Twin Lion Chinese Restaurant

This was honestly the worst Chinese food I’ve had. The restaurant itself looks very old and antiquated inside, and it was extremely dark, which didn’t make for a pleasant dining experience. The chicken in multiple dishes was very hard and tough, almost as if it had been refried several times. The chicken fried rice had absolutely no flavor. I also ordered the Thai chicken expecting some spice, but it wasn’t spicy at all and had the same hard, overcooked chicken texture. Overall, the food quality and atmosphere were very disappointing. I would not go back again.

Extremely delicious. We got the mapo tofu and the pad Thai. Really well seasoned and balanced. I have plenty of leftovers. So good!

This place totally hit the spot for classic American-Chinese comfort food. I got the orange chicken, and it was super crispy and full of flavor—honestly one of the better versions I’ve had. The fried rice was tasty too without being overly salty, which I loved. It’s a family-owned spot, and the owners were so kind and welcoming. The owner was even practicing her Spanish so she could wish a Merry Christmas to the many Spanish-speaking Uber drivers picking up orders, and she kept telling them to drive safely. That little moment really stood out to me. I really enjoyed chatting with the employees, and I’ll definitely be back. Great food, great people…just a really nice experience all around.

I've had chinese food in Florida, Hawaii, and Kentucky and I am telling you, nowhere could I find chinese food better than this. I just moved here from Florida, and when i first visited here, I'm thought food must be better here. But after trying chinese in so many different areas, I realized, Twin lion is just the best. I live 1 hour away, but will make that drive. Prove me wrong if anyone finds better because, nah. I've never had stringy chicken or cabbage smelling anything. I will take Lactaid just to eat their crab rangoons. I don't play about my chinese food, im picky, but this place is good and yes, im about to drive 1 hr to get it.

Great place to get your Chinese on! Kelly was our server and is such a nice person. Great food and great service. I do wish they had beer on tap. BUT, the cheese puffs make up for this. If you don't order the cheese puffs you are missing out!

We were greeted by the sweetest Zumu (grandmother) who helped us. Unassuming casual restaurant filled with a very friendly atmosphere. The soups are so rich and flavorful at Twin Lion Chinese Restaurant in Austin. The seasoning is excellent. We had the lunch specials served with an egg roll and soup. We also had crab Rangoon - excellent- amazing fried oozing with delicious cream cheese and their steamed dumplings. The dumplings are big and very tasty. I had Mongolian. Perfect. Just perfect. Hubby had the "Dragon and Lion Fight" was also tasty with the vegetables still slightly crispy. We want to come back and try the appetizer sampler. We give this place for the great fresh food and the casual and super sweet service a 6!!. A restaurant does not have to be pretentious and fancy to be a 6 in my book!!!

Review 2- Oct 25th 2024 This time food was amazing. Andrea is a wonderful lady who helped us to get seated immediately and taken the order and served food quickly and it tasted hot and delicious. We ordered Hot and sour soup and chicken fried rice. Both are hot and fresh. Giving the five star rating for the portion size. Must recommended and much better than many thai and chinese restaurants. Firstly the entrance to the restaurant is a big solid red door, we are confused on whether the restaurant is open or closed until we see a label on the side, and no visibility of the hotel from outside since its all covered. A transparent door might help to invite more guests. Secondly the food is not served hot but it is only warm. We ordered sweet and sour soup, chicken fried rice and pan fried noodles. Portion size, taste, cost are all good except the temperature of the food. Staff is friendly and good to try.

I was greeted with the friendliest service. The owners were so kind and made me feel at home immediately. I started off with egg rolls which were warm and the vegetables in them were super fresh and crunchy. The duck was crispy and saucy and the vegetable lo mein was again super fresh and big portions. Amazing food, amazing service, amazing vibes. Would definitely come here again.

