ABC Seafood Chinese Restaurant
2705 54th Ave N,Ste 3, St. Petersburg, FL, 33714
ABC Seafood Chinese Restaurant Menu
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Address :
2705 54th Ave N,Ste 3
St. Petersburg, FL, 33714 - Phone (727) 522-1888
- Website https://www.abcchineseseafood.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 12:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
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 : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
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.
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Thuyen B.
Yum! I think this is the best Chinese I've had on this side of the bay! Place is normally packed every time we go. Well worth the wait. Steam bun appetizers were light and fluffy. Nothing inside of them though, just buns. Hot and sour seafood soup- delicious! Their salt & pepper calamari is very good and their seafood fried rice with XO sauce is so flavorful! I'm due for a visit back to try some other menu items!
(4)Lori S.
Great food! Definitely will be back!!! Went xmas and had many dishes and everything was tasty!
(5)Bill P.
So far the most realistic in Florida Ordered the jellyfish dish I thought it was better than NYC Chinatown. The seafood Chinese veggies pan fried noodles was excellent We shall return!!!
(5)Ally S.
I say this is my second choice of authentic chinese food. My favorite place is Lucky star on 66th st. Service can be better here. A bit more pricey compared with Lucky star also.
(3)Chris T.
Had the peking pork and shrimp lomein. Absolutely amazing. Just moved into the area I was expecting average and got remarkable.
(5)Chanse C.
Still one of the best authentic Chinese restaurant. Seems they have changed owner but the food and services are still good. Be sure to be ready when the arrive to take your order.
(4)Scott S.
Perhaps the best Chinese food we have had. Recommend the honey walnut shrimp with walnuts. We subbed broccoli for the book choi. Sweet and sour chicken was excellent. They go light on the sauces so you don't have that heavy feeling when done. Tried shrimp with eggplant last time, not my favorite. Best would be to bring 4 or 6 people and try a lot of different dishes. Service was great but they can get very crowded some nights.
(5)Harold K.
After visiting Clearwater I try out this restaurant since the reviews gave it thumbs up. The food is amazing and you get large portions. The seating is less than desired but the food makes up for this shortfall.
(4)Tiffany H.
What happens when you want dinner and it's sort of late? You find yourself at ABC because you remember so many of your friends raving about it and it popped up on yelp as being open at 10pm. I've been here twice now. The service has been garbage each time. The ambiance has been a bit crummy each time too. The food... was a toss up. The first time I ordered the mongolian beef. Tons of meat, nice mixture of veggies, decent flavor even though it was a little greasier than expected. I would rank it a 4/5. The second time I went I wanted duck. I asked the waitress if she would go for the XO shredded duck chow fun or the soup with roast duck. She said noodles, so that's what I got. I expected a decent amount of meat, but I received about three pieces the size of a green bean and a ton of greasy, fatty duck skin. The noodles were also coated in a nice layer of grease. Basically, all the duck fat I would like to fry my eggs in was living on my dinner plate. I was hoping I would find actual duck in my duck noodle dish and was sorely disappointed. Never again. When someone asked how everything was and I commented about there being a ton of fat but nothing in the way of actual protein, they responded with the verbal equivalent of a shrug. I'm not sure what's worse - that or being served coffee by a hipster who thinks they're too good to serve you swill. On an entertaining note, we wanted to order something spicy without pork in it. After a lot of time trying to explain this, we were told to order XO sauce without the XO. That one came out pork-less and okay according to my dinner-mate.
(2)Christina F.
I am very sad to demote ABC to only three stars. We still feel this is the best Chinese food we've had in Pinellas, but the last few times we were here it just wasn't as great as it had been in the past. It's a great place for groups, as portions are shareable and the very fried fish oriented menu makes for a fun everybody-likes-fried-calamari situation. Well, unless you're vegetarian, I guess. I would not recommend this place for vegetarians. Last time I checked the menu the tofu+veggie dishes come in a fish sauce. Don't invite your vegetarian friends to the fried calamari party. But, yea. It makes me sad. Something shifted in the staff/kitchen, maybe new ownership, but it hasn't been the same. Everything is a little greasier. The place seems kind of dirty. Occasionally I get products that seem like they haven't been thoroughly cleaned (steamed bok choy has some dirt residue on it). This was our go-to place for take out, like when we first moved here 2.5 yrs ago and discovered ABC we were dining here once a week. At some point about a year ago, it started changing, and we haven't been huge fans since. Will not be back until I have a very serious craving for salt & pepper calamari.
(3)Ryan Z.
Best hong kong style chinese food this side of the bridge. everything is very good. of course however, the service is bad - because this is an asian restaurant. NOTE: EVERY ASIAN ESTABLISHMENT HAS BAD SERVICE. THIS IS NOT NEW (UNLESS IT IS A CHINESE BUFFET). It makes me scratch my head when people wonder why they get bad service at an asian restauraunt. No duh. The food however, is fantastic. Very Hong Kong. Bruce Lee would dine here.
(5)Baillie Z.
This place used to be good until they changed owners about 2 years ago. Being Chinese, we are very picky about Chinese food being authentic and good tasting. since changing ownership, the food quality has been on a steady decline. Peking duck was cut waaayyyy too thick (not sliced duck like it should be), all dishes were extremely salty. there was no "sizzle" in my black pepper beef ribs - it tasted like boiled beef later put into a plate. When we asked the owner why the food quality isn't as good as before, the owner lied by saying they have been the original owners for over 10 years, then later switched her word to say 5 years. Not very honest. Needless to say, we won't be going back anytime soon.
(2)Kelleigh M.
I've been wanting to try this restaurant for awhile. The only problem is they are only open for dinner and rarely are we in pinellas county at dinner time. Until tonight. After a late appointment, I stopped by to get some takeout. We all have our "go to" dishes that we get in order to judge the quality and authenticity of the restaurant. Mine are wonton soup and pork fried rice. Once I arrived home, I was happy when I opened up the to go boxes. Everything looked fresh and legit. Both dishes were spot on...but I must say that my go to for the best Chinese in the Tampa Bay Area is Yummy House. Although this is a good option when you're on the pinellas side of the bay, I still don't feel like it compares to YH.
(4)Luv S.
Great food! The only place around where you can pick your seafood live from their tanks. Portions are large as well. Fresh whole fish, eel, and shrimp come directly from the tanks. When you order the jellyfish you can choose from the head or tenticles. Service is friendly and attentive. I like togo to ethnic places and see that food is being consumed by 90% of that cultures people.
(5)Nicole V.
I'm from out of town and called in an order to this restaurant without looking at the hours, when I got to the establishment it was closed. But! One of the staff members was waving at my from the door with my order. He could have turned me away, but he didn't. I am so touched by this restaurant's commitment to costumer service and will absolutely tell the world about this place!!
(5)Vickie J.
Good authentic Chinese food for Family Style eating. The food all comes out at different times so it's probably best to do family style or someone will be hungrily staring at you :-) Food is good and plentiful. For the most part is very fresh. I haven't liked everything I've tried, but I've liked most of what I've tried.
(3)Todd B.
