When my Korean family members want to go out and eat Chinese food, they don't really want Chinese-Chinese food. They want Korean style Chinese food. For this, we head over to Yen Jing on Buford Highway when they are in town visiting. We typically order the following: Steamed dumplings Pan fried dumplings Jja jang myun (noodles with a black bean sauce) Jjang pong (spicy seafood soup with noodles) Mapo tofu Sweet and sour pork Mongolian beef It's pretty average as far as the food goes. It's not usually that crowded whenever we are there. I will echo everyone else and say that the salt and MSG content is very high here.
(3)
Tom C.
If you want to time warp back to 80's in Chinatown...come to Yen Jing (refer to Daniel B's review). Yen Jin is a solid choice to come for their ja-jjang myun (black bean sauce and noodles) or their jang-bong (seafood, spicy noodle soup). There are repeat Korean customers because of these two noodle bowls. If I were to introduce anybody to ja-jjang myun, I would take them to this restaurant. The sauce is good and has beef and shrimp in it as well. I also ordered their kkang-pung-ki (fried braised chicken). Came out piping hot and fried just right, maybe it was slightly too sweet for my taste. Service was decent. The waitress was really cute ;-) I noticed that the crowd inside was pretty diverse. I pretty good mixture of Asians and Caucasians. I always stay within the Korean section of the menu. I'll have to venture out as I saw non-Asians ordering other types of Chinese food.
(4)
Daniel B.
Yen Jing is one of the older Chinese restaurants in town. The furniture and decor inside looks like it hasn't been replaced since they first opened many moons ago. When you enter, it's like stepping into a time warp back to the 1980s. Even the sign outside has their phone number posted with no area code because back then, you didn't need to dial an area code! Yen Jing specializes in northern Chinese cuisine and serves many of the same dishes as their competitor, Chef Liu, across the street. Their menu also includes several Korean items so they get their fare share of Korean clientele (e.g. kimchi is served as a standard appetizer here). I've tried a variety of their dishes including their jellyfish, pig feet, and "five flavor" pork appetizers, steamed pork dumplings, seafood soup, and braised chicken. Overall, the dishes are just not that appetizing. The appetizers, served cold, were not very fresh. The seafood soup was bland - it was like throwing a bunch of fish, squid, mussels, and vegetables together and boiling them in water. The pork dumplings and braised chicken were okay. The braised chicken tasted almost like chicken you'd get from a Chinese takeout joint or mall food court (heavy with sweet sauce). We visited during peak dinner hours on a Friday night and business was really slow for the restaurant. The owners were very friendly and we got impeccable service. The food just left a lot to be desired. Hope this place survives. Yen Jing is located on the bottom level of a strip mall across from Mozart Bakery on Buford Highway.
(3)
Sophia Y.
love eating here. food always tastes great since 20 years ago. their jja Jang myun and jjambong are good and kkampungee Mapa tofu are good too. yumm
(5)
Andrew C.
Good for the family Chinese restaurant, take everyone! Food is always good ( although sometimes inconsistent from visit to visit). The egg drop soup is awesome and chef special anything usually has a nice spicy flavor added to it. You may want to avoid if your on a diet
(4)
Esther K.
As most Korean families have migrated to another Korean-Chinese establishment down the street, so did our family minus my dad. My dad stuck with this place through thick and thin. I haven't been back here in a while, and last Monday, my mom and I paid them a visit; I never thought it was excellent or terrible but I've found that they've gotten much better over the past few years. There are a few dishes that I feel like they do REALLY, REALLY well. Fried rice - No lie, best fried rice from any Chinese joint. They also pour some jja jang (black bean sauce with wok cooked veggies) over a portion of your fried rice and comes with a complementary bowl of egg flower soup. Anywhere else, I never order fried rice unless its like a $1 up charge for ordering just veggie fried rice on the side (and its always really super mediocre) but I always order chicken fried rice to go from here every time we come to eat. Oyster mushrooms with bamboo - My mom stumbled upon this gem while searching for something new to try (outside of the usual sweet and sour pork and empress chicken) and I must say, its my new favorite. The oyster mushrooms taste a bit smoky and it gives it another dimension of flavor that I felt was very robust and the light soy sauce and vinegar based sauce marries the mushrooms and the bamboo in a delightful manner. I've always struggled over what to order my vegan friends at a Chinese place, and this is a dish I would highly recommend to vegans, vegetarians, normal people who just love mushrooms, and voracious carnivores like myself. Spicy san-shan noodle soup - I've always really liked their spicy seafood noodle soup here its very ginger-y and drives colds away. Plenty of seafood and plenty of veggies. Definitely give them another try if you haven't been here in a few years. I feel like it's changed for good!
(4)
Stephanie N.
This place makes really good homemade dumplings, but my favorite favorite dish is the Jia Jiang Mien. They make their own noodles and it is just oozing with black bean flavor and other yumminess that I haven't come across anywhere else. If you've never had it before be warned that it does look strange but just put it in your mouth and it is goody good! Their other Chinese dishes are good too, but I prefer to go for the noodles :) Update: Heard there was a change in cooks/owners and doesn't taste the same. Anyone try it? Yelp so I know whether I should stop by or not.
(4)
M A.
Meh at best. I need to go back to this place with a group that doesn't order off the English menu I think so I can possibly experience it the right way, but everything I've had here is the same thing I can order from Panda Express and have delivered to my house! If that's authentic, clearly we have no idea what China even is. I rarely return here unless I absolutely have to, but I have no problem not going out with friends if this is the spot they're heading to. My stomach can't take much more Americanized "Chinese" crap! There are a few redeeming qualities. The staff was helpful in making selections, which gives me hope that they'd be helpful in showing Americans what is excellent off the Chinese portion of the menu. The food didn't taste terrible, but it wasn't anything different than what I've had before. Moo Gu Gai NO THANKS. I'll have to wait on this one anyway since they just failed their health inspection. Kind of makes me feel like my intuition was right all along...