I ordered the Mongolian homestyle lunch special with beef and chicken only. The sauce wasn't exactly what I had hoped for, but it was pretty close or close enough to not bump a star off the review. Particularly because the prices are great for lunch special and the menu choices are plentiful. Although we pass this place many times on our shopping trip to the local grocery store, we finally decided to try it out and so happy we did. This will have to become a repeat lunch experience due to the service, prices, and the amount of food you get for the money.

Standard Chinese fare. Average prices for these inflationary times. The description here says "generous portions", yet the portions seemed to be on the small side. They offered my favorite sauce, hot mustard sauce, so that was a win. The service was quick and ice water was refreshing for a 100+ day.

My favorite Chinese in Austin! Great fast service and delicious food every time. Cute interior as well.

We were greeted by the sweetest Zumu (grandmother) who helped us. Unassuming casual restaurant filled with a very friendly atmosphere. The soups are so rich and flavorful at Twin Lion Chinese Restaurant in Austin. The seasoning is excellent. We had the lunch specials served with an egg roll and soup. We also had crab Rangoon - excellent- amazing fried oozing with delicious cream cheese and their steamed dumplings. The dumplings are big and very tasty. I had Mongolian. Perfect. Just perfect. Hubby had the "Dragon and Lion Fight" was also tasty with the vegetables still slightly crispy. We want to come back and try the appetizer sampler. We give this place for the great fresh food and the casual and super sweet service a 6!!. A restaurant does not have to be pretentious and fancy to be a 6 in my book!!!

Had food delivered so can't comment on service or ambiance. Food was flavorful. I can't speak to authenticity, but we felt it was some of the better Chinese food we have had in the N Austin area.

Stopped by Twin Lion for a weeknight dinner and I was pleasantly surprised. The general tso's chicken was crispy, hot and full of flavor. Eggrolls were crispy and good! Service was also great. Check them out!

When you come to Austin you need to stop here for lunch or dinner. Andrea sat us in a cozy corner, took our order and was helpful in making a selection, she was amazing. We started with egg drop soup, egg roll with crispy noodles; it was delicious. Our entrees were cashew chicken and my husband had combination fried rice; both were fresh and delicious. My husband had sweet tea and I got hot jasmine tea. There was plenty of leftovers. The restaurant is nicely decorated while love songs play. We will be returning all the way from Fort Worth Tx.

This is really not good. Everything was a dark brown like it had been sitting out for hours. I got sesame shrimp. Not good at all. If fact, bordering on horrible. I won't be back and I'm hoping I don't get sick. Just terrible.

Twin Lion is a cozy place with a pleasant atmosphere and dishes that pleasantly surprise. Especially liked soups - rich and fragrant, well balanced in taste. Lunch dishes were fresh and served quite quickly. Fried snacks had a crispy texture, and cooked dumplings impressed with the size and filling. The main dishes also left a good impression - the products are fresh, the sauces are well-chosen, the vegetables are crunchy. The only thing that slightly reduced the overall impression - small trifles in service: it was not always easy to attract the attention of the staff after serving dishes. But nothing critical. In general, a great place where you can eat without too much pathos. I will gladly return to try even more from the menu.

I love, love, love this restaurant. The family that runs it is so friendly and kind. But the food is legit. Very good Chinese cuisine. I especially love the Wonderful dinner and the chicken fried rice. They have great delivery and are always fast and the food is still hot. I enjoy the lunch specials when dining at the restaurant and I love the convenient arboretum location.m, which has ample parking.

Natives of Austin. Since moving back in 2020 we've been looking for a high quality Chinese restaurant for two years. Twin Lions is a great find. From the amazing Shrimp Toast to the under appreciated Egg Fu Young we haven't found a bad dish yet. The service is excellent and the older women obviously in charge know what they are doing. Never ending tea refills is not a lot to ask for but often lacking. Not here. We've found our Chinese comfort food home.

