Chopstick Charley's - Jacksonville

This was our first visit to the restaurant, but I can guarantee it won’t be our last. When you step inside, you might not expect the food to be as delicious as it is. Ms. Kitty is fantastic; she welcomes you with a smile and is great at recommending the best dishes on the menu. Everything is cooked fresh to order. We tried the bacon-wrapped shrimp, shrimp and beef fried rice, and chicken egg foo young. If we didn't have to head home to the kids, we would still be ordering more. I can confidently say I won’t need to go anywhere else for Chinese food now. Plus, the prices are affordable, and the portion sizes are generous!

If you're just interested in the food, feel free to skip to the next paragraph. The restaurant is only a quick ten-minute drive from my workplace, so a friend and I decided to venture out to this spot that had my coworkers questioning my judgment. Upon arriving and parking, I was still uncertain whether the restaurant was truly open. A gentle push on the front door led us into a unique atmosphere that felt dark, old, and worn, with a hint of gritty charm reminiscent of a third-world locale. The structure appears to be stuck in the 1950s, with an interior that seems to have received little care since then. However, this is where the negative aspects end. We were greeted by a cheerful older woman named Kitty, who not only welcomed us but also cooked our meals. There was also a younger guy working there, mostly preoccupied with changing channels on the television, seemingly less involved in running the place. This quirky detail adds to the eccentric ambiance of the already rundown establishment. Now, onto the food. It took about 20 minutes for our dishes to be prepared, but the wait was absolutely worthwhile. I ordered a cup of wonton soup, which was rich with shredded pork, deliciously cooked wontons, and Chinese cabbage in a flavorful broth. Some might find it a bit salty, but I thought it was a hearty and tasty beginning. For my main dish, I tried the chicken chow mein, which came with an egg roll and a side of fried rice. Unlike the overly processed, brightly colored fried rice you often encounter at fast-food spots, this version was lightly seasoned and complimented the chow mein perfectly. As for the chow mein itself, which I assumed would be noodle-based, my dish was mostly chicken, sliced celery, and chopped onions in a light garlic sauce. Although it wasn't what I expected, I was pleasantly surprised by the taste and texture. The flavors were subtle, well-seasoned, and fresh; the celery tasted as if it had just come from the garden that morning, and the chicken was unmistakably chicken (no need for "cooked cat" jokes here). I'll be posting pictures of the dish—if anyone recognizes what it might be called elsewhere, please let me know! The egg roll was a lovely golden brown (or at least it seemed that way in the dimly lit dining room) and was filled with freshly chopped celery and onions—definitely one to skip if you’re not a fan of these ingredients. Overall, I was extremely satisfied and delighted that I decided to try Chopstick Charlie’s. I will definitely return to sample more dishes from the menu (the chow mein I had is on the second page under 'Combinations'). Just a heads up for those who might be squeamish: while the food is great, the experience might not be for everyone. The place has a third-world vibe and can feel rather grimy. Still, I must mention that they provided fresh linens that appeared to be recently laundered and pressed. Importantly, there was no sign of pests or rodents—odd as it may sound for a place like this. I also ventured into the restroom, which was indeed another adventure in itself. It’s awkwardly small, cramped, and in disrepair (like the rest of the building), with the cold water handle in the sink gushing water along with the faucet. Your shoulders will touch the walls while using the urinal, the doors don’t quite close, and yet somehow it felt cleaner than 90% of the fast-food joints around town. If any of this sounds unappealing to you, I recommend calling in your order ahead of time and picking it up (or having a friend do it for you)!

The canned Cokes were a pleasant surprise for anyone concerned about germs, and they were served well-chilled over ice. The menu was moderately sized, featuring all the classic dishes you'd expect, including the “Column A/B Family Dinner” combo. There were plenty of Chow Meins, Egg Foo Yungs, and Fried Rices to choose from. We both opted for Combo #2, which included an Egg Roll, Fried Rice, and Shrimp Chow Mein (with no celery, special request). When we asked Ms. Kitty what we should order, she playfully advised, “Order whatever you like... oh no, not that one: I use canned vegetables for that one.” I appreciated her honesty and sense of humor. The Egg Roll was massive and delicious, perfectly fried but had a bit too much celery for my liking (I’m not a fan of celery). The Fried Rice was fresh and flavorful, while my Chow Mein was quite good, though it had a hint of that Chun King vibe. The portions were just right; we finished everything and didn’t take any leftovers home. We felt no need to add soy sauce, as the food wasn’t overly salty and was enjoyable as is. Service was adequate but a tad slow, with Ms. Kitty as the head waitress and chef, while the Greeter handled the drinks and table settings. I had to chase down the check, which gave me an excuse to explore the restroom. It wasn’t as intimidating as I had imagined, though it clearly hasn’t seen a paintbrush in many years. BYOT—bring your own tissues—as the paper towels were empty. We ended up spending $17 for the meal, including tax and tip. The décor is so outdated that it feels almost nostalgic. They still have coat racks at the ends of the booths, cheap motel-style framed prints on the walls, and an old Chinese restaurant calendar. Despite the dated ambience, everything was clean and orderly, with only a slight musty smell—not unpleasant—and the air conditioning worked nicely. On the way to the restroom, I got a peek at the kitchen, which looked surprisingly clean and not at all off-putting. The place seemed to have light foot traffic that day, with only three salesmen dining who appeared to be regulars. I'm glad I finally crossed this restaurant off my Bucket List, but I wouldn't mind returning for another visit. As others have mentioned, it does require a “pretty good sense of adventure.” On our way out, we wandered through the adjoining “The Joe” Motel, which was rundown yet tidy and appeared to be hosting some of the restaurant crowd's families.

Not as bad as it looks. I found out this place was open when I saw it on Urbanspoon, called ahead to make sure it was open. The food was pretty good, Ms. Kitty served us and cooked our food with a smile. This is a pretty rough looking building, not for the light hearted. Probably best to just get take out. Large portions and fresh veggies. I had chicken/snow peas/brocolli/mushrooms in a brown sauce and had plenty left over for lunch the next day. You are gonna have to have a pretty good sense of adventure to try this place, but I was really impressed. Don't judge a book by its cover.

My Opinion. I absolutely love their food. Even though it looks like they are closed and needs some work done to it THEIR FOOD IS GREAT and It IS VERY VERY CHEAP!!! Some places I go to eat Chinese and it is very expensive for a family of 4 and at Chopstick Charleys I can feed my whole family for 20.00. My kids have never been inside before but when I take the food home they LOVE IT> Miss Lady that manages it is very very friendly and makes you feel very welcome. They have been there for years and years and I donot understand why they dont renovate the building outside and in and make it more noticable for people to see that it is open and I know for a fact they would make a killing due to the fact their food is great and they are very friendly family.