Chef Zhao

This place seemed like a hole in the wall, but it was probably the shittiest chinese food I've had in Portland. The sesame chicken had decent flavor - if you could chew through the pieces. It was incredibly tough and dry. The chicken chow mein looked like something you'd get in a school hot lunch, and tasted just like it. The seszchaun chicken was very hard and chewy, it had far too many bamboo shoots. The vegetables were fresh, but there wasn't much variety. The mango chicken was very overcooked and chewy, the mango sauce also wasn't even spicy although it was advertised as being so. Overall, I would come here if I was desperate for a somewhat edible lunch, but I would NOT reccommend this place to anyone.

I've ordered from Chef Zhao multiple ways over the past year, and every time I've been very pleased with their cooking. They're flexible when it comes to spice levels (both milder and spicier). have a huge variety of dishes that they can make from their base ingredients. They've been very friendly from behind the counter, and they are almost shockingly quick at preparing my food. Compared to other American Chinese restaurants I've gone to, their food is at the top.

Excellent food at a good price. Everything we ate was delicious, well cooked, and arrived in a timely manner. Our server was wonderful and attentive. Highly recommend the soup dumplings, worth the 15 minute wait.

Generous lunch special portions! I got pao chicken with fried rice and crab puff. Quick service

This place serves some of the best Chinese food around, no doubt about it. The chef here really knows how to make your taste buds happy, and you can feel it in every single bite, trust me. I have to say, I'm pretty picky, but so far, I haven't been let down by any dish I've tried. The vibe is clean and inviting. They've just added poker machines and a selection of alcoholic drinks. It's spacious enough for a small gathering, and the staff are super friendly and helpful. The food comes out hot and is made fresh to order, according to my taste buds. You should definitely check this place out and let me know your thoughts.

Ordered the Orange Chicken and Potstickers and they were so delicious! 10/10 recommend this place to anyone wanting some delicious Chinese food. Will be my new favorite spot! So happy I stumbled upon this place on door dash.

Great Chinese food, clean establishment, and restrooms. My family loved every dish we ordered. The food was delicious and very flavorful. Highly recommended if you're in the area and craving Chinese food.

Got food to go to share with my daughter and her friends. SO good! Loved it - I was visiting from Idaho and the Chinese restaurants there area meh... The food we got at Chef Zhao was over the top delicious, Everyone really enjoyed their meal and the price for everything we got for 5 people was a great value compared to the very overpriced, sub par food available where I live.

This spot is pretty decent. The staff there are quite friendly. The food tastes good - I tried XLB and Sesame chicken. The sesame chicken is spicier than others' but I like it hot so it works for me. The rice quality/taste is average - could be better. What I liked a lot about this place is it seems pretty clean. The kitchen is partially visible thru the windows which is also reassuring cos you at least can get an idea of how things are done in there.

First off, let's be clear, this is Americanized Chinese food, so for all those rating it as "not authentic", it's not suppose to be. That said, I ordered something like 15 dishes for a party I had and everyone loved the food (and being Chinese myself and having friends who have visited China, we understand the difference), and one person even commented that she had Ma Po Tofu before, but always hated it until now. Everything was great and nice portions (they didn't sacrifice quality for portion size, it was just right) sizes. They even gave us a free egg drop soup and free toys for our big order! Great service and food, and we'll definitely return again!

You know that delicious smoky flavor and aroma that results from cooking in a wok? That's when you know you're eating something legit. You won't find that here. The flavors are bland and the sauces straight from Sysco. I've given them 3 chances, but they disappoint every time. They're not awful, but NOT GOOD either. Someone previously reviewed them as spectacular. Bruh. I'm giving that reviewer Don vibes.

New to the area seeking a flavorful quick bite, I went in to order and the little panda from the lucky box was a huge hit when I got hime. This was an excellent lunch for our busy Saturday. Will be back!

The food and staff are excellent. Quick and friendly service. A little pricey but ample portions. i would recommend it.

