Good quality food and ready in a snap. 10 min wait time if you call ahead.
(4)
Hannah M.
This is the ONLY chinese place in Gainesville I will EVER go to. I just had it for the first time tonight after a 2 month strike from chinese food here. This place is as close to great chinese-american food you will get outside of NYC. The general tso chicken was amazing. The sauce was just the right type of spicy- hits you after a few bites and the vegetable fried rice was full of fresh and brightly colored, crunchy veggies. The chicken with broccoli was very good- delicious garlic sauce and their spring rolls are crunchy and tasty. The portions were huge- 3 people shared 2 meals, with leftovers. I honestly cannot wait until I can eat there again. The only con- they don't have scallion pancakes or vegetable/chicken fried dumplings. But- I'll just go back to NYC for that.
(5)
Jo-Ann G.
Best Chinese food in Gainesville. It appears like a typical New York-style Chinese place, but it's definitely much tastier than the average. They cook their food with fresh ingredients, no day old anything. I love eating there!
(5)
Sharon H.
My husband and I stopped by to have our quick lunch and the food was cheap and delicious. We both had all-you-can-eat buffet selections and they all tasted good. I would probably swing by again on my visit to the neighborhood.
This used to be the only decent place in Gainesville to get quick and cheap chinese food. It doesn't deliver, but it was always worth the trip. That was before. The quality just really started going downhill about a year ago, which seems to be about right considering the reviews on yelp. Currently, their chinese food is completely inedible. Multiple times my order has been wrong or missing an entire meal and I would have to drive back, to which I was simply handed the missing food and no apologizes given. The food itself is either greasy, grisly, or flavorless. There wasn't a single thing that I ate all of, except the white rice. Since the food used to be so good, I went back multiple times after experiencing such bad food, hoping it was a fluke. After a variety of foods, chicken, pork, beef, it appears this is the new standard. Stay away. Honestly, Panda Express is a better option than First Wok.
(1)
Laura Terese H.
Was craving chinese take out, which I rarely indulge in because its gotten so expensive! My boyfriend treated me this time :) Ordered over the phone, which due to language barriers can be hard at this location. She put him on hold at one point and he repeated the order again just to make sure. We got: 2 Pork egg rolls 1 small wonton soup (for him) 1 small wonton egg drop (for me!) 1 order of Moo Shu Pork 1 order of Beef and Broccoli (which i was so craving!) As usual they are super quick. Got home and everything smelled wonderful. The egg rolls were a bit sweet but still yummy. My soup was amazing, the combination of wontons in the egg drop makes me happy, i also tried his soup and the broth was hearty and also really good. The Moo Shu pork comes with Hoisin sauce and 4 pancakes. They give you a freaking ton of it , and it was so tasty. Went to open the beef and broccoli and surprise! it wasnt! It looked like sweet and sour something or other, bit into it and it was Orange chicken. So they did screw that up BUT it was still good, not what i ordered but whatever I didnt come away hungry! Next time i will be sure to check the order there. Overall, great take out.
(4)
Larry D.
Ordered Pork Lo Mein and an Egg Roll, absolutely the poorest example of Chinese food in my 12 years in Gainesville. I had been here for the same exact order several months ago and it was OK. This was definitely not OK by any measure. I have never ripped a local restaurant, everyone is trying to make a living, but this was truly abysmal.
(1)
Quang N.
This place is okay. The food is reasonable for the price. I really like the hour and sour soup here. I've gotten the mongolian beef and the dish was authentic but my own complaint is WAYYYYY less onions PLEASE. It's like they put a whole chopped up onion in this. I was wondering to myself where the hell the beef is??? If added my own beef to the dish after i bought it, would have been great!! More meat less veggies please!
(3)
Kevin W.
Rating it for what it is, First Wok is the best Chinese takeout I've had in Gainesville! The food is as good as Chinese takeout can be. The place is also clean, and the owners are quite nice. Their lunch specials are the best bang for the buck!
(5)
R L.
After seeing how much people liked it on here I expected more. It's what it looks like. Expect really bland American Chinese food.
(3)
Johnny L.
This place wasn't bad, but it's normal chinese take-out food. It is probably the best chinese food take-out in Gainesville (but that's not saying much). I do like how it's not as greasy as other places. The staff there are friendly enough and tend to remember repeat customers. I've had the chicken wings, which are great. I've always been a fan of Chinese take-out chicken wings. The general tso's chicken was pretty good. Definitely better here than other places. The steamed dumplings are ok. The prices aren't bad either, but no Chinese take-out places have high priced options. Not a lot of tables for a group to sit down and eat. This is primarily a take out place. No delivery. Worth a try. But I'm afraid Chinese take-out in Gainesville just isn't that great.
(3)
Nathalie M.
