Canton Chinese Cuisine

I’ve been coming here for almost 20 years and I love this place so much. The owners are so wonderful and always remember me when I come in. This place is a true gem. Food is always fresh and piping hot. I will always come here over any other place. I do wish they still did the buffet. I loved the mango chicken they used to have and I wish they would make it as an entree on their menu. I got the sesame beef adding a little spice, spicy chicken fried rice, pork egg roll, spring rolls and fried dumplings. AMAZING as always!

In a time when small businesses are struggling, it is important that we continue to invest in our community businesses, and they invest in their customers to retain them. The cut backs on substituting artificial chicken remnants for original chicken pieces whether cubed or shredded will not suffice especially if one pays the same price. The fried rice was good minus the artificial chicken flattened imitation tidbits. The pork egg rolls were good as well as the sesame chicken — one could tell — it was chicken.

Small strip mall place that I've been going to for years. The food and service has been consistent for almost a decade. The lunch buffet is a staff-served one (you go up to the counter and say what you want each trip). Therefore it isn't the fastest place, but normally isn't a large backlog. Owners are friendly and remember their regulars. I'll keep coming back!

Awesome local spot with all the standard options. I got the Royal Family Dinner meal which could have fed two people and is a great deal for ~$13 (includes everything pictured). The food was cooked fresh and fast, and the owners are very nice. Will be returning regularly.

Amazing fried rice!! I asked for extra spicy and man did they deliver! The crab rangoons are amazing too!! Great prices! Check them out!!!!!!

Tiny restaurant. I ordered Kong Pao Chicken and it was solid overall. Dish was prepared fresh and hot and did not taste like a steamed or watered down dish. Nothing special about fried rice. Egg roll and crab rangoon were both tiny but they were crispy and on point. Overall, a great value for under $8 including tax. Lady at front was polite. Lunch buffet was not resumed yet.

Fantastic hidden gem! Excellent food, made fresh. One of my faves!

Amazing food and love the husband and wife who run this restaurant. They always remember my order and take care of me. The sesame chicken is delicious every time! Also tried the shrimp egg foo young recently and this one blew my mind. The brown gravy or suace that goes over this dish is a must try! Love coating it in my rice. Give this place a try!

I was excited to try this place out since a client of mine recommended it to me. I'll walk in and tell mom and Pop shop so I was looking forward to having a great meal. First of all the prices were a little steep for what I got I will show pictures. I did find a gray hair in my food which I'm a hairdresser so to me. Oh well, I'll eat it anyway. I ordered two spring rolls that were the size of my middle finger and a fried egg roll, which was not any bigger than that. Mind you the price was decent for those two appetizers. My meal, however, beef, and broccoli, Was disappointing. First of all, there was a lot of broccoli which I am a vegetable fan, but hardly any meat the taste was off and there was way too much sauce. Super salty. I do not recommend this restaurant. I will not be coming back.

So, when I used to live in the NoVA/DC area, all of the best Asian restaurants had the workers who always looked and sounded annoyed that you were there The food was always legit and worth the attitude haha We encountered that service today at Canton Chinese off of Ashworth Dr in West Des Moines. The food was actually pretty good. The restaurant could use some new chairs and booths, but the service was short and to the point. Definitely a hole-in-the-wall establishment. Food: Korean menu Tangsooyook (Korean Sweet and Sour Pork) 4/5- the dish didn't come out looking that appetizing because it was drenched in sauce but it was actually good and tasted as it should taste. They also have a chicken version of this. Mapo Tofu 3.5/5 - this was Korean-style. It was pretty tasty as well and had a hint of gochujang in it. Chinese menu Lunch Shrimp Lo Mein 3/5- this was okay. I probably wouldn't get it again as it was mostly veggies and hardly any noodles. Flavor wasn't bad at all. Lunch General's Chicken 4/5- this was delicious and chicken was crispy. This tasted more like the generals chicken from the Panda restaurant that used to be at Kaleidoscope. All-in-all, we would definitely try the other dishes, especially from the Korean menu.

