Asian Café Express

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1911 W. Main St. Mesa, AZ 85201

480-668-5910

2 User reviews Write A Review

Critics'
Pick
Best Chinese Restaurant
Award Winner 2010

Cuisine(s): Asian, Chinese

Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm

Price: $, $$

Payment Types: MasterCard, Visa
Attire: Casual

Features: Takeout, Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly, Vegetarian Friendly

Serving: Dinner, Lunch

Alcohol: None
Reservations: Not Accepted

Parking: Lot Available

Description

Despite the name, this is no generic pan-Asian fast food joint. Not even close. It's exceptionally tasty, unbelievably cheap, authentic Hong Kong-style cuisine. Behind it all is chef Michael Leung, former owner of central Phoenix's Gourmet House of Hong Kong. Be prepared to spend some time ogling the expansive menu, featuring scores of different stews and sautés, fried rice, hot pots, congee, and so many kinds of noodles - egg noodle and rice noodle soups, lo mein, chow mein, and chow fun. There's a handful of items from Taiwan and Southeast Asia, and even spaghetti.

2010 | Best Chinese Restaurant

The Valley's best place to fill up on authentic Chinese cuisine also happens to be a very modest storefront with a no-frills little dining room. Although you won't find lavish furnishings fit for an emperor at Asian Cafe Express, you will find a very glorious feast. Chef-owner Michael Leung's excellent sauces are the highlight of many dishes, and his pan-fried noodles have that perfect tinge of smokiness. He does vegetables with finesse and transforms seafood into even more of a delicacy... More »
2009 | Best Chinese Restaurant

Don't be fooled by the nondescript name -- Asian Café Express is all about authentic Hong Kong cuisine, masterfully created by chef-owner Michael Leung. The atmosphere feels a lot like Chinatown, too, from handwritten signs listing specials in English and Chinese to tables full of Chinese customers who make the restaurant bustle at dinner. They're here for chilled five-spice beef, plump pan-fried noodles kissed with heady black bean sauce, whole fish prepared a half-dozen ways,... More »
2008 | Best Chinese Restaurant

What's in a name Well, not always what you might think. To the uninitiated, Asian Café Express might seem like a nondescript fast-food joint serving a mishmash of Asian food, but in truth, this unassuming eatery is pure Hong Kong, baby. Like so many good Chinese restaurants, Asian Café Express is efficient and no-frills, with specials written in Chinese and English tacked to pastel pink walls. Photos of special dishes are helpful, too, since the menu itself sprawls on and... More »

Asian Café Express serves up Hong Kong-style five-spice beef and hot pots

By Michele Laudig | Thu, August 28, 2008

Don't blame the Olympics. I've been craving some good Chinese food for a lot longer than the past couple of weeks that we've been bombarded with coverage of the games. If anything, TV segments about bizarre Beijing street foods have somewhat less... More »

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phoenixnewtimesbestof | Phoenix, AZ | 315 Reviews

| Wed, May 6, 2009

What's in a name? Well, not always what you might think. To the uninitiated, Asian Caf� Express might seem like a nondescript fast-food joint serving a mishmash of Asian food, but in truth, this unassuming eatery is pure Hong Kong, baby. Like so many good Chinese restaurants, Asian Caf� Express is efficient and no-frills, with specials written in Chinese and English tacked to pastel pink walls. Photos of special dishes are helpful, too, since the menu itself sprawls on and on. Like noodles? This place has dozens of choices, from black mushroom chow fun and beef tripe lo mein to a slew of different soups. Stir-fry dishes round up a mind-boggling assortment of ingredients, such as bean sprouts and shredded pork, or scrambled egg with shrimp. You can get whole fish prepared several different ways, and there are so many hot-pot concoctions that it would take weeks of dedicated eating just to try them all. But hey, it's fun to try � nothing costs more than $7.99, so why not be adventurous?
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Chris S1 | Mesa, AZ | 2 Reviews

| Fri, June 26, 2009

Finally! Been down in the Phoenix area for five years and it has been all too long since having great east Asian food. They have a huge selection, modest prices, and worthy crab puffs. Try the kung pao squid! Mmmmm...

Main Menu

Appetizers

$1.85

Chicken Egg Roll (2 Pcs)

$1.85

Vegetable Spring Egg Roll (2 Pcs)

$1.85

Chicken Dumplings (3 Pcs)
deep fried/steam

$1.85

Deep Fried Chicken Wings (4 Pcs)

$1.85

Deep Fried Onion Rings (8 Pcs)

Soup

16 Oz $2.50
32 Oz $4.30

Egg Drop Soup

16 Oz $2.50
32 Oz $4.30

Hot & Sour Soup

16 Oz $2.50
32 Oz $4.30

Chicken
w/noodle soup

Fried Rice

$5.00

Chicken Fried Rice

$5.00

Beef Fried Rice

$5.00

Pork Fried Rice

$5.00

Shrimp Fried Rice

$5.00

Vegetable Fried Rice

Mixed Vegetable

Regular $5.27
Large $7.22

Black Mushroom
w/tofu and green (deep fried)

Regular $5.27
Large $7.22

Deep Fried Tofu
w/ fresh mushroom and green

Chicken

Regular $5.27
Large $7.22

Orange Chicken
deep fried chicken with fresh orange sauce

Regular $5.27
Large $7.22

Mongolia Chicken (hot)
sliced chicken w/ brown sauce & fried w/ scallions

Regular $5.27
Large $7.22

Mixed Vegetable Chicken
slice chicken w/vegetables

Regular $5.27
Large $7.22

Black Pepper Chicken (hot)
slice chicken, onion w/black bean sauce

Regular $5.27
Large $7.22

Spicy Chicken
deep fried chicken w/ hot sauce

Beef

Regular $5.27
Large $7.22

Beef W/ Broccoli
sliced beef, broccoli w/ brown sauce

Regular $5.27
Large $7.22

Mongolia Beef (hot)
beef, greens, brown onion w/hot mongolian sauce

Regular $5.27
Large $7.22

Kung Pao Beef (hot)
sliced beef with hot szechwan sauce

Regular $5.27
Large $7.22

Black Pepper Beef (hot)
slice beef and onion w/ black pepper sauce

Regular $5.27
Large $7.22

Teriyaki Beef
sliced chicken cooked with teriyaki sauce

Looking for another city?

Asian Café Express

1911 W. Main St. Mesa, AZ 85201

480-668-5910

Description

2010 | Best Chinese Restaurant

2009 | Best Chinese Restaurant

2008 | Best Chinese Restaurant

Asian Café Express serves up Hong Kong-style five-spice beef and hot pots

By Michele Laudig | Thu, August 28, 2008

phoenixnewtimesbestof | Phoenix, AZ | 315 Reviews

Chris S1 | Mesa, AZ | 2 Reviews

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