Corner 21 Chinese Cuisine (Temporarily closed)

Shocked. Delighted. Swept off my feet. Better than most of the best (most authentic) Chinese places you’ll find in cities 5 times the size of Springfield. Do yourself a favor: Eat here. Don’t order your standard American fare. Shop their picture-filled menu and go for something real. I can’t believe this place exists. It’s THE hidden culinary gem of Springfield. Skip your visit to the world’s largest fork and visit this place instead.

I was very happy to find this place. I'm quite the foodie and will oftentimes travel long distances out of state, just to satisfy a craving. Traditional Chinese food is something that I've never been able to find in this area and I typically travel to Dallas just to have it. I am a big fan of Sichuan cuisine. The spicy crispy chicken. And the crispy fish have always been a couple of my favorites, and they make them wonderfully here. Thank you very much to the owners for providing such a wonderful restaurant in our small area.

This was a fantastic little authentic Chinese restaurant in Springfield. The food tasted amazing, and the portions were pretty good. The staff was also very nice and quick to wait on us. Each dish doesn't have a ton of variety, so it is best if you go with someone and split two or three different dishes! Definitely a great experience, and I can't wait to return to try some of their other dishes. I did return and was able to try a few more plates, and once again, it was all phenomenal. This place does not disappoint.

Very big portions! Definitely can get one dish and share. Even the rice you get is plenty for two people. The service was a little odd. The young lady working the front, cleaning dishes, also took my order but hardly saw her. By the time I got to ask for some spicy oil my food was room temperature. Crunchy chicken with nut wasn’t bad. Definitely needs some spice for my liking. The menu is very large and other than my “waitress” the other staff were very friendly. Several people checked in on my table. I would come back again and try something else

If only there were more stars! What an absolutely fabulous time we had eating here! The staff was warm and welcoming. They helped us decide which items to choose and what great choices the were! We had all of the dishes were so incredible, we had trouble picking our favorite. I loved the Szechuan Chicken was probably my fave. Just enough spice, dry instead of saucy and sauce a delightful crispness. Thank you for such an abasing experience!

At Corner 21, the dining experience was delightful. The Hot Crisp Fish and Chicken Cumin Fried Rice were particularly outstanding, tantalizing the taste buds with their flavors. The service provided was commendable, with attentive staff ensuring a pleasant meal. Moreover, the prices were very reasonable, adding to the overall satisfaction of the dining experience. It's definitely a restaurant worth recommending for anyone seeking delicious Chinese cuisine at a great value.

I wish I could eat here every day! This is some of the best Chinese food I have ever eaten in my life. Every bite was savory and so satisfying. I honestly felt like I was in China, eating real authentic Chinese cuisine. I commend the chef and everyone who works here. They are extremely hard working people who have a true passion for the food they serve. We will be traveling over 2 hours just to eat here. We're so happy we finally found our favorite Chinese restaurant not too far from home.

The dish I had at this restaurant was absolutely delicious. The flavors were perfectly balanced and the presentation was beautiful. The portion size was generous and left me feeling completely satisfied. I highly recommend trying this dish, it is definitely worth it! 🤤

Absolutely everything we ordered was outstanding, especially the handmade pork buns. Service was blazing fast and super friendly, excellent value as well. I don't think you could go wrong here.

GUYS. I CANNOT RAVE ABOUT THIS PLACE ENOUGH. My girls and I planned a trip to visit one of our friends that had moved out to Missouri and she showed us this place. Coming from Southern California, I had high standards and low expectations for a restaurant that was out in the Midwest. And, boy was I wrong. When we entered the restaurant, it was busy and loud, but we were immediately seen to by a hostess that seated us quickly. They had plenty of tables and the menu looked extensive and authentic. My friend ordered for the table and we got waters while we waited. It was a little loud in there but it felt just like home. Hot and Spicy Fish (9.5/10): I dream about this. This was perfectly fried--hot and moist on the inside, spicy and crispy on the outside. Cumin Lamb (10/10): I rarely order lamb because of how easy it is to overcook it, but this was delicious! It was seasoned wonderfully and the lamb was tender. Green Beans (8/10): A classic green bean dish that you can never go wrong with. Well-made and the little spicy. Kung Pao Shrimp (8.5/10): NGL, I'm usually deterred by many items that have Kung Pao in it, but this was surprisingly delightful! The shrimp was yummy, the sauce was flavorful, and the veggies in it added a nice touch. Fried Noodles (7/10): Personally, I was not the biggest fan of it because it was sweeter than I expected. But my friend also said that it tasted a little different this time around and it was better last time she came.

