Long overdue review. I discovered Moon Kee soon after they opened 2 yrs ago. My BFF lives on 103rd so it's just 2 blocks away. I can't believe there is an authentic Canto restaurant up here! I grew up in LA, lived in NY for 6 yrs and now in No CA. Yes I'm an ABC, but my husband was born in HK and I know good authentic Chinese food. They even have BBQ meat hanging in the windows and people yelling in Cantonese to each other, haha. Sign of authenticity in a dim sum place. The only "non-authentic" thing? It's very very clean, no food stains on the chairs or tables but I haven't seen the bathrooms (I know I'm risking offending some ppl on here...it's a joke). There are always lots of Chinese ppl in here too.
I was hungry after flying in from CA and why spend $7 on a ham and cheese croissant heated in a microwave when you can have 3 gao choi gao (shrimp and chive dumpling) cooked fresh for the same price? Look at the size of the shrimp! And you can sit in a clean booth with a/c (it's 90 deg outside). They're really nice and weren't upset that I just ordered $7 worth of food. Very good service.
I've been here ~7 times and everything has been excellent. The big test for me in any dim sum place is the wu gok (taro dumpling). Many reputable places have other excellent dishes but their wu gok tastes of ammonia meaning old taro. Or they're really oily. NOT here - they're crisp, made of fresh taro, and not oily at all. The dan tats (egg tarts) are perfect- flaky crisp dough. They just told me they are hand made here and the chef has over 30 yrs experience making dim sum.
I told my friend about this place and now her family gets food from here all the time.
Someone mentioned the prices- ummm look at where they are. And it's not more than what we spend in SF and some places in...
Read moreWell, I hate to do this but it must be done. A new restaurant opened up in the hood. Moon Kee, a Chinese restaurant out of NJ opened up on 100th and Broadway. We were so happy when they opened. Needed a new Chinese restaurant but the customer service is not just bad, it’s appalling.
I called in a pick up and got there early and sat down. Took ten minutes for someone to acknowledge me. Finally got the order and went home only to find it was the wrong order. Went back in the rain and the manager realized it was wrong and took the food back with him to the kitchen. I’d be upset if they were going to send that out again.
I sat there for another 20 min while no one offered a glass of water or tea or an apology. He came back with the correct food. When I asked why no one offered me a glass of water while I waited he yelled, loud, “Whatever!” And turned to answer the phone.
When I politely asked again he yelled at me to get out. I give this place six months before they close. Hey guys, this isn’t NJ! I’m not going back and don’t recommend it to anyone else. Yes, owner yelled at me in front of a crowded restaurant
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I see the response and have to add that the only aggressive actions were taken by the owner towards me. Whoever wrote this response, probably ChatGPT, did a very nice job however inaccurate.
No apology was given and the food I returned was brought back into the kitchen only to be given to another unsuspecting customer which probably goes against health codes.
I have worked in hospitality and restaurants and have never been so disappointed in a customer service experience in my life.
I have now heard from others who have had similar experiences so unless there is a change in attitude by the owner it doesn’t look good for your longevity. It’s really...
Read moreAfter several months of takeout and dining in I’ve come to the conclusion that this is the best overall Chinese spot in the hood.
It’s not a cheap hood spot that you hit up for the ultimate NYC staple: the wings and pork fried rice combo. It’s not fine dining either. If Ollie’s is mid level, this is a notch above.
Their consistency is what sets them apart and at the top. Their service when dining in is stupid good. Friendly and accommodating, but more importantly they speak English well.
The true tell tale sign of their excellence is the amount of Chinese people that actually dine here, which is plenty every time I’ve stepped inside. It’s one thing if it’s just random Asians but actual Chinese people means it’s really authentic Cantonese.
The meats:
BBQ pork: 4/5, Roast Duck: 3.75/5 Roast pork, with crispy skin: 4.25/5
Yes, I'm comparing every meat to Ollie's, because where else around here is there meats on hooks behind the window as you walk by? Here and Ollie's, Karen.
The dim sum on the weekends is the best in the neighborhood. Their dumplings are just ok though- wrapper is too thick and fillings are mid in flavor and quantity. The beef ribs are the move. They even come around on carts like downtown but the ladies aren’t mean or worse: indifferent. Hmm, there’s a pattern here.
The owner is here most of the time. This guy is very dedicated and you can really tell hospitality comes naturally to him. He runs a tight ship. The vibe of workers to owner is a two way street of respect, it’s clear he treats them well. In return, not only does that show in the service but more importantly- it shows in their...
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