The receipt with the substitution of specks of chicken which lacked flavor was not as satisfying as the original recipe of fried rice & chicken with chunks or shredded chicken. The wait time is too long with service not as customer forward as in the past. Customers rely on consistency for a good return on their money and taste fulfillment being primary at a time when small food businesses are losing customers due to cost and food quality. The inside is well worn with decor especially the floor needing a deep cleaning which makes one spend less time in the environment. As times change businesses must maintain good quality control to retain repeat customers.

We order from here a few times a year for work and the food is great! I've had the fried rice, noodles, chicken, spring rolls and crab rangoons. All are delicious and you always get large portion sizes. The owners are very nice and helpful. I would highly recommend!

Good food. There is seating but it appears to be more of a takeout place and a lot of people came in for takeout while we were there. The portions are generous and service was friendly.

No water given only bottle water for purchase. Food made to order. No buffet . It is a small shop.

This is such a hidden gem!! My boyfriend and I love going here for the lunch, he gets the dragon phoenix and I get the lo mein and it'sdelicious every time.

This is the greatest Chinese place I've ever been too orange chicken, fried rice, and potstickers there all my favorites. The lady at the front desk is great and is always so happy. The place is so well decorated and is a great experience if you want great Chinese food for cheap I would 100000% recommend canton for the best Asian/Chinese cuisine in the Des Moines metro area!!!

I can not seem to find MY Chinese restaurant in West Des Moines. the Canton is close to home and I've found one dish that I like, lemon chicken. Normally I get Mongolian beef or empress chicken, but didn't care for those here. today i tried hunan pork, the sauce was good, didn't care for the pork in it and not a lot of pork. lots of veggies all different kinds. The crab rangoons are great. egg roll is so so. my lunch meal cost $6.15 total. They are still not opening the dining room yet. there pick up seemed pretty busy for 1:00. the dining area is small. they offer a buffet during lunch, not during covid though. lady at the counter is polite. It's not terrible, but it's not my Chinese place.

We were visiting from out of town and found this place. We decided to try it based on the reviews. The food was great, prices were even better! Great little take out or eat in Chinese restaurant! Great service too!

Delicious dishes and friendly staff. Highly recommend the general tsos chicken and veggie Lo mein

This is a tasty place to order Chinese food from! The price is great and they prepare the food in a timely manner! I really like that they made my beef and broccoli a little spicy, as requested. It wasn't burn-your-mouth-off spicy, but just the right amount of heat! The flavor of the brown sauce was a little different from what I'm used to, and the egg drop soup was pretty much broth - but the crab rangoons were great! Only real down side was they wouldn't give me lo mien noodles as a side instead of rice - all other Chinese places I've ordered from have accommodated that. Overall, not bad. I'll be back!

Always so accommodating and friendly. The food is very reasonable and the portions are generous. It is owned and operated by a husband and wife. They have Korean food as well as Chinese. It is a place a local or a visitor should definitely heck out as it is sure to please. Some of the best pot stickers in town!

For awhile I have been looking for good, consistent Chinese food that was on the west-side. I stumbled upon Canton and OMG is it good! Everything is fresh, hot, and excitement for your taste buds if you will. It's a family run operation, and sometimes there is a wait, but it's definitely worth it. It's not quite like Sam's Fine Food and Eggrolls, but darn close! Keep it up, Canton!

Pretty middling - decent, not-terrible carryout, but could certainly be better. We sampled a wide variety off the menu and were underwhelmed. Kung pao chicken - oddly smoky, not many peanuts, none of the typical celery or water chestnuts. I think my hubby called it right - this was made with Korean gochujang rather than Sichiuan fermented chili paste. Weird flavor. Mongolian beef - too sweet, a bit gristly beef. Not my favorite. House delight (beef, chicken, shrimp) lo mein - very bland and no wok hey (char). Limp noodles. Just not great. Vegetables in garlic sauce - overcooked veggies in a sharp, gloopy garlic sauce. Best mixed with the kung pao. Steamed pork dumplings - good hand-crimped wonton skins, a bit too sweet dipping sauce and somewhat soggy White rice - well made, no complaints Beats the crappy Chinese we had in Grimes but still leaves much to be desired. Long wait for takeout.

