A small step above standard Chinese-American fare. My rating is 3.5, but I give it four stars because the place is unfairly maligned in reviews here. The Good: -Very tasty, comfort-food Chinese-American fare. -Excellent weekday lunch buffet. Normally I shy away from these feeding frenzies, but they have a reliably good lunch with steady turnover of the steam tables. -Speedy delivery and takeout. I live a few blocks away, and Ping's is a standby. -Friendly, competent service. The Bad: -Aggressively bad ambiance. The garish pink walls are Miami-Vice -in-Minneapolis. Worse, they turn up the wretched Muzak, which sounds like Kenny G on crystal meth. I never dine in for dinner, as the atmosphere is so bad. They must do all their business over lunch, as it is nearly always deserted when I pick up dinner, and they have been open for at least 15 years. My favorites are the Singapore noodles and Szechuan wontons. Avoid the different duck dishes, which are at best unremarkable in my experience.
(4)
Brian N.
Meh. First time ordering and the delivery was fast, Lo Mein was good. But for the price, you're better off going farther down Nicollet to Eat Street and getting something even better for half the price. Very American.
(2)
Summer L.
My husband has recommended Ping's in the past. And given that there really isn't any Chinese in our neighborhood at all apart from available delivery from those clone restaurants that all have the same menu, I was happy to hear we had another option. And bonus, they're 0.7 miles from our place! Whoo hoo, DECENT Chinese delivery! That's when we found out that Ping's won't deliver to us. We're outside their delivery area. See, apparently our apartment, which is next to a crazy-fancy condominium and townhomes, with a well-lit parking lot that allows them to stop right at our front door, is too "dangerous" and they're concerned about their drivers. This from a restaurant at 14th and Nicollet. Really? What's even better was that after we gave them some serious grief about how ridiculous that was, they decided they'd deliver to us "just once." And so we got the food. And after eating said food, I can't say I'm entirely sad that they won't deliver to us anymore. Needless to say, these days, I'm more than happy to call up Clone Chinese Restaurant #47.
(1)
Irina R.
This restaurant must be using the fish tanks to lure customers in, because it certainly can't be their cooking. Their food is simply gross. Friend and I got 3 different entrees to go and ended up throwing everything away after a few bites. If it wasn't for how nice the waitress was who took our order, we probably would have returned to ask for money back. I'm not sure how this place managed to stay open.
(2)
Angie P.
Whoa Nelly!! It is so...uhm...well... pink! The interior decorator went nuts with the uncomfortable pink color that surrounds damn near every inch, but if you can, disregard it and you'll be fine. I LOVE this place. Everything that I've ever ordered was amazing and so affordable! I haven't ordered a dish I didn't like. The staff are very attentive and helpful with your needs and questions. I was looking at all the negative comments about Ping's, and I guess we all have different tastes and expectations. Honestly, I must have walked past this place a dozen times in the past before I decided to give it a try. (The unmotivated pink sign outside is what drove me away.) I love their food and I will definitely keep coming back. Don't knock it until you try it!
(4)
Micah H.
Don't be fooled by the look. Ping's is a great place to eat. They have all the favorites plus some different takes. Last time I tried the Black Bean Chicken which was wonderful! The portion sizes are very generous so there is plenty to take home for leftovers. The price is a little bit spendy but it's a nice place to go for a special night out.
(3)
Lindsey W.
Not the best chinese food I've ever had, but you can't complain about a lunch buffet for $8. Enough said.
(2)
Elizabeth G.
Also very confused about the low ratings here. I have been a giant fan of Pings for quite some time due to the fact that their portions are large, and the delivery is fast. Jason who I believe works Mon-Wed-Friday afternoons, is extremely fast, and extremely nice. The food may be a little more expensive, but their shrimp fried rice is definitely worth it. It's American-Chinese food for sure, (in that order) but I have never had a problem with delivery ever, and I have ordered lunch from Pings more times than I can count.
(4)
Theresa L.
I should have listened to the warnings from previous posters. First off, this is by far NOT AN AUTHENTIC CHINESE RESTAURANT! In no way, shape, or form, do we drown our vegetables and rice/starches in overly salty, brown sauce to the point where we cannot make out what we're eating. Yes, chinese food is definitely about sauce, but not to the point where you're drinking it in your dish. Now, I must admit, I love salt in my chinese food, but even I won't touch this food. I'm almost ashamed that they call this chinese food because it's horrible!
(1)
Sarah G.
I was craving Chinese food and stopped here because they are part of the Metro dining club. (BOGO upto $12.00). The place was dead when we stopped in. Our food was fine and I'll agree it was a bit pricey - the coupon did help. Service was fine and the pink and grey made me think I was dining in a theme park!
(3)
Emily S.
$40 for two. Sweet waitress. Yummy Singapore Noodles, but they were served cold and weren't spicy at all. Easy to park, easy to get a table, easy to eat dinner that you didn't have to make -- but sometimes easy isn't satisfying. Hey, they should stick that in one of their fortune cookies.