(2)
Enoch C.
if you want the best jja jjang mien and jjam bong in atlanta, you must try this place. hand made noodles you can really appreciate, meaty and chunky filling in the jja jjang mien sauce, a ton of seafood in every bite in the jjam bong soup. my gosh, i'm salivating right now. i guess just like grocery shopping while you're hungry, it's not a good idea to yelp while you're hungry either. the noodles alone i think bring this place over the top for their noodle dishes. you can tell they're handmade, not like those other places that use ready-made noodles. they're nice and dough-y. you're missing out if you come here alone. the trick is to come with as many people as possible (don't worry, they have plenty of seating), and try a little (or a lot!) of everything. if you're going with 1 other person, i'd suggest getting an order of jja jjang mien and jjam bong and splitting it. i've had their other rice dishes before and remember them being good, although i think for chinese food, i'd prefer chef liu's (for the more authentic dishes) across the street or golden buddha on clairmont (the best kkang poong gi in atlanta). a great place if you're craving some chinese/korean food if you're in the area. i'd say the only places that do chinese/korean right are this place and golden buddha. they're pretty well-spaced apart so to me, it just depends on what neck of the woods i happen to be in.
(4)
Josh M.
This place used to be a favorite since the late 90's, until about a little over a year ago when a roach crawled up onto our table. I tried one more time a few weeks later, just to find another roach on the wall next to us. I looked up their health inspection score today to see if things have changed and it looks like they got points taken for the same thing. I guess all good things really do come to an end... atlanta.digitalhealthdep…
(2)
Dave M.
The food was pretty good. We got the garlic chicken ($10) and Mapo tofu ($9). Both were large portions and were good. They give you free rice too. The service wasn't too bad either. I just wish I didn't see the owner grab fortune cookies from the bushing cart.
(4)
Bahn Mi A.
One of my favorites. To me this is some of the best on Buford Highway. I regret that the place seems to have fallen into disrepair. I have been going there for over 20 years and in that time the inside of this place gets nastier and the bathrooms are pretty gross. I am used to it so it doesn't bother me that much but if I walked in for the first time I would consider leaving. If you can handle the hole in the wall Chinese joint then this place is for you. Food is great.
(4)
Safia A.
I've been coming here since I was a kid. Our family goes for almost every birthday, graduation, and I even had a wedding event here in their side room. I actually just came back from celebrating my 25th birthday there! My favorites include hot braised chicken, seafood noodle soup, hot and sour soup, braised tofu with vegetables, and more. Every dish has a distinct, amazing flavor that's pretty indescribable. The restaurant is getting a little old and run down, but the food is still as amazing as ever!!! Yen jing is truly a buford highway classic that I love!!
(5)
Esther Y.
Great price and delicious black bean noodles. The ambience is your typical 90s opulent Chinese restaurant. The tables are a little sticky and everything is a bit faded---exactly as you want your authentic Chinese restaurant :)
(4)
Addy C.
I remember back in the day when Golden Buddha was the only Chinese/Korean restaurant serving Jja Jang Myun and Jam Pong - then Yen Jing came along then Man Chun Hong and later others. I used to go to Yen Jing a lot then somehow forgot about them - until my friend said she thought Yen Jing had the best Jja Jang Myun in Atlanta. I finally went on Friday and I have to agree - their sauce is very good. CHA CHIANG MEIN - $5.95 (lunch special) Their menu spells Jja Jang Myun as "Cha Chiang Mein" - not sure if that's the Chinese phonetic spelling but I think Man Chun Hong uses the same spelling. In any case, their sauce has the nice smoky flavor, and includes chopped white onions and pork. The noodles don't look handmade but I still like them. The noodles have peas too - random, haha. I liked my lunch so much I ordered two more "to go" (and asked for uncooked noodles with lots of flour) for my parents next time I visit them -- just put the sauce and noodles in the freezer for storage. Lunch also comes with kimchi and picked peppers. My only complaint was the water tasted straight from the sink :( Next time I'd like to try their Jam Pong (spelled "San Shan Seafood" in their menu) which is a spicy seafood noodle soup, another popular Chinese/Korean dish. FYI lunch specials are available Tue-Fri 11:30-3pm, and cost $5.95/6.95/7.95. Closed Mondays.
(4)
Sungjae J.
me and my friend was on the way pho dai lo for some hangover remedy and was talking about the old times.. He was like is Yen jing still open?? Before lots of korean and chinese restaurants moved up to gwinnett county this was a very popular chinese place on buford hwy along with Fung mi. When I walked in, mostly everything was setup exactly same as before. Sunday lunch time here was pretty crazy packed but 10yrs later there were about 6-7 tables with customers. We ordered jjamppong which is a spicy seafood noodle soup, hot braised shrimp and tahng-soo-yook which is similar to sweet and sour chicken but with made with clear sweet and sour sauce that has pineapple and other vegetables. also fried dumplings for appetizer. Food came out in a hurry and everything was really good. Better than I thought it was gonna be actually. I will be back to try out their jjajangmyun which is black bean sauce noodles.. so few chinese does good jjamppong and jjajangmyun
(4)
Christine U.
My family has been coming here for as long as I can remember Buford Highway, and I'm always down to go. We always get the panfriend chinese roll (NOT TO BE MISSED! If they aren't out of them get one!) It's a hot bread thing that's a little crispy on the outside but soft and almost noodley on the inside. That may sound weird, but just get it. We also always split the hot braised chicken, spinach and tofu and seafood panfriend noodles. So much food for what is normally 3 people, but so cheap and we normally put it away. I thing we got some kind of crab rangoon-like thing one time, but I honestly can't remember ordering anything else ever. We're creatures of habit I guess. If it ain't broke... I'm sure there are some weird/lesser things on the menu, but these things that we get are always good.
(4)
Yong Joon K.
I have been searching for some solid Korean-Chinese food (jjajangmyun, jjambbong, and tangsuyuk) around the Atlanta area, and I found my go-to Korean-Chinese place in Yen Jing! I've tried Golden Buddah, Man Chun Hong and even supermarket Korean-Chinese, only to be disappointed by mediocrity and high prices. Yen Jing (Yun Kyung in Korean) is in an obscure spot overshadowed by more popular locations, and I never noticed it until I read Korean blogs about Yen Jing having good Korean-Chinese food. In terms of Korean-Chinese, this is a hidden gem and by far the best in Atlanta! The tangsuyuk (sweet sour pork) was fried perfectly and the batter was satisfyingly crunchy. The jjajangmyun and jjambbong were both very solid and had the right flavors, although I wish they had more pork and seafood, respectively. I cannot say for more traditional Chinese food, but this is an awesome spot for Korean-Chinese!
