J.W. Chen’s

A mom and pop Chinese restaurant where the owner takes your order and if you are feeling adventurous will make something special order to suit your taste. I ended up with a very good pepper steak and my wife had an excellent ginger chicken. Portions were generous. Our plates were 14 each. With egg rolls and Only water to drink our bill was 32

I loved this place! We are new to South Bend, and this was our first outing for Chinese food. It was great! The owner came out and greeted us. She told us about all the dishes and offered to specialize any of the choices per our request. She was adorable. I got Snow White chicken and my husband got sesame chicken. Both were great! The ingredients were extremely fresh. The owner even brought a dish on the house, which was honey chicken. It was also great. I will define my return again.

Amazing, read the reviews, the owner is beyond caring. I read the reviews, went to a place that from the outside was not so pleasant but, the area is on the rise for rehabbing. Wasn’t feeling well that day, jet lag, bad stomach. She genuine and sincere. Told her I didnt know what to order, she said tell me what you like usually. She said you no feel good I give you something on the house for stomach. Tea, a chicken dish that i have never tasted more moist.
Place is set up for others to join you and enjoy the company of others. Also single tables for more intimate gatherings.
Food A+
Service A++

Great food but often it takes awhile to have your order taken. The curry rice noodles and Governor’s tofu are fantastic.

The owner treats ‘particular’ people in the worst way I have ever seen. The food is mediocre at best. I have never been so embarrassed for others/​for her in my entire dining experience.
Don’t look like the kind of clientele that’s going to be spending lots of money at her place, well, be prepared to be treated like crap. Which unfortunately works for her, she keeps her clients and keeps the ‘riff raff’ out. It’s just a way of treating other human beings that should never be accepted. Her clients should be ashamed for giving her the opportunity to keep certain people out, but they are too busy enjoying their privilege. The only vote we truly have is with our money, and I refuse to spend another single dollar there.

JW Chen’s sets the standard for Chinese food in this area and anywhere else I travel to around the country.
Menu is varied; a great mix of classics and unique dishes. I also have no fear of trying something I’ve never heard of off the menu as I’ve yet to run across a dish that I don’t like. And if you’re not sure what you want, Jean, the owner, actually sits down at every table and ensures you order something that will make you happy. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can ask her to just make you something unique. Prices and portions are very good, and lunch specials are superb. Food is also incredibly fresh. I have seen Jean shopping the grocery stores in the morning when I’m doing my own shopping.
Service is great. As mentioned, the owner meets with every customer. It’s pretty much group service, so whoever is close by cleans the table or refills drinks.
There’s no dedicated kids menu, but we’ve never had a problem finding something that makes the kids happy (and portions are huge, so dad gets to be happy with leftovers the next day for lunch). Jean and the staff love kids, also, so the entire family always leaves happy.
I cannot recommend this place enough! Never would have thought that one of the best Chinese restaurants I’ve ever been to is in a small strip mall on Ironwood.

Jeans hot hot chicken and beef tangerine were superb! The hot hot was just that. We had green beans on the house and they will so good. Couldn’t get Jean to budge on what they were.

A must visit restaurant. So delicious with good prices. The owner jean was so nice! She listened to our taste preference and made custom orders for us. Also, the honey chicken is very tasty.

A very homey restaurant with an owner who clearly cares and wants you to have an honestly amazing experience at her establishment. Everything on the menu is fairly priced and the portion sizes are large! My friend and I went tonight and split the string beans and ko po chicken. Both were delicious! Just the right amount of spicy, and not too greasy either! One thing I was disappointed by, however, was the hot & sour soup, definitely sour, but didn’t have much else going on in terms of flavor. All in all, a good experience.

If you are Chinese, the owner would try her best to recommend their «real Chinese dishes» which are not on the menu, and tell you that the menu food is not good at all. But in fact, their so called «authentic Chinese dishes» are very pricy, neither delicious nor authentic.

Gene, the owner, is so nice and intuitive in helping you pick food. She is so good that since moving to the bay area it’s hard to find as good of a Chinese restaurant, and it’s a must do in our vacation back in South Bend.

Found this place because I wanted a true authentic Chinese food experience… and it definitely delivers just that. It was absolutely amazing. The food was incredible. I ordered the Crispy Chicken and Beef fried rice and my husband ordered Tangerine Beef. If anyone is reading this review and deciding if they should go or not… GO…and order the Tangerine Beef while you’re there. You won’t regret it. The service was good and there is a wide selection of items to choose from. If you’re not sure what you want to order, don’t worry because the owner (Jean) will come to your table and help you figure out what you like. She’s such a lovely lady. Portions are large so bring your appetite. I already can’t wait to go back and I just left.

Fantastic food. First time here based on Unilocal reviews. Jean as sweet as they come. Made several recommendations– all excellent. Loved the atmosphere, simple and great quick service with very fresh food.
Will be back

Living in China for a few years will spoil you on American Chinese fusion (a palate which proves doubly disappointing throughout much of the midwest). You will return to the land of the free and search in vain for that specific memory. You will most likely never find it.
In fact, you won’t find it (probably because of the MSG and other random spices not readily available here in the good ol USA).
What you can find is very well prepared food here at JW Chen’s. In all my stateside travels this is the food that comes the closest to my memories. On top of the great food you will get personal attention from Jean (the shop’s owner) as she runs through your taste and spice level preferences before recommending a dish she thinks you will love. Trust her. She’s smarter than you.
In short: good food, good service, and reasonably priced.