(3)
Jonna N.
Pretty nice staff. I did wait quite a bit before someone took my to-go order. There should be a sign that states where to wait for to-go orders since there was a sign to wait to be seated for dining in. The location that the restaurant is placed makes it a little annoying when the sun starts to set because half of the restaurant is blinded by the sun. I don't understand why they didn't put down the blinds to cover the sun. The food was a little bit priced higher than I would usually pay for Chinese food but they did make a pretty good beef chow fun. I couldn't finish it. I didn't try the lunch buffet but I'd probably try it if I am ever back in Minneapolis since the one thing I ordered was good.
(3)
Michael M.
Food was mediocre, ambiance was mediocre, service was quick. Don't think I'll go back!
(3)
YiggyYesYall M.
So our dining experience went quite well here tonight. I started with a Pings Pleasure which is a triple rum and pineapple juice drink. I have had this drink at few places and everyone has their own special name for it. 2 is my Max. Appetizer: I went for the Classic Chinese Eggroll. For $5.25 you get 2 them crispy & perfectly fried & cut in half. Watch out for the hot mustard wooooo it opened up my sinuses. For the meals we ordered the spicy chicken which was a ton of round Battered chicken with Scallions, opinions and red pepper in a spicy sauce. Yum. and Minh's fried rice. Which is a combination of Chicken, Pork & butterflied Shrimp with deliciously flavored rice. Out waitress made sure that we were taken care of from the moment we walk in. I read some bad reviews but I have not 1 bad thin to say about the quality of food or service. If I give it 3 stars. I'll be back.
(3)
David A.
I was there for the lunch buffet today after a long absence. I was very disappointed. I arrived around 11:30am. There were only three adults and a child there. The buffet already looked picked over. The sesame chicken was chicken-free: batter with a too-sweet sauce. The beef and vegetable dish was salty and looked like it was left over from Sunday. The only selection I had no quarrel with was the white rice. At least they still get that right, but who doesn't? Two more guests arrived. Even though the other four had finished, this created enough extra work that I came back to my table from round two at the buffet to find my first plate still there. I get better service than that at any other Chinese/Asian buffet in town. Any other. I guess the other employee in the dining room must have been on light duty. No more Ping's for this guy.
(1)
Anh T.
I always get their Black Bean Shrimp or chicken. Curry is very good here. Peking Shrimp is not good at all but I don't like Peking Sauce. Delivery is the fastest ever... like Jimmy Johns fast lol.
(5)
Tamara C.
This place wasn't very exciting. The pot stickers had too much dough and the sauce it came with didn't taste proper. The soup was ok and my husband wasn't too keen on the Sweet and Sour Chicken. This was an impromptu stop and we will walk by next time this place is in our list of options. Maybe it was a bad day, we don't know.
(2)
Cindy T.
Full disclosure: haven't tried the food, and there is less than a 1% chance I'll ever eat food here. Went to Ping's to see a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend DJ. The music was ok, I guess. Beer selection is the standard stuff. The best part was dancing with others who were there, but I don't think they are permanent features of this restaurant.
(2)
Jess L.
I'm super sad that they have raised their prices! I know the economy stinks, but seriously--$9.50 after tax for a buffet? I still love this place, but they keep raising their prices and not offering any new menu items. Still, good quality food versus quantity that you get at other buffets. I have also ordered takeout a few times during lunch. The food is always ready quickly, and is a decent sized portion. The prices for entrees have gone up, too, which is a total bummer. You can get a similar sized portion for $3-4 less over at Lotus two blocks away.
(4)
Joelle P.
I'm going to give Pings a solid 3 stars. I have been there twice...once during their lunch buffet and once when ordering off the menu. I had a slightly better experience off the menu; I will expand on that later. The overall atmosphere is fine...it's a big space, but they could work on their buffet set up, it's a little awkwardly placed and is especially bad when busy. The buffet itself wasn't overly impressive...the pot stickers were good as were the wings, but a few of the other dishes were sub par, although this is something I have come to expect of most buffets. However, for the price, the buffet isn't a bad option for a quick lunch and I would probably go back, which means I must have enjoyed it at least a little, ha. On to the order from menu experience. I had the combination fried rice and an order of wings. The fried rice was good, not great. The meat was good, but the flavor wasn't anything to write home about. I added hot sauce and it was better. The wings were excellent. I really liked the sauce and they were large, not those tiny wings some Chinese restaurants like to serve. My friend got the general tsos shrimp, I was jealous. The sauce was really great, definitely the best dish I've had there. There was a good amount of veggies and shrimp both of which seems pretty high quality. The veggies weren't all soggy and the shrimp were fairly big. I would definitely go back order this dish again, no question! Overall I'd suggest ordering from the menu for a better experience, but I wouldnt rule out the buffet for a viable option either.
(3)
Tamara T.