Great local Chinese restaurant! Their food is consistently fresh, hot, and delicious. We typically order for carry out in the evenings and it is around 15 minutes every time. When we come in it is a very popular place for carry out but our order is always freshly made and piping hot. My go to is sesame chicken in their combo special for $6.98. This includes a spring roll, crab Rangoon, and fried rice. Truly one of the best deals in down, especially when it is for dinner.

I ordered two beef dishes and both of them had hardly any beef at all. Only tiny pieces, some smaller than a dime. I know food prices have gone up, but this was ridiculous. They should raise menu prices instead.

I went to Canton for General Tso's chicken. The take out time was less than 10 minutes, which was great. The service was fast. Unfortunately the General Tso's chicken wasn't great. In general, the General is most often deep fried and then blended in a rich, brown sauce that is spicy with a hint of sweet. It usually consists of soy sauce, vinegar, sometimes pineapple juice or wine, cornstarch, chili peppers and garlic. What I received was in a red sauce and instead made it taste like chicken sausage. If you have a strong desire for chicken sausage, then this is the dish for you. The crab rangoon was pretty normal. It was a good size unlike some tiny ones you get in the places you avoid. The hot and sour soup was sour and did have tofu along with perhaps some bamboo shoots. But it wasn't great, lacked mushrooms and scallions and tasted more like thick vinegar soup with a few chunks. The rice had some egg and soy sauce in it for sure. On the plus side, lunch specials were only $5.75ish and I have read reviews of dishes other people have really liked here. That alone will have me go back for a second try at Canton, though I'll ask for white rice. I do miss the one that was right across the street from it before their kitchen caught fire. So, if you like unique takes on delicious favorites (which aren't nearly as good as the originals) or just enjoy a fast, relatively inexpensive lunch...head over to Canton.

Had the lunch buffet here today and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. For $6.50 you get some really good buffet food. All the dishes were packed with juicy meaty goodness. This place is pretty small and can probably fit 25 people total, but for a small group for lunch during work hours it is perfect. I can see myself getting takeout here next time because if the buffet is yummy, I can see the regular menu being really good.

This is a little hole in the wall place on my way home from a job site. I did carry out on a weekday. They do not offer done in yet. All necessary precautions are in place. I got three staples for us. Human chicken, chicken fried rice, and beef broccoli. My food was ready and fresh. All three dishes were less than $25 in total. The Hunan was spiced just right. It had a lot of chicken and fresh veggies. The chicken fried rice was very good. It had bean sprouts which was a pleasant surprise. The beef broccoli was good. Lots of tender beef and broccoli. It came with two pints of rice steamed perfectly. It is easy in easy out and tasty. I will be back.

we go here so often the lady at the counter knows our orders. they are always so nice and ask how my family is doing. the food is pretty good. it's always really busy so it's not the fastest but worth the wait. i highly recommend!

Straight foward good Chinese food. We have been ordering from this family owned business for 5 years. Consistent quality everytime. You won't be disappointed.

This place has a very rude woman answering the phone, I placed an order through Grubhub, they confirmed the order, she denied it came across... told me no substitutions Evan though I have allergies that said order could cause allergic reaction that could put me in the ER. Said they never received any order and "they put whatever items in the food they choose" again very rude and an extreme liar. Grubhub confirmed that they received the order three times.... Driver also asked why there was three orders for the same customer.... Don't order from here if you want any sort of customer service

Four of us came here for lunch during the middle of the week. We were told to get there early as the place is small and fills up rather quickly. The location is truly rather small. They have less than 10 tables/booths, a buffet, a cash register counter and a place for drinks. We had the lunch buffet which is all you can eat. It had quite a bit of selection. You can ask for steamed rice and they will get it from the back for you. I thought the Mango Chicken sounded rather interesting so I had that and Kung Pao Chicken. I also had a crab rangoon. The rice was good but I found the other items to be just ok. I will say that you do get a lot of food for what you pay. The place does get rather busy and they run out of tables. There is no bathroom (at least that we could find) so make sure to hit the loo before you arrive.

