Golden Star Cafe

We were being tourist for the day and decided to visit this little gem downtown. Hadn’t been here in years. Had a taste of their Golden Star Special, fish and gravy. Sounds weird but to be honest it was pretty good. It was a light battered crunchy fish, we asked for sauce on the side. I thought very tasty. We also had their wonton soup, one of the best soups I’ve had in a while, combination fried rice, was lacking in taste & pepper chicken very tasty. Overall not bad at all. The service was great.

Food Never Disappoints Even tho it was a Full House During Lunch Time Service was Quick & Food Was On The Table Quickly portions were just right. Customer Service Was Great. 6.3.25

This place is straight garbage! How do they call this Chinese food? Everything is smothered in brown gravy?!? And the service we received was horrible! They say you have to request the gravy but I never requested it and yet here it is! UPDATE Less than an hour later I got the shits! This tells me they don’t wash their hands!

This San Antonio gem delivers on all fronts! Mouthwatering food at fair prices with stellar service. Their egg rolls? Absolutely unmatched - simply the best I've ever tasted! A must-visit local treasure!

I have been going for over 30 years and still love the fish and gravy. Only place I go too for my fish n gravy.

Ordered the beef and broccoli it is always delicious. Always the same never changes. Can’t go wrong with the fish and gravy either. The place needs an uplift but it doesn’t matter because the food is good.

My waitress was a sweetest, but from walking in, the Owner is very rude, always has been everytime I've gone, but grandchildren go for chicken straps. Saw the Owner getting mad at the waitress, she was the only waitress working and he's still rushing her and getting mad at her, finally She walked off and quit.Good for Her..Employer's don't value their employees, they forget why they went into that business and let the money get to them. If tired, then it's time to Retire.

Love it here, good food always hot and fresh. Fish with gravy is amazing. They have plenty of different dishes even some Mexican.

It's not one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in San Antonio but as far as Chinese restaurants or any restaurant on the west side go, it's not bad. Their beef and broccoli, egg rolls and fried rice are good. The fish is OK. The service is good too. It's not in the best neighborhood since there are many junkies camped out in public behind the building.

Love the fried fish with ketchup and hot sauce...tradition here is to put the hot sauce and ketchup while the fish I hot, it absorbs the flavor into the fish and makes it so much tastier. I have been going here for most of my life, and it's as good today as it was back in yesteryear. It's definitely worth a try. If you dine in, the tea only has 1 refill. Bathrooms need updating as well. But service, food and Nostalgia is great.

My go to order is the fish with brown gravy. I have been coming here over 25+ years. The cream cheese wontons are also very delicious! Definitely a family favorite.

My all time favorite Fish and Gravy !!! Been coming here for the past 25 years or maybe even longer !! Still sane great food !!!

I walk in and I'm greeted by gentleman his name is Jerry he works the front door and asked me where I'd like to sit so I go into the table I want and my waitress immediately comes and takes my order. I ordered a three-piece fish with gravy on top and fried rice combination fried rice and an egg drop soup with hot oil. My order came out like in 10 to 12 minutes everything was fresh and delicious if you haven't tried the fish and gravy you need to try very good fried rice was delicious my egg drop soup was amazing restaurants clean and so are the restrooms plenty of parking.

Golden Star has never disappointed when it comes to that fish and gravy special! It always hits the spot! I've been coming here since I was a toddler and Service is always fast and place is usually clean for being in a very old old building.

Place looks sketch from outside the inside not much better . Restrooms look like a crime scene . First clue is when you walk in and the menu not only serve Chinese, but on the other side of menu is Mexican, you look in the bag to see who's cooking the food and it's a white man . Place had a weird smell to it. Rice tasted funny, orange chicken was horrible cream cheese won tons suck. I do not recommend this place at all. Horrible horrible experience.!!!

