I absolutely love this place! It was the very first restaurant that my girlfriend and I had been to after moving to Bellevue. We usually go for the lunch special and have probably been there enough times to get one of each item xD But everything I've tried so far I've completely enjoyed. My favorite is the beef in garlic sauce. Spicy and not too sweet, with the right amount of vegetables. I also like to get the shrimp toast that's included in the meal. It's awesome and crunchy and I love dipping it in the sweet and sour sauce they give you! And the guys who work the restaurant, (I believe are also co-owners) are two of the nicest men. They're really on top of everything. Attentive. That's a big part for me. When I never have to ask for a refill on my water, or whatever I'm drinking, it's a good sign to me. They're my go to place for quick and delicious Chinese place. Never had a bad experience here yet and doubt I ever will.
(5)
Amanda S.
This is my favorite! I have been going to Best Wok for 31 years now. (since they opened) The food is great. Try the Orange Beef, Cashew Chicken, or Shrimp Toast. The staff are wonderful. They've kept it in the family the whole time the business has been open.
(5)
Selena P.
Always. My best spot for lunch. I take my friends here all the time. This is my favorite place to go to for lunch. I order the same thing "kung pao chicken" no peanuts add zucchini with shrimp toast and egg flower soup. They know my order by heart now haha. It's so tasteful and reasonably priced (8-10$) which is always hard to find with good quality. The owner that is usually here who takes my order is always so nice kind and polite. Which makes dining here all the better. I'm usually a hard grader haha I believe this is the first 5 stars I've given. Highly recommend this place has parking, good hospitality, good choice, and nicely decorated.
(5)
Kirsten S.
After a long day's drive, we were looking for some easy takeout close to our hotel. I'm surprised at the good reviews! Not only were no utensils provided with our take-out, but apparently we needed to order rice separately for our entrees. My sesame shrimp was described as coming with broccoli - instead, I ended up with a container full of gelatinous batter surrounding a few sad, overcooked shrimp - no broccoli, no rice. My hot and sour soup was alright, but the crispy noodles that usually come with it were, again, something I needed to order separately. I ended up going to bed a bit hangry and can't recommend this place. Bummed - we live in Austin and while there is a lot of fantastic food there, good Chinese is hard to come by - it's one of the things we look forward to when we go back to the west coast - guess I'll have to look elsewhere.
(1)
O.D. C.
I've been here 3 or 4 times and the food was okay but the prices were a bit high. I thought their lunch menu might be a better deal... That's when they went from 3 to 2 stars because the Kung-Pao Shrimp I ordered was made with the tiny shrimp you find in a can. Really!?! Just awful. Thanks, but I won't be back.
(2)
Samantha A.
DO NOT EAT HERE! I would never eat here again yuck! Ordered soup and there was hair in it. Went to the bathroom and they were gross! Got the food within 5 mins of ordering it... Wasn't fresh and tasted days old. Tea was watered down. Right when I walked in the placed smelled really bad like mold in the carpet or something. Surprised thus place is in Bellevue. Worst Chinese place and food.
(1)
Heather Z.
While in Bellevue, I stopped by for a casual dinner and was particularly taken by the staff at this place, who are friendly and good humored. I saw some criticism about prices but I assure you, portions are generous, generous. You're most likely taking home your lunch for the next day. Service and delivery was fast but not suspiciously so. The vegetables had the softened crisp bite of nicely cooked, fresh vegetables, spice level gentle enough for Americanized Chinese cuisine, meat portions moist and flavorful. They don't have fountain soda, but! for the first time in my life at a restaurant that uses canned soda I was offered a second can/refill when mine had run empty. I am, you see, a thirsty person. A cola camel. A sponge. I was deeply impressed by that attention to detail. It touched me. And fizzled my soul like the sprinkling mist of breaking carbonation bubbles. Magical. After the meal, before the fortune cookies, we were given a fresh, sliced pineapple quarter for the table to share. It was a great touch! I'd love to go back next time I am in the area.
(5)
Cc H.
I don't really understand the ratings this place is getting to be honest. I love American Chinese food but this place was just not good. The general tso chicken was too sweet and not crispy enough. The Kung pao tofu was too salty and the noodles I ordered for my kids were drenched in oil and barely edible. We went for dinner and the prices were quite high. I did not see their lunch menu so I don't know if they have better deals for lunch. The only reason I gave them two stars instead of one is because the service was friendly.
(2)
Elizabeth S.
Wonderful spot for great Chinese food and exceptional service! Every time I dine here the service is A+. From friendly greeters at the door and the servers, you really feel like a valued guest. The food is always quick, hot, and delicious. Most recently I came here with a large group for Mother's day and not only were we quickly seated, the food came out super fast, not to mention they treated our table to desert. Fabulous spot and beats other Eastside Chinese restaurants.
(4)
Nancy C.
Better than I expected. It is your typical Americanized Chinese food. Outside is nothing to look at and inside was ok (clean). Had the Hot Sour Soup, shrimp toast, Mongolian beef & fried rice. Everything was good (not great/not bad). Would eat here again but it's not my first choice.
(4)
Jonathan T.
I have been a customer of Best Wok for the better part of last year. It has been a staple for me and my coworkers for lunch due to it's affordability, flavor, and generous portions. (I am not kidding when I say the portions are generous). I was recommended to Best Wok by my mother and sister. I value my mother's recommendation (don't we all) and as we were all raised in Asian countries (Singapore, Hong Kong, etc.) we had particularly high standards for Chinese restaurants and delicacies. My mom, for reasons still unknown, had a hankering for Kung Pao chicken one day, walked into this restaurant on impulse, and was blown away. She asked me and my sister to try the Kung Pao, and we did... and we too were blown away. Now keep in mind this isn't a review of the best Kung Pao Chicken on Earth, that would be absurd. What blew us away was that this Kung Pao Chicken was by far the best Kung Pao we've tasted in Washington State. It was a vast improvement over all other Kung Pao chickens I've tried here in Seattle. If you're curious about other dishes, we did try out other cuisines and were not too terribly impressed. Their Kung Pao Chicken and their Shrimp Toast were amazing and is the chief reason why I am writing this review. There is a gem in most restaurants that NEEDS to be shared, and this one, by far, is one of them. So let's first talk about Best Wok. At a glance, it looks like any typical Chinese American restaurant. It's tacky-looking on the outside and stands no different than all the other hundreds of "Chinese" restaurants that litter Aurora avenue, Lynnwood, and the greater Seattle area. Standing in front of it, I felt like I was stuck in a Rush Hour movie with Jackie Chan. In addition, Best Wok is not fancy... at all. It is not your typical authentic Chinese restaurant in that it doesn't really boast authentic Chinese cuisines the way restaurants in the International District do. They do not have enormous fish tanks and serve intricate seafood delicacies. They do not do offer Chinese dishes such as Peking Duck or Crispy fried chicken. (They fry their chickens with batter...) So really, when I'm rating this restaurant, I'm doing so from an American-Chinese point of view rather than a purely Chinese point of view. So let's talk about the food: First the food type is typical of most American-Chinese restaurants. These are dishes that are Chinese in origin but have been tweaked to fit American taste buds. For those that don't understand the distinction, this includes mostly the deep fried and/or stir-fried cuisines such as Sweet and Sour Pork, General Tso's Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Orange/Lemon Chicken, etc. While I haven't tried all of these dishes, I have tried a few (mostly Kung Pao Chicken, Kung Pao Shrimp/Beef and Mongolian Beef) I've done this all strictly during lunch from their lunch menu and have never tried a dinner course. The Pros: The things that are a bonus for Best Wok is that they have generous portions, the food tastes good (I mean, that's why we're there right?) and their lunch prices are more than reasonable. The Kung Pao Chicken, in which my mother raves, was VERY good. The shrimp toast, a canton delicacy, was superb as well. Now in my opinion, being Chinese, I find it considerably hard to *screw up* Kung pao chicken and shrimp toast. The recipe is easy and very simple. This restaurant does it extremely well and serves it very quickly. The reasons why I extol THIS one and not others, is because Best Wok respects what Kung Pao should be. Chicken, chili and peanuts. Unadulterated without junk "filler" foods such as water chestnuts, bell peppers, carrots or squash. This is a big deal to me. I was surprised. I wanted to see if Best Wok used filler foods in their other dishes, and unfortunately they did. Even on variations of Kung Pao such as beef or shrimp. As such, I have stuck solely to their Kung Pao Chicken time and time again on and off for the last six months. It's just that good. So let's move on to the cons. Aside from using filler foods on 90% of their other stuff, the biggest issue I have with Best Wok is the dinner cost. It's a reason why I never had dinner there. While lunch is extremely reasonable (a large serving of chicken, two servings of rice and/or soup and an appetizer). The dinner menu doubles the cost (without really doubling the portion), and without additions of rice or appetizers. That's just not good economics. I also find the restaurant to be tacky looking but I find that to be typical of most American-Chinese restaurants. Overall, I have one singular recommendation: Go there for lunch. Order their Kung Pao Chicken and a side of shrimp toast. Pay the $8.00 and enjoy the cheapest, best lunch on Earth. I have NEVER met a person who did not stick to this formula and walk away unhappy.
(4)
Donna C.
I had a hunkering for American-Chinese food so I ended up here after reading someone's review ranting and raving about the kung pao. It was nice to see that this kung pao had no "fillers" but in my opinion, a little doesn't hurt. The flavor isn't anything mind blowing, even for Seattle. I actually prefer Panda Express kung pao flavor to this. Meat quality here is better though. And yes, I am comparing this to Panda because Panda serves good American-Chinese food! I got lunch take-out so can't comment on the service but they seemed nice. For $8, it was good value. Portions are large.
(3)
Robert I.
The owners of this place have done a very nice job. Very friendly, clean and high quality food shown in its taste.
(4)
Alexis G.
Found this place while visiting Seattle and it definitely lived up to the great reviews! First off the owners are so friendly! I have been here twice, about 4 months apart and they actually remembered me. Its very clean and doesn't have that weird humid moldy smell like some chinese places have. I love chinese food and eat it at least once or twice a week, so let me tell you their food exceed my expectations! I am very picky when it comes to chinese. The fried rice and noodles were very good, and the chicken with garlic sauce was simply delicious. I don't know if a lot of people notice this, but most and pretty much all chinese places do not give you a knife to cut your meat or a spoon to stir the sugar in your tea. This place does! I was really surprised and appreciated that I didn't have to use the end of my fork to stir my sugar in the tea. The knife I didn't use but they were unusually big steak knifes lol. All around really good place and whenever I am back in the area, this will be my stop for some good chinese!
(5)
Ashley K.
I read all the great reviews on this place and decided to try it about two weeks ago. The food was awful. I got the shrimp/prawns with lobster sauce and not only was it half the amount I expected it was more than double the price on the menu online shows. The food was so salty I ended up throwing it away which was ashame for almost 20.00. Needless to say I was very disappointed. They recently renovated and may be under new ownership. I will not be returning.
(1)
Jessica C.
I was looking for a Chinese Food restaurant that like what I had in Texas. This is the closest I could find from the menu. It's really good! I had the sesame chicken, fried rice, and an egg roll. The egg roll was absolutely fantastic!! The rest was really good too but that egg roll....I want another!!
(4)
Christina M.
My family has been coming to Best Wok ever since I can remember. I can safely say that this is the best Chinese food I have ever had. My favorite is their Kung-Pao Chicken and vegetable friend rice. The people here are attentive and always friendly. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves Chinese and is looking for reasonable prices.
(5)
Matt S.
The service is absolutely incredible. I have never been treated so well at a restaurant. The food comes out fast and it's delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant...and the chicken with black bean sauce.
(5)
Ashley T.