Went here the other week with my mother for the first time. She ordered the assorted fried rice, and I had the sweet and sour chicken. We also ordered the cream cheese puffs as an appetizer. Everything was fantastic, my mom said the shrimp were cooked perfectly. The breading on my chicken was light and crispy. The cream cheese puffs were the best I've ever had. And our server was very nice. We will definitely be back again.

Our clinic orders lunch every other Friday to show appreciation for their employees. It's really nice, I love that we do that because it really does make me feel appreciated! This week we all chose Twin Lion. It's good for a group because there are so many options. Lots of vegan and vegetarian options. They have seafood for pescatarian people in the office and also gluten free options as well. I chose the Buddha bowl with a vegetarian egg roll. Was it the best Asian style cuisine I have ever had? Maybe not, but it was impressive considering it was a small restaurant that is likely family owned. I loved that it was a healthy option that still tasted good. My coworkers also liked their various dishes that they chose. All in all, this is a great option for a group of people with various dietary restrictions. It can accommodate a lot of diets and everybody will be happy.

I've come here whenever I go into Austin! I think the thing that stands out the most is any of the saucy fried foods like general tso's or orange chicken was amazing. I don't really know how they do it, but they keep the crispiness when they slather on the sauce. You would think overtime, it would become soggy-- but these don't! I also really loved their basil dishes and the fried squid! 10/10 so delicious. Also, there is so much LOYALTY from their clientele. During their breaks during the day, you can see people just waiting in their cars waiting for them to open. I even overheard the owners saying they still have the same people coming after 30 years of service. If you're nearby and want asian food, this is your place!

Without hesitation I give Twin Lion five stars. We've been here three or four times and have ordered takeout once (planning on a second round of takeout tonight). The food is really good, the employees are the friendliest I've encountered anywhere in a while. Portion sizes are plentiful, and prices are decent. They have quickly become a favorite for us.

A group of us went for lunch. Very friendly waitstaff. Food was good. Solid Chinese in a typical Chinese restaurant.

We went there for Lunch and we thought everything was top notch! Bathroom- A+ Inside of the Restaurant A+ Service A+ Food and Price A+ on both and at a fair price we both ordered the lunch specials one with Chicken and Vegetable with Fried Rice and Wonton Soup and I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken with Fried Rice and Wonton Soup both were excellent and you cannot find better Chinese Food and Wonton Soup Anywhere I guarantee you that we met the new owner and she was very nice and explained the new ownership changes give this place a try I guarantee you will be back

Love their Fried Rice which I picked up for book club. Everyone loved it. They have been an Austin staple in the Arbor and the food has not changed. As good as ever.

Always looking forward to visiting this place. Staff is friendly. Some dishes are better than others, but consistent with portions. I never have to wait very long for my food. It's always hot and FRESH!

ordered takeout & the food was amazing! I got the wonderful chicken & egg drop soup. I'm a snob with egg drop soup & LOVED the one from here! Highly recommend :)

Twin Lions is a gem! I'm pretty picky when it comes to Chinese food, and the quality and taste exceeded my expectations. I ordered their Mongolian beef from their Lunch Menu that also came with an egg roll and hot and sour soup, and I demolished it lol. Great portion sizes too!

We haven't been here in a couple of years. The food is delicious, but we miss our waiters. No chili sauce just chili oil.. I don't know the difference, but my other half was intent.... The food is great.. please come visit...

Lady up front working register on Wednesday 02/05/2025 at 8 pm, is racist. Was super rude to my husband, while in the same breath being nice to everyone else. It made us extremely uncomfortable and we will not be returning. Food is bomb asf tho

Great friendly service. Perfect spot away from all the hustle and bustle of downtown Austin. Perfect location up North, across the parking lot to H‑E‑B at Braker/183. Food was perfectly portioned and a wide variety of the basics. Wonton soup was on par as were the egg rolls. Highly recommend the combination fried rice, shared with others in my party (3) and still enough to have as leftovers. There is wine/beers and sodas/teas/lemonade. Small to medium dining area with enough room for large parties of up to10. Love the whole family-owned vibe this place gives off. If you are looking for back to the basic, regular, Chinese dishes, this place is for you.

