13 Best Chinese Restaurants near Cathedral City

“We recently moved to Cathedral City from New Jersey and have been making it a point to try as many local restaurants as possible. China 8 was our latest stop, and overall we had a pleasant experience.

The service was friendly and attentive from the moment we arrived. We started with the fried potstickers, which were crispy and enjoyable. The egg drop soup wasn't our favorite, as it included corn, which was a little different from what we're used to, but it was still a nice start to the meal.

For our entrées, we had the Chicken with Snow Peas and the Chicken & Broccoli in Garlic Sauce. The snow peas were fresh and crisp, and the chicken was tender. The garlic sauce dish was packed with flavor and definitely had some heat to it—more than we expected—but it was well prepared and made with fresh ingredients.

While China 8 hasn't quite replaced our longtime favorite Chinese restaurant back in New Jersey, it was a solid meal and one we enjoyed. We would definitely come back and explore more of the menu, especially now that we know to ask for milder spice levels on some dishes.

If you're looking for a dependable neighborhood Chinese restaurant with friendly service and generous portions, China 8 is worth a visit.“

“It appeared that half of the Coachella Valley ordered from Wang's on Christmas Day. Understandably the wait was long and the staff a bit stressed. Despite this, the quality and taste of the food was FIRST RATE. Wang's Chinese food rivals what we used to have in NY.“

“Pretty good as far as fast food. Definitely better food than the Chinese buffet on Hwy 111 in Rancho Mirage. I have no idea why people like that buffet. It's poor quality and not very good. I make better home made Chinese food at home but... in a pinch I don't mind this panda express. It is based on a real restaurant in Glendale California and their recipes so I would give it a solid 8.7 out of 10. Good quality. Tasty. Does not taste bland or over cooked like the Chinese Buffet. I recommend this place.“

“Food was kind of Sweet, tart and some spicy. Not too impressed by the place. Prices were kind of high for the type of Service that we had. I guess because of the name we expected more. Also the waiter would get lost most of the time that we were there.“

“We had such a great experience at City Wok! The food came out fast but didn’t feel like fast food at all—everything was fresh, flavorful, and really well done. The indoor/outdoor space had such a fun vibe with great music, and the wait staff was fantastic. Geoffrey was hands-down one of the best servers we’ve had in years—super quick, attentive, and genuinely kind and intentional. Happy hour (3–6 PM) absolutely delivered—large portions, great food, and you don’t even need to order a drink to enjoy the happy hour menu, which we loved. We’ll definitely be back!“

“I will always give this restaurant a high rating. My partner and I have ordered from there for years now. I've also dined in with friends. Most noticeable is the friendly service. I believe it's a family-run restaurant. The woman who usually takes the orders and I see every time I go in is so friendly. Her two children, often in the restaurant, are wonderful, as well. It appears their business is good and it's well-deserved! The food portions are extremely reasonable, often leaving leftovers for another meal...or two! With all the really high end, high priced restaurants in Palm springs, having a small family-run business like this is so necessary.“

“all pandas are pretty much equal because they are chains and pretty consistent across the board. but sometimes you get a particular server who is beyond helpful and friendly and tonight i have to say that alexiia was that server.

she had service with a smile, offered me a drink because i had to wait a mere two minutes for some fresh orange chicken, and then made sure my food was packed up quickly and efficiently.

just had to point out that she was great.“

“As far as fast food goes, this place is pretty consistent…. The food is usually pretty fresh and the serving sizes are good too. This location is always clean and well maintained. The staff here tonight were efficient and helpful, even though there was a line out the door. This happens occasionally mid week when they do a school fundraiser.“

“11/5/24 - I just visited this panda express for the very first time, and I'm highly impressed with the customer service, food, and atmosphere. I ordered orange chic, fried rice, chow mein. It was packed and during lunch, but the handsome manager and entire staff were super fast and efficient. I agreed to wait for fresh fried rice, and I'm glad I did. It didn't take long and everything tasted delicious. The young man who bagged the takeout was very kind as well. Even the restroom was clean.

Thanks guys!
S“

“We stay at a timeshare near this restaurant. It is in the shopping center where I shop for groceries and I have seen it for years.\nLast night we wanted to go somewhere close by, so we tried it.\nIt was really good. The service was excellent and the food was very good. This will be a new regular spot for us when we visit.“

“I had passed by this buffet several times a day but finally decided to stop in and I'm glad I did. This was my first visit, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. Our group of five was seated right away, which made a great first impression.
The food selection was impressive:

everything was fresh, hot, and delicious. I especially recommend the baked mussels, white steamed fish, and dumplings-they stood out the most. The service was also great, and the staff made sure we were well taken care of throughout our visit.

Overall, a fantastic dining experience, and I will definitely be coming back.“

“All I came to do here is to give a huge THANK YOU to Salma. I think that is her name. I went in last week and asked her for a small bowl and she took care of me. I think the girl that helped me was Salma, but if it was not Salma, It is a girl whose name starts with an S. I wanted to say, thank you so much for your amazing service. I walked in and shared with you about a past experience I had at that same location and she apologized. Then she went on to assist me. She definitely knows what customer service is all about. I will always be grateful for that orange chicken.“

“I read with amazement the bad reviews of this Panda Express store. I can't confirm any of this. The portions were huge and tasted delicious. Marlen, who served us, was very friendly and also let us try watermelon iced tea. It was very clean.“