I was wandering the streets as my stomach was telling me to get some grub, so I see this Hong Kong place and my face lit up. I go and it feels authentic. I feel the atmosphere, so I sit down and almost right away I was served hot green tea and a small cup. I serve me a cup and it was great. Typical green tea, pipping hot. This is where it starts to go a little souf. I ask for an ice water and was given room temp tap water with no ice. Okay, I'll drink it it's fine. Then these two women walk in almost immediately asking to be seated as they were on their "lunch break". The server had to tell a customer to forfeit his table as he was leaving, they apologized but there were other empty tables, why did the customer who was already on his way out, was rushed out. Anyways, the part that got me is that these two new customers get immediately serviced and even got their food before I got my appetizer!! (I ordered before they got seated). My meal was the lunch special (served 12-3pm for $9.50 tax included) which came with tea, biscuits (fortune cookie at the end), soup, rice and your choice of meat. The soup was the best part. It was piping hot flour soup, first time trying it and will ask for it in the future. It was flavorful with tofu and egg with a nice warm homeish flavor. I was EXCITED for the meat and rice. I was horribly let down. I got the beef and broccoli side with the rice. The rice portion was really good, actually some might say too much, but there was absolutely no flavor to the rice. I know white rice is supposed to be somewhat flavorless, but I'm talking about it felt like I was chewing on "nothingflavor" and swallowing a mass. Their hot sauce was FANTASTIC, added amazing spices and flavors without being too hot so you could put a good portion to have the added texture of the seeds and the vinegar boost. I had to add quite a lot for the rice to be saved. Here we go with the meat. I was disappointed here aswell. The broccoli was cooked to perfection, however. Crispy enough but cooked enough so it melts with the teriyaki sauce, which by the way was also pretty good but it was somewhat runny and lacked a distinct flavor profile. I added the excess sauce on the rice so there was more flavor. And the meat, I can say it was cooked to perfection as well. A little bite but melts in your mouf. I had to constantly do a base of rice, one broccoli, one piece of meat, and a scoop of the chili sauce for it to be a decent spoonful. Overall, this is a good meal to get filled up with but it severely lacks flavor. The soup and chili sauce were the saving grace. As a side note, I asked for a second cup of water with ice and got it, it was good. I asked for a third cup and she glanced at me. (The cups were like three gulps worth, small cups) She then opened the tap where they were cooking and washing their dishes and filled the cup. I didn't drink that cup of water. I would like to give this place a second chance but I'm not sure if it'll be worth another $10 to be disappointed by the entree. This was a rough one, but I don't regret it. The stage was set, and authentic but the cook just wasn't adding the right flavors, albeit they did phenomenal on the cooking.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Soup
Jose Hernandez
If you are tired of most Chinese fusion fast food cooked in heavy thickener and corn syrup sauces, Hong Kong Chef is for you. I ordered the chicken chop suey. It was loaded with chicken and big vegetable chunks. It was more chicken than suey. It is cooked in a broth. No artificial thickeners are added. The orange chicken is not over fried and the syrup was not super sweet or sour. Actually, It has slightly acidic finish. Very flavorful. The Won-Ton soup broth is salted just right. I found the won-ton dumpling did not have sausage after taste ( I did not miss the sausage after taste). The noodles in the Lo-mein were a disappointment. They have a roasted oil fried taste. They don’t seem fresh, but it doesn’t have a bad after taste. The interior of the restaurant is utilitarian and typical of a Mom and Pop operation. I really like the Hong Kong Chef, but it will take a few more trips to see if I can come to love the place.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wonton Soup, Orange Chicken
Yovany Marquez
Delicious...the mongolian beef to me has no rival...its the epitome of taste and savory delights ?
wan ting jiao
I love ??the lunch special，It's only $10 with soup and rice or fried rice.No matter what I order, they give me white rice for free！?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joe Reyes
Very good HK Style Chinese food in Lakewood. Pleasant and friendly staff. Great value for your buck. Amazing lunch specials.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mario A. Fuentes
Excelent Chinese food, I love it.Vegetarian options: Fresh vegetarian with very good chinise taste
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Rice
Erika Ortega
Fresh, delicious hot food served fresh with a home cooked taste. They keep busy in this small, no frills kitchen where the service is fast and excellent.