Got an order to go, and it was a mixed bag. On the one hand, the roast pork lo mein was a 5 star winner. Probably the best I've had since moving to Florida in 2007. The won ton soup was Hong Kong style, and while I don't know what that means, I do know it wasn't the typical won ton soup I've come to expect and not as good. If there was a country that subsisted solely on scallions, then they'd be dying of starvation today because of how much scallion was is this soup. It was okay, but I've had much better. The egg rolls were pathetic. Small, thin spring rolls. Not the thick, crispy rolls filled with yummy somethings, but tiny little things that couldn't satisfy anyone. So, food wise, I would say this was all over the place. The biggest issue was service. We showed up at 6:30 and placed our to-go order by 6:40. I will admit that they were busy - not full, but that had at least a half dozen tables of parties of 2-4, and 3 tables of at least 10. Our order did not come out until after 7:30. We waited almost an hour, if not a full hour - for take out chinese. While we were waiting, a woman came in to pick up a phone-in order, and she was so upset at having been told 10-15 minutes, and then waiting an additional 20-30 after showing up, that she grabbed the arm of the woman at the counter to chastise her. Multiple people came to pick up to-go orders who were told 10-15 or 15-20 and waited an hour. We placed our orders separately, but one right after the other. Mine came out after 45+ minutes, and hers came out a good 5-10 minutes later. We complained, and they apologized, but that was it. Had they not charged us in advance, we would have left many times over. But, unfortunately, they charged us when we ordered and it seemed even getting our money back would be an ordeal (the same woman who took our order appeared to be the only one who could work the register, handle take out orders, and she had one of the large parties to serve, too). It was dinner time, they were busy. I understand it all, but you have to manage your customer's expectations better. Don't tell people 10-15 minutes when you have 3 parties of 10+ along with other tables. Don't let people place more take out orders when you know your current take out orders are taking over 30 minutes without first warning people. So I guess the summary is, good food depending on what you order but horrible management/customer service.
(3)Rita S.
We loved everything we ordered. The seafood and tofu soup was fresh and delicious and not overly salted, as it is in many restaurants. The steamed dumplings were homemade, unlike other Chinese restaurants. Flavorful, too. Entree was shrimp and eggplant. Perfect blend of seasonings in a brown sauce. Wish we lived closer. We would eat here weekly. The decor was plain, but who cared!
(5)L K.
The absolute BEST. We go at least once a week, sometimes 2-3 times! Everything is amazing, fresh, and doesn't make you feel gross like most Chinese. General tzo chicken is like chicken candy, the clay pots are incredible, literally everything this delish. We tried the salt and pepper lobster tonight- TO DIE FOR. My boyfriend even got another order to go because he had to have it again tomorrow for lunch.
(5)Yang J.
Fast service, good bubble tea. The sea food tastes average, especially the lobster could use some better cook. Decor shows some age and I would recommend for a renovation soon.
(3)Marty C.
We've been told about this place for years and finally decided to go. It's hours of operation are a bit unique with opening at 5pm and closing at midnight. It's also easy to miss it in a nondescript strip center on 54th Ave. When you first enter, we noticed the fish/crustacean tanks full of what will soon become our dinner. For starters, we ordered the hot & sour seafood soup and the pan-fried dumplings. The soup was just OK however, we find out later that they are known for their wonton soup(we'll get that next time). The dumplings were fresh and awesome. For the main course, we went all out. We ordered the steamed fish(tilapia) with ginger scallion sauce, Dungeness crab with the X.O. sauce and the house fried rice. OMG! The food was beautifully presented(see pics). The tilapia had a delicate flavor, the crab was very messy to deal with but had a wonderful flavor. I love the X.O. sauce on seafood! The fried rice was an enormous portion that we somehow seemed to finish. For a heads-up, if you're going to get a crab dish, be sure and wear your 'eatin' clothes! If you get the fresh seafood, it can be a pricey dinner but a unique one, too. The next time we go, we'll get the lobster because it would be less to wrestle with. The staff was very friendly and offered to explain anything on the menu. I regret that we haven't come here sooner.
(4)Grace Z.
Very authentic Chinese food, love everything we ordered. Especially garlic shrimp. A must try in St. Peter area
(5)Li E.
I came here because of the good reviews it has on Yelp. I have to say I was very disappointed. We ordered Egg drop soup, Grouper in XO sauce, Braised Tofu and shrimp fried rice. The food was not overly greasy like some Chinese take out place, but the flavor...just plain. The XO sauce is those cheap alternative make with primary sausage rather than seafood. And the lady who took our order recommend us to get shrimps after we put in 4 dishes for party of 2. We asked a few questions about the shrimp dish, she got impatient and loud....what a smart way to upsell! For the quality of the food, this restaurant is over priced.
(2)Day W.
New owners. Maybe a few months ago? Very nice people who acted like they care about what you think of their food and service. The most authentic in town. They even had the black chicken soup (google "black chicken soup") one night or see one of the photos posted. That dish is not made elsewhere in this county.
(4)Pierre B.
The best Chinese restaurant in this area! Most authentic and fresh food. So lucky to find them. Thanks to people working here.
(5)Keith F.
This place was very very good. We tried a variety of food and all of it hit the spot. The highlights include the hot and sour seafood soup and the pound of steamed garlic shrimp straight out of the tank. The Singapore noodles were also delicious but I was getting full. As a side note the first time they came out they were messed up but they quickly fixed it. The General tso chicken was INCREDIBLE. We ordered it spicy and they didn't let us down. The bathroom was soooooooo dingy so be warned.
(4)Tyla M.
I think i'm going to start by saying this is THE BEST and THE MOST authentic Chinese on Clearwater side. Of course I've got my favorite on Tampa side too :) I have to say I love their seafood & tofu in XO sauce dish, very unique and I couldn't stop eating it. My fiance and I just fought over this one. Their fried rice is on point... smokey and a little salty... (you'd be surprised, most places in Tampa makes shitty fried rice) I love their salt and pepper fried shrimps, shrimps are hugggeee, and if you like to eat shrimp heads get this one for sure. Their beef chow fun is so delicious, handmade noodles and tender beef... with just the right amount of bean sprouts and plenty green onions and onions. Their service... I'd have to say it could be better. We've been here twice... because of the food... the service is slow and sometimes they forget things and kept apologizing, keep in mind it wasn't busy, just us and another table of two. When it's busy, they just seem to run around and we ended up waiting. Maybe we'll just pick up to-go next time. LOL
(5)Reny L.
Had the steam tilapia with black bean, tofu and seafood claypot, and chicken and salty fish fried rice. All delicious, although i can't see the chicken in the fried rice. The steam dumplings are so-so (skin too thick for my liking but the kids seem to dont mind it).
(4)Drew N.
Great service. Food was ready very fast. Fried calamari was delicious. Sichuan fish was good although not quite what we were expecting. Steamed Chinese broccoli + oyster sauce could have used a little more sauce, otherwise great. Bubble teas were pretty good. Would recommend and return.
(4)Im K.
Food is great. The best chinese in all of the Bay Area. Service as always lacks Asian efficiency. Takes FOREVER to get seated and to order. They only have 1 person "allowed" to take orders. Hence the 2 stars.
(2)Zilong C.
