This is an old run down outdated place which depending on the person can be a good thing or not. I think the loyal customers who have been coming for years are what keeps this place going. First off it's cash only we missed the small sign on our way in and had to go to an ATM mid meal to get cash out . The chow mein is mostly bean sprouts and onion. I can tell that the customers there were the usuals because they all seemed to know each other. The fried rice and BBQ pork were ok the sauces on the chicken were bland. the place didn't seem very clean, the upholstery on the chairs were ripped. The service was decent. They do have a small parking lot or street parking

Delicious food and wonderful service. Gets busy on the weekends, but it's worth the wait.

Absolutely Disgusted – Found a Worm in My Food! I’m beyond appalled by my experience at Nation City South Bay Plaza Panda Express After taking just a few bites of my meal, I discovered a worm inside the food on my plate. I was shocked and horrified. This is not only unsanitary but also completely unacceptable in any food establishment. I tried to remain calm, but after seeing something like that, it’s hard to ignore how utterly careless this is. I can’t imagine how something like that could have slipped past kitchen staff or quality control, especially given that it was noticeable immediately. To find something so vile in my meal has completely ruined my appetite and trust in this place. I am deeply concerned about the hygiene standards here and am seriously questioning how this was allowed to happen. I don’t want anyone else to experience what I did – it’s both disgusting and unsafe. I am requesting a full refund and for the restaurant to take immediate action to improve their food safety procedures. This was a completely unacceptable experience, and I will not be returning

I make an orden for pickup and when they tell me was ready, when i was there they make me wait like 25 min and when they finally come whit me they said " The order is missing, we need to do it rigth now, bro i been driving 4 hours" and after that they didn't put the full order on both plates, they forgot the sauces, forks... come on! I know there's some time they got a lot people on line, but I'm not here to evaluate the food, because I like Panda Express, but I'm telling you if you want a good service... I recommend you another location.

The Wings Live Up to the Hype! Stopped by Royal Mandarin in National City and finally tried the famous wings with fried rice—and wow, they did not disappoint. The wings are crispy, saucy, and packed with flavor. Perfectly seasoned and just the right amount of sticky, they definitely live up to their legendary status. The fried rice was a perfect match—savory, not too greasy, and full of that classic wok flavor. Portions were generous, and the service was quick and friendly. If you're in the area, this spot is a must. Go for the wings—you’ll be thinking about them long after you leave.

Delicious home-style Chinese food. This unassuming restaurant serves very tasty dishes. We ordered the crispy noodles with beef and chicken and it was the largest serving of noodles that we've ever encountered! The rest of our dishes (fried dumplings, wonton soup, and BBQ pork) were delectable. The BBQ pork might have been the best of that dish that we have eaten. I was pleasantly surprised that dumplings came with a hot chili sauce. Additionally, the food came out extremely fast -- all plates within 10 minutes. I highly recommend this restaurant if you want good Chinese food.

My all time favorite Chinese restaurant in Southbay. My daughter decided to treat me out for lunch and as always, has to order an army full of dishes. That’s her! Golden Chopstix has never disappointed, even 30 plus years later. And, what better way in honoring my parents and their spirit, we continue to dine in at Chopstix. It was their favorite Chinese restaurant too. In past decades, our family had celebrated many birthdays, anniversaries and just because. Even when relatives from out of state or out of country would visit, Golden Chopstix was usually our go-to. The food is always served hot, fresh, and delicious. Side note, the salted pepper chicken wings were not so tasty, it was missing the seasoning(s)we’re use to. The crunch and crispiness was still there. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with cooks having an “off” day, right. We didn’t bring this up to the server, as we felt it was minor issue. The rest of the dishes were on point and delicious, as always. The staff are more friendlier and accommodating than other local Chinese restaurants in Southbay. Servers are usually attentive and good about clearing dirty dishes and making sure kids are taken care of (hi chairs, baby cups, etc). The restaurant’s decor is set in traditional Chinese style and color. The place is spacious and kept clean. Before closing, I do want to highlight the fried crispy green beans. They were extra delicious, generously portioned, and cooked to perfection. Im not a fan of green beans, but I am now. It’s a must-try dish at Golden Chopstix. If you haven’t tried Golden Chopstix, it’s time to make it over and enjoy the variety of dishes. There has to be one to several delectable dishes you will end up liking 👍🏼

So there are tons of Chinese spots in SD. My favorite is Golden Chopsticks!! They are In my top five places to get salt and pepper chicken wings in the U.S. and I stand by that 100% The wings are crispy on the outside but tender and juicy in the middle. They are seasoned to perfection. Everything else is great but you come for the salt and pepper chicken wings!!

pretty good, another chinese food spot. a little dalty on the dishes, esp the chow mein/lo mein and salted pepper chicken wings, but overall decent as long as they keep their cheaper price against other popular chinese food in the area.

