No. 1 Express

Delicious food at a great value. Every dish was spot on and came out quickly but we were the only table seated at 9:30PM on a Thursday. Pretty small seating area with a cluttered interior but there is clearly care behind every plate. The chongqing noodles were quite spicy and numbing - my personal favorite. The crispy duck rice was very rich, and the spicy beef soup with rice noodles had a vinegar flavor that cut through but was a little lacking. Additionally the hot and sour jelly was refreshing and spicy.

I was excited to visit. Photos and reviews looked impressive. There are one questionable photo where the chicken looked under cooked. The eating area design and layout is simple but feels comfortable. However, there are clutter on bar counter and boxes piles by the far table and under the bar counter. Food was good. The smoke duck and dried green beans stir fry was well made and very flavorful. I wish service was better. The owner and his translator has no concept of giving customer a piece and quite eating experience. They talked loudly and on speaker phone.

My boyfriend and I had the braised pork belly and it was amazing also the stir fry cauliflower was stunning and would definitely go back for more of it. The pan dumplings I'm sorry to say felt like the filling had expired could not eat it. But definitely recommend this place. Wish they had house tea hot or cold.

We found this little whole in the wall and are pleasantly surprised how tasty everything is! We order the Shepherd’s Purse, Crispy Fried Pork Rice, and the Braised Pork. DELICIOUS!! Definitely coming back!!

Awesome authentic food, for a very good price. Though it did come out a bit slow and in takeout containers even though we were sit in customers.

Tasty at a very cheap price! The food is fresh, dishes are authentic! Edited 1: I can't imagine ppl who are complaining too sweet, this is the AUTHENTIC ShangHai style! A pitch of sugar adds extra flavor!

Glad I stopped by for a quick meal after my doctor's appointment. Braised pork was delicious and price was fair. Would definitely come back for more. Cheers.

Low key place but what a great find! Just what I’m looking for. Authentic! Braised pork was soft and perfectly prepared. Can’t wait to try their other items.

Stumbled into here by a security guard in the complex. Their braised pork rice was really good and delicious. Will be back....very soon again. (lol) This shopping complex seems to be relatively quiet, but rest assured a trip to check out No1 Express is well worth it.

So yummy! Stopped by for some late night take out. Everyone was really friendly. Food was delicious and they give you a lot for your money. We got one of each dumpling and it was very delicious and couldn't finish it all! Next time I'm in the area definitely getting take out again!

I really liked it here, it was quaint. The windows were all cracked, the dining space felt more like a bar scene, low lighting and lots of red. The lady that took our order was very nice and welcoming. The food was pretty good all around, prices are great and they send out your plates as ready. Obviously went for the NO 1, thought it was really good, also got the ribs pretty much the same just different parts. Had the jelly, it's served cold, was ok to me, my friend ordered seconds. Braised beef noodles were amazing and so was the black pepper chicken, I reordered that. Will return!

Sometimes I just have meat cravings. Crispy salty meat. I was supposed to have had duck w a friend a couple days prior, they sold out. Kismet that I ended up in the parking lot across from this place. I went back and forth between duck and pork belly but not every place had duck so that settled it. Short wait but it was worth it. They have fridge/freezers w food made in them that you can just buy so that's really cool! Lotta foot traffic while I waited. They're steady busy even if no one's eating inside. Great portion for the price, but beyond that it's mother effing delicious!!! I ate entirely too much in the car. Low key couldn't stop! But I did save some and made an amazing ramen the next day. I loved it and will absolutely be back! Highly recommend!!

We found this place around the area open late during a weekday. We just came back from a long drive from NorCal so something simple, easy, and warm was exactly what we needed at night. Everything was reasonably priced with decent portions. The lady working there was also very friendly. I ordered the spicy beer soup with rice noodles. I'm used to Taiwanese spicy beef stew noodles but this is more of a China-style soup noodles. It is more of the mala numbing spice, good thing I asked for little spice. It was very flavorful and satisfying. I've ordered a tea egg on the side but this bowl includes a pan fried egg already. Looks like it's known for their braised pork belly and duck. Will try next time!

