The Egg Roll Express: A Quick Stop for Chinese Takeout in South Carolina

What The Egg Roll Express Serves

The Egg Roll Express is a casual Chinese takeout spot built around speed and straightforward food. The menu centers on fried appetizers, noodle dishes, rice plates, and combination dinners—the kind of place where you order at the counter, wait 10 to 15 minutes, and leave with a bag of hot food. Egg rolls are the namesake item, but the kitchen also makes spring rolls, fried wontons, and crab rangoon. Most people come for the combination plates, which pair a protein like chicken, shrimp, or pork with fried rice or lo mein and an egg roll or spring roll on the side.

The restaurant does not attempt fine dining or table service. You order, pay, and pick up your food. The space is small and designed for turnover rather than lingering. Prices run low—most entrees fall between $8 and $12—which is part of why the place stays busy during lunch and dinner rushes. The food is consistent takeout Chinese: fried items are crispy, sauces are sweet and salty, portions are large enough to leave you full.

Key Takeaways

• The Egg Roll Express operates as a counter-service takeout restaurant with no table seating or dine-in service.
• Combination plates come with a protein, rice or noodles, and an appetizer for under $12, making it an affordable option for lunch or dinner.
• Egg rolls, spring rolls, fried wontons, and crab rangoon are the standout appetizers and can be ordered separately or as part of a meal.
• Wait times during peak hours (lunch 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., dinner 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.) run 10 to 20 minutes, so arriving off-peak saves time.

Where to Find It and Hours

The Egg Roll Express operates at a single location in South Carolina. The exact address and current hours vary, so calling ahead or checking online before you visit prevents a wasted trip. Many Chinese takeout spots in the state adjust their hours seasonally or close for holidays, so a quick phone call takes 30 seconds and confirms they are open.

Parking is usually street-level or in a small lot adjacent to the restaurant. The space is small, so during peak dinner hours the parking area can fill up. If you are ordering for a group or arriving during 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., expect to circle or park a short walk away.

What to Order and What to Expect

The egg rolls are the signature item—fried until golden, filled with cabbage and pork, and served with sweet and sour sauce. They come as an appetizer on their own or bundled into a combination plate. If you want something lighter, the spring rolls offer a similar filling in a thinner, less-fried wrapper. Crab rangoon (cream cheese and crab in a fried wonton wrapper) appeals to people who like sweet and savory together.

For main dishes, the combination plates are the best value. You choose a protein (chicken, shrimp, pork, or beef), a starch (fried rice, white rice, or lo mein), and an appetizer. The chicken fried rice is mild and buttery; the lo mein is softer and saucier. Shrimp costs a dollar or two more than chicken. Portions are large—most people cannot finish a full plate in one sitting.

The sauces are sweet by design. If you prefer less sugar or more heat, ask the counter staff to adjust when you order. They can make dishes spicier or tone down the sweetness, though the kitchen works fast and special requests sometimes get missed during busy periods.

Timing Your Visit

Lunch rush runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., especially on weekdays when office workers and school staff stop in. Dinner rush peaks between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., with Friday and Saturday nights being the busiest. If you want to avoid a line, aim for mid-afternoon (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) or after 8 p.m.

Wait times during rush hours typically run 10 to 20 minutes from order to pickup. The kitchen moves fast but does not cut corners—food sits under heat lamps only briefly before you collect it. If you are in a hurry, calling ahead to place an order can shave five minutes off your total time, though not all locations take phone orders.

Takeout and Delivery Options

The Egg Roll Express is designed for takeout. You order at the counter, and the food comes in disposable containers and bags. Boxes are sturdy enough to hold sauces without leaking, though fried items can get soggy if you wait more than 30 minutes to eat them. Bring the food home while it is still hot for the best texture.

Delivery through third-party apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats may be available depending on the location, though delivery adds time and cost. Pickup remains the fastest and cheapest way to get food. If you are ordering for a group, call ahead to confirm they can handle a large order during your preferred time.

Dietary Considerations

Most dishes contain soy sauce, which means they are not gluten-free unless the restaurant uses a gluten-free soy sauce—something worth asking about when you order. Vegetarian options exist (vegetable fried rice, vegetable lo mein, vegetable spring rolls), but many are cooked in the same wok as meat dishes, so cross-contamination is possible if that matters to you.

Shellfish allergies require caution: crab rangoon, shrimp dishes, and some fried rice preparations may contain shellfish or be prepared near shellfish. The counter staff can tell you which items are safe, but in a busy kitchen, mistakes happen. If you have a severe allergy, this may not be the safest place to eat.

What Makes It Different From Other Chinese Takeout

The Egg Roll Express competes on speed and price rather than novelty or ambition. You will not find sushi, dim sum, or Szechuan specialties here. The menu is narrow by design—the kitchen does a few things well and repeats them hundreds of times a day. That consistency is the appeal. You know what you are getting, it arrives hot, and it costs less than a sit-down restaurant.

The restaurant serves the neighborhood crowd: families picking up dinner on the way home, office workers grabbing lunch, students ordering for a dorm room. It is not a destination restaurant, but it is reliable. If you want fast, affordable Chinese takeout without fuss, it delivers that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I eat there or do I have to take it out?

The Egg Roll Express is takeout only. There is no dine-in seating or table service. You order at the counter, wait for your food, and leave with it in a bag.

Do they take orders over the phone?

Some locations do, but not all. Call ahead to ask. If they accept phone orders, you can place your order and pick it up when you arrive, which saves time during busy hours.

What is the cheapest thing on the menu?

Appetizers like egg rolls or spring rolls run $3 to $5 each. Combination plates with a protein, starch, and appetizer cost $8 to $12 and are the best value if you are hungry.

How long does food take to arrive?

During slow periods, 5 to 10 minutes. During lunch or dinner rush, 10 to 20 minutes. Calling ahead to order can reduce wait time, though the kitchen still needs time to cook.

Is the food spicy?

Most dishes are mild and sweet. The kitchen can make items spicier if you ask when you order, but tell them clearly because the staff move fast and special requests sometimes get overlooked during busy times.