Julio Cesar Gonzales
This place had good food and good service, but it has changed and the service is bad, very bad, Mrs. The person who attends has a bad attitude and demands that you tip him and if you don't do it because of his poor service, he gets angry and charges you in a bad way and then tells you to leave and not come back
makmak
tried their lunch special 3 times so far and each time has been pretty mediocre. prices arent bad but you get what you pay for. might need to try something other than their lunch special if i ever try them again. def not ordering their chicken dishes that isnt fried. its always rubbery and funky. i ate half of it and wasted the rest.
Roman Martinez
Decided to eat at Hong Kong Chef as we were on our way to another location next door. This was our first time here. The food was brought to us pretty quickly and hot. We had Shrimp in Lobster sauce, Sweet and Sour Pork and the Special Fried Rich. All of the order was tasty and plentiful and will be eating here regularly.
Service was horrible so was the food.The waitress couldn't even get enough ice in a cup. When it came time to pay she made a point that tip isn't included and demanded a tip. When confronted she stated that she needs to make money . Well this place is usually pretty good on there food and service but they dropped the ball today I wil not be returning ever. I have seen some of the other reviews it looks like trash service is becoming the new normal here recently.
Janeth Cruz
The waitress added her own tip from my card and didn't even work for it. Doesn't know customer service.
Luv Monsters
The waitress was very rude. She first started by tossing the tea n cups on the table. When it was time to order food, she was more concerned about everything else going on. She didn't even take our order correctly. We were served can sodas, which is fine but then we asked for 2 cups with ice and she tells us there was no ice when clearly there was because a lady next to us had ice water. Then serving us our food, again she tossed our food on the table all effin' rude!! I would not be going back there ever. She was even rude to other customers. I wouldn't recommend anyone to that place. She definitely didn't get a tip from us
Yolanda M.
Updated Review 11.28.22: Seems this is the second time they've changed owners and this time it has really changed for the worst. I hate leaving negative reviews but this time the service and the food was so terrible that I can no longer recommend this place to anyone. -The pan fried noodles had absolutely no taste, I had to season it at the table with soy sauce for it to be edible. I never return dishes at restaurants for fear of what they might do to our food, so my family and I just ate it, with no complaints. -They didn't give us all our utensils, my son got the missing items and set our table (still no complaints from us). -Strong cigarette smoke smell coming from the back of the restaurant (maybe it was the burning of incense?? Not sure but it was hard to breathe, we still stayed since we had already ordered) -The server (owner, maybe) reminded us before we left that tips were to be left at the table. After my husband left a tip she confronted him in front of other customers, "why so low?" Doesn't he know she works for this? Again, he quietly told her the food was not good and walked away. If you want to lose customers, just follow her steps, bad attitude, confrontational and don't season your food.
V R.
Maybe it was good at one time? Maybe they switched cooks? Today was not good. Ordered 4 dishes. Mongolian Beef came with crunchy chow mein noodles instead of bamboo. I have never seen this in my life. The beef itself was good however, I didn't like the addition of the crunchy noodles as opposed to bamboo. Braised shrimp came from a bag , defrosted and gummy in texture, swimming in a sugary red liquid. Ate one and spit it out immediately. Kung Pao Chicken was made with rubbery old chicken in large pieces, no celery or water chestnuts? Not spicy, no flavor. Sauce for orange chicken tasted nothing of orange and was just honey sweet, very liquidy and did not coat the pieces. They did use chicken breast though. That was a plus. I think we came on an off day. The chef must have been a trainee. They should also tell him not to smoke at the front door. The entire restaurant smelled of cigarettes. We packed up everything within 30 minutes of being served our food, and left. Safe to say, we won't be back. Love supporting small business and don't mind paying for good food. This is not it.