This is a must go if you like Chinese style seafood. The taste is awesome and they can always prepare the food very quick. Strongly recommend their oyster. The price is little bit high though, I always spent more than one hundred even with only one friend.
(4)Annette B.
Our very favorite Chinese restaurant in the Tampa bay region. Excellent seafood as well as chicken and pork dishes. Casual and low key with good service. A must visit.
(5)Peter P.
How did this place get 4-stars? Granted we are Chinese food snobs but because we are well..Asians. We were looking for Peking duck and struck out hard. Yet another Tampa area restaurant that serve up chopped up roast duck instead and it wasn't even good roast duck. Calamari with jalapeño and eggplant with shrimp were bland stir fry dishes. Whole fried fish looked good but the same bland sauce took it down a notch or two. Salt and pepper calamari was thin only saving grace. Service was great but sadly a disappointed dining experience for us.
(2)Andrea R.
I'm giving ABC a 5 star rating because while this is my first review it's not my first meal here. Every item on the menu I have tried was amazing. Flavorful, fresh and not greasy like NY style faux chinese food many are used to eating. Items I have tried and highly recommend are the Singapore noodles, Beef Chow Fun, General Tso chicken, Young Chow fried rice and the pan fried dumpling appetizer. You can't go wrong with eating here, the service is as top notch as the food. Truly a gem tucked into a strip mall.
(5)Dave J.
This restaurant has really come down with the new ownership. How? In regards to meat. I had udon noodles with duck. Plenty of noodles, sauce was good, but WHERE'S THE MEAT? My goodness, maybe a credit card size serving of duck shredded into even smaller pieces. At twelve dollars just not good value at all. In the past, their fish maw soup was superior. Past couple of times there is always something missing. Before, no cilantro, this time no crab meat. Taste was okay but very inconsistent with the ingredients. Oyster on the shell with black bean should have been named "one third" oyster on a re-used shell. My companion, whose is Chinese, swears that her oyster was split between two or more customers. Just too tiny. And it was too salty. Waiter could only offer, "Oh, I'm sorry." Szechuan fish dish was okay. I've given this restaurant under new management two shots. Inconsistent ingredients and skimping way too much on the meat will keep me from ever returning to this restaurant that at one time was considered one the best in the Tampa Bay area--now far from true. Recommended? Hit and miss, so NO.
(2)Jennifer T.
Our waiter was so funny and nice. The food was absolutely spectacular. I'm originally from Chicago and in Chinatown there are some pretty amazing restaurants, with that being said, ABC goes above and beyond quality when it comes to their food. So fresh, flavorful and hands down the best chinese food I've ever had. Don't pass this place up, it's Saint Pete's best kept secret!
(5)Jaime L.
Excellent food... Had a pound of steamed garlic shrimp, split in half straight out of the fish bowl. It doesn't get fresher than that. Mixed vegetables with fried tofu extra spicy and hot and sour soup were also great picks. Staff is straight from the mainland with a smile on their faces. Unassuming decor, banquet hall chairs, 80's vibe. I would definitely recommend it, great authentic Chinese dishes...
(4)Penelope I.
It was my first time eating at this resturant. My husband and I got take out. I got fried egg rolls and rice noodle stir fry chicken and shrimp. He got the scallops, hot and sour soup, and the pepper shrimp. Egg rolls seem ok. No different from other egg rolls I have eaten before. He raved on and on how that was the best hot and sour soup he has ever ate. The rice noodle chicken and shrimp stir fry had fantastic flavor. However, I would have liked to have more vegetables and meat in it. His scallops were good and had great presentation. The pepper shrimp was messy....you have to take the shell off to get to the meat. He said in the end that they did not have much flavor. Service was polite and speedy. It was $57.00 for this to go food. A bit pricey in my opinion. Will I eat there again? Hummmm, maybe. I will rate them as a B+. However, I still find myself searching for that perfect cheap but good chinese resturant.
(3)Lapis L.
Their Clay Pot Mixed Seafood and Braised Tofu in Spicy Sauce is the one thing I can never be without for too long during the winter months. So comforting and warming, and the texture of the braised tofu is unbelievably tender and juicy (good thing they put a lot of it in!). As others have pointed out, their wonton soup is very good, as are the steamed dumplings and the salt-and-pepper shrimp and calamari dishes. Even something as pedestrian as Sweet and Sour Chicken is done the right way - the chicken is not greasy and the sauce tastes more of honey and fruit than straight up sugar syrup. I really look forward to the melon-and-tapioca dessert soup that comes at the end of the meal as a palate cleanser, it's unexpectedly refreshing. You'll see a lot of Asian families crowding the bigger tables here, eating family-style with many bowls of bright, fresh vegetables and rice. Sometimes I want to ask the staff if I can have what they're having!
(5)Zach H.
St Pete continues to surprise me with great, unsuspecting places. I met up with some friends here and I was running a little late so they had already ordered a few things. One that was particularly memorable was Lobster with House Noodles. The noodles certainly tasted home made and lobster had great flavor. I ordered two additional items: Salt & Pepper Calamari and Seafood & Braised Tofu with Mixed Veggies in Spicy Sauce. The calamari was tender and seasoned nicely with a crisp, light batter. The seafood was fresh, tender, and worked well with the sauce. The seafood, tofu and veggies worked together extremely well with the sauce that had a flavorful heat to it. I definitely recommend coming here with a friend... or several... because the portion sizes are not meant for one person. If you're really hungry, you probably could come by yourself. If that's the case then you should challenge Adam Richman for his job on "Man vs Food". All in all, the great service combined with the authenticity of the food makes this family style restaurant one of the best spots for Chinese food in the bay area.
(4)Tina N.
Recently changed owners I think within the last 6 months to a year I can't pinpoint the time. Still chinese owners. But probably new chef too. The food is still good BUT not AS good. The new owners are nice but can be difficult and rude in some certain situations from what I've observed from other customers experiences. Really loved this place and the food. Hate it when a restaurant gets new owners. Will continue coming here for the food but it will never be the same.
(3)Colette N.
Happened upon this place based on a good Yelp rating. YUM! Five of us went and each got an entree (note to self - 3 entrees would have been PLENTY). The decor was nothing to speak of, but the food - OMG. Everything we had was amazing. Wish I lived in the area - I'd like to work my way thru the entire menu.
(5)Batter H.
Used to be my favorite restaurant until I found the new owner took over restaurant . Still good but not as before I don't want the short hair lady with glasses to take my order . She always mess up .....
(3)Roger D.
Love this place! Lived in China and now I can't stand American Chinese food. This place is legit. Try the Chinese broccoli and Peking duck.
(5)Matthew T.