Greasy food, regular service, generous portions, and noisy ambience. We came on a busy Sunday evening. We ordered the sizzling pepper steak and the braised beef noodle. After a 30 min wait the food came out. The sizzling pepper steak came out very hot and sizzling but it was incredibly oily. It was well seasoned, but way too oily. After we finished it, there was a puddle of oil remaining. The braised beef noodle was decent, and it was not special in any way. The restaurant was fairly clean, although the tables were packed tightly to fit the most amount of people. Our server was attentive, refilled our water frequently even though the restaurant was packed, and knew both mandarin and English. Overall I was mostly satisfied with the experience, but I would wish the food was less salty and greasy.

Folks should understand, this place is sole truly authentic Chinese food....and not at all, Springfield Style Chinese food. The place a really good....BUT...items can be really hit and miss on if it's flavors you're remotely used to. Menu doesn't have any descriptions of the dishes themselves. I would highly suggest that you ask about (what) is in a particular dish. A great dish: sizzling beef pepper steak. This dish smells and tastes fantastic. Atmosphere is nice, tables are comfortable...and they generally prevent the dishes nice. Portions are quite ample.....and should be...as it's not particularly cheap.

What a meal! We had steamed dumplings. Fried rice And the crispy duck came out with a great sauce, fresh green onions, fresh cucumber, and a very thin pancake. Then bonus was the soup !

This place is awesome! I'm so glad they opened a new place that's so much larger and in a great location! Everything we've tried has been terrific! If you like Chinese and are maybe thinking about something different than Orange chicken go here!! It's a win!!

Second time eating here and once again, they blew us away with excellent service and outstanding food! What stands out too is the other customers!! Customers are very comfortable asking what you chose from the menu or will describe what they have. The dishes are brought "family style" so their portions are quite large!! If you're thinking about coming here, don't wait!!

The best Chinese in a land of many good Chinese restaurants. Best Chinese I have had. Anywhere. Favorite menu items 4 6 13 16 27 35 (sub chicken) 62

Located in the former Sugarfire Smokehouse on Republic Drive, my brother treated me to dinner here after cocktails at nearby Char Steakhouse for a belated birthday present. This was his third trip here and my first. I absolutely loved it! At first, when I heard that a Chinese restaurant was being put here I thought that's just what Springfield doesn't need, another Chinese restaurant! LOL! I was quickly eating my words because this place is authentic and reminded me of the fantastic Chinese restaurants we have in St. Louis. I ordered the egg tofu with shrimp and mushroom and my brother ordered the cumin lamb with cilantro. I thought his dish tasted more Mediterranean, but it was very delicious. I absolutely loved my dish and both were big enough for four people so we had lots of leftovers. My only critique is that in my large bowl they were only four small shrimp, it was mostly tofu and mushroom. I will definitely come back to try some more specialties. I'm kicking myself that I didn't get interior photos because the lighting was truly adorable. Imagine tangled nests with eggs nestled inside as the lights, and then little birds perched alongside, so cute! This is a welcome addition to the Springfield restaurant scene!

This has been the best Chinese cuisine I've had in a long time. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is great. 10/10

Delicious.. absolutely delicious. I haven't had good Chinese food since leaving Hawaii and Corner 21 brought me back home. The braised pork belly w/rice is a must try. Their pineapple chicken reminds me of an orange chicken from Pandas Express, for anyone wanting something "safe". I also recommend their spicy szechuan chicken. I'm throughly impressed. I didn't even get food pics because I ate so fast I can't wait to go back.

