Went for my sister's birthday. The food was amazing, crispy, fresh, and tender.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Toast
Shevaun Hart
My family ordered Fried Shrimp Toast (good but has a lot of cilantro), Char Siu (good), Roasted Duck Fat Fried Rice (was ok), Crab Fried Rice (was ok & they charged $1 for the House Seafood Sauce which we didn't ask for nor like), Scallion Pancakes (good, it's flaky), Cumin Lamb Ribs (good) & Crispy Garlic Chicken (bland). The Crispy Garlic Chicken wasn't fried properly & the meat by the leg was chewy, pink & the bone red. Who doesn't know what not fully cooked fried chicken looks like nor it's texture when eating it? I brought it to the attention of the server, he took it back for the "Experts" to evaluate. They said it was fine & asked if I would like a new one so I said yes (was charged for the "refire" aka the chicken that was fried properly). We ate a few pieces of the new batch & were underwhelmed so we decided to pack the rest up. Over the course they reassured us that the first chicken was cooked right that "It's just the cut" or "When cutting the chicken sometimes the blood" blah blah blah. Needless to say my daughter who ordered the chicken stomach is hurting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
French Kiss
Regarding my previous review and the hostile response. Please don’t dismiss my experience. We never asked for anything complimentary, we simply expected to be treated with basic politeness and respect as paying customers. People go to restaurants to enjoy great service, good food, and a welcoming atmosphere, not to be "educated."
I never claimed my party didn’t want to understand. I said they don’t not work in the industry, so they wouldn’t necessarily know about a pass, nor should they be expected to.
Having worked in hospitality myself, I have never encountered or received such unprofessional and confrontational service. That’s exactly why I left this review because the experience was rude, aggressive, and completely inappropriate.
We were mistreated and undervalued, and it was obvious. A lack of accountability, empathy, and basic courtesy does not create a memorable dining experience, in fact, it does the opposite.
At no point was my guest hostile when we were told not to take pictures. Additionally, my Resy confirmation email clearly stated a two-hour dining limit for parties of four or more. When I showed this to the owner, she acknowledged the mistake and apologized.
This was supposed to be a special occasion, my best friend’s birthday. Yet the cake was brought out when half our party was in the bathroom.
Your response only reinforces the poor customer service and defensiveness we experienced that night. The same host who initially welcomed us later brought our coats to the table and essentially forced us to leave, with no offer to accommodate us at the bar. To add insult to injury, a 20% gratuity was automatically added to our check despite everything that transpired. This is unacceptable.
The food was good , but the service completely ruined the experience. After spending $500 on dinner, our coats were brought to the table as a clear signal to leave. We weren’t offered another round of drinks and were abruptly told we had exceeded a 90 minute dining limit something that was never communicated.
With over a decade in the service industry and experience at top restaurants in New York, I’ve never encountered such rude and aggressive behavior. One of the owners even stated, “The customer isn’t always right,” emphasizing that she left corporate to “educate” guests and it certainly felt that way.
Dining out is about more than just food; it’s about the experience. Unfortunately, this restaurant prioritizes table turnover over hospitality. Sending staff to rush paying guests and treating them as an inconvenience is unacceptable.
A business thrives on good customer service, and this place completely missed the mark. Instead of feeling valued, we left remembering the hostility and lack of professionalism. Definitely not worth returning.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Ngozika Ukonu
Probably my favorite restaurant in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrew Loo
Let me preface this by saying my review reflects my own tastes as an American-born Chinese (ABC) with an ABC palate.
I visited "The Monkey King" last night after seeing its high Google Reviews. While the food was decent and the atmosphere pleaant, I cannot recommend it for the price. If you're looking for similar or better food at a lower cost, I'd suggest taking the subway to Chinatown instead.
Service & Ambiance When we sat down, we were immediately asked if we wanted still or sparkling water, which felt like an unnecessary upsell. Tap water was available, but it wasn’t offered upfront. The tables were set with only forks and knives, which suggested that ABCs and other Asians aren't the restaurant's target diners (though, to be fair, I do have one cousin who doesn't know how to use chopsticks). We were asked if we wanted chopsticks and the ones provided were reversible -- an interesting but impractical design. Reversible chopsticks make it unclear which side has been used, making them more confusing than functional. We dined around 9:30 PM. Service was noticeably slow, though the restaurant was busy. At the start, a staff member took our coats, but when we left, no one was at the reception, so I had to find and grab my own coat.