We went during lunch, so chose from their lunch menu, as well as their appetizers. This was our first time there, but definitely won't be our last. We had to order several different items so that we could taste everything, because it was so difficult to choose. The service was impeccable.

Our favorite egg rolls in town. Wonderful chicken, cashew chicken and egg drop soup- so good!

Best hot and sour soup we've ever had! Super friendly and very attentive staff. Quick service. Main dishes are always really fresh and very hot right out of the kitchen. Recommend the chicken with vegetables and Mongolian beef. Really relaxed environment and super clean. We'll be back for sure :)

This is top Chinese, hidden gem. It's traditional Dishes in a quiet store front with a few Thai specialties. Portions are very generous. Served fast and fresh. Not greasy...and lots of vegan options or even steamed veggies for those watching calories. Our waitperson was very attentive and checked back often, refilled water, brought extra sauce. This is not your Trendy Asian fair, so don't expect fusion dishes, pulsing music or graphic murals. Noodle dishes were standouts, as was a duck dish and all the appetizers. I'd love to try out some of their specialties.

Went to try this restaurant for the first time. A man behind us was arguing with the waitress because she was demanding he pay for his food in advance. The man asked her if she requests this from everyone and she refused to answer. She walked away and came back again harassing the man about paying in advance. He told her he would happily pay once he is done eating and asked her to leave him alone or call the police to settle the situation. When she came to take our order I asked her if we had to pay in advance and she said no. I said, "Then why does he have to pay in advance?" She refused to answer so we got up and left. The man did look disheveled and posssibly unhoused but why seat him and take his order if you never intended to serve him? Absolutely ridiculous and I will never spend a dollar at your establishment.

I do not understand the high reviews of this place. I guess we have a gap in tastes, expectations, and quality. My lunch experience here was less than stellar and there's nothing here that would provoke me to come back again, unfortunately. For lunch this place came highly recommended by many people, so I show up and for Covid they are only doing take out. She recommended the Wonderful Chicken, comes with rice, soup, veggie egg roll, for around $11. I read the Special Egg Rolls are really special so I ordered 2 for $5+. In all it came to around $16. I get home and first thing I notice is the rice is dried out and old, and they short changed me on the quantity by giving me a small ice cream scoop's worth (WTF?). A few days ago I had lunch at another Thai / Chinese place and they give you double the rice. The thing is - rice is really cheap, and these places usually throw out a lot of rice at the end of the day. It did not taste good - dried out and old. That is not good. Next thing - the Special Egg Rolls weren't really that special at all. They were small in size like the veggie ones you get w/ your lunch, and these should cost $3 instead of the $5+ range (for 2). The taste? Not that special. I went to Thai Cuisine last week for lunch, they have the same egg rolls on their appetizer bar which they offer free for lunch - as many as you want - and they taste way better. So what that means is egg rolls are cheap, but at Twin Lion they are not as good (as Thai Cuisine) and yet they are very pricey. Pass. The Wonton Soup - not good. The broth tasted off, it was too salty, kind of a plastic-like taste, and the wontons were okay but I did not like this at all - maybe sitting in the pot all day long and got old. The Wonderful Chicken was okay yet far from wonderful and it's definitely not healthy The quality of this dish is mediocre and it contains a lot of breading and MSG. Some may like this, but this is really cheap quality food - plus about an hour later I was ready to doze off for a nap (that's what MSG does to me - knocks me out). With everything so mediocre or bad, it certainly does not motivate me to try anything new here - hope that makes sense? They've been here 30 years (she told me), so they've survived but maybe they're just in a good location w/ limited Chinese options and competition. And maybe they used to be really good back in the day and offered respectable cuisine, but after time their quality and portions have deteriorated. I noticed a few people ordered the wings here, so maybe that's good, but for my lunch the quality was mediocre, they gave me dried out and stale rice in a very limited portion, and the wonton soup was not tasty. It was not a good lunch at all. Nothing special about the special egg rolls which were not worth the price, as it was my first and probably my last meal here. They were not horrible, hence the 2-star review ( = "meh I've experienced better"), they're just not my cup of tea.

