Chins Gourmet - El Cajon
Chins Gourmet - El Cajon
Cream cheese wontons
Filet Mignon with black pepper sauce
The unassuming entrance
The ambience
1265 Avocado Ave El Cajon, Ca
a menu for a restaurant
a restaurant menu
The ambience
Chins Chinese
a menu for a chinese restaurant
619-938-4041
Open 11 to 9 every single day. Chins Chinese.
Shanghai Steam Dumplings Honey Walnut Shrimp Pao Hu
Chins interior with diners. Cozy!
9. Shrimp with Honey Walnut
food
Waiting area 7-2024
27. Crispy Cream Cheese Wontons
food
12. Three Ingredient Taste
soup, chowder, food, soups and chowder
Tina D.
Jun 17, 2024
I caught a cold and decided to try out the "new" Chin's in El Cajon to get some soup.Was pleasantly surprised how elegant the place looked. Seemed a carry over from their La Mesa days. Teak chairs, table cloths, Chinese decor.They had a lunch menu but I got the wonton soup and green jasmine tea. Large bowl of soup, full of wontons, veggies, beef, chicken and shrimp.Service was fast and polite.I'll return again when I'm feeling better and try out some other menu items.
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Pat F.
May 24, 2024
We were really looking forward to trying this spot after seeing all the positive reviews. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite the dinner experience we had hoped for. There were some things we did want to praise & highlight as not all were negative.First of all, it was our first time visiting so we weren't familiar with their menu, but had been asked 3 times in a span of what felt like 4 minutes whether we were ready to order. We didn't feel the need to be rushed as their dining room was only 40-50% occupied at the time we were seated. We ordered the following dishes to share "family style" amongst the four of us (I've rated them on a scale of 1-5 stars): Egg Flower Soup w/ Vegetables (3)Crispy Cream Cheese Wontons (3)Shanghai Steamed Dumplings (5)Tangerine Chicken (5)Filet Mignon w/ Chef Sauce (2)Pan Fried Crispy Noodles (2)Taiwanese Sausage Fried Rice (2)Hot Tea (5)We tried ordering their Mushrooms in a Spicy Honey Sauce vegetable dish, but they were out of it. We obviously liked their Shanghai Steamed Dumplings appetizer and Tangerine Chicken entree the most. The soup & wontons were neither great nor bad. The Filet Mignon was tender but cooked well-done, and may have been much more tender if cooked medium. The Pan Fried Crispy Noodles didn't have much beef & chicken compared to the vegetables. Their Taiwanese Sausage Fried Rice lacked any flavor at all and looked like regular non-fried rice with eggs & bits of Chinese sausage mixed in. One thing that was a little bit of a let down was we were not given any crispy noodles with our soup. We thought the restaurant didn't have any, but saw the crispy noodles on an adjacent table when we were almost done with the meal. Also, we weren't offered house fried rice to accompany our entrees ordered and were just given steamed white rice. Again, I guess we should have inquired but since they didn't offer it, assumed they didn't have any. If their menu had indicated they had fried rice, i probably overlooked that being asked if we're ready to order 3 times in 4 minutes after being seated. On a positive note, their dining room area was very nice, clean, and tables were spaced well apart. Their restrooms were not the cleanest we've seen, but they also weren't the dirtiest. Service was good, other than appearing somewhat rushed at the beginning. Thankfully, this restaurant accepts AMEX for payment. We live over 20 minutes away, so I doubt we'll return since there are other Chinese restaurants as good as Chin's Gourmet or better.
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Dick W.
Apr 26, 2024
The food was great and abundant. The setting is very upscale and the help was very friendly. I highly recommend it. We ha also enjoyed the restaurant that was in this location too many years ago
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John K.
May 16, 2024
Went to Chins last night for dinner. Food was great again. The service was brilliant and better than last time if that is possible. The employees are wonderful, friendly and accommodating. Chins is a typical Chinese ambiance decorated and very clean and welcoming. We had the sizzling rice soup and omg is gets better each time. Try Chins and you will love it and go back again and again as we do.
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Mark C.