The Food We ordered: - Char Siu - Soup Dumplings (pork & crab) (but only pork was available) -Beef Chow Fun - Roasted Duck-Fat Fried Rice - Crispy Garlic Fried Chicken
The Soup Dumplings came with small bowls instead of the usual Asian soup spoons, making them awkward to eat. We weren’t given an explanation for the bowls, and their ergonomics didn’t make sense. It seemed like an attempt to be stylish at the cost of practicality—form over function in a way that hurt the dining experience.
The Char Siu had good texture and flavor, but the addition of ginger-scallion felt off—it’s traditionally paired with Soy Sauce Chicken or Roast Duck, not Char Siu. This felt like a misinterpretation of Cantonese BBQ, as if someone unfamiliar with the cuisine saw ginger-scallion paired with roasted meats and assumed it belonged here. That said, as ABCs, my guest and I love ginger-scallion, so we still enjoyed it.
The Beef Chow Fun was okay. The ribeye used was a nice upgrade from the cheaper cuts in traditional versions, but I didn’t love the contrast between the soft noodles and the firmer steak texture. A more tender cut, such as tenderlion/filet mignon, might have worked better.
The Crispy Garlic Fried Chicken was the biggest disappointment. The chicken was overcooked and dry, and the large cuts made it difficult to eat. Traditional Cantonese fried chicken is usually chopped into smaller, manageable pieces, but this dish seemed to prioritize a Western-style presentation over ease of eating. It’s frustrating when restaurants sacrifice user experience just to make a dish look more refined.
Verdict While The Monkey King offers a stylish setting and some creative takes on Chinese dishes, too many choices seemed driven by aesthetics rather than functionality. From the impractical soup dumpling bowls to the oversized, dry chicken pieces, the experience felt like it was designed to look good rather than to be enjoyable to eat. For the price, I’d recommend heading to Chinatown for better food with more thought put into the dining experience.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Michael Moreschi Jr
The entire staff was excellent. Food was very good! We had the eggplant, dumplings, string beans, and ribs.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bryan Braswell
This place is dope. A GREAT date spot. Great ambiance, dimly lit, a great playlist on deck. The clientele is very vibey. You might run into an influencer or two. Drinks are also exquisite!!!
You can tell how unprofessional this establishment is just by the way management and ownership respond to reviews. After I left an honest review, they began harassing me with multiple calls from a blocked number. The food itself was mediocre and overpriced, especially given the poor hospitality both during and after my visit. My drink was ok though but that’s it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Kevin Michels
We love the food here and I've been going since it opened. The owners are so friendly and the staff is so accommodating. The food whether it's delivery or dine in is impeccable. These photos are from the Lunar New Year menu, but highly recommend exploring their specials on any given day. The shrimp toast is something we never fail to get - out of this world.
Please check this place out if you're in the neighborhood! It's beautiful and the food is worth it.
In 2025, there are few restaurants that can do it all - attentive and timely service, ambiance, and meals that keep you coming back.
The Monkey King in Bushwick does it all and then some. From when you first walk in, it is clear that TMK has been designed and brought to life with clear intention. But for me, the true magic of TMK is that the co-founders are not only serving delicious Chinese and Bengali influenced cuisine but also sharing their own cultures and stories. As young first generation immigrants, the co-founders are choosing TMK to be their way of honoring their upbringings and those who came before them.
If you haven’t been here already, visit. If you’ve been here already, keep coming back.
Delicious food, exceptional cocktails, and a cozy ambiance make this place perfect for a date night. I can’t recommend it enough!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan Fried Chicken Dumplings, XO Crab Fried Rice, Shrimp Toast, Crispy Garlic Fried Chicken
Tiffanny Bueno
A hidden gem. Service at the bar is espectacular, with great recommendations. The food is truly to die for, every plate delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan Fried Chicken Dumplings
Charlie Dee
Checked it out after someone I knew went for her bday and I looked the place up on social media. Went to celebrate an anniversary last night. Nice club-like vibe with great playlist going on in the background.
Service seemed on high pressure, we were asked if we were ready to order 5 times in 5 mins which was strange , not sure if the servers are pressured to rotate customers out quickly or what not.
