http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei <b>Wong Kei</b><br />London, 41-43 Wardour Street, W1D 6PX, United Kingdom en http://trustedplaces.com/uploads/placepics/trustedplaces.comaPlacePic['name']}.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/1o8pm7
Review by terryturbojr

Rating: 5.00
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For me this place is a tale of two restaurants, one good one not so good.

If you go in and order a load of mixed deep fried starters and a sweet and sour chicken prepare to be disappointed.

Sitting downstairs on my own, watching the West End pass by as I eat crispy pork and rice, beef brisket noodle soup, mixed seafood cirpsy noodle or, my personal favourite, assorted meat fried ho fun is one of my favourite London pass-times. The food is cheap and basic and the staff brusque but it's fantastic - and that's why it gets 5 stars.]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:09:43 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/1o8pm76789006 terryturbojr 51.511195417205 -0.13236034152964 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/194og8
Review by bellaphon

Rating: 3.00
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Irrespective of race, creed, colour, sex, age, nationality, disability, veteran or veganism, all diners are offered a gratis pot of tea.

If you do decide to come here to get abused; may I suggest you walk up to the main counter preferably reminiscent of Forrest Gump and ask for a fork instead of the chopsticks thatâ¬"s already in place. Youâ¬"ll be crushed. However if you do decide to come here and dine properly, please go to the off-piste section of the menu where you might well be surprised with the results.

Drinking tea is comforting and assuring, doubly so when itâ¬"s free; any humiliation before and after is therefore dispelled.
]]> Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:14:54 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/194og8862908616 bellaphon 51.511195417205 -0.13236034152964 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/141nt7
Review by foodbymark

Rating: 1.00
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The fact that there are some Chinese people eating here - truly baffling... From the start of my review I have nothing good to say about the food here. Prices are typical of most of the restaurants in the area. Cheap.

Wikipedia says Wong Kei is a famous restaurant in London's Chinatown. It is probably the most famous in fairness. I'm not a fussy eater, I will eat anything from chicken feet to foie gras and sweetbreads to dried locust and some things worse I dare not mention here, but what you are paying for is bland food thickened and beyond with corn flour and laden with your favourite flavour enhancer, Monosodium Glutamate. That's not to say that other restaurants do not do the same but there is a limit and take it past that. You will get very thirsty eating anything here. Virtually every dish has the same background taste is only made different by the sauce of choice (black bean, plain soya etc.) so essentially no better than the local chinese takeaway.

I don't mind sharing tables but then there is the little matter of the service. You get exactly what they have always prided themselves in, two options - rude or abrupt, or if you are lucky both at the same time. The experience is always subjective but in the same way that some people insist on adding sweetcorn to bolognese sauce, I am purist and do not enjoy this place. No sweetcorn in my bolognese please.

Been there, done that, and someone else bought the t-shirt. Don't go here.]]> Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:23:18 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/141nt7479935869 foodbymark 51.511195417205 -0.13236034152964 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/1a5l77
Review by delphinus

Rating: 4.00
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A long day out in London can leave you weary and hungry. Fast food doesn't have to be burgers or pizza. For years now our trusty, fill-up has been Wong Kei on Wardour Street.
This is not a posh restaurant, it isn't usually peaceful but the food is always delicious and plentiful. In addition it is quite an experience; one which reminds me of eating out in Hong Kong.
Be prepared to share your table with strangers unless you are part of a large party. Expect no airs and graces but a very prompt service, fresh, hot, tasty Chinese food and unbelievable rock-bottom prices. Be prepared - they only take cash. Even if we are not in the area we'd hop on the tube to eat at Wong Kei. Try the Won Tun soup. Tip - when your teapot is empty leave the lid open and they will swiftly deliver another one.]]> Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:12:02 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/1a5l771758062572 delphinus 51.511195417205 -0.13236034152964 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/177je7
Review by monkeyslaper

Rating: 4.00
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Order anything from peking duck to deep fried chilie salt squid and you cant expect anything but very traditional, perfectly cooked food. No complaints about the quality of the dishes. Excellent value for money as well.

Why do so many Chinese people eat here? Because the food is Fantastic!

Service and seating arrangements leave much to be desired, but the food really does speak for itself, hence its 500 person capacity often being packed.]]> Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:41:00 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/177je71669271342 monkeyslaper 51.511195417205 -0.13236034152964 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/163i88
Review by jes1uk

Rating: 2.00
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Recommended if you want authentic Chinese food at a budget price and you're not that worried about the service.
Good for a quick eat and then out! Try the roasted duck with rice priced at only about £4 ish.
But bear in mind that the decor is shoddy and plain and the service is somewhat lacking and certainly without a smile!
It is also likely that you will have to share a table, so if you like to have private conversations and prefer them not to get overheard then this place is not for you.
There are better Chinese restaurants than this one in the locality but they will be a little more expensive, but Wong Kei maybe worth a try sometime!
]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:45:42 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/163i88992739388 jes1uk 51.511195417205 -0.13236034152964 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/1l6ce8
Review by vexille

Rating: 4.00
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OK, so everyone moans about the waiters being rude and the service being shocking. So they definitely aren't the friendliest, but people seem to take it as gospel and when they aren't treated to a barrage of abuse still tell everyone that it's awful to keep up this, in my opinion well out dated view!

