Ellsworth Cafe

Got the broccoli beef. The only Chinese thing related to the dish was the rice. Everything was covered in a near gravy sauce. Portion was decent and it didn’t taste terrible, but not what I was expecting when I ordered a Chinese inspired dish. I would be willing to try something else, as they are quite affordable.

Great Chinese food at very inexpensive prices. They also have regular American diner food that is good for what it is. Here is a vitally important tip; DO NOT EAT INSIDE, GET IT TO GO! The lack of cleanliness and 1970 décor (literally) will greatly diminish your appetite. When you walk in you will know exactly what I mean within 10 seconds.

Don’t let the appearance fool you. The food is fantastic! HOMEMADE! And I love the couple who owns it. I always get ham fried rice, and they always make it fresh right in front of me. It is possibly the best fried rice I have ever had. I have also had breakfast there, and it was delish as well. Lucky me I live right above the restaurant! Be prepared it is cash only.

I’ve been here twice and got the General Jor’s chicken both times. It’s breaded and fried to order with a delicate crispy crust, then topped with a sweet sauce that’s more tangy and garlicky than in most similar American Chinese dishes. Really delicious IMO, you can actually taste the chicken and it isn’t cloyingly sweet.
Prices are very low ($ 6.50 for the GJ chicken) and the staff are very friendly. It feels a lot like sitting down for a meal at a friend’s grandma’s house. Lots of indoor plants and funky old chandeliers and paintings. It’s a bit of a trek to find the bathroom yourself, I’d recommend asking how to get there.

Considering the dinery nature of Ellsworth, it really impresses. The food tastes homemade, like it’s made by a mom – which it is. And then you’re served by a son, who is attentive and friendly. You can buy cigarettes here, or napkins for 5 cents each, to give you a feel for how they operate.
I got the St. Paul’s sandwich because it’s a St. Louis food. Mine was a fried mass of shrimp in between two soft pieces of wonderbread, with some lettuce, mayo, and pickles. When I dipped it in ketchup I was reminded of McDonalds in a positive, nostalgic way.
The thing to get here is the General Jors chicken, which is like pieces of fried chicken with sauce on top, so it’s not soggy or drowning in goop like other Chinese dishes. It’s hot and fresh, so it’s worth the small wait.

We were in St. Louis on a trip and was looking for a lunch place. My wife is a sucker for Chinese food and the reviews looked good. When we got there parking was a block away and when we got to the restaurant it was a real hole in the wall place. Only accepted cash. Didn’t have enough seating for my family. It looked like it hadn’t been updated in many years. We didn’t stay. I am sure it is a great place for locals, but I would think I twice if you are not on foot but in a car.

This little dinner is awesome, their breakfast food is delicious, but their Chinese options are to die for! The interior of the place could use a little overhaul, but that’s really the only rough part about this place.
I love the Ellsworth Café!

Small Chinese restaurant under an apartment building. You can tell that the place has been here for a while and hasn’t been renovated for who knows how long. It’s kind of tucked away in a location where there isn’t much traffic.
Most of the items are quite cheap. The owner (?) lady was pleasant and you can see her cooking behind the bar. I liked that she was making my food just like you would while cooking at home. It looked like she was actually breading the chicken I just ordered and frying it in a little pot stead of having a large bag of frozen breaded batch ready to be thrown into a fryer like most Chinese places do.
I got General Jors chicken and it might just have been the best General Tso/​Jors that I can remember. The breading was crispy, but thin and the sauce was also excellent.
Portion size was average — not large, but not so small that you would leave hungry.
This place also had a few typical American diner items on the menu, but I haven’t tried any of them so I can’t speak for them.
If I lived in this area, I would go here all the time. Definitely recommended.

Humble looking place owned by two great owners. The American food isn’t worth bragging about but my oh my do they make great Chinese food for an excellent price! General Jors chicken is the best I’ve ever had!!! Frequent customer

the place is located in sort of a no mans land a block off of forest park. its on the ground floor of an apartment building right across the street from me and ive been meaning to check it out for a while. it hasn’t been renovated since at least 1970. its run by a chinese immigrant couple from hong kong that speak almost no english. the place is only frequented by regulars. 1950s prices.
average dennys food.
i went because i got a kick out of the place.