Awesome Chinese place. Love their fried rice and lo mein. Their wonton soup comes with a good amt of dumplings and none of their dishes are ridiculously greasy like a lot of Chinese places. Since I've moved to G'ville (two years ago) I was on a quest to find a descent Chinese Cantonese place and this was always my fave. Tried golden Buddha and even Szechuan but this one is number one. Only downside is there is no delivery,take out only. Try the steamed dumplings!! Enjoy Yumm Yumm. P.S.. Prices are very affordable!
(5)
Dylan T.
my first experience at "first wok" lol was pretty good! All I had was 5 dollars and I went ahead to get the vegetable fried rice, (small). I didn't know what the portions were like with this particular place so I was afraid it wouldn't fill me up. When I got home, I grabbed the only thing I had to drink with this late lunch... OJ lol. So I went ahead and started eating. First tasting a piece of broccoli then some rice and so on. This was "to my surprise" very good! Not greasy to the point where I felt like I would have a heart attack after I ate it, and definitely not too dry where the rice would be hard. It was a happy medium of good ole fashioned Southern U.S. Chinese rice! =] taste: 4.5 rice/ 4 for veggies quality: 4 presentation: 3? it's Chinese take out so yea.. customer service: 5 they spoke English! And it was ready in 5 minutes. Amount per serving: 5 It really filled me up! Over all score: 21.25 = 4.25 out of 5 This was compared to the following places. New Wok Wok and Roll Hot Wok China Star Golden Buddha Thanks for reading my review! =P
(4)
Adriann J.
Fresh, Tasty Chinese! Finally! Ya gotta try this place. Veggie fried rice add egg, Shrimp fried rice extra shrimp add egg, Sweet and Sour chicken, Spring rolls, Crab Rangoon, Shrimp lo mien. You'll thank me. Best Chinese I've had here. At least out of the items I've listed above. They'll always get my business.
(5)
Moe M.
Best and freshest Chinese in Gainesville! Remember to spice up ur dish. I recommend the chicken with green beans-- spicy of course.
(5)
Chris T.
First wok is probably the best Chinese take-out in Gainesville. Egg drop soup is a must have and their fried rice is pretty enjoyable. Nice staff as well.
(4)
Adam S.
What can I say other than this is really tasty Americanized Chinese food. I can't speak to it's authenticity nor do I care about that. If you are looking for a nice, crispy general tsos chicken with the perfect amount of spiciness and a nice pork fried rice, this is your place. If you want a fresh beef lo mein with the perfect ratio of greasiness, this is your place. It's cheap and quick here as well. I wish this place was in Miami because I would eat it all the time...
(5)
Anna M.
Just had take out for dinner and it's pretty average. The chow fun noodles were over cooked and stuck together in clumps. The shrimp were tasty and tender. The pork fried rice was decent, but overall everything was under seasoned. The cost is average for Chinese food. It's just ok.
Just moved down from NE and we are very spoiled. Most of the restaurants in Gainesville have been very disappointing. This little place was a pleasant surprise , the service was great the food was fresh fast and delicious. We will go back.
(4)
Jamie H.
My husband and I frequent numerous little Chinese food places around Gainesville, and this one is pretty darn good. It's fresh, fast and flavorful. The breading on the breaded chicken dishes (like the honey chicken) isn't overly thick which is a gripe of mine. The prices are VERY reasonable. My husband and I each got our own lunch combo (fried rice + entree + can of soda/water bottle) AND an order of dumplings and eggrolls... our total was $19.98. I look forward to trying them again!
(3)
Leah S.
As a Chinese-American growing up with a Chinese restaurant, it was hard to for me to eat at other Chinese restaurant because it felt like I was betraying my own place. With that said, First Wok has been the best Chinese take-out place that I have had in Gainesville. Some delicious foods dishes to try are the Beef Chow Fun, Singapore Rice Noodle, and the Chicken on a Stick.
(4)
Lin Z.
Love this place since it is the nearest Chinese restaurant with good dishes to me. I have eaten for months. And my advice: try their the food with shrimp, and avoid the food with other kinds meat :) They have very good shrimp cook skill hah
(4)
Kerri L.
We have just moved to this side of town and was looking for a new Chinese restaurant. The general tso chicken is pretty good! The bourbon chicken is not the best place in town. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars.
(4)
Cheryl B.
Stopped at 5:30 to pick up dinner on a Thurs Eve. The counter lady is friendly and liked that I was circling the items I wanted on a menu while waiting. That way she just took it and posted it on the fridge. :) We ordered 3 entree's w/ Rice, Egg Rolls, Fried Rice, & lo mein. Food was ready in about 15 min and we were out the door for home. 6 adults ate very well this evening. It was all good!!
(4)
Dave J.
I have been a few times to test it out. Unfortunately, the pork I got here tasted rotten. I didn't get very fresh fried wontons. The rice was not good at all but the lo mein was decent. The wonton soup was actually ok. I don't think there is a good cheap faux Chinese restaurant in Gainesville. I am a huge fan of HK Deli and this cannot compare.
(2)
Adam S.
