese food. I ordered incorrectly and got the garlic chicken bowl when I wanted the drumstick. The menu was clear in pictures, just not the ordering. Haha, or it could’ve been me seeing meals on meals on meals. Or maybe she misheard my order? Either way, I was too tired to let them know it’s not what I ordered. The chicken had a crunch alright. An overcooked chicken crunch that is. It was tough and hard to chew. The rice also had a crunch to it as well. But from having garlic rice cooked by Filipino friends… the crunch in that one was purposely. I feel like an old biddy, I like my rice soft. But the Egg Fried Rice was bland. The Sia Pao was also bland. For Chinese Sausage inside, it didn’t taste like Chinese sausage in there at all. Also, Sia Pao Sauce– yea, it didn’t enhance the flavor. I got the Thai tea and regret getting the pearls. Just order the Thai Tea without pearls.(they were gooey to the slurp) I came closer to closing time, so maybe it was the wrong time to get my chicken and rice. Like they were leftovers and given to me when I ordered it.
Dianne D.
Place rating: 1 Alameda, CA
Food is ok not the best. Bad customer service. Today wanted some tocino, bangus fried egg and rice for dinner. Place was not busy on a wednesday night. My hubby orders and the guy on the register gave him a buzzer. 20 mins later buzzer not shaking and the guys at the register dont even tell customers their food is ready. My hubby comes up and ask for the food the guy doesnt even apologize for the wait and just continue goofing around with the other guy in the register.
Ramil M.
Place rating: 1 Fremont, CA
This is not a good place to eat noodles. I ordered a meaty wonton noodles bowl. The soup base was very, very salty. The picture had both chunks of beef and wonton with white noodles. However the bowl served
G G.
Place rating: 3 Union City, CA
I called in to ask about some items on the menu as I’m not Filipino but I love the food. The lady on the phone was very nice and answered all of my questions. The reason for the 3 stars is that when I sat in my car to take a bite, it was already cold, ice cold and I had just walked out of the store :(it tasted great, would have tasted better hot or even warm.
Lorie N.
Place rating: 1 San Francisco, CA
Came here the other day and the new trainee didn’t give me my change back. Called to informed them about it. Not sure if my message was delivered to the manager. Oh well.
Nate H.
Place rating: 3 San Leandro, CA
Not the best Filipino food but not the worst. The food is always pretty good. It is busy sometimes so you might not get a table. Their milk fish is my favourite.
Victor G.
Place rating: 2 Oakland, CA
Chowking isn’t exactly Filipino fast food. not made from fresh either. most entrees are reheated,/fried/steamed from previously frozen eats sourced from elsewhere. eats: «meaty wonton noodles»(4.49) –4 small wonton with raw cabbage, mushy noodles in msg-loaded broth. –small portions, only cabbage has no msg. take outs: –cheap but small portions, msg loaded eats. –uses electronic buzzer ala habit to notified u when food is ready. still confusion who gets what? –no repeat, msg usuage abundant.
Kristine T.
Place rating: 1 Fremont, CA
Would you want to eat human hair in your food 2 times in a row in one visit after waiting 45 minutes for your food? First time my husband returned the food because it could have been an accident and he accepted it. Second time in same visit now I found hair in my food. That’s just unacceptable. Unsanitary for a food business. I did like their Tocino but human hair is unsanitary twice in one visit. Now I have to drive all the way to another restaurant in Milpitas to get Tocino. At least with the drive it will be hair free.
Kin C.
Place rating: 5 Miami, FL
For what seems like a fast food joint, this place is amazing. I don’t really understand why people are bashing on it. For $ 6, the garlic chicken Lauriat is amazeballs. The portion was enough to get me full, and then some! The garlic chicken was not dry at all. I also tried their beef wonton noodle soup, pretty darn good for its price! As for the drinks, I had the Ube Smoothie with tapioca, which tastes like a sweeter version of Taro, also very good — except I can’t drink the whole thing because I’m so freaking full x_x Also, don’t you dare judge the Lumpia(spring roll looking item) by its size. It’s pretty darn good for such a small thing(in before«that’s what she said») Despite what others say, and as a big foodie who’s eaten coast to coast, country to country — this place deserves at least a total of 4 stars for the type of restaurant it is. The establishment was clean and well kept, as well. Kudos to you Chow King, you get a high five and fist bump from me :)
Franzin C.
Place rating: 1 Campbell, CA
Sigh where has the time gone? This place used to be me childhood go to. The portions and the presentation were amazing before but now it’s just. Pathetic. I ordered the garlic chicken lauriat and my girlfriend ordered a pancit canton. When I received my boxed up disappointment all there was: 2 small lumpia and 2 sesame balls both of which did not do justice. About 10 small cuts of garlic chicken which were unappetizing and tasted like it was fried and left to sit in the window all day until some poor bastard(me) would get it. A scoop of what I guess was fried rice. It appeared as fried rice and some pancit. Both tasted pretty plain and well plain. The meal over all was just sad. As if all the good memories of going to chow king has been shattered. But the service was okay. The gentleman who took my order did his job. But to bring this thing to a conclusion. I must inform yall that the main reason we went here for dindin was because my girlfriend was craving Taho but of course the gentleman upfront told me that no longer served taho. Yes okay. It may not be his fault. I sort of blame their menu that says they offer it but hey. What can they do about it. In all honesty this place may deserve 2-stars and on a good day maybe 3 but I’m only writing this because I’m being salty. Thank you all for reading. Peace):
J N.
