I have such a complicated relationship with Chinese food. On the one hand, I absolutely love eating it and the typical enormous portions at reasonable prices that most take out joints provide. On the other hand, I hate the experiences I’ve had wasting money when I’ve sat down only to discover most of my beloved orange chicken is tough, rubbery and inedible or that most of my teriyaki chicken is fatty, skin pieces that can’t be eaten all the way through. I’m going into depth with this review only because I was convinced I had found a happy medium with Chinese food at Pick Up Stix. Reviews are pretty good, the area is lovely and shelling out $ 28 for a family combo pack should guarantee a delicious meal for my family, right? Sadly, I was dead wrong. For starters, this so-called family meal barely fed 2 adults and 1 small child. Fortunately, the 2nd child was not around or our portions would’ve been divvied up even smaller! The presentation was pleasing as they had everything in 1 large, fancy container. Everything being steamed rice, chow mein, orange chicken, teriyaki chicken, 4 cream cheese won tons and 4 fried dumplings. It sounds like a lot but there’s a reason all of this food fits into only 1 fancy container: because portions were SMALL! Stingy portions and for the price I paid, I expected at least some fantastic flavors. Here’s a breakdown: General’s Orange Chicken: Nice edible pieces but didn’t have orange taste to me at all. Grilled Teriyaki Chicken W/Veggies: More veggies than chicken. Chicken had fatty, inedible parts. Broccoli was incredibly chewy and hard to eat. Hubby couldn’t even finish and he loves his veggies! Chow Mein: Odd, bland flavor; possibly the worst I’ve ever had(how sad) Steam White Rice: Flavor and texture were straight out of a $ 1 Minute Rice box. Cream Cheese Won Tons: Comparable to all other ones I’ve had. Fried Dumplings: Ok. Tasted like frozen ones I’ve made at home. I don’t ever plan on coming back and will continue to have high hopes of Golden Chopstix getting their orange chicken act consistent which would make them a complete package in my book. Even with that flaw, I’d still rather go there than Pick Up Stix: at least I’m guaranteed to enjoy large portions of chow mein & rice and still have money left over for frozen yogurt!
Samantha M.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Corona, CA
I usually love the house chicken but today it was awful what a waste it was disgusting and no green onions this time plus way to expensive and the noodles taste like top robin gross absolutely disgusting
Courtney B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Corona, CA
Been coming here for years. Always great service. Love the new renovations! The House Chicken is what I come for and i’m never disappointed.
Just M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Corona, CA
Always use Unilocal to get suggestions for restaurants, but this is my first post!!! From time to time, I’ll stop in at a location, usually get house beef, but lately(watching my calorie and fat intake) I tried and really like Thai curry chicken. As usual, food is fresh and good, but today I had my first experience with Fabian, the manager at this location. Not only was he very nice and friendly to me, but to every person that came in, no matter how difficult the customer was. I watched him the entire time and was very impressed. He asked all the questions with a big smile on his face. He gives the impression that he really likes his job, and will go the extra mile(s) to be customer oriented. I eat out daily and have experienced all kind of“customer service”, but Fabian is on a league of his own. All service and customer oriented business owners; have lunch at this location, so you can experience what it is like, to feel like a customer! Fabian, keep up the good work, you’ll be very successful in business!
Marsha A.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Corona, CA
Rude Cashier. Argumentative with customer. Never going back. I requested«No crispy white noodles» at the bottom. Cashier responded«We don’t do that, We NEVER do that!». I said, «Yes you guys do cause I always would request it without». Cashier continues to responds again with«We don’t do that!». I responded«Yes you do», she comes back with, «No we don’t «back & forth x3. Yes I know childish but I’m the customer. Bad Customer Service. Yes, things & times change menus evolve, maybe they did take out the crispy white noodles that’s usually at the bottom of my house chicken, say it politely. But don’t be Argumentative with your customers.
Karina D.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Ontario, CA
When in need of Chinese food I like pick up stix BUT this particular location has great customer service with a smile. I e been here a hand full of times and it’s always consistently good and the employees and owner go out of their way to make it a good experience. Gonna keep coming back!
Vanessa E.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Corona, CA
I love this place and where it’s located. The manager and staff are always friendly. The garlic shrimp entrée is my favorite.
Bob W.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Chatsworth, CA
For an asian type restaurant rice sucks service 10 prices a little high food good except rice outside tables great but non patrons use them to smoke need some control on this
Tanner K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Corona, CA
Love this place. Great service, fantastic food & decent prices. For fast Chinese food this is way better than the other options out there. They deliver too!