I could tell by looking at the photos and reviews on Yelp that this place was going to be wonderful. Thankfully, when we finally gave it a shot, we were not disappointed. Talk about made fresh. Everything was so delicious and freshly prepared. Flavors were spot on. The service was fantastic. They always made sure that our drinks were filled and we had everything that we needed. My absolute favorite dish was the fried green beans with minced pork. Get it with extra minced pork and you'll love it. The steamed dumplings and pancake appetizer are also really good. Highly recommend! They also have clean restrooms with an extra large sink outside the restroom area so you can quickly wash your hands if you don't actually need to use the restroom. Pretty cool. We can't wait to go back for more!

Not traditional menu Expect a very different menu Like no Chinese food I've ever experienced Just not for me and my wife

I ordered a take out. They made my food in a timely manner however I don't know why when I pick it up, they torn away my receipt ? Also for two dishes to cost $50 is ridiculous. I just don't like it!

Very good food. We have eaten here maybe 5 times, and nothing has gone wrong, not even in the slightest. Always very hot and fresh, and my kids love the boba drinks. I will admit, I am not a huge boba guy, but they are delicious. Handmade Pork Buns are something else, and the Spicy Fish maybe my favorite anywhere. The place does get very busy on Friday and Saturday nights, but they are very efficient getting the line moving and people sat and eating quickly. I do wish they served adult drinks, or at least beer, but I will not deduct anything for it as they are again, just sooooo good.

Amazing food! Don't be fooled by the exterior. While limited in size to about 24 chairs, they serve up big flavors! The Hot Crispy Fish is the most popular dish but I also rotate thru several others including Cumin Lamb w Cilantro, pork belly w green beans, shredded pork in garlic sauce and the sweet & sour pork. We also add a green many times. The green beans w minced pork and bok choy are both winners!

My new favorite Chinese restaurant! 10 out of 10. The staff was friendly and offered help with any questions. Quick service. The food is amazing and fresh. The restaurant is clean and decorated nicely. I recommend trying.

Service was quick and the open table seating was fine. No appetizers or egg rolls listed on menu. White rice was plain and had no taste. Portions were big, but had little to veggies in them. Overall nice setting, but food was not a traditional menu.

The food quality and authenticity of the cuisine was exceptional. The restaurant is always full and many patrons are also Asian so you can expect food true to Chinese flavors and quality.

Food was greasy and I didn't finish. The atmosphere was not my vibe. Loud and obnoxious.

First off, they moved from Sunshine to Republic Road. I suggested an edit on Yelp to update the new address. The food was great, this is much different than your standard Springfield Chinese fare. They even have traditional Peking duck on the menu, which is tough to find in Springfield. The service was not great though. Two of the three in our party received their entrées, but our third entree never arrived. We did ask about it, but they eventually brought out the wrong dish. Wouldn't have brought this up, but we noticed that others around us also received their main courses at different times. Leslie, it would be nice to have a glass of wine or a beer with dinner. Was surprised that no drinks were offered at a nice restaurant like this. Overall, the food is fantastic, they just need to button up their service.

Small unpretentious location with delicious authentic and generously portioned dishes with a large variety from which to select.

Their food, I'm told, is of the authentic Chinese variety. Apparently, authentic Chinese food is the best food in the world. Excellent service in a quaint, fun spot. I will definitely be back.

The food was INCREDIBLE, why did I wait so long to try this place?! I love it, I'm hooked!

Best Chinese restaurant in Springfield!! I've been wanting to try this place for what seems like forever so my boyfriend and I finally tried them out and we both really loved it. The restaurant smelled very delicious upon entry and the service was spot on. The ambiance felt cozy like the perfect little spot to come enjoy some tasty nourishment on a rainy day or when it's cold. The employees were very knowledgeable about the menu. We got the hot chicken ( not sure of the proper name ) And the hot fish that was similar to the hot chicken. Both dishes came with white rice which were very tasty. We will be back!! Thanks Corner 21:)

The variety and the food is exceptional- best Chinese food that I have ever had. Freshly prepared, hot and large servings. Best to eat family style --order 4-5 dishes.