Also another thing that was strange : cleaning off our table while we weren’t even done eating even wiping off our table while we were still sitting there drinking. Which kinda gave the feeling of being rushed
But we ordered the shrimp toast, char sui pork , garlic fried half chicken and some rice orders.
Main course and rice took a while to come out. Like shouldn’t jasmine rice be super quick to plate but idk im not a resturant owner/chef
I instantly had stomach pain after dinner and had to go to the bathroom (like severe) even up until this morning so did the person I had dinner with.
Food opinion: Pork char sui: tasty but not so lean very much a fatty cut that we got served , not sure if all dishes are served like that or we just got a bad cut
Shrimp toast: different but not my favorite . Probably wouldn’t get it again but apparently it’s a popular item
Rice: rice is rice what can I say
Garlic fried half chicken: very good sitting in a nice garlic sauce but the sauce isn’t very accessible due to the plating presentation So some parts were dry( white meat)
Overall tasty but not sure what part of the meal caused are stomachs to be turned upside down !!!
Great service, drinks, and atmosphere, but the food was salty and one-note.
A great spot for drinks and tapas, with several gluten free options. The fried oyster mushrooms were delicious, and the drinks were decent.
Unfortunately the other dishes (green beans, beef chow fun) were very salty and one-dimensional in taste.
On a positive note, the staff seemed knowledgeable about gluten allergies and were able to make the green beans gluten free despite the menu not saying so.
Generally a nice place, but disappointed by the dishes we ordered.
They texted me the morning of our reservation for Lunar New Year’s eve (the biggest and most important meal of a year) and said “We hope this message finds you well. We're reaching out regarding your upcoming reservation at The Monkey King on 1/28/25. Unfortunately, due to a last-minute private event booking, we will need to close the restaurant during that time.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and truly appreciate your understanding. We would be more than happy to assist you in rescheduling your reservation for another day”
This is incredibly rude for a Chinese person. Let alone the fact that it’s virtual impossible to find a table somewhere else at the last minute. It’s like canceling thanksgiving dinner reservation last minute. I’ve never experienced something like this. I hope they lose all the diners that they kicked out today.
Went for my sister's birthday. The food was amazing, crispy, fresh, and tender.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Toast
My family ordered Fried Shrimp Toast (good but has a lot of cilantro), Char Siu (good), Roasted Duck Fat Fried Rice (was ok), Crab Fried Rice (was ok & they charged $1 for the House Seafood Sauce which we didn't ask for nor like), Scallion Pancakes (good, it's flaky), Cumin Lamb Ribs (good) & Crispy Garlic Chicken (bland). The Crispy Garlic Chicken wasn't fried properly & the meat by the leg was chewy, pink & the bone red. Who doesn't know what not fully cooked fried chicken looks like nor it's texture when eating it? I brought it to the attention of the server, he took it back for the "Experts" to evaluate. They said it was fine & asked if I would like a new one so I said yes (was charged for the "refire" aka the chicken that was fried properly). We ate a few pieces of the new batch & were underwhelmed so we decided to pack the rest up. Over the course they reassured us that the first chicken was cooked right that "It's just the cut" or "When cutting the chicken sometimes the blood" blah blah blah. Needless to say my daughter who ordered the chicken stomach is hurting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Regarding my previous review and the hostile response. Please don’t dismiss my experience. We never asked for anything complimentary, we simply expected to be treated with basic politeness and respect as paying customers. People go to restaurants to enjoy great service, good food, and a welcoming atmosphere, not to be "educated."
I never claimed my party didn’t want to understand. I said they don’t not work in the industry, so they wouldn’t necessarily know about a pass, nor should they be expected to.
Having worked in hospitality myself, I have never encountered or received such unprofessional and confrontational service. That’s exactly why I left this review because the experience was rude, aggressive, and completely inappropriate.
We were mistreated and undervalued, and it was obvious. A lack of accountability, empathy, and basic courtesy does not create a memorable dining experience, in fact, it does the opposite.
At no point was my guest hostile when we were told not to take pictures. Additionally, my Resy confirmation email clearly stated a two-hour dining limit for parties of four or more. When I showed this to the owner, she acknowledged the mistake and apologized.
This was supposed to be a special occasion, my best friend’s birthday. Yet the cake was brought out when half our party was in the bathroom.
Your response only reinforces the poor customer service and defensiveness we experienced that night. The same host who initially welcomed us later brought our coats to the table and essentially forced us to leave, with no offer to accommodate us at the bar. To add insult to injury, a 20% gratuity was automatically added to our check despite everything that transpired. This is unacceptable.