I just ordered Ping's delivery here at work, and I must say I am impressed. I ordered the vegetable fried rice (not vegetarian!), szechuan chicken wontons, and the szechuan trio. It was a hecka lot of food, which is not surprising (suitable for 6 people, easily). The delivery was fast and courtious, the food was still hot. The food itself was good, not what I would call great, exactly, but still quite good. I could have stood a bit more heat, but it was quite well spiced as it was. The szechuan chicken wontons were quite delightful. They are pan-fried, not deep-fried, and have a wonderful sauce they are cooked in. The szechuan trio was quite tasty as well, the flavour came on a bit slow, but when it arrived was fabulously full. Again, I would have like more heat, but this was quite tasty. The vegetable fried rice is not vegetarian, as it comes with eggs (which is great for me, but be warned). There was more hoisin sauce in the fried rice than I like, preferring a lighter fried rice, but this would be quite familiar to those looking for a Cantonese style. The veggies were perfectly cooked, still crisp, but not at all raw. For what I ordered, the bill was really reasonable -- basically 3 entrees for just over $35 with a delivery charge and gratuity. White rice, fortune cookies, plates, plastic forks and a very generous number of napkins were included. All in all, I enjoyed this meal, and will be ordering from Ping's again.
(4)
Rick M.
This is the first time back in about five years. It used to be one of our favorite places to go and I recall that there were times when the wait to get a table was over an hour. We met two other couples here for dinner before a Fringe performance at the Music Box Theater. I was surprised at the lack of customers and hoped it wasn't because the quality of the food had slipped. The decorating seemed a bit tired and worn and the energy level of the room was pretty low. Notwithstanding that, we were promptly seated and both the hostess and waitress were pretty attentive without being overly so. Nice balance. Drink orders were taken (no Hendricks gin for a martini?) and brought out to the table within a reasonable time. We ordered our entrees but the waitress either really couldn't recommend one dish over another or was stymied by my wife's request for "which is better." Food was on the table in pretty quick time and piping hot. (That's one of my quirks: I really, really like asian food to come to the table right out of the wok! It was!) My entree (Kung Po Chicken) was excellent and the spice level was spot on. My wife enjoyed her entree and at least three of the four other diners seemed pleased as well. (The fourth was not having a good day so I wouldn't necessarily blame the food.) I thought the prices a bit high but not way out of line for the food ... just the ambiance. And, in the end, it was the ambiance that cost Ping's a fourth star in this review. Gratuitous Advice (and possibly worth exactly what the owner is paying for it): I think your shop needs a shake-up with refreshed decorating and a revamped menu. I'd encourage the owner and chef to look at punching up the menu (sometimes less is more) and offering some specials and special appetizers that would pique a visitor's interest and serve as a take-off for conversation with the wait-staff about what they might recommend for dining. In other words, I'd make dining here more of an event -- which is what I remember from our earlier visits -- and less a simple transaction.
(3)
Nazgul W.
OK, I really don't get all of the negativity about Ping's here. I've regarded them as one of the better Chinese restaurants in Mpls for a long time. Yeah it's Americanized, just like nearly everything else! To call this mall food is gross hyperbole. The Chinese 'restaurants' in south Mpls would cause you to beg for Ping's (e.g. Hop Wong, China Wok, Star Dragon, whatever). I wish they were in my area and would deliver. Instead sometimes I drive across town to get it! This place has been around a long time and it's not by accident. They have good dumplings, great curry chicken, really just about everything I've tried is a step ABOVE your average Chinese place. Item for item there's no way Evergreen is better than Ping's, unless you're looking for vegan food. Advice: try it for yourself. Do not go by these ratings; in my opinion, they are three stars at least. It's a little spendy, but worth it.
(4)
Joann S.
I have a place in my heart for small family businesses, so it hurts me to rate this place with 1 star. I've tried this place 3 times, and each time has been very disappointing. The last time I was there, I ordered crunchy duck. First of all, it took nearly 45 minutes (I wish I were exaggerating) for the food to reach my table. When I bit into it, it was neither crunch or recognizable as duck; it felt like beef jerky. It was so tough that some food actually wedged in between my molars (and that never happens to me..) and caused me a lot of pain. We asked the waiters to take the dish back and give us something quick and they recommended a chicken dish; it came out 20 minutes later and it was still very disappointing. Say no to duck jerky. :(
(1)
Kay P.
Tasted like the Chinese fat good at the mall...got orange chicken and fried rice...walk down the street and you might have more luck at the Japanese hibatchi place
(1)
Kimberly C.
I had lunch here 4 yrs ago & thought it was nothing more than okay. However being that it was so many years ago I figured giving it another try was fair. Sadly I was disappointed...again. Although the place is basic in style, its pretty big. If I liked the food it would be a good place to hold gatherings. For the $9 lunch buffet they have a decent number of options. I got the beef veggies, the meat tasted rubbery. The sweet & sour chicken, very bland. The egg roll was okay, but nothing special. The lo-mein...ok. If there's one thing people know about me it's that I like to eat. However, the food was so unappealing that I didn't even bother going up for a second plate. Another thing I disliked was that the charged $2 and change for a can of soda. :-( I really don't recommend this place for the buffet lunch.