What can I say other than this is really tasty Americanized Chinese food. I can't speak to it's authenticity nor do I care about that. If you are looking for a nice, crispy general tsos chicken with the perfect amount of spiciness and a nice pork fried rice, this is your place. If you want a fresh beef lo mein with the perfect ratio of greasiness, this is your place. It's cheap and quick here as well. I wish this place was in Miami because I would eat it all the time...
(5)
Anna M.
Just had take out for dinner and it's pretty average. The chow fun noodles were over cooked and stuck together in clumps. The shrimp were tasty and tender. The pork fried rice was decent, but overall everything was under seasoned. The cost is average for Chinese food. It's just ok.
(3)
Sharon H.
My husband and I stopped by to have our quick lunch and the food was cheap and delicious. We both had all-you-can-eat buffet selections and they all tasted good. I would probably swing by again on my visit to the neighborhood.
(4)
Quang N.
This place is okay. The food is reasonable for the price. I really like the hour and sour soup here. I've gotten the mongolian beef and the dish was authentic but my own complaint is WAYYYYY less onions PLEASE. It's like they put a whole chopped up onion in this. I was wondering to myself where the hell the beef is??? If added my own beef to the dish after i bought it, would have been great!! More meat less veggies please!
(3)
Kevin W.
Rating it for what it is, First Wok is the best Chinese takeout I've had in Gainesville! The food is as good as Chinese takeout can be. The place is also clean, and the owners are quite nice. Their lunch specials are the best bang for the buck!
(5)
R L.
After seeing how much people liked it on here I expected more. It's what it looks like. Expect really bland American Chinese food.
(3)
Johnny L.
This place wasn't bad, but it's normal chinese take-out food. It is probably the best chinese food take-out in Gainesville (but that's not saying much). I do like how it's not as greasy as other places. The staff there are friendly enough and tend to remember repeat customers. I've had the chicken wings, which are great. I've always been a fan of Chinese take-out chicken wings. The general tso's chicken was pretty good. Definitely better here than other places. The steamed dumplings are ok. The prices aren't bad either, but no Chinese take-out places have high priced options. Not a lot of tables for a group to sit down and eat. This is primarily a take out place. No delivery. Worth a try. But I'm afraid Chinese take-out in Gainesville just isn't that great.
(3)
Nathalie M.
Awesome Chinese place. Love their fried rice and lo mein. Their wonton soup comes with a good amt of dumplings and none of their dishes are ridiculously greasy like a lot of Chinese places. Since I've moved to G'ville (two years ago) I was on a quest to find a descent Chinese Cantonese place and this was always my fave. Tried golden Buddha and even Szechuan but this one is number one. Only downside is there is no delivery,take out only. Try the steamed dumplings!! Enjoy Yumm Yumm. P.S.. Prices are very affordable!
(5)
Dylan T.
my first experience at "first wok" lol was pretty good! All I had was 5 dollars and I went ahead to get the vegetable fried rice, (small). I didn't know what the portions were like with this particular place so I was afraid it wouldn't fill me up. When I got home, I grabbed the only thing I had to drink with this late lunch... OJ lol. So I went ahead and started eating. First tasting a piece of broccoli then some rice and so on. This was "to my surprise" very good! Not greasy to the point where I felt like I would have a heart attack after I ate it, and definitely not too dry where the rice would be hard. It was a happy medium of good ole fashioned Southern U.S. Chinese rice! =] taste: 4.5 rice/ 4 for veggies quality: 4 presentation: 3? it's Chinese take out so yea.. customer service: 5 they spoke English! And it was ready in 5 minutes. Amount per serving: 5 It really filled me up! Over all score: 21.25 = 4.25 out of 5 This was compared to the following places. New Wok Wok and Roll Hot Wok China Star Golden Buddha Thanks for reading my review! =P
(4)
Adriann J.
Fresh, Tasty Chinese! Finally! Ya gotta try this place. Veggie fried rice add egg, Shrimp fried rice extra shrimp add egg, Sweet and Sour chicken, Spring rolls, Crab Rangoon, Shrimp lo mien. You'll thank me. Best Chinese I've had here. At least out of the items I've listed above. They'll always get my business.
(5)
Moe M.
Best and freshest Chinese in Gainesville! Remember to spice up ur dish. I recommend the chicken with green beans-- spicy of course.
(5)
Chris T.
First wok is probably the best Chinese take-out in Gainesville. Egg drop soup is a must have and their fried rice is pretty enjoyable. Nice staff as well.
(4)
Hannah M.
This is the ONLY chinese place in Gainesville I will EVER go to. I just had it for the first time tonight after a 2 month strike from chinese food here. This place is as close to great chinese-american food you will get outside of NYC. The general tso chicken was amazing. The sauce was just the right type of spicy- hits you after a few bites and the vegetable fried rice was full of fresh and brightly colored, crunchy veggies. The chicken with broccoli was very good- delicious garlic sauce and their spring rolls are crunchy and tasty. The portions were huge- 3 people shared 2 meals, with leftovers. I honestly cannot wait until I can eat there again. The only con- they don't have scallion pancakes or vegetable/chicken fried dumplings. But- I'll just go back to NYC for that.