I've had this place on my "to try" list for a while. So glad I finally got a chance to go and give it a try. What else can I say but supper fresh and supper tasty? Tanks with fish, crabs, eels, and shrimp line one wall. While there is lots of interesting and familiar things on the menu, we were here for the seafood. And when it is just swimming there across the room how can you not get it? We looked over the menu and really didn't see any eel dishes, but that was the number one reason were there. So we asked if we could have eel in black bean sauce (something we had on a trip to Hong Kong) and the waiter said no problem. We also got the seafood and tofu casserole. Which is basically tons of great seafood in a clay pot cooked with XO sauce. Enjoying some beers and waiting for our meal, we saw about a dozen other dishes walk buy we wanted to try. The salt and pepper shrimp looked and smelled amazing, the whole steamed fish is always a favorite, but something I can make at home, but theirs looked really good. There were a ton of large parties there that night we went and the staff was running around with their heads cut off but the food looked and smelled amazing. Our eel came out first. It was probably the best eel I've ever had. You may be thinking, "ewwwww, eel", but it is really really good if cooked properly. This was. Tender and melt in your mouth. No muddy taste as I've had sometimes, just clean really tender eel flesh with just the right amount of black bean and maybe just a hint of XO Sauce. A real winner and something to get a agin. The clay pot seafood and tofu was excellent as well. Seafood was cooked perfectly, the shrimp and scallops were amazing. The only thing keeping them from 5 stars is some service things that I'll chock up to being slammed with 5 or 6 large parties. I want to go back with a mess of friends, who'll trust me enough to order for them so we can try a few other of the amazing things here.
(4)Matthew B.
Holy whole fried fish Batman!!!!! This place gets a full set of stars from me. I grew up in SE Asia and this is the best Chinese place I have eaten at in the U.S. I am lucky to have great luck with Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, but a good Chinese place like this is harder to find. A+ for authenticity and flavor. The decor is even nice :) Double ++! The tastes, ingredients, and smells were all pleasant and very amazing! You will never want to order fast food Chinese food again, you will want to come to ABC!! I think ABC must stand for "A Bitchin' Chinese" Restaurant!
(5)Dale Y.
The peking duck was so scrumptious it wouldn't have mattered what anything else tasted like. I never tasted that dish better anywhere else. The corn soup was ok - nothing to write home about, and the other dishes were fine. But all of us were delighted by the duck and several days later, I can't stop craving it. We will definitely go back for more.
(5)Mike P.
Excellent, Just excellent. Not normally a sea food fan, but ths place may change my feelings on the topic.
(5)Robin Z.
Very authentic Chinese food in this neighborhood. I would recommend seafood hot and sour soup and seafood tofu pot.. Honey bbq pork as appetizer is a nice option too!
(4)Michael C.
TL;DR - Came for the Eel, but went away with something also good. At the Summer Elite event, my tablemates kept raving about ABC Seafood and it was the best place to get Eel in St. Pete. So when my girlfriend's parents were in town for her birthday, I suggested we go there. This is another authentic-style restaurant, though the options for standard fare - lo mein, fried rice - is available if you hunt for it. And the usual rule: if you are the only Caucasians in the place, it probably is good. First thing I asked when we got there is if they had eel. Sadly, they did not, so I had to settle for something else. The Clam Special sounded good, but I went with a safer bet, which was still Alien to my girlfriend's family. For the table we ended up with -Sweet and Sour Chicken: It was decent, but I'm not a big fan of Sweet and Sour Chicken. The pineapple was good in it. -House Special Fried Rice: fried rice with beef, pork, chicken and shrimp. Full of meat, worth getting for the table. -Beef Lo Mein: It was good, but what can I say about beef lo mein. -Roast Duck Chow Fun in XO Sauce: Guess who got this? At Yummy House, Coty turned me on to XO Sauce. China Yuan turned me onto Chow Fun. I love duck. So this was a no brainer. While I would have preferred more duck (who wouldn't), this was a great meal and as her family generally stayed away from it, I had enough for lunch the next day. I would return, but definitely go with people who have curious pallets.
(4)Minhgiao S.
Hands down the most authentic Chinese food in the Tampa Bay/Pinellas area. Their Peking Duck comes w/the buns and the duck is carved w/the crispy skin separated. The salt & pepper crabs is finger licking good. This place is nothing fancy but the food is awesome! If you're looking for authentic good Chinese food, stay away from the Yummy House franchise which is popping up everywhere and come to this place.
(5)Barbara L.
WOW this place is terrific. Where was it when I lived here? I don't eat seafood, so can't review the seafood. I can vouch for the shredded rib eye with XO sauce, chicken with black bean sauce, Chinese broccoli with garlic and wine sauce, and beef lo mein. The beef lo mein is the best I've ever had, anywhere - funny how such a common, Americanized dish elsewhere can really be improved. My only complaint: I ordered takeout and they didn't give me any rice. Minor issue. Just make sure you check the bag. Edited: I see from another review below that it's common in China to charge for rice. OK so I should have asked for rice. Who knew? Ask for rice.
(4)Zao Z.
Very authentic Chinese food. Decent cooking but I have had much better elsewhere. This is prob the best authentic Chinese restaurants in the area. They have a decent seafood and freshwater fish selection. The restaurant could use a little cleaning up. it has a odd hint of curry smell in the background.
(4)Anastasia B.
EXCELLENT! Our new favorite Chinese restaurant! The portions are big enough for my 6'5 240lb fiancé, which is hard to find. Both of our meals were delicious! I got chicken, shrimp and noodles just to be safe, sense this is our first time and he got duck with fun noodles. Can't wait to bring friends and family here :)
(5)michelle l.
My inlaws took me here because they know I miss good Chinese food, and they want me to stop missing California so much. I am glad they did because all Chinese restaurants in Tampa have left me disappointed. I was anxious when I saw that the menu was in both Vietnamese and Chinese and when I saw a Thai soup dish on the menu. However, I just tried to stay away from that stuff (not easy when my in-laws generally don't know much about Chinese food) and try out stuff that would let me judge. We started with the eggrolls. They were fine. I don't usually order egg rolls in Chinese restaurants. After that, the fried rice showed up. Normally, I would take this as a bad sign, because traditionally, the fried rice is supposed to come at the end of the meal, if you understand the timing of a Chinese banquet. The fried rice was good, I like that there was green onion and cilantro in it, even if that is more consistent with sticky rice (or in Thai or Vietnamese fried rice) than Chinese fried rice. Then everything else showed up all at once. We had the house special pan fried noodles (fine, but the noodles weren't crispy, this was my second choice noodle dish but they were out of dried scallops), the prawns with walnuts (very good), the Mongolian beef (salty, but okay), the coconut balls (light and not too sweet), and the snow pea tips with garlic (absolutely fantastic, full of garlic but not cloyingly so). Service was indifferent, but again, this is a Chinese restaurant with formica tables and indifferent decor. This is undoubtedly the best Chinese restaurant in the Tampa Bay area. I will not compare it to similarly priced places in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Vancouver, because that's not fair. But it's not a bad fix when I'm missing home, and I could probably convince my parents to come here if they visit and are craving Chinese food.
(4)Phil D.
The food here is stellar! Had the hot and sour soup, noodles with veggies and broccoli with mushroom sauce mushrooms and tofu. Delectable. Best Chinese food I've had in years. Definitely returning. Two thumbs up!!
(5)Tom R.
It's been years since we've been to a Chinese restaurant. Now I have found a new place, for us, anyway, that will make up for that. Enjoyed this place a lot!
(5)Brian D.