I'm not gonna lie, I've driven by this place too many times to count and have ignored it for umpteenth years. I mean, in all honesty, it's nothing to look at. Really, THERE IS NOTHING TO LOOK AT on the outside except a brown roof and white walls with the words " Best Wok" so don't blame us when we keep driving. So why did I finally go in and try it out? Yes folks, I Yelped Chinese restaurants in Bellevue and this place got 4 stars! Yup, true dat. So I thought, how wrong can Yelpers be(ok, sometimes we're really off) but not this time. I will preface this with, for Chinese AMERICAN food, it's delicious. I ordered the chicken with assorted vegetables. The dark meat chicken was sliced thin and tender. No grissly meat, no globules of fat, no dry chicken where it tastes like jerky. As for the vegetables, it consisted of broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots and snow peas. It comes with brown rice which is a healthy alternative to white rice or fried rice but it costs an extra dollar. The best thing about this place is that they offer lunch EVERYDAY till 4pm, not just the standard Monday to Friday. Their lunch specials starts at $7.25 which includes soup(egg flower or hot and sour), appetizer (egg roll or shrimp toast) and the meal with brown or fried rice. How can you beat that? That's what I thought. Lastly, you will not find nicer staff at a Chinese restaurant than this place. Trust me, I know, I've been to almost every Chinese restaurant in ID and all over and these people are so congenial and friendly. And they all had on Seahawks t - shirts. How cool is that!
(4)
Richard B.
This is our go-to Chinese food lunch place - full meal for about $8...and lots of choices. Have only had one I did not like (the tomato beef and that was a matter of my taste not the dish)....we always take about half home. I like going for dinner too - especially when dining with a friend I have not seen for awhile as the wait staff is kind about letting us talk forever without interruption. This is a nice little local place and I hope that it is around for along, long time. It is not for that fancy dinner out, but just the neighborhood Chinese restaurant where you can go and be welcomed by name and enjoy your favorite dish. Enjoy! ps - this review is, as always, written by Susan, not by Richard - altho he goes there with his guy friends too!
(4)
Mark L.
I am so glad to have found this place. It's not pretty on the outside but once you get in it is worth it. The beef chop suey was great. So are the pot stickers and the chicken chow mein. Can't wait to bring my family here. It reminded me of going out with my parents to the one Chinese restaurant in our town and being pleasantly surprised about how good and fresh the food is. I know that chop suey and chow mein are not really authentic. But it was just what my daughter and I were looking for. And the service was excellent. Very friendly and prompt. Highly recommend!
(5)
Marcin P.
I don't quite understand the love this place is getting. I swung by there recently for an early-ish dinner. Keeping in mind that this place does Americanized Chinese food, I ordered the old stand-by, General Tso's Chicken, and I had high expectations of it. Also got a hot and sour soup. The soup was decently hot and sour, but a tad too salty. Still, not too bad. The General Tso's chicken was crispy, but the sauce was too sweet and sour, not packing enough heat. The pieces were huge, necessitating the use of a knife. The accompanying rice portion was small, and there wasn't that much food either. At the end they brought out a small glass of red jello with whipped cream as a surprise dessert. Nice touch. So, the food is only OK, the prices are high ($15 dollars for General Tso's???)... sounds like two stars to me. Makes me glad I had driven past this place for 10 years without stopping in. It'll probably be another 10 years before I'm back.
(2)
Greg R.
What a great spot. Had family in town and their favorite Chinese restaurant was closed for spring break. So a quick search revealed this little restaurant. All six of us loved everything. We each ordered something different, and loved it all. The restaurant was very clean, and the staff was wonderful. New family favorite! Try it! You'll like it!
(5)
Christina S.
Consistently good food and service. A family-friendly restaurant, with good humored and kind staff.
(5)
Aimee K.
Just an update to re-visit and re-confirm my original review. I recently received critcism for my opinion of this place. I gave this place two tries to see if I made a mistake. To that user: Last I heard this site existed to state *our opinion* of places. Whether someone cares to pay it any mind is purely their call. Calling me names for stating it is counter-productive to making Yelp a fun and helpful community.
(1)
Sar Yung k.
Seems like the chef or owner loves orange coloring as it appears in all the dishes and sauces. Aside from the heavy handed food coloring, the flavoring is not bad but the meat is highly tenderized like all the other chinese joint. They dont taste very natural anymore.
(3)
Tressa B.
Ugh. Periodically we go back here, just to remind ourselves how terrible it is. It is a shame, because it is a really convenient location, but is frankly the worst Chinese food I have ever eaten. Every single time. Sometimes I would actually have to spit things out. The fried rice has that cigarette ash taste/after taste. Ew.
(1)
Alex P.
The wife and I are on vacation for my birthday weekend in Seattle. We are staying in Bellevue at the Hyatt House (which has been great). We were looking for good Chinese food near the hotel and we hit the mark. This is a nice, clean family run establishment. They are extremely attentive and the owner was super nice. He took the time to explain each dish we had questions about. I can say the General Tsoa's chicken is deliciousness. If you are in the mood for something different, try the Egg Foo Yung. It was awesome. I recommend this place, we were happy we chose the Wok instead of a strip mall joint.
(4)
Christy M.
Don't overlook this place -- the service was top notch and the food was delicious!
(4)
Rebecca F.
Sometimes you just get a craving for some Americanized Chinese food, and a nice cheap fix is definitely Best Wok! With so many "authentic"-style Chinese and other Asian cuisine in the area, finding something like this was a challenge for me... but, we found it and with the really cheap lunch prices we thought we'd give it a shot! Yes, the decor is outdated, but it's clean enough inside. The staff is friendly and attentive too. I personally dislike hot and sour soup and was pleased to find that with the lunch combo I can get egg flour soup as one of the options. I also really like that the lunch deal goes until 4 in the afternoon (or something insane like that!) -- this would have been WONDERFUL when my husband was working nights and we had to wake him up "early" just to make it in time for lunch specials. Oh, and the lunch specials are super cheap for a big plate of food! I usually have their broccoli beef option which has a little bit of a spicy kick which I like; the broccoli isn't goo like it is at many other places when it sits around so I believe they probably cook to order here. My dining partners have had a variety of the other options on the lunch menu and seem to have enjoyed most everything too. This is definitely a great spot to go for a cheap, big lunch... and even a late lunch! For what it is and the itch it scratches, I'll give it a 4 out of 5!
(4)
Kathie s.
The lunch specials are nicely priced and the staff are very nice. We place large orders for take out at work and they are always very nice and write the name of each person on the box---Which saves in wasted time when you are hungery and trying to enjoy your lunch. Being a vegetarian, I can not comment on the meat selections and taste. The menu has many veggie options for all of you that don't eat meat. I can not comment on the restaurant and service as I always just do the take out. Brown rice is an option for the lunch specials which is nice, 3 star rating as it is not "over the top" but a good choice if you want some chineese food.
(3)
Peggy R.
I was hanging at a friend's house when she suggested we go have Chinese at Best Wok. I have a deep love for divey Chinese places that serve good Chow Mein, and this was definitely one of those. I don't think divey is actually the best description, because it seemed reasonably clean. My son and I split pork chow mein, and it was wonderful -- the noodles were the perfect flavor and texture with lots of nice, tender pork. They brought us some wonton strips with a plum sauce that I thought was pretty good - it reminded me of plum and apple sauce mixed. My friend ordered kung pao shrimp, which looked fabulous and all the portions were nice and big. I was thrilled when they brought out strawberry jello and our fortune cookies. I just thought the jello was such a nice bonus! We are definitely going back the next time we are in the neighborhood -- I want to try the fried rice!
(5)
Ariel Z.
I went here for the first time last week. The inside is very cute and comfortable. The food was really good Americanized Chinese food. Tea and chips with some dipping applesauce was included. I ordered some noodle dish with vegetables and my friend ordered crispy noodles with beef. All the food was really good! My only complaint was the price, around 14 or 15 for my vegetable noodle dish with a side of rice. On the pricy side, but I saw they have cheaper lunch prices. The owner came out to make sure we liked our dinner, he was a really nice guy. I love small family owned places. Would definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Ryan W.
I've lived in their neighborhood two separate times since I moved to Seattle in 2006 and have always driven past that place. After several years of doing so, I decided to give it a try. It remained a tradition I had to indulge at least once every month or every other month while I still lived within easy traveling distance. For me, Chinese cuisine (as you often find it in the USA) is usually kind of ... well, cheap. And crappy. But often in a good way. Crappy-good, if you will. And it's admittedly something I really crave. Sometimes I really -need- to go to a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant and have my fix of awesome, comforting crappy-good Chinese food. There's just not many "nice" Chinese food restaurants out there. The more pricey ones that are kind of flashy (and still decidedly traditional Chinese and not trendy pan-Asian food) tend to be dirty-in-the-details - fancy carpets...that are filthy. Really nice painted details on the decor...which is peeling. And then there's the service: Maybe it's a cultural thing but a lot of Chinese restaurants, there's a sense of 'you eat and you get out'. Walk in, view the sign that says 'Please wait to be seated,' do so for five minutes, only for a bored waiter to yell across the restaurant to sit wherever you like and vaguely point at a booth in a far corner. Not at Best Wok. This place is genuinely a nice Chinese restaurant with amazing service by a very attentive staff. These ladies and gentlemen treated me like royalty everytime I came to visit them and enjoy their cuisine. This became the place I would go eat to feel better about the world when it was taking out its worst on me. If you want to be pleasantly surprised or just impressed by a Chinese restaurant, go give Best Wok a try. Leave room for dessert: I don't think I ever went there and didn't get some clever, light dessert out of the experience. Sometimes just gelatin. Sometimes oranges or some other sweet fruit. Always a smile-bringer. And one last comment: The atmosphere here is chill. I've never been on a full night. Every time I've gone here have been maybe two or three other families. The noise level is subdued and quiet. It's a great place to have a relaxing, intimate meal.
(5)
Carolyn J.
Twenty years ago I thought Best Wok was great! Since then I've grown up. This place is really American. The food is greasy, sweet, mostly fried, heavily sauced and under-spiced. I notice many of our fellow patrons looked like long-time locals who'd been eating here for years. For better quality and healthier food, lots of great options nearby. On the positive, the service was very friendly.
(2)
K B.
Ordered to go and their food is quite delicious though I'd say it needs more flavoring to their ingredients. I was tossing and turning a food trying to find the flavor I taste, but I never see it. I don't know how they do it, but they somehow manage to add flavors that you can't see with the naked eye. The service is extremely nice and even though I didn't order very much, the restaurant wasn't busy then, and the greeter at the front is willing to help carry your tray of food if there aren't any customers also waiting for them.
(4)
Tammy L.
Very good service and great Chinese food. They have an excellent lunch menu, so I would check it out then to take advantage of the great prices. Our server was extra kind and even gave us fresh orange slices as dessert when we asked for the bill. I ordered Orange Chicken, and I really enjoyed the orange peels they put into the sauce to give it the extra tanginess. I will be coming back for sure.
(5)
Edina H.
Best food and service ever!!! They even walk the food out for you ,TO your car ! Love this place and everyone that works there is super friendly.
(5)
Sue H.
Best Chinese food in this area. I live closer to other restaurants but the food here is terrific. Staff/owners are friendly. I have been eating here for a long time and I keep on coming back. I love good food and this place is great. Lunch specials great too.
(5)
Kristi H.
Don't let the exterior fool you. Best service in Bellevue. Inexpensive. The sizzling rice soup had great flavor and the green mussels were a nice change to see in a Chinese menu .
(5)
Regina C.
Went today for the first time after church. We thought they opened at 11:30 so we were waiting the parking lot and the owner came out and let us know that they did not open until noon. He was so sweet and kind he let us in a !/2 hour early!!! WOW. We were a party of 7 and we ordered from the lunch menu. All came with choice of soups, appetizer and an entree. I think the highest prices item was $8.95. I had the hot n sour soup, egg roll, and chicken with snap peas and mushroom's. I loved my meal and I do not do Chinese very often because it tends to be full of salt, MSG and high in fat. However non of these were true today. Everyone enjoyed their food and I loved the fresh pineapple at the end. Very refreshing and a nice surprise. My friends have been telling me to go to Best Wok for years and I am so happy I went today. I really recommend this place if your n the mood for Chinese food. Very clean and the food was really fresh and of course our service was excellent.
(4)
Stephen H.
Cheap and cheerful Americanized Chinese food. Not haute cuisine, but a good place for a quick and convenient lunch.
(3)
Nydia W.
I am giving one star because the staff seemed friendly and my food was ready relatively quickly. I wish the food was worthwhile. It didn't taste very good and gave me an upset stomach for the rest of the night. On top of that the prices were a bit high for what I got. I would have been better off going to Safeway for their China Express. I have been here sporadically over the past few years - each time thinking it will be better. I have finally learned my lesson and will not be stopping at Best Wok again.
