Date of visit: 1÷12÷2016 As with all chains, the food is prepared exactly the same way with the same tastes as the other restaurants in the chain. However, sometimes I like to add a little tidbit about things that aren’t necessarily on the menu. My Mom, Anthony, and I decided to come here before Toni’s basketball game for a quick bite to eat, but it felt like the service was super slow. I’m not sure if it was because of an influx of call in orders, but it definitely took longer that a Pick Up Stix usually takes. This was a little disappointing because we ended up being super late, but we also should have probably planned better. My Mom and I split the house special chicken which was as good as it always is and the three of us split the wonton soup, which also tasted like normal. The dining area is a little smaller than other Pick Up Stix restaurants, so it probably makes sense that a lot of the orders are called in. Overall, if you’re looking for Pick Up Stix, this isn’t a bad place to go, but I recommend calling in your order instead.
Amanda H.
Place rating: 5 Carlsbad, CA
Love this stix! Always friendly staff, clean restaurant, and great food! We eat here 2 – 3 a month and have never had a problem or issue. When getting soups or sauces to go, they always make sure to wrap tight in a plastic bag so it doesn’t spill all over everything.
Jason K.
Place rating: 1 Universal City, Los Angeles, CA
Please sell this franchise. It’s apparent that they don’t enjoy being in business. Service is always a disappointment. Boo.
Lauren B.
Place rating: 5 Poway, San Diego, CA
I don’t know why this place doesn’t have 5 stars. The food is so good it’s always good! The place is pretty cleaned up. Fast service. Good comes out pretty quick. It’s all hot and fresh. I like the wantons they have wanton Wednesday I think they are 25 cents that day. I love the Orange chicken, Kung pow chicken, rice, chow main, broccoli beef, it’s all good seriously.
Chris J.
Place rating: 2 Torrey Hills, San Diego, CA
I ordered three entrees for my family for takeout. Although there was only a few other people there, I waited 20 minutes for my food. Two entrees were ok, but the one I had — thai curry chicken was awful. It was burnt from likley sitting in the bottom of a hot wok too long. Everything was overcooked, the onions burnt black and the broccoli also chared. The taste was all burnt — not a good flavor. No hint of curry at all. If they don’t have anough sense to throw a mistake like this out and try again, I’m not going there to eat anymore. BTW, the Pick up Styx on Westview Parkway in Mira Mesa is better and more consistent.
Ashley H.
Place rating: 5 San Diego, CA
I don’t usually review chain places. Let’s face it, they all have the same food and you know exactly what you are gonna get when you go in there. I’m not going to review the food, but I do want to review the service. I was just in there and had the most polite server at a fast food joint that I have ever met. I ordered my food to go and he was just very considerate. Didn’t rush me. Asked if I wanted some water to drink while I wanted. From the minute I walked into the door, till he handed me my food with a little extra sauce… He was very attentive. Go in just to see that guy!!! Sadly I didn’t even catch his name, and now I wish I would have.
Tony L.
Place rating: 1 Los Angeles, CA
They lie and send out ads for delivery I called to verify and the male said yes we deliver until 10pm. I called back with the order and the lady on the phone said«No we only deliver if it’s over $ 100». wtf? Get your delivery business together and train your employees on whether you deliver or not.
Victoria D.
Place rating: 3 San Diego, CA
I came here for lunch today and I ordered fried rice, I didn’t expect it to be SOO pricey, thought it was a rip off. Food quality tasted okay even though I know better restaurants that can make better meals. I would stop by here again if I didn’t have a home meal. Although there’s a Rubios and Luna grill near each other. I guess I can switch off restaurants
Tracy E.
Place rating: 5 San Diego, CA
I don’t normally eat at Pick Up Stix, so I’m very unfamiliar with the menu. Tonight Shaun-Al, the cashier, was very friendly and very patient with me. Thank you for your service. I may come back more often to this place.
Karen Y.
Place rating: 4 San Diego, CA
my go to Chinese fast food place. I think this is better then panda express. The vegetables are more varied– bean sprouts, water chestnuts, zucchini… The house beef is off the charts good, caramelized soy based kind of sweet sauce. We call it crack beef in our house. The people at this location are always friendly too.