(2)
MALEAH A.
After the auto show, we came here as it was an old favorite of our hosts. I actually found the decor endearing, as it seems they have not updated much in the past 20 years, it was actually kind of cool. The menu is your basic americana chinese. However, the flavors are unique, and probably not quite what you are used to. The portions are large. The service is friendly and prompt. The food was okay, but not anything I would rush back for. This place is an old neighborhood standby. But, it's not my neighborhood, so I don't think I will be coming back.
(3)
Debi O.
We went to pings for lunch during a conference. The food was good- especially the sesame tofu. Overall the food was good. The service left something to be desired. We were basically brushed off a few times and our food was slow. She paid no attention to our wishes to have 2 bills put together and it took forever for her to bring us the check and to come and pick up the money. I'd find another Chinese place to go to.
(3)
Kedar D.
I gave Ping's a chance, just for the hell of it. I won't be going back, but it's not a horrendous place by any means; there are just other places nearby that are much better (namely Evergreen, Gangchen and Lotus). I ordered a mixed vegetable stir-fry with tofu ($10) for take-out. When I asked about oyster sauce, the first guy told me that there was oyster sauce in everything. So, vegans beware. However, he then went back to the kitchen to confirm, and a woman came out who said all the sauces are pre-mixed, but that there was no oyster sauce in my particular dish. This sounded kind of fishy to me. I guess I was more surprised that the kitchen was completely unable and unwilling to make a stir-fry for me when I gave them a list of suggested sauce ingredients (soy sauce, garlic, ginger, vinegar, chili, etc.). Apparently making a fresh stir-fry is too complicated for Ping's. In any case, I took a risk and got the dish. It was okay at best. I suppose I just have to trust that they weren't lying to me about the oyster sauce. But who knows. Like I said, go to Evergreen if you want delicious, reliably vegan Chinese food with unusual dishes and mockmeats and the whole deal. Ping's is for the desperate only.
(2)
Risikat A.
Okay, this place is expensive as heck if you're a college kid, but it's well worth it. Try the Szechuan Potatoes - they won't be on the menu, but ask for them anyways because they're the best ever! The fried rice was just so-so
(4)
S W.
If I'm going to eat horrible Chinese food, by God, I'm going to do it in a place that makes me feel like a kid again, with its 80's o rama goodness, carp tank, and mauve. If you like this place for reasons other than the decor/ambience please go to Keefer Court Bakery or have Vietnamese food about five blocks thataway, do it for your own good.
(3)
N H.
First impressions, its clean, nice buffet, HUGE goldfish The food was good. Not the best or worst. I was enjoying it until I found a HUGE black hair in my chicken. :/ VERY unfortunate. I was done eating at that point. It had been clearly cooked into the food. Totally grossed me out. Not sure I would eat here again with so many other places around. The hair kind of did it in for me...
(2)
Libby B.
I'm not entirely sure why Ping's rating is so low. Here's what I like: - Ridiculously fast delivery. We live close to the Walker, and Ping's usually gets to us in about 20 minutes, tops. - Good food. Is it authentic? Nope. But it's solid. - Nice portion size. While I get the criticisms of other folks, my Ping's experiences (especially their delivery -- crucial for winter in Minnesota) have been very pleasant.
(4)
Teddy B.
I should have read the reviews before dabbling here, however it was recommended by hotel. Beware of a Chinese restaurant with a smooth talking Caucasian! I had a late night craving as I hadn't eaten all day...I was advised so I went...Delivery took 30 mins longer than promised and order was messed up. I think it was intentional. I asked for no white rice but wanted order of fried rice. When delivered the only rice that was in it was white. The person taking the order confirmed but did not deliver as promised. Stick with the True Chinese establishments!
(2)
Tiffiny C.
For classy Chinese takeout to impress out-of-town friends, Ping's is the best option in the entire city of Minneapolis. It costs more than greasy Chinese places, but Ping's at least puts some effort into it. I'm a big fan of their Chicken Almond Ding and chicken potstickers. There's always LOTS of big chunks of fresh veggies in whatever you order, so everything is pretty good...except for their cream cheese wontons. Not enough sugar in the cheese in my opinion.
(3)
Chad K.
I had heard all sorts of different things about this place over the years - some good, some bad. Today I went to Ping's for the very first time today and ordered the appetizer platter. I mean, this is Chinese food - how bad could it be? Well, today I learned that it is indeed possible to make bland, unexciting Chinese food. And it is possible to charge twice what you would pay anywhere else for GOOD Chinese. If you like Chinese food, do not go here. If you like interesting food, do not go here. In fact, just do not go here.
(1)
amy z.
Hmmmm What can be said about Pings?? Cheap - not really Authentic - definitely not Tasty - well in a Mall food court sort of way. All in all you could go into the skyway and get the same things for 1/2 the price.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Eric S.