(1)
Dalton A.
Great service!!! The staff knows my family and I by name And we go there whenever we have a family member come from out of town.
(5)
Jens J.
I really like Best Wok. The food is not knock-your-socks-off-delish like Schezwan Chef located kitty corner across 148th, but is still decent. But what does knock my socks off is how clean the Best Wok restaurant is! When I walked in I noticed that there were no cooking or other off-odors and how fresh everything looked. I observed that the server was nattily dressed with a white tuxedo-like shirt and bow tie. The owner/manager was wearing an expensive shirt and slacks. Also, the huge fish tank in the center of the dining room was immaculate. Typical and reasonably priced Chinese lunch items. I had the almond fried chicken and it was good. Service was excellent. I will be back!
(4)
Brittany A.
Hands Down the BEST Chinese around! I have been going here since I was very little, about 30 years. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! The owners work their butts off and are always running the restaurant and will go out of their way for ALL the customers :). The food is sooooooooo delicious. The Service is A+++. I always get so excited to go here and will be going here for many years to come! This is a MUST try restaurant. It is a very family friendly restaurant, that has a ton of returning customers, most of which have been eating there since it opened about 30 years ago or so. I love how they know my name and treat me so great every time I go! they are awesome guys too... Some of my favorite things to order there are: Kung Pao Chicken Shrimp & Veggie Dishes Egg Flower Soup Honestly, the above is what I usually get, but I have never gotten anything that I didn't like! THANKS! :)
(5)
Clayton J.
I have been eating here for years. There are some things this place does well and some they do not as well but for the most part they are an A+ restaurant. The Almond Chicken needs some work, but I think everything else I have had has been amazing. They went through a phase, like most restaurants where the prices started to climb and the portions got smaller, but in the last couple years the prices stabilized and the portions returned to meal size. A lot of restaurants have come and gone, changed name and ownership, but this place has done what others have not and that is be consistent. I was a regular and ate there twice a month for a couple years and after not eating for a year I was welcomed back and the waiter knew exactly what I ordered down to the star level. Amazing place and for sure the best Chinese food on the east Eastside!
(5)
Bud K.
Cut to the Chase: This place is really very good, go there and eat, you'll like it. There is something existentially cool about a restaurant that looks like a strip mall dropout from the outside, but once inside is clean, attractive and spacious. We went here for lunch, at about $7 + a few $1 extras, a huge value for the flavors involved. My wife had the garlic beef which was tender and literally reeked of garlic - Yes!!! I had the orange chicken which really tasted like orange chicken for a change. The hot and sour soup that came with the lunch was excellent, a key benchmark for any Chinese place, just a tad more sour wouldn't hurt.... The small shrimp toast on the side was nicely minced shrimp, crisply fried and not oily. As others have said, service is friendly and attentive. Our server simultaneously poured 2 beers with one hand into two well-chilled glasses (extra points here...) and never spilled a drop - clearly a Shaolin Magna Cum Laude. A Bellevue gem - we'll be back. With regards, Bud Krahoolik Connoisseur at Large
(4)
T. G.
My boyfriend and I just went there for the first time tonight and we were delighted. We're from the midwest, so when we crave chinese food it's the "bad" kind. Meaning that it's not overly authentic. Best Wok had good customer service, great food, and ok pricing. Don't get me wrong, it does have some minor flaws in its appearance and the price of the appetizers, but from now on when we crave "normal" chinese food- this is where we're going!
(5)
Steven P.
This is my absolute favorite Chinese restaurant for lunch! They are extremely fast and friendly, with a great and affordable lunch menu. The lunch comes with an entree, rice (fried or steamed), soup and a spring roll or shrimp toast. Each time I have eaten here for lunch, I am seated right away, order within five minutes, and no joke, my food is in front of me in another 5 minutes. The flavors are delicious and if something comes in the food that you don't like, for example a specific vegetable, they will substitute it with something else no problem when you're ordering. I highly recommend giving this restaurant a try. There's a reason they've been around for almost 30 years!!
(5)
Ryan J.
Our family has been coming here for over a decade. It's one of our favorite Chinese spots. There are a lot of us so we order family style and try everything. My favorite dish is the lemon chicken with their wonton soup but everything is good. Also the service is excellent, they are johnny on the spot with the water glasses and the have always been quick. I just wish I still lived in Redmond, there are days where I crave good Chinese food and Best Wok!
(4)
Patrick L.
I'll always love this place. Far from authentic, it's definitely the Americanized Chinese food, but the good kind? Our family has been eating here for a couple decades, ever since the days when there were literally no Chinese restaurants on the Eastside. Their lunch specials are where it's at. The almond fried chicken is different from what I've seen anywhere else. Most places it consists of small pieces of suspect chicken that is battered and deep fried and then served with minimal sauce drizzled on top and a few slivers of almonds. Best Wok's version takes thing pieces of white meat chicken that is then battered with a panko type breading and served with abundant sauce on the side. The Kung-Pao chicken here is also the best I've had, with just the right amount of spice. Other items of interest are the orange flavor beef which is cooked with actual slices of orange peel for that orange zest flavor, which it is then served with as a garnish. As expected, they do offer take-out which comes out very quickly. If you call ahead, make sure you're ready to leave the house when you order. I usually call while I'm driving around nearby, and it's ready by the time I get there. I've also walked in and ordered several times, and still get out the door within 10min. or so.
(4)
Nancy A.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Bellevue, and have been eating here for more then 10 years. It is clean, staff is friendly, service is fast, prices are reasonable and the lunch specials are a great deal. Veggies are fresh and cooked but still some crispness to them (perfect to me), One of my favorites is the chicken with pea pods and mushrooms. What more could you want?
(4)
Regina L.
It's actually a 3 1/2 but I'll give four because I'm nice :P The food isn't extraordinary nor terrible. You won't feel tears strolling down your eyes due to satisfaction, nor disappointment. It's just another americanized chinese restaurant. Then why the extra star? Because they have legit, cheap lunch menus. For $8.00 you get a main entree, an eggroll (or fried shrimp?), and a small soup (hot & sour or egg flower). I think it's hella stupid when you go somewhere and all you get is the entree, no rice no nothin. But since you get a little bit of everything for $8, I think it's a pretty good deal.
(4)
Tom C.
had the worst orange beef here. I don't think the meats here are fresh. Definitely not coming back. Warning, do not get anything with meat here.
(1)
Robert K.
food is below average, pricing is not bad but high for what you get, and not that I care if it was bad, the service was good. Disclaimer: This place is definitely catering to american style chinese food, which is not bad considering I love Panda Express though I also love "real" chinese food - just saying I can rate fairly on both sides.
(2)
Stephanie G.
I went here for lunch with my boyfriend and really enjoyed the lunch special. It's really good americanized chinese for not much money. Plus you get soup and a spring roll with your meal. I also really enjoyed the tea - I can't wait to go again!
(4)
Michael S.
What a great find. I've worked in the Overlake area for over 5 years and hadn't heard of this place until today on Yelp. My girlfriend and I ate here for lunch and both of us thought it was really good. She had the chicken and veggies, and I had the General Tso's. The food tasted really nice, and the servers were very friendly. We will be returning again. And on a related topic, folks in this area of the country diss on "Americanized" Chinese a lot. I'm sorry, but I'll take the delicious dishes here over authentic fare such as chicken feet, pig ears, etc. It's what I grew up with in Upstate New York and it's what I like... sorry for being a simpleton or uncultured!
(5)
M T.
My husband and I went here for a late dinner - AMAZING customer service. The location is less than ideal in terms of ambiance - its right next to 7 Eleven with views of the parking lot and the decor is a bit dated - hence my four stars instead of five. Everyone working there was so welcoming and nice. We ordered the rock cod with black bean sauce - it was great! Veggies and fish were cooked perfectly and the black bean sauce was flavorful without being overly salty. We also had the beef chow fun. I was expecting the typical noodles, beef and mounds of onion that we've gotten other places, but this had lots of vegetables and an even balance of noodles, beef and veggies. I love that the food was full of flavor without being too salty and left the restaurant feeling pampered by the great customer service we received.
(4)
Carly L.
Doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's a great place to grab a quick lunch. My boss and I stopped by to grab a quick lunch on a way to a meeting. They had great lunch specials, and they were under $8! Woot! My egg flower/egg roll/ orange peel chicken with rice were delicious. The tea was H-O-T. Service was very quick. We were in and out in less than a half hour!
Tried this place twice and I was impressed with both the food and impeccable customer service! Food was delicious and timely served from appetizers to dessert. Waitstaff were always refilling our water and making sure we were okay. By far the best customer service I've experienced in a restaurant! Location and parking is not the best but definitely a place you want to try for excellent Chinese food. I will be back!!!
(4)
Katy B.
My boyfriend and I both loved the take out we got from Best Wok. We were looking for "American" Chinese food and this certainly delivered. The portions were fair, he got sweet and sour chicken (sauce on the side) and chicken fried rice. I got the chicken and green beans with steamed rice. kinda weird to me that you have to pay extra to get rice with your entree, but oh well. Lunch time prices look more competitive. We'll definitely go here again. Still looking for cheap Chinese food in this town!!
(4)
Debbie S.
If you are looking for good chinese food, this is not the one for you.But if you look for Americanized chinese food, you can definetly come here, it reminds me of "China Express"or "China First"on the University Way in U-district. We ordered four dishes for dinner, every dish came in small volume that doesn't match with its price.
(2)
Jenny K.
Apparently, you're supposed to get soup and fried rice with your lunch special? There was definitely no soup and boring brown rice in my order. I just took off a star because I'm a tiny bit annoyed by this newfound information.
(2)
David D.
Went here for dinner with the girlfriend after debating between a couple different Chinese restaurants. We ended up wishing we had gone to another. The staff was very friendly and attentive. This is about the only thing this restaurant has going for it. The atmosphere was pretty dingy. The parking lot should have been a sign of what was inside as there were giant trenches where there were supposed to be parking spots. It felt like stepping out of a monster truck getting out of my Jeep. Inside, it felt dated and overall really bland. The food was just OK. The server immediately brought us some Fried Won Tons with a weird applesauce tasting sauce. Not good. I started off with Won Ton Soup, and the broth was pretty good, but the Won Tons weren't very flavorful. Then the main dishes arrived. My favorite Chinese dish is Almond Fried Chicken and this was very disappointing. The chicken had a thin breaded crust, almost like Katsu and the sauce was not too great. Good Almond Fried Chicken has a light, fluffy batter and this was anything but light and fluffy. We also had Moo Shu Pork. I had never had it before and thought it was alright, basically a Chinese burrito. The girlfriend thought it was decent. Finished off the meal with Pork Chow Mein which was average, to say the least. When we were finished eating, the server was nice enough to box up the leftovers for us and brought back a bag of food along with two cups of cherry JELL-O. WTF? Really? LIke everything else, it was just average. Next time we're trying Szechuan Chef across the street.
(2)
Robert K.
Believe it or not I've been going to Best Wok for more than 20 years. I happened upon the place when I was getting tires replaced across the street at KMart (long gone). I usually go for the lunch special. This place has great food, fast and friendly service and excellent prices. I usually get the Kung Pao Chicken, Shrimp Toast and Hot and Sour Soup (in fact I get it so often that the waiters all know my order before I make it). I've brought my wife, co-workers (sometimes a big group around Christmas time), my family, even my in laws from London. Everyone has enjoyed it. Don't miss out if you have a free lunch time in East Bellevue.
(4)
Adam D.
This is a Bellevue tradition. I have been going here for years and it is absolutely positively one of the most A-ok places to have chinese. Although after eating there I am about as regular as I have been in a while. Maybe they deserve a 4th star for that... But then again I am the east german judge today.
(3)
billy s.