01/28/2025 Walked in, the place smelled like a sewage dump! The service was even worse! Our waitress was TRASH! She didn't tell us "hi", and she had attitude like crazy & when we asked about the menu she was completely un-knowledgeable! The WORST part was the FOOD! Holy F- was the food bad! It was greasy, had no flavor, small portions for the price we paid & we got sick from it! So much grease,, it was disgusting to say the least. When we checked out, it was expensive! 60$ for our meals like damn we could've went to a fine dining restaurant and could've got better food and better service!! Place is -0/10 Would never recommend Save your money and go to Taco Bell instead HORRIBLE! Never comming back! 0 stars! I'm gunna call the Health Inspector because the place was insanely unsanitary! unsafe food to eat

Haven't been here I years. Fish is not what It used to be, crust was harder. Fried rice wad so so, nothing special. Service as nice and fast. Very crowded.

Has been around forever 1930s. Pretty consistent Chinese and Mexican food. Basic service don't expect wow factor from good or staff

Great Cafe. I have been coming here for over 40 years. All the food selections are great. I myself am a fish man. I love their fish. Keep up the good work.

This restaurant has been a staple in san Antonio for many years. I have been going to this restaurant since I was young. The atmosphere and ambiance make you feel right at home when eating Chinese food. Their shrimp fried rice is some of the best in san Antonio. Pretty much everything is on point. I especially like their egg drop soup.

I've been going to Golden Star since I was a little boy. Today I'm 60 years old and still continue to drive 40+ miles to indulge in there fried fish with brown dressing. Never disappointed.

Need improve, food, service and hospitality, so disappointed .fue un error ir a este restaurante

Really good the chicken was tender and rice was good. just amazing food. The service was good the owner and I were talking about Victor Wembanyama. He knows a lot about him.

No stars the man in the front was so rude I told him my mom was inside just to let him know I had someone at a table and he told me "I don't know who your mom is" in a rude manner. I've been a server & hosts before and I've never in my life would tell anyone that. The food was gross I had the simple lemon pepper and the sauce tasted like it was rotten or from in a can HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON A RESTAURANT THAT IS RUDE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS that are helping them keep their lights on.

Very good restaurant 90 years old says the advertising, my daughter recommended it he was very good. They have Chinese food but also Mexican and American burgers etc. we all got Chinese they give it to us in to go box's because it's more than you'll eat in one sitting and you don't have to ask Very good. Will be back soon.

As a local San Antonian (born & raised) been coming here since I was a kid and still one of our favorite spots in SA !! The food is always on point and prepared with the best consistency for so many years straight. My wife raves the beef chop suey and says it's the best in town , I always choose my fav the 99 "golden star special" fish with brown gravy boi !! The wait staff especially Angelica are always friendly and provide fast and efficient service. Oh and I must add that the love for music is evident every time you dine in with mini juke boxes at the Booths and a main juke box on the floor - if those are out of service for any reason the music still never stops !! Golden Star has a special place in my heart !

We came here to celebrate their 90th anniversary. This restaurant is a San Antonio staple. I had the hot and sour soup. It was so hot and delish- it was seasoned very well and it came in a very large serving. I also had the General chicken which was also good. It was seasoned with a tangy sauce and several very large pieces of chicken. My family had also had the shrimp lo mein and they said said it was really good. Everything is served on styrofoam and disposable utensils but that's from an abundance of precaution. The reason for the 5 stars- the food was good. More so, the owners have had these recipes passed in their family business for generations. Think about that- you can't get that type of nostalgia from many places.

Very good fish and service, staff was polite food on point.The place was clean family friendly environment Jerry the worker was very friendly the waitress Angelica checked up on me a few times she was awesome

This place is definitely eclectic. If you don't know if you want Chinese or Mexican or American then this is the place to be. They serve all three with decor of the restaurant reflecting a Chinese restaurant and music from a Mexican one. The appetizer dumplings are on point but the fried rice is hit or miss on flavor. If you are allergic to seafood I wouldn't recommend coming here though because they do cross contaminate. My husband is allergic and we ordered nothing with seafood but he did taste a fishy aftertaste after eating here and got sick. So just a heads up. Also the beef and mushroom is cooked in regular brown gravy that is meant for mashed potatoes so that was weird as well

Fish and gravy the best Lemon chicken and fried rice All very good food Always been a good place to eat or celebrate

#99...enough said. If you're in SA and need to try a great meal that is part of the local culture, get the fish and gravy.