I love the food here! It's a South Bay staple. The salt and pepper wings are the favorite, they never disappoint. We also ordered Mongolian beef, cream cheese wontons, and the orange chicken. Everything was on point. Also, the service was excellent. Our server was attentive and kept our water full. You won't leave hungry if you order a family meal. I can't wait to come back. Eat up!!!

Mine and my wife's favorite Chinese food spot. We take everyone here when they come visit us in SD and it's always a hit! The food is delicious, the portions are large, and the service is impeccable. The staff leaves you feeling welcome and the cooks make sure your bellies are full. 10/10 would recommend. I can't say enough good things about Bistro City.

I've eaten here for the last 6 years and it's never disappointed. Friendly and attentive service only overshadowed by the quality of their food and generous portion sizes.

This is a great Chinese buffet restaurant. Prices are reasonable. As you see from the photos, the food is fresh. As I sat and ate, I watched the kitchen staff multiple times refilling the food line. Nothing was ever cold or semi warm that was supposed to be served hot. The fish options were plentiful. I love the fried shrimp and in my home town, sadly, I rarely see this served anymore. This restaurant delivers all expectations for a Chinese buffet restaurant. The establishment is clean, service is fast, A must visit place.

I had not been here for at least 10 years and the food continues to be surprisingly good. They have great soups and a variety of options/dishes that include seafood, chicken, beef, as one expects from a buffet. Everything is very tasty. They are not monitoring how much you eat as in other restaurants. Sushi does not disappoint. Please stay away from french fries, pizza, chicken nuggets, and mac&cheese, as these are quick fillers and not worth eating at a Chinese buffet. I will definitely come back. Price per person has increased slightly, but what has not here in Cali. Recommend.

Don’t waste your money on the broccoli beef party tray. They’ll only give you broccoli with maybe 5 pieces of beef. $37. This is the second time I’ve ordered this (thinking the first time was a fluke). I was wrong. And now I’m compelled to inform their customers of this rip off. (And no, the beef is not at the bottom of the tray. My white plastic fork is on the right- I was digging around for the beef and what you see pictured is all the beef there was). Go elsewhere for this dish!

Was in the mood for some hood Chinese food and being in National City this fit the bill. Location is in plaza, parking was decent. Clean and simple setup. Lady behind the counter was very nice, good service. Read some reviews and visually inspected the goods before picking. I went with one single item. Sweet and sour chicken. The flavor was on point but a lot of breading and hardly any chicken, point deducted. I'll be back to try some of the rest of the menu as it didn't look half bad. Price was fairly reasonable.

Food is always great every time I come here. Clean bathroom. Good atmosphere. 5 ⭐️ Update 3/27/25: Came in at 8pm and ordered my food, was told by cashier they are only doing to-go orders which I said was fine. Then I asked but can I eat it here real quick, and he said no because they are about to close. Then I ask what time do they close and he said 8:30pm. It literally says here on Google Maps they close at 9:00pm. New review: 3 ⭐️

Food was great, service was okay, just long wait time but didn’t mind because food was fresh. The chicken combo is so good, and the Black Jelly drink is delicious! Only complaint is how cold the inside was. They must have the A/C on full blast, bring some layers!!!

They ignored me while standing directly in front of me and when other people came in they were skipping me but the male interrupted and helped me. The cashier was rude and I felt uncomfortable eating there bc she was staring 2 combos and 2 drinks $27. Food was not flavorful and was not fresh one of the dishes being offered looked old. Really old with gray broccoli. I'm serious.

I ordered this place on doordash for my boyfriend, daughter and myself. We opened our food, took one bite and we were all disgusted. I bit into a raw piece of chicken, my boyfriend's chicken was really old and stale, and my daughter's chicken looked so bad I wouldn't let her eat it. The rice was dry and old, and I have never in my life been more disgusted with Chinese food. I called doordash for my money back. We threw all of the food away! Do not waste your time and certainly don't waste your money or risk your health on this place. If I could give negative stars I would have!

I was hungry, cold, lonely and lost lol but I randomly saw this place on google maps and decided to head towards it before my hypoglycemia starts to kick in. The owner was very kind enough to give me a huge plate of rice and sat me down his table so I can eat properly! And this place is such a hidden gem, it boasts one of the best if not the best salt & pepper wings on the planet for only $10!

I went here for Thanksgiving this year and sat down with Tommy & Allen. It was a lovely experience and I tried the fried shrimp. Buy one get one free. I can't wait to come back and try their steamed dumplings.

There was no line but it took a bit to get my food. My Walnut Shrimp is either burnt or has mysterious black substance lol. The couple infront of me got a box brimming with food unlike mine. We ordered the same but got different quantities. Not sure how I feel about this place. The cashier was atleast nice though..

They don’t speak well English so I didn’t understand what they kept asking, and the food tasted much nastier than the Panda Express I usually go to. It was cold and the Sesame Chicken I bought wasn’t even cooked well. The Chow Mein was super short I couldn’t get it with my fork.