Little Mandarin

Reviews

• Emily K.

  star star star star star_border 7 August 2026

  I am still a fan--but I need to know for sure: does this place put in MSG even when they say they do not???
  
  (I got a headache after eating there!)
  
  The people that work there and the prices are great !!!

• Penandra P.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 7 August 2026

  I am so surprised by the rave reviews for this restaurant. That was not our experience.
  
  We were in San Rafael for the evening. We arrived about an hour before we were meeting friends and decided to grab a bite to eat. There was a parking spot right out front of Little Mandarin, which we took as a sign. It maybe was, but not the one we thought it was! There were only one or two tables occupied at 7 o'clock at night. Looking over the menu we asked to order family style so that each of us could enjoy a variety from the menu. The staff  didn't seem to understand our request. All of us were confused as we have each ordered this way when dining with friends and family at just about every Chinese restaurant we have visited in the Bay Area.
  
  We ordered broccoli and beef, cashew chicken, and prawns in oyster sauce. There was no difference in the sauce between the broccoli and beef and the cashew chicken. The cashew chicken had peanuts no cashews. The sauces were more like gravy than a sauce. Although we ordered three dishes, we were brought one spoon for serving. When we requested a couple more spoons (three different dishes), we were brought one.
  
  The meal and the service were disappointing. We will not be returning.
  
  The bathroom was clean.

• Ed Z.

  star star star star star 1 August 2026

  This family owned place is the best!
  Great food Every time.
  I recommend the Mongolian Beef.

• Martin W.

  star star star star star 22 July 2026

  San Rafael keeps amazing me with how many food and dining option it offers. And how diverse. After eight years living in this city I still find new location. Better said I discover new locations since the are here way longer then we are.
  So is little mandarin. If you are shopping at United you can see the little shopfront. And once I got inside I was even more surprised to find a full services restaurant instead of a Chinese pickup while in the wall.
  If you wanna eat on the restaurant you get a soup on the house, and finally I found my beloved chicken filled fried wan tans. I never found them in the USA but I got addicted to them back in Germany where every Chinese restaurant does them. It might not be authentic Chinese but I just love them. And unwashed so happy to find them here. But onward even more happy after I have eaten all 12 of them that comes in one serving for $6.88 (prices valid in June 2019) it comes with a good sweet and sour dipping sauce. Yummy. Try them I am sure you will love them too.
  
  I also had the Mongolian chicken. They don't have it in the menu regularly but since you can change the protein in ever dish it was not a problem to get that on my plate.
  
  It was not as good as the Mongolian from Yu Shang but close enough to be a good alternativ to it. The serving for $10.09 is fair and enough for a lunch.
  And the are serving all items really fast!
  
  So after eight years I will make sure this little not so little Chinese restaurant will stay on my lunch agenda more often.
  
  And one more five star thing here I didn't had to ask if they do msg I to there food the menu says in the biggest font on the menu "no msg added" - when you can cook with flavors you don't need to use msg. And they can!

• Mauricio B.

  star star star star star 13 July 2026

  One of my favorite spots in san Rafael better than sol food cash only. I personally order the spicy Mongolian beef with shrimp