Tasty, with large servings and good service. I appreciate that they are open all afternoon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Norman Virut Graw
We are not impressed with the food. Hardly local Chinese customer dine here as I have observed. We ordered eggplant with beef and string beans with tofu which don’t taste authentic. Fried Tofu was very black and stale maybe from reused oil. However Waitress is very sweet and cordial.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
yao hua Zhu
“The special Hainan chicken rice is very good. Under the chicken skin, there’s a jelly-like layer. Cooked perfectly—just right. Very delicious! 👍”
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
cezanne Flowers
We have going to Lai Lai for 30 years. We love Gary and the staff. They are so friendly and caring. Miss seeing Jimmy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stephanie Cline
Been going here since I was a little kid. Hands down the best in the bay! Idk why someone rated it 3 stars then said nothing About the food .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kay Cee
Food is excellent and wait staff is friendly and attentive. Will definitely go back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeovanna Soto
Delicious food and great service. Love their garlic rice and noodles.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jorge Pineda
We ordered our food to go. It was very good. Prices are what everywhere else is at. Fast service
I’m leaving this review because I feel the need to provide some counterpoint to the last two 1-star reviews. My family and I came on a Monday night and ordered chicken crispy pan fried noodles, salt and pepper fried fish, Mongolian beef and eggplant and tofu with basil. All of the dishes were generously portioned, hot and DELICIOUS.
Sorry, no cardboard here.
I’m Chinese, but that doesn’t make me an expert. Kind of like how taking cooking classes at a local chinese restaurant doesn’t make me an expert.
If you’re like me and you just enjoy tasty food, come give them a try. Opened in 1983 by Uncle, Lai Lai has stayed in the family but they need your support. Let’s keep them thriving!
Glenn Hout
Some of the worst Chinese food we’ve ever eaten! And, I cook fabulous Chinese food at home 5-6 times/month after taking all of Chef Chu’s cooking classes decades ago. I’ve even morphed many of Martin Yan’s and Chef Chu’s recipes with my own improvements.
The fried shrimp appetizer at Lai Lai had battered crust as thick and about the same consistency as an Amazon cardboard delivery box! Same for the shrimp and other fried dishes our group had. Most of the food was pretty tasteless and not very appetizing. I was told it’s Cantonese vs Young Can Wok, Burlingame, which is Mandarin and fantastic and just 2 miles away!
Service was good, but restaurant didn’t feel “clean.” No idea why this restaurant is rated 4.3*’s unless they paid friends & family to shower their site with reviews. The most disappointing Chinese food we’ve had since trying Wonderful, Royal Feast, Minglabe (Burmese/Burlingame), Young Can Wok & even Panda Express! Sad that I’d rate Panda Express food as better than Lai Lai. I can’t even make this stuff up. This review comes after trying a raft of other non-memorable places in San Mateo, Foster City, Burlingame & Millbrae.
Shannon
Family style and the food was amazing and the owners were so welcoming and friendly.
Shah Aun Hussain
The manager or owner is super friendly, guides well as well! And the food was on point
Good food and very friendly dtaffy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tasty, with large servings and good service. I appreciate that they are open all afternoon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We are not impressed with the food. Hardly local Chinese customer dine here as I have observed. We ordered eggplant with beef and string beans with tofu which don’t taste authentic. Fried Tofu was very black and stale maybe from reused oil. However Waitress is very sweet and cordial.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
“The special Hainan chicken rice is very good. Under the chicken skin, there’s a jelly-like layer. Cooked perfectly—just right. Very delicious! 👍”
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We have going to Lai Lai for 30 years. We love Gary and the staff. They are so friendly and caring. Miss seeing Jimmy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Been going here since I was a little kid. Hands down the best in the bay! Idk why someone rated it 3 stars then said nothing About the food .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is excellent and wait staff is friendly and attentive. Will definitely go back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food and great service. Love their garlic rice and noodles.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We ordered our food to go. It was very good. Prices are what everywhere else is at. Fast service
Spot on
Restaurantji Recommends
I’m leaving this review because I feel the need to provide some counterpoint to the last two 1-star reviews. My family and I came on a Monday night and ordered chicken crispy pan fried noodles, salt and pepper fried fish, Mongolian beef and eggplant and tofu with basil. All of the dishes were generously portioned, hot and DELICIOUS.
Sorry, no cardboard here.
I’m Chinese, but that doesn’t make me an expert. Kind of like how taking cooking classes at a local chinese restaurant doesn’t make me an expert.
If you’re like me and you just enjoy tasty food, come give them a try. Opened in 1983 by Uncle, Lai Lai has stayed in the family but they need your support. Let’s keep them thriving!
Some of the worst Chinese food we’ve ever eaten! And, I cook fabulous Chinese food at home 5-6 times/month after taking all of Chef Chu’s cooking classes decades ago. I’ve even morphed many of Martin Yan’s and Chef Chu’s recipes with my own improvements.
The fried shrimp appetizer at Lai Lai had battered crust as thick and about the same consistency as an Amazon cardboard delivery box! Same for the shrimp and other fried dishes our group had. Most of the food was pretty tasteless and not very appetizing. I was told it’s Cantonese vs Young Can Wok, Burlingame, which is Mandarin and fantastic and just 2 miles away!
Service was good, but restaurant didn’t feel “clean.” No idea why this restaurant is rated 4.3*’s unless they paid friends & family to shower their site with reviews. The most disappointing Chinese food we’ve had since trying Wonderful, Royal Feast, Minglabe (Burmese/Burlingame), Young Can Wok & even Panda Express! Sad that I’d rate Panda Express food as better than Lai Lai. I can’t even make this stuff up. This review comes after trying a raft of other non-memorable places in San Mateo, Foster City, Burlingame & Millbrae.
Family style and the food was amazing and the owners were so welcoming and friendly.
The manager or owner is super friendly, guides well as well! And the food was on point
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Almost everything is Great!
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