Royal Express Chinese Restaurant

Royal Express Chinese Restaurant, located at 811 23rd St in Greeley, Colorado, offers a variety of Chinese cuisine for both dine-in and takeout customers. Positioned as a local Chinese restaurant, it aims to provide a range of familiar dishes and combo meals to the Greeley community. While the restaurant has garnered some positive initial impressions regarding its cleanliness and the friendliness of its staff, a closer look at recent customer reviews reveals a mixed bag of experiences concerning the food quality and accuracy of orders.

One customer's initial visit seemed promising. They stopped by while their children were at a nearby McDonald's and ordered a large hot and sour soup along with a combo meal. The combo included a choice of rice or noodles, two meat selections, and an egg roll. This customer opted for rice, mushroom chicken, coconut shrimp, and a pork egg roll. They specifically praised the great flavor of the egg roll and found the coconut shrimp to be good. Notably, they described the rice, mushroom chicken, and especially the hot and sour soup as "amazing," expressing a definite intention to return, at least for the soup. The reviewer also mentioned the affordability of their meal, which included a drink and cost less than $12, suggesting potential value for money.

However, another customer who visited Royal Express based on positive reviews encountered a less satisfactory experience. They were initially drawn by a $7.50 combo offer, which seemed like a good deal. Upon ordering, they were informed that this special was only applicable to a limited selection of "scoop stuff" items, which was disappointing. Despite this, they proceeded with their order. An unusual incident occurred when this customer slipped outside with their food, and the restaurant staff reportedly came to their aid and offered to remake the meal, which the customer appreciated.

Upon returning home, the customer and their roommates discovered several errors in their remade order. One dish was so heavily covered in onions that they couldn't identify the main ingredient (suspected to be potato chicken or beef). To manage the confusion, they resorted to a game to decide who would try the unidentified dishes. Their original order included Mongolian beef, two types of chicken, and lo mein. Another roommate's sweet and sour chicken order was replaced with beef and broccoli because chicken and broccoli was not available as a swap. The lo mein was described as plain, oily, lacking in vegetables, and tasting similar to buttered noodles.

The Mongolian beef was reported to be bland, with an unpleasant bitter flavor and an excessive amount of jalapenos. The two mystery dishes were speculated to be potato chicken and spicy chicken, but neither had any discernible potato. One chicken dish had a batter and fry similar to General Tso's chicken but was bland with a mild, unidentifiable sweetness. The other mystery meat was uncertain (possibly pork or chicken), with a chewy texture and a sauce that "slid off" without adding much flavor. This dish also contained a large amount of raw vegetables.

The roommate who ordered beef and broccoli (as a substitute for chicken and broccoli) and sweet and sour chicken also received fried rice. The fried rice was described as soft, merely stained in color rather than properly fried with sesame and soy flavors, lacking any crispiness, and containing a frozen pea. Their assessment was that it was as if the rice was just "waved by the wok." The sweet and sour chicken was deemed plain, and the roommate stopped eating after reportedly finding hairs in the dish. Consequently, the beef and broccoli was also not consumed.

The cheese wontons that came with the combo were described as small, containing a minimal amount of plain cream cheese, and having a pale wrapper. Overall, this customer characterized their experience as "pretty whatever" and stated they likely would not return, despite acknowledging the cleanliness of the restaurant and the niceness of the staff.

Considering these contrasting reviews, Royal Express Chinese Restaurant appears to offer a somewhat inconsistent experience. While some customers have found certain dishes, like the hot and sour soup and egg rolls, to be quite good and the prices reasonable, others have reported issues with order accuracy, food quality (including blandness, unusual textures, and potential hygiene concerns), and the substitution of menu items. The environment is noted to be clean and the staff friendly, which are positive aspects. However, the inconsistencies in food preparation and the issues with order fulfillment seem to be significant drawbacks.

For local users in Greeley considering Royal Express Chinese Restaurant, it would be prudent to weigh these factors. If you are looking for a quick and affordable meal and are willing to try specific items that have received positive feedback, such as the hot and sour soup or egg rolls, it might be worth a visit. However, the reports of order inaccuracies and variable food quality suggest that there is a risk of a less satisfactory experience. It might be advisable to double-check your order before leaving and to be prepared for potential substitutions or inconsistencies in the dishes.

Royal Express Chinese Restaurant can be contacted at (970) 351-6168 or +1 970-351-6168 and is located at 811 23rd St, Greeley, CO 80631. As with any restaurant, individual experiences can vary, and it might be beneficial to consider the most recent reviews when making your decision. While the friendly service and clean environment are positives, the reported issues with food quality and order accuracy are important factors for local diners to keep in mind.