Urban Wok By D R O — Restaurant in Abu Dhabi

Urban Wok underwent transformations a few months ago. Decided to give them a try.

What a pleasant surprise! Tom Yum soup was excellent and the Pad Thai was really good.

Looks like they updated more than the dinnerware. One can feel the kitchen has upped it's game and you can taste the difference since the reopening.

Good job folks! I'm too updating my rating.

On a sad note the mall was playing elevator music, but that's beyond Urban Wok's control.

Previously:

Another few months pass and I decided to give them one more try...

Had Veggie Pho and wife Veggie Tom Yum. We got other noodles than what we asked. No tofu... Few veggies. But a truck load of RAW ONIONS!!

Had enough. Won't come back here again.

On every visit the quality of service is going down. They just don't care about the food they prepare. What started as a good idea of providing an alternative to junk food isn't working.

They're opening a McDonald's next door. At least food quality consistency won't be a problem there....

3 months since my last review (below).

Just had a Pad Thai, or, I think it was ... Eggplant overcooked and beaten to a pulp, uncooked cabbage, lukewarm tofu, and absolutely NO TASTE. Noodles dripping in oil...

If I had any doubts about consistency they have been dissipated by having repeatedly horrible food served.

For 40 aed you'd expect way better!

Prior review I like this place. Sometimes they are worth 5 stars because their food can be really good. And sometimes it's mediocre. Consistency isn't their strength. Often before writing a review I wait until I've had a couple meals. I ordered the same things as last week - Thai noodles with tofu/egg and eggplant. Last week was SOOOO GOOOD. Bangkok level. This week they forgot the eggs. They put big pieces of raw red onions. And they completely f** up the char grilled taste that had me come back for more. For 40 AED for an egg, noodles and some eggplant bits one would expect more.

For more consistency and better taste avoid the place when a tall cook with the chef hat is working the wok, but don't hesitate when it's the small...

Two points:

Service: The lady taking the order at the cashier (with tattoos on her arm) was not friendly at all and was rude to me twice. I came to eat and leave, but instead got a person who talked to me as if I'm an uneducated or ignorant person. I hold nothing personal against the lady nor do I know her, but the treatment I got as a customer was unacceptable.

(A) I enquired if I can sample taste two or three of their sauces prior to deciding which to choose for my meal (I recall very well I given a taste of two sauces when they first opened the restaurant. This was my second visit after many years) and she replied in a rude way "we don't offer free tasting" - the way she said it was as if I was someone who was not serious about placing an order.

If this was my restaurant, I will not accept staff to talk to and treat customers this way.

(B) I enquired if they can be flexible and make the egg on my meal scrambled or as an omelette. Her reply - "No, we can't be flexible with this, it comes as fried egg, either you have it this way or not." When I enquired why, she shockingly replied in a rude manner: "I suggest you have food at home where you can be flexible when cooking!!" A response that is completely unacceptable to a customer who is contributing towards her paycheck!!

Again, if this was my restaurant, I wouldn't allow staff to talk to and treat customers this way.

Food: The food was good, I ordered rice and spicy chicken with an egg. Portion size was not large nor filling for the price paid @ 50 Dhs. I'd say either portion size should increase or price is reduced to get the right balance for what you pay for, mindful though that variable and fixed costs are high...

Just came here with my husband and mother. Mother got a seafood mix that barely had any seafood in it. 😂 There were 2 lonely prawns, 2 bits of mussels (apparently I didn't see them) and all the rest was tofu. In a big bowl. When we took back the food they took out all the seafood in front of us ( these 4-5 small bits of seafood afore mentioned) and told us that it was normal. You should have just told us that you didn't have much seafood left. We would have got something else on the menu. So we abandoned the meal but we ate the spring rolls. We found the spring rolls okay but somewhat dry.

Their previous ratings are quite positive so let's hope this was just a one off and because we came before closing time. Stuff happens 🤷‍♀️ Just be honest about it. Clients aren't monsters. ...