Lucky Express Lian

I had heard some great things about this restaurant, and my Chinese food cravings were through the roof, so I decided to give them a call. The lady who answered was so lovely, and she made sure to remind me that it’s cash only – thanks for the heads up! I went for the salt and pepper fish fillet, and let me tell you, it was fantastic! Crispy on the outside, tender and fresh on the inside. The seasoning was just right, not too overpowering, but I did wish I had some hot chili oil on the side for that extra kick. And can we talk about the rice? It’s massive, seriously, I thought they threw in another entree by mistake! Nope, just the rice, but it’s enough to last for a couple of meals. I’m definitely a happy camper!

What a delightful little Chinese restaurant! It’s mainly a takeout joint, but they have a few tables inside. You can park in the back or find a few spots in the front. And let’s not forget about their ENORMOUS menu! Most of the entrees are around $10-12, which is a steal considering the quality. It was our first visit, so we decided to order a variety of dishes. The lady at the counter was super friendly and helped us with our questions. Every dish we tried was absolutely scrumptious! The portions were beyond generous, and the flavors were perfectly balanced. I particularly appreciated how they lined the takeout containers with aluminum foil to keep the food hot without any leaks. Wish we had a place like this in Indianapolis – it’d easily be in the top 2 or 3. The only better spots are in Chicago. This place is THAT good. If you haven’t given it a shot yet, I highly recommend it.

I’ve stumbled upon a fantastic way to explore authentic Szechuan cuisine! Here’s the secret recipe: Order whatever your heart desires on DoorDash (cilantro fish, egg fried rice, veggie lo mein, egg rolls – they’re all fantastic choices), and then select a random, slightly pricier dish. When you place the order, leave a note for Mei, the wonderful woman who takes the order, either over the phone or in person. Ask her to surprise you with one of her favorites. You’ll get dishes that aren’t even on the DoorDash menu (but probably show up on that massive wall menu inside the restaurant). This is how you discover genuine Chinese cuisine that you might not have thought to try otherwise. Pure culinary adventure!

This place used to be a go-to spot when I lived in Bloomington. It was always packed with students, and there used to be this stern lady running the show about 13 years ago – not anymore, though. On our way back from Spring Mill Park, we couldn’t resist the nostalgia and the hunger pangs, so we decided to introduce our kids to the food we used to rave about. We might have gone a little overboard with our order! The pork dumplings were a hit, especially with my son, who refused to share. The veggie lo mein was delightful and shared among the rest of us. As for the chili chicken and Kung Pao chicken – each bite was bursting with flavor and had a delightful punch! We ended up with plenty of leftovers to enjoy later, and we wished we had even more. If you’re in Bloomington, you probably already know about this gem, but if you’re not, it’s worth a visit.

I ordered delivery from here, and let me tell you, it was such a pleasant surprise! At first, I thought it might be a tad on the pricey side, but when the food arrived, I couldn’t believe my eyes! The portion sizes were HUGE, and it all suddenly made perfect sense. The food itself was a taste explosion! The green beans were incredibly fresh, still had that satisfying crunch, and the garlic added a burst of flavor. And the tofu? Oh, it was a superstar. The sauce hit that sweet-salty-umami trifecta perfectly. The best part? The portion was so massive that I got to enjoy it again for dinner the next day after a quick sauté with some rice. I’m genuinely bummed I didn’t get to savor this place one more time before leaving Bloomington. I’d totally become a regular here!