First time visiting today. Doesn't look like much inside or outside actually... but the food was really good! Egg drop soup was on point, the general chicken was exellent! They're known for their 3-piece fish platter which is kinda strange for a chinese food place. But the guys I was with is the reason I went, and they had the fish. They've been going for years... If you're in the neighborhood, stop by, you won't be disappointed!!

Absolutely loves the food at this place. I was happy to see after the pandemic they were still there and going strong. Never had a bad meal, and the service has always been excellent. I like that they have such a great variety there. I would recommend this place to all my friends and I have. They also have some of the best fried fish I've had in town

I get the wrong order and it doesn't come out right. There are times when the food isn't up to par. Many times the restroom is dirty. I don't recommend it

Today I was reminded just how disgusting the world we live in really is. My little family and I went to eat at Golden Star Cafe . I was looking forward to it because I love the beef fried rice, anyhow upon arriving a young man was walking out holding a $10 bill and asking for change. In my head I was like oh they couldn't break a 10 for him. Then he starts to say he's just trying to get food and they told him he was $1.69 short. My husband gave him a dollar and I gave him another one. He was so happy and walked back in saying, "Can I have one lemon chicken please" the staff then looks at the woman owner and they say something and then the lady says the price is now $12.39 after they just told him it was $11.69. The owner gives a smirk and says "tax". So for $.39 this man was not gonna eat. I stood back thinking they would do the right thing but instead they were trying to just get him to leave. I quickly just cut all of them off and said JUST PUT HIS FOOD ON MY BILL, ILL PAY FOR HIM GEEZ JUST FEED HIM! They gave me a look as though they were saying shit now what. My husband backed me up immediately and said "Serve him we'll pay". They pulled the rope to let US in but quickly put it down to block that young man. Buuuut the owner lady did grab his money and said "Charge $1.69 to their bill". Mind you she took $12 from him and supposedly the meal was $12.39 after the 2nd price change they told the guy. At this point I wanted to leave but I wanted the guy to eat so we went to sit. The lady told him "OK I'll get you food wait there" meaning he had to wait behind the rope even though he was a paying customer. She was STILL refusing to serve him in a way so my husband said "Hey you taking it ToGo or you want to eat here?" The guy asked if he could eat there. My husband told the server "He's gonna eat here serve him here" the server looked back at the owner pretty much looking for the ok. We said he's a paying customer and will eat here like us. They finally let him sit and served him immediately I guess hoping he would leave. We sat on the booth next to him and he kept thanking us. He was kind, well mannered and hungry. The staff would serve him but the female owner kept checking in with the servers sort of like she was asking what they were giving or serving him. The guy asked for a drink and they wouldn't even give him that instead they said it would be another $2.99. I've never felt so upset and disgusted in humanity. We ordered and ate and waited for him to leave before we did because I didn't want them to be mean to him and he not have anyone stick up for him. This place has been around for decades and it's a favorite for my husband cause the rice but after this, I refuse to ever go back. Shame on you Golden Star, I pray that young man never has to cross your path again and hope he makes it big one day. It's not hard to be kind. My hubs and I a HUGE TIPPERS we love to tip and today was the first time we ever said 0 tip. My note to you was to "BE KIND". Weren't you guys the ones on the news begging to have people because you were gonna get shut down cause the construction was depleting your business? Didn't the public come and save you from having to close your doors? Yes we did, I know this because I showed up for your business but never again! Oh and another lady was served egg rolls in a bag and asked for plates only to be told "We don't have plates" lmfao like come on. Where is your service, do better, learn to be kind, and remember YOU WERE ABOUT TO LOSE EVERYTHING AND THE PUBLIC SHOWED UP FOR YOU. THE SAME PUBLIC THAT CAN CANCEL YOU IN A BLINK OF AN EYE! STAY HUMBLE, BE KIND, SPREAD LOVE NOT HATE! I made public please share.