I like their food. However, I went in for lunch today and a guy curtly said "to go only". I left and I won't go back. This was my second crappy experience there. Too bad this place went downhill. NoPo needs good Chinese restaurants.

Horrible food! Kung pao chicken had very little chicken and was flavorless. The egg rolls and the wontons in Szechuan oil tasted old and frost bitten. The chicken lettuce wrap had stuffing or batter in it. Very little chicken. I have no idea what these positive reviews are all about. Panda is better.

Favorite Chinese takeout cuisine right here, look no further in the St John's NOPO area. The sesame chicken and green beans (medium spice) were the star for our meal. I've never had house fried rice it contains all the meat but I'll probably just do veggies or one meat next time. The Lo mein I recommend for the noodle fans as it's smaller noddles and tasty. They forgot the fortune cookies last time so make sure to ask haha. I'm gonna have to compare: -generals chicken vs orange vs sesame chicken and report back bc all 3 are choice from here. Really can't go wrong. Takes about 15mins every time we do take out. It's really worth the short drive! Must must try. I think you will thank me!!

Chinese Food, particularly Cantonese, is bland, in my opinion. But not at Chef Zhao's! I placed my first order last night. Not only is the food extremely good, but the portions are large and the price is very reasonable. Highly recommend Chef Zhaos!

This place checked all the boxes for casual dining . First and foremost the food was spectacular. Every dish we ordered,and there were many in our large group, was cooked perfectly. There wasn't too much salt, sugar , and oil to any of the meals. Crowd favorites were sesame beef, sautéed eggplant, Mapo tofu to name a few. Our server Kenny was friendly and attentive. Will definitely go back soon

Didn't get to dine in the space but ordered ahead for dinner on a weekend and only a 15-20 minute wait. By the time we came to pick up the order was already ready which was great! There were some spots in the front but driving around it looks like there might be parking in the back? Will need to check another time. | WHAT WE ORDERED | + Mongolian Beef + House Fried Rice + Chicken Lo Mein Noodles + Salt & Pepper Squid I saw the wontons & chili sauce and hot & sour soup on the menu so I have those bookmarked to try another time. For the above it was ~$60 with tip so not the cheapest Chinese food around but it can last two people 2-3 meals each so not too bad when you think of it that way. _________________ All of the items were really solid to order! The squid came in longer/thicker strips but had a great crisp and was still crispy hours later. The house fried rice was seasoned well and had nice chunks of the various proteins and was not skimpy at all. The mongolian beef was your standard but the cuts were on the thinner side. Nice veggies and crunch but might try another beef next time. Lastly the noodles had me hesitant at first as they were on the lighter side but after trying them they had good flavor and paired well with the chicken. Overall $60 does sound pricey but the items were good and had nice portions where the price was justified.

I've been here a good handful of times with my grandma (who is a big fan of Chinese food) and we both enjoy it very well every time. The food is consistent and service is great! We usually go around lunchtime on weekdays and parking is easy to find as well.

This is our go to delivery/take out spot since moving into Kenton 2 years ago. Literally everything is good. The wonton soup comes with tons of wontons. Perfect for two. All the noodle dishes have great texture must be homemade. So glad you're in the neighborhood.

Tons of vegetarian selections! Excellent house-made noodles and the BEST ma po tofu in town.

Had Kung Pao chicken and chicken noodle soup. Both tasted so good and fresh. The homemade noodles were fantastic

We went in on Sunday, for a early dinner, the place was empty. we ordered two appetizers, soup, main...The food is always good, the waitress very nice...We were in way before the posted closing time, and yet we were rushed through the meal, from beginning to end it took just barely and hour, and honestly I think that includes the drive time. Please slow down and let people enjoy the meal

I've only gotten takeout but they have friendly service. The bbq pork is great, and the lo mein, mu shu, and wonton soup are always good. They call the pu pu platter "appetizer sampler" but it's the same concept.

