Alings Chinese Bistro — Restaurant in Sugar Land

On a Saturday evening, our group of four decided to dine at Aling's Chinese Bistro, a well-known spot for Indo-Chinese cuisine in Sugar Land, Texas. Located in a diverse city, Aling’s has a reputation for unique flavors that blend Chinese techniques with Indian spices, and we were eager to see if it lived up to the hype. We arrived around 6:45 p.m. and were seated fairly quickly, despite the busy dinner rush. Right from the start, the warm and inviting atmosphere set a positive tone for our dining experience.

Our experience began with outstanding service; our waiter was friendly and attentive, giving us extra time to decide on our orders. This personal touch made us feel welcome and unhurried, a pleasant contrast to many bustling eateries. For appetizers, we ordered a variety to get a taste of Aling's range: hot and sour soup, chicken dumplings, crispy wings, and chili chicken. To our delight, all of them arrived in under five minutes. The hot and sour soup had a balanced, flavorful kick without being overpoweringly spicy. The chicken dumplings were tender, with a savory filling that paired well with the tangy dipping sauce. The crispy wings were just as described—crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and seasoned perfectly. Finally, the chili chicken was a star, offering a burst of spice and flavor in every bite. It was a fantastic start to the meal, and we couldn’t wait for the mains.

Our main courses included a mix of garlic shrimp, honey chili chicken, Manchurian fried rice, and the Meeri Meeri sizzlers. Impressively, the food arrived within 10 minutes, which was quite fast considering the crowd. The garlic shrimp had a nice garlicky aroma and a perfect blend of spices, with each bite flavorful and fresh. The honey chili chicken had a delightful contrast between sweet and spicy, and the crispiness of the chicken was spot on. The Manchurian fried rice was a true treat, packed with veggies and tossed in a tangy sauce that complemented the spices well. Lastly, the Meeri Meeri sizzlers stole the show, arriving on a hot platter with an aromatic blend of sauces, vegetables, and chicken. Each dish was well-prepared, served in generous portions, and had a unique flavor profile that kept things exciting. We even were able to take leftovers due to the amount of food they gave us.

For dessert, we ordered the Lava Bite, a sweet and satisfying finish to our meal. The Lava Bite was perfectly warm and gooey on the inside, with just the right amount of sweetness, and left us feeling content. Throughout the meal, our waiter continued to be attentive, checking in with us and ensuring we had everything we needed without ever feeling intrusive. The service truly enhanced our experience, adding to the warm ambiance and making us feel well taken care of.

In conclusion, our dining experience at Aling’s Chinese Bistro was delightful. I would rate the experience a solid 9/10, because even though the food was amazing, a full course meal from appetizers, the main dish, and dessert could cost a person $30-$50. The flavorful Indo-Chinese cuisine, quick and courteous service, and inviting atmosphere make it a great choice for anyone craving something unique. With reasonable prices, generous portions, and a broad selection of dishes, Aling’s is a place we’d highly recommend to anyone, whether they’re a fan of Chinese cuisine or just looking to try...

Reply to management: I actually paid your gratuity. And you replied precisely as I expected you would. I complained to 3 different servers before you came by...thanks for validating my review. Customers...take note.

I suggest that they use their letter grade and change their name to make it more appropriate: F-alings.

To potential future customers: If you read the good reviews...great..I'm glad those folks had a great time. To those who are reading the manager/owner replies...and how they are attacking customers about their poor reviews...that should tell you all you need to know about their level of customer service and attitude towards delivering a positive experience. 20% gratuity is reserved for fantastic service...not a service charge for subpar customer treatment.

Food: Food was fairly good. Robust flavors, although on several requests we were told that dishes were not available which was irritating for a Saturday night at 6 pm. The spice level was accurate, portions were smaller than you'd expect from a family style place, but overall good quality was a 3.5.

Atmosphere: The decor was nice, although none of it had any resemblance of a Chinese restaurant. The tables and chairs packed in to accommodate swaths of people. Pretty non memorable generic interior.

Service: I wish I could put zero stars. Rude and unfriendly manager. Completely clueless servers. We were there for a total of 2 hours for 6 people. Absolutely ridiculous. And then to get charged 20% mandatory gratuity for a service that wasn't even able to refill our waters or get food out in time. They also up charge you on dishes that you don't need. Real classy... restaurant manager. Unacceptable. The manager threatened to call the cops...because I told him that the service was atrocious. I guess that's how they do it in the burbs.....

Summary: Food 3.5 Atmosphere 2.5 Service 0.5

Go if you want some decent Asian food, but don't expect service with a smile or anything that resembles a...

Let me get this first statement out of the door. For Indo-Chinese food (not classical Chinese or Western Chinese style), the food is the best I have tasted outside of India. The fusion of tastes from Chinese culinary heritage and the availability of India's spices and herbs sends me back to days when I lived abroad. They did it right too, with the 'piquant-ness' of their rice dishes and the clever use of primary and secondary aromatics for the other sauce based dishes.

Had two rice dishes (chicken and prawn) and two Chinese style dishes (beef and chicken) to try. The rice dishes were outstanding, both in style and the presentation. The chicken and beef dishes were also fantastic with their subtle aromatics, way after the food was swallowed.

And this is the point where I felt Ailings has failed me and gets 4 stars when they should have easily gotten 5 stars, no discussion. This restaurant is not cheap compared to other Chinese restaurants, with good reason. The food is good quality. However, to be presented with the rice dishes which was generous and reflective of the price and then to be served the chicken and beef dishes was a shocking contrast. The rice dishes was plenty to feed the four people at the table, yet the chicken and beef dishes could have easily been put between two slices of bread and be served as a sandwich. Could the portion not have been a little bigger (only pennies in cost for the restaurant) and justified the premium in pricing? Could they not have added a little more vegetable and sauce (forget the meat) to the dishes and be able to serve the four people at the table?

The experience was marred by this kitchen behavior and let a lot of the good work down. No one wants to feel cheated, especially when one is this close to the finishing line. No doubt I will be back, I just hope to see a change in portion policy...