So underrated, my go-to comfort chinese food in the 626. Extremely fair prices for great grab and go dishes. It feels like a hole in the wall bc there aren't too many customers on any given day, but their recipes beat a lot of larger Chinese eateries around for me, especially the Cold Chicken noodle - a must try, I rarely have tried any noodle this perfectly savory and sweet! So refreshing too. Service is always the same staff making it feel cozy.

On a Tuesday evening around 6PM, there was only one other table seated, and the employee was mixing ground beef. She was very sweet, and offered suggestions despite the language barrier. She also asked if I needed utensils or napkins with my to-go order. The place did give off authentic vibes, with there being minimal english throughout the restaurant (e.g. menu, spoken language, etc). We ended up getting food to-go: - Chongqing Noodles $8; very simple noodle dish with no soup. Szechuan, numbing flavor, with one fried egg and a dan dan noodle texture. I prefer my noodles bouncier, so it personally was not a favorite. - Shrimp Wonton $11; not much shrimp flavor. More pork than shrimp. I wouldn't get either of these again, but their rice dishes look promising.

Been living in Arcadia for more than 2 decades and yet our 1st time here. That's goes to say about how abundant and fortunate we have it with food options!!! We first tried Tofu King next door and that's a 1st & last. We tried some of the new items there but $60 for 2 is just too much!! And NO water service killed it for me . So for similar food, #1 Noodle Express is a better option for us and brought kids with us this time. Most of everything was delicious thought Kang Kang Food Court's pan fried buns are still better! I did like the wonton seaweed soup which is a rare find. The fried duck rice was surprisingly good and unique since we've only had it at Cantonese cafes. Why 3 stars? Service was a bit slow despite being the only table dining in. Wanted the temperature of some of the food to be hotter! Onion oil noodle better at other places so for those reasons, 3 stars adequate and would still return tho. Jair don't know when if ever with so many options.

Food was reasonably priced. Stewed pork wasn't as sweet as I liked but it was very soft. Crispy duck rice came in huge portion. Loved the hot and sour diced beef rice and spicy hot pot. Both were very flavorful. I'd skip the chicken legs and pork chop though. Both were very dry and hard.

This place is honestly one of the hidden gems not just throughout Arcadia, but also, throughout the WHOLE San Gabriel Valley. If you're looking for one of the most authentic restaurants, look no further than No. 1 Express in Arcadia! They offer an authentic cultural atmosphere that truly immerses diners in the rich experience of Chinese cuisine. Food: 5/5 The menu features a wide range of traditional Chinese dishes made with fresh ingredients and expertly prepared by talented chefs, like Sauerkraut Fish (酸菜魚湯) to shrimp wonton soup (蝦球餛飩湯). What I liked most about each dish was: not only were they cheap, they were DELICIOUS. Each dish bursted with flavor and the taste of each of them was very concentrated in the soupiness of the wonton, ensuring a truly satisfying dining experience from start to finish. Service: 5/5 In addition to its authentic cultural atmosphere, No. 1 Express also prides itself on providing great service to its customers. The staff is attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu, always ready to offer recommendations or answer any questions guests may have. Whether it's helping with food allergies or dietary restrictions, ensuring prompt service, or simply making sure everyone at the table has everything they need, the team at No. 1 Express goes above and beyond to make every dining experience memorable. Atmosphere: 3/5 I got takeout because I didn't really want to stay inside the restaurant for that long. The restuarant did seem a little dirty on the inside -- lots of boxes since it's a family-owned business.

The spicy beef noodle soup was so good. The noodles were soft and it was a big portion for a good price. The ambience is quiet. They have a TV, but it wasn't on when we walked in and we were provided service very promptly!

I usually hate chinese food because I always eat it everyday (im asian) but I could eat at this restaurant any day of the week. The staff are welcoming and make me feel like im family and the inside is so inviting and warm and filled with delicious smells. I love this place.