This place is just okay--the service is fine as is the atmosphere; it's the food that I don't enjoy. It's bland. Nothing is wrong with the freshness or quality of food or generosity of the serving; it's just bland food. I can take or leave this place. If my colleagues want to treat me to lunch here, I'd go. If I had to pay for my own lunch, I'd probably go somewhere else. Nothing is wrong here--it's just okay.

We ordered the Special Combination Dinner "B" for two. All of the food was wonderful! We ate in and the service was great as well! Highly recommend this restaurant.

One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Portland. The sesame chicken was perfect, and the orange chicken and shrimp were also good. Finding high quality Chinese food in the city can be difficult, but look no further than Chef Zhao.

I bought some Hot and Sour soup there last week to go. The flavor was very good but it had about 4 pieces of tofu in it and that's about all. I paid more than what was listed on your website menu. I KNOW there's a lot of ingredients in Hot and Sour soup chicken, Rice vinegar, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, ground ginger, Cornstarch, Eggs, tofu Green onions, toasted sesame oil, white pepper, bamboo shoots. and when you pay that much for soup you should get more than broth. I'm sure you know how to make it but you sure scrimped on mine. My name is Rich and my phone number is 503-206-7508 if you'd like to speak about this. Thank you. chicken, Rice vinegar, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, ground ginger, Cornstarch, Eggs, tofu Green onions, toasted sesame oil, white pepper, bamboo shoots.

Standard great. Not greasy good veggies staff kind and accommodating. Pretty much my go to for st John's area

This is one of the places that you question whether you should go or not but after you do you are completely happy you did and upset that you wasted so much time deciding on going! We went during a weeknight around 6 PM and there were probably five other tables. With the door being close to where we were seated it was kind of drafty due to it being so cold outside. I think that is the only thing I could find wrong with dining there. They have a nice beer selection and their menu is wonderful. We were so indecisive because everything looked so good. We got the eggrolls to start off with and they are huge! Wonderfully seasoned and the fried exterior was excellent. It was so crispy yet light. The two entrées we decided on were Mongolian chicken and the Kung pow trio. Each of these were absolutely amazing. They come with a side of rice and a free small cup of soup. They also give hot tea at the table with the waters. The tea tasted very nice and was great due to a cold evening. We would definitely return to this place again. The service was quick and smooth and we were able to pay right at the table.

Chef Zhao is a must visit anytime we are in Portland. Amazing food, and super fast wonderful service. I haven't found anything in the menu I don't like. Highly recommend the hot and sour soup, potstickers, and sesame chicken (which is the best I ever had).

Get the wonton soup all the time. Always consistently good. If you order it to go they take the time to put the wontons themselves in a separate box and package the rest of the broth and things so the wontons don't overcook in the broth before you get home. Always a treat as they make their own by hand!

We hit this place up for to go food when in the mood for Chinese. The staff have always been friendly and helpful. Every dish tried thus far has met or exceeded expectations. Highly recommend! One thing, we like spicy hot, which they provide, but sometimes the dish gets greasier when they make it hot hot hot.

Trying to find really decent Chinese food in Portland sometimes can be a tough search. Chef Zhao knows how to do it right. I'm not sure exactly what gourmet Chinese food is... I've had some in New York City and that was amazing. But for good fresh Portland Chinese chicken chow mein, Chef Zhao is worth a visit.

Im usually jaded when it comes to Chinese food spots but this is easily in my top 3. Everything was very fresh and tasty and the little gift we got with our order on Xmas was super cute. Service was quick and friendly even on a busy holiday. Definitely coming back (often).

Had food delivered - ordered salt & pepper shrimp, they gave me salt & pepper squid, which was just OK. Other dishes were better but we were very disappointed. Won't be back.

Pass by this place everyday, finally decided to give it a try. I ordered; egg flour soup, assorted appetizer plate, teriyaki chicken, and a sweet and sour pork combo that came with pork fried rice, and chicken chow mein. Egg flour soup, simply delicious. Great flavor. Assorted appetizer plate came with; fried shrimp, spring rolls, bbq pork, crab puffs, and ma far chicken. All was really good, especially the bbq pork. Most places its really dry but here it was nice and juicy. Teriyaki chicken was good, nothing too special about it. Same with the sweet and sour pork.