We almost drove right past this place. It's in a strip center with some other Asian businesses. The creative use of the letters ABC as a dish of food on the sign made it hard to tell if it was the right place. 4 of us came for my daughter's birthday. It was a Saturday night around 5:30pm. One other table was full when we got there, and 4 more filled up before we left. There were also 2 to-go order pick ups. We started by sharing the egg rolls (4 tiny ones), the potstickers (4 avg size) and hot and sour soup for 2 (but they brought it for 4 instead, perhaps because 2 servers kept trading off taking care of us). The hot and sour soup was chunky with seafood, veggies and tofu. It was thick and flavorful, and very different from any other time I've had it because of all the "stuff" inside. The egg rolls were tasty but very small. The potstickers were great! For dinner we had one serving of sweet & sour chicken, one order of shrimp fried rice, and sesame chicken that was also battered. He also had an Asian beer, which he was surprised to see was actually brewed overseas. I'm glad our server suggested that the shrimp fried rice was enough to share, because the portion was huge! The sweet and sour chicken was the traditional batter fried but with a sauce drizzle instead of being covered in sticky sauce. It had chunks of pineapple and green bell pepper. A side of rice costs extra, and we didn't need any more rice because of all of the fried rice. The sauce on the sesame chicken was very yummy - I drizzled it on my fried rice! My youngest daughter usually loves fried rice and she only kind of liked this. She said there was a spice that was bugging her. I'm not sure if it was the chopped scallions, or it may have had a little cilantro. The server understood all of my questions and was easy to communicate with. The ambiance is a B- but the food is an A-. Maybe next time we'll be more daring with our food choices, but we had to try it once first. Our bill came to about $52 for the 2 appetizers, soup, beer and 3 entrees.
(4)B C.
10/10 shut up and take my money. Cantonese Style lobster dripping with minced pork and savory green onions, with lobster deep fried quickly with a delicious sauce sticking to every nook and corner, causing salacious sauce to seep everywhere into the meat of the lobster. So tasty!
(5)Ratchada S.
Found this place from Yelp. It's a true hidden gem. The seafood was really fresh and well prepared. We are asians travelling far from home. The meal we had here was very satisfied. We ordered steamed flounder with ginger scallion, middle neck clams with ABC's spicy sauce and pineapple fried rice. The service was very attentive. The place looks like a rundown but we didn't mind and will definitely go back there again if we have a chance.
(5)Krista H.
Went here after looking at the yelp reviews and it was awesome. A couple friends were in town and they also felt the same way. We shared everything which is the way to go to be able to taste everything. We ordered crab cheese roll ups, wonton soup, dumplings and the jelly fish with beef shank. The wontons were the best but everything else was good as an appetizer. For main entrees, we had the braised noodle crab, shrimp with walnuts, veggie fried rice and grouper with XO sauce. The Shrimp was awesome and so was the grouper. The veggies were good in the grouper. I would take more visitors here for sure and suggest this to anyone.
(4)Bob S.
This is a very good 'authentic' strip-mall Cantonese restaurant. The decor is lacking, and that is good, because it means the emphasis is on the food. Fish and shrimp swim in tanks at the back, and the menu has a wide range of seafood delicacies. We went with a party of 6 (4 Chinese, 2 Gweilo). We Gweilo let the Chinese order. We ended up with: Seafood Tofu Soup Honey Walnut Shrimp X.O. Mixed Seafood with Vegetables (Clay Pot) Grouper Filet and Braised Tofu (Clay Pot) Chicken with Black Bean Beef with Chinese Broccoli Seafood Tofu soup was just that; bits of seafood and tofu cubes floating in a cornstarch-thickened broth with a bit of egg white stirred in. Inoffensive, really. Things got better, though. . The Honey Walnut Shrimp was particularly nice - lightly battered fried shrimp accompanied by sugared walnuts coated with sesame seeds, showed a deft hand at the fryer The X.O. Mixed Seafood was the only dish that was even moderately spicy - mixed seafood, vegetables and Enoki mushrooms in a sauce flavored with the XO mega-condiment. Tasty. The grouper filet and chicken with black beans were good renditions. Beef with Chinese broccoli was served over Chow Fun (Shahe fen) noodles in a rich sauce - a keeper. At the end of the meal our server brought us bowls of coconut-sweetened dessert with tapioca. This is a very good restaurant; we'd like to eat around the menu and will be back.
(4)Manuel M.
Had the Seafood Claypot in XO sauce, salt and pepper calamari, shrimp and roast pork fried rice, and Szechuan shrimp with coconut balls. Food was outstanding- fresh and delicious. Staff are friendly and attentive. One of my favorite seafood restaurants in Florida.
(5)Lily H.
Great food! It's not 100% authentic but it's the only place as authentic as you can get around Tampa Bay area. And the best part is that they open late!! There's a herbal soup that they made here that's really awesome and pretty authentic. I believe it's by a HK chef and he brews it for a very long time. I almost always have to get it every time I come here. Their big steam oyster's are really good too especially in the black bean sauce. I usually don't like oysters that are cooked, but the way they make it, it's pretty good and fresh!! They also have fresh live seafood there too! So majority of their seafood is good!
(5)S K.
Love this place! Best in St. Pete. The calamari, fried rice and beef chow fun are amazing. Wish they had egg rolls!
(5)Tony H.
Great Food ! The Only Place Around To Pick Out Your Fresh Seafood Out Of The Live Tanks Around Town or Any Where.... The Best Lobster Cantonese ! So Yummy !!! The Duck was Simply Amazing !!! They Are Open Late Too !!! The Only Wish .....Please Get a Web Page For Your Awesome Menu and Food !!!!!!!
(5)Renée E.
After hearing rave reviews about this place, my boyfriend and I tried it the other night. We didn't have high expectations because we haven't had really good Chinese food in the area. Let me tell you, we were not disappointed one bit. The salt & pepper calamari was amazing to start with. We also got general tso chicken and the clay pot mixed seafood with satay sauce. The general tso did not taste like the others I usually get at takeout places, but it was even better! And the clay pot entree was so flavorful. I don't believe my tastebuds have ever had anything like it to compare it to. There were so many different flavors going on and they all made sense. My boyfriend and I will never go to another takeout Chinese food restaurant again. My definition of Chinese food has changed completely. Oh and service was phenomenal!!! We felt so welcome and our waiter explained all the dishes well and with a smile!
(4)Walter B.
I ordered House Fried Rice and Seafood Hot and Sour soup to take out. Both dishes were excellent. The fried rice reminded me of the fried rice of Thailand and Cambodia, which I prefer to the "usual" served at many Chinese restaurants. I will return. I do wish it opened earlier and that a take-out menu had been available so I could call an order in.
(5)Jason W.
I like abc Chinese restaurant ,it was very good food .black bean oyster and Beijing duck.oh so good I always go with my family。
(5)Sandy J.
This is probably one of the better Chinese restaurants in the Tampa Bay area. I was beginning to believe that there weren't any decent Chinese restaurants. It was definitely a relief to find. Everything was pretty good, but nothing was exceptionally delicious; although not obviously as bad as the others, the flavors were still a bit American Chinese. If you are a connoisseur of Peking duck, I wouldn't recommend ordering it; it's just okay. For Tampa standards, this place gets 4.5 stars; 3.5 stars in my book. It's pricier than what I'm used to seeing, but definitely worth it, especially if you are craving Chinese and do not want to eat gross/crappy Chinese.
(3)W. I.