Gave it 5 stars due to the EXCELLENT service we received. Definitely NOT the usual rude/aloof curt service that's almost expected and customary at Chinese restaurants. The gentleman that greeted and seated us was extremely personable and gracious as well as the other staff. The food was very good too. Really fresh. Took a little bit longer than usual to get the food...maybe that's a good sign that everything was already prepared and just reheated. Portions were very good size too, you will probably end up w/ a lot of leftovers if you order your "usual" # of dishes. We had 4 young children in tow and they gave us complimentary jello and fruit. This being our first time here, I'm not sure if this is their usual practice or something special. Nevertheless, my mother-in-law and wife were so smitten w/ the great service they actually thanked the host and shook his hand. I've NEVER seen them do that before.
(5)
Alex T.
There are like 0 places left that have 5 stars on Yelp. This is one of those 0. Granted, the food wasn't amazing--but you get exactly what you want from a place called, "Best Wok." What are you expecting? Shark fin soup? F no, you're looking for sesame chicken, hunan beef, or broccoli in garlic sauce. This place had American-style Chinese food that tasted pretty good. What gives this place five stars is how they differentiate. My buddy and I went for dinner and though the place was pretty quiet, the staff still gave excellent service--almost too good (YES I want to finish eating that little piece of meat before you take the plate). The price is right, portions aren't bad, exceptional service for a Chinese hole in the wall... AND DESERT! Red jell-o! AND fortune cookies :)
(5)
David K.
Been going here for lunch with the co-workers for a while now. Once seated, we are given our menus and then served ice water and the tea pot. Just shortly after that (maybe too shortly), our orders are taken. This particular time, I had the Orange-flavored Beef (which I chose Hot-n-Sour soup and Shrimp Toast as the sides), but have tried many of their other offerings, such as Tomato Beef, Pork with Garlic Sauce, and Hunan Chicken. It probably does not take more than 7 minutes for us to get our entrees. The food is pretty good; not too large for portions, the sauce not too thick, but not runny. Their lunch specials run from $6.85 to $8.25; good for lunch.
(4)
Jen B.
i don't know what it is, but there's something about their kung pao chicken that makes me super happy to be there eating it. it's so simple, but sooo good. those little salty, tender chicken bits just melt in your mouth. i crave their kung pao chicken every week! the lunch special is great. soup, appetizer, entree. love it! maybe i will try something else on the menu next time? maybe.
(4)
Jacquie P.
Quick and friendly service with lunch specials around $7-$8. Far from authentic (chewy pork, bland egg rolls), but it will fill you up if you need a quick bite. Not much else to say about this place...there's a large fish tank circa 1980?
(3)
Heather S.
This place is AMAZING! We go there a lot for lunch and dinner. The food is amazing, the price is good and the service is wonderful. When we are in a hurry at lunch they always have our lunch ready (we usually pre-order) have our bills ready and we are on our way.
(5)
Mw C.
I agree the service is very good but sometimes annoying as they stand almost next to you to remove your plates as you are finished. I feel they want me to leave fast. I feel that there is no privacy as they are standing just there. I have been here twice for the lunch special. The hot and sour soup was delicious also the dishes I ordered. But for around 8 dollars the amount has not been enough. That is why I will not return for lunch. I have left feeling hungry from that place.
(3)
Jonelle T.
Consistently some of the best chinese food in the area. My family and I have been going there for years and have no plans to stop. Chef John and his staff are wonderful, attentive, and friendly. Try the orange chicken and hot & sour soup. It's the BOMB!
(5)
Sue H.
Been eating here for over 20 years! Most of the food is good, very consistent. Depends on what you like obviously, some of the dishes I don't like. But... all in all, if your in the area and looking for Chinese, check it out. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there. I just happen to pass by it quite a bit, so I get a lot of take out there.
(3)
Molly G.
YUM. I'm a big fan of Best Wok - you're not getting any wheel-reinventing fusion dishes here - just a nice selection of Chinese American food that is mmm mmm good. I am a huge fan of their mu shu pork - and the presentation of it is ever so nice - I've never seen spoons do that before.
(4)
Melissa S.
For your average lunch day special, this place will do. They offer either egg flower or hot and sour soup. Rice and an egg roll also comes with your lunch. You will definitely walk away full. They are always busy during lunch and yet we never need to wait for a table. The staff is attentive. The food is consistent. Parking is easy. As I watch lunch prices on the eastside steadily climb upwards this place is truly a value for the money.
(4)
Miona H.
I love Best Wok. I don't know where to begin. If you're in the mood for some good ol' fashioned greasy take-out Chinese food, this is really the most awesome place in the area. I always order egg rolls (awesome), hot and sour soup (awesome), vegetable fried rice (awesome), chicken lo mein (awesome), and then whatever beef dish my boyfriend feels like ordering. His parents, by the way, have been coming to Best Wok for years. They moved out of state but whenever they come back, they always make a stop here. The people who work here are friendly and remember your name/order (if you tend to order the same things) pretty quick. They also waited and kept my food warm for me an extra 45min one night because I ran into crazy traffic on the way over to pick up my order. Overall, this place is stellar whenever you're in the mood for a Chinese take-out dinner/movie night. I've tried other Chinese restaurants in the area and they just taste too healthy and bland! Note: I've never dined in, only take-out.
(4)
Janice W.
My husband and I went with two of our friends to this place due to the reviews I have read here. They were 100% correct! The exterior is misleading, but the inside is well decorated. The staff is attentive and friendly, and we enjoyed our delicious food. We stayed there for a long time, and they didn't seem to mind. They kept refilling and making sure we had what we needed. This place will be a place we will have to visit again and again. ETA: We never visited this place like I thought we would. We have found two Szechuan places we cannot stop frequenting, thus we never entertain revisiting this place. It was still a nice experience.
(4)
Mike O.
We are long time fans of Best Wok. Most of our business with them is via phone orders though occasionally we dine in. Dennis and Keith are always friendly and helpful. In scores of orders from them we have not been disappointed. We particularly like their special (combination) friend rice and the assorted appetizer plate.
(5)
Rachel G.
This is my first ever yelp review...I just have to tell about the goodness that is the BEST WOK. I live in California now, but when I lived in Bellevue this was THE BEST place to get quick chinese food. Not only are the prices great, the food and the service is AWESOME!!! Not to mention it's right down the street from my old high school....GO TOTES!!!! When I visit in the summer I look forward to eating here. My favorites are the brocolli beef and hunan chicken (mmmmmmm...I'm salivating just thinking about it!).
(5)
Julie G.
I've been going to Best Wok since 1990. One of my favorite Chinese restaraunts on the East side. It's a cozy little place that has great staff and awesome service. I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Aline P.
This place is ridiculously good. Most Americanized Chinese food doesn't taste that good...but somehow Best Wok is delicious! Service was fast and prompt, cheap lunch specials with big portions. And most importantly, like we all know, the food is delicious! And that's all that matters. The soup wasn't too good, but the entrees make up for it BIG time. I've never had such good Americanized Chinese food in my life. Long live Best Wok!
(5)
Jonathan B.
I tried Best Wok for the first time on Saturday evening for pick-up. I hesitate to go any further before mentioning that the service was extremely good- I hope nobody who works as a server there is reading this review and takes it personally. The food, however, was different story... I ordered Sweet and Sour Pork, Almond Fried Chicken and General Tsao Beef, along with a couple of egg rolls. The egg rolls were OK, but honestly, I think the ones you can buy in the frozen section at Costco and fry at home are vastly superior. The bigger pieces of fried pork for the S&S Pork were pretty tender, but the small pieces were almost inedible they were so tough and chewy. The S&S Sauce was mediocre and one you would expect literally in any Chinese restuarant in the country. When I tried the Almond Chicken, same thing- the thicker pieces were pretty decent, but the thin pieces were like shards of fried cardboard and almost as tasty. The saving grace was the General Tsao Beef, (though not nearly as spicy as I was hoping for), which was tender and flavorful. Overall, my impression of this restaurant was spectacular service, bland food and whoever was manning the frier the night I was there was overzealous. The portions were big enough to have leftovers, but honestly, I didn't really enjoy the food the second time around either. I won't be back.
(2)
Davida B.
My family has gone to the Best Wok since 1985. We used to go at the very minimum 5 times each year to celebrate life and school achievements, and I would dream of their lemon chicken and broccoli beef in between visits. The staff is very friendly and the service is outstanding. They know what we want as soon as we come in the door, and never forget the little extras we prefer. I highly recommend this restaurant for any occasion!
(5)
Patrick T.
I have never had a bad meal here. The service is excellent and the food is great!
(5)
Lynn A.
I have been searching and searching for good Americanized Chinese food ever since I moved from NYC to Seattle 4+ years ago. This may sound crazy, but I think it's harder to find great American-style than authentic Chinese food on the eastside. I finally found it, and thank goodness for Yelp or I would never have gone inside the nondescript exterior. The food is flavorful and perfectly cooked. Vegetables retain the right crisp and lightness. The chinese broccoli, garlic baby bok choy, and asparagus shrimp are particularly wonderful. Service is excellent too: just when ordering takeout, I have been ushered to a table, served tea and brought a magazine! Five stars for what it is, inexpensive Americanized Chinese. Update July 08: I recently spoke to the owner to mention how good their food was, and how I had not found decent American-style Chinese food since New York City. He told me the recipes were all from NYC, because he moved here from Brooklyn!
(5)
Alyssa F.
What can I say my family loves chinese food. We have been coming here since we moved to Seattle in December of 1987 - I was 4. We don't celebrate Christmas so as most Jews do we went for chinese on Christmas eve. We have been every year since. It wasn't until we discovered Yea's that we were regulars, they even used to send us Christmas cards - funny how they didn't catch on... When my brother and I were little they would give use a bag of fortune cookies - not like we needed it though! They also give us the desert they give their chinese customers. Either the pineapple boat or the orange slices (maybe they give that to everyone now, not sure) or sometimes is jello with a Peach half on top. The waitstaff is so nice and the owner is great. The food comes out super fast and super hot. Their lunch menu is fab. Love the hot and sour soup!
(5)
Jarrod L.
The service was incredible, but the food was just ok. The spicy dishes were not, though everything still tasted ok.
(3)
J S.
not good. the quality is as cheap as the prices are. there are usually tons of kids from the middle school with their friends in here making it hard to even want to sit in there. Szechuan Chef is across the street and much better in every way.
(1)
Dan N.
Well, we just got back from a dinner at Best Wok. My wife was concerned about the "Americanized Chinese Food" review from others, but I insisted that we need to judge for ourselves. Sadly, I have to admit that the food was indeed a poor version of Chinese food, americanized or not. We had the house soup as the waiter's description was interesting. As it turned out, the broth would seem to come straight out of the beef broth can (that you can buy from the market) with a mixture of vegetables that I am not sure why they were used (perhaps, they were left-over?) We also had soft-shelled crabs which were way over deep-fried and house-special duck which turned out to be mixed vegetable over roasted duck (the kind that are hung in the window of Chinese BBQ places). The (very dry) roasted duck ruined the flavor of the saute vegetables and vice versa. I don't think we will come back - as I seriously question the wisdom of a chef who would use roasted duck with saute vegetable and called it "house special" - even though the service was pretty good.
(2)
Dan B.
Good lunch specials. Prices have risen a little bit recently, but still a good deal with soup, eggroll, rice, and entree. Kung Pao Chicken, Cashew Chicken, Broccoli and Beef are the favorites.
(4)
aditee k.
Sure the service here is great ... but service can take you only so much in a restaurant. The core is the food... and sadly this place lacks it BIG time. The veggies had caught the refridgerator smell.... now thats a no NO!
(1)
John P.
I have eaten here for the last 15 years and have not had one bad meal. While a few were just good, most have been outstanding. They take time and pride in preparing their food. The restaurant is clean and the service is reasonably fast. It is my first choice on the Eastside for Chinese food.
(4)
Arthel B.
The outside is misleading as to the quality of the restaurant, tucked as it is next to a 7-11 right on 148th in Belleuve. But the food is Excellent!. Like John, I've eaten there for many years and the food is consistently good to excellent. I sometimes feel a little rushed by the staff in their effort to provide excellent service. But the flip side of that is that the food comes out fast. Yum! Enjoy!
(4)
Larry M.
Very consistent, great Chinese food. I've only used the takeout, but the service and food is always good.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : 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.
Elizabeth B.