This used to be the only decent place in Gainesville to get quick and cheap chinese food. It doesn't deliver, but it was always worth the trip. That was before. The quality just really started going downhill about a year ago, which seems to be about right considering the reviews on yelp. Currently, their chinese food is completely inedible. Multiple times my order has been wrong or missing an entire meal and I would have to drive back, to which I was simply handed the missing food and no apologizes given. The food itself is either greasy, grisly, or flavorless. There wasn't a single thing that I ate all of, except the white rice. Since the food used to be so good, I went back multiple times after experiencing such bad food, hoping it was a fluke. After a variety of foods, chicken, pork, beef, it appears this is the new standard. Stay away. Honestly, Panda Express is a better option than First Wok.
(1)
Laura Terese H.
Was craving chinese take out, which I rarely indulge in because its gotten so expensive! My boyfriend treated me this time :) Ordered over the phone, which due to language barriers can be hard at this location. She put him on hold at one point and he repeated the order again just to make sure. We got: 2 Pork egg rolls 1 small wonton soup (for him) 1 small wonton egg drop (for me!) 1 order of Moo Shu Pork 1 order of Beef and Broccoli (which i was so craving!) As usual they are super quick. Got home and everything smelled wonderful. The egg rolls were a bit sweet but still yummy. My soup was amazing, the combination of wontons in the egg drop makes me happy, i also tried his soup and the broth was hearty and also really good. The Moo Shu pork comes with Hoisin sauce and 4 pancakes. They give you a freaking ton of it , and it was so tasty. Went to open the beef and broccoli and surprise! it wasnt! It looked like sweet and sour something or other, bit into it and it was Orange chicken. So they did screw that up BUT it was still good, not what i ordered but whatever I didnt come away hungry! Next time i will be sure to check the order there. Overall, great take out.
(4)
Larry D.
Ordered Pork Lo Mein and an Egg Roll, absolutely the poorest example of Chinese food in my 12 years in Gainesville. I had been here for the same exact order several months ago and it was OK. This was definitely not OK by any measure. I have never ripped a local restaurant, everyone is trying to make a living, but this was truly abysmal.
(1)
Jamie H.
My husband and I frequent numerous little Chinese food places around Gainesville, and this one is pretty darn good. It's fresh, fast and flavorful. The breading on the breaded chicken dishes (like the honey chicken) isn't overly thick which is a gripe of mine. The prices are VERY reasonable. My husband and I each got our own lunch combo (fried rice + entree + can of soda/water bottle) AND an order of dumplings and eggrolls... our total was $19.98. I look forward to trying them again!
Just moved down from NE and we are very spoiled. Most of the restaurants in Gainesville have been very disappointing. This little place was a pleasant surprise , the service was great the food was fresh fast and delicious. We will go back.
(4)
Leah S.
As a Chinese-American growing up with a Chinese restaurant, it was hard to for me to eat at other Chinese restaurant because it felt like I was betraying my own place. With that said, First Wok has been the best Chinese take-out place that I have had in Gainesville. Some delicious foods dishes to try are the Beef Chow Fun, Singapore Rice Noodle, and the Chicken on a Stick.
(4)
Lin Z.
Love this place since it is the nearest Chinese restaurant with good dishes to me. I have eaten for months. And my advice: try their the food with shrimp, and avoid the food with other kinds meat :) They have very good shrimp cook skill hah
(4)
Kerri L.
We have just moved to this side of town and was looking for a new Chinese restaurant. The general tso chicken is pretty good! The bourbon chicken is not the best place in town. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars.
(4)
Cheryl B.
Stopped at 5:30 to pick up dinner on a Thurs Eve. The counter lady is friendly and liked that I was circling the items I wanted on a menu while waiting. That way she just took it and posted it on the fridge. :) We ordered 3 entree's w/ Rice, Egg Rolls, Fried Rice, & lo mein. Food was ready in about 15 min and we were out the door for home. 6 adults ate very well this evening. It was all good!!
(4)
Dave J.
I have been a few times to test it out. Unfortunately, the pork I got here tasted rotten. I didn't get very fresh fried wontons. The rice was not good at all but the lo mein was decent. The wonton soup was actually ok. I don't think there is a good cheap faux Chinese restaurant in Gainesville. I am a huge fan of HK Deli and this cannot compare.
(2)
Jo-Ann G.
Best Chinese food in Gainesville. It appears like a typical New York-style Chinese place, but it's definitely much tastier than the average. They cook their food with fresh ingredients, no day old anything. I love eating there!
(5)
Brent C.
Good quality food and ready in a snap. 10 min wait time if you call ahead.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Waiter Service : No
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.
Brent C.
Good quality food and ready in a snap. 10 min wait time if you call ahead.
(4)Hannah M.