The key word at this place is seafood, so if you are looking for the typical, go somewhere else! This is gourmet!! Please remember, this is a "SEAFOOD" restaurant. Try the shrimp or any of the fresh catch in the tanks....the resulting taste is delectable, you won't be disappointed. The ambiance is south east Asia charming....not fancy, but who cares...it's the expertly prepared cuisine that is the most important point at this place.
(5)Nat W.
Everyone around me says it is such a good Chinese restaurant so I had to see with my own eyes. We ordered the wanton soup, salt and pepper calamari, house fried rice and Beijing duck egg noodle. Everything we had was good and tasted fresh. I was not crazy about their food like some people here on yelp. They were good but not sensational. The check was $50 without the tip for just two of us. I have to say that is kind of expensive for Chinese food. (We are not talking about a 5 star Chinese restaurant here). Do not expect a good service. On Sat night they only had 2 servers and the restaurant was almost full house. There was a huge line of people just to be seated and the phone kept ringing and ringing but not to be answered. Honestly, I like Yummy House and China Yuan in Tampa better. You get plenty of good food for $20 for two or three people, which is definitely more affordable! But I'm sure I will be back to ABC, because it is the best Chinese in St. Pete.
(4)Alex W.
Awesome little place! As a transplant from the Midwest my fiance and I didn't feel like cooking an entire Thanksgiving meal for just the two of us so we decided to just do Chinese. After calling probably a dozen Chinese places in St Pete this was the only one open. I never would have thought that such a great Chinese restaurant would be in a little strip mall on 54th ave but what do you know! The food reminded me very much of good restaurants in China. Fresh ingredients, made to order. This is NOT your run of the mill Chinese Buffet (thank god). From the Hot and Sour Seafood Soup (get it!) to the Peking Duck and Scallops with XO sauce everything was perfect, no complaints. The service was great, our server answered all of our questions, kept our waters full, and made sure we had everything we need. Just the right amount of checking in without being obnoxious. The atmosphere is quintessential Chinese. From the tables that spin to let you share dishes, to the fish tanks and the decor it's what you find in restaurants in China. It helps that there were large Chinese families obviously enjoying the food! I don't think you'll be disappointed unless you're looking for straight food court Chinese food.
(5)Steve P.
the best place I've found in Pinellas
(4)Charles S.
Food was underwhelming and monotonous. Some was oily as mentioned by other reviews. Do not get a very clean feeling when eating here especially with tanks visibly full of crabs and fish "napping"...shhhhhhh..... and service was slow/non existant. Won't be going back.
(2)Cathy B.
You know me, I go around and eat and tells you all about it. So I had been deprived and not in the near enough vicinity of authentic Chinese food. Well Mommy got a new job and well let's just say that I am in a playground, if food is my toy. Sho nuff!!! I did my due diligence and read the Yelp reviews before I committed my behind to the drive. I thought I wanted to go to one place and the people said no you don't, go 'round the corner. Do what they people say, okay. I mean no kind of disrespect but when I walk in and I am the only only one who looks like me, I know I am in de right place. I tried to read the menu but I was already crying. We are at the water so all the seafood is real and fresh. I just had to decide on what live creature I wanted to go to the light. I chose the pretty fluttery live shrimp, uh no more. On my plate, salt and peppered. Say it aint good, you know you lying. These people have live Dungeness crab and know my favorite verb and adjective Black Bean sauce. Now to ice the effing cake these people have Chow Fun, most people on the East Coast don't even know about it. Now onto the real. I do service. And these people or very nice women were nice as pie. And I don't play.
(5)Ed H.
Good American Chinese food--better than many restaurants I've been to in China! I had the hot and sour seafood soup, Grouper in XO sauce and special house fried rice. The soup was the best hot and sour soup that I can remember having and the Grouper was tasty with lots of veggies and straw mushrooms...the fried rice was OK but nothing special. Portions were very large.
(4)Jennifer Y.
I live in CT and my parents live in Tampa, so when I get to go visit them, there is always a trip to ABC in the itinerary. I could literally eat there every night I'm in town. And what's so surprising is that I live so close to NYC, yet I can't find a restaurant that meets the caliber of authentic Chinese food here. More about the restaurant. It is your authentic Chinese cuisine restaurant that has fresh seafood in tanks. You can see that your dinner is truly fresh. They have an array of seafood options from fresh shrimp, eel, lobster, and various kinds of fish that you can select to be prepared whichever way you wish. Here are some of my favorites: - Authentic Peking duck - comes with steamed buns that you use to eat the duck with along with some scallions and Hoisin sauce. The best I've had anywhere in the US. - Tiger clams in black bean sauce. - Eel and pork in a hot pot - Fresh steamed fish in ginger sauce - Pork intestines sauteed in hot pepper sauce - Cold jelly fish appetizer - Fresh snow pea pods sauteed in light garlic sauce - Coconut milk balls (fried, sweet gooey balls) Price is VERY reasonable considering you are getting some of the freshest seafood around. I haven't tried their Americanized Chinese dishes, but I know you will find that prices are very reasonable for these as well. It's location is a bit obscure, so you could say this is definitely a hidden gem. It's located in a sketchy looking strip mall, in which you would believe that you're in the wrong place. Signage is not that great either, you have to try this place for some of the best food around. It won't disappoint!
(5)S B.
Talk about serendipity - we showed up for an event on the wrong night, so not being from that area yelped for restaurant reviews. Not too many chinese restaurants here have 4 1/2 stars, so we figured we'd try ABC. I doubt we would ever have noticed it or stopped in otherwise, but we have found other jewels through yelp with less inviting entrances or signs. Impressive seeing all the fish tanks with even large shrimp in them. Also nice to see so many other Asians eating there - usually a good sign. We saw them pull the shrimp out and a short time later the couple next to us was devouring them. Started with mini spring rolls - good, but not great. Next was seafood tofu soup. I'm not a big fan of tofu, but sharing with wife since soups are for two. They say tofu acquires the taste of other foods with it, but up to now it still always tasted the box it must have come in to me. This tofu had a nice seafoody egg-white texture, and I did enjoy the soup. We like when the tea is from loose leaves and not a tea bag. We tried to ask about several dishes, but really didn't understand what she said. I ordered the seafood in XO sauce, as I like spicy and it had the red chili pic next to it. I really did not think it was spicy, but my wife caught a few spicy pieces she said. Still, the freshness of the vegetables and seafood was amazing! Scallops and squid cooked just right, nice shrimp, very fresh vegetables. We asked our waitress what fresh fish they had - she said mainly tilapia, they also have "frounder but it's frozen." She said the couple next to us had tilapia, but we saw them net a sheepshead from the tank and could tell that's what it was - so the fish is fresh but may not be named right. We will definitely come back, probably with others who appreciate fresh and tasty food. I thought the prices were a little high, but not unreasonable.
(4)Michael Z.
This hybrid Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant does not disappoint. The Peking Duck and Dungeness crab dishes were outstanding. The owner gets bonus points for handling my take-out request outside of his normal hours (his hours were not posted and I didn't realize his accommodation until I went to pick up my order.) Sorting through the plethora of frozen, deep fried, chinese take-out joints can be tedious, so finding a place like this is a welcome surprise.