I was wandering the streets as my stomach was telling me to get some grub, so I see this Hong Kong place and my face lit up. I go and it feels authentic. I feel the atmosphere, so I sit down and almost right away I was served hot green tea and a small cup. I serve me a cup and it was great. Typical green tea, pipping hot. This is where it starts to go a little souf. I ask for an ice water and was given room temp tap water with no ice. Okay, I'll drink it it's fine. Then these two women walk in almost immediately asking to be seated as they were on their "lunch break". The server had to tell a customer to forfeit his table as he was leaving, they apologized but there were other empty tables, why did the customer who was already on his way out, was rushed out. Anyways, the part that got me is that these two new customers get immediately serviced and even got their food before I got my appetizer!! (I ordered before they got seated). My meal was the lunch special (served 12-3pm for $9.50 tax included) which came with tea, biscuits (fortune cookie at the end), soup, rice and your choice of meat. The soup was the best part. It was piping hot flour soup, first time trying it and will ask for it in the future. It was flavorful with tofu and egg with a nice warm homeish flavor. I was EXCITED for the meat and rice. I was horribly let down. I got the beef and broccoli side with the rice. The rice portion was really good, actually some might say too much, but there was absolutely no flavor to the rice. I know white rice is supposed to be somewhat flavorless, but I'm talking about it felt like I was chewing on "nothingflavor" and swallowing a mass. Their hot sauce was FANTASTIC, added amazing spices and flavors without being too hot so you could put a good portion to have the added texture of the seeds and the vinegar boost. I had to add quite a lot for the rice to be saved. Here we go with the meat. I was disappointed here aswell. The broccoli was cooked to perfection, however. Crispy enough but cooked enough so it melts with the teriyaki sauce, which by the way was also pretty good but it was somewhat runny and lacked a distinct flavor profile. I added the excess sauce on the rice so there was more flavor. And the meat, I can say it was cooked to perfection as well. A little bite but melts in your mouf. I had to constantly do a base of rice, one broccoli, one piece of meat, and a scoop of the chili sauce for it to be a decent spoonful. Overall, this is a good meal to get filled up with but it severely lacks flavor. The soup and chili sauce were the saving grace. As a side note, I asked for a second cup of water with ice and got it, it was good. I asked for a third cup and she glanced at me. (The cups were like three gulps worth, small cups) She then opened the tap where they were cooking and washing their dishes and filled the cup. I didn't drink that cup of water. I would like to give this place a second chance but I'm not sure if it'll be worth another $10 to be disappointed by the entree. This was a rough one, but I don't regret it. The stage was set, and authentic but the cook just wasn't adding the right flavors, albeit they did phenomenal on the cooking.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Soup
If you are tired of most Chinese fusion fast food cooked in heavy thickener and corn syrup sauces, Hong Kong Chef is for you. I ordered the chicken chop suey. It was loaded with chicken and big vegetable chunks. It was more chicken than suey. It is cooked in a broth. No artificial thickeners are added. The orange chicken is not over fried and the syrup was not super sweet or sour. Actually, It has slightly acidic finish. Very flavorful. The Won-Ton soup broth is salted just right. I found the won-ton dumpling did not have sausage after taste ( I did not miss the sausage after taste). The noodles in the Lo-mein were a disappointment. They have a roasted oil fried taste. They don’t seem fresh, but it doesn’t have a bad after taste. The interior of the restaurant is utilitarian and typical of a Mom and Pop operation. I really like the Hong Kong Chef, but it will take a few more trips to see if I can come to love the place.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wonton Soup, Orange Chicken
Delicious...the mongolian beef to me has no rival...its the epitome of taste and savory delights ?
