Liu’s Chinese Restaurant

I know this place is ugly, but the calamari is amazing! Their rice is fluffy and delicious! I also like their cantonese shrimp and im about to try the sweet and sour shrimp ill update my review hahaha. They give very good portions but they take forever! I learned my lesson, i call ahead and they always say 15 to 20 mins but its been 28 mins and my food still isnt ready lol well worth the wait though!

The salt and pepper calamari and chicken is AMAZING. The place is in a shady area and the store is pretty much falling apart. There are literally over 15 places in San Diego that claim they have the best salt and pepper chicken, none of them come close to Liu’s. Also don’t even ask for the recipe, they’ll just laugh at you.

I have eaten at many Chinese food places. Places in bad neighborhoods, good neighborhoods, and «fine dining» Chinese. I have NEVER been to a place where the food is so disgusting I had to throw it away AND I got sick. I ordered a simple won ton soup because it was cold out. It was DISGUSTING! And to top it off the lady was rude too! If you like Chinese food, don’t eat here.

Less than satisfied. Horrible chow mein! Trust me and the others. Orange chicken was ok at first but the bottom ¼ of Togo box the soggy chicken are swimming in sauce! Chicken wings were just ok. Wish I had bomb ones like the others are talking about.

My favorite Cantonese rice! Also love their chicken wings! Cash only :(and the only reason why I give them 4 stars is because it looks a little ghetto inside. I’m sure the can afford to make it look nice.

Used to come here all the time but stopped because I felt they started being cheap. If I order one order of chicken, I get one rice. If I order 2, I still get 1.
One time I called in for an order of the salt and pepper wings (it is good. I won’t deny that) and Mongolian beef. When I got there I noticed she didn’t give me rice for the wings I ordered. So I asked her and which she said it’ll be another 15 – 20 minutes if I wanted it. Didn’t she know they ran out of rice when the last customer ordered? Doesn’t that alert you to go make more? And she had the time to make it when I first called with my order. Either way, I didn’t wait but I also haven’t been back.

The WORST Chinese food I ever had in my life. The restaurant is filthy, but i ordered anyway because I have had very good food from dirty places before. The City of San Diego must have Helen Keller as a health inspector. or maybe the owner paid the inspector off. There is no way this place should be allowed to serve food. The dumpster area behind the restaurant is cleaner than inside! had Pork Egg Foo Young and a soup — One was worse than the other. I will never revisit this restaurant again!!!

I ordered almond chicken chow mein, it should be called no flavor noodles. The noodles were so mushy absolutely no flavor and the chicken appeared to be boiled to get all flavor out and it was grey, grey chicken who likes grey chicken?. Half the container was filled with raw onions and celery and then almond thrown on top. I could only find myself able to eat one bite and that was enough to say never again!

If I could give it zero stars I would. It is legitimately the worst Chinese food I’ve ever had. Do not waste your time. The chicken curry was mostly undone vegetables, the beef chow main was seriously grey… GREY! The rice had odiously been made earlier in the day and was very old not fresh.

4 stars for the wings alone, 1 star for the actual restaurant. I had to try this place after taking my friend to Golden Chopsticks for wings. He told me «My place is better». As my quest for the ultimate salt and pepper wing never stops I made the trip to Imperial Beach to try them. As chance would have it, I’ve been to this place before, almost 7 years ago, but I was ignorant to the wings and got something else. So many stores have changed in this strip mall but Liu’s was still there, and I believe it’s for the wings alone. This place was grimey, there’s no other way to but it. Inside and out, dirty, walls, ceilings, and there was something weird hanging from the EXIT sign that I just couldn’t make out. This is a true mom n pop’s endevor (or maybe mom and son, the cook didn’t look too old). It was a Saturday night and I learned quick to order ahead, as 95% of people do. Cause you don’t wanna be waiting in there too long. And for some reason the lady taking orders was very insistant on everybody sitting down. Like to the point where she was straight up telling people to sit down, which was kinda funny. Maybe she’s just under a lotta stress… Anyways I of course ordered the wings and also some hot and sour soup (which was a huge mistake). The soup. It was more sour than anything, and it came in a huge styrofoam cup so I was like score! But the broth was sour, like nasty sour. And where’s the tofu? Maxims Chinese Restaurant has the best hot and sour soup I’ve had to date. Now for the wings. These are why people come here. They’re super crispy, tender and juicy, not greasy, and always made to order (ahem, Golden Chopsticks), no batch cooking here. I love that they use red pepper flakes too to give it some actual spice. I still have to try this place when it’s not so busy, as my friend pointed out some wings were under seasoned and this is never the case during off peak times. O and I tried my friends fried rice was was unimpressed. Why can’t one Chinese place have the best wings, soup, and fried rice all under one roof???
So besides this place looking like a dump, and the lady literally ordering people to sit down, make the trip down there for the wings and wings alone. But don’t go Saturday night and ORDER AHEAD! But not too far ahead so you can get them when they’re perfect…