A small step above standard Chinese-American fare. My rating is 3.5, but I give it four stars because the place is unfairly maligned in reviews here. The Good: -Very tasty, comfort-food Chinese-American fare. -Excellent weekday lunch buffet. Normally I shy away from these feeding frenzies, but they have a reliably good lunch with steady turnover of the steam tables. -Speedy delivery and takeout. I live a few blocks away, and Ping's is a standby. -Friendly, competent service. The Bad: -Aggressively bad ambiance. The garish pink walls are Miami-Vice -in-Minneapolis. Worse, they turn up the wretched Muzak, which sounds like Kenny G on crystal meth. I never dine in for dinner, as the atmosphere is so bad. They must do all their business over lunch, as it is nearly always deserted when I pick up dinner, and they have been open for at least 15 years. My favorites are the Singapore noodles and Szechuan wontons. Avoid the different duck dishes, which are at best unremarkable in my experience.
(4)Brian N.
Meh. First time ordering and the delivery was fast, Lo Mein was good. But for the price, you're better off going farther down Nicollet to Eat Street and getting something even better for half the price. Very American.
(2)Summer L.
My husband has recommended Ping's in the past. And given that there really isn't any Chinese in our neighborhood at all apart from available delivery from those clone restaurants that all have the same menu, I was happy to hear we had another option. And bonus, they're 0.7 miles from our place! Whoo hoo, DECENT Chinese delivery! That's when we found out that Ping's won't deliver to us. We're outside their delivery area. See, apparently our apartment, which is next to a crazy-fancy condominium and townhomes, with a well-lit parking lot that allows them to stop right at our front door, is too "dangerous" and they're concerned about their drivers. This from a restaurant at 14th and Nicollet. Really? What's even better was that after we gave them some serious grief about how ridiculous that was, they decided they'd deliver to us "just once." And so we got the food. And after eating said food, I can't say I'm entirely sad that they won't deliver to us anymore. Needless to say, these days, I'm more than happy to call up Clone Chinese Restaurant #47.
(1)Irina R.
This restaurant must be using the fish tanks to lure customers in, because it certainly can't be their cooking. Their food is simply gross. Friend and I got 3 different entrees to go and ended up throwing everything away after a few bites. If it wasn't for how nice the waitress was who took our order, we probably would have returned to ask for money back. I'm not sure how this place managed to stay open.
(2)Angie P.
Whoa Nelly!! It is so...uhm...well... pink! The interior decorator went nuts with the uncomfortable pink color that surrounds damn near every inch, but if you can, disregard it and you'll be fine. I LOVE this place. Everything that I've ever ordered was amazing and so affordable! I haven't ordered a dish I didn't like. The staff are very attentive and helpful with your needs and questions. I was looking at all the negative comments about Ping's, and I guess we all have different tastes and expectations. Honestly, I must have walked past this place a dozen times in the past before I decided to give it a try. (The unmotivated pink sign outside is what drove me away.) I love their food and I will definitely keep coming back. Don't knock it until you try it!
(4)Micah H.
Don't be fooled by the look. Ping's is a great place to eat. They have all the favorites plus some different takes. Last time I tried the Black Bean Chicken which was wonderful! The portion sizes are very generous so there is plenty to take home for leftovers. The price is a little bit spendy but it's a nice place to go for a special night out.
(3)Lindsey W.
Not the best chinese food I've ever had, but you can't complain about a lunch buffet for $8. Enough said.
(2)Elizabeth G.
Also very confused about the low ratings here. I have been a giant fan of Pings for quite some time due to the fact that their portions are large, and the delivery is fast. Jason who I believe works Mon-Wed-Friday afternoons, is extremely fast, and extremely nice. The food may be a little more expensive, but their shrimp fried rice is definitely worth it. It's American-Chinese food for sure, (in that order) but I have never had a problem with delivery ever, and I have ordered lunch from Pings more times than I can count.
(4)Theresa L.
I should have listened to the warnings from previous posters. First off, this is by far NOT AN AUTHENTIC CHINESE RESTAURANT! In no way, shape, or form, do we drown our vegetables and rice/starches in overly salty, brown sauce to the point where we cannot make out what we're eating. Yes, chinese food is definitely about sauce, but not to the point where you're drinking it in your dish. Now, I must admit, I love salt in my chinese food, but even I won't touch this food. I'm almost ashamed that they call this chinese food because it's horrible!
(1)Sarah G.
I was craving Chinese food and stopped here because they are part of the Metro dining club. (BOGO upto $12.00). The place was dead when we stopped in. Our food was fine and I'll agree it was a bit pricey - the coupon did help. Service was fine and the pink and grey made me think I was dining in a theme park!
(3)Emily S.
$40 for two. Sweet waitress. Yummy Singapore Noodles, but they were served cold and weren't spicy at all. Easy to park, easy to get a table, easy to eat dinner that you didn't have to make -- but sometimes easy isn't satisfying. Hey, they should stick that in one of their fortune cookies.