(5)
Qiaoyi X.
Well, I'm surprised that Yen Jin is actually a Korean Chinese restaurant. I totally thought it was an authentic Chinese restaurant. We ordered sweet and sour chicken and some shrimp dish. It was not great considering my friend did not eat chicken more than two bites. But it was not that bad considering that I almost finished that chicken. I liked how dishes were presented. But I have to admit, it's not authentic. The service is okay. The ambience reminds me of China in 80s.
(3)
David K.
I've been coming here since I was a little kid and I still come here to this day with my family. I can't begin to tell you how much I love this place. It brings back so much memories. Although I'm not a big fan of Chinese food. This is the place i find myself coming to whenever I crave chinese.
(5)
Ashley M.
I've been coming here ever since I was a kid and after a spontaneous dinner with friends after not visiting for two years, I'm reminded why I like this place so much: delicious food at low prices--what's not to love? Between the three of us, we shared the following: Pan Fried Dumplings, Subgum noodles, and Chef's Special Chicken. One bite of the Chef's Special Chicken brought me back to my childhood. It's always the right texture of spicy, crispy, tangy, and sweet. The noodles are also a recent favorite--they were hot and tender, and the texture of what real fresh Asian noodles should be. All three of us stuffed ourselves silly and still ended up taking a plate of leftovers home AND the bill was only $24! Beat that. One of my favorites must try, order the Chef's Special Chicken--I will not lead you wrong.
(4)
Tanya S.
So Yen Jing has been one of the "parental-approved" Chinese restaurants in the Atlanta area for the past 20-some years we've been here. Some restaurants change their flavor when they change owners and whatnot, but Yen Jing has remained the same. They're not located in a super active plaza--it's pretty quiet there and somewhat easy to miss. That said, most of the time I go visit, Yen Jing seems pretty quiet inside. The space is pretty big, but usually there's just a few tables. So that makes the place feel a bit slower. The interior looks a bit old, in terms of tables, booths, chairs, etc. However, the original design (Chinese style) is pretty nice and should be kept! Compared to the newer places, the interior gives off an "older" feel, but don't let this turn you away! Because the food is where it's at! Food: Right off the bat, the family favorites are the jajiangmien and jampong (that's the Korean name) noodles, the "Gan Pong Ji" (Chinese name, not sure what the English name is), and the "Wu Xiang Ji." These are the top ones I'd definitely recommend. So in more detail: Their noodles are made by themselves. It gives a really nice texture--I'm a complete fan! They're not too chewy, and they're not mushy or anything like that. Yen Jing should definitely get more shout-outs for their homemade noodles. The two main noodle dishes that we order is jajiangmien and jampong. The jajiangmien is a really dark sauce with not much else in it, but there's something about the flavor of Yen Jing's jajiang that keeps us coming back. It's hard to pinpoint and describe the unique flavor, but I think it's the high heat and wok (or whatever they use to cook it in) that gives it the special touch. Anyway, this is a must-try, and I'd think I'd recommend it over the jampong. The jampong is also really good with an appreciable amount of seafood (squid, mussel, shrimp). I usually choose jampong when I'm craving spicy soup and seafood. I'm usually not a soup-noodle person, but Yen Jing's jampong is the exception. I think their "Gan Pong Ji" is one of their classics as well. They do a great job keeping the chicken crispy, even in the sauce. There's a good integration of the meat and sauce so you actually taste the sauce permeating into the chicken. I think some other places don't do it well because the chicken just tastes like the sauce was just poured on and mixed around. I'm not sure what "gan pong ji" is listed as on the menu, but that's the Chinese name that my family always calls it. It's not the kung pao chicken or the sweet and sour chicken though. The Wu Xiang Ji is a cold plate (might be an appetizer, I'm not sure...but it's a substantial amount!) The chicken is marinated in a very strong vinegar-based sauce. It's pretty refreshing to eat, and the cucumbers and cilantro compliment the sour taste really well. Service: The food usually arrives pretty fast, which I always appreciate. They give two complimentary appetizers for you to munch on while you wait for your food to arrive. Usually the waiters/waitresses are really attentive in coming around to re-fill your water and asking if everything is okay. Overall, highly recommend! For all these years, Yen Jing's taste has remained consistent and authentic!
(5)
Monica G.
We ordered shrimp fried rice, salt and pepper squid and the the pan fried rolls. The food was good, but the salt and pepper squid was a bit too salty for my taste. Service was extremely slow. We waited for our food for a good 30-40 minutes. Quite disappointed.
(2)
D L.
Old bastion of Korean-style Chinese food. Always order: - jja jang myun (black bean noodles) - jjang pong (spicy soup with noodles and seafood) - mapa tofu (tofu with beef and bean curd, spicy) - kang poong gi (spicy broiled chicken) However, be ready for the MSG backlash and make plans to have a designated driver.
(3)
Lou G.
I have passed Yen Jing many times and have never realy felt drawn to it, but for some reason i decided to try it out. Since I had not read any Yelp reviews, the first thing that I noticed was that the menu seemed to be a mix of Korean and Chinese. The second thing I noticed was that the restaurant did seem to be like a relic from better Buford Highway days. The waitress was very friendly, and when I asked what was good, she recommended the ja-jjang myun, noodles with black bean sauce on the side. I was brought two small banchan plates, one kimche, another was a Chinese pickled vegetable. I was unimpressed with the presentation of the ja-jjang myun, the noodles were served in one bowl, black bean sauce in another. I was however impressed with the flavor of the sauce and found that it really worked. I found myself digging out the last pea I could find with my chopsticks, and wishing I had more noodles. I saw on the way out that they had Kimche fried rice, I was excited to try that next time, but then I noticed that the Health score is 80, not too excited about that. Overall experience: Tired furnishings, good service, good food, bad health score.
(3)
Thanh N.
I was in Atlanta recently and looked for a nice Chinese restaurant with good reviews and landed here. I came here more than a week ago with my boyfriend and his friend and we really liked it! Unfortunately we came pretty late - around past 9pm - so we couldn't enjoy our food to the fullest, but it was still nice. Both of them had the house fried rice and I had the Kung Pao chicken. The portions were really huge and we were all stuffed in the end! Another plus: my boyfriend had a tea since he was sick and he can usually drink hot beverages. The restaurant's tea was super hot, so he even got burnt! Really good because hot beverages are supposed to be HOT and not lukewarm.
