Red Pepper Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Lawrence

Update: Because of the precooked and sometimes too dry or too sweet items in the dishes I’m reducing my original 4 stars to three.

We tried Red Pepper now that they have moved into their new location on 9th street. The new place was renovated and it was done well. The layout of the kitchen and dining area is clean and serves the space well. There is a large dining area in the back for large parties or spill over when the front dining area reaches capacity. The outside seating was nice and clean.

There are two side to the menu. One is the westernized Chinese menu and the back side is authentic Chinese dishes. I’ll say this once….do yourself a favor and order the authentic Chinese menu items. You got one life to live and orange chicken shouldn’t be in your vocabulary.

Spread your culinary wings and try some excitement in your meals. I settled in for my favorite the authentic stir fried pork intestines with vegetables. This dish is loaded with green and red peppers, onions, red chili peppers, Sichuan peppers that numb just the tip of your tongue, ginger, scallions, garlic, chili oil, shaoxing wine, and pork intestines that are flash cooked to be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It comes with a side of rice and I guarantee you’ll like it

We also ordered the dinner combo authentic Chinese dish of stir fried beef with vegetables. Basically the same ingredients but it has beef instead of pork intestines. The combo meal comes with a choice of egg roll, egg drop soup, and rice.

Prices were very reasonable and the portions were large.

The order to plate time was great considering how much take out they were also preparing. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable about items on the menu.

Our food was great and the combination of the peppers, herbs, and vegetables really met my expectations of some good home style Chinese food. The soup was great as was the egg roll.

2nd visit I went again and ordered the Kung Poa Chicken and it was way too sweet. No vegetables like a traditional dish. This level of sweetness is because the meat is exposed to the sugars too long before and after cooking. I’m positive all the meats are precooked, which results in the sugars fully penetrating the meats.

The only thing I could find to improve on would be cooking the meat items when ordered versus pre-cooking them. The pork intestines and beef had obviously been cooked far ahead. That’s a shame since everything about this Chinese restaurant was right on for being a really great addition to the Lawrence food scene minus the pre cooked meats. That said, it won’t keep me from coming back. If the management could address this it would definitely increase your returning customer count.

It’s still decent, and I’ll definitely go back again and again, but please start cooking the meats to order. You’re not saving time, you’re losing customers who would be coming back. If your kitchen can’t take the time to cook to order, add...

Visited on 1/25/19 between 12:45- 1:45. Easy to get into this place from iowa st side. There is plenty of parking in front and side of the restaurant. Greeted by the host promptly and was seated at the center area table. There is plenty of seating at the center area of the place and several booths on the side and further inside. There are about 10 people including me. The floor of men's rest room appears rather dirty. The roof inside is less appealing as well.

The menu is rediculously too extensive, even to take a look. About 10 minutes later, an young chinese lady came and took orders. I ordered two items; wanton soup- $2 and kung pao chicken, schezuan style- $12 from authentic chinese menu. The whole thing costs $15.25 after taxes. The food is back in 10 minutes. I should mention, there is sometimes, a small chance of lack of full understanding that occurs between both ends ie customer and the cook because of middle person in between, which may be impossible to fix.

The wonton soup is tasteless. The celebrated dish at this restaurant kung pao chicken, schezuan style as per rating given by reviewers is both tasteless and absolutely not at all hot. The soup is bad enough and main dish is worthless. Portions are good enough, the server made two visits to find out how the food is. I said, fine, even though it is not. Either the food is right or not right. No amount of niceties is going to correct tasteless food. It was very disappointing for me. I wish i never gave...

I found this place in 2005 when i lived in lawrence a brief stint. I wasnt disappointed at all specially since im from cali. Hate the state all you want but its got good food. I moved back to kansas april 9 2020 and i rememberes this place. I live in shawnee mission and made the drive tonight. Was not disappointed. I ordered combination rice, Chongqing chicken and mongolian beef. The rice was delicious, light fluffy excellent flavor loaded with chicken , beef, pork and shrimp. The Chongqing chicken i maybe spelling wrong was amazing. Aldentè vegetables clean flavor hint of a all spice lovely flavor. I like hot stuff for me it wasnt spicy but thats ok. To most i imagine would provide a medium heat. The mongolian beef was tender, zero fat zero gristle just clean tender delicious meat. Its slightly sweet but not in a bad way its a hint. The veggies were also aldente. We ended up getting two free eggrolls for the order combined. They were also delicious, crispy not oily or fatty. I also purchased a 3 piece crab rangoon that were large lots of filling not just wonton. This place is fabulous, they are pleasant, patient, very helpful with questions and when they say 15 to 20 minutes they never make you wait longer. 100% satisfied and a gem worth driving to know matter how far. I had a 40 minute drive to get home because of covid 19 and when i arrived it was still steaming. Thank...