A very inexpensive place to get all the Chinese classics. I always come here to pick up some braised pork belly rice paired with one of my favorite Chinese dishes (tomatoes and eggs). This last visit my food was fresh and the service was quick when I ordered two takeout plates. Would highly recommend for some very cheap eats

Found this place on yelp with a friend at midnight, the food was very economical, low priced and the staff was very polite in helping its customers even close to closing time. Theres honestly nothing i did not enjoy about the experience. Portions were large too, for a $13 dollar meal i was able to split into two meals.

I had the hot and spicy crayfish with rice for a late dinner. The dish consisted of cucumbers and crayfish in a numbing spicy sauce over a large portion of rice. The flavors consisted of some saltiness and spiciness, but were not overwhelmingly so and went well with the rice. Overall service was good, and prices are inexpensive. The establishment is located in a tiny plaza and was easy to find parking when I went, although it may be tougher to find a spot during busier hours.

THEY STAY CONSISTENT. Food is tasty. Prices are ridic amazing. Lovely lady at the register is strikingly gracious. I mean. These are big hits on all fronts. Do I like that homestyle tomato egg? YUP I come for the duck, but stay for everything else. Highly recommend, let's keep it goin ppl. Support local businesses.

We had the fried chicken, braised pork belly, fried pork chop and crispy duck combos. For an appetizer we had the pan fried pork buns. I thought the food was fantastic. The fried pork chop was really tender and crunchy on the outside. The skin on the crispy duck was so tasty and the duck meat was so tender. The braised pork belly was also delicious. The pork belly was so tender and the sauce was so good all over the rice. The prices were really good. Our bill was about $52 for five orders and we were really full. I think that is a real value nowadays. I can't wait to come back to try some of the other dishes on their menu.

We found this little whole in the wall and are pleasantly surprised how tasty everything is! We order the Shepherd's Purse, Crispy Fried Pork Rice, and the Braised Pork. DELICIOUS!! Definitely coming back!!

Super awesome place with authentic food choices. The service is A plus. Can be a regular spot for someone live nearby.

This place is fire!!! It is literally number one! Their food is absolutely delicious and savory. Its cooked to perfection. All the flavors of the dishes that we've tried complement eachother. The textures, the flavors, the everything is just heaven in our mouths. Everyone here is really nice too. Do not miss out on trying the food here. I'm so glad we didn't and we will keep coming back to try new dishes.

Yummy rice bowls and fair prices especially considering they are located in Arcadia. Their rice is fluffy and soft!! Not dry like many restaurants like to cook it. We ordered the braised pork and rice, fried chicken leg and rice, and side of katsu pork cutlet. Braised pork and rice. Their braised pork belly with soy sauce was well seasoned and more savory than sweet (I have a savory tooth so I was afraid it would come out sweet so I'm glad it didn't). The soysauce pairs very nicely with the bed of rice it sits upon. The side of marinated cucumber and cabbage was not too salty or sour, so it was perfect for me. Fried chicken leg and rice. Chicken still juicy and nicely seasoned, not too salty. We ordered an extra side of fried chicken leg because we thought the rice order came with only one, but lo and behold there were two fried chicken legs per rice box. Yay! It's not a breaded fried chicken, but rather fried with the skin which brought out the flavors of the chicken well in my opinion. Katsu pork cutlet side. It was slightly crispy and not too salty. It came sliced in a box and served with katsu sauce so it is easy to share. I probably wouldn't get this by itself again but perhaps it tastes better when it is still hot. Ordered during weekday dinnertime via FanTuan delivery app. They had fast delivery, even though we ordered right before restaurant closed.

Was in the area and it was late and found this place. Staff was very friendly, she was thorough in telling us how to cook the frozen wontons I got. I ordered the fried pork chop and fried buns and they were delicious. Def recommend this place.