(3)
Lisa J.
Wow, how have I failed to review Yen Jing in my time on yelp? This is my favorite place in Atlanta to get Chinese food. Not that I have a ton of go-to ATL restaurants for Chinese, but still. Their dumplings are stellar, as is the Chef Special Chicken and Mongolian Beef (I know, I'm such an American. It's embarrassing). They also have hands-down the best red-bean-buns that I've ever tasted... it just makes me sad that they only come in orders of 8, so I'm not allowed to have them unless I go with a big group! That said, Yen Jing is excellent for big parties and family-style food. Anyway, I'll keep it short and sweet. Go here; eat delicious things.
(4)
Kritchel I.
Came here for lunch. Chose the lunch special, jia jiang mien. Good portion size to share if you're not too hungry or if you order another lunch dish. The handmade noodle was soft and the black bean sauce was delicious. Must order!
(4)
Huntting B.
This is probably one of the best chinese places in atlanta. Where to start...I've been going here for over 5 years now. I've not found anything even close to it in the city. The service is actually pretty decent, whixh is rare for a chinese restaurant in that part of town. Ill comment on specific dishes in the rest of this review. Mapo tofu - always a winner here, they can make it as spicy as you want it. They make it traditionally with pork in the sauce. The only thing it is missing is a good helping of black pepper to be exactly like I had it in shanghai. Pan fried dumplings - totally awesomely made. Their sauce is good but for those of u that like it spicy I recommend that you pour some soy sauce, some vinegar and a good helping of red pepper and make your own sauce. orange chicken - one day a friend wanted to try the orange beef, it was awsome...for about 30 seconds and then the beef got super tough...it was at that moment that the group accepted that the better choice would have been to get chicken. Since then this is always ordered when we go here. You won't find it better...anywhere. Sizzling rice soup - its always good here, but nothing spectacular...just really good. Hot braised prawns - was always ordered until the discovery of the orange chicken. Still very good if you want some deep fried shrimp that have then been simmered in a sauce. Sweet and sour pork - excellent. The only downside to it is that the pork becomes a bit tough. Not super tough, but it probably could use being soaked/simmered in the sauce an extra 10 minutes to soften the deep fried meat. Made with pineapple and a dark brown sauce, this dish won't disappoint...
(4)
Peter Y.
One of the better Chinese restaurants I've been to here in Atlanta. I was there to get the spicy ja jiang mien (noodles in black sauce) based on my boss' recommendation. The sauce was pretty standard, nothing new but the noodles were great. They're hand-made and you could really tell from the fresh taste and the texture. We also had the Chinese broccoli, fried bread rolls, and a cold appetizer consisting of jellyfish and pig feet. Oh, we also got this fried chicken dish that was pretty good. It was too heavily breaded for my taste but the flavor was excellent. The sauce wasn't overpowering and the Chinese white pepper really stood out. I don't recall seeing shao long bao on the menu but it's been over a year since the last review and he did mention a change of owners. If you want good, non-takeout Chinese, check this place out.
(4)
Yane Y.
This place has been around for years. It was always the "go-to" place when meeting friends, going out with family for reasonably priced Korean-Chinese food. Staples: jja-jiang-myun, sweet and sour pork, orange chicken, hot braised chicken, Mongolian beef, jjam-ppong, mapo tofu,... I hadn't been for awhile but have been waiting to take my husband here for their jja-jiang-myun since moving back to Atlanta. We decided to visit last week since traffic on 285 and 85N was jammed. We ordered the jja-jiang-myun and boy was it delicious. the noodles and the sauce was where it was at. I hadn't harsh good sauce in awhile, so it was awesome. It had a roasted type taste to it - random, I know. My word choice may be off. I'll try to correct it, if a better word comes to mind! Sweet and sour Pork - my husband liked the sauce and thought it had more meat than other restaurants typically give. I thought it was normal. You decide! Anyway, sauce was good, pork was just fried and fresh, so we were happy campers. Can't wait to go back for some more!!!!
(4)
Ronnie S.
Great place to eat. I love their hot and sour soup. It's authentic and the best of all the chinese hot and sour soup. The hot braised shrimp has big shrimps and delicous souce. I have eaten here since 10 years ago. One of my favorite
(5)
Paul N.
This place is pretty good, but the restaurant has a lot of flaws. The Jjang Bong is a big portion and very delicious. Jja Jang Myun is very good too. The restaurant gives you big portions, and you get your money's worth. There are few things that turned me away from the restaurant after so many years of going there. Now, I go to Mahn Chun Hong for the same type of food that Yen Jing offers. Here are the reasons: 1. The place uses so much MSG. You can request to take out the MSG, but that just completely changes the taste. Overall, all the food the restaurant serves is nuked by MSG. Even their kimchi or any other side dishes have MSG in them. 2. The place is not that clean. The chairs and the tables feel different from Mahn Chun Hong. 3. I feel like they use old ingredients. Some of seafood ingredients that I have tasted does not taste fresh at all. 4. I feel that their dishes are unhealthy because of the way they make it such adding too much sugar to adding way too much MSG. If you are looking for the Korean and Chinese fusion cuisine, I suggest going to Mahn Chun Hong down the street from this place which serves better food with better quality.
(3)
J P.
In 1996, when I first started coming here, this restaurant was the best. Jja jang, jjampong, dumplings, etc all tasty. However, the owners refused to put any money back into the business and what you have today is a shell of it's former self. Taste is still here but it's just NOT sanitary. I ordered some takeout today for old times sake and found a metal staple in my beef!!! I don't expect Chinese restaurants to be spotless, but this place raises some serious health concerns beyond the double dose of MSG.
(1)
Angelica Y.
