China Place

Reviews

• Hugh J.

  star star star star star 19 June 2026

  I really, really enjoy getting take-out from this place. The staff is always friendly and the food is always piping hot and made fresh to order! It's very satisfying to hear the loud clanking sound of my food being prepared in the kitchen wok right after I place my order with the cashier. Portions are generous and the lunch specials are an amazing deal - they're all around $6 for an entree, rice, soup, eggroll/rangoon, and a generous portion of sweet and sour dipping sauce.
  
  What I really appreciate about this place is the fact that they aren't afraid to REALLY season and flavor their food. A coworker who almost always gets his Chinese from Panda Express (the corporate chain) has completely stopped going to Panda Express after we visited China Place. He was surprised to find out that the chain food he was eating was so extremely bland compared to the food at China Place. Bonus: your money's going to a great local family owned restaurant instead of a huge corporation :-)

• Kevin T.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 17 June 2026

  I get why people like the place. If you want large portions of Americanized Chinese food (Orange Chicken, Beef and Brocolli etc.) for a cheap price, it's a solid place.
  
  I've lived by Drake for two years, and there really isn't another Chinese place anywhere close (except a buffet by 42nd), so I've eaten here a few times. The people running China Place are super friendly, the building is run down though, so it's not a good place to take a date/family on a nice night out.
  
  The food is okay, the hot and sour soup is pretty good. I like the taste of the crab rangoons, the entrees are okay, you can get better at many other places. I've gotten the Kung Bao Chicken and Beef with Broccoli. You can't really taste the meat, or veggies to a degree because there's a syrupy sauce, and a syrupy sauce with heat. What makes this a 2 star versus a 3 star place is just whenever I eat here it doesn't sit well in my stomach.
  
  I don't think it's a food safety issue, like I haven't had food poisoning. But I wonder if the oil they use doesn't sit well in my stomach, it's a problem a friend of mine who lives around here has an issue with as well.

• Rick H.

  star star star star_border star_border 16 June 2026

  Mostly a typical college campus food joint but with some fun, old school Chinese restaurant charm. Red arches, gold dragons, and Chinese zodiac placemats...
  
  Food here is served hot, flavorful, and slightly on the sweet side, but table service is consistently slow to collect your order. And while carry out orders are completed in a timely manner, parking is scarce during prime dining hours.
  
  China Place's sizzling rice soup is excellent, the crabmeat ragoons are nice and plump, and the potstickers are deep fried. Entrees are plentiful, and, as previously mentioned, a little too sweet for my tastes.
  
  If you're in the mood for a hot meal, China Place is well worth considering.

• Tim S.

  star star star star star_border 1 June 2026

  Great spot to get a inexpensive quick lunch. Food always comes out piping hot, you also get soup. Usually in and out in 15-20min and under $10. The eggrolls are delicious.

• Nicole Y.

  star star star star star 23 May 2026

  My go to delivery Chinese in Des Moines! Always comes nice and hot and very flavor-able. Hot and Sour soup is amazing and highly recommended. Delivery is always fast and customer service is great.