The food was good , but the service completely ruined the experience. After spending $500 on dinner, our coats were brought to the table as a clear signal to leave. We weren’t offered another round of drinks and were abruptly told we had exceeded a 90 minute dining limit something that was never communicated.
With over a decade in the service industry and experience at top restaurants in New York, I’ve never encountered such rude and aggressive behavior. One of the owners even stated, “The customer isn’t always right,” emphasizing that she left corporate to “educate” guests and it certainly felt that way.
Dining out is about more than just food; it’s about the experience. Unfortunately, this restaurant prioritizes table turnover over hospitality. Sending staff to rush paying guests and treating them as an inconvenience is unacceptable.
A business thrives on good customer service, and this place completely missed the mark. Instead of feeling valued, we left remembering the hostility and lack of professionalism. Definitely not worth returning.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Probably my favorite restaurant in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Let me preface this by saying my review reflects my own tastes as an American-born Chinese (ABC) with an ABC palate.
I visited "The Monkey King" last night after seeing its high Google Reviews. While the food was decent and the atmosphere pleaant, I cannot recommend it for the price. If you're looking for similar or better food at a lower cost, I'd suggest taking the subway to Chinatown instead.
Service & Ambiance
When we sat down, we were immediately asked if we wanted still or sparkling water, which felt like an unnecessary upsell. Tap water was available, but it wasn’t offered upfront.
The tables were set with only forks and knives, which suggested that ABCs and other Asians aren't the restaurant's target diners (though, to be fair, I do have one cousin who doesn't know how to use chopsticks). We were asked if we wanted chopsticks and the ones provided were reversible -- an interesting but impractical design. Reversible chopsticks make it unclear which side has been used, making them more confusing than functional.
We dined around 9:30 PM. Service was noticeably slow, though the restaurant was busy. At the start, a staff member took our coats, but when we left, no one was at the reception, so I had to find and grab my own coat.
The Food
We ordered:
- Char Siu
- Soup Dumplings (pork & crab) (but only pork was available)
-Beef Chow Fun
- Roasted Duck-Fat Fried Rice
- Crispy Garlic Fried Chicken
The Soup Dumplings came with small bowls instead of the usual Asian soup spoons, making them awkward to eat. We weren’t given an explanation for the bowls, and their ergonomics didn’t make sense. It seemed like an attempt to be stylish at the cost of practicality—form over function in a way that hurt the dining experience.
The Char Siu had good texture and flavor, but the addition of ginger-scallion felt off—it’s traditionally paired with Soy Sauce Chicken or Roast Duck, not Char Siu. This felt like a misinterpretation of Cantonese BBQ, as if someone unfamiliar with the cuisine saw ginger-scallion paired with roasted meats and assumed it belonged here. That said, as ABCs, my guest and I love ginger-scallion, so we still enjoyed it.
The Beef Chow Fun was okay. The ribeye used was a nice upgrade from the cheaper cuts in traditional versions, but I didn’t love the contrast between the soft noodles and the firmer steak texture. A more tender cut, such as tenderlion/filet mignon, might have worked better.
The Crispy Garlic Fried Chicken was the biggest disappointment. The chicken was overcooked and dry, and the large cuts made it difficult to eat. Traditional Cantonese fried chicken is usually chopped into smaller, manageable pieces, but this dish seemed to prioritize a Western-style presentation over ease of eating. It’s frustrating when restaurants sacrifice user experience just to make a dish look more refined.
Verdict
While The Monkey King offers a stylish setting and some creative takes on Chinese dishes, too many choices seemed driven by aesthetics rather than functionality. From the impractical soup dumpling bowls to the oversized, dry chicken pieces, the experience felt like it was designed to look good rather than to be enjoyable to eat. For the price, I’d recommend heading to Chinatown for better food with more thought put into the dining experience.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
The entire staff was excellent. Food was very good! We had the eggplant, dumplings, string beans, and ribs.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is dope. A GREAT date spot. Great ambiance, dimly lit, a great playlist on deck. The clientele is very vibey. You might run into an influencer or two. Drinks are also exquisite!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crabcake Shumai, Shrimp Toast, Crispy Garlic Fried Chicken, Cumin Lamb Ribs
You can tell how unprofessional this establishment is just by the way management and ownership respond to reviews. After I left an honest review, they began harassing me with multiple calls from a blocked number. The food itself was mediocre and overpriced, especially given the poor hospitality both during and after my visit. My drink was ok though but that’s it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We love the food here and I've been going since it opened. The owners are so friendly and the staff is so accommodating. The food whether it's delivery or dine in is impeccable. These photos are from the Lunar New Year menu, but highly recommend exploring their specials on any given day. The shrimp toast is something we never fail to get - out of this world.
