12152 N Rancho Vistoso Blvd #180,
Oro Valley, AZ 85737
*Disclaimer: We were not paid for this review. All opinions are our own and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Dragon Village is one of the better authentic Chinese restaurants in the Tucson metro. Despite the bland Strip mall setting, the food is authentic, as well as reasonably priced. If you find yourself shopping or explore Catalina State Park in the Oro Valley area for the day and craving some authentic Chinese food, Dragon Village is your best bet.
Dragon Village offers your basic Chinese menu with all the standard fare like Fried rice, Egg Foo Young, Lo Mein, and beef/chicken/pork/seafood plates. The egg rolls and soup are particularly delicious, especially the Egg Flower and Hot and Sour Soup.
The fried rice is decent, although a tad on the bland sign. As with all Chinese restaurants that do not use MSG (a good thing!), the rice tends to need a bit extra soy sauce to give it that kick. I would still prefer the healthier option minus the flavorings as there are mixed reports on whether or not it is dangerous for your health. I recommend trying the Chicken Lo Mein here as it was pretty tasty.
I did not see any tea on the menu, which was a bit of a disappointment as a hot pot of tea nicely accompanies the meal.
The best time to plan your visit is during lunch hours (until 3pm daily) where they offer affordable lunch combos which include an entree, egg flower soup, and fried rice all for 10-12 bucks. Update: Lunch combos now range between $13-15, which is still a great value.
Service was pretty basic, with the waitress providing efficient service. We did not experience any problems.
The setting at Dragon Village is quite bland in terms of decor, however, the restaurant appears to be clean and well-maintained which is always a good sign. It's a nice place for a quick lunch or casual dinner, although the vibe is not the best for a date or celebratory occasion.
Overall, Dragon Village is a decent choice if you happen to be visiting the Oro Valley area. It's just a quick drive from Catalina State Park, so if you want to treat yourself to some hefty carbs after hiking, Dragon Village will do just fine. It's neither the best nor the worst Chinese food, but probably one of the best Asian restaurants you will find in the Tucson metro area. They serve great soup and egg rolls and the dedication to not using MSG is a plus not found that you do not come across all that often.