(5)Coty S.
Located right off the 54th Ave North exit on 275, in a shady looking strip mall with tinted windows and right next to a tattoo parlor. You walk in and are greeted by a shiny new clean looking and bright environment. Most of the customers are seated at large round tables, Vietnamese families enjoying their family time together with some good seafood. The waitresses and managers speak Cantonese. The menu is fairly extensive, so it was hard to choose because everything sounded great. The menu is in English, Chinese, and Vietnamese. There are large, well kept flowing tanks of fish, live shrimp, lobster, and crab on the back wall with the price per pound clearly posted and changed regularly. There is also a specials board upon entering. We ordered the Char Siu Pork ($6.95) appetizer and it was about a pound of tender, moist meat floating in the drip pan sauce. The flavor was not what I am fond of (I like a lot of clove and five spice flavor), but everyone else really liked it. I am so spoiled by China Yuan with the honey roast pork. The Soy Sauce Chow Mein ($8.95) was delicious and had the perfect chive and garlic flavor. The only veggies added to this tasty dish were thin sliced onion and green onion, which made the dish very versatile. It tasted great with bites of pork and the seafood we were eating. The Seafood with Braised Tofu in Spicy Sauce Hotpot ($13.95) was an amazing mix of many flavors that all complimented on another. There are fresh scallops, fillets of flounder, plump snappy shrimp, tender squid, and puffy pieces of tofu. The tofu absorbed the spicy black bean wine sauce and had a great consistency, and so did the big pieces of dried mushroom caps and thin sliced button mushrooms. The spiciness came from dried chilies as well as thin sliced rings of jalapeño peppers. It all came out in a sizzling clay pot and stayed steaming hot through the entire dinner. Definitely worth the money for all of the delicious seafood included and even enough for two to share. You are given a complimentary dessert that changes daily. Today it was my favorite honeydew and cantaloupe; diced into small cubes in a coconut milk and tapioca soup. I will definitely be coming back soon for the seafood. There were many XO sauce options and all of the seafood we tasted was very fresh. It would also be fun to come with a large group of people to try many different dishes at once and compare and spend time with friends and family. Note that they are open very late at night. I have read a couple reviews about this place on private blogs or Chowhound, but they are not accurate. One said that they have a case of hanging BBQ meats like China Yuan in Tampa does, they do not. Another said that they have the Chinese version of JaJang Myun, but they do not. Either way I was very pleased with the closer location to where I live and the quality of the food consumed.
(4)Angela L.
Best in St. Pete.
(4)Zad I.
We are new to the area and so far our experience with restaurants around the area has not been that great. This was our first seafood intake since moving to FL and my will I say this was a very exceptional experience. The location was not at all great and we were very close to not even going in, but we decided to anyway based on the recommendation of a co-worker. We got the fried noodles with seafood and clams with black bean sauce. It was by far the best Chinese seafood I've had. The only reason why I rated this place 4 stars was because the wait times were very long and they only had 1 waiter, the other person there was the owner. Maybe they had someone call out, but for a Friday night a restaurant should be a little bit more prepared. Either ways, I would recommend this place to anyone looking to have a Asian Seafood Dining Experience.
(1)Hung D.
We heard about this place through a friend and was told it was delicious. It's a tiny hole in the wall place in the middle of nowhere on 54ave and 28th St. From the street, the only thing you can see is a yellow sign with Chinese characters. We assumed that was the right place and drove into the sketchy (and a little scary) plaza. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that they had Peking duck with steamed buns on the menu. This was the first place I've seen that offers that. Needless to say, I ordered it...and it was GOOD. I haven't had good authentic Chinese duck in a long time so I was very pleased with this place. They also have fresh fish right out of their aquarium. There were about 10 large tilapias, eel, and crabs swimming around, ready to be taken out and killed. I felt a little bad when I ordered the fried tilapia with sweet and sour sauce. The poor fish was taken out of the fish bowl, into the fryer, and onto my plate in a matter of minutes. Though it was as fresh as can be, I couldn't really taste anything but the sweet and sour sauce. It's great if you don't like the taste of fish, but I couldn't appreciate it's freshnes. I was a little annoyed that they charged us $1 for rice, but they gave us a free tapioca dessert that made up for it. I would definitely come back to this little place next time I'm in the mood for some authentic chinese cuisine. I think it compares to Yummy House in Tampa, but just a tad more pricey. For those who are living in St Petersburg area, this place is definitely worth checking out!
(5)Greg S.
Two of our party liked it and two didnt. Loved the hot and sour soup and the house clay pot. The Sweet and Sour chicken was nothing great.
(4)carl h.
had the seafood clay pot, was good ,but not much seafood in it 5 shrimps, little bay scallops and little pieces of , ? looked like fish. pricey for 15,99. 3,5 stars if I could.server was nice.
(3)Bruce M.
Excellent food and service! I love authentic Chinese food and this place nails it! This place is a refreshing change from your typical run of the mill Chinese buffets. ABC Chinese restaurant is not some fancy place, in fact you almost have to seek it out since it sits in a strip mall, but rest assured it is worth seeking out. I have tried way to many items to list any stand outs...it's all good! Dress is very casual and prices are reasonable.
(4)Julian A.
i've probably eaten in 10,000 restaurants all over the world and this was by far the worst dining experience i've ever had. the only reason i give it even one star is because i don't know how to register a negative zero. my wife and i were in the mood for chinese and saw the reviews on 'abc.' most of them said that the food was good if you could endure bad service. we decided to risk it and were stunned at the totally inept service. only part of our order ever arrived. the waitress had no clue about the menu or anything pertaining to our order and seemed dumbfounded when we kept asking her to check on our order. what food we finally tasted was fine, but taco bell is pretty good too. we never got most of our order and finally left. the lady at the checkout register kept saying that nothing arrived because of a bad machine or something, but the place is tiny and it wouldn't have been difficult to communicate to the chef that everyone in the whole restaurant we complaining because they weren't brining out the food. terrible restaurant. this is the only time i've ever written a review and i've had some bad experiences. worst ever.
(1)Sum G.
Good authentic chinese food in Saint Pete. Kinda pricey but it's served family style. They also serve a delicious desert soup at the end of your meal.
(4)N. Mary I.
Unassuming store front hides a warm and welcoming hidden gem with delicious Chinese fare. This is very authentic, fresh and fast Chinese seafood from many regions in China including Canton, where the owners originated. The server warmed up to us after we started ordering in Mandarin and it became a very nice dining experience. The hot & sour seafood soup was peppery, savory and sour and we loved every drop. Bits of scrambled egg, fresh scallions, shrimp and tofu in a thick broth whet our appetites. We also tried the (#1) Seafood & Tofu Casserole with black bean sauce which came in a cast iron pot. Mixed seafood such as flounder, squid, scallops, and shrimp with braised fried tofu and vegetables in a spiced gravy was amazing over the hot white rice. We also order the mixed seafood pan-fried noodles with vegetables. The noodles were more like deep-fried egg noodles but covered in a similar mix of veggies and seafood as in the casserole but with a garlicky soy sauce gravy to soften the noodles. Oh, yum! The casserole was a little on the salty side but I expect that from a dish with fermented black beans. Everything was satisfying, authentic and pleasurable. Service was nice, at a Chinese-pace but we weren't going anywhere soon with our full bellies. Best Chinese seafood on the peninsula. NOTE FOR AMERICAN YELPERS: This place is SO authentic, from charging for rice to slower service or untimely serving of entrees. Yes we're in the US of A but you're going in for a slice of China, right? Restaurants all over China charge for rice, it's standard, get over it. In a rush? Call ahead or just enjoy your food coma as your server knows to attend to you and get your check. Entrees didn't come out all at once? That's an American standard, not universal. Platters come out when they're ready, that could be while you're still enjoying your appetizer or twenty minutes into your meal. Just go with the flow, ladies and gents.