I keep seeing it in SGV group so I went to try it. I thought it was pretty good. I got a lot of stuff on the menu just to try everything in case it's a one time thing but I wouldn't mind coming back. Although the fried pork was so so after going back home, it was pretty good when I stole one to eat in the car. I would say they prob need to consider making their own sauce instead of just giving me mayo and ketchup though...lol. That was a bit whack. The chicken leg is consider fried chicken leg but it wasn't really what I would say as "fried chicken leg." It tasted ok though. The scallion noodle was pretty cheap, wasn't my favorite but it was only $5.50 and it came with a fried egg. they were known for their braised pork belly and duck. I wouldn't say the pork belly was the best I've had considering a lot of places make this but it was pretty tasty. It definitely wasn't the worst I've had. Maybe could be a little more tender but since I order it as the whole dish(and not with the rice, I thought it came with quite a bit. I thought the real stand out was the duck. I really liked it. It was really flavorful and really tasty. I've just finished the leftover and it was still really good. Highly recommend the duck, but I think it was translated as crispy duck? it isn't crispy though lol. I would definitely considered coming back.

COVID-19: Social distancing is enforced at this establishment. All of the staff wears a mask. All customers are expected to wear a mask too. The staff also wear gloves. There are some hand sanitizers available for customers to use. This place is available for take outs and has no outdoor seating available with limited capacity. They are also sanitizing in between customers. While I was grabbing my food from this establishment today, I asked if they had any special offers and they weren't offering any at the moment. They currently don't have happy hour. They also do not allow pets in their establishment. Parking: This establishment shares a parking lot with several other establishments. Prepandemic, parking was a massive pain in the butt because the parking lot is small. However, during the pandemic, there are plenty of parking spots available. Just beware though, some parking spots are smaller than others. So your car may get dinged. Food: I ordered the crispy duck to go. The crispy duck was so yummy and mouthwatering. Definitely very crispy and crunchy. However, I have two complaints, which is why I decided to take off one star. First, they forgot the sweet and sour sauce that I had asked for. Second, for $14, the portion was a bit small. Low key disappointment in the amount that they gave me for the price. Oh well. The food was still good though. Staff: The staff here are very welcoming and nice. Super easy and quick checkout. They take credit card and cash. No credit card minimum.

Orders braised pork belly rice combo to-go given the excellent reviews they have. Out of the four pieces in my box two were pure fat, not edible. I think this is just bad business practice since they know it's take out, chances are you will not go back for $12. I would not order from here again.

The chicken legs were bleeding and I was so sick of eating such undercooked food I wouldn't eat it again. I was a person who ate such food not long after surgery, and the consequences were unimaginable. I will also tell my friends to avoid lightning.

Food is good and reasonable price. Good service and fast. My Togo is ready within 10 mins

All dishes were cooked to exceptional standard and presentation. There's an artist at work here and I can't wait to come back. Hidden gem.

So I searched up "cheap eats" in my area and this popped up so I gave it a try one day. While both items I ordered were under $10 each, it was loaded with rice and not too much for toppings. Definitely not for me and doesn't justify as good for value. Their braised pork was pretty good but really can't eat too much as it gets really filling. I also ordered their mushroom chicken, not a big fan.

RIDICULOUS STAFF AND WAIT TIME!!!!! Ordered to go on a Sunday night at around 6pm. We ordered #2 half crispy duck, #9 fish with pickled mustard green, #24 wonton. Was told by the staff that the order would be ready in "20 min". But ended up waiting for 1 HOUR!!!!!!! 64 min to be exact. More than TRIPLED the wait time that I was told while placing the order!!!!!! As I followed with their staff about my order, they said #9 the fish takes a longer time to prepare. Well...... I mean, if you already knew, why would you told me 20min at first when I placed the order??!!!! This is completely unreasonable!!!!! I asked to cancel my order and to get a refund. They said the food is ready!? I insisted that I do not want it anymore as I have waited enough! Anyways, long story short, they didn't process the refund and I was told that they gave the order of wonton to another customer!! WTF?! Never coming back again! And I DO NOT recommend anyone coming unless you like to wait....

Decided to try this fairly new restaurant. Located near By the ups store. Phone Ordering was easy. we tried the following. braised pork rice - the pork was way too fattening. Two large chunks of the pork was actually like 97% pure fat. the taste was also on the sweet side. fried pork chop rice- the fried Pork itself was Very lightly seasoned so it wasn't very flavorful. Combined with pure white rice, was kind of dry. Somewhat disappointing. probably wouldn't recommend. And probably won't come back. i am also starting to doubt (some) Yelp reviews. Sometimes these reviews do not really reflect the truth.