Feb 14, 2024
Ahoy there, Captain 619 reporting in! I'm reluctant to pen down these words, as I believe this place is going to be a hit with more folks. I'm thrilled to present my fellow yelpers with an extraordinary review of a hidden gem nestled in the heart of El Cajon. If Valentine's Day is all about love, then we've discovered the perfect spot. The atmosphere was simply enchanting, and surprisingly, there wasn't a soul in sight... yet. We arrived between lunch and dinner, and boy, did we stumble upon a true hidden treasure. Finding this place felt like winning the lottery - it was that good!Now, let's dive into an honest appraisal. I've traversed the globe, dining at countless establishments from Hong Kong to Tokyo, Singapore to Malaysia, Philippines to Thailand, and all across Dubai, Europe, and the Americas. But let me tell you, this place takes the cake. It was absolutely mind-blowing. The ambiance was spot on. Allow me to walk you through it, starting from the moment you set foot on the street. Tucked away in a small mall at the intersection of Avocado and Chase, the location is unassuming at best. There used to be a sign on the side of the building that said "Chin's coming soon," and like a line from a horror movie poltergeist, " they're here"... and we'll be haunting them as long as they stay open. And trust me, I believe they'll be around for many moons to come.Our server, particularly Queenie, was beyond lovely. They catered to our every need, a rare sight in many restaurants nowadays. And then, the owner himself, Mr. Chin, came out. He was a breath of fresh air. In fact, he even treated us to a sample of his proudest creation - his signature black pepper chicken. Not only does Chins Gourmet serve exceptional food, but they also know how to feed the heart. It's a place where comfort food awaits to make your taste buds sing with joy.Now, let's delve into the culinary delights we devoured. The sweet and sour chicken was simply divine, perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. We also indulged in the sweet and sour pork, fried rice, pan-fried noodles, and one of their renowned soups - an egg drop soup with corn that was pure bliss.This place deserves a solid five-star rating for its exceptional food, flavorful dishes, inviting ambiance, and top-notch service. If you ever find yourself in El Cajon, Chins Gourmet isn't just a restaurant you visit. It's a place you can call home, where comfort food awaits to make your taste buds sing with joy. Bon appétit!
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Patricia G.
Apr 21, 2024
Delicious Chinese food, well prepared and the service is great. Lovely decor and soft music plays in the background, not blasting as so many places too.
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Katie G.
Nov 28, 2023
This is a hands down a 5 star restaurant and definitely the nicest Chinese restaurant dining room in East County. This restaurant is really lovely. The service is also outstanding. The staff make you feel welcomed and you're taken cate of . Now lets talk about the food . It is delicious! Their menu is unique . They have dishes you probably haven't seen at other local Chinese restaurants. Its really fun to try new dishes . They also have the typical Chinese classic dishes to choose from. Im so excited about Chins .
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Jose N.
Nov 21, 2023
Heck yeah! Chin's is finally open in El Cajon! Outside it looks like any other spot in a mini mall. But the inside has that cozy family owned Chinese vibe to it.Service was fast and friendly! Got our appetizers pretty fast. Chrispy Cheese Wontons and Pot Stickers, came w a garlic sauce, chili sauce and a sweet & sour/ mustard plate. That mustard will def clear your sinuses.The Three ingredient dish was a yummy mix of beef, chicken and shrimp w veggies in a brown sauce.The big hit was the tangerine chicken which tastes better than orange chicken. It came with steamed white rice, fried rice is an up charge so we stuck with the white rice! Def will be back!
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Gale R.
Mar 27, 2024
In addition to the menu items that I tried previously, we ordered stuff pork dumplings, and they were delicious.We also tried the three flavor kung pow . It had a good amount of spice and good flavor.The beef with broccoli was also delicious .The Peking duck with pancakes was well prepared with crunchy skin, classic plum sauce, and fluffy fresh pancakes. We also tried the chow main chicken noodles, and it's a good dish for kids and better when you add some of the spicy chili sauce. Honey walnut prawns are solid! The lastAgain, when is the best Chinese restaurant in San Diego county...
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Ashan M.
Aug 11, 2024
It's this best Chinese food in the local area. All the dishes on the back of the menu are delicious, you just can't go wrong.
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