May Garden Restaurant — Restaurant in Phoenix

I had this place about 5 years ago and swore never again. My wife likes it so I agreed to give it another try today. Judging by my wife and other reviewers on here, it appears people who grew up on this food seem to be the only ones who can appreciate it. Our kids, who joined us today asked that we never go there again, guess the wife is on her own the next time she feels like eating here!

It is like walking into a time portal and boom! You are back to 1978 complete with popcorn ceiling and a bug zapper on the back wall.

A very small serving line with limited food options.

The restrooms, I actually felt bad for the business owner on this one. The restrooms are littered with graffiti from low life people who feel a restroom is a place to write your name. I will never understand people who would even want to touch a wall in a public restroom to scribble some mess that only the author can read.

My wife swears by the ginger wings and the fried chicken and insisted we all try it. I have to admit both were not bad tasting, but it does beg the question. Is the ginger wings and the fried chicken the greatest or are they both the only edible items on the line? Its like we paid to eat fried chicken and ginger wings.

I did not have a bad experience here and the staff was friendly. However this review is my opinion and I am certain I will not be back to this...

This place is a Phoenix treasure. This restaurant has been around forever. There used to be a few other locations but this is the last one around. This is 1980’s-90’s style American style Chinese food. They make a sweet and sour pork that will not find at any other Chinese restaurant in the valley.

My parents moved us to Phoenix in 1987. My first memory of having this kind of sweet and sour port was at a south China buffet that was located on 19th Ave and Northern. We went there often since we lived just down the street. Then when they closed and we moved to 29th Ave and Northern we found the May Garden location on Grand and 83rd Ave. They closed and we had moved to 19th Ave and Beardsley and we found this style of sweet and sour pork at the China in on 19th Ave and Bell. After they closed I found a restaurant on 43rd and Dunlap that made this style of Orange chicken. There have been a few other restaurants over the years but May Garden on 59th and Indian-school road is the last one standing.

If anyone knows of another restaurant in the valley that makes Sweet and sour pork like this please let me know. I hope more places will make it like this. It’s just so nostalgic for me.

I love May Garden and I am thankful they are still around after all these years. If you haven’t been I remember you go and try it...

My family has been going here for YEARS & we never get tired of it! Each time I’ve gone the consistency of the food has been the same (which is great especially because it’s all buffet style). I love it so much I decided to have my birthday dinner there this year (: their egg drop soup is amazing, but the eggrolls are THE BEST EVER. Sweet&sour pork, sesame chicken, & their rice are always out go-to entrees. The price is actually really good considering the amount of food you get. For $1 more you can request a takeout box instead of dining in & let me tell you, you’ll definitely get your moneys worth because they stuff that To-go box to the rim. (: same owner for years and he’s so sweet, and kind. Last time I was there he was physically helping a woman in a wheelchair get her food and brought it to her table. He could’ve easily asked one of the waitresses to do it but he did it himself. He really is a nice man and is so great to all of his customers. It’s in an older building & the inside hasn’t been redecorated since 1999 but trust me that won’t change the taste of their food. Absolutely one of my favorite places to go. Family atmosphere, sweet people working there, and great food. What else could you want? Highly recommend...