1 SUPER Slow operarion 2 Super Rude LAZY Female owner ( might be manager not sure) 3 No english 4 Took 40 min just for coffee 5 Unfriendly serviece 6 staff holding food eating and waling around in place 7 No preparation for change at all 8 Staff eating food and waling around in place 9Unclean 10 No greetings or nothing 11 even Uber eats had to wait while I was surprised this place got such high rate Was it only us? We used to visit formaer restrunt of this place and We wanted to try for first time we regret we entered this place.. first Not of people spoke english so took more than 10min to order just coffee then I saw Female staff ( apparently she seemed owner or manager) was working? next table us then sudden she brought huge packages to our table withous asking and left.. she is saying[ leave this place asap?] we waited 40min to get just coffee... staff seemed just In & out eating food.. We left right after we got drink and Taste was so bad... We decided to leave honest review even people say good things about this place.. We were surprised How this female owner attiude was so bad How come owner can be this bad attitude to customer? sorry to say but She did not wear shoes well and looked unclean appealance I have no idea how this place operating with such operarion Sorry but we have to say This place was worst place we ever been to

The best braised pork 上海紅燒肉 for this size of restaurants in the area! We'll definitely come back again and again to try the other dishes. The fried pork chop is just done perfect. Crispy outside, tender juicy inside, to eat with the vinegary sauce, wow, yummy. Duck is delicious too if you don't mind bones.

If you're anywhere in the area and you're looking for an amazing Chinese restaurant, this is the place! It's a smaller venue, but it's a really cozy place. We came here for lunch, and it made me wish I lived local! Not only was the food prepared fast, it was also very good! Some restaurants you can tell they "rushed" the food, but this is not the case. The food is delicious, and it's very inexpensive! Again, some restaurants are not very generous with their portions, but this place has an amazing value! If you like the seafood, I highly recommend ordering NO.31, which is the hot and spicy crayfish with rice. We even got an order to go for later, it's that good!

The braised pork and rice was amazing my picky daughter loved it, the owners and waitress were so nice, they really know how to treat a customer. Id definitely go back again when I'm in the area

Solid new plate lunch spot. Got the duck, fried pork and sweet and sour pork ribs. The sides were all the same but I'm guessing that changes daily. Hopefully as things get busier they can have more variety with their sides. Giving it one of the best compliments by saying "would eat again"

Their braised pork and rice was beyond delicious. The meat was incredibly tender and felt like it would fall off the bone. We also ordered a spicy cold cucumber dish (off menu) which was fresh a d delightful

First time trying this place. Super nice staff. I was greeted shortly after I entered the shop. I ordered sour and spicy cold noodle and crispy duck. Highly recommend both! The duck was juicy and meaty. Would be better with some kind of sauce. Cold noodles was great! We really enjoyed the chili paste they put in there. Overall, very nice place! Prices are reasonable as well. Worth a try.

Amazing - all of the food was really good!!!! I'd definitely come back. Chongqing noodles, wontons, braised pork?! YUMMY

Just ordered the braised pork and crispy duck and chicken cold noodles. Portions are pretty good for the price and taste good. But there was no chicken at all in the chicken cold noodles: only cucumbers and noodles. I wasn't going to drive all the way back to complain. FYI: customers should check their food before leaving the restaurant.

Finally gave this place a shot and ordered a pork belly rice for lunch, and wow! Generous portion and price! $8! You can't really find that price in the area anymore. I appreciate how they dealt with the pork well to get rid of the stinky American pork smell without smothering it with strong alcohol. Pork belly is just going to be greasy, but it's not overly greasy. The skin is so bouncy and melty, love it! I only complaint was that there wasn't much fragrance to the pork. I'm used to braised pork belly smelling amazing, and this is lacking. 色香味缺了香. I also am not too into the cucumber with egg...weird combination... Will be back to try something else!