I've ordered food from Canton Chinese 7 times this year using Grubhub. Tonight I ordered food and they told the driver they didn't get any order from me. Grubhub confirmed the order was sent. The first driver left and the second driver was dispatched to the restaurant. They still did not have the food ready and told the driver there was no order. I finally called the restaurant and the woman who answered the phone could not have been more rude. She told me she didn't have any order for Grubhub and then hung up on me. I noticed the restaurant all of a sudden reported to Grubhub they were closed at 7:30pm. I ordered the food at 6:15pm. So no food. They just lost a good customer. Grubhub had to refund my order and both them and I can see the order.

Canton Chinese at 50th and Ashworth in West Des Moines. It's not probably going to win any awards for being "the best", but the food is solid. I've stopped here many times. They have a lunch buffet that, as far as bang for your buck, is pretty hard to top. All you can eat from 1100 AM to 130 PM for $6.59. If you don't have time to dine-in they do a takeout version of the buffet and pile a to-go container full for you. It's not a self-serve buffet though. Everything is at the front behind a sneeze-guard and the owner's wife dishes it up for you as you tell her what you'd like on your plate/in your container. It's a small place with limited seating. Four four person booths and two six person tables. Bottled drinks or free water. Takes cash or cards. No high chairs or public restroom as far as I can tell...I've never asked though. They deliver. If buffets aren't your thing they have a regular menu too which includes some Korean options. One of the best hot and sour soups in the metro. The food always seems to be fresh...and it's not too hard on your budget.

YUM‼‼‼ Highly recommend the Sesame chicken and lo mein! Great local family with great Chinese food Also great special with an entree, steamed or fried rice, and a crab Rangoon or egg roll for $6.99!

I got there sesame chicken and tasted like it had been sitting out all day. Some pieces were so chewy I had to spit it out. Also got the chicken fried rice and that was really good other than there was hardly any chicken to be found and what pieces there were they were so small u couldn't tell there was any. The crab rangoons hardly had anything in them. Definitely not impressed. I'd try somewhere else with fresh food and give you what you order.

This place is awful- buffet- all food cooked who knows when- dried out. Not worth time or money

Great family owned place. Solid dishes. Favs are mushoo and any chicken dish. Alway on time and friendly.

Horrible is the only word to describe their food , I got the happy family and the brown sauce was over abundant and tasted bad. The few pieces of shrimp were chewy, I could go on but hopefully you get the point. I'd give it 0 stars if I could.

For long time Des Moines residents, you may remember a couple of Chinese restaurants that had inline spaces at Valley West Mall. This was one of them (I asked the lady in charge). Lunch buffet is cheap at $6.35; tea is an extra $1.50 and you make it yourself (tea bag). Just like the old mall store, an employee serves the buffet to you (just like Bishop's used to do). There was hot and sour soup, fried or steamed rice, about 10 different entrees and appetizers available. General Tao's chicken was spicy and had the crispiness that many other locations don't get right around here. Kung Pao Chicken was primarily chopped celery and carrots and isn't very authentic. Crab rangoons had a sweeter filling, which I prefer, but I know not everyone does. It didn't appear that authentic mustard was available. Also, the lack of a bathroom hurts the star rating--you should at least be able to wash your hands. A nice option if you're in the area, the buffet is a very good value and you can also do the buffet to go. Update 3/18/16: spicier mustard is now available! In the beverage cooler!

This is my husband's "go to" Chinese place. I am not as in love as he is. As far as takeout goes, it's ok. No better or worse than most other "Chinese" places in town. The location is tucked away in a strip mall just off 60th and Ashworth. You can dine in, and we have before. It's clean, but outdated. The owners are friendly (I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the entire place is staffed by the owning family). They have all the regular stuff. I do feel like their meat is fresher than some of the competition. I enjoy their Singapore style street noodles. Mongolian beef isn't my favorite dish there. Egg drop soup is underwhelming. Overall, if you're nearby and craving American style Chinese food, go for it. I, however, am still on my search for the area's best Chinese takeout.

Probably my favorite Chinese in the Des Moines metro. I love the chicken egg foo young, and if you get the lunch buffet, the grilled chicken is excellent.

