Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
oChef » Great Wall Express – San Diego
Great Wall Express - San Diego
Photo from Great Wall Express
Great Wall Express at a glance
San Diego South Crest
- 🥡 Chinese Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $11–$20
mentioned by 51 of the guests
#572 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#14 Chinese Restaurant out of 34 in San Diego
Good
6.3 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
187
Reviews
57.8%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious Food
- Good Value
- Easy Parking
Frequently criticized
- Food Safety
- Rude Service
- Pricing Issues
The restaurant Great Wall Express invites you to discover authentic Chinese flavors right in the heart of San Diego’s vibrant South Crest neighborhood. If you’re seeking a casual spot for a quick bite or delicious small plates, this Chinese restaurant is a fantastic choice.
You can easily enjoy a relaxed dine-in experience or grab convenient takeout. With plenty of parking and a welcoming atmosphere, it’s an ideal stop for a satisfying meal.
Overview: Introducting Great Wall Express
Great Wall Express offers a compelling proposition for those seeking a satisfying meal. Many appreciate the generous portions and delicious food, often highlighting the authentic flavors.
The establishment is also noted for its friendly business approach and often provides great service, making for a generally positive dining experience. However, some experiences at Great Wall Express have been less ideal.
There are occasional concerns regarding payment methods, with some noting it’s cash only, and a few have reported issues with staff attitude. A small number of patrons have also raised concerns about the general atmosphere and cleanliness.
Good
6.3
out of 10
187
Reviews
57.8%
Satisfaction
64
negative
15
neutral
108
positive
Great Wall Express achieves an overall score of 6.3, placing it firmly in the average category, with customer satisfaction at a mixed 57.8%. This assessment is drawn from 187 customer opinions, comprising 108 positive and 64 negative remarks.
The Food (6.7) stands out as a relative strength, often described as delicious and generous. However, Service (5.8) receives an average rating, indicating some inconsistencies in customer interactions.
The Ambience (6.3) also falls into the average range, suggesting it’s generally acceptable but not a major draw. Value (5.2) is perceived as average, with some finding it economical while others encounter issues.
While the overall score and satisfaction are both in the mid-range, the slightly higher score for food compared to value and service indicates where the restaurant’s primary appeal lies for many patrons.
What people like
- Delicious, generous food
- Fair prices, good value
- Ample parking
What people don't like
- Bugs in food
- Inconsistent service attitude
- Payment/pricing issues
Great Wall Express, with a recommendation score of 6.4, presents a mixed experience. If you prioritize substantial, flavorful Chinese food at a reasonable price and don’t mind a no-frills setting, it could be a suitable option for a quick meal.
The generous portions are often a highlight for many. However, potential visitors should be aware of reported inconsistencies in service and occasional issues with pricing clarity or payment methods.
While the food often satisfies, some serious concerns about cleanliness have been raised. Consider your priorities before visiting; it might be worth a try for the food, but manage expectations for other aspects.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Great Wall Express
Food (6.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 92% of the guests
When it comes to the food, many find it quite satisfying, earning a 6.7 score. Diners frequently praise the beef and broccoli, jalapeno chicken, and large portions, often calling the delicious food a must-try. With 69 positive remarks out of 112 total opinions, there's a strong current of enjoyment.
Yet, the customer satisfaction of 61.6% suggests a mixed experience for some. Among 34 negative comments, serious issues like a roach leg or bugs in food were reported. Other concerns included bland flavors and old chicken, pointing to occasional inconsistencies in quality.
Food
112
Reviews
61%
Satisfaction
34
negative
9
neutral
69
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious food
- Generous portions
- Variety of dishes
What people don't like
- Bugs in food
- Food tasted old
- Bland flavors
Often praised
- foodI hope this business prospers and continues to serve delicious food. I absolutely love this place; the food is always delicious. My experience was fantastic, and I highly recommend it.