(3)Jonna N.
Pretty nice staff. I did wait quite a bit before someone took my to-go order. There should be a sign that states where to wait for to-go orders since there was a sign to wait to be seated for dining in. The location that the restaurant is placed makes it a little annoying when the sun starts to set because half of the restaurant is blinded by the sun. I don't understand why they didn't put down the blinds to cover the sun. The food was a little bit priced higher than I would usually pay for Chinese food but they did make a pretty good beef chow fun. I couldn't finish it. I didn't try the lunch buffet but I'd probably try it if I am ever back in Minneapolis since the one thing I ordered was good.
(3)Michael M.
Food was mediocre, ambiance was mediocre, service was quick. Don't think I'll go back!
(3)YiggyYesYall M.
So our dining experience went quite well here tonight. I started with a Pings Pleasure which is a triple rum and pineapple juice drink. I have had this drink at few places and everyone has their own special name for it. 2 is my Max. Appetizer: I went for the Classic Chinese Eggroll. For $5.25 you get 2 them crispy & perfectly fried & cut in half. Watch out for the hot mustard wooooo it opened up my sinuses. For the meals we ordered the spicy chicken which was a ton of round Battered chicken with Scallions, opinions and red pepper in a spicy sauce. Yum. and Minh's fried rice. Which is a combination of Chicken, Pork & butterflied Shrimp with deliciously flavored rice. Out waitress made sure that we were taken care of from the moment we walk in. I read some bad reviews but I have not 1 bad thin to say about the quality of food or service. If I give it 3 stars. I'll be back.
(3)David A.
I was there for the lunch buffet today after a long absence. I was very disappointed. I arrived around 11:30am. There were only three adults and a child there. The buffet already looked picked over. The sesame chicken was chicken-free: batter with a too-sweet sauce. The beef and vegetable dish was salty and looked like it was left over from Sunday. The only selection I had no quarrel with was the white rice. At least they still get that right, but who doesn't? Two more guests arrived. Even though the other four had finished, this created enough extra work that I came back to my table from round two at the buffet to find my first plate still there. I get better service than that at any other Chinese/Asian buffet in town. Any other. I guess the other employee in the dining room must have been on light duty. No more Ping's for this guy.
(1)Anh T.
I always get their Black Bean Shrimp or chicken. Curry is very good here. Peking Shrimp is not good at all but I don't like Peking Sauce. Delivery is the fastest ever... like Jimmy Johns fast lol.
(5)Tamara C.
This place wasn't very exciting. The pot stickers had too much dough and the sauce it came with didn't taste proper. The soup was ok and my husband wasn't too keen on the Sweet and Sour Chicken. This was an impromptu stop and we will walk by next time this place is in our list of options. Maybe it was a bad day, we don't know.
(2)Cindy T.
Full disclosure: haven't tried the food, and there is less than a 1% chance I'll ever eat food here. Went to Ping's to see a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend DJ. The music was ok, I guess. Beer selection is the standard stuff. The best part was dancing with others who were there, but I don't think they are permanent features of this restaurant.
(2)Jess L.
I'm super sad that they have raised their prices! I know the economy stinks, but seriously--$9.50 after tax for a buffet? I still love this place, but they keep raising their prices and not offering any new menu items. Still, good quality food versus quantity that you get at other buffets. I have also ordered takeout a few times during lunch. The food is always ready quickly, and is a decent sized portion. The prices for entrees have gone up, too, which is a total bummer. You can get a similar sized portion for $3-4 less over at Lotus two blocks away.
(4)Joelle P.
I'm going to give Pings a solid 3 stars. I have been there twice...once during their lunch buffet and once when ordering off the menu. I had a slightly better experience off the menu; I will expand on that later. The overall atmosphere is fine...it's a big space, but they could work on their buffet set up, it's a little awkwardly placed and is especially bad when busy. The buffet itself wasn't overly impressive...the pot stickers were good as were the wings, but a few of the other dishes were sub par, although this is something I have come to expect of most buffets. However, for the price, the buffet isn't a bad option for a quick lunch and I would probably go back, which means I must have enjoyed it at least a little, ha. On to the order from menu experience. I had the combination fried rice and an order of wings. The fried rice was good, not great. The meat was good, but the flavor wasn't anything to write home about. I added hot sauce and it was better. The wings were excellent. I really liked the sauce and they were large, not those tiny wings some Chinese restaurants like to serve. My friend got the general tsos shrimp, I was jealous. The sauce was really great, definitely the best dish I've had there. There was a good amount of veggies and shrimp both of which seems pretty high quality. The veggies weren't all soggy and the shrimp were fairly big. I would definitely go back order this dish again, no question! Overall I'd suggest ordering from the menu for a better experience, but I wouldnt rule out the buffet for a viable option either.
(3)Tamara T.