Best Chinese food in Springfield. They are amazing We have had Asian food all over the USA and we love this place. It authentic and the atmosphere is wonderful

I highly recommend the Peking duck. In addition to the delicious crispy skinned duck breast it comes with a flavorful duck soup. Also I recommend the lamb and tofu. The pork buns were tender and delicious.

I Highly recommend this place, their new location on Republic Road is much bigger. The portions are quite shareable and absolutely delicious. There were 3 of us, we had the wonton soup, chicken and nuts, beef with cumin and cilantro, and crunchy pork. I think my favorite was the beef but again they were all delicious. We came home with a lot of leftovers. The service was great too! We will definitely go back.

Best Chinese food in Springfield! I wish the atmosphere was a little classier, but the food is outstanding!

My 6 year old Inara wanted to leave a review so here we go: "Corner 21 is the best! It's got the best foods! If you want the very best food, do the spicy chicken (sczchuan chicken) and the pork and rice (shredded pork with brown sauce ). And do the green beans too!!! Also, it has a cute little lion statue there!" *We all love it there. My husband grew up in China and can confirm it is the most authentic Chinese food in the area.

So good! Food was delicious. Duck was authentic sweet-and-sour pork was our favorite and like no other that I've tried - the pork was super thin and crispy, and the sauce was delicious. The surprise of the evening was how good the green beans were.

Wow! I have found my new obsession- I was not expecting the food to be this great! Super authentic Chinese food - not fried rice and cheap breaded chicken no spring tiles no frozen potstickers this place is legit gourmet from scratch Chinese food. Huge portions high quality meats and fresh veggies. The menu looks simple but there are about 40 dishes all vastly different and complex flavors. I ordered two dishes and it ended up being a full meal for me, lunch the next day and my wife even got a lunch out of it. Environment not great but you quickly lose any interest in where you are as the food comes out. Service is nice but lacking in the traditional waiting on tables sense. Again you go for the food not the small one person bath that feels like your at a bus station. I'm going back next week.

They falsely advertised their fried rice to be nearly vegan. When we called to check what it meant we were told yes it can be made vegan as the chef cooks to order and removes ingredients that are not vegan. But at the restaurant after waiting for the meal we were served fried rice that contained egg. The chef refused to remove egg and said fried rice cannot be made without eggs. Eggs are not vegan. So many Chinese restaurants offer fried rice as vegan, but the chef refused to accommodate. They should stop false advertisements. Besides their menu is unorganized and they place tables so close that makes the ambiance loud.

The food was great as always! Service quick and friendly. The green beans and amazing and the wok style chicken and beef are so yummy. We hope the old location reopens soon too!

Big servings, delicious food, the sweet and sour pork is amazing with the perfect crunch. Will be back again for sure

We heard all the hype, and gave it a try on a Friday night at 5:30. Waited a half an hour for a table, ( more seating out front would be appreciated) understandable because it's such a popular place. Once seated, it was all just being " processed " instead of valued as a guest. The large, noisy communal room wasn't a great vibe, but maybe some people like that. We waited over an hour for our food, ( no wine or beer to ease the pain, as it wasn't on the menu) most of the time with waiting to go customers standing near our table. When the food finally arrived in intervals, that style of service, but not our thing, it was just boiling in grease. Definitely some interesting flavors, great portions and quality ingredients, but at the end of the day, too greasy and not a pleasant dining experience.

Wonderful! Good service, and I like their new expanded space, but it's the food that really excels. Yum!

The good part is that corner 21 normally has great food. However; we ordered takeout a few days ago and threw over half away. Everything was mush. I ordered the stir fried cauliflower and it was almost all broccoli. Only a few pieces of meat. Two pieces of cauliflower. Hubby ordered the crispy chicken and nuts and a side of the house noodles. All mush!! On a ticket that's close to $80, the food better be good! We called to complain and they actually said we had to bring all the food back in or no refund, credit, anything. We live 30 minutes away, so would not have brought it back. That's just silly. I'm not sure if we'll return. We are regulars! This left a very bad taste In our mouths-literally!