- Chinese foodMy experience at Great Wall Express was fantastic! It's my go-to spot for quick and tasty Chinese food. The portions are generous, and the flavors are authentic.
- egg rollsYou really get your money's worth, and the staff are incredibly patient while you decide on your food. We ordered a variety of dishes to satisfy everyone's preferences: I had the beef and broccoli, egg rolls, jalapeno chicken, and chop suey. My family enjoyed the pork ribs with black bean sauce.
- portionsIt's my go-to spot for quick and tasty Chinese food. The portions are generous, and the flavors are authentic. Everything is always fresh and hot.
- ricethe rice is so good
- chicken kabobIt's so good that even after moving to Colorado, I make sure to visit every time I'm back. My favorites include the rice with black bean sauce, orange chicken, chicken kabob, bbq ribs, teriyaki chicken, jalapeno chicken, and lo mein. 🔥
- delicious foodMy experience at Awesome Restaurant was fantastic. I definitely like the delicious food and the great service. I know you will too.
- fried ricelove their fried rice — so good!
- jalapeno chickenYou really get your money's worth, and the staff are incredibly patient while you decide on your food. We ordered a variety of dishes to satisfy everyone's preferences: I had the beef and broccoli, egg rolls, jalapeno chicken, and chop suey. My family enjoyed the pork ribs with black bean sauce.
- noodlesTheir noodles were good
Frequently criticized
- foodI cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone. My experience was extremely negative as I found bugs in my food. This is not the first time this has happened, which is deeply concerning.
- chickenthe chicken and meat tasted old
- food qualitythe food quality has gone down so kich
- FoodFood was barely tolerable enough to eat
- beefI only wish they had like more beef
- beef broccoliMy experience at this restaurant was the worst place ever. I had to return the food because the rice was spoiled and the beef broccoli too. Furthermore, the service is terrible; the old lady always has an attitude.
- bugs in foodfound bugs in my food
- chicken mushroom with zucchinistale, funky tasting chicken mushroom with zucchini
- egg foo youngegg foo young, which was unfortunately bland
- flavorsthe flavors all ran together
If youre looking for generous portions of often delicious Chinese food like beef and broccoli or jalapeno chicken, its worth a try. Just be aware that some experiences have been inconsistent, with a few serious quality concerns reported.
Service (5.8 out of 10)
mentioned by 40% of the guests
Many customers have found the service quite pleasant, with 18 positive remarks out of 33 total praising the friendly staff, great service, and easy ordering. Guests often mention the patient staff and respectful treatment, contributing to a decent experience. While the overall customer satisfaction sits at 54.5%, suggesting a mixed bag, the service score is an average 5.8.
However, not everyone has had such a smooth time, with 13 negative comments pointing to some significant issues. Concerns include bad attitudes from staff, unhelpful staff, and frustrating waiting times. Some experiences describe poor customer service, suggesting there's definitely room for improvement in consistency.
Service
33
Reviews
54%
Satisfaction
13
negative
2
neutral
18
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Great service
- Easy ordering
What people don't like
- Bad attitudes
- Unhelpful staff
- Long waiting times
Often praised
- servicethe service and atmosphere were also rated highly
- peopleThe people there are amazing at what they do and very friendly
- staffstaff are friendly
- ServiceService:5
- customer servicealways been treated fair and with respect
- friendly businessThey have been my go-to for years. This is a very fair priced and friendly business. They've been serving my area for as long as I remember.
- great servicethe great service
- ladies in frontThe ladies in front were kind
- linesNo long lines
- orderingEasy ordering
Frequently criticized
- serviceI had to return the food because the rice was spoiled and the beef broccoli too. Furthermore, the service is terrible; the old lady always has an attitude.
- lady who help melady who help me wasn't even helpful
- old ladythe old lady was in a bad mood ,she was very rude
- attitudeher bad attitude and bad service
- customer serviceNot very good customer service
- helpfulnessnot very helpful at all
- nothing was readyThe quality of the food isn't what it used to be. We visited on a Saturday afternoon, and nothing was ready. We wanted orange chicken and had to wait for it to be made.