Jerry N.
Place rating: 4 San Diego, CA
consistantly good, friendly service and very clearly repeat your order back to you on phone to ensure that it’s right.
Crystal Y.
Place rating: 4 Aliso Viejo, CA
I thought this was a great Pick Up Stix experience! I’m comparing it to the other one closer to my house in Carmel Valley and it’s like night and day. The other one feels like I’m in a random fast food place but this one is very clean and the quality of the vegetables and meat is much better. They even have two types of brewed iced tea — regular and mango passionfruit whereas the other one only has sugary drinks. I also thought the service was really good and it felt like I was ordering at a small family-owned restaurant rather than a fast food type place. The cashier took the time to help me choose healthier options and there was a waiter who checked on me to make sure everything was okay midway through my meal, and then very kindly said goodbye to me when I was done.
David H.
Place rating: 3 Carmel Valley, San Diego, CA
It is, what it is. Americanized Chinese food. A little overpriced for what you get. I can go to a real Chinese restaurant in Penasquitos and get a nice dinner for the same price as I would have paid here. The only reason why I stopped here is because it’s closer to my home and I was in a hurry. I think the next time I feel like Chinese food, I’ll drive an extra 5 – 10 minutes and get the ‘real thing’. You place your order and they give you a number and then bring your dish to your table. Self serve soda bar.
Greg W.
Place rating: 1 San Diego, CA
Not a fan of pick up stick. This location is not very clean. I have eaten there with the family three times. Each time it was the same. Not very clean. We will not go back.
Hakan L.
Place rating: 3 San Diego, CA
It’s reliable, not the best Pick Up Stix I’ve had, but gets the job done feeding my family.
Rivak H.
Place rating: 4 Aliso Viejo, CA
I have never had a bad experience here. My House Special Chicken is always good, and service always stellar. For the price the value is good.
Sean N.
Place rating: 2 San Diego, CA
Had one person working the cash register and serving the food. I normally like P.U.S but it has gone way down hill. Waited 10 min just to place my order and another 30 min for it to be finished. The Chicken in the Pad Thai seems like low quality. The House Special Beef was dry and overcooked and there new Firecracker chicken was buried in a sticky sweet sauce. And the chicken was hard as a rock. pei Wei is WAY better. Hope they open one in my area.
Jim L.
Place rating: 3 San Diego, CA
If I were to choose between Pick Up Stix and a not to be named competitor, I would have to choose the competitor. Granted, both are probably very Americanized(is that a word?) however I felt the food here isn’t as fresh as I would hope, their menu is perhaps a little more extensive but the food just doesn’t match up IMO. I happen to enjoy the flavor of their Wonton Soup however it is more broth than it is substance. Their dumplings are actually quite tasty but you are feeling the lbs. added with each bite you take. Very limited lunch specials and in all, priced way higher for what I feel it should be. I’m not saying that I won’t go back however it would not be my first choice.
Michael W.
Place rating: 3 San Francisco, CA
Look here for overpriced, Americanized Chinese food prepared to order. I only come here when there’s a buy-1-get-1-free coupon and I’m in the mood for overly-greasy Chinese food. Coupons can easily be printed from their website and make meals here around $ 3.50-$ 5.00 per person(which is why they get 3 stars instead of 2). Getting good service here seems to be a crapshoot, so don’t expect to be pampered. I’ve had almost everything on their menu(ok, I admit, I crave greasy Chinese food all the time), and for what it’s worth, my favorites are the Chow Mein and the Orange Peel Chicken.
Steve R.
Place rating: 1 Aurora, CO
Disappointing(and that says a lot by Pick-Up-Stix standards). The order was ready on time, true. The manager could not find my order until I specified that it was an «online» order. I ordered the house special fried rice and the chicken was overdone, the beef BURNED, the rice hard, and no shrimp. The wonton was overfried in oil and tasted only of oil. The only redeeming dish was the Kung Pao chicken. The orange chicken had more orange wedges and watercress than chicken. Overall, I am over this chain. The quality seems to have declined with the economy and this was the WORST visit I have experienced here. Guess I will be trucking down to Kearny Mesa for my Chinese food from now on.