09/28/09

Best Roast Pork in the universe

by jeremy ross

I have been eating at Big Wong since the mid 90's and the quality has not changed a bit. It is a hole in the wall but inside this hole is some of the most amazing food. First and foremost is the roast pork and roast duck. They are mind-bogglingly good, really. I wept openly the first time I had their roast pork it was so good. Next is the congee and their wonton mein which are fantastic. Very authentic dishes throughout the menu. Service can be difficult. If you miss the waiter's eye on the first pass it may be a while because the place is always packed. If you go as a single or double you may be seated next to another person or couple which in my opinion is a benefit. This is one of my favorite places in the world. Oh, try the fried cruller rice crepe. You won't be disappointed.

• Pros: roast pork, roast duck, congee wonton mein all incredible
• Cons: zero atmosphere and challenging service

09/26/08

A childhood favorite

by goldbug

I've been going to Big Wong since I was a kid, and its food has never ceased to please me. Their congee is fantastic and their roast pork is among the best in all five boroughs of NYC. Their ribs and roast duck are also excellent and try their fried dough with your congee for a special treat! Don't expect particularly attentive or courteous service. The yelling is part of the busy atmosphere and its all basics in this venue. Go for a quick meal, not romance.

• Pros: Excellent food, amazing value
• Cons: Service can be lacking, not much atmosphere

06/08/08

An Outstanding Deal

by nycinephile

Five members of the New York City Thrifty Gourmets Meetup group and I dined at Big Wong on Tuesday, June 3 at 8 PM. A number of us, including me, had eaten at the restaurant before and become fans of its ample, tasty dishes. I sensed that the cashier recognized that my party of six offered the possibility of a sizable check. He arranged for me to be seated, before my fellow Meetup-ers arrived. A waitress promptly set out dishes and tableware and poured glasses of tea. When another large table, located farther away from the kitchen, opened up, the staff accomodated my request to move. A member of our party who speaks Chinese and is familiar with the cuisine ordered three appetizers (two congees and a plate of ribs) and six dishes on our behalf. Not one disappointed us. They seemed freshly prepared, were delivered promptly, and were flavorful. The newbies in our group were astounded when they were informed that the cost of our dinner, including a 20% tip, was $15/person.

• Pros: Prompt service; tasty food; incredible value.
• Cons: Dirty, smelly bathroom.

06/06/08

more fast food than restaurant

by JACK222

Went in and had a basic dish. It was cheap and descent but 1/2 the plate was white rice (not the brown that I wanted) and the other 1/2 was the main meal. It just felt cheap. I am glad I was solo. I would have been embarrassed by the service and food. If you want to be in and out in 20 minutes, this place would be fine. If you want to enjoy the company you are with, I'd pass on this one. I mean, the forks were in a bin on the table so that you take them yourself if you want them. Tables were sort of community tables bunched up against each other.

• Pros: speed of delivery
• Cons: too fast food/cafeteria like for a date

05/19/08

Awful

by dootser

its a shame, really good food when its right. the people dont speak english. they are so rude, the service is the worst i have ever experienced. My girlfriend and i were sitting at a relatively large table, halfway through eating when six FRENCH people were sat on the same table as us, cramping us. we decided to leave, talk about lose appetite. they short change, and expect you to say nothing about it. the food has been wrong several times when we have picked up the food. for instance this evening, i travelled to Big Wongs, pick up the food, only to return home with half the order incorrect and them not giving a sh*t as they spoke such poor english. a shame as when the food is right its good food. p*ss poor most of the time though.

• Pros: half decent food when given correctly
• Cons: i do not have enough time to label the cons of Big Wongs

12/27/07

Pork lo mein sets the standard

by ahabsleg

I've been here three times in the past week. Complaints already detailed here abound--inattentive service, dirty bathroom, crowded--but I thought the food was so good the waiter could have called me a moron and I would so still go back. The BBQ spare rib, our appetizer, showed up last, but was delicious, with the right amount of sweetness and very tender. Chicken in garlic black bean sauce was mediocre--very bland. Also, I can't handle spice to save my life, and this dish wasn't advertised as spicy, yet came with hot peppers. The pork lo mein, though, was astonishing. Authentic noodles, delicious meat, and a tasty sauce. I've gotten it every time I've gone here. The bean curd was dramatically unimpressive--sort of soggy tofu. The tea sort of smells fishy. Sweet and sour pork was wonderful, usually one of my favorite dishes but was only overshadowed by the magnificent lo mein. When you find your dish, stick with it, but there are some disappointments to wade through.

• Pros: Price, pork, large portions, great selection, quick
• Cons: Service leaves a lot to be desired.

09/11/07

good food, extremely rude waiters

by wheelstires

food is really good, everyone in chinatown knows it.

waiters are rude, treat you as if you are a criminal

• Cons: Rude waiters

04/26/07

Great Food and Very Inexpensive

by k_ashton

After an evening with the girls at Megu, I just need something more budget friendly. Jane suggested to go to Chinatown for some congee and that's how I was introduced to Big Wong. Oh mine, oh mine. The congee was great but the roast duck was simply unbelievable!!! Between to two of us, we finished half a duck in no time! It was actually fun to watch the Chinese around us staring at two silly girls eating duck with our fingers. I loved the food. The roast pork was great, too.

Just when I thought I had the best massage at a wonderful price and nothing could beat it, Big Wong came along and showed me that there is more than just massage to come back to NY for. Great place, indeed.

• Pros: Great Food, Outstanding Value
• Cons: Always Crowded, So-so Service

03/04/07

My absolute favorite in Chinatown.

by jklein317

I went for the first time with over ten years ago. Moved to Chicago three years ago, and I get down to the Big Wong multiple times whenever I'm back in New York. It is, in my opinion, the best Cantonese Barbecue in New York City. The roast duck, pork and ginger scallion chicken have been consistently excellent since the first time I had them, and the prices have hardly increased since 1995. Also exceptional is the fried, cruller-like sweet bread, choy sum (sp?) with oyster sauce, called "seasonal vegetable" on their menue, and pan fried egg noodles with beef or a combination of seafood. Who cares about the lack of ambience or charming wait-staff?!?!

• Pros: food, price, speed of service
• Cons: noise (sometimes), cleanliness,

02/06/07

best roast duck ever, fast service, and cheap!

by etherealprey

they are the king of roast meats, duck, chicken, pork...it's so amazing. i love that place. i would trek there from midtown for lunch, they're service is wicked fast, you orer and it's there. you're in and out and it's pretty affordable. i usually get their roast meats over rice and that's under $5! the service is fast.

though i hate it when tourists go there and they order the fried rice and lo mein and then stare at what i'm eating. the place is known for the meat not the fried rice. their dumplings are good and so is the congee. i'm sure the fried rice is great too but i'm not a tourist. definately worth going to.

• Pros: great food, fast service, cheap eats!
• Cons: crowded on weekends and lunch& dinner time