Chef Chan’s the Original

The food is always fresh and delicious, and the service is wonderful!

The Original Chef Chan's is the best Chinese food restaurant around! We have been going there for many years. The food is always exceptional. Joshua, the owner, is a gracious host. He remembers his customers and what they like to order. Always our go to for Chinese food! Thank you, Joshua!

Good food, great service and decent prices. I was in for lunch so the specials were probably cheaper, but it was a good amount of food for the price also!

Best best best Chinese!!! This is NOT the same as the one on Grogans mill anymore, that one has a new owner and the food is not nearly as good. But this one on Sterling Ridge has the OG crew and the food is as amazing as ever! Chef Chan’s the Original for life!

Okay, I've been in the woodlands since 82, when Chef Chen came to the Woodlands it was in Grogans Mill shopping center, hands down the best sesame chicken ever, General Taos chicken extra spicy, yes plz. Then, after years of eating there, something changed. It was the recipe of the food, no longer crispy and flavorful, but generic and bland. Then they moved and another individual came in and the food was back and delicious, then sadly the landlord raised the lease and they had to close, just when the food was back to the way it used to be. The original Chef Chen moved, and we went there for dinner expecting the same flavorful entrees but found disappointment. So now no good Chinese restaurants left. 💯 disappointment. My best advice to the owner is to return the original recipes to the way they once were, and tons of patrons will return.

Owner is friendly, they get your order right every time! Food is delicious! This place is my favorite for Chinese food! My whole family enjoys!

The food was very good and good quality, and the service was fast and courteous! I really enjoyed the food. I had the Happy Family lunch special

Great food prompt delivery. I have never eaten in the restaurant. Just remember if ordering on Christmas day, they get behind and always causes problems and 1 or more hour delays for pick up.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 3

I had the pleasure of dining at Chef Chan’s this Christmas, and I’m truly grateful they chose to remain open through the holidays. Usually, I go for the classic General Tso’s Chicken, which hits every time, but this year I decided to step outside my usual order and try something new. After some recommendations from the friendly staff, I opted for the Sha Cha Beef and the Combination Fried Rice, along with a few appetizers and I’m so glad I did. Every dish was bursting with flavor, and it was definitely worth every cent. The restaurant had been renovated since the last I visited, and I think it looks amazing. The owners definitely care for the interior design and is very much cleanly.

That said, the management on this particular day seemed a bit more hectic than usual. I could tell the staff were putting every inch of effort in, especially given how busy they were as the only restaurant open within a 5-10 mile radius. I can empathize how overwhelming it can be with an onslaught of nonstop orders, especially being short-staffed, and how flustered they must have felt. They’re human too. Yes, the wait time was longer than expected, but I’ve definitely experienced worse. What stood out to me was how the staff handled it to their best ability, even under pressure.

I had a thoughtful conversation with one of the employees after receiving my meal, and it helped put things into perspective. From the outside, it might seem frustrating, long waits, delays, and chaos, but it’s easy to forget how hard they were working behind the scenes. Upon seeing this, people can easily opt to leave and try to find another restaurant to eat elsewhere. Or, better yet, stay home. If the workers had known what they were walking into that day, they could have easily closed up and taken the day off. Instead, they chose to stay open, giving people like me the chance to enjoy a meal during a busy holiday season. How can people be so heartless at a time like this? Don’t assume you know everything because chances are you don’t.

No one should have to work on Christmas, and no one should be subjected or suffer to that kind of stress. But the team at Chef Chan’s took it all in stride, providing a sense of warmth and joy despite the challenges. I really admire their dedication and appreciate everything they did to make the experience as good as it was. It’s not just about the food, it’s about the heart and effort behind it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I went to this restaurant with my entire family for our christmas gathering. They did a splendid job getting our food to us despite it being so busy and hectic and with very few workers. I also used to work in the food industry, so i know how hard it is to satisfy each and every customer during a chaotic rush. The staff at Chef Chan did a mighty fine job at holding down the fort and getting orders out on time. Chef Chan is now one of my go to for big family outings.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Orange Chicken, Sesame Chicken

It is with the heaviest heart I write this review. I have been eating at Chef Chan’s for over 25 years. I celebrated every childhood birthday there, made every first date call and reserve a table, and used to go in on my lunch break whenever I worked nearby. I have moved away from The Woodlands but still come home to take care of my dad. Going to Chef Chan’s was one of the few nostalgic joys I have left during this dark time in my life. Joshua and everyone else working there has always taken such love and care in their food and service. That is all gone. The last time I went it was unrecognizable. Service was curt, short, and devoid of personality. The sesame chicken, which I have raved about and literally traveled the world looking for something comparable, is unrecognizable. Other dishes that used to have so much flavor and brought my dad I immense joy are now no better than mall Chinese food (which has its place, but not here). From what I can tell, a new owner who thinks he’s smarter than a decades old business with loyal customers came in and threw recipes he pulled off the internet into an already perfected product. Chef Chan’s did not need to change! I am all for making improvements where necessary to ensure a profitable business, but none of the changes I’ve seen or tasted line up to saving money on a bottom line. It’s just lazy, and an insult to what this business built on the loyalty of customers like myself. Maybe I’m a little salty, but I have had zero issues eating there until this new management came into the mix. Unfortunately, this will be my last time eating here. I’d rather fondly remember my meals from yesteryears than try and choke down what they’re trying to pass off as Chinese food today.

A piece of advice: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Sincerely,
An incredibly sad and now former customer

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

The renovations at this Chinese restaurant are amazing! The place feels so much brighter and more inviting now, with a great mix of modern touches and traditional charm. It’s a perfect spot whether you’re dining with family or just grabbing a meal with friends.

And the food? Absolutely delicious! The Sha Cha Beef is packed with flavor—the sauce is so good, I couldn’t get enough. The Curry Chicken is another standout, with just the right amount of spice and a creamy, comforting texture.

The staff was super friendly, and the whole experience was fantastic. If you haven’t been here in a while, you’ve got to check it out. You’ll love it!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The waiters are friendly enough, food is mediocre. They recently raised all prices by $3-$6. Not worth it for me.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: General TSO's Chicken, Fried Dumplings, Egg Roll

I'll preface this by saying I am very picky when it comes to Chinese food, sonce I lived in Asia for several years (Japan and South Korea). I stopped in on a whim around 2pm for a late lunch. I was pleased to see their lunch special hours stopped at 2:30pm, which worked well for me. I ordered the orange chicken with fried rice, egg drop soup, and a pork egg roll with water to drink. The egg drop soup was simple but had a great flavor to it. No veggies in it... just the egg and "soup", but really good. The pork egg roll was pretty good, but not amazing. I really liked the orange chicken. The typical Americanized version usually involves some heavy, sticky red or orange sauce that looks like it would glow in the dark. Not here. The sauce was cooked into the chicken, and there was a bit extra on the plate. The way it tasted, you really didn't need to "dunk" the chicken. They were good the way they were. There were also bits of real orange slices that were cooked in, as well as a pepper for a little bit of flair. The chicken itself was good quality (see pic) and done right. Not dry or overcooked. The rice was good, but again, not over the top. The staff was very prompt and courteous, and I felt like everything was done thoughtfully and quickly. I definitely want to come back at the beginning of their lunch special time to see if it's even better than today. I'm also coming back to try other things on the menu. I can't vouch for their whole.menu, but give them a shot if you are looking for a good lunch.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Orange Chicken, Egg Drop Soup

They are now out of my price range!!!

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 4

Service: 4