I absolutely love this place! It was the very first restaurant that my girlfriend and I had been to after moving to Bellevue. We usually go for the lunch special and have probably been there enough times to get one of each item xD But everything I've tried so far I've completely enjoyed. My favorite is the beef in garlic sauce. Spicy and not too sweet, with the right amount of vegetables. I also like to get the shrimp toast that's included in the meal. It's awesome and crunchy and I love dipping it in the sweet and sour sauce they give you! And the guys who work the restaurant, (I believe are also co-owners) are two of the nicest men. They're really on top of everything. Attentive. That's a big part for me. When I never have to ask for a refill on my water, or whatever I'm drinking, it's a good sign to me. They're my go to place for quick and delicious Chinese place. Never had a bad experience here yet and doubt I ever will.
(5)Amanda S.
This is my favorite! I have been going to Best Wok for 31 years now. (since they opened) The food is great. Try the Orange Beef, Cashew Chicken, or Shrimp Toast. The staff are wonderful. They've kept it in the family the whole time the business has been open.
(5)Selena P.
Always. My best spot for lunch. I take my friends here all the time. This is my favorite place to go to for lunch. I order the same thing "kung pao chicken" no peanuts add zucchini with shrimp toast and egg flower soup. They know my order by heart now haha. It's so tasteful and reasonably priced (8-10$) which is always hard to find with good quality. The owner that is usually here who takes my order is always so nice kind and polite. Which makes dining here all the better. I'm usually a hard grader haha I believe this is the first 5 stars I've given. Highly recommend this place has parking, good hospitality, good choice, and nicely decorated.
(5)Kirsten S.
After a long day's drive, we were looking for some easy takeout close to our hotel. I'm surprised at the good reviews! Not only were no utensils provided with our take-out, but apparently we needed to order rice separately for our entrees. My sesame shrimp was described as coming with broccoli - instead, I ended up with a container full of gelatinous batter surrounding a few sad, overcooked shrimp - no broccoli, no rice. My hot and sour soup was alright, but the crispy noodles that usually come with it were, again, something I needed to order separately. I ended up going to bed a bit hangry and can't recommend this place. Bummed - we live in Austin and while there is a lot of fantastic food there, good Chinese is hard to come by - it's one of the things we look forward to when we go back to the west coast - guess I'll have to look elsewhere.
(1)O.D. C.
I've been here 3 or 4 times and the food was okay but the prices were a bit high. I thought their lunch menu might be a better deal... That's when they went from 3 to 2 stars because the Kung-Pao Shrimp I ordered was made with the tiny shrimp you find in a can. Really!?! Just awful. Thanks, but I won't be back.
(2)Samantha A.
DO NOT EAT HERE! I would never eat here again yuck! Ordered soup and there was hair in it. Went to the bathroom and they were gross! Got the food within 5 mins of ordering it... Wasn't fresh and tasted days old. Tea was watered down. Right when I walked in the placed smelled really bad like mold in the carpet or something. Surprised thus place is in Bellevue. Worst Chinese place and food.
(1)Heather Z.
While in Bellevue, I stopped by for a casual dinner and was particularly taken by the staff at this place, who are friendly and good humored. I saw some criticism about prices but I assure you, portions are generous, generous. You're most likely taking home your lunch for the next day. Service and delivery was fast but not suspiciously so. The vegetables had the softened crisp bite of nicely cooked, fresh vegetables, spice level gentle enough for Americanized Chinese cuisine, meat portions moist and flavorful. They don't have fountain soda, but! for the first time in my life at a restaurant that uses canned soda I was offered a second can/refill when mine had run empty. I am, you see, a thirsty person. A cola camel. A sponge. I was deeply impressed by that attention to detail. It touched me. And fizzled my soul like the sprinkling mist of breaking carbonation bubbles. Magical. After the meal, before the fortune cookies, we were given a fresh, sliced pineapple quarter for the table to share. It was a great touch! I'd love to go back next time I am in the area.
(5)Cc H.
I don't really understand the ratings this place is getting to be honest. I love American Chinese food but this place was just not good. The general tso chicken was too sweet and not crispy enough. The Kung pao tofu was too salty and the noodles I ordered for my kids were drenched in oil and barely edible. We went for dinner and the prices were quite high. I did not see their lunch menu so I don't know if they have better deals for lunch. The only reason I gave them two stars instead of one is because the service was friendly.
(2)Elizabeth S.
Wonderful spot for great Chinese food and exceptional service! Every time I dine here the service is A+. From friendly greeters at the door and the servers, you really feel like a valued guest. The food is always quick, hot, and delicious. Most recently I came here with a large group for Mother's day and not only were we quickly seated, the food came out super fast, not to mention they treated our table to desert. Fabulous spot and beats other Eastside Chinese restaurants.
(4)Nancy C.
Better than I expected. It is your typical Americanized Chinese food. Outside is nothing to look at and inside was ok (clean). Had the Hot Sour Soup, shrimp toast, Mongolian beef & fried rice. Everything was good (not great/not bad). Would eat here again but it's not my first choice.
(4)Jonathan T.
I have been a customer of Best Wok for the better part of last year. It has been a staple for me and my coworkers for lunch due to it's affordability, flavor, and generous portions. (I am not kidding when I say the portions are generous). I was recommended to Best Wok by my mother and sister. I value my mother's recommendation (don't we all) and as we were all raised in Asian countries (Singapore, Hong Kong, etc.) we had particularly high standards for Chinese restaurants and delicacies. My mom, for reasons still unknown, had a hankering for Kung Pao chicken one day, walked into this restaurant on impulse, and was blown away. She asked me and my sister to try the Kung Pao, and we did... and we too were blown away. Now keep in mind this isn't a review of the best Kung Pao Chicken on Earth, that would be absurd. What blew us away was that this Kung Pao Chicken was by far the best Kung Pao we've tasted in Washington State. It was a vast improvement over all other Kung Pao chickens I've tried here in Seattle. If you're curious about other dishes, we did try out other cuisines and were not too terribly impressed. Their Kung Pao Chicken and their Shrimp Toast were amazing and is the chief reason why I am writing this review. There is a gem in most restaurants that NEEDS to be shared, and this one, by far, is one of them. So let's first talk about Best Wok. At a glance, it looks like any typical Chinese American restaurant. It's tacky-looking on the outside and stands no different than all the other hundreds of "Chinese" restaurants that litter Aurora avenue, Lynnwood, and the greater Seattle area. Standing in front of it, I felt like I was stuck in a Rush Hour movie with Jackie Chan. In addition, Best Wok is not fancy... at all. It is not your typical authentic Chinese restaurant in that it doesn't really boast authentic Chinese cuisines the way restaurants in the International District do. They do not have enormous fish tanks and serve intricate seafood delicacies. They do not do offer Chinese dishes such as Peking Duck or Crispy fried chicken. (They fry their chickens with batter...) So really, when I'm rating this restaurant, I'm doing so from an American-Chinese point of view rather than a purely Chinese point of view. So let's talk about the food: First the food type is typical of most American-Chinese restaurants. These are dishes that are Chinese in origin but have been tweaked to fit American taste buds. For those that don't understand the distinction, this includes mostly the deep fried and/or stir-fried cuisines such as Sweet and Sour Pork, General Tso's Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Orange/Lemon Chicken, etc. While I haven't tried all of these dishes, I have tried a few (mostly Kung Pao Chicken, Kung Pao Shrimp/Beef and Mongolian Beef) I've done this all strictly during lunch from their lunch menu and have never tried a dinner course. The Pros: The things that are a bonus for Best Wok is that they have generous portions, the food tastes good (I mean, that's why we're there right?) and their lunch prices are more than reasonable. The Kung Pao Chicken, in which my mother raves, was VERY good. The shrimp toast, a canton delicacy, was superb as well. Now in my opinion, being Chinese, I find it considerably hard to *screw up* Kung pao chicken and shrimp toast. The recipe is easy and very simple. This restaurant does it extremely well and serves it very quickly. The reasons why I extol THIS one and not others, is because Best Wok respects what Kung Pao should be. Chicken, chili and peanuts. Unadulterated without junk "filler" foods such as water chestnuts, bell peppers, carrots or squash. This is a big deal to me. I was surprised. I wanted to see if Best Wok used filler foods in their other dishes, and unfortunately they did. Even on variations of Kung Pao such as beef or shrimp. As such, I have stuck solely to their Kung Pao Chicken time and time again on and off for the last six months. It's just that good. So let's move on to the cons. Aside from using filler foods on 90% of their other stuff, the biggest issue I have with Best Wok is the dinner cost. It's a reason why I never had dinner there. While lunch is extremely reasonable (a large serving of chicken, two servings of rice and/or soup and an appetizer). The dinner menu doubles the cost (without really doubling the portion), and without additions of rice or appetizers. That's just not good economics. I also find the restaurant to be tacky looking but I find that to be typical of most American-Chinese restaurants. Overall, I have one singular recommendation: Go there for lunch. Order their Kung Pao Chicken and a side of shrimp toast. Pay the $8.00 and enjoy the cheapest, best lunch on Earth. I have NEVER met a person who did not stick to this formula and walk away unhappy.
(4)Donna C.
I had a hunkering for American-Chinese food so I ended up here after reading someone's review ranting and raving about the kung pao. It was nice to see that this kung pao had no "fillers" but in my opinion, a little doesn't hurt. The flavor isn't anything mind blowing, even for Seattle. I actually prefer Panda Express kung pao flavor to this. Meat quality here is better though. And yes, I am comparing this to Panda because Panda serves good American-Chinese food! I got lunch take-out so can't comment on the service but they seemed nice. For $8, it was good value. Portions are large.
(3)Robert I.
The owners of this place have done a very nice job. Very friendly, clean and high quality food shown in its taste.
(4)Alexis G.
Found this place while visiting Seattle and it definitely lived up to the great reviews! First off the owners are so friendly! I have been here twice, about 4 months apart and they actually remembered me. Its very clean and doesn't have that weird humid moldy smell like some chinese places have. I love chinese food and eat it at least once or twice a week, so let me tell you their food exceed my expectations! I am very picky when it comes to chinese. The fried rice and noodles were very good, and the chicken with garlic sauce was simply delicious. I don't know if a lot of people notice this, but most and pretty much all chinese places do not give you a knife to cut your meat or a spoon to stir the sugar in your tea. This place does! I was really surprised and appreciated that I didn't have to use the end of my fork to stir my sugar in the tea. The knife I didn't use but they were unusually big steak knifes lol. All around really good place and whenever I am back in the area, this will be my stop for some good chinese!
(5)Ashley K.
I read all the great reviews on this place and decided to try it about two weeks ago. The food was awful. I got the shrimp/prawns with lobster sauce and not only was it half the amount I expected it was more than double the price on the menu online shows. The food was so salty I ended up throwing it away which was ashame for almost 20.00. Needless to say I was very disappointed. They recently renovated and may be under new ownership. I will not be returning.
(1)Jessica C.
I was looking for a Chinese Food restaurant that like what I had in Texas. This is the closest I could find from the menu. It's really good! I had the sesame chicken, fried rice, and an egg roll. The egg roll was absolutely fantastic!! The rest was really good too but that egg roll....I want another!!
(4)Christina M.
My family has been coming to Best Wok ever since I can remember. I can safely say that this is the best Chinese food I have ever had. My favorite is their Kung-Pao Chicken and vegetable friend rice. The people here are attentive and always friendly. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves Chinese and is looking for reasonable prices.
(5)Matt S.
The service is absolutely incredible. I have never been treated so well at a restaurant. The food comes out fast and it's delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant...and the chicken with black bean sauce.
(5)Ashley T.