We were greeted with the friendliest service. The owners were so kind and made us feel at home immediately. We started off with egg rolls which were warm and the vegetables in them were super fresh and crunchy. The duck was crispy and saucy and the vegetable lo mein was again super fresh and big portions. Amazing food, amazing service, amazing vibes. Would definitely come here again.

I have been eating at this restaurant for many years it use to be really good my favorite place to have lunch but now the ownership has changed and the food is not as tasty as it used to be to be. The service was good but not good enough to return for the food. The sauce on the chicken and broccoli was so sweet taste like they used a pound of sugar The soup was good the egg rolls really small

If I could give zero stars I would. I have been eating at Twin Lion for over 5 yrs and usually have good things to say. My fiancé and I order Shrimp Toast alllll the time, so our taste buds are very familiar with the texture and flavor. THIS, IS NOT SHRIMP! DIDNT SMELL LIKE SHRIMP, TASTE LIKE SHRIMP, AND DAMN SURE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE SHRIMP! To the "cook", you are a simpleton to think you could insult my intelligence! This is pork-ground pork! You up charge for seafood but serve me pork?! Last time at this establishment!!!

I've had this spot bookmarked for a while so when my friend wanted to meet up for lunch we checked it out. Parking was a breeze in this shopping center. We came around 1:15pm on a Saturday. We were seated immediately and it wasn't too busy. Servers were attentive. They offer lunch specials even on the weekend. That's a plus. I went with the Kung Pao chicken and egg drop soup. Everything was ok. I wish the Kung Pao chicken had more of a kick. This place started to get busy very quickly. While it is family friendly, there isn't a spot to change a baby at. Luckily, the counter is large enough to use that surface to change a baby. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and the service was amazing. Can't wait to try something else!

The combination pan fried noodle ordered is delicious and great! The server is attentive and nice. Highly recommended!

I have gone to Twin Lion for years, but this was the last time for me. I had sesame chicken...there was very little sauce on it, so it was very dry. It was also only luke warm. This place has really gone downhill.

Consistently good food and excellent service. We are here about once a month as our standard reasonably priced Chinese joint. Most of the folks here are regulars and the atmosphere reflects that. Friendly and casual with good banter between diners and servers. You can't get 2-3 swigs out of your tea/water glass before the nice lady comes by to refill. They are happy to accommodate most any request you have. Even though the menu says "no substitutions" for the dinner specials, they have never said a word when we ask for minor changes. You can go to fancier and more expensive places, but for a good meal at great prices this is your place.

I went last week to this Chinese Restaurant for the first time. It had some of the best Chinese food I've had in Austin. My favorite Asian food is Sesame chicken and fried rice and this restaurant provided some of the best quality for both. The service was great from the beginning. The staff was very attentive. We got our order taken care immediately. We didn't have to wait long before we got our food. We got refills without to ask for them. I'm definitely returning to this restaurant.

Love this place ! Amazing food and amazing service. Also very clean and really cute inside !

This spot has the absolute best egg drop soup! Other dishes such as the chicken fried rice and orange chicken are delicious. All dishes are a great size and the service here is awesome. One of the best local Chinese food spots in North Austin!

We are regulars here at Twin Lion and absolutely love the food. Kris' customer service is OUT OF THIS WORLD. She had our ordered practically memorized and when we call in she knows exactly who we are, hearing "Hi Issa" on the other side of the line when call in my pickup order always puts a smile on my face. We haven't been in a couple weeks due to moving out of the area and having a brand new baby, but once we are up for going out, we cant wait to go back to Twin Lion!