D P.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Moreno Valley, CA
Good food but a really dirty dining area. Rice and trash everywhere. Lady started taking out the trash in one spot and made a mess and she just left it. She didn’t start cleaning any tables until she saw my wife cleaning the table and chairs with a napkin. Definitely will not be coming back.
Jessica A.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Tustin, CA
Staff is great! Manager is very involved in his store. Always helpful and kind. Prices are little expensive I feel. But great food!
Adriana A.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Corona, CA
I love this place, I come at least once a week on my lunch break to get the Signature Chinese Salad, its so good & healthy! Oh and forgot to mention FRESH! I think they’re alittle overpriced but its worth it.
Jennifer T.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Corona, CA
Worst service ever just now. What do you mean we don’t do custom orders? Really it’s made to order! The manager proceeded to tell me we NEVER customize fried rice. Really? I come here once a week and everyone else does just fine making my rice. And to top it off my order was wrong!!! Wth?
Britney M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Corona, CA
Used to be my favorite Chinese food place. Then I found a cheaper place, but that place has changed in food quality. I will most likely be going back to pick up stix for my Chinese food fix that hits once a month. Their fried tofu, chow mein, fried rice, and cream cheese wontons are all very good!
Mike C.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Corona, CA
This place is ridiculous. We have tried to go here numerous times and they always put up a fight about getting no veggies in an upgraded rice. My wife was just harassed because she wouldn’t take no for an answer. She is allergic to the veggies that they put in it. Even worse is that the Mira Loma did it no problem. Screw the manager here. The worse customer service I have ever dealt with. Will not come back. If I could do zero stars I would.
Lynn E.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Lake Elsinore, CA
Bourbon Chicken is the bomb!
Nijole T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Los Angeles, CA
I was glad to see I have a Pick up Stix location close to home, I love the fresh and lighter spin on American-Asian fare. Great service, super nice, knows the menu well and fast to bring out food. Sign up for coupons and offers to save a bit, as the prices are higher than most other Fast Food places. I went with the new salmon plate with brown rice and veggies and it was a huge portion, enough to split into two meals. My son had the honey chicken and white rice, my husband the mongolain beef and they all loved it as well. Most entrees go for about $ 10 and when you consider the portion size and high quality, fresh made to order, it is a very fair price. I also got their egg rolls, both chicken and veggie and wontons and enjoyed them all. Great sauces and seasonings, very happy with our meals here!
Dennis Y.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Riverside, CA
Overpriced. Greasy cheap stir fry. Gross! Panda express down the street is cheaper and better
Rose S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Corona, CA
Went today around noon wanting Chinese food, plus i had a mailbox flyer with coupons. I’d never ever used a coupon for Pick Up Stix and had not been there in several weeks. My food was to go. Ordered: House Chow Mein and their new Thai chicken dish. The House Chow Mein was packed with chicken, beef and shrimp, plus the noodles of course and some greens. The new Thai chicken dish contained large and plenty chunks of chicken, plenty of vegetables and a very good sauce. Both dishes were excellent. Their food is healthy and they use no MSG. Plus it is always freshly made, not sitting around in some keep warm dishes for hours. Their food is also a bargain. They fill the to-go containers to the rim and a separate container with rice. So any entrée is easily 2 meals. That is why i consider their prices $, i.e. cheap. Comment: It is also much appreciated that they don’t short change on the quality and quantity because of the coupon i used(buy 1 entrée get 1 free). Food: easily 4.5 — 5 stars. 5 star is for the service. I was helped by Autumn. She could not have been nicer. I was served with a smile throughout, both when ordering and when being handed my food. I was wished a nice day when i left. Contrary to what some other reviewers said, i had condiments and fortune cookies in my bag. Had not taken her name down, so called up there when deciding on writing a review and talked to Jason. Told him i wanted to include the young lady’s name in a review on Unilocal.He also was very nice and thanked me profusely — not even knowing the particulars of my review yet. This will be my only go to place for Chinese food from now on.
Armand C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Baldwin Park, CA
Winner of Veggie Army’s Best So Far List for Best Cream Cheese Wontons! I’ve always loved Pick Up Stix cream cheese wontons, but I guess they don’t serve them with the little puffed soba noodles. I didn’t eat them, but they were an endearing garnish.
We enjoyed the Firecracker Tofu and the House Tofu. Both were deliciously spicy, but weren’t served with any vegetables. So as battered, fried, and in a sauce that probably has high sodium content, they aren’t a healthy option. Unfortunately, they discontinued the Buddha Feast which had a lovely variety of veggies including one of my Asian favorites — water chestnuts. All in all, I’m still definitely a fan of Pick Up Stix and will return, but am keeping my fingers crossed for more healthy vegetarian options. Veg out, Veggie Army