Mandarin Express: Casual Chinese Dining in South Carolina

What Mandarin Express Offers

Mandarin Express is a casual Chinese restaurant chain with locations across South Carolina that serves Americanized Chinese food—the kind of menu you'll recognize if you've ordered takeout before. You'll find egg rolls, fried rice, lo mein, General Tso's chicken, and sweet and sour pork alongside rice bowls and combination platters. Most locations offer dine-in seating, takeout, and delivery through third-party apps.

The restaurants operate as quick-service establishments, meaning you order at a counter or by phone and food comes out in 15 to 25 minutes. Prices run moderate—entrees typically fall between $8 and $15, with combination plates offering better value if you want protein, rice, and a vegetable side. Many locations have a lunch buffet during midday hours, though buffet availability varies by location and has changed since the pandemic.

The atmosphere is straightforward: fluorescent lighting, booths and tables, and a focus on speed rather than ambiance. Mandarin Express works well for a quick lunch, family dinner, or takeout on the way home from work. It's the kind of place where you know what you're getting before you walk in.

Key Takeaways

• Mandarin Express serves standard American-Chinese food—fried rice, lo mein, General Tso's chicken, and combination plates—at moderate prices.
• Most locations offer dine-in, takeout, and delivery, with food typically ready in 15 to 25 minutes.
• Some locations feature a lunch buffet during daytime hours, though availability depends on which restaurant you visit.
• The restaurants are designed for quick service rather than leisurely dining, making them practical for lunch breaks or family weeknight meals.

Where to Find Mandarin Express in South Carolina

Mandarin Express has multiple locations across South Carolina, with restaurants in the Lowcountry, Midlands, and Upstate regions. The chain is not as widespread as some national competitors, so location matters—you'll want to search for the nearest one before heading out. Most locations cluster around larger towns and suburban areas rather than rural communities.

The easiest way to find a specific location is to search online for "Mandarin Express near me" or check Google Maps, which will show you addresses, phone numbers, hours, and recent reviews. Many locations have their own Facebook pages where they post specials or announce temporary closures. Calling ahead is worth doing if you're ordering a large takeout order or want to confirm the buffet is running that day.

Menu Highlights and What to Order

The menu splits into familiar categories: appetizers (egg rolls, spring rolls, fried wontons), soups, fried rice dishes, noodle dishes, and entrees with your choice of protein. Most people order combination plates, which bundle an entree, fried rice or noodles, and a vegetable side for one price. This approach costs less than ordering each component separately and gives you variety in one meal.

Popular choices tend to be General Tso's chicken (sweet and spicy), Mongolian beef, and shrimp fried rice. Vegetable options exist but are fewer than meat-based dishes. If you're ordering for a group, family-size portions are available and cost less per person than individual entrees. The lunch buffet, where available, lets you sample multiple dishes for a flat price—useful if you're unsure what you want or feeding a family on a budget.

Mandarin Express is not the place to find authentic Mandarin or regional Chinese cuisine. The food is Americanized—sweeter sauces, heavier on the fried items, lighter on the vegetables than you'd find in China. That's the point: it's comfort food that tastes familiar to most American diners.

Dining In Versus Takeout

Dine-in service is casual and counter-based at most locations. You order at the register, pay, and either sit down to wait or take a number and return to your table. Service is functional rather than attentive—staff bring your food when it's ready, but you're not waited on throughout the meal. This setup works fine for a quick lunch but doesn't suit occasions where you want table service or a relaxed pace.

Takeout is often faster than dine-in because the kitchen can prepare it while you're still ordering. Many people call ahead to place an order, then pick it up ready to go. Delivery is available through apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub at most locations, though delivery fees and wait times vary. If you're ordering delivery, expect to pay a service fee on top of your food cost.

Pricing and Value

Individual entrees run $8 to $15 depending on protein and location. Combination plates—which include an entree, rice or noodles, and a vegetable—cost roughly $10 to $16 and represent better value than ordering components separately. Appetizers range from $4 to $8. The lunch buffet, where available, typically costs $8 to $12 per person and includes access to multiple dishes, making it the cheapest option if you eat a lot.

Mandarin Express is positioned as affordable casual dining, not budget fast food. You'll spend more than a drive-through but less than a sit-down restaurant with table service. For a family of four, expect to spend $40 to $70 on takeout, depending on how much you order and whether you add drinks or appetizers.

Hours and Accessibility

Most Mandarin Express locations open around 11 a.m. for lunch and stay open through dinner, typically closing between 9 and 10 p.m. Some locations close earlier on Sundays or may have different hours on weekdays versus weekends. A few locations offer late-night hours, but this varies. Calling ahead or checking online is the only way to confirm hours for your specific location.

Parking is usually available in the shopping center or lot where the restaurant sits. Wheelchair access depends on the location—older strip malls may have limited accessibility. If accessibility matters to you, call ahead to confirm the restaurant can accommodate you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mandarin Express have vegetarian options?

Yes, but the menu is meat-heavy. Vegetable fried rice, vegetable lo mein, and vegetable egg rolls exist, but the selection is smaller than meat-based dishes. Call your local location to ask what vegetarian entrees they offer, as menus vary slightly by restaurant.

Can I order online or do I have to call?

Most locations accept phone orders, and many are on delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats. Some have their own websites where you can order for pickup. Check your specific location's website or call to see which ordering methods they support.

Is the lunch buffet available every day?

Buffet availability varies by location and has changed at some restaurants since the pandemic. Call ahead to confirm whether your nearest location has a buffet running and what days and hours it operates.

How long does takeout usually take?

If you order in person, expect 15 to 25 minutes. If you call ahead, food is often ready when you arrive. Delivery through apps takes longer—typically 30 to 45 minutes depending on distance and app traffic.

Do they deliver, or is it pickup only?

Most locations offer both pickup and delivery through third-party apps. Some may also deliver directly if you call and order. Check your location's website or call to confirm what delivery options they support in your area.