Twin Lion is open for indoor dining again! About six years ago a coworker asked if I wanted to order some takeout and said "You should try the Wonderful Chicken." It's been a staple for me and my family since then. We shifted to takeout exclusively when the pandemic forced the decision to close their dining room. And it was still delicious. I was worried they might be forced to close permanently as some of my other favorite establishments, but it seems they've pulled through and weathered the storm. I'm so happy we are able to go enjoy it in person again. Tonight our family celebrated my mother-in-law's birthday. Their staff is so kind, professional, accommodating, and attentive. Our food was hot, fresh, and delivered to our table quickly. Also, our drinks were refilled frequently. It's weird to rave about iced tea, but theirs always tastes so flavorful and good! We enjoyed the Crab Rangoon appetizer, hot and sour soup, wonton soup for the kids, some Kung Pao Chicken, and of course Wonderful Chicken. My youngest ventured out and tried the Spicy Chicken Wings and they looked really savory and saucy, he devoured them. Everybody was happy and satisfied. The bill was reasonable and there were leftovers taken. One note, they are using one section of their dining room to store supplies. It didn't bother us at all, but I guess if you were shooting for upscale dining it might fall short. I personally couldn't care less - I know they've had to shift their business to accommodate more takeout and delivery orders. I'm just happy they're open for business. Go have a great meal and a great experience inside Twin Lion and support a great local family business.

The food here is always delicious & the waitress are always very sweet and tentative HOWEVER, I thought it was odd being told by a lady with short hair and glasses (not the front cashier) on how to eat my food and telling another customer he has to use the things that were on the table. Instead of getting packets of what he wanted. I found that very strange and unprofessional. The sweet and sour came out chunky that was in the bottle on the table. The one they brought out to us in a cup was not chunky at all. Maybe there is a shortage or money is running low for these owners? Food is a 10/10 though.

We were visiting the area, wanting some Chinese food. We did a quick online search, reading reviews. Came across Twin Lion. It was a GREAT choice. There were plenty of tasty options (I got the vegetable with chicken combo and added spice). It was very good. TBH, I didn't love the wonton soup - was a little doughy. But I would so go again. One of the reasons was our server, Kris. She was very prompt and personable and funny! Be sure to ask for her. The decor is what you'd expect for a Chinese place, and it was nicely done.

We were in the area over the weekend and was in the mood for some Chinese food and found this restaurant online. It was cold out and raining a little. Perfect time for some great tasting Chinese food. Truly was a great place to eat. The staff were professional and very attentive. They wore their masks and tended to us right away. The establishment was roomy yet cozy and intimate. Booths and tables were available. Restaurant was clean, and tidy. The lady's room was also clean. Our waiter was professional and provided us with plenty of condiments each in its own little containers nice and clean. The food was great, tasted authentic, and serving was appropriate for the price. I gave it a four only because of the parking area. It is shared with other businesses. I like it when the establishment is out in its own but it is just preference for me. If you want a great cozy place to eat with some pretty tasty Chinese food come out and check this place out. You won't be disappointed

Food was very good the portions were huge service was excellent would come back Such a nice environment

There was a rubber band inside the meat of my wonton soup! I called the restaurant and spoke to two people and neither one seemed surprised. This is my last time eating here

Ordered Mongolian Beef with fried rice and what I got was Carrots in brown sauce and fried rice . Literally had to move the car rats around to find the Mongolian beef under all the carrots . $11.50 for this plate is a scam . The whole plate as a portion in a scam. Don't waste you money .

We have enjoyed Twin Lion for years. Obviously it was a family owned and operated enterprise. We always saw familiar server faces. Apparently that family has sold the business. That's OK, BUT I'm afraid the recipes and kitchen have changed. I first noticed the egg drop soup and egg roll were different. (Not as good and really salty soup.) The wife was disappointed in her usual, General Tso's, Good luck to the new owners, hoping improvements will be made before I come back for a second try.