Food is great today but notice the price was a bit higher than expected. As some of y'all may know they serve there food and drinks on styrofoam. Probably since the pandemic started. Well that's why we were paying higher. Cause we're paying a dollar for each styrofoam we're eating and drinking from. Kinda crazy cause they're serving there food on there anyway so why should we pay for it. So just give y'all the heads up. 4 meals,4 drinks and 3 soups on styrofoam so you do the math. Kinda sad the place just doesn't feel the same anymore. Not inviting. The Plexiglass ,can't sit on the bar stools, have to go through the back door. It's like COVID is not going anywhere. Just give it up and remove all that stuff.

Fish and gravy. Such a crazy combination, but it is actually really good. I've been coming to this place since I was a kid and I don't think I've ever ordered anything else. My favorite thing to do is squeeze a few limes on the fish, then put a little bit of soy sauce, and finally, tons of gravy. The bread and butter they bring to the table is always a big hit too. The rest of the Chinese food is also pretty good (I've picked food off of my friends plates). Don't let the crazy location and old look of the restaurant fool you. After eating here, you will know why this is an old San Antonio favorite.

I eat at Golden Star all the time. I find the service and ownership to be on top of customer service and food quality. Always good value and excellent flavor.

Won't ever go back after they treated the young man. Terrible customer service . People are human beings and you shouldn't have a restaurant if u cannot treat people fairly .

Few eateries are deserving of cliche Yelp comments/rants such as "worst experience ever," "more like zero stars," or "absolute garbage," but Golden Star Cafe is an exception. This bizarre Chinese/American/Mexican hybrid is a depressing, disgusting, roach-infested (yes, a Yelp reviewer discovered a baby roach swimming in her soup) hellhole. The hobos and transients loitering near the entrance set the tone for what follows. As you enter the dining room, take note of the harsh, clinical fluorescent lighting, the sticky ceramic flooring, and the multitude of dirty, unbussed booths and tables. To label the cuisine "uninspired" would be a compliment; it's a confusing hodgepodge of Americanized Chinese (i.e., cubes of fried, previously frozen animal protein coated in high fructose corn syrup and Red 40), Tex-Mex (i.e., taco shells from Sysco, yellow cheese enchiladas coated in more gloopy yellow cheese), and the most reductive definition of American food imaginable (i.e., frozen burger patties and fried mystery fish coated in brown gravy). What the menu lacks in focus it wins with consistency; all entrees are beige and lacking in anything fresh or organic. Dining options are scarce near Cattleman Square, which likely explains how restaurants as awful as Golden Star Cafe and Pico de Gallo (review coming soon) have managed to survive for decades. Perhaps the revitalization of Downtown San Antonio will continue to spread and put this place out of our misery.

I would give this restaurant no stars if I could, the food was tasteless and not good at all. Fish plate was gross and fries were not fresh at all.The customer service is non existent in this place. I wouldn't recommend to anybody there are plenty of places in the area that offer better food and services.

The food is not great, nothing about it is good besides the fish and gravy that I've been eating since 1995 and my dad loves it so I accompany him here. I do have to say there is a waitress who is just so sweet and very welcoming. She's a Latina women a little heavy set, she is always so nice, I appreciate great customer service and this lady got it. I wasn't satisfied with the rice and she returned it and didn't charge me for it which I appreciate.

The food is always amazing! They also serve Mexican and hamburgers. My son says the hot sauce is descent! The service is good! One of my favs!

