Teng's Restaurant — Restaurant in Town of Hempstead

Hands down, I think the best halal hakka / Chinese restaurant on Long Island, NY. Since this was my first time ordering from here, I wanted to try everything! So I definitely went overboard with my order, however, WORTH IT!

I ordered chicken sweet corn soup, steamed chicken dumplings, Sichuan chicken dumplings, hakka chicken wings, chicken fried rice, chicken hakka noodles, Chilli beef, and orange chicken.

I honestly can't remember the last time I was so satisfied with a meal. Every single item was incredible, fresh, and tasted amazing. We all wanted a legit halal Chinese place on Long Island, NY. Guess what? We got it. This is it.

Sure, it's not your traditional Chinese, most dishes have a twist of hakka, however, there are plenty of dishes that are traditional Chinese. And best part? You're not paying Long Island prices! All items were very fairly priced and comparable to the prices of Fatima's Halal in Astoria, NY (currently closed) or Halal Kitchen in Maspeth, NY. Taste wise, I think this was much better.

If you want to compare this to other hakka Chinese places, I would think Sagar Chinese and New Chili and Curry come to mind. And in my honest opinion, this blows them out of the water. I am not even going to mention the 2 other halal Chinese places that opened up on Long Island, as they definitely need to improve their quality and taste if they want to compete with Teng's.

Quick overview of their food:

Chicken sweet corn soup: Perfectly seasoned and made. It tasted very fresh. They also give you sauces on the side, if you want to spice it up.

Steamed chicken dumplings: So, I like the momos from Momo Crave. These momos are not like those. They are from a different region. So for Chinese dumplings, these are good. However, if there was one thing I felt that they could probably improve upon, it would probably have to be their dumplings, but again, they were good, just not great as everything else was.

Sichuan chicken dumplings: My wife wasn't a huge fan of this but I love me some peanut sauce! That is what this was. Regular momos, in Sichuan peanut sauce! I enjoyed it.

Hakka chicken wings: Incredible! Perfectly cooked and coated with the hakka sauce. I really loved this one.

Chicken fried rice: Fresh, perfectly made. The flavor profile was all there. Not too much, not too little. They were amazing. Oh and unlike some other halal hakka places, they did not use day old rice. Again, it was fresh and the proportions of all the ingredients was perfectly balanced.

Chicken hakka noodles - Tasted very close to traditional lo mein. It was really good.

Chilli beef: Probably the best chili beef I've had, ever. The proportions of the chili to beef and onions was perfect. They didn't just put a pound of green chilies in there and called it 'chili' beef, no. They made it to perfection. The beef was perfectly tender, yet crispy on the outside. The flavor was perfectly balanced. Not too spicy or salty, but actually very flavorful. You could taste the love that it was made with.

Orange chicken: Same as the chili beef. Probably one of the best I've ever had. The sauce was perfect. Not too sweet and not bland. Just enough to let the orange flavor shine, without tasting like you're eating an orange jam. It was truly magnificent. I am not sure why most other restaurants make their orange flavor so sweet and overpowering. They probably just get the generic orange sauce from Restaurant Depot and call it a day. Teng's orange chicken seemed like they took their time in making this amazing sauce. The balance was great and again, as with all their other food. It was very flavorful.

I think Teng's Restaurant will be a huge success on Long Island, NY - as long as they are able to maintain this type of quality and taste. I am so happy that I don't have to go all the way to Maspeth or Astoria to get decent halal Chinese anymore. This is probably the best halal hakka/Chinese...

A Night Back at TENGS – A Long Overdue Review

It’s been a while since I last wrote a review for TENGS—maybe a couple of years, if I’m being honest. But after tonight’s experience, I knew I had to share the story.

From the moment we stepped in, it felt like coming home to something familiar yet refreshed. The first thing we noticed? The entrance. If you’ve been to TENGS in the past, you’ll remember the old setup—one door facing a busy road that let in all the cold air during the winter months. That draft used to sneak in and mess with the vibe. Not anymore. They’ve completely reworked the entrance with a double-door setup, boxing it out so the cold stays where it belongs—outside. Small change, big difference.

Now let’s talk about the space—because wow, they’ve upgraded! The seating has expanded, and it’s no longer a toss-up on whether you’ll get a table. There’s room to breathe, room to enjoy, and honestly, it makes the whole dining experience that much more comfortable.

Now, to the real heart of this story—the food.