JW Chen’s is consistent and you can’t find a more involved owner. Jean is known for sitting down with her customers, finding out what they like and personally creating a dish based on their preferences.
They offer a great lunch menu with items ranging from $ 6 – 7 for soup, egg roll and entrée. Service is friendly and quick — great for getting in and out in an hour or less which can be hard to find.
The KoBo chicken is one of my favorites and has a nice little kick. You can change up the spice level on any dish. The dish doesn’t come with any veggies, but I love adding in broccoli or opting for Jean’s string beans.
The almond shrimp is a popular item and one of Jean’s own creations — definitely worth trying.
Great local place with fresh, flavorful food and consistent service. Great for carry out too!

We came in and the owner sat at our table and introduced herself, asked about us, what we liked. Food allergies. Ect. and asked if she could make something special for us. We were surprised by some excellent dishes! She also gave us a shrimp appetizer on the house. The service and hospitality was above and beyond! The food was amazing! We are from California where there is a slew of great Chinese restaurants and this one blew them out of the water, fresh hand made dishes! We defiantly will be back

Wonderful restaurant. Not fancy, small but super efficient. Mama Chen comes out and sits with you to ask what you like… then she orders everything for you. Fast, fantastic food. The place was packed. It’s a real gem in South Bend. They do take reservations for larger parties. She is all business but her food is all love…

The food and service is positively amazing. It feels like you are eating at «mom’s» when you eat at Chen’s. The owner, Jean, will seat down and talk to you like you were a guest at her house. Since we had a large group, we just had her order our dishes. She made particular care to serve those with dietary restrictions (gluten free, seafood allergies).
Very close to campus and offers a large selection on their menu.
The almond shrimp is ridiculously delicious.

Jean is the perfect hostess and her surprise suggestions are marvelous. Each of us in a party of four ordered different dishes. The portions were so large that we were able to share all around. Too, a special almond shrimp dish was a gift from Jean. It was marvelous.

I love Jean!!! This is the best Chinese food I’ve ever eaten. Let Jean order for you. She will get it right.

Best Chinese food in South Bend. Located next to an Asian market so the produce is super-​fresh and run by a woman who takes it upon herself to sit down and discover what you’re in the mood to eat, then places the order for you. Great white meat chicken in their dishes, great sauces that aren’t too heavy, salty or oily. A definite must-​visit when we visit ND.

I have never, in my entire life, received worse service than when I made the mistake of dining here. The staff is rude, disrespectful, and careless. Moreover, the food I received came out cold and was tasteless. I will not be coming here again.

Great food! Kind service! Best Chinese I’ve had in South Bend.
Only complaint: I wish they would serve to food «HOT!» when I request ¹⁰⁄₁₀ in the heat scale.

The Emperor Tofu is delicious. Crispy tofu in a sweet/​spicy sauce.
I love the Chinese food here. If you go to Andrews or Notre Dame, you are blessed!

Fantastic. The owner Jean asked is a few questions then asked if she could surprise us. So glad we said yes! Our dinner was outstanding. Crispy chicken, almond shrimp, marinated pork ribs, chicken in a garlic, ginger & fish sauce and spicy fish. Authentic, flavorful, and fresh. Wish this place was in our city.

We need to be honest here, people! This place is a dump. Filthy and shabby.
The food is meh. Nothing bright, fresh or special about it. It’s all fried.

They thing that puts JW Chen’s above the rest is Jean! The fact that she cares so much about the restaurant and makes such thoughtful recommendations is awesome! Their fried rice is good and I really enjoy their shrimp dishes. If you are around ND, try it out! You will not be disappointed.

Ive been going to Chens for about 10 yrs now. The food is very well prepared, and a little more authentic than Michianas typical asian offerings.
The crispy fish is delicious, I often get the brisket soup as a lunch… if you order it spicy you will not be disappointed in its spicyness.
If Jean recognizes you as a regular customer, sometimes she will tell you what you are going to order. I have never been disappointed with her recommendation.
Jean herself shops daily at Meijer on grape road for their produce… which is a testimony to her attention to detail.
Lunches at Chens are an incredible value.

A wonderful find off the beaten path returning home from a business trip /​mini vacation. Jean, the owner, is a remarkable woman, and literally makes the dining experience at this hidden gem.
At once we were welcomed and made to feel at home as one might only expect at a reunion with a beloved long lost relative. Jean introduced herself as she pulled up a chair and spoke to us as if we were old friends. Following a quick conversation about how adventurous our tastes were in terms of spice, seasoning, and choice of protein Jean made suggestions from the menu to suit.
The food:
Pot stickers are made from scratch daily and are incredible.
The pork short rib dish that we had was amazing. The meat was super tender and falling off the bone. Balance of flavors and spices was excellent.
Almond crusted shrimp has great texture from the almond coating and a light, sweet sauce.
The service:
Accommodating and friendly. Excellent hospitality. Food came out quickly and the wait staff were very attentive to our needs.
The verdict:
This is a must visit restaurant in the South Bend area.

From the moment you come in you feel like you are entering Jean’s living room/​kitchen. If you are wondering who Jean is, she is the most adorable Asian lady you would meet owner of the place. You feel like you belong there and she makes you part of her home and the experience.
Service was really good. Jean, sat down with us at our table to take our order. She then said let me surprise you, what do you want chicken, beef, pork. One of the people at the table took her up in the offer and by far he ended with the best dish at the table, water beef. It was like a beef stew with spices, super delicious!
I orders the crisp duck, which was amazing, super tender duck on the inside, super juicy with a crispy skin layer. The dumplings were really good as well.
The place was really affordable for my plate I spent 14, and it was plenty for me to eat and share with the table.