this place is outdated and lady behind counter is rude if your trying to place an order and she is busy she yells at you to sit down once you are finally allowed to order she tells you food be ready in 10 – 15 min but it actually takes 30 – 45 min. The food is ok given that there is only 2 chinese food hole in the wall places but not worth the wait. Will never return due to service I get better treatment at jack in the box from a teenager.

Ugh. Use to be a great kept secret. Recently went back for take out only (never eat in, it’s pretty… nasty) but the hot and sour soup was a tragedy and the chow mein was crazily bad. Sad as this was a pretty standard par cheap place to go to… ugh. If Silver Sea had never closed… IB would have a great Chinese spot… the wings are still the best thing on the menu. Cash only.

I went here looking for a good Chinese fast food place near me. Big mistake. Not only was the food terrible but the establishment was run down and filthy. The chow mien and pork were dry and chewy, like they had been previously cooking and reheated in a microwave multiple times. The only good thing about this place is that it’s cheap, but that is to be expected if you’re looking for poor quality food. I will never go here again and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

It’s been a long time since I’ve lived in south san diego, but whenever I’m in the area, I always make it a point to visit this place. I LOVE their salt and pepper chicken wings! I think other than their fried rice, this is the only thing I ever really order, and it is ENOUGH to bring it 4 stars. Like really, I don’t think anyone really comes here for anything else, because every time I stop by, other customers seem to just be ordering salt and pepper chicken wings. One less star because the actual restaurant well, needs a bit of work. Very few people stay and eat, if that says anything. But definitely my favorite hole in the wall, hidden gem; a fantastic spot to pick up some salt and pepper wings!

Salt and Pepper Wings and the Pork Fried Rice!!! Don’t let the sparse and slightly run-​down interior scare you away– This place has a real Chinese cook staff, and is simply the best Chinese food in the south bay. ORDER AHEAD, AND REMEMBER– CASH ONLY!

Salt & pepper chicken ALL DAY! shrimp chowder and chicken chow are good too! They just need to clean the place up. ALOT

Love the food here. It’s probably one of the only Chinese places in Southside where the cook isn’t Mexican. The calamari here is bomb!

Ok I do not understand why they don’t add sauce to their chow mein! It’s just stale noodles. I really don’t get it. I called in my order, came 45 mins later (when they said it’ll be ready in 30) and it was NOT READY! I had to wait another 20 mins! The salt n pepper chicken wings and calamari are very tasty but again steer clear of the chow mein. Cash only.

This place is the bomb! Amazing food and fair prices.
I always order party trays for family parties and it is always amazing yummy.
I recommend this place to anyone who wants good Chinese food in the south bay area.

Yes, the place is dirty and shady looking… but omg… the chicken and the calamari are so good!!!
I remember one time… me and my friend were debating if we should go to church or walk over to Liu’s… we ended up going to Liu’s…
My boyfriend have seriously had deep discussions about how good the calamari is. We are from the LA area, but we would drive the 4 hour roundtrip just to get this freaking delicious calamari! I have never found a place that is even close to matching Liu’s calamari!
$ 7 – 8 gets you one box of calamari or chicken wings, which is a generous amount. The salt and pepper shrimp is delicious as well, and the fried rice. I suggest you call in for your order, because they do take quite a while to cook.