This is the ONLY chinese place in Gainesville I will EVER go to. I just had it for the first time tonight after a 2 month strike from chinese food here. This place is as close to great chinese-american food you will get outside of NYC. The general tso chicken was amazing. The sauce was just the right type of spicy- hits you after a few bites and the vegetable fried rice was full of fresh and brightly colored, crunchy veggies. The chicken with broccoli was very good- delicious garlic sauce and their spring rolls are crunchy and tasty. The portions were huge- 3 people shared 2 meals, with leftovers. I honestly cannot wait until I can eat there again. The only con- they don't have scallion pancakes or vegetable/chicken fried dumplings. But- I'll just go back to NYC for that.
(5)Jo-Ann G.
Best Chinese food in Gainesville. It appears like a typical New York-style Chinese place, but it's definitely much tastier than the average. They cook their food with fresh ingredients, no day old anything. I love eating there!
(5)Sharon H.
My husband and I stopped by to have our quick lunch and the food was cheap and delicious. We both had all-you-can-eat buffet selections and they all tasted good. I would probably swing by again on my visit to the neighborhood.
(4)Desireé M.
This used to be the only decent place in Gainesville to get quick and cheap chinese food. It doesn't deliver, but it was always worth the trip. That was before. The quality just really started going downhill about a year ago, which seems to be about right considering the reviews on yelp. Currently, their chinese food is completely inedible. Multiple times my order has been wrong or missing an entire meal and I would have to drive back, to which I was simply handed the missing food and no apologizes given. The food itself is either greasy, grisly, or flavorless. There wasn't a single thing that I ate all of, except the white rice. Since the food used to be so good, I went back multiple times after experiencing such bad food, hoping it was a fluke. After a variety of foods, chicken, pork, beef, it appears this is the new standard. Stay away. Honestly, Panda Express is a better option than First Wok.
(1)Laura Terese H.
Was craving chinese take out, which I rarely indulge in because its gotten so expensive! My boyfriend treated me this time :) Ordered over the phone, which due to language barriers can be hard at this location. She put him on hold at one point and he repeated the order again just to make sure. We got: 2 Pork egg rolls 1 small wonton soup (for him) 1 small wonton egg drop (for me!) 1 order of Moo Shu Pork 1 order of Beef and Broccoli (which i was so craving!) As usual they are super quick. Got home and everything smelled wonderful. The egg rolls were a bit sweet but still yummy. My soup was amazing, the combination of wontons in the egg drop makes me happy, i also tried his soup and the broth was hearty and also really good. The Moo Shu pork comes with Hoisin sauce and 4 pancakes. They give you a freaking ton of it , and it was so tasty. Went to open the beef and broccoli and surprise! it wasnt! It looked like sweet and sour something or other, bit into it and it was Orange chicken. So they did screw that up BUT it was still good, not what i ordered but whatever I didnt come away hungry! Next time i will be sure to check the order there. Overall, great take out.
(4)Larry D.
Ordered Pork Lo Mein and an Egg Roll, absolutely the poorest example of Chinese food in my 12 years in Gainesville. I had been here for the same exact order several months ago and it was OK. This was definitely not OK by any measure. I have never ripped a local restaurant, everyone is trying to make a living, but this was truly abysmal.
(1)Quang N.
This place is okay. The food is reasonable for the price. I really like the hour and sour soup here. I've gotten the mongolian beef and the dish was authentic but my own complaint is WAYYYYY less onions PLEASE. It's like they put a whole chopped up onion in this. I was wondering to myself where the hell the beef is??? If added my own beef to the dish after i bought it, would have been great!! More meat less veggies please!
(3)Kevin W.
Rating it for what it is, First Wok is the best Chinese takeout I've had in Gainesville! The food is as good as Chinese takeout can be. The place is also clean, and the owners are quite nice. Their lunch specials are the best bang for the buck!
(5)R L.
After seeing how much people liked it on here I expected more. It's what it looks like. Expect really bland American Chinese food.
(3)Johnny L.
This place wasn't bad, but it's normal chinese take-out food. It is probably the best chinese food take-out in Gainesville (but that's not saying much). I do like how it's not as greasy as other places. The staff there are friendly enough and tend to remember repeat customers. I've had the chicken wings, which are great. I've always been a fan of Chinese take-out chicken wings. The general tso's chicken was pretty good. Definitely better here than other places. The steamed dumplings are ok. The prices aren't bad either, but no Chinese take-out places have high priced options. Not a lot of tables for a group to sit down and eat. This is primarily a take out place. No delivery. Worth a try. But I'm afraid Chinese take-out in Gainesville just isn't that great.
(3)Nathalie M.
Awesome Chinese place. Love their fried rice and lo mein. Their wonton soup comes with a good amt of dumplings and none of their dishes are ridiculously greasy like a lot of Chinese places. Since I've moved to G'ville (two years ago) I was on a quest to find a descent Chinese Cantonese place and this was always my fave. Tried golden Buddha and even Szechuan but this one is number one. Only downside is there is no delivery,take out only. Try the steamed dumplings!! Enjoy Yumm Yumm. P.S.. Prices are very affordable!
