China Bistro — Restaurant in Manchester

We have been here many times. It is located inside of Pan Asia, our favorite store in town and in our opinion it puts out some of the very best Asian food in St. Louis. Mostly Chinese but with pho too. Start with sweet BBQ pork and crispy roasted ducks hanging there and I am hooked (great for take out, whole or half). But the other dishes this bistro turns out are bursting with flavor and well priced. We usually eat there but they do a lot of take out. Beef cumin is our favorite dish with seasoned dry beef pieces on a bed of cilantro. Tres bon! Also Ma Po Tofu (silken tofu cubes in a pork or seafood sauce), beef chow fun and the best fried rice I can find in town (with bits of that sweet BBQ pork if you choose that one, sprouts and more). Garlic eggplant is very special too (spicy but sweet at the same time). Most (but not all for sure) dishes are on the spicy Szechuan side of things but not overdone at all. There are many soup and pho bowls, including one I love with tender melt in your mouth short ribs! Many different kinds of noodles as well. Dan Dan Noodles is a fav with its Szechuan peppercorns based sauce, and hard to find these days but addicting! We also like the egg noodles which are those thin noodles served at dim sum places, onions, sprouts and choice of protein. The chow fun noodles are locally made and great. Anything else they need is right there in the store and very fresh. This is not a fancy place but feels like some sort of street cafe as you sit and watch the world of shoppers go by. Lots of dishes we havent tried yet so we will continue to come here all the time. Very well priced. Fast service. Give them a try and shop with them after your meal! Best price on lobsters in town in this international bazaar with a huge seafood department. This is the real...

Nestled inside of Pan-Asia you cannot miss it as you walk into the grocery store.

No-frills step to the counter and order your food. You will be pointed to a table. Sit down, and wait for your order which is usually 5-15 minutes from the kitchen, and the kitchen staff bring you your order. Food is hot and delicious!

The dishes I've tried:

#7 Singapore sweet Rice noodles . - a little greasy, but the aroma of he curry mixed with ingredients is well balanced out with the rice noodle.

#10 Young Chow Fried Rice. - Cantonese fried rice, cannot go wrong with this as doesn't use a lot, if any, soy sauce and you get a variety of ingredients with the rice.

#18 Dan Dan Noodles. - I felt this was more of a ja ang (black bean sauce) with marinated cubed pork. It was a bit salty, but still tasty.

#42 Sliced beef in hot chili oil. If you want something to make you sweat a little, go for it!

Finally - don't forget the BBQ! Their roast duck is fresh and season just right - you don't need the sauce. The BBQ pork - I usually get a pound every visit. Excellent cut of lean-to-fat ratio and fresh. Charred edges, and their seasoning is not overpowering or overly salty.

The only caveat is that everything aside from being served your meal is - self service. containers and condiments are to the right almost around the corner. Take-out containers are available if you don't finish your meal. Usually needed their portions are generous.

I marked my service as a "3" due to a couple of different times, my order was missing or incorrect.

Oh - and if you need a desert after your meal, you can stop by the boba tea stand right next to the Bistro for refreshments or a...

Today, I had one of the best dining experiences, all thanks to the incredibly friendly cashier. From the moment I walked in, they greeted me with a smile that immediately lifted my spirits. Their positive attitude was contagious, and they made the whole process of ordering so pleasant. They even took the time to answer my questions and recommend a few dishes, which I really appreciated. The food itself was fantastic—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Every bite was a reminder of why I love coming here. The environment was equally impressive, with a clean and inviting space that made it easy to relax and enjoy the meal. The cozy atmosphere, combined with the excellent service, really made today’s visit special. But what made the experience truly memorable was the cashier’s warmth and attentiveness. They didn’t just take my order; they created a welcoming experience that left me smiling long after I left. I’ll definitely be coming back soon, and I highly recommend this spot to anyone looking for great food and even...