I'm not gonna lie, I've driven by this place too many times to count and have ignored it for umpteenth years. I mean, in all honesty, it's nothing to look at. Really, THERE IS NOTHING TO LOOK AT on the outside except a brown roof and white walls with the words " Best Wok" so don't blame us when we keep driving. So why did I finally go in and try it out? Yes folks, I Yelped Chinese restaurants in Bellevue and this place got 4 stars! Yup, true dat. So I thought, how wrong can Yelpers be(ok, sometimes we're really off) but not this time. I will preface this with, for Chinese AMERICAN food, it's delicious. I ordered the chicken with assorted vegetables. The dark meat chicken was sliced thin and tender. No grissly meat, no globules of fat, no dry chicken where it tastes like jerky. As for the vegetables, it consisted of broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots and snow peas. It comes with brown rice which is a healthy alternative to white rice or fried rice but it costs an extra dollar. The best thing about this place is that they offer lunch EVERYDAY till 4pm, not just the standard Monday to Friday. Their lunch specials starts at $7.25 which includes soup(egg flower or hot and sour), appetizer (egg roll or shrimp toast) and the meal with brown or fried rice. How can you beat that? That's what I thought. Lastly, you will not find nicer staff at a Chinese restaurant than this place. Trust me, I know, I've been to almost every Chinese restaurant in ID and all over and these people are so congenial and friendly. And they all had on Seahawks t - shirts. How cool is that!
(4)Richard B.
This is our go-to Chinese food lunch place - full meal for about $8...and lots of choices. Have only had one I did not like (the tomato beef and that was a matter of my taste not the dish)....we always take about half home. I like going for dinner too - especially when dining with a friend I have not seen for awhile as the wait staff is kind about letting us talk forever without interruption. This is a nice little local place and I hope that it is around for along, long time. It is not for that fancy dinner out, but just the neighborhood Chinese restaurant where you can go and be welcomed by name and enjoy your favorite dish. Enjoy! ps - this review is, as always, written by Susan, not by Richard - altho he goes there with his guy friends too!
(4)Mark L.
I am so glad to have found this place. It's not pretty on the outside but once you get in it is worth it. The beef chop suey was great. So are the pot stickers and the chicken chow mein. Can't wait to bring my family here. It reminded me of going out with my parents to the one Chinese restaurant in our town and being pleasantly surprised about how good and fresh the food is. I know that chop suey and chow mein are not really authentic. But it was just what my daughter and I were looking for. And the service was excellent. Very friendly and prompt. Highly recommend!
(5)Marcin P.
I don't quite understand the love this place is getting. I swung by there recently for an early-ish dinner. Keeping in mind that this place does Americanized Chinese food, I ordered the old stand-by, General Tso's Chicken, and I had high expectations of it. Also got a hot and sour soup. The soup was decently hot and sour, but a tad too salty. Still, not too bad. The General Tso's chicken was crispy, but the sauce was too sweet and sour, not packing enough heat. The pieces were huge, necessitating the use of a knife. The accompanying rice portion was small, and there wasn't that much food either. At the end they brought out a small glass of red jello with whipped cream as a surprise dessert. Nice touch. So, the food is only OK, the prices are high ($15 dollars for General Tso's???)... sounds like two stars to me. Makes me glad I had driven past this place for 10 years without stopping in. It'll probably be another 10 years before I'm back.
(2)Greg R.
What a great spot. Had family in town and their favorite Chinese restaurant was closed for spring break. So a quick search revealed this little restaurant. All six of us loved everything. We each ordered something different, and loved it all. The restaurant was very clean, and the staff was wonderful. New family favorite! Try it! You'll like it!
(5)Christina S.
Consistently good food and service. A family-friendly restaurant, with good humored and kind staff.
(5)Aimee K.
Just an update to re-visit and re-confirm my original review. I recently received critcism for my opinion of this place. I gave this place two tries to see if I made a mistake. To that user: Last I heard this site existed to state *our opinion* of places. Whether someone cares to pay it any mind is purely their call. Calling me names for stating it is counter-productive to making Yelp a fun and helpful community.
(1)Sar Yung k.
Seems like the chef or owner loves orange coloring as it appears in all the dishes and sauces. Aside from the heavy handed food coloring, the flavoring is not bad but the meat is highly tenderized like all the other chinese joint. They dont taste very natural anymore.
(3)Tressa B.
Ugh. Periodically we go back here, just to remind ourselves how terrible it is. It is a shame, because it is a really convenient location, but is frankly the worst Chinese food I have ever eaten. Every single time. Sometimes I would actually have to spit things out. The fried rice has that cigarette ash taste/after taste. Ew.
(1)Alex P.
The wife and I are on vacation for my birthday weekend in Seattle. We are staying in Bellevue at the Hyatt House (which has been great). We were looking for good Chinese food near the hotel and we hit the mark. This is a nice, clean family run establishment. They are extremely attentive and the owner was super nice. He took the time to explain each dish we had questions about. I can say the General Tsoa's chicken is deliciousness. If you are in the mood for something different, try the Egg Foo Yung. It was awesome. I recommend this place, we were happy we chose the Wok instead of a strip mall joint.
(4)Christy M.
Don't overlook this place -- the service was top notch and the food was delicious!
(4)Rebecca F.
Sometimes you just get a craving for some Americanized Chinese food, and a nice cheap fix is definitely Best Wok! With so many "authentic"-style Chinese and other Asian cuisine in the area, finding something like this was a challenge for me... but, we found it and with the really cheap lunch prices we thought we'd give it a shot! Yes, the decor is outdated, but it's clean enough inside. The staff is friendly and attentive too. I personally dislike hot and sour soup and was pleased to find that with the lunch combo I can get egg flour soup as one of the options. I also really like that the lunch deal goes until 4 in the afternoon (or something insane like that!) -- this would have been WONDERFUL when my husband was working nights and we had to wake him up "early" just to make it in time for lunch specials. Oh, and the lunch specials are super cheap for a big plate of food! I usually have their broccoli beef option which has a little bit of a spicy kick which I like; the broccoli isn't goo like it is at many other places when it sits around so I believe they probably cook to order here. My dining partners have had a variety of the other options on the lunch menu and seem to have enjoyed most everything too. This is definitely a great spot to go for a cheap, big lunch... and even a late lunch! For what it is and the itch it scratches, I'll give it a 4 out of 5!
(4)Kathie s.
The lunch specials are nicely priced and the staff are very nice. We place large orders for take out at work and they are always very nice and write the name of each person on the box---Which saves in wasted time when you are hungery and trying to enjoy your lunch. Being a vegetarian, I can not comment on the meat selections and taste. The menu has many veggie options for all of you that don't eat meat. I can not comment on the restaurant and service as I always just do the take out. Brown rice is an option for the lunch specials which is nice, 3 star rating as it is not "over the top" but a good choice if you want some chineese food.
(3)Peggy R.
I was hanging at a friend's house when she suggested we go have Chinese at Best Wok. I have a deep love for divey Chinese places that serve good Chow Mein, and this was definitely one of those. I don't think divey is actually the best description, because it seemed reasonably clean. My son and I split pork chow mein, and it was wonderful -- the noodles were the perfect flavor and texture with lots of nice, tender pork. They brought us some wonton strips with a plum sauce that I thought was pretty good - it reminded me of plum and apple sauce mixed. My friend ordered kung pao shrimp, which looked fabulous and all the portions were nice and big. I was thrilled when they brought out strawberry jello and our fortune cookies. I just thought the jello was such a nice bonus! We are definitely going back the next time we are in the neighborhood -- I want to try the fried rice!
(5)Ariel Z.
I went here for the first time last week. The inside is very cute and comfortable. The food was really good Americanized Chinese food. Tea and chips with some dipping applesauce was included. I ordered some noodle dish with vegetables and my friend ordered crispy noodles with beef. All the food was really good! My only complaint was the price, around 14 or 15 for my vegetable noodle dish with a side of rice. On the pricy side, but I saw they have cheaper lunch prices. The owner came out to make sure we liked our dinner, he was a really nice guy. I love small family owned places. Would definitely recommend this place!
(4)Ryan W.
I've lived in their neighborhood two separate times since I moved to Seattle in 2006 and have always driven past that place. After several years of doing so, I decided to give it a try. It remained a tradition I had to indulge at least once every month or every other month while I still lived within easy traveling distance. For me, Chinese cuisine (as you often find it in the USA) is usually kind of ... well, cheap. And crappy. But often in a good way. Crappy-good, if you will. And it's admittedly something I really crave. Sometimes I really -need- to go to a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant and have my fix of awesome, comforting crappy-good Chinese food. There's just not many "nice" Chinese food restaurants out there. The more pricey ones that are kind of flashy (and still decidedly traditional Chinese and not trendy pan-Asian food) tend to be dirty-in-the-details - fancy carpets...that are filthy. Really nice painted details on the decor...which is peeling. And then there's the service: Maybe it's a cultural thing but a lot of Chinese restaurants, there's a sense of 'you eat and you get out'. Walk in, view the sign that says 'Please wait to be seated,' do so for five minutes, only for a bored waiter to yell across the restaurant to sit wherever you like and vaguely point at a booth in a far corner. Not at Best Wok. This place is genuinely a nice Chinese restaurant with amazing service by a very attentive staff. These ladies and gentlemen treated me like royalty everytime I came to visit them and enjoy their cuisine. This became the place I would go eat to feel better about the world when it was taking out its worst on me. If you want to be pleasantly surprised or just impressed by a Chinese restaurant, go give Best Wok a try. Leave room for dessert: I don't think I ever went there and didn't get some clever, light dessert out of the experience. Sometimes just gelatin. Sometimes oranges or some other sweet fruit. Always a smile-bringer. And one last comment: The atmosphere here is chill. I've never been on a full night. Every time I've gone here have been maybe two or three other families. The noise level is subdued and quiet. It's a great place to have a relaxing, intimate meal.
(5)Carolyn J.
Twenty years ago I thought Best Wok was great! Since then I've grown up. This place is really American. The food is greasy, sweet, mostly fried, heavily sauced and under-spiced. I notice many of our fellow patrons looked like long-time locals who'd been eating here for years. For better quality and healthier food, lots of great options nearby. On the positive, the service was very friendly.
(2)K B.
Ordered to go and their food is quite delicious though I'd say it needs more flavoring to their ingredients. I was tossing and turning a food trying to find the flavor I taste, but I never see it. I don't know how they do it, but they somehow manage to add flavors that you can't see with the naked eye. The service is extremely nice and even though I didn't order very much, the restaurant wasn't busy then, and the greeter at the front is willing to help carry your tray of food if there aren't any customers also waiting for them.
(4)Tammy L.
Very good service and great Chinese food. They have an excellent lunch menu, so I would check it out then to take advantage of the great prices. Our server was extra kind and even gave us fresh orange slices as dessert when we asked for the bill. I ordered Orange Chicken, and I really enjoyed the orange peels they put into the sauce to give it the extra tanginess. I will be coming back for sure.
(5)Edina H.
Best food and service ever!!! They even walk the food out for you ,TO your car ! Love this place and everyone that works there is super friendly.
(5)Sue H.
Best Chinese food in this area. I live closer to other restaurants but the food here is terrific. Staff/owners are friendly. I have been eating here for a long time and I keep on coming back. I love good food and this place is great. Lunch specials great too.
(5)Kristi H.
Don't let the exterior fool you. Best service in Bellevue. Inexpensive. The sizzling rice soup had great flavor and the green mussels were a nice change to see in a Chinese menu .
(5)Regina C.
Went today for the first time after church. We thought they opened at 11:30 so we were waiting the parking lot and the owner came out and let us know that they did not open until noon. He was so sweet and kind he let us in a !/2 hour early!!! WOW. We were a party of 7 and we ordered from the lunch menu. All came with choice of soups, appetizer and an entree. I think the highest prices item was $8.95. I had the hot n sour soup, egg roll, and chicken with snap peas and mushroom's. I loved my meal and I do not do Chinese very often because it tends to be full of salt, MSG and high in fat. However non of these were true today. Everyone enjoyed their food and I loved the fresh pineapple at the end. Very refreshing and a nice surprise. My friends have been telling me to go to Best Wok for years and I am so happy I went today. I really recommend this place if your n the mood for Chinese food. Very clean and the food was really fresh and of course our service was excellent.
(4)Stephen H.
Cheap and cheerful Americanized Chinese food. Not haute cuisine, but a good place for a quick and convenient lunch.
(3)Nydia W.
I am giving one star because the staff seemed friendly and my food was ready relatively quickly. I wish the food was worthwhile. It didn't taste very good and gave me an upset stomach for the rest of the night. On top of that the prices were a bit high for what I got. I would have been better off going to Safeway for their China Express. I have been here sporadically over the past few years - each time thinking it will be better. I have finally learned my lesson and will not be stopping at Best Wok again.
(1)Dalton A.