(5)Dylan T.
my first experience at "first wok" lol was pretty good! All I had was 5 dollars and I went ahead to get the vegetable fried rice, (small). I didn't know what the portions were like with this particular place so I was afraid it wouldn't fill me up. When I got home, I grabbed the only thing I had to drink with this late lunch... OJ lol. So I went ahead and started eating. First tasting a piece of broccoli then some rice and so on. This was "to my surprise" very good! Not greasy to the point where I felt like I would have a heart attack after I ate it, and definitely not too dry where the rice would be hard. It was a happy medium of good ole fashioned Southern U.S. Chinese rice! =] taste: 4.5 rice/ 4 for veggies quality: 4 presentation: 3? it's Chinese take out so yea.. customer service: 5 they spoke English! And it was ready in 5 minutes. Amount per serving: 5 It really filled me up! Over all score: 21.25 = 4.25 out of 5 This was compared to the following places. New Wok Wok and Roll Hot Wok China Star Golden Buddha Thanks for reading my review! =P
(4)Adriann J.
Fresh, Tasty Chinese! Finally! Ya gotta try this place. Veggie fried rice add egg, Shrimp fried rice extra shrimp add egg, Sweet and Sour chicken, Spring rolls, Crab Rangoon, Shrimp lo mien. You'll thank me. Best Chinese I've had here. At least out of the items I've listed above. They'll always get my business.
(5)Moe M.
Best and freshest Chinese in Gainesville! Remember to spice up ur dish. I recommend the chicken with green beans-- spicy of course.
(5)Chris T.
First wok is probably the best Chinese take-out in Gainesville. Egg drop soup is a must have and their fried rice is pretty enjoyable. Nice staff as well.
(4)Adam S.
What can I say other than this is really tasty Americanized Chinese food. I can't speak to it's authenticity nor do I care about that. If you are looking for a nice, crispy general tsos chicken with the perfect amount of spiciness and a nice pork fried rice, this is your place. If you want a fresh beef lo mein with the perfect ratio of greasiness, this is your place. It's cheap and quick here as well. I wish this place was in Miami because I would eat it all the time...
(5)Anna M.
Just had take out for dinner and it's pretty average. The chow fun noodles were over cooked and stuck together in clumps. The shrimp were tasty and tender. The pork fried rice was decent, but overall everything was under seasoned. The cost is average for Chinese food. It's just ok.
(3)Eric F.
Having a hard time finding good Chinese food in Chicago it's always good to come home and find a place like this. The chicken is always crispy and the shrimp in the fried rice are huge. My fiancé ordered the egg foo young which came with 3 patties and medium shrimp inside. Such a delight. You should visit!
(4)Roger J.
Just moved down from NE and we are very spoiled. Most of the restaurants in Gainesville have been very disappointing. This little place was a pleasant surprise , the service was great the food was fresh fast and delicious. We will go back.
(4)Jamie H.
My husband and I frequent numerous little Chinese food places around Gainesville, and this one is pretty darn good. It's fresh, fast and flavorful. The breading on the breaded chicken dishes (like the honey chicken) isn't overly thick which is a gripe of mine. The prices are VERY reasonable. My husband and I each got our own lunch combo (fried rice + entree + can of soda/water bottle) AND an order of dumplings and eggrolls... our total was $19.98. I look forward to trying them again!
(3)Leah S.
As a Chinese-American growing up with a Chinese restaurant, it was hard to for me to eat at other Chinese restaurant because it felt like I was betraying my own place. With that said, First Wok has been the best Chinese take-out place that I have had in Gainesville. Some delicious foods dishes to try are the Beef Chow Fun, Singapore Rice Noodle, and the Chicken on a Stick.
(4)Lin Z.
Love this place since it is the nearest Chinese restaurant with good dishes to me. I have eaten for months. And my advice: try their the food with shrimp, and avoid the food with other kinds meat :) They have very good shrimp cook skill hah
(4)Kerri L.
We have just moved to this side of town and was looking for a new Chinese restaurant. The general tso chicken is pretty good! The bourbon chicken is not the best place in town. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars.
(4)Cheryl B.
Stopped at 5:30 to pick up dinner on a Thurs Eve. The counter lady is friendly and liked that I was circling the items I wanted on a menu while waiting. That way she just took it and posted it on the fridge. :) We ordered 3 entree's w/ Rice, Egg Rolls, Fried Rice, & lo mein. Food was ready in about 15 min and we were out the door for home. 6 adults ate very well this evening. It was all good!!
(4)Dave J.
I have been a few times to test it out. Unfortunately, the pork I got here tasted rotten. I didn't get very fresh fried wontons. The rice was not good at all but the lo mein was decent. The wonton soup was actually ok. I don't think there is a good cheap faux Chinese restaurant in Gainesville. I am a huge fan of HK Deli and this cannot compare.
(2)Adam S.