I love ??the lunch special，It's only $10 with soup and rice or fried rice.No matter what I order, they give me white rice for free！?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very good HK Style Chinese food in Lakewood. Pleasant and friendly staff. Great value for your buck. Amazing lunch specials.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excelent Chinese food, I love it.Vegetarian options: Fresh vegetarian with very good chinise taste
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Rice
Fresh, delicious hot food served fresh with a home cooked taste. They keep busy in this small, no frills kitchen where the service is fast and excellent.
This place had good food and good service, but it has changed and the service is bad, very bad, Mrs. The person who attends has a bad attitude and demands that you tip him and if you don't do it because of his poor service, he gets angry and charges you in a bad way and then tells you to leave and not come back
tried their lunch special 3 times so far and each time has been pretty mediocre. prices arent bad but you get what you pay for. might need to try something other than their lunch special if i ever try them again. def not ordering their chicken dishes that isnt fried. its always rubbery and funky. i ate half of it and wasted the rest.
Decided to eat at Hong Kong Chef as we were on our way to another location next door. This was our first time here. The food was brought to us pretty quickly and hot. We had Shrimp in Lobster sauce, Sweet and Sour Pork and the Special Fried Rich. All of the order was tasty and plentiful and will be eating here regularly.
Restaurantji Recommends
Service was horrible so was the food.The waitress couldn't even get enough ice in a cup. When it came time to pay she made a point that tip isn't included and demanded a tip. When confronted she stated that she needs to make money . Well this place is usually pretty good on there food and service but they dropped the ball today I wil not be returning ever. I have seen some of the other reviews it looks like trash service is becoming the new normal here recently.
The waitress added her own tip from my card and didn't even work for it. Doesn't know customer service.
The waitress was very rude. She first started by tossing the tea n cups on the table. When it was time to order food, she was more concerned about everything else going on. She didn't even take our order correctly. We were served can sodas, which is fine but then we asked for 2 cups with ice and she tells us there was no ice when clearly there was because a lady next to us had ice water. Then serving us our food, again she tossed our food on the table all effin' rude!! I would not be going back there ever. She was even rude to other customers. I wouldn't recommend anyone to that place. She definitely didn't get a tip from us
Updated Review 11.28.22: Seems this is the second time they've changed owners and this time it has really changed for the worst. I hate leaving negative reviews but this time the service and the food was so terrible that I can no longer recommend this place to anyone. -The pan fried noodles had absolutely no taste, I had to season it at the table with soy sauce for it to be edible. I never return dishes at restaurants for fear of what they might do to our food, so my family and I just ate it, with no complaints. -They didn't give us all our utensils, my son got the missing items and set our table (still no complaints from us). -Strong cigarette smoke smell coming from the back of the restaurant (maybe it was the burning of incense?? Not sure but it was hard to breathe, we still stayed since we had already ordered) -The server (owner, maybe) reminded us before we left that tips were to be left at the table. After my husband left a tip she confronted him in front of other customers, "why so low?" Doesn't he know she works for this? Again, he quietly told her the food was not good and walked away. If you want to lose customers, just follow her steps, bad attitude, confrontational and don't season your food.
Maybe it was good at one time? Maybe they switched cooks? Today was not good. Ordered 4 dishes. Mongolian Beef came with crunchy chow mein noodles instead of bamboo. I have never seen this in my life. The beef itself was good however, I didn't like the addition of the crunchy noodles as opposed to bamboo. Braised shrimp came from a bag , defrosted and gummy in texture, swimming in a sugary red liquid. Ate one and spit it out immediately. Kung Pao Chicken was made with rubbery old chicken in large pieces, no celery or water chestnuts? Not spicy, no flavor. Sauce for orange chicken tasted nothing of orange and was just honey sweet, very liquidy and did not coat the pieces. They did use chicken breast though. That was a plus. I think we came on an off day. The chef must have been a trainee. They should also tell him not to smoke at the front door. The entire restaurant smelled of cigarettes. We packed up everything within 30 minutes of being served our food, and left. Safe to say, we won't be back. Love supporting small business and don't mind paying for good food. This is not it.