We grew up eating from here when our parents ordered chinese food. I have tried a few others in the area but this has been the best tasting in my opinion. We drive over from Merle Hay area to get it now!

We have been ordering from this restaurant a lot since being confined at home due to the Covid-19 virus. Doordash provided really fast service and the food was HOT when delivered. Their food is consistently good and their hot and sour soup is perfectly crafted. Dragon Phoenix dish is our favorite. Definitely will continue to eat here.

I've gone here a few times for the lunch buffet, so I can only speak to that experience. It is on par if not slightly above the quality I would expect from a buffet style Chinese restaurant. The main woman who usually works the register and mans the buffet line is always pleasant. It has a small interior with seating that feels more fast food than sit down, but it is overall clean and well kept. My only complaint is the quality of the food is around Hy-Vee Chinese to Panda Express quality, but for $6.50, you know what you are getting into. That said, there is a fairly large amount of selection of not only different flavors and spices, but of meat variety as well. There are common staples like chicken, pork, and beef in Szechuan, General Tso, and Orange, but also on occasion duck and shrimp as well as more exotic flavors like mango Szechuan and fire pepper blends. I have gone multiple times and I will continue to go in the future.

We are repeat customers because their food is so much better than what we have gotten anywhere else in the entire Des Mounes area. Orange chicken is crispy fried in a tangy sauce - not soggy. The wait will vary based on the number of orders they are handling because it's a small place with 2-3 people working (pretty sure it's family owned and operated). Not the prettiest place but with food so good, who cares!

Tried this place for the first time last night. I got take out, which was ready 10 minutes after I called in the order. The restaurant itself is a hole in the wall, but whenever I go to a hole in the wall Chinese place the food is amazing! The spring rolls were nice and crispy and I got a huge portion of chicken with broccoli. Will be ordering again soon!

Decided to try this place last minute so this was my first and last time at this restaurant. Had beef and broccoli which hardly had any meat and it was overlooked. Asked to make it spicy and it still wasn't spicy at all. This and a drink $8.67 later I regret the calories I ate and my money. Go somewhere else!

Tried the orange and the generals chicken, with fried rice. Was fairly good considering I enjoy panda express and not much else. Quickly made, took back home. Will go there again but its more expensive than panda.

The food itself is pretty good, not greasy like other Chinese restaurants I've encountered. I got the shrimp lo mein and there were plenty of shrimp and veggies in my dish. The only reason this place isn't getting 4 stars is because there's no bathroom and it was super cold when we dined in. The cashier even had her coat on! I'm not sure if it's always chilly in there but I was freezing until our food arrived. Anyway, I think take out would have been the way to go for this place!

Food was average. Got there at 845 PM. Door states they are open till 10 PM in Saturdays- cashier tells me - they will close in 5 minutes. Bad service.

My only quibble with Canton is that they don't have sizzling rice soup because it's my favorite. However everything they do have is delicious-I'm a huge fan of their MooShu and the hubby and kiddo love their Sesame chicken. We've had their carry out before so last time we ate in--it's a small place with some booths-ambiance doesn't really come into play here. The staff was very nice and the service was fast.

Favorite place to get Chinese take out. One of the only places where we ask for extra spicy and we get extra spicy!

This is best Sesame Chicken in town. I've never really been a big sesame chicken fan so that says a lot. I have only tried one other dish which is the Mongolian beef and that was good as well. I always get the "royal family dinner" which is a great deal with an entree, eggroll, crab rangoon, choice of soup and choice of rice for only $9.95. I always do carry out too and they give you more than enough food, it could feed two with one of those meals.

Food is wonderful! Portions far outweigh the price. As with other reviews only downside is no bathroom. Will definitely return.

Heavenly! I have never had something here that I didn't love. Nice owners and very friendly atmosphere. Best Chinese in W DSM.

Absolutely terrible food. Ordered the "Family" which is supposed to contain shrimp, beef, scallops etc. knowing something was wrong when we got home, we actually drained the dish and found 2 dime size prices of shrimp and nothing else but sauce and veggies. This isn't our first attempt to get a decent take out from this place but will be our last