What can I say other than this is really tasty Americanized Chinese food. I can't speak to it's authenticity nor do I care about that. If you are looking for a nice, crispy general tsos chicken with the perfect amount of spiciness and a nice pork fried rice, this is your place. If you want a fresh beef lo mein with the perfect ratio of greasiness, this is your place. It's cheap and quick here as well. I wish this place was in Miami because I would eat it all the time...
(5)Anna M.
Just had take out for dinner and it's pretty average. The chow fun noodles were over cooked and stuck together in clumps. The shrimp were tasty and tender. The pork fried rice was decent, but overall everything was under seasoned. The cost is average for Chinese food. It's just ok.
(3)Sharon H.
My husband and I stopped by to have our quick lunch and the food was cheap and delicious. We both had all-you-can-eat buffet selections and they all tasted good. I would probably swing by again on my visit to the neighborhood.
(4)Quang N.
This place is okay. The food is reasonable for the price. I really like the hour and sour soup here. I've gotten the mongolian beef and the dish was authentic but my own complaint is WAYYYYY less onions PLEASE. It's like they put a whole chopped up onion in this. I was wondering to myself where the hell the beef is??? If added my own beef to the dish after i bought it, would have been great!! More meat less veggies please!
(3)Kevin W.
Rating it for what it is, First Wok is the best Chinese takeout I've had in Gainesville! The food is as good as Chinese takeout can be. The place is also clean, and the owners are quite nice. Their lunch specials are the best bang for the buck!
(5)R L.
After seeing how much people liked it on here I expected more. It's what it looks like. Expect really bland American Chinese food.
(3)Johnny L.
This place wasn't bad, but it's normal chinese take-out food. It is probably the best chinese food take-out in Gainesville (but that's not saying much). I do like how it's not as greasy as other places. The staff there are friendly enough and tend to remember repeat customers. I've had the chicken wings, which are great. I've always been a fan of Chinese take-out chicken wings. The general tso's chicken was pretty good. Definitely better here than other places. The steamed dumplings are ok. The prices aren't bad either, but no Chinese take-out places have high priced options. Not a lot of tables for a group to sit down and eat. This is primarily a take out place. No delivery. Worth a try. But I'm afraid Chinese take-out in Gainesville just isn't that great.
(3)Nathalie M.
Awesome Chinese place. Love their fried rice and lo mein. Their wonton soup comes with a good amt of dumplings and none of their dishes are ridiculously greasy like a lot of Chinese places. Since I've moved to G'ville (two years ago) I was on a quest to find a descent Chinese Cantonese place and this was always my fave. Tried golden Buddha and even Szechuan but this one is number one. Only downside is there is no delivery,take out only. Try the steamed dumplings!! Enjoy Yumm Yumm. P.S.. Prices are very affordable!
(5)Dylan T.
my first experience at "first wok" lol was pretty good! All I had was 5 dollars and I went ahead to get the vegetable fried rice, (small). I didn't know what the portions were like with this particular place so I was afraid it wouldn't fill me up. When I got home, I grabbed the only thing I had to drink with this late lunch... OJ lol. So I went ahead and started eating. First tasting a piece of broccoli then some rice and so on. This was "to my surprise" very good! Not greasy to the point where I felt like I would have a heart attack after I ate it, and definitely not too dry where the rice would be hard. It was a happy medium of good ole fashioned Southern U.S. Chinese rice! =] taste: 4.5 rice/ 4 for veggies quality: 4 presentation: 3? it's Chinese take out so yea.. customer service: 5 they spoke English! And it was ready in 5 minutes. Amount per serving: 5 It really filled me up! Over all score: 21.25 = 4.25 out of 5 This was compared to the following places. New Wok Wok and Roll Hot Wok China Star Golden Buddha Thanks for reading my review! =P
(4)Adriann J.
Fresh, Tasty Chinese! Finally! Ya gotta try this place. Veggie fried rice add egg, Shrimp fried rice extra shrimp add egg, Sweet and Sour chicken, Spring rolls, Crab Rangoon, Shrimp lo mien. You'll thank me. Best Chinese I've had here. At least out of the items I've listed above. They'll always get my business.
(5)Moe M.
Best and freshest Chinese in Gainesville! Remember to spice up ur dish. I recommend the chicken with green beans-- spicy of course.
(5)Chris T.
First wok is probably the best Chinese take-out in Gainesville. Egg drop soup is a must have and their fried rice is pretty enjoyable. Nice staff as well.
(4)Hannah M.
This is the ONLY chinese place in Gainesville I will EVER go to. I just had it for the first time tonight after a 2 month strike from chinese food here. This place is as close to great chinese-american food you will get outside of NYC. The general tso chicken was amazing. The sauce was just the right type of spicy- hits you after a few bites and the vegetable fried rice was full of fresh and brightly colored, crunchy veggies. The chicken with broccoli was very good- delicious garlic sauce and their spring rolls are crunchy and tasty. The portions were huge- 3 people shared 2 meals, with leftovers. I honestly cannot wait until I can eat there again. The only con- they don't have scallion pancakes or vegetable/chicken fried dumplings. But- I'll just go back to NYC for that.