Cumin lamb with cilantro is amazing! Wife had the pineapple chicken and we shared fried rice. All very good. First time visit for carry out. I will be back!

Delicious food! Portions are excellent. Service did not rate for a 5-star review. They were also breaking down/moving the seating in a small dining area to clean 40 minutes before closing. This ALWAYS ruins the dining ambiance or experience.

Had the roast duck. Full portion with all accompaniments. For starter the pork dumplings and fried green beans. All top shelf.

There are so many reasons to eat at Corner 21 - 1, 42, 26 are just a few. Twice cooked pork, green beans with pork, sizzling beef, fried fish, fried rice, etc. HOT OIL is amazing. Buy a big side of it and put it on everything! The service has always been great and take out quick and accurate. We have been devotees since the beginning and highly recommend it to everyone.

I ordered the orange chicken. Mediocre. Dry. Very little sauce. Bland. I ate a couple of pieces and threw the rest away. My wife got the tofu and said it was decent but nothing to write home about. I won't be a repeat customer.

This isn't your typical Chinese restaurant in Springfield and I'm so glad. From the outside, it looks like your regular cashew chicken place, but as soon as you walk in the door, you'll realize it's not. Traditional Northern style Szechuan Chinese food. Our first time here we played it safe and got recognizable dishes like sweet and sour pork and braised pork belly rice. OMG. When I say it was flavors unimaginable, I mean in a good way. The pork on Sweet and Sour Pork was very thinly sliced and fried in an amazing batter topped with crunchy leeks or something like that. 5/5 stars for sure. The Braised Pork Belly was delightful. Eggs perfectly cooked. Rice most and sticky. Bok choy and green onions were the perfect touch. Again 5/5 stars. Went back a second time and I attempted to be more adventurous and got the Fish and Tofu pot. Not my favorite flavor combos, but not awful. I ate it but wouldn't order it again. I can't rate it because I feel like my ignorance would be getting in the way. Am I coming back? Absolutely. I think I'll continue to try things I'm more closely familiar with before branching out to the super adventurous side again.

Don't let the exterior of the restaurant fool you. If you are looking for a legit mom and pop Sichuan restaurant, this is your best bet! I ordered my food Togo. I got the House Special Stir Fried Noodles, Special Cumin Calamari fried rice and the dry-fried green bean with minced pork. Everything was delicious! Well seasoned, fresh and big portions. I can't wait to come back and try different items on the menu.

This is a gem! Fantastic authentic Chinese and such high quality! Not a huge place so seating is at a premium!

This place is about as authentic as you're going to get when seeking Chinese food here in Springfield. Having grown up with Szechuan food and longing for that authentic taste, Corner 21 really brings me home. This small unassuming restaurant has quickly become a favorite through the local Chinese community. When driving by Corner 21, you probably wouldn't even know there are tables set up inside. The small building has a drive thru and a surprising amount of seats for indoor dining. The indoor ambiance isn't anything that'll blow you away, but that has nothing to do with the amazing food on their menu. Being from the part of China that eats spicy foods every meal of the day, I was really looking forward to trying many of the menu items. I really appreciate their menu as it has both the Chinese and English names, but also pictures for those of us who eat with our eyes. We ended up going with an assortment of choices that are listed below. The plates came out quickly and the taste was spot on for all of the dishes. I was even more impressed when I learned the Chef wasn't even from the Szechuan province, but instead just has an extensive background working in Chinese cuisine. It's a shame that I am currently just visiting family in Springfield, as I would probably be here multiple days out of the week! The prices are just too reasonable for what you're getting. Clear Noodle with Sesame Sauce (7/10) Szechuan Xuewang (10/10, if you want to try something different and authentic, this is it) Sliced Ribeye with Enoki Mushroom in Curry (8/10) Kung Pao Shrimp (7/10) Mixed Vegetables (10/10)

I think this Chinese cuisine should been rated number 1 in the world. Me and my family always have to stop there when we're traveling through Springfield. The food is very fresh and the food comes out so quickly. The service is amazing and so kind always making sure you know what you're getting.