I just ordered Ping's delivery here at work, and I must say I am impressed. I ordered the vegetable fried rice (not vegetarian!), szechuan chicken wontons, and the szechuan trio. It was a hecka lot of food, which is not surprising (suitable for 6 people, easily). The delivery was fast and courtious, the food was still hot. The food itself was good, not what I would call great, exactly, but still quite good. I could have stood a bit more heat, but it was quite well spiced as it was. The szechuan chicken wontons were quite delightful. They are pan-fried, not deep-fried, and have a wonderful sauce they are cooked in. The szechuan trio was quite tasty as well, the flavour came on a bit slow, but when it arrived was fabulously full. Again, I would have like more heat, but this was quite tasty. The vegetable fried rice is not vegetarian, as it comes with eggs (which is great for me, but be warned). There was more hoisin sauce in the fried rice than I like, preferring a lighter fried rice, but this would be quite familiar to those looking for a Cantonese style. The veggies were perfectly cooked, still crisp, but not at all raw. For what I ordered, the bill was really reasonable -- basically 3 entrees for just over $35 with a delivery charge and gratuity. White rice, fortune cookies, plates, plastic forks and a very generous number of napkins were included. All in all, I enjoyed this meal, and will be ordering from Ping's again.
(4)Rick M.
This is the first time back in about five years. It used to be one of our favorite places to go and I recall that there were times when the wait to get a table was over an hour. We met two other couples here for dinner before a Fringe performance at the Music Box Theater. I was surprised at the lack of customers and hoped it wasn't because the quality of the food had slipped. The decorating seemed a bit tired and worn and the energy level of the room was pretty low. Notwithstanding that, we were promptly seated and both the hostess and waitress were pretty attentive without being overly so. Nice balance. Drink orders were taken (no Hendricks gin for a martini?) and brought out to the table within a reasonable time. We ordered our entrees but the waitress either really couldn't recommend one dish over another or was stymied by my wife's request for "which is better." Food was on the table in pretty quick time and piping hot. (That's one of my quirks: I really, really like asian food to come to the table right out of the wok! It was!) My entree (Kung Po Chicken) was excellent and the spice level was spot on. My wife enjoyed her entree and at least three of the four other diners seemed pleased as well. (The fourth was not having a good day so I wouldn't necessarily blame the food.) I thought the prices a bit high but not way out of line for the food ... just the ambiance. And, in the end, it was the ambiance that cost Ping's a fourth star in this review. Gratuitous Advice (and possibly worth exactly what the owner is paying for it): I think your shop needs a shake-up with refreshed decorating and a revamped menu. I'd encourage the owner and chef to look at punching up the menu (sometimes less is more) and offering some specials and special appetizers that would pique a visitor's interest and serve as a take-off for conversation with the wait-staff about what they might recommend for dining. In other words, I'd make dining here more of an event -- which is what I remember from our earlier visits -- and less a simple transaction.
(3)Nazgul W.
OK, I really don't get all of the negativity about Ping's here. I've regarded them as one of the better Chinese restaurants in Mpls for a long time. Yeah it's Americanized, just like nearly everything else! To call this mall food is gross hyperbole. The Chinese 'restaurants' in south Mpls would cause you to beg for Ping's (e.g. Hop Wong, China Wok, Star Dragon, whatever). I wish they were in my area and would deliver. Instead sometimes I drive across town to get it! This place has been around a long time and it's not by accident. They have good dumplings, great curry chicken, really just about everything I've tried is a step ABOVE your average Chinese place. Item for item there's no way Evergreen is better than Ping's, unless you're looking for vegan food. Advice: try it for yourself. Do not go by these ratings; in my opinion, they are three stars at least. It's a little spendy, but worth it.
(4)Joann S.
I have a place in my heart for small family businesses, so it hurts me to rate this place with 1 star. I've tried this place 3 times, and each time has been very disappointing. The last time I was there, I ordered crunchy duck. First of all, it took nearly 45 minutes (I wish I were exaggerating) for the food to reach my table. When I bit into it, it was neither crunch or recognizable as duck; it felt like beef jerky. It was so tough that some food actually wedged in between my molars (and that never happens to me..) and caused me a lot of pain. We asked the waiters to take the dish back and give us something quick and they recommended a chicken dish; it came out 20 minutes later and it was still very disappointing. Say no to duck jerky. :(
(1)Kay P.
Tasted like the Chinese fat good at the mall...got orange chicken and fried rice...walk down the street and you might have more luck at the Japanese hibatchi place
(1)Kimberly C.
I had lunch here 4 yrs ago & thought it was nothing more than okay. However being that it was so many years ago I figured giving it another try was fair. Sadly I was disappointed...again. Although the place is basic in style, its pretty big. If I liked the food it would be a good place to hold gatherings. For the $9 lunch buffet they have a decent number of options. I got the beef veggies, the meat tasted rubbery. The sweet & sour chicken, very bland. The egg roll was okay, but nothing special. The lo-mein...ok. If there's one thing people know about me it's that I like to eat. However, the food was so unappealing that I didn't even bother going up for a second plate. Another thing I disliked was that the charged $2 and change for a can of soda. :-( I really don't recommend this place for the buffet lunch.