(5)Desireé M.
This used to be the only decent place in Gainesville to get quick and cheap chinese food. It doesn't deliver, but it was always worth the trip. That was before. The quality just really started going downhill about a year ago, which seems to be about right considering the reviews on yelp. Currently, their chinese food is completely inedible. Multiple times my order has been wrong or missing an entire meal and I would have to drive back, to which I was simply handed the missing food and no apologizes given. The food itself is either greasy, grisly, or flavorless. There wasn't a single thing that I ate all of, except the white rice. Since the food used to be so good, I went back multiple times after experiencing such bad food, hoping it was a fluke. After a variety of foods, chicken, pork, beef, it appears this is the new standard. Stay away. Honestly, Panda Express is a better option than First Wok.
(1)Laura Terese H.
Was craving chinese take out, which I rarely indulge in because its gotten so expensive! My boyfriend treated me this time :) Ordered over the phone, which due to language barriers can be hard at this location. She put him on hold at one point and he repeated the order again just to make sure. We got: 2 Pork egg rolls 1 small wonton soup (for him) 1 small wonton egg drop (for me!) 1 order of Moo Shu Pork 1 order of Beef and Broccoli (which i was so craving!) As usual they are super quick. Got home and everything smelled wonderful. The egg rolls were a bit sweet but still yummy. My soup was amazing, the combination of wontons in the egg drop makes me happy, i also tried his soup and the broth was hearty and also really good. The Moo Shu pork comes with Hoisin sauce and 4 pancakes. They give you a freaking ton of it , and it was so tasty. Went to open the beef and broccoli and surprise! it wasnt! It looked like sweet and sour something or other, bit into it and it was Orange chicken. So they did screw that up BUT it was still good, not what i ordered but whatever I didnt come away hungry! Next time i will be sure to check the order there. Overall, great take out.
(4)Larry D.
Ordered Pork Lo Mein and an Egg Roll, absolutely the poorest example of Chinese food in my 12 years in Gainesville. I had been here for the same exact order several months ago and it was OK. This was definitely not OK by any measure. I have never ripped a local restaurant, everyone is trying to make a living, but this was truly abysmal.
(1)Jamie H.
My husband and I frequent numerous little Chinese food places around Gainesville, and this one is pretty darn good. It's fresh, fast and flavorful. The breading on the breaded chicken dishes (like the honey chicken) isn't overly thick which is a gripe of mine. The prices are VERY reasonable. My husband and I each got our own lunch combo (fried rice + entree + can of soda/water bottle) AND an order of dumplings and eggrolls... our total was $19.98. I look forward to trying them again!
(3)Eric F.
Having a hard time finding good Chinese food in Chicago it's always good to come home and find a place like this. The chicken is always crispy and the shrimp in the fried rice are huge. My fiancé ordered the egg foo young which came with 3 patties and medium shrimp inside. Such a delight. You should visit!
(4)Roger J.
Just moved down from NE and we are very spoiled. Most of the restaurants in Gainesville have been very disappointing. This little place was a pleasant surprise , the service was great the food was fresh fast and delicious. We will go back.
(4)Leah S.
As a Chinese-American growing up with a Chinese restaurant, it was hard to for me to eat at other Chinese restaurant because it felt like I was betraying my own place. With that said, First Wok has been the best Chinese take-out place that I have had in Gainesville. Some delicious foods dishes to try are the Beef Chow Fun, Singapore Rice Noodle, and the Chicken on a Stick.
(4)Lin Z.
Love this place since it is the nearest Chinese restaurant with good dishes to me. I have eaten for months. And my advice: try their the food with shrimp, and avoid the food with other kinds meat :) They have very good shrimp cook skill hah
(4)Kerri L.
We have just moved to this side of town and was looking for a new Chinese restaurant. The general tso chicken is pretty good! The bourbon chicken is not the best place in town. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars.
(4)Cheryl B.
Stopped at 5:30 to pick up dinner on a Thurs Eve. The counter lady is friendly and liked that I was circling the items I wanted on a menu while waiting. That way she just took it and posted it on the fridge. :) We ordered 3 entree's w/ Rice, Egg Rolls, Fried Rice, & lo mein. Food was ready in about 15 min and we were out the door for home. 6 adults ate very well this evening. It was all good!!
(4)Dave J.
I have been a few times to test it out. Unfortunately, the pork I got here tasted rotten. I didn't get very fresh fried wontons. The rice was not good at all but the lo mein was decent. The wonton soup was actually ok. I don't think there is a good cheap faux Chinese restaurant in Gainesville. I am a huge fan of HK Deli and this cannot compare.
(2)Jo-Ann G.
Best Chinese food in Gainesville. It appears like a typical New York-style Chinese place, but it's definitely much tastier than the average. They cook their food with fresh ingredients, no day old anything. I love eating there!
(5)Brent C.
Good quality food and ready in a snap. 10 min wait time if you call ahead.
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