Like others have written, this restaurant has been around for a long time. It is a Chinese-American/Chinese-Korean restaurant. The decor is not new, fancy or hip but for me (and my family including 2 picky mini food eaters...a 5 & 6 yo to be exact) they do have some dishes that make us come back to visit them time & time again. The steamed or fried dumplings are a must. You'll be able to tell a difference from other places that serve prepackaged, frozen dumplings. They make the dumpling skins from scratch as well as their noodles. I still haven't found a ja-jjang myun (black bean sauce and noodles) better than this one. Very yummy! Actually my son loves this & asks for it every time. The jam-pong ( a Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup) is yummy but I can't say it's the best since I haven't tried this out in many other locations around town. If you typically like the Chinese-American sweet & sour dishes (like pork, beef or chicken), you may like the Chef's Special Chicken. The chicken is fried with a batter. The sauce has very small chopped up onions, carrots & celery (i think). It's sweet with a spicy hot kick. Definitely not heart healthy but yummy! We've tried other dishes here but I can't think of anything else worth mentioning at the moment. Overall restaurant review: 3.5 out of 5 Cleanliness: 4 (but the bathroom is a 2.0 (from the hubby) and a 3.0 for me) Friendly service: 3.5 Hope you find this review helpful!
(3)
Michael L.
Given the few sterling reviews of this place, I thought it'd be worth a shot. Mmm....wish we didn't. I haven't tried this place when the 'old management' was here, so I have nothing with which to compare tonight's experience. Here's what we ordered: 1) Guo Ba Tang- This dish is supposed to be a very flavorful soup that has large pieces of 'burnt' rice thrown into it. The 'pot scab' (this is what "guo ba" literally means) should be very crispy, and should soak up the flavors of the soup. What their rendition basically turned out to be was a dilute chicken broth with canned vegetables (baby corn, water chestnuts), sliced carrots, some chopped scallions, mushrooms, and a few pieces of white meat chicken, with some broken pieces of semi-crispy rice. Edible, but that's it. You could make this at home- and do it just as well, if not better. Score: 2 Salt and Pepper Squid- :( Think rubbery tempura. Oy. The squid was definitely not fresh, and was soaked in the wrong type of batter, so that from a distance, the squid looked like McDonald's old chicken nuggets. This dish should be bursting with flavor and spice, but had neither. Bad. Again, edible, but no more. Half a star off for such a bad rendition. Score: 1.5 Za jiang mian- According to these reviews, this is the trademark dish of the place, so we had their spicy rendition of it. Was it spicy? Yes. But you can have spicy without being tasty- by using green jalapenos to spice things up. BOOOO. I understand that times are tough, and it's a cheap way to spice up food. But it does no justice to Chinese or Korean food (this place is a fusion of the two). The noodles were okay, but I'd argue that Man Chung Hong has much better noodles, and better flavoring as well. Just my opinion though. Way too much onions, hardly any meat (there should be a decent portion of shredded pork and baked tofu cubes). It was so salty that my wife had to eat the noodles with rice as an extra salt-diluting element. Again, edible, but nothing close to being above average. Score: 2.5 I felt sort of bad when the chef and the waiter would come by and ask us how the food was- we would say in Mandarin, "Ke yi"- meaning it's satisfactory- but it can mean either very very good, or just okay- I'm thankful for vague phrases sometimes. Maybe we ran into a bad night- but we're probably not coming back. Should've gone to Delicious Kabob...
(2)
Jin K.
This place is solid. The best part is It's never crowded and you can order a majority of their dishes without msg. My brother-in-law can't eat msg at all due to migraines and he's never had a problem eating here. Just ask the waiter when you put in your order to exclude it; they'll let you know if they can't.
(4)
Andrew L.
Without a doubt the best tangsooyuk (chinese sweet and sour beef/pork) I've ever had... and tangsooyuk has been my favorite 'chinese' dish ever since I can remember. Unfortunately, the tangsooyuk in Chicago nowadays pales in comparison to what they serve here at Yen Jing in Atlanta. The restaurant is Korean owned by 2 sisters. It's in a strip mall with a lot of parking off of Buford Highway. The service is very good. Your ice water will usually never go empty. The prices are reasonable. They even have a fish tank! Who doesn't like looking into a fish tank on the way into a chinese restaurant? The typical dishes such as kkampongi (sweet/spicy chicken), mongolian beef, cchajangmyun (black bean noodles), cchampong (spicy noodle soup) are all average to above average. But the real reason I come here is for the tangsooyuk. You have the option for pork tangooyuk or beef tangsooyuk - they both taste great. Just a hint, though, you need to eat the ttangsooyuk fresh - so it's slightly crispy right after being fried, and just when the sauce is starting to soak into the golden crispy breading.... sweet... tangy... goodness... If all they served was tangsooyuk, I'd give it 5-stars. If they didn't have a fish tank, I'd give it 3-stars.
(4)
Wanda J.
OK, there's more good stuff here besides the jja jjang myun and jjam bbong. I also like their mapa tofu and tang su yook with beef (sweet and sour beef). But beware! There is so much sodium and MSG in their food that you will wake up the next morning with peripheral and possibly facial edema, which should subside in a couple of days. This is probably not the best place to eat if you have kidney or heart issues. This place is purely a Chinese-American/ Chinese-Korean restaurant. You will not find authentic Chinese here. I tried to order sauteed snow pea leaves tonight and the waitress (who was Chinese) had no idea what I was talking about.
(4)
Ryan F.
After finding out Wan Lai is closed, we made our way over here. There was nobody in the place and it looked kind of run down, so atmosphere was below average. Fried dumplings were exactly the same as Pung Mie's - heavy on the vegetables, but good. Ja jiang mien was actually awesome - handmade noodles, great sauce, diced onions and little sauteed chunks of meat (pork?). Perfect amount of spice. Shredded pork with red peppers was overly spicy, and had unexpected, and somewhat dreaded glass noodles. Still not terrible just not what I was expecting. Overall, a pretty pleasant experience minus the lady sweating us to order. Give me more than 30 seconds, please!
(3)
Alex H.
I've been enjoying this restaurant for close to 15 years now. This is the place where I was educated on the difference between "white boy" Chinese food and the real thing. This place made me want to learn to use chopsticks. This is a Chinese establishment run by Koreans. The dumplings are fantastic and no visit should start without them. When not sharing my meal family style or I want to clear out the congested sinuses, I'll go for the San Shan Seafood Noodle Soup which contains most of the things in the ocean and a health dose of fire. Family style is where this place really takes off, and my top two dishes are the Chef's Special Chicken and the Salt and Pepper Squid.
(4)
Canyouwoowoo W.