(5)Russell S.
Had to choose a star, but I don't really know. Would love to have tried it. They are closed most of July and August.
(1)Felipe G.
I had read many good reviews of ABC Chinese Seafood on the ChowHound message boards and was eager to try it myself. It was consistently mentioned as the Pinellas County equivalent of Yummy House and China Yuan over in Tampa so this also spiked my interest. This past weekend I finally got a chance to go check it out and I was not disappointed. We started with the salt and pepper calamari and it was maybe a tad bit overcooked but the taste of the fried squid and pepper/scallions/onions was really great. I found myself even eating the accompaniment after the main squid pieces were gone. For an entree I had the hot pot Seafood with Braised Tofu in a Spicy Sauce which was recommended by Coty review. It was a very large portion and was really bursting with seafood. The scallops were large and probably the best part, but the squid and fish pieces were very good as well . The sauce actually had a bit of a spicy kick too it thanks to the fresh cut jalapeno slices and seeds. It wasn't overly spicy and I like really hot foods, but it was nice to have a menu item that is listed as spicy actually taste that way, usually I am disappointed in that department. The sauce was black bean based and really went well with the seafood, not overpowering the flavors and the tofu was firm and slightly fried instead of the silken soft tofu you find in so many chinese dishes. The menu at ABC is rather extensive and definitely favors seafood. They have a large selection of live fish, crabs, shrimp, lobsters which can be ordered for the labeled market prices and prepared a variety of ways. With the fish tanks clearly displayed in the dining room there is no question as to the freshness of the food being prepared. There is also a good selection of tofu and vegetable based dishes and a vegetarian could probably pick from 7-8 dishes (or make slight changes to omit meat). Overall I look forward to coming back, when it isn't quite so hot there as there is a good looking soup section of the menu, with the soups coming prepared for groups of 4. For the really adventurous eater looking for some truly authentic Chinese cuisine there are some interesting menu choices available: jelly fish head, beef tendon, pork chitterlings, preserved duck wings, shark fin soups, and lots of frog based dishes. Overall a great choice for authentic Chinese that is bound to be different (and tastier) than most of the NY style takeout people are accustomed to.
(4)Pat C.
Simple atmosphere. The live seafood in tanks was cool -- I've never seen a shrimp swim around while I ate one of his brethren. Had the Tom Yum soup and Szechuan scallops and eggplant. The Tom Yum was spicy and had shrimp, tofu and peas. The main dish was memorable for its fresh ingredients. Both were perfectly hot and delicious. Would definitely go back.
(5)Natalie F.
New to area, and haven't found a place that met our Chinese food standards. Came across this by accident. Do not mistake the outside of the building, looks very ghetto, inside is better don't worry!! :) ordered beef and broccli, and chicken lo mein, I must say the portions were generous, and the food was OUTSTANDING!!! I will DEFINITELY be returning to ABC!!!
(5)Duong Anh P.
Their dishes are common, good to eat, good for your taste of Chinese.
(4)Dawn C.
I love YELP for getting me out of my comfort zone with dining around my hometown! A classic hole-in-the-wall-you-have -got to-try-this-place, place! I definitely would not have chosen to go here, ever, by the looks of it. Small restaurant, huge menu! Very clean and inviting inside. We thought it truly stood out as the best Chinese we have ever had. Not the take-out fried rice with everything Americanized version, this seems like what food in Hong Kong would be like. Prices seemed a little steep but the portions are really huge. Soups are served in a large tureen for 2 or 4. Tried the hot and sour, it was great! Salt and pepper calamari appetizer was something so different and unique. Fresh fried calamari bits on a garlicy veggies! They have a small jar of (kinda scary looking)chili oil on the table that when mixed with the sweet sauce, really had a nice complex flavor. Great for dipping! I had the seafood combination with XO sauce and it was fantastic. Tons of fresh veggies,a little spicy, almost buttery layers of flavor, and lots of really fresh seafood. They even gave us a gratis dessert which was so refreshing!! A small bowl of coconuty milky tapioca with fresh bits of melon! They have tanks of live crabs, fish, shrimp, and eels there in the dining area for purchase. Will be back here again!
(4)Clarence E.
Consistently good authentic Chinese food with a wall of fresh (tank swimming) seafood. Used to consistently order our favorite seafood noodle dish and tofu hot pot, etc. But we're finding specials delectable and eating our way through the menu. The fish in the noodle dish is real fresh, and take it from a discerning fish eater. Kid friendly and our kids eat everything here. I wouldn't necessarily come here if you are looking for American-Chinese fast food like the usual gleaming sugar coated stuff. This is real authentic cooking that we drive 30 min to eat, kids in tow. Great food.
(5)CYNTHIA C.
As authentic as it gets. This Chinese restaurant is fantastic! I wish I had ordered the duck because everyone's looked soooooo good. I got the salt & pepper pork chop. Unfortunately it wasn't very flavorful. The other dishes .... beef with mushroom and seafood soup were very good. Reasonable prices, no frills restaurant.
(4)Cathy S.
Similar to China Yuan but not quite as amazing. It's still pretty damn good- excellent veggies, no MSG, and nice prices. It's not perfect- I compare everything to Clearwater's Peking Palace of the '80s- but it's not a hardship to eat here, either.
(4)Foodie L.
This restaurant serves up great authentic Chinese food. Well, if you want to be specific, it is really good Cantonese style Chinese food. We had wonton soup, watercress with garlic wine sauce, and deep fried squid with scallions. It brought me back to when I was a kid eating this at Chinese restaurants, while on vacations. My parents would take my siblings and I to all the Chinatowns in the different cities in search of awesome Chinese food. The Cantonese style was always my favorite. It mostly consist of seafood and vegetable dishes. For those of you who love meat or if you're a vegetarian, they also have plenty for you to pick from the menu. One of the big reason everything taste so good because the foods are very fresh. They have fish tanks where you can actually pick the fish, crab, or lobster to order! If you are looking for really good authentic Cantonese style Chinese food, this is the place for you. Enjoy!
(5)ev o.
The food is fabulous. But If you are a party of two, and not regular patrons or a large group, be prepared to be ignored. For only two, arrive when they first open or late in the evening, because you will not be given the same attention of service as larger parties during traditional dinner rush hours. It took over 20 minutes to even place an order - then they brought out 1 dish at a time, so everything was cold when they finally remembered we were there- after groups were served that came in AFTER us. They didn't even take our check, we finally had to go to the cashier to pay so we could leave. Great Service is just as important as great food.
(2)