We ordered orange chicken, sesame chicken, General Tso’s chicken, Hakka noodles with chicken, and two soups—egg drop and wonton. For appetizers, we went in with the beef momos and let me just say: every bite had something to say.

The fried rice? Let me start there. You’ll see it in the video—the way the translucent onion pieces glisten, the perfectly fluffy grains, and the savory flavor that didn’t need a drop of duck sauce. That rice could stand on its own. It was crunchy in just the right places and soft where it mattered. Simply put: a masterclass in balance.

The sesame chicken was next level—juicy, sticky, and absolutely succulent. Each piece was coated just right, not overly sweet, not too crispy, just that perfect, addictive texture and flavor. The orange chicken followed suit, with a zesty tang and crispy exterior that delivered a punch of citrus warmth in every bite. And then came the General Tso’s—a dish that TENGS never misses with. It was bold, savory, and gave that familiar, comforting hit of spice that lingers just enough to keep you coming back.

The Hakka noodles with chicken had that delicious smoky wok flavor—honestly, one of the best versions I’ve had. It paired beautifully with everything else on the table and helped cool down the stronger flavors while still holding its own.

Let’s not forget the momos—steamed just right, packed with tender beef and rich seasoning. A true highlight that disappeared way too fast.

And the soups? Silky smooth. The egg drop was rich and soothing, and the wonton had the perfect balance of warmth and heartiness. Honestly, they could bottle that broth and sell it—I’d buy.

For a party of four, we were more than full, and we still had leftovers. The portions? Generous. Abundant. Worth every penny.

The staff was, as always, friendly and efficient. Within minutes of ordering, appetizers started arriving. There’s something really comforting about knowing that good service is still part of the culture here. And the vibe? Soft Hindi music playing in the background, smiles at every table, and the staff switching between Chinese, Hindi, and English like it’s second nature. It makes the experience personal, welcoming, and connected.

Oh—and don’t forget—5% off if you pay cash. A little bonus that never hurts.

So yeah, it’s been a while since my last review, but TENGS reminded me tonight why I wrote one in the first place. The food, the upgrades, the service—it’s all still there, better than...

WARNING: EXPLICITLY DESCRIPTIVE REVIEW BELOW:

Teng's Restaurant in Levittown, NY was one of my first experience's getting take out since this whole "situation" started. Being someone who is overly cautious we really haven't had much since March so I was really excited about this. First thing I noticed was that they had a note that they wouldn't not allow customers inside the restaurant without a mask. Already off to a safe and comforting visit.

Folks, this isn't your typical Chinese or Japanese take out place as they are more classified as Hakka Indian-Style Japanese Cuisine which is one of a kind and everyone enjoyed this in our household (from both kids, adults and the dog stealing from everyone).

The Tom Kha soup with chicken (minus the mushrooms because those are gross IMO) was incredible. The broth by itself has an array of flavors that danced my tastebuds into a frenzy. This sweet coconut combined with that zingy lemongrass wrapped and then some chili drops on top to give it some kick. This was a fantastic way to start for me.

They shared the Wonton Soup which was so good my wife and two kids fought over the last wonton. The dog won though as she jumped up and knocked the remainder of the soup with said lonely wonton on the floor. Bad girl, though I thought I saw a smirk.

The Chicken Lo Mein got me going back for seconds. My wife and I normally put extra soy sauce on that dish whenever we've gotten it at places in the past from others and we actually noticed there were no packets in the To Go bag. Well there is a reason for that as it has so much flavor that we both agreed it would have ruined the dish for sure. Kudos to the chef over there as they really know what they are doing!

Sweet and Sour Chicken was "supposed" to be just for the kids as they are really picky eaters. Plus, my wife and I generally hate that dish because normally we have to press it between two napkins to get all the grease out. These didn't look like your typical order. They were as my 7 year old said, "Crispity Crunchy" and that sauce complimented it perfectly! (Confession: my wife and I even wound up stealing some when they weren't looking.)

Mango Chicken, all I can say is, where have you been all my life? Why has it taken me 38 years to experience this phenomenal dish? As you may have picked up on before, I am a fan of sweet and spicy from my insane soup analysis. The dish was swimming in this vibrant delicious pool that had specs of chili peppers to remind my tongue this was a savory sauce, not a dessert

Overall I can't recommend this place enough as everything we got was top notch. Nothing leaked on the way home, the staff was very gracious and they happily accepted my Foodie Card so I got to save...