Place rating: 3 South San Francisco, CA
Chow King!!! My favorite plce to get my Taho Fix… I would give them 4 Stars even 5 for their Taho and the Soy Chicken, but since they NO Longer have the Soy Chicken, 3 stars will do. Please BRINGBACK the Soy Chicken!
Marco a.
Place rating: 1 Hayward, CA
Chowking reminds me of an ex girlfriend that comes back into your life. First you miss it and want it so bad but every time I come back I realize why it’s not good anymore. Besides the long waits which I don’t know why, probably because it’s inside seafood city, the wait for the food is even longer. Really? If chocking knew that it would be packed all the time you would think they would prep themselves to make the ticket times faster so the food and orders go out faster but no. Also being Filipino, you would think there should be no problem with my order but for one reason or another they always seem to screw up what I wanted to eat with what I don’t want to eat. Lastly I get why people seem to like there food here. It’s because they take so long that by the time the customers receive their food they are sooooooo hungry that at that point anything tastes good. Be my guest, try it out and tell me I’m wrong. I tell myself that every time I come here it’s different but it’s not but hey, they have good sago gulaman. Lol
Drew S.
Place rating: 1 Roseville, CA
This place sucks. Ordered 5 combo breakfast to go and did not include our drinks that we paid for and the coffee is not fresh and it’s awful. Customer service people seems like in a bad mood. Save your hard earn money and eat somewhere else
Emily S.
Place rating: 4 San Francisco Bay Area, CA
I ALWAYS get the Tocino Bangus, buchi, and a halo-halo because I’m a fatty like that. The food never disappoints. The tocino tastes just right, the bangus is marinated perfectly and is delicious and vinegary. Fried rice is on point and the halo-halo with ube ice cream always hits the spot. Breakfast food served all day. Love that! I always find myself eating here after shopping at Seafood City or Valerios.
James G.
Place rating: 2 Foster City, CA
It was a late Saturday night and we had driven what now feels like an obscene amount for Filipino Fried Chicken, with gravy. What we found was a new«Chinese-Style Fried Chicken» and no gravy. What happened to the gravy? No gravy? No stars.
Will F.
Place rating: 3 Fremont, CA
Been there a couple of times, the chicken is good, the taho is ok, place could use some more cleaning crew The breakfast silog is not a as good but given its fast food and the price its ok. Will come back if in the area for a quick fix.
Carlota C.
Place rating: 3 Union City, CA
Their soy chicken, breakfast silog dishes and halo-halo are very good – better than Goodah’s silogs and Goldilock’s or Jollibee’s halo-halo, I think. My daughter particularly likes their lumpiang shanghai and the chow fun. Their signature taho is warm and tasty – perfect during cold or chilly weather.
M. R.
Place rating: 1 Newark, CA
Not a fan of this place. The food isnt that good. The last time I went here, the thai tea/pearls tasted weird and The lumpiang shanghai didnt taste like lumpiang shanghai. Ive had way better filipino food. Also, the bathroom was disgusting. We had came from SFO just to drop someone off. After, we decided to stop by seafood city. I had to use the bathroom SOBAD. I knew chowking had one so I walked in to use the bathroom. I decided not to. There was poo smeared on the toilet seat. No seat covers(but even if there was, I still wouldnt have used the bathroom). Over all, it was just disgusting. Id rather hold my pee for another half hour than use that bathroom.
Vi T.
Place rating: 4 Fremont, CA
4 stars for cheap(and I mean CHEAP) breakfast. I paid 9 bucks and some change for two — COUNT ‘EMTWO — tocilogs with extra eggs. Much larger portions than Jollibee for the same price? You don’t have to tell me twice… I’m going with the King of Chow, hands down(you see what I did there?). So beyond the large portions, the way I judge silogs are simple: good garlic rice, don’t burn my meat, and my food must arrive hot. All three criteria were sufficiently satisfied and so was my belly. As for other items on the menu, it’s been a while since I’ve sampled them, so I couldn’t rightly judge. Just go for breakfast to be on the safe side. Had to dock this place a star because gahdeeeeeng the service is slow. Whatchyall doin back there, growing the rice?
Jem G.
Place rating: 3 Fremont, CA
Pictures are so deceiving. The taste is not that close to the what I could imagine. It’s very bleh. But you know, Filipino love this place. I enjoyed much better the conversation that I heard from the other table. A Nanay interrogating a Pakistani for her daughter’s date. All through the time I sat there, her voice was the only one whom I heard and who did all the talk… very Filipino custom. Now I feel like I just moved back to my country where I grew up. In the meantime, let me enjoy my Taho. The only thing they have that is so appealing and close to what I know what a taho should taste like. It’s a little bite expensive though, 3.82…whatever. Once in a blue moon jumping for my Pjnoy cuisine craving. I gave them three stars for I am nice. The staff are kinda nice too. The place is kinda ‘dugyot’, hehe. But not that sure if I’ll recommend this place even to Filipinos. But I guess they know what they like. Now, I’m outta here.