The General Tsaos chicken and their special froed Drive were fantastic. I'd definitely go here again!

Horrible food Horrible service. Waited till after I swiped my card to have a attitude. Also gave me the wrong dish and did not want to return it.

I love Chef Zhao. Probably my favorite spot for Chinese food. It is always fresh and delicious when I get my food. I've tried a lot of things from their menu and my partner love it too. We usually get eggrolls, general t'sao chicken , sesame beef or chicken, lo mein, bbq pork, mar far chicken, Kung Lao chicken, lunch combo, and so much more. All of it has been delicious. The chicken is always crispy and the food is always hot. It's a good choice!

Best Chinese food in the city. Not kidding. We moved further away recently so we are out of the delivery area - we drive 15 min to pick up. It's worth every extra minute!

youch. flavorless and expensive. at least send some extra sauce? 85 characters, here we are.

Have been looking for a place to find some simple, delicious Chinese food and here it is. Lunch specials around $8-$10 and come with fried rice and crab puff or egg roll. Lemon chicken was good - lots of breading on the chicken. Glad they put the lemon sauce on the side as I was getting it to go. The egg roll was soggy inside so not cooked long enough. It tasted like frozen egg rolls too - no thanks The chicken and broccoli also had onions and carrots so lots of veggies. The crab puff that came with this lunch was the better option of the choice. Fried rice was great - no onions! I'll be back - it's close to work and quick. Easy to find parking nearby.

Very extensive menu, fresh and fast. I really like this place. Definitely put in your asian goto restaurants

My favorite Chinese food in Portland! Ready super fast after you order and while I've never eaten there (we have only done takeout) the portions are generous and it's alWays tasty!

Ordered the dumplings in chili oil and they were SOOO good. Got a side of pork fried rice 3.75 it was ok for the price. A little dry, But mixed with the chili oil and scallions from the dumplings it was better. I've been here before but never reviewed but it last experience was great too. this place is the best in the area

Not authentic Chinese food. Ordered Sichuan beef and a pork dish. Sichuan beef not spicy at all and not sure how the pork dish should taste like but it had a strange taste. Disappointing but appreciate it being open on Christmas Day.

Local America Chinese takeout. The bargain is in the family menu. Big portions on family servings. You cannot under order, so if ordering for a group, 2 is enough for 3. 4 servings enough for six. If you want traditional Chinese, they have hand made lo mein noodle dishes. Not going to try the hot pot until we can dine-in again.

When I heard about this new restaurant, I was hesitant to even try it because so far, every Chinese food restaurant I have been to in NoPo just doesn't live up to the standards of authentic Chinese cuisine. Having grown up in a city where my Mom worked at a Chinese Hospital in the heart of Chinatown, I guess you can say, I can't help but have high expectations. The reviews on Yelp seem mixed, but overall most were positive. So, I figured why not give this place a try. We ordered Salt & Pepper Tofu, Sesame Chicken, Sweet and Sour Shrimp, and Chicken Lo Mein. Everything was really greasy, the sauces were ridiculously sweet, and you definitely can taste the MSG. Out of all the dishes, the only one that I found appetizing was the Lo Mein, but you can't really go wrong with noodles. I was truly disappointed, but not surprised because I've always been advised that if I want authentic Chinese food, that NE/SE Portland is where to find it and I will gladly drive 30-40 minutes to do so.

First time here as this restaurant. It was previously " Vagabond" which I tried and while good, portions and prices were probably their undoing. It's a little hidden while driving down Lombard, sign is hiding behind some trees. The restaurant now is Chinese which is welcome in NoPO. Even after one visit, I see this place as making it. It has lots of dining area, an excellent back patio and it's probably their best selling point when it's nice outside. I had the Mongolian Trio ( Beef, Shrimp,Chicken).The food is a notch above compared to most Chinese-American restaurants. Lunch prices are on point as was service even thou the server was by himself. I would recommend without hesitation. Happy eating.