(2)MALEAH A.
After the auto show, we came here as it was an old favorite of our hosts. I actually found the decor endearing, as it seems they have not updated much in the past 20 years, it was actually kind of cool. The menu is your basic americana chinese. However, the flavors are unique, and probably not quite what you are used to. The portions are large. The service is friendly and prompt. The food was okay, but not anything I would rush back for. This place is an old neighborhood standby. But, it's not my neighborhood, so I don't think I will be coming back.
(3)Debi O.
We went to pings for lunch during a conference. The food was good- especially the sesame tofu. Overall the food was good. The service left something to be desired. We were basically brushed off a few times and our food was slow. She paid no attention to our wishes to have 2 bills put together and it took forever for her to bring us the check and to come and pick up the money. I'd find another Chinese place to go to.
(3)Kedar D.
I gave Ping's a chance, just for the hell of it. I won't be going back, but it's not a horrendous place by any means; there are just other places nearby that are much better (namely Evergreen, Gangchen and Lotus). I ordered a mixed vegetable stir-fry with tofu ($10) for take-out. When I asked about oyster sauce, the first guy told me that there was oyster sauce in everything. So, vegans beware. However, he then went back to the kitchen to confirm, and a woman came out who said all the sauces are pre-mixed, but that there was no oyster sauce in my particular dish. This sounded kind of fishy to me. I guess I was more surprised that the kitchen was completely unable and unwilling to make a stir-fry for me when I gave them a list of suggested sauce ingredients (soy sauce, garlic, ginger, vinegar, chili, etc.). Apparently making a fresh stir-fry is too complicated for Ping's. In any case, I took a risk and got the dish. It was okay at best. I suppose I just have to trust that they weren't lying to me about the oyster sauce. But who knows. Like I said, go to Evergreen if you want delicious, reliably vegan Chinese food with unusual dishes and mockmeats and the whole deal. Ping's is for the desperate only.
(2)Risikat A.
Okay, this place is expensive as heck if you're a college kid, but it's well worth it. Try the Szechuan Potatoes - they won't be on the menu, but ask for them anyways because they're the best ever! The fried rice was just so-so
(4)S W.
If I'm going to eat horrible Chinese food, by God, I'm going to do it in a place that makes me feel like a kid again, with its 80's o rama goodness, carp tank, and mauve. If you like this place for reasons other than the decor/ambience please go to Keefer Court Bakery or have Vietnamese food about five blocks thataway, do it for your own good.
(3)N H.
First impressions, its clean, nice buffet, HUGE goldfish The food was good. Not the best or worst. I was enjoying it until I found a HUGE black hair in my chicken. :/ VERY unfortunate. I was done eating at that point. It had been clearly cooked into the food. Totally grossed me out. Not sure I would eat here again with so many other places around. The hair kind of did it in for me...
(2)Libby B.
I'm not entirely sure why Ping's rating is so low. Here's what I like: - Ridiculously fast delivery. We live close to the Walker, and Ping's usually gets to us in about 20 minutes, tops. - Good food. Is it authentic? Nope. But it's solid. - Nice portion size. While I get the criticisms of other folks, my Ping's experiences (especially their delivery -- crucial for winter in Minnesota) have been very pleasant.
(4)Teddy B.
I should have read the reviews before dabbling here, however it was recommended by hotel. Beware of a Chinese restaurant with a smooth talking Caucasian! I had a late night craving as I hadn't eaten all day...I was advised so I went...Delivery took 30 mins longer than promised and order was messed up. I think it was intentional. I asked for no white rice but wanted order of fried rice. When delivered the only rice that was in it was white. The person taking the order confirmed but did not deliver as promised. Stick with the True Chinese establishments!
(2)Tiffiny C.
For classy Chinese takeout to impress out-of-town friends, Ping's is the best option in the entire city of Minneapolis. It costs more than greasy Chinese places, but Ping's at least puts some effort into it. I'm a big fan of their Chicken Almond Ding and chicken potstickers. There's always LOTS of big chunks of fresh veggies in whatever you order, so everything is pretty good...except for their cream cheese wontons. Not enough sugar in the cheese in my opinion.
(3)Chad K.
I had heard all sorts of different things about this place over the years - some good, some bad. Today I went to Ping's for the very first time today and ordered the appetizer platter. I mean, this is Chinese food - how bad could it be? Well, today I learned that it is indeed possible to make bland, unexciting Chinese food. And it is possible to charge twice what you would pay anywhere else for GOOD Chinese. If you like Chinese food, do not go here. If you like interesting food, do not go here. In fact, just do not go here.
(1)amy z.
Hmmmm What can be said about Pings?? Cheap - not really Authentic - definitely not Tasty - well in a Mall food court sort of way. All in all you could go into the skyway and get the same things for 1/2 the price.
(2)