This restaurant has been on my radar for a while, and finally, I found a time to try. The price is very reasonable. I like their mushroom with ground pork. This reminds me of my mom's cooking. I also try their pan-fried bao. It is a little bit too sweet for my taste. Overall, this is an excellent restaurant and will come again.

#19 braised pork rice had so many 5 star reviews and it was just down the street from a doctor's appointment in Arcadia. It was well worth the money - less than $10; ample portions. Definitely rated 5 stars & will be back!

It was my first time here and I used yelp to help me find this gem. I had the braised pork with rice. The sides included cold cucumber and cabbage ( both delicious)

Omg! Totally unexpected! I went to UPS next door to make a return and saw this place and thought to give it a try. Saw this place before but never tried it. I ordered two items for lunch. Price was very reasonable, not pricey. It's soooo good. Writing the review while eating. Had to review this, it's just too good. The rice! The rice was perfectly made. It's fluffy and perfect texture. Not soggy that's all clump together like some places. Food is really tasty and flavorful. The chicken was juicy, tender and flavorful. Should've tried this place earlier. This will be another go to.

Food here is really good for the price point, portion size is just right. A friendly calming environment for a easy and casual lunch/dinner on a weekday. Service here is decent, they're really friendly just not that quick on their feet but if you're not in a rush, it's bearable wait

We weren't expecting much from this place, but this place is amazing! Their food was hot, fresh, flavorful, and well made. It didn't taste like something they cooked up from frozen or made with a lot of fillers. We ordered the braised pork belly rice ($8.50). It comes with rice, a fried over hard egg, a side of soy sauce ish gelantious jelly (not sure what it is, maybe it's hot and sour jelly?), and spiced pickled celery salad. We don't usually eat celery so this was alright. The jelly was interesting, it's good but also weird. Tasty though. The braised pork belly rice was exactly what we expected, really good and flavorful. We would order this again. We ordered a side of deep fried pork chop ($3) because we wanted to try their pork chop rice but didn't want another rice combo. The pork chop was a regular panko bread pork chop with no seasoning on top. Something we could have easily made at home. We would not order this again. It comes with a side dipping sauce that's like a sweet soy sauce. We also ordered red oil chaoshou ($11, shanghai wontons) and pan fried pork buns ($11). The red oil chaoshou highlighted szechuan chili without much sugar or soy sauce. It was good but different than spicy wontons from A&J or similar. The wontons were really good though, very large and flavorful. A little bit too much szechuan mala flavor for us and we would probably not order again. The pan fried buns were super delicious here! It had a soft, yet firm bao skin. It wasn't overly bready. The filling was generous and flavorful, probably one of the better pan fried baos we've gotten in awhile. Tian You Feng Dumpling House was good too but a little on the skimpy side. We would definitely order these again. We were surprised they spoke english very well and also very friendly! We were very happy with our meal and dining experience. The restaurant was clean and it was relaxing to eat without feeling breathed on by the waitstaff or other customers. It was fairly dead on a Sunday afternoon but we did hear them getting phone orders. It was very affordable for decent sized portions. They are located in a small strip mall with other restaurants but some restaurants don't get a lot of foot traffic or aren't during certain hours of the day so parking is very easy. Don't hesitate to try this place out!

This is my first time here，Very authentic taste，shanghai style，our family loves it！recommend.

This place is awesome!! Affordable and super authentic Shanghainese food, I come here for the House Special Crispy Duck and the Pork Belly Rice. Shanghainese food is hard to find at an inexpensive rate, as the type of cooking is quite laborious - requiring a lot of prep, ingredients and time to produce rich and flavorful foods in the cuisine. When most people think of Shanghainese food, Xiao Long Bao (XLBs) is probably the first thing that comes to mind, but this place offers a wide variety of other Shanghainese specialties, including Kaofu, Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, and Oil noodles. Though the menu is quite meat-centric, each rice combo usually comes with a small serving of vegetables and tomato egg to balance the sweetness and saltiness of typical Shanghainese foods. Don't be afraid to stop by for a quick bite or call in an order to go, this is definitely a place not to be missed if you're in the area!