Great service!!! The staff knows my family and I by name And we go there whenever we have a family member come from out of town.
(5)Jens J.
I really like Best Wok. The food is not knock-your-socks-off-delish like Schezwan Chef located kitty corner across 148th, but is still decent. But what does knock my socks off is how clean the Best Wok restaurant is! When I walked in I noticed that there were no cooking or other off-odors and how fresh everything looked. I observed that the server was nattily dressed with a white tuxedo-like shirt and bow tie. The owner/manager was wearing an expensive shirt and slacks. Also, the huge fish tank in the center of the dining room was immaculate. Typical and reasonably priced Chinese lunch items. I had the almond fried chicken and it was good. Service was excellent. I will be back!
(4)Brittany A.
Hands Down the BEST Chinese around! I have been going here since I was very little, about 30 years. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! The owners work their butts off and are always running the restaurant and will go out of their way for ALL the customers :). The food is sooooooooo delicious. The Service is A+++. I always get so excited to go here and will be going here for many years to come! This is a MUST try restaurant. It is a very family friendly restaurant, that has a ton of returning customers, most of which have been eating there since it opened about 30 years ago or so. I love how they know my name and treat me so great every time I go! they are awesome guys too... Some of my favorite things to order there are: Kung Pao Chicken Shrimp & Veggie Dishes Egg Flower Soup Honestly, the above is what I usually get, but I have never gotten anything that I didn't like! THANKS! :)
(5)Clayton J.
I have been eating here for years. There are some things this place does well and some they do not as well but for the most part they are an A+ restaurant. The Almond Chicken needs some work, but I think everything else I have had has been amazing. They went through a phase, like most restaurants where the prices started to climb and the portions got smaller, but in the last couple years the prices stabilized and the portions returned to meal size. A lot of restaurants have come and gone, changed name and ownership, but this place has done what others have not and that is be consistent. I was a regular and ate there twice a month for a couple years and after not eating for a year I was welcomed back and the waiter knew exactly what I ordered down to the star level. Amazing place and for sure the best Chinese food on the east Eastside!
(5)Bud K.
Cut to the Chase: This place is really very good, go there and eat, you'll like it. There is something existentially cool about a restaurant that looks like a strip mall dropout from the outside, but once inside is clean, attractive and spacious. We went here for lunch, at about $7 + a few $1 extras, a huge value for the flavors involved. My wife had the garlic beef which was tender and literally reeked of garlic - Yes!!! I had the orange chicken which really tasted like orange chicken for a change. The hot and sour soup that came with the lunch was excellent, a key benchmark for any Chinese place, just a tad more sour wouldn't hurt.... The small shrimp toast on the side was nicely minced shrimp, crisply fried and not oily. As others have said, service is friendly and attentive. Our server simultaneously poured 2 beers with one hand into two well-chilled glasses (extra points here...) and never spilled a drop - clearly a Shaolin Magna Cum Laude. A Bellevue gem - we'll be back. With regards, Bud Krahoolik Connoisseur at Large
(4)T. G.
My boyfriend and I just went there for the first time tonight and we were delighted. We're from the midwest, so when we crave chinese food it's the "bad" kind. Meaning that it's not overly authentic. Best Wok had good customer service, great food, and ok pricing. Don't get me wrong, it does have some minor flaws in its appearance and the price of the appetizers, but from now on when we crave "normal" chinese food- this is where we're going!
(5)Steven P.
This is my absolute favorite Chinese restaurant for lunch! They are extremely fast and friendly, with a great and affordable lunch menu. The lunch comes with an entree, rice (fried or steamed), soup and a spring roll or shrimp toast. Each time I have eaten here for lunch, I am seated right away, order within five minutes, and no joke, my food is in front of me in another 5 minutes. The flavors are delicious and if something comes in the food that you don't like, for example a specific vegetable, they will substitute it with something else no problem when you're ordering. I highly recommend giving this restaurant a try. There's a reason they've been around for almost 30 years!!
(5)Ryan J.
Our family has been coming here for over a decade. It's one of our favorite Chinese spots. There are a lot of us so we order family style and try everything. My favorite dish is the lemon chicken with their wonton soup but everything is good. Also the service is excellent, they are johnny on the spot with the water glasses and the have always been quick. I just wish I still lived in Redmond, there are days where I crave good Chinese food and Best Wok!
(4)Patrick L.
I'll always love this place. Far from authentic, it's definitely the Americanized Chinese food, but the good kind? Our family has been eating here for a couple decades, ever since the days when there were literally no Chinese restaurants on the Eastside. Their lunch specials are where it's at. The almond fried chicken is different from what I've seen anywhere else. Most places it consists of small pieces of suspect chicken that is battered and deep fried and then served with minimal sauce drizzled on top and a few slivers of almonds. Best Wok's version takes thing pieces of white meat chicken that is then battered with a panko type breading and served with abundant sauce on the side. The Kung-Pao chicken here is also the best I've had, with just the right amount of spice. Other items of interest are the orange flavor beef which is cooked with actual slices of orange peel for that orange zest flavor, which it is then served with as a garnish. As expected, they do offer take-out which comes out very quickly. If you call ahead, make sure you're ready to leave the house when you order. I usually call while I'm driving around nearby, and it's ready by the time I get there. I've also walked in and ordered several times, and still get out the door within 10min. or so.
(4)Nancy A.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Bellevue, and have been eating here for more then 10 years. It is clean, staff is friendly, service is fast, prices are reasonable and the lunch specials are a great deal. Veggies are fresh and cooked but still some crispness to them (perfect to me), One of my favorites is the chicken with pea pods and mushrooms. What more could you want?
(4)Regina L.
It's actually a 3 1/2 but I'll give four because I'm nice :P The food isn't extraordinary nor terrible. You won't feel tears strolling down your eyes due to satisfaction, nor disappointment. It's just another americanized chinese restaurant. Then why the extra star? Because they have legit, cheap lunch menus. For $8.00 you get a main entree, an eggroll (or fried shrimp?), and a small soup (hot & sour or egg flower). I think it's hella stupid when you go somewhere and all you get is the entree, no rice no nothin. But since you get a little bit of everything for $8, I think it's a pretty good deal.
(4)Tom C.
had the worst orange beef here. I don't think the meats here are fresh. Definitely not coming back. Warning, do not get anything with meat here.
(1)Robert K.
food is below average, pricing is not bad but high for what you get, and not that I care if it was bad, the service was good. Disclaimer: This place is definitely catering to american style chinese food, which is not bad considering I love Panda Express though I also love "real" chinese food - just saying I can rate fairly on both sides.
(2)Stephanie G.
I went here for lunch with my boyfriend and really enjoyed the lunch special. It's really good americanized chinese for not much money. Plus you get soup and a spring roll with your meal. I also really enjoyed the tea - I can't wait to go again!
(4)Michael S.
What a great find. I've worked in the Overlake area for over 5 years and hadn't heard of this place until today on Yelp. My girlfriend and I ate here for lunch and both of us thought it was really good. She had the chicken and veggies, and I had the General Tso's. The food tasted really nice, and the servers were very friendly. We will be returning again. And on a related topic, folks in this area of the country diss on "Americanized" Chinese a lot. I'm sorry, but I'll take the delicious dishes here over authentic fare such as chicken feet, pig ears, etc. It's what I grew up with in Upstate New York and it's what I like... sorry for being a simpleton or uncultured!
(5)M T.
My husband and I went here for a late dinner - AMAZING customer service. The location is less than ideal in terms of ambiance - its right next to 7 Eleven with views of the parking lot and the decor is a bit dated - hence my four stars instead of five. Everyone working there was so welcoming and nice. We ordered the rock cod with black bean sauce - it was great! Veggies and fish were cooked perfectly and the black bean sauce was flavorful without being overly salty. We also had the beef chow fun. I was expecting the typical noodles, beef and mounds of onion that we've gotten other places, but this had lots of vegetables and an even balance of noodles, beef and veggies. I love that the food was full of flavor without being too salty and left the restaurant feeling pampered by the great customer service we received.
(4)Carly L.
Doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's a great place to grab a quick lunch. My boss and I stopped by to grab a quick lunch on a way to a meeting. They had great lunch specials, and they were under $8! Woot! My egg flower/egg roll/ orange peel chicken with rice were delicious. The tea was H-O-T. Service was very quick. We were in and out in less than a half hour!
(3)Laurie S.
I've only been here for lunch and I'm pretty impressed. For under $8 you can get soup (egg flower is my fave), decent sized entrée (I always go home with leftovers), egg roll and fried rice. They have a decent menu and have specials Monday through Friday. Everyone is super friendly and they are really quick. This is especially good if you are on time constraints for your lunch. When I go in I normally order the sweet and sour chicken. Don't let the outside fool you...go inside and grab some yummy Chinese food for lunch!
(4)Samantha K.
Tried this place twice and I was impressed with both the food and impeccable customer service! Food was delicious and timely served from appetizers to dessert. Waitstaff were always refilling our water and making sure we were okay. By far the best customer service I've experienced in a restaurant! Location and parking is not the best but definitely a place you want to try for excellent Chinese food. I will be back!!!
(4)Katy B.
My boyfriend and I both loved the take out we got from Best Wok. We were looking for "American" Chinese food and this certainly delivered. The portions were fair, he got sweet and sour chicken (sauce on the side) and chicken fried rice. I got the chicken and green beans with steamed rice. kinda weird to me that you have to pay extra to get rice with your entree, but oh well. Lunch time prices look more competitive. We'll definitely go here again. Still looking for cheap Chinese food in this town!!
(4)Debbie S.
If you are looking for good chinese food, this is not the one for you.But if you look for Americanized chinese food, you can definetly come here, it reminds me of "China Express"or "China First"on the University Way in U-district. We ordered four dishes for dinner, every dish came in small volume that doesn't match with its price.
(2)Jenny K.
Apparently, you're supposed to get soup and fried rice with your lunch special? There was definitely no soup and boring brown rice in my order. I just took off a star because I'm a tiny bit annoyed by this newfound information.
(2)David D.
Went here for dinner with the girlfriend after debating between a couple different Chinese restaurants. We ended up wishing we had gone to another. The staff was very friendly and attentive. This is about the only thing this restaurant has going for it. The atmosphere was pretty dingy. The parking lot should have been a sign of what was inside as there were giant trenches where there were supposed to be parking spots. It felt like stepping out of a monster truck getting out of my Jeep. Inside, it felt dated and overall really bland. The food was just OK. The server immediately brought us some Fried Won Tons with a weird applesauce tasting sauce. Not good. I started off with Won Ton Soup, and the broth was pretty good, but the Won Tons weren't very flavorful. Then the main dishes arrived. My favorite Chinese dish is Almond Fried Chicken and this was very disappointing. The chicken had a thin breaded crust, almost like Katsu and the sauce was not too great. Good Almond Fried Chicken has a light, fluffy batter and this was anything but light and fluffy. We also had Moo Shu Pork. I had never had it before and thought it was alright, basically a Chinese burrito. The girlfriend thought it was decent. Finished off the meal with Pork Chow Mein which was average, to say the least. When we were finished eating, the server was nice enough to box up the leftovers for us and brought back a bag of food along with two cups of cherry JELL-O. WTF? Really? LIke everything else, it was just average. Next time we're trying Szechuan Chef across the street.
(2)Robert K.
Believe it or not I've been going to Best Wok for more than 20 years. I happened upon the place when I was getting tires replaced across the street at KMart (long gone). I usually go for the lunch special. This place has great food, fast and friendly service and excellent prices. I usually get the Kung Pao Chicken, Shrimp Toast and Hot and Sour Soup (in fact I get it so often that the waiters all know my order before I make it). I've brought my wife, co-workers (sometimes a big group around Christmas time), my family, even my in laws from London. Everyone has enjoyed it. Don't miss out if you have a free lunch time in East Bellevue.
(4)Adam D.
This is a Bellevue tradition. I have been going here for years and it is absolutely positively one of the most A-ok places to have chinese. Although after eating there I am about as regular as I have been in a while. Maybe they deserve a 4th star for that... But then again I am the east german judge today.
(3)billy s.