A "Chinese-Korean" joint, which means that they serve certain Chinese dishes that are very popular in Korea, and the clientele is mainly Korean. Some of the best known of these dishes include... --Ja-Jiang-Myun - Noodles in black bean sauce --Jom-Pong - Spicy Seafood Soup with noodles --Kon Poong Gee - spicy chicken --Tong Soo Yuk - basically sweet'n'sour, but the sauce is lighter than the American style. --Mondoo - dumplings Had the Jom Pong here last Sunday night. Good broth, but the seafood was a huge downer - the frozen and process cuts you find in your run of the mill Chinese joints (rubbery or devoid of any flavor). I didn't try their other dishes, but if this is indicative of what they do, then I'll pass on those as well. Had better in the Asian food courts (Assi, H-Mart) which is sad, considering that this is supposed to be a sit down joint and they're charging me almost $10 for it.
(2)
Peter B.
This place earns top marks in every aspect. The food is superb; it's closer to real Chinese than most places, but it will still please picky eaters. There's a lot of atmosphere without feeling like you're paying money just for the decor. They are GREAT for big groups; even with 12 people I've always been seated immediately, and the service is still great. Because of the large portions, most people here eat family-style: order several dishes, and share them among everybody. All in all, a great restaurant for everyone.
(4)
Dena P.
After tackling three Targets on the prowl for good after xmas crap on sale, we really didn't want to go home and cook. This is mostly my fault, seeing as I'm the cook, but I can bribe the other half to let me out of cooking if I let them pick the cuisine. Not the restaurant mind you, just the cuisine. Tonight she wanted Chinese (I secretly wanted Korean, but a promise is a promise) and I didn't want our usual chinese fare. Enter a trolling up and down Buford Hwy a bit before deciding to go to a chinese restaurant in a shopping center called Korean Town. It seemed like a good compromise to me. We ended up at Yen Jing. Although it's evident from other reviews this has been around a while, we've never been there before. The decor is old and pretty chinese restaurant, nothing overly interesting. The table condiments were another matter, I think that red powder was chili powder, but mother o' god what was in the salt and pepper shakers? I digress. On the way in I checked out the specials board. Score for me! Kimchi fried rice was listed, to me that's the best of both worlds, chinese AND korean. I was so clever for deciding to come here. Some menu snapping and studying took place, but my mind was already made up. The girlfriend went straight for her usual, Orange Beef. Just to be as mundane as she was I ordered the fried dumpling appetizer. There, let's be the white bread middle class gay couple we look like anyways. Ok, the dumplings get a 9.75. They were great. Yummy on the bottom, juicy on the inside, not to packed, a good mix of meat and veggie. Getting the sauce brought to us in a syrup dispenser was the king of kings. I can drink that stuff so getting as much as I wanted to make a soggy sort of sauce soup mix with my dumplings was win. Kimchi fried rice gets a 7 out of 10. It was fried rice. When it came to the table it had a red tint, this caused me to squirm in my seat in anticipation. (oh boy EXTRA red pepper sauce yes?yes?), but sadly no. While it was very tasty fried rice, with the obligatory carrot, peas and onions and bits of beef and pork, it distinctly lacked anything that made it kimchi fried rice in my opinion. It wasn't even spicy. And there seemed to be bits of charred cabbage sort of mixed in, it still wasn't anything like kimchi. Color me a sad person who thought they had been clever only to have been tricked. It was good though, don't get me wrong. Orange Beef gets a 7 from me, a 8 from the girlfriend. When it came out we sort of stared at it, thinking it was sweet and sour chicken. We are not use to the big slabs of meat being batter dipped and deep fried, so it was kind of odd. However, the sauce was oh so nummy, and I for one loved the fried orange rind that was almost candied. That made it good in my book. We will give this place another go, mainly because the dumplings were just that awesome. The staff was great, attentive, friendly, eager to please, so that was A+ and helps give them a second go around for me.
(3)
Cynthia S.
One of my favorite Chinese-Korean restaurants. I am a sucker for their shrimp with tomato sauce- good amt of cleaned jumbo shrimp. The sauce is delicous and spicy- not like Italian sauce- its sweeter and stickier. The steamed and fried dumplings are excellent. Hot braised chicken is good. Another favorite is the seafood noodle soup- I always find myself picking some of this up when I am feeling a little under the weather and it makes me feel better. ;)
(4)
Dorothy P.
I've made my final decision now: this place has the best dumplings in town. probly not the best in the country or the world, but the best in ATL. I'm sure I've tried every authentic chinese rest't in town by now. some places don't even make it from scratch, which is a culinary sin in my opinion. they definitely make the filling and wrapper from scratch. the filling is a perfect mix of pork and chives and the wrapper is just thin enough. nothing worse than thick dumpling wrappers! and the accompanying sauce is the right mix of sweet, spicy, and tangy. on a cold winter day such as this one, the perfect meal is: a bowl of their shan shan noodles (regular spicy is plenty spicy enough!) and an order of their fresh steamed dumplings. Warms me up just thinking about it again!
(4)
Gloria M.
I have been going to this place for over 15 years. It hasn't changed one bit, and that is a good thing. The hot and sour soup is mouthwatering and the mapo tofu is heavenly. My old favorites were jja jjangmyun and the jjam pong. Oh and the management is the same...the two sisters --; it's a current and childhood favorite. the dumplings aren't the bomb but then again, you can always go to the grocery store and buy ones to eat yourself
(5)
Alex L.
It's been my brother's favorite place ever since I was little. He would take me there and we would order the same things every time. The last time I went there was in 2006, and I'm not sure about the cook/owners change either. However, there are certainly some dishes worth merit. The spinach tofu (buo tsai to fu), the spicy seafood noodle soup (chao ma mein), the dumplings and the small soup buns (xiao long bao) have been a must every time I go there. They also have a back room for parties. The 2006 Asian American Leo Club of Atlanta had their kickoff celebration there, and we (the Leo Club) really enjoyed their facilities and their 10-course meal. It's definitely worth a visit.
(5)
Fred L.
I've been going here since I was a boy, my family always came here and shin dong yang a joint across the street but has closed down. this place has hands down the BEST jja jjang myun I've had. and for the lunch special I think it's $4.95. You can not beat that. I can't say there Kkan poon gee is the best, but it suffices with the jja jjang myun. I like taking my friends from NY here, b/c I think the sauce here is so much better. It's all in the sauce... This is one of my favorite places to come when I come back home and I want some Korean/Chinese food.