Anyways, I digress.

Good food, large portions and quick. It's the fast food of China town and in some instances much better! Yes, you might have to table share, but this isn't a sit down and eat for hours restaurant. It is in, eat and out! You get to meet some interesting people too!

The menu is plentiful and you can, if you know the menu inside out, make up your own dishes which they charge a little extra for.

For those who've not been yet, try the aromatic duck and deep fried intestines, very very tasty!]]> Sun, 24 Aug 2008 08:49:56 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/1l6ce81760808810 vexille 51.511195417205 -0.13236034152964 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/181as8
Review by dafinki

Rating: 4.00
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Back when the waiters at Won Kei were incredibly rude, I was a student. I used to go there at lunchtime with my chums and stock up on meat, tea and face-melting chilli sauce then spend the afternoon's lectures honking of garlic in an MSG coma. Those were the days.

Apart from the change in the demeanor of the staff (affable!) not much is different. You can still fill up on cold meat on hot rice for under a fiver. Barbecue pork crispy pork with extra sauce, beef brisket soup, Singapore noodles, monk's greens ⬠all these things are yummy. Go off piste and choose the mixed random animals or whatever it's called and you'll come a cropper.

Still, don't ever ask for your own table or you might find your dinner in your lap.

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Review by lenalouise

Rating: 1.00
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I came here with a big group of people and we were seated straight away even though it was on a busy Friday night. I wasn't expecting the food to be great but I still managed to be disappointed! The food was extremely sub-standard and bland. There wasn't anything that was good in any way. The food was gloopy and full of unappetising food colourings. I agree with the other reviewers that is is cheap but there are places around the same price that actually has edible food. I don't think I'll be back]]> Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:56:11 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/183aq81245293259 lenalouise 51.511195417205 -0.13236034152964 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/1l69n8
Review by coldclimate

Rating: 3.00
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Wagamama's it's not - and thank goodness.

Wonkies is about as close as you get to Hong Kong noodle houses in the UK as far as I can tell. It's busy, you share tables, the waiters are curt (I refuse to call them rude, they're just very business like), and the food is very fast. Everything comes in plastic bowls, the tables have soy and chilli oil, and there's a good chance that you'll be sitting with somebody you don't know (always more fun).

I really enjoyed their barbequed pork noodle soup, and the won ton soup was good too. The crispy chilli beef was excellent, the lemon chick less so. The whole bill came to £23 quid for two of us, and was way more than we could eat between us. The "starters" definitely outshone the mains, but then again the roast pork and rice on the table next to me looked and smelled excellent.

Worth noting that the décor is dated, the stairway less that clean and your chances of being disgruntled high is you aren't willing to bend you head down and crack on.

Take a bunch of non-fussy eaters, and you'll have a great meal for not a huge amount of cash. Take one fussy person, or be annoyed but one dish being just ok not great, and you'll all hate it.

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Review by karlos

Rating: 2.00
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I went there last night...

Good points:

Canteen style of the place was charming.

It was really relaxed and a great place to hang out and drink green tea.


Bad points:

The food tasted like it was made by cooks who don't like their jobs - ie bland and uninspired.

This was the same as the service, with a waiter who barely acknowledged us.



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Review by gdub2001

Rating: 4.00
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this place is great. its everything thats wrong with a restaurant but it makes it great. yes a bit eugh, and the rudeness of staff is second to none. but if all you want is a cheap quick chinese meal then this is the place to go.

you also have to go just to experience the place.]]> Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:51:41 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/1n74m81665396238 gdub2001 51.511195417205 -0.13236034152964 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/1t4178
Review by qwghlm

Rating: 2.00
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Has a certain amount of cult appeal due to its cheapness, its run-down condition and the rudeness of its staff. Good for large groups (especially if you haven't booked anywhere and you're in a hurry).

But... the food is often greasy and not particularly nice, especially the "typical" Chinese dishes - sweet & sour, chop suey etc. Go for something more off-the-wall (e.g. eel) and you might be rewarded more.

As a footnote, some friends have reported stomach trouble after eating here - I personally have always been fine, but it might be worth bearing in mind.]]> Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:42:08 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/1t41781627876167 qwghlm 51.511195417205 -0.13236034152964 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/1711a8
Review by MikeinLondon

Rating: 4.00
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A great place for a quick snack near China Town. It is already a London Institution with it's "upstairs" "downstairs". You will share a table with others but the sweet sour pork with rice is great. Tea at no charge. Basic but good]]> Fri, 16 Feb 2007 23:09:27 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1o9287l/wong-kei/1711a8768832001 MikeinLondon 51.511195417205 -0.13236034152964