Gave it 5 stars due to the EXCELLENT service we received. Definitely NOT the usual rude/aloof curt service that's almost expected and customary at Chinese restaurants. The gentleman that greeted and seated us was extremely personable and gracious as well as the other staff. The food was very good too. Really fresh. Took a little bit longer than usual to get the food...maybe that's a good sign that everything was already prepared and just reheated. Portions were very good size too, you will probably end up w/ a lot of leftovers if you order your "usual" # of dishes. We had 4 young children in tow and they gave us complimentary jello and fruit. This being our first time here, I'm not sure if this is their usual practice or something special. Nevertheless, my mother-in-law and wife were so smitten w/ the great service they actually thanked the host and shook his hand. I've NEVER seen them do that before.
(5)Alex T.
There are like 0 places left that have 5 stars on Yelp. This is one of those 0. Granted, the food wasn't amazing--but you get exactly what you want from a place called, "Best Wok." What are you expecting? Shark fin soup? F no, you're looking for sesame chicken, hunan beef, or broccoli in garlic sauce. This place had American-style Chinese food that tasted pretty good. What gives this place five stars is how they differentiate. My buddy and I went for dinner and though the place was pretty quiet, the staff still gave excellent service--almost too good (YES I want to finish eating that little piece of meat before you take the plate). The price is right, portions aren't bad, exceptional service for a Chinese hole in the wall... AND DESERT! Red jell-o! AND fortune cookies :)
(5)David K.
Been going here for lunch with the co-workers for a while now. Once seated, we are given our menus and then served ice water and the tea pot. Just shortly after that (maybe too shortly), our orders are taken. This particular time, I had the Orange-flavored Beef (which I chose Hot-n-Sour soup and Shrimp Toast as the sides), but have tried many of their other offerings, such as Tomato Beef, Pork with Garlic Sauce, and Hunan Chicken. It probably does not take more than 7 minutes for us to get our entrees. The food is pretty good; not too large for portions, the sauce not too thick, but not runny. Their lunch specials run from $6.85 to $8.25; good for lunch.
(4)Jen B.
i don't know what it is, but there's something about their kung pao chicken that makes me super happy to be there eating it. it's so simple, but sooo good. those little salty, tender chicken bits just melt in your mouth. i crave their kung pao chicken every week! the lunch special is great. soup, appetizer, entree. love it! maybe i will try something else on the menu next time? maybe.
(4)Jacquie P.
Quick and friendly service with lunch specials around $7-$8. Far from authentic (chewy pork, bland egg rolls), but it will fill you up if you need a quick bite. Not much else to say about this place...there's a large fish tank circa 1980?
(3)Heather S.
This place is AMAZING! We go there a lot for lunch and dinner. The food is amazing, the price is good and the service is wonderful. When we are in a hurry at lunch they always have our lunch ready (we usually pre-order) have our bills ready and we are on our way.
(5)Mw C.
I agree the service is very good but sometimes annoying as they stand almost next to you to remove your plates as you are finished. I feel they want me to leave fast. I feel that there is no privacy as they are standing just there. I have been here twice for the lunch special. The hot and sour soup was delicious also the dishes I ordered. But for around 8 dollars the amount has not been enough. That is why I will not return for lunch. I have left feeling hungry from that place.
(3)Jonelle T.
Consistently some of the best chinese food in the area. My family and I have been going there for years and have no plans to stop. Chef John and his staff are wonderful, attentive, and friendly. Try the orange chicken and hot & sour soup. It's the BOMB!
(5)Sue H.
Been eating here for over 20 years! Most of the food is good, very consistent. Depends on what you like obviously, some of the dishes I don't like. But... all in all, if your in the area and looking for Chinese, check it out. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there. I just happen to pass by it quite a bit, so I get a lot of take out there.
(3)Molly G.
YUM. I'm a big fan of Best Wok - you're not getting any wheel-reinventing fusion dishes here - just a nice selection of Chinese American food that is mmm mmm good. I am a huge fan of their mu shu pork - and the presentation of it is ever so nice - I've never seen spoons do that before.
(4)Melissa S.
For your average lunch day special, this place will do. They offer either egg flower or hot and sour soup. Rice and an egg roll also comes with your lunch. You will definitely walk away full. They are always busy during lunch and yet we never need to wait for a table. The staff is attentive. The food is consistent. Parking is easy. As I watch lunch prices on the eastside steadily climb upwards this place is truly a value for the money.
(4)Miona H.
I love Best Wok. I don't know where to begin. If you're in the mood for some good ol' fashioned greasy take-out Chinese food, this is really the most awesome place in the area. I always order egg rolls (awesome), hot and sour soup (awesome), vegetable fried rice (awesome), chicken lo mein (awesome), and then whatever beef dish my boyfriend feels like ordering. His parents, by the way, have been coming to Best Wok for years. They moved out of state but whenever they come back, they always make a stop here. The people who work here are friendly and remember your name/order (if you tend to order the same things) pretty quick. They also waited and kept my food warm for me an extra 45min one night because I ran into crazy traffic on the way over to pick up my order. Overall, this place is stellar whenever you're in the mood for a Chinese take-out dinner/movie night. I've tried other Chinese restaurants in the area and they just taste too healthy and bland! Note: I've never dined in, only take-out.
(4)Janice W.
My husband and I went with two of our friends to this place due to the reviews I have read here. They were 100% correct! The exterior is misleading, but the inside is well decorated. The staff is attentive and friendly, and we enjoyed our delicious food. We stayed there for a long time, and they didn't seem to mind. They kept refilling and making sure we had what we needed. This place will be a place we will have to visit again and again. ETA: We never visited this place like I thought we would. We have found two Szechuan places we cannot stop frequenting, thus we never entertain revisiting this place. It was still a nice experience.
(4)Mike O.
We are long time fans of Best Wok. Most of our business with them is via phone orders though occasionally we dine in. Dennis and Keith are always friendly and helpful. In scores of orders from them we have not been disappointed. We particularly like their special (combination) friend rice and the assorted appetizer plate.
(5)Rachel G.
This is my first ever yelp review...I just have to tell about the goodness that is the BEST WOK. I live in California now, but when I lived in Bellevue this was THE BEST place to get quick chinese food. Not only are the prices great, the food and the service is AWESOME!!! Not to mention it's right down the street from my old high school....GO TOTES!!!! When I visit in the summer I look forward to eating here. My favorites are the brocolli beef and hunan chicken (mmmmmmm...I'm salivating just thinking about it!).
(5)Julie G.
I've been going to Best Wok since 1990. One of my favorite Chinese restaraunts on the East side. It's a cozy little place that has great staff and awesome service. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Aline P.
This place is ridiculously good. Most Americanized Chinese food doesn't taste that good...but somehow Best Wok is delicious! Service was fast and prompt, cheap lunch specials with big portions. And most importantly, like we all know, the food is delicious! And that's all that matters. The soup wasn't too good, but the entrees make up for it BIG time. I've never had such good Americanized Chinese food in my life. Long live Best Wok!
(5)Jonathan B.
I tried Best Wok for the first time on Saturday evening for pick-up. I hesitate to go any further before mentioning that the service was extremely good- I hope nobody who works as a server there is reading this review and takes it personally. The food, however, was different story... I ordered Sweet and Sour Pork, Almond Fried Chicken and General Tsao Beef, along with a couple of egg rolls. The egg rolls were OK, but honestly, I think the ones you can buy in the frozen section at Costco and fry at home are vastly superior. The bigger pieces of fried pork for the S&S Pork were pretty tender, but the small pieces were almost inedible they were so tough and chewy. The S&S Sauce was mediocre and one you would expect literally in any Chinese restuarant in the country. When I tried the Almond Chicken, same thing- the thicker pieces were pretty decent, but the thin pieces were like shards of fried cardboard and almost as tasty. The saving grace was the General Tsao Beef, (though not nearly as spicy as I was hoping for), which was tender and flavorful. Overall, my impression of this restaurant was spectacular service, bland food and whoever was manning the frier the night I was there was overzealous. The portions were big enough to have leftovers, but honestly, I didn't really enjoy the food the second time around either. I won't be back.
(2)Davida B.
My family has gone to the Best Wok since 1985. We used to go at the very minimum 5 times each year to celebrate life and school achievements, and I would dream of their lemon chicken and broccoli beef in between visits. The staff is very friendly and the service is outstanding. They know what we want as soon as we come in the door, and never forget the little extras we prefer. I highly recommend this restaurant for any occasion!
(5)Patrick T.
I have never had a bad meal here. The service is excellent and the food is great!
(5)Lynn A.
I have been searching and searching for good Americanized Chinese food ever since I moved from NYC to Seattle 4+ years ago. This may sound crazy, but I think it's harder to find great American-style than authentic Chinese food on the eastside. I finally found it, and thank goodness for Yelp or I would never have gone inside the nondescript exterior. The food is flavorful and perfectly cooked. Vegetables retain the right crisp and lightness. The chinese broccoli, garlic baby bok choy, and asparagus shrimp are particularly wonderful. Service is excellent too: just when ordering takeout, I have been ushered to a table, served tea and brought a magazine! Five stars for what it is, inexpensive Americanized Chinese. Update July 08: I recently spoke to the owner to mention how good their food was, and how I had not found decent American-style Chinese food since New York City. He told me the recipes were all from NYC, because he moved here from Brooklyn!
(5)Alyssa F.
What can I say my family loves chinese food. We have been coming here since we moved to Seattle in December of 1987 - I was 4. We don't celebrate Christmas so as most Jews do we went for chinese on Christmas eve. We have been every year since. It wasn't until we discovered Yea's that we were regulars, they even used to send us Christmas cards - funny how they didn't catch on... When my brother and I were little they would give use a bag of fortune cookies - not like we needed it though! They also give us the desert they give their chinese customers. Either the pineapple boat or the orange slices (maybe they give that to everyone now, not sure) or sometimes is jello with a Peach half on top. The waitstaff is so nice and the owner is great. The food comes out super fast and super hot. Their lunch menu is fab. Love the hot and sour soup!
(5)Jarrod L.
The service was incredible, but the food was just ok. The spicy dishes were not, though everything still tasted ok.
(3)J S.
not good. the quality is as cheap as the prices are. there are usually tons of kids from the middle school with their friends in here making it hard to even want to sit in there. Szechuan Chef is across the street and much better in every way.
(1)Dan N.
Well, we just got back from a dinner at Best Wok. My wife was concerned about the "Americanized Chinese Food" review from others, but I insisted that we need to judge for ourselves. Sadly, I have to admit that the food was indeed a poor version of Chinese food, americanized or not. We had the house soup as the waiter's description was interesting. As it turned out, the broth would seem to come straight out of the beef broth can (that you can buy from the market) with a mixture of vegetables that I am not sure why they were used (perhaps, they were left-over?) We also had soft-shelled crabs which were way over deep-fried and house-special duck which turned out to be mixed vegetable over roasted duck (the kind that are hung in the window of Chinese BBQ places). The (very dry) roasted duck ruined the flavor of the saute vegetables and vice versa. I don't think we will come back - as I seriously question the wisdom of a chef who would use roasted duck with saute vegetable and called it "house special" - even though the service was pretty good.
(2)Dan B.
Good lunch specials. Prices have risen a little bit recently, but still a good deal with soup, eggroll, rice, and entree. Kung Pao Chicken, Cashew Chicken, Broccoli and Beef are the favorites.
(4)aditee k.
Sure the service here is great ... but service can take you only so much in a restaurant. The core is the food... and sadly this place lacks it BIG time. The veggies had caught the refridgerator smell.... now thats a no NO!
(1)John P.
I have eaten here for the last 15 years and have not had one bad meal. While a few were just good, most have been outstanding. They take time and pride in preparing their food. The restaurant is clean and the service is reasonably fast. It is my first choice on the Eastside for Chinese food.
(4)Arthel B.
The outside is misleading as to the quality of the restaurant, tucked as it is next to a 7-11 right on 148th in Belleuve. But the food is Excellent!. Like John, I've eaten there for many years and the food is consistently good to excellent. I sometimes feel a little rushed by the staff in their effort to provide excellent service. But the flip side of that is that the food comes out fast. Yum! Enjoy!
(4)Larry M.
Very consistent, great Chinese food. I've only used the takeout, but the service and food is always good.
(5)