This place is definitely not fancy, but the food is solid. I got the lemon chicken and egg drop soup. Both were excellent. Total was $13 and it's enough for two large meals.

Food is decent. The man up front was rude and yelled at us. Has the dining room caged up and just can't crack a smile for anything. You can tell he is rude to his employees as well. I would come back if it wasn't for the attitude of the man up front. The man needs an attitude adjustment.

Officer outside was very rude, said under his breath "y'all can't read" cause we went around the parking lot in our vehicle the wrong way looking to park. Inside is no different with the owner have patience with workers and people who give your family business.

Had the 3 piece fried fish. It came with bread some shredded lettuce and tomato with an ordeer of fries. It was hot and delicious. It exactly what I was in the mood for and they did not disappoint. They have several options on the menu. It's worth the time to sstop in and try them if your close to downtown.

Came with my family waiter was nice, I ordered the Mongolian Beef the food was horrible rice tasted like it's been there for days, Mongolian beef smelled spoiled. When telling the waitress that my food wasn't good the old man looked at me and gave a dirty look and said " She picked at it she should have said something". Don't recommend coming.

I'm just leaving from here and holy shit was the man rude, took my card out of my hand rough. I'm never taking my elderly fathers here again

The food was decent for the price however it felt as if we were eating at a soup kitchen in a war torn country. Transients roaming the parking lot, yellow tape and plastic trash bags covering areas (covid related) the whole show seemed slightly unorganized despite their best efforts to accommodate COVID but cmon, it was July 2021. If your customers aren't vaccinated it's on them. Your restaurant looked as if you all just moved in and hadn't unboxed everything. The man/owner delegating was pretty useless. It was lunch rush and all I saw and heard was him pointing and telling staff what to do in a condescending manner

Always a go to for their fish and fried rice when visiting San Antonio. Been coming here over 40 years and happy they are still around

I used to come here years ago when they would put some slices of bread with butter on your table as you sat down, I asked the waitress about the bread, she said that she needed to know what we were going to order because the bread only comes with the fish. That's not how I remembered it back in the 90s but things change and the sliced bread they served us was so soft! The menu is extensive it can take you a while to see what you want! Everything was so good I have no complaints about the food or service. They have little juke boxes on the tables that take change only. I tried putting in nickels and my song did not come out, I told the waitress if I could have my .25 back and she got it back for me at the front counter, it would be good to have a sign that says quarters only because there was no sign posted. There are homeless people at the front door asking you for money and also some that go into the restaurant asking for money, I hope the owners can crack down on that because it's not pleasant when you go out to eat and you have beggars asking for money. Not the time or the place for that. I'd definitely recommend this place to go eat Because I can't wait to go back and try their other foods!

Terrible terrible terrible, the food was so so, the service was terrible, the manager was barking orders and literally yelling at employees from across the restaurant ( everyone's short handed just get out there and help them) he was literally just standing at the register, the phone would ring and he wouldn't even answer the phone, the poor waitresses were running around like crazy, the bus boy took our drink order and brought our teas. We will not be back.

Restaurant Was amazing food and great dining but it was the server she had a nasty attitude had her airpods in and had a nasty face expression each time we asked for something like a refill and missing food items. We asked for refills three times until we had to get up and walk to the owner for a refill. She's the one with red hair ! Don't recommend her for a server, if she doesn't like her job or ppl why work as a server!

My fav place in SA. Great lemon chicken and their Fish on Friday's hits the spot. Long lines but for good reason. Support local :)

I don't understand some of the bad reviews because my order was amazing. Maybe I lucked out with my decision though. Moo goo gai pan with chicken, steamed rice, and egg rolls. I would recommend getting at least two for you because it's good but that's me. I will say the fried rice didn't look like fried rice so there's that. My boyfriend got that with his order.

Been going here since I was a kid. Is it the best.... probably not but this place is my childhood and reminds me of home. I go here to this day and prices have always been fair and a good amount of food served. This is a San Antonio locals secret