Please check this place out if you're in the neighborhood! It's beautiful and the food is worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spare Ribs, Shrimp Toast, Crispy Garlic Fried Chicken, Cumin Lamb Ribs
In 2025, there are few restaurants that can do it all - attentive and timely service, ambiance, and meals that keep you coming back.
The Monkey King in Bushwick does it all and then some. From when you first walk in, it is clear that TMK has been designed and brought to life with clear intention.
But for me, the true magic of TMK is that the co-founders are not only serving delicious Chinese and Bengali influenced cuisine but also sharing their own cultures and stories. As young first generation immigrants, the co-founders are choosing TMK to be their way of honoring their upbringings and those who came before them.
If you haven’t been here already, visit. If you’ve been here already, keep coming back.
Hot tip - order the shrimp fried toast!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Toast
Restaurantji Recommends
Delicious food, exceptional cocktails, and a cozy ambiance make this place perfect for a date night. I can’t recommend it enough!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan Fried Chicken Dumplings, XO Crab Fried Rice, Shrimp Toast, Crispy Garlic Fried Chicken
A hidden gem. Service at the bar is espectacular, with great recommendations. The food is truly to die for, every plate delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan Fried Chicken Dumplings
Checked it out after someone I knew went for her bday and I looked the place up on social media. Went to celebrate an anniversary last night. Nice club-like vibe with great playlist going on in the background.
Service seemed on high pressure, we were asked if we were ready to order 5 times in 5 mins which was strange , not sure if the servers are pressured to rotate customers out quickly or what not.
Also another thing that was strange : cleaning off our table while we weren’t even done eating even wiping off our table while we were still sitting there drinking. Which kinda gave the feeling of being rushed
But we ordered the shrimp toast, char sui pork , garlic fried half chicken and some rice orders.
Main course and rice took a while to come out. Like shouldn’t jasmine rice be super quick to plate but idk im not a resturant owner/chef
I instantly had stomach pain after dinner and had to go to the bathroom (like severe) even up until this morning so did the person I had dinner with.
Food opinion:
Pork char sui: tasty but not so lean very much a fatty cut that we got served , not sure if all dishes are served like that or we just got a bad cut
Shrimp toast: different but not my favorite . Probably wouldn’t get it again but apparently it’s a popular item
Rice: rice is rice what can I say
Garlic fried half chicken: very good sitting in a nice garlic sauce but the sauce isn’t very accessible due to the plating presentation
So some parts were dry( white meat)
Overall tasty but not sure what part of the meal caused are stomachs to be turned upside down !!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Tea Smoked BBQ Ribs, Fried Shrimp Toast, Shrimp Toast, Crispy Garlic Fried Chicken
Great service, drinks, and atmosphere, but the food was salty and one-note.
A great spot for drinks and tapas, with several gluten free options. The fried oyster mushrooms were delicious, and the drinks were decent.
Unfortunately the other dishes (green beans, beef chow fun) were very salty and one-dimensional in taste.
On a positive note, the staff seemed knowledgeable about gluten allergies and were able to make the green beans gluten free despite the menu not saying so.
Generally a nice place, but disappointed by the dishes we ordered.
Dietary restrictions: gluten free options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wok-Fried String Beans Dinner Platter
They texted me the morning of our reservation for Lunar New Year’s eve (the biggest and most important meal of a year) and said
“We hope this message finds you well. We're reaching out regarding your upcoming reservation at The Monkey King on 1/28/25. Unfortunately, due to a last-minute private event booking, we will need to close the restaurant during that time.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and truly appreciate your understanding. We would be more than happy to assist you in rescheduling your reservation for another day”
This is incredibly rude for a Chinese person. Let alone the fact that it’s virtual impossible to find a table somewhere else at the last minute. It’s like canceling thanksgiving dinner reservation last minute. I’ve never experienced something like this. I hope they lose all the diners that they kicked out today.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
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