The first thing you will notice is, the place is very clean.friendly staff and rather large menu to choose from.i dined alone. So I ordered the #6 combination.the fried rice was good, the bbq pork was moist and tender.the fried shrimp was good, the chicken sub gum was very good. The red dipping sauce was amazing, best ever. Was so good I could almost drink it. All and all. Great place , can't wait to come back and try something else. Waiter kept my water glass full

So, hungry for something new and AUTHENTIC? I was, so of course I pull out my phone and found Chef Zhao within a few miles. My friends and I took a short drive over the bridge into St Johns area maybe? Just use the map. The village its in is quite charming, the building and space was nice except for not having a proper reception area. You walk in and your basically in the middle of the tables (minor detail) they seat you quickly so its not too awkward. The menu is extensive, and I knew right away that this was going to be good. Pictures of Chinese dishes that you typically dont see on cookie cutter Chinese restaurants (the place reminds me of the great restaurants of the Silicon Valley) We ordered Salt and Pepper Squid, Noodles with Soybean Paste (Zha Jiang Mian), Post Stickers, and Broccoli Beef. I would have ordered more traditional dishes but two of the eaters are a bit Tofu. Anyway, the food was amazing, the potsitckers were obviously home made, the noodles, b&b were fresh and great but my favorite was the salt and pepper squid. It was crunchy, a bit salty with excellent flavor. I could just have had that over rice. If you want to be authentic Chinese you must first dab the house chili on your plate with a bit of soy sauce (my tofu friends had never tried and now they are hooked!) Just put that on everything and you will be good to go!

Large portions, decent sized shrimp, fresh crisp vegetables, good flavor. They seem to be figuring out the flow still. Order mix ups, poor prioritization that had some people (three) who came in at the same time as me finishing their meal before I (one person) was able to place my order at the adjacent table. Probably due to not being staffed appropriately for the dinner rush, as it appears there are only two servers for the whole place which has multiple dining areas including a patio. Twenty minutes after finishing my meal and having the plate pushed away from in front of me, I still was waiting for a box and check- or at least eye contact and some sort of communication. I'll be back once the dust settles to see if things improve. Pictured is the shrimp with vegetables entree.

Ordered the cashew nut chicken to-go, and despite "cashew nut" literally being in the dish's name, there was not a single iota of cashews in the meal. I'm not sure exactly which chicken dish of theirs I ended up with, but it wasn't the cashew nut chicken plate. As for the flavor, it was alright (not great by any measure of the word, but not bad), just your generic chicken and veggies meal you could get at most places (like a watered down teriyaki). The chicken itself didn't taste like it was seasoned. I had to add some sriracha to give it some kind of flavor. And to be fairly honest, looking at my unfinished plate of food, I don't feel tempted to finish it. When I poured the box that contained the meat and veggies on to a plate when I got home, there was so much sauce, that I had to pour half of it back into the box. I attached a photo that shows the chicken/veggies mix, and just how much sauce still remains, after having drained half of it out (and even after sitting through the whole plate, there's still no sign of cashews). Perhaps the biggest disappointment is with myself, as I could've spent the same amount of money and made the dish at home from scratch, with cashews in it. Hopefully I just caught them on a bad day, considering the good reviews they have on here. But at least I know now what not to order next time, assuming I decide to order from them again. (Breakdown of three stars: one for having the food ready to go when I arrived, and another two stars for the copious amount of food I got (despite it being an incorrect order that I got).

This is our go-to neighborhood spot! We order take out often and it lasts multiple meals. We love it.

Thank goodness Chef Zhao is open during these crazy times! Ordered General Tsao's chicken, mapo tofu, salt n pepper squid, and Sichuan beef. I went in to pick it up, everyone was wearing masks and the place was very clean. Food was packed very well in microwaveable containers which made it easy to wipe down and save the leftovers. The food itself was all very tasty. Salt n pepper squid was surprisingly super crispy even after the car ride home. Will go back to try more things!