- waiting timewaited 20 minutes for his food and still waited
Service here seems to be a bit of a gamble. If you catch them on a good day, you'll likely enjoy friendly and efficient service. But be prepared for the possibility of encountering unhelpful staff or longer waits, which might dampen your visit.
Ambience (6.3 out of 10)
mentioned by 29% of the guests
The ambience here lands an average score of 6.3, with a mixed customer satisfaction of 56.5%. Many guests appreciate the overall atmosphere and environment, with some even calling it their special place and praising its good vibe. The ample parking space is also a big plus.
These 13 positive opinions out of 23 total certainly highlight some strong points. However, not everything is rosy. Some found the place itself to be run down, and there are concerning reports of bugs, roaches, and so many flies flying through the establishment.
A few also mentioned an unprofessional and unpleasant atmosphere, suggesting they could work on the atmosphere and cleaning tables more. These 7 negative comments out of 23 total definitely point to areas needing attention.
Ambience
23
Reviews
56%
Satisfaction
7
negative
3
neutral
13
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Plenty of parking
- Good atmosphere
What people don't like
- Run down place
- Bugs and roaches
- Flies present
Often praised
- atmospherethe service and atmosphere were also rated highly
- parkingparking pretty good
- parking spaceParking space:Plenty of parking
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- businessbusiness for more than 30 years🤝
- environmentClean environment
- free parking lotParking options:Free parking lot
- popularThe food was excellent👌. This business has been operating for more than 30 years🤝 and is very popular in San Diego. I recommendable it 100%🫡🙋🏻♂️.
- special placethats my special place
- vibeit's good in general
Frequently criticized
- atmosphereUnprofessional and unpleasant atmosphere
- bugsaw a bug
- cleaning tableslike cleaning tables more
- fliesso many flies flying through the establishment
- place itselfThe place itself had been run down
- roachit’s a roach in the ground
If youre looking for a place with convenient parking and a generally positive vibe, you might find it here. However, be prepared for the possibility of a run-down interior and some unwelcome insect guests. Its a mixed bag, so manage your expectations accordingly.
Value (5.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 29% of the guests
When it comes to getting your moneys worth, this spot offers a bit of a mixed bag. Many patrons feel they get good value, with comments highlighting that prices are pretty good, its not too expensive, and you can find some decent deals. There are even military discounts available, making some feel they truly get their moneys worth, according to 8 positive remarks out of 19 total customer observations.
However, the value proposition isnt always clear-cut. With a score of 5.2 (which is average) and customer satisfaction at 42.1% (a mixed result), there are some notable downsides. Several of the 10 negative comments mention issues like being cash only, unclear menu and prices, and even concerns about being overcharged or double charged, especially regarding combination plates.
Value
19
Reviews
42%
Satisfaction
10
negative
1
neutral
8
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Money's worth
- Fair prices
- Military discounts
What people don't like
- Cash only
- Unclear pricing
- Overcharging issues
Often praised
- priceAbout as cheap as it gets
- dealsMy experience at this restaurant was very positive. I found very good deals and the food was tasty with large portions. The ordering process was easy, and I appreciated that there were no long lines.
- fair pricedvery fair priced
- military discountsoffer military discounts to anybody
- money's worthYou get your money worth
- not too expensiveits not too expensive
- pricesprices are pretty good
Frequently criticized
- 3 items comboforce u to buy the 3 items combo
- cash onlythey only take cash
- changeI had a very bad experience at this place. I was shortchanged 8 cents and did not receive my food. What a sadness.
- combination platessurprise to find out the fried rice and lo mein are counted as items on the 1,2, & 3 item combination plates
- double chargetried double charging me
- menu and pricesthe menu and prices were unclear at first
- overchargetried to overcharge me
- rice and noodlesovercharged me for rice and noodles
- taxesgot charged $6 and some change on taxes
- what I always getdouble charging me on what I always get
If youre looking for potential deals and dont mind paying with cash, you might find some good value here. However, be prepared for potentially unclear pricing and keep an eye on your bill to avoid any surprises.
