Golden Star Restaurant

I grew up on the "Golden Star" food and it has its own flavors. I love it, and I lived in Asia. Don't expect fancy, but their food is consistently good. I remember when they had their fire and they had to remodel! I'm ordering from there in a few hours!!

Next best thing is a drive to Oregon! I wish they would door dash, there food is great and their open to half orders so you can always make your order right. I believe I'm going to head that way tomorrow

Golden Star has been in Boise for ages. I would consider this place a tourist spot since it's been around longer than some places in town. It still looks the same from when it first opened. For as old school as it is, it's still very clean. You're not coming here for anything fancy but you're going to get a good meal. Service was ok. They didn't really check up on me till I got my bill. They were kind and packed up my food for me. Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed. For lunch today I ordered a cup of egg flower soup, the Mandarin chicken and chow mein with a side of fried rice. The egg flower soup came out hot! It was full of egg pieces and was so flavorful! It was perfect on this gloomy day. I would have liked the peas and carrots for some extra texture but overall it was a great bowl of soup. The Mandarin chicken was so good! The chicken was seasoned and fried well. The sweet and sour sauce added the perfect sweetness to it. The fried rice was good. It had a lot of char su and green onions. I really enjoyed the crunchy noodle chow mein. The veggies were al dente so it still had a good bite to them against the softened crunchy noodles. It was a such good meal! I just wish they were closer to me.

On our latest culinary adventure, we found ourselves at a cozy little spot that instantly felt like a place we'd return to. Our lunch began with a shared bowl of soup. While it wasn't quite to my taste, my partner found it quite enjoyable, which just goes to show the diversity of flavors on offer. For the main course, I ventured into the realm of the General's chicken. This wasn't your run-of-the-mill General Tso's; it was a unique twist on the classic, and I must say, it was delightful. The chicken was exceptionally crunchy, with great breading that gave way to tender meat inside. The sauce was a departure from tradition, but it was a welcome one, rich in flavors that were both bold and satisfying. My partner opted for the Kung Pao Chicken, and it was a hit! The dish was a wonderful blend of spicy, sweet, and savory, with a generous amount of chicken that was perfectly cooked and vegetables that added a fresh crunch. In summary, our lunch was a delightful experience that left us eager to return. The dishes we tried were a testament to the kitchen's ability to put a memorable spin on traditional favorites. Whether you're a fan of the classics or open to a new take on them, this is a place that's sure to please.

Pros- Easy parking right in front of the restaurant. Arrived just after 7 PM on a Friday, and it was not busy inside. I think this location is much busier for lunch. The dining room appeared clean and orderly. They have a large menu but an even larger special board, when you walk in, to choose from. The food arrived quickly and was very delicious with good-sized portions. Usually you can choose any table in the dining room you would like. Waters were constantly refilled. At the end of your meal, they will bring to-go boxes before you even need to ask. I ordered the tofu and mushrooms with steamed rice and the sauce was incredibly flavourful even without the heat. . Cons- Menu modifications are not a problem, but everything comes with an up-charge. As soon as we sat down, the server tried to get our order, but we were not ready, so she instructed us that when we were ready to order, to look over at her and wave. Surprisingly, the rice that comes with your meal is a very small portion, and if you ask for more, that is an additional charge. Also, if you want hot sauce on the side, that too is an additional charge. We sat at a round table with a spinning lazy-susan in the center, but when the food came out, the server awkwardly reached to hand them to us, instead of simply using the lazy-susan to spin it around to each person. I believe the server was slightly upset when I did not realize she was handing the rice to me when I was still getting the dinner plate sat in front of me. They do offer a choice of heat levels from mild to medium to hot. I chose the medium and could not taste any heat at all, so I would probably recommend getting a hot because if you try to get hot sauce on the side, they will charge you! I think what bothered me the most was that when she presented the checks, she expected immediate payment from everybody. I WAS STILL EATING! She said that she did not want to make multiple trips to run the credit cards, so she expected us to pay all at once! She handed us several extremely dirty pens to sign our credit slips. And I really wish they would get new pens. She made sure to return and get the signed credit slips before we ever stood up. This felt awkward to us. I honestly don't understand the rush because they were still open for another hour+, after we paid. . Maybe our server was having an off day, but I could see other servers that were much friendlier and knew how to smile that we may request to be with them on our next visit.