Woke up yesterday thinking I gotta check out that Oriental Pearl place folks keep mentioning in Chamblee. Heard mixed things, so figured screw it, let’s go see for myself. Jumped in the car around 11 AM, stomach already grumbling.
Getting There Was Half the Battle
Plugged “Oriental Pearl Chamblee GA” into maps – thank god I remembered the GA part cause there’s apparently another one somewhere else. Ended up driving towards that kinda busy area off Buford Highway. You know the one, tons of other restaurants packed together. Spotted their sign after circling the plaza twice – seriously, parking is a damn puzzle back there on a Wednesday lunchtime. Squeezed my ride into a tiny spot near the back entrance.
Inside Vibes & Getting Seated
Walked in and, okay, place looks… lived-in. Not fancy, not dirty, just busy. Bright lights, those classic Chinese restaurant booths, big round tables in the back. Saw a few families already digging in. Older lady at the front just pointed towards the back and said “Sit anywhere, hon.” Grabbed a booth by the window overlooking the parking lot chaos. Menus slapped on the table immediately. Bonus points: they had actual paper menus, not just QR codes. Hate that QR nonsense.
Menu Dive & Prices Hit the Wallet
Alright, let’s talk prices. Flipped open the menu. Lunch specials looked decent – mostly hovering around $11 to $15 bucks. Things like General Tso’s Chicken, Beef with Broccoli, Sweet & Sour Pork, all came with fried rice or white rice and a greasy little egg roll. Sounded alright for lunch. Dinner section? Whoa, step up. Peking Duck was listed at like $45. Whole fish dishes? Yeah, $30+ easy. Hot Pot stuff? Looked like $20s per person minimum depending on what you pick. Drinks were standard soda prices, beers around $5-$6. Definite step up from your basic takeout joint.
What Actually Landed on the Table
Ended up ordering the lunch Kung Pao Chicken ($12.95) and my buddy got the Lunch Sesame Beef ($14.95). Took maybe 20 minutes for the food to come out. Portions? Solid. Like, definitely more than I expected for a lunch plate.
- Kung Pao Chicken: Lots of chicken bits, peppers, peanuts. Sauce was… sticky. Spice level? Mine had kick, I asked for medium, it felt medium-hot. Could have used more veggies honestly.
- Sesame Beef: Buddy says it was crispy-ish, sauce was sweet. No complaints on amount.
- Rice: Standard fried rice, tasted fine.
- Egg Roll: Small, crispy, mostly cabbage inside. Did its job.
Straight Up Review
Honestly? Food was… okay. Not mind-blowing, not terrible. My Kung Pao was edible, cooked through, sauce had flavor. Buddy scarfed his sesame beef down fast, so must have been alright. Service was that kind of efficient but not overly friendly you get in busy spots. Water got refilled once without asking. Place was clean enough for how busy it was.
Wrapping Up & What You Need To Know Now
Paid the bill – came out to like $35 with tip for two lunch plates and two Cokes. Took the leftovers home because portions were decent. Saw their hours on the door as we left:
- Monday to Thursday: 11 AM to 10 PM
- Friday & Saturday: 11 AM to 11 PM
- Sunday: Noon to 10 PM
So yeah, standard hours, decent for lunch or dinner. Location is right there in that maze-like Chamblee plaza near all the other Buford Highway spots. Easy to miss if you’re not looking. Price-wise, lunch feels like decent value, dinner prices climb quick for fancier stuff. Food was average, service was fast. Would I go again? Maybe if someone else suggested it or I was craving a specific dish they have. Worth trying yourself to see. Just plan for parking frustration.