(4)
Aya I.
Yen Jing is a Chinese-Korean restaurant that I've been going to for a long time. If you order the right things, you will enjoy this place.I have a group of dishes that I stick to when I come here. The thing about Yen Jing is that they have a lot of dishes that they do well and a lot of dishes that aren't so good. Here are a few dishes that I can remember disliking: The orange beef comes to the table sizzling and it smells amazing. However, as the dish cools down, the orange glaze goes from syrupy to tacky and sticky an almost candy like taste and consistency. It is hard to chew and is WAY to sweet. If you leave it on your plate for a few minutes and try to return to it, you practically have to rip it off the plate. I love a good bowl of Jam Bong but don't order it here (surprisingly, Golden Buddha on Clairmont actually has great Jam Bong). The seafood has that obvious frozen taste and rubbery texture. The broth is too thin and just does not taste right. Not good. Stay away from the mediocre meat and mixed veg type dishes. Now, here is the good, great and even amazingly delicious dishes. If you are an appetizer type person, start with some pan fried pot stickers. Not the best and not nearly as good as the ones my mom makes, but they are good. The eggplant in spicy garlic sauce is one of the ways I judge a Chinese restaurant. For me, if the eggplant is good, the restaurant is good. The eggplant is delicate and silky on the tongue and is cloaked in a slightly spicy and sweet sauce with lots of garlic throughout. The pork with nira is a simple and delicious dish. Thin strips of pork are paired with nira, a green vegetable that tastes like mild green onion. The dish is fresh and unfussy and one of the best meat dishes on the menu. The jelly fish salad is so good. Cold strips of jelly fish with julienned cucumber and shredded napa cabbage are served with a slightly acidic dressing and it is to die for. It is a light and fresh summery dish that even picky eaters will love. One of my favorites at Yen Jing is the sauteed spinach with tofu. A bed of spinach sauteed with lots of garlic is covered with pieces of fried tofu in a thick garlicky sauce. The tofu is in nice sized pieces that don't break up when you are serving yourself and are creamy and deliciously soft on the inside. Just thinking about it is making hungry. The hot pepper squid is another favorite of mine. The squid is fried and has a light and crispy coating that is not overdone. The squid is surprisingly tender. It is very peppery and slightly spicy. Definitely my favorite seafood dish on the menu. It is easy to be disappointed at Yen Jing but also easy to be amazed. Years of trial and error have helped me to come up with this list of favorites. I have never had a terrible meal here, but now I always have amazing meals.
(4)
Rebecca W.
If you come here, do try their kimchi (one of the small appetizers) and chow-mar seafood noodle (soup noodle). Good amount of seafood and the soup is very comforting (its spiciness comes from ground chili pepper so it's not that harsh). Their main dishes come in very fair portion so you'll have enough to doggy-bag for next meal. Good service - they keep your glass full all the time, and the servers are all very courteous.
(3)
Lee N.
I go to Yen Jing for lunch at least twice a month and always with a group. When someone new to Buford Highway is with us, this is a top choice. We start with pan fried dumplings, and then order Mongolian beef, chef's special chicken (cooked soft), salt and pepper squid, and jja jjang mien (noodles with black bean sauce). We always order dinner sized portions. This is one of my top five restaurants in Atlanta.
(5)
Melissa H.
Yen Jing is a Chinese restaurant run by Koreans, so you'll see some Korean flair on the menu here and there. I love both Chinese and Korean food, so I don't mind this fusion one bit. I've visited Yen Jing countless times since moving to Atlanta over 7 years ago. My favorite dish is the salt and pepper squid. I also love their dumplings (steamed or fried, I like them all). My husband is a big fan of the chef's special chicken, but it's too sweet for me. I like my food more on the fiery side, and I would never order something "sweet and sour" on my own. But hey, if we're sharing...
(4)
Em S.
Korean. Chinese. Well, if you know the difference between the cuisines, you can get both here... or if you don't, even better, it's all Asian anyway! This place has a great vegetarian feast... but lot of dishes are not on the menu and are only be made if the head chef is there. They'll make lots of things that aren't on the regular menu. On the regular menu are both Korean and Chinese dishes. Things like fried vegetables, fried bread, fresh uniquely flavored veggies, soft tofu... mm mmm mmmm. Most of the dishes are great and fresh, though a few of them are premade (frozen or with MSG like almost every other place), so just ask if you don't want the average restaurant fare. The inside is decorated... a somewhat dated but still very nice and East Asian feel... the ceiling is intricately painted! Booths and tables including big round tables for large parties. Restaurant is in a plaza right off Buford Highway - definitely worth checking out! Prices are decent, and service is friendly and typical of a family-run restaurant.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch 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 : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : 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.
Tanya C.
When my Korean family members want to go out and eat Chinese food, they don't really want Chinese-Chinese food. They want Korean style Chinese food. For this, we head over to Yen Jing on Buford Highway when they are in town visiting. We typically order the following: Steamed dumplings Pan fried dumplings Jja jang myun (noodles with a black bean sauce) Jjang pong (spicy seafood soup with noodles) Mapo tofu Sweet and sour pork Mongolian beef It's pretty average as far as the food goes. It's not usually that crowded whenever we are there. I will echo everyone else and say that the salt and MSG content is very high here.
(3)Tom C.
If you want to time warp back to 80's in Chinatown...come to Yen Jing (refer to Daniel B's review). Yen Jin is a solid choice to come for their ja-jjang myun (black bean sauce and noodles) or their jang-bong (seafood, spicy noodle soup). There are repeat Korean customers because of these two noodle bowls. If I were to introduce anybody to ja-jjang myun, I would take them to this restaurant. The sauce is good and has beef and shrimp in it as well. I also ordered their kkang-pung-ki (fried braised chicken). Came out piping hot and fried just right, maybe it was slightly too sweet for my taste. Service was decent. The waitress was really cute ;-) I noticed that the crowd inside was pretty diverse. I pretty good mixture of Asians and Caucasians. I always stay within the Korean section of the menu. I'll have to venture out as I saw non-Asians ordering other types of Chinese food.
(4)Daniel B.