How are the prices at Great Wall Express?
You’re looking at roughly $18 per person – reported by 51 diners. That puts it in the $11–$20 category. For a Chinese Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Most folks spend right around this mark, with a good number even opting for cheaper bites, showing it’s a pretty consistent spot for value.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 51 reviews.
How this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Diego.
Overall, we think the pricing feels pretty fair for a Chinese restaurant in San Diego. It offers good value without breaking the bank, especially given the variety of price points available.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Great Wall Express
Service Type
- Dine-in
1
Roach leg found in food!
My experience at this restaurant was extremely disappointing. I found what appeared to be a roach leg in my food. 🤢🤢🤢 Due to this unsanitary discovery, I will definitely not be coming back.
- roach leg1
- food1
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Takeout
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
9
Great Chinese Food, Fast Service!
My experience at Great Wall Express was fantastic! It's my go-to spot for quick and tasty Chinese food. The portions are generous, and the flavors are authentic.
Everything is always fresh and hot. I especially love their orange chicken and fried rice – so good! The staff are friendly and the service is fast, making it perfect for takeout or a casual dine-in meal.
Highly recommend!
- Chinese food9
- portions9
- flavors9
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Takeout
Meal Type
- Lunch
2
Disappointing Chinese Takeout Experience
My experience at this Chinese takeout spot was unfortunately a miss. I wanted to give more stars, but the food was barely tolerable. The sweet & sour chicken was gummy and stale, and the chicken mushroom with zucchini had a funky taste.
I was also surprised that the fried rice and lo mein were counted as separate items on the combination plates, rather than being included. I will not be returning.
- sweet & sour chicken2
- chicken mushroom with zucchini2
- combination plates3
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
2
Gross Food and Flies
My experience at this restaurant was quite unpleasant. The food was frankly gross, and the chicken tasted old. To make matters worse, there were so many flies flying through the establishment.
I would recommend finding somewhere else to eat.
- food2
- chicken2
- flies1
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
10
Consistently Delicious Food, Worth the Visit
I've been coming here since I was a kid, and the food never misses. It's so good that even after moving to Colorado, I make sure to visit every time I'm back. My favorites include the rice with black bean sauce, orange chicken, chicken kabob, bbq ribs, teriyaki chicken, jalapeno chicken, and lo mein.
🔥
- food10
- rice with black bean sauce10
- orange chicken10
What Great Wall Express offers
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Offerings
- Small plates
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
Parking
- Free street parking
- Free parking lot
- Usually plenty of parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What parking options are available at Great Wall Express?
When you visit Great Wall Express in San Diego, you’ll find parking is convenient and usually plentiful. The restaurant offers free street parking as well as a free parking lot, making it easy for you to stop by for your meal.
Is Great Wall Express accessible and suitable for families?
Yes, Great Wall Express is designed to be welcoming for everyone. You’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance, parking lot, and seating. Plus, it’s considered good for kids and provides high chairs, making it a great spot for family dining.
How does Great Wall Express generally rate among customers?
Great Wall Express holds an overall score of **6.3**, indicating an average experience. Customers generally find the **Food** (6.7) to be a strong point, while **Ambience** (6.3), **Service** (5.8), and **Value** (5.2) are rated as average.
What do customers particularly enjoy about the food and pricing?
Many customers appreciate the **delicious food** and **generous portions** at Great Wall Express. They often highlight the **fair prices** and good **value**, noting that you get your money’s worth.
Are there any common complaints or issues reported by diners?
Some diners have reported **inconsistent service attitude** and issues with **payment methods**, such as being **cash only** or experiencing **overcharging**. There have also been concerning mentions of **bugs in food** and an **unpleasant atmosphere**.