Yen Jing is one of the older Chinese restaurants in town. The furniture and decor inside looks like it hasn't been replaced since they first opened many moons ago. When you enter, it's like stepping into a time warp back to the 1980s. Even the sign outside has their phone number posted with no area code because back then, you didn't need to dial an area code! Yen Jing specializes in northern Chinese cuisine and serves many of the same dishes as their competitor, Chef Liu, across the street. Their menu also includes several Korean items so they get their fare share of Korean clientele (e.g. kimchi is served as a standard appetizer here). I've tried a variety of their dishes including their jellyfish, pig feet, and "five flavor" pork appetizers, steamed pork dumplings, seafood soup, and braised chicken. Overall, the dishes are just not that appetizing. The appetizers, served cold, were not very fresh. The seafood soup was bland - it was like throwing a bunch of fish, squid, mussels, and vegetables together and boiling them in water. The pork dumplings and braised chicken were okay. The braised chicken tasted almost like chicken you'd get from a Chinese takeout joint or mall food court (heavy with sweet sauce). We visited during peak dinner hours on a Friday night and business was really slow for the restaurant. The owners were very friendly and we got impeccable service. The food just left a lot to be desired. Hope this place survives. Yen Jing is located on the bottom level of a strip mall across from Mozart Bakery on Buford Highway.
(3)Sophia Y.
love eating here. food always tastes great since 20 years ago. their jja Jang myun and jjambong are good and kkampungee Mapa tofu are good too. yumm
(5)Andrew C.
Good for the family Chinese restaurant, take everyone! Food is always good ( although sometimes inconsistent from visit to visit). The egg drop soup is awesome and chef special anything usually has a nice spicy flavor added to it. You may want to avoid if your on a diet
(4)Esther K.
As most Korean families have migrated to another Korean-Chinese establishment down the street, so did our family minus my dad. My dad stuck with this place through thick and thin. I haven't been back here in a while, and last Monday, my mom and I paid them a visit; I never thought it was excellent or terrible but I've found that they've gotten much better over the past few years. There are a few dishes that I feel like they do REALLY, REALLY well. Fried rice - No lie, best fried rice from any Chinese joint. They also pour some jja jang (black bean sauce with wok cooked veggies) over a portion of your fried rice and comes with a complementary bowl of egg flower soup. Anywhere else, I never order fried rice unless its like a $1 up charge for ordering just veggie fried rice on the side (and its always really super mediocre) but I always order chicken fried rice to go from here every time we come to eat. Oyster mushrooms with bamboo - My mom stumbled upon this gem while searching for something new to try (outside of the usual sweet and sour pork and empress chicken) and I must say, its my new favorite. The oyster mushrooms taste a bit smoky and it gives it another dimension of flavor that I felt was very robust and the light soy sauce and vinegar based sauce marries the mushrooms and the bamboo in a delightful manner. I've always struggled over what to order my vegan friends at a Chinese place, and this is a dish I would highly recommend to vegans, vegetarians, normal people who just love mushrooms, and voracious carnivores like myself. Spicy san-shan noodle soup - I've always really liked their spicy seafood noodle soup here its very ginger-y and drives colds away. Plenty of seafood and plenty of veggies. Definitely give them another try if you haven't been here in a few years. I feel like it's changed for good!
(4)Stephanie N.
This place makes really good homemade dumplings, but my favorite favorite dish is the Jia Jiang Mien. They make their own noodles and it is just oozing with black bean flavor and other yumminess that I haven't come across anywhere else. If you've never had it before be warned that it does look strange but just put it in your mouth and it is goody good! Their other Chinese dishes are good too, but I prefer to go for the noodles :) Update: Heard there was a change in cooks/owners and doesn't taste the same. Anyone try it? Yelp so I know whether I should stop by or not.
(4)M A.
Meh at best. I need to go back to this place with a group that doesn't order off the English menu I think so I can possibly experience it the right way, but everything I've had here is the same thing I can order from Panda Express and have delivered to my house! If that's authentic, clearly we have no idea what China even is. I rarely return here unless I absolutely have to, but I have no problem not going out with friends if this is the spot they're heading to. My stomach can't take much more Americanized "Chinese" crap! There are a few redeeming qualities. The staff was helpful in making selections, which gives me hope that they'd be helpful in showing Americans what is excellent off the Chinese portion of the menu. The food didn't taste terrible, but it wasn't anything different than what I've had before. Moo Gu Gai NO THANKS. I'll have to wait on this one anyway since they just failed their health inspection. Kind of makes me feel like my intuition was right all along...
(2)Enoch C.
if you want the best jja jjang mien and jjam bong in atlanta, you must try this place. hand made noodles you can really appreciate, meaty and chunky filling in the jja jjang mien sauce, a ton of seafood in every bite in the jjam bong soup. my gosh, i'm salivating right now. i guess just like grocery shopping while you're hungry, it's not a good idea to yelp while you're hungry either. the noodles alone i think bring this place over the top for their noodle dishes. you can tell they're handmade, not like those other places that use ready-made noodles. they're nice and dough-y. you're missing out if you come here alone. the trick is to come with as many people as possible (don't worry, they have plenty of seating), and try a little (or a lot!) of everything. if you're going with 1 other person, i'd suggest getting an order of jja jjang mien and jjam bong and splitting it. i've had their other rice dishes before and remember them being good, although i think for chinese food, i'd prefer chef liu's (for the more authentic dishes) across the street or golden buddha on clairmont (the best kkang poong gi in atlanta). a great place if you're craving some chinese/korean food if you're in the area. i'd say the only places that do chinese/korean right are this place and golden buddha. they're pretty well-spaced apart so to me, it just depends on what neck of the woods i happen to be in.
(4)Josh M.
This place used to be a favorite since the late 90's, until about a little over a year ago when a roach crawled up onto our table. I tried one more time a few weeks later, just to find another roach on the wall next to us. I looked up their health inspection score today to see if things have changed and it looks like they got points taken for the same thing. I guess all good things really do come to an end... atlanta.digitalhealthdep…
(2)Dave M.
The food was pretty good. We got the garlic chicken ($10) and Mapo tofu ($9). Both were large portions and were good. They give you free rice too. The service wasn't too bad either. I just wish I didn't see the owner grab fortune cookies from the bushing cart.
(4)Bahn Mi A.
One of my favorites. To me this is some of the best on Buford Highway. I regret that the place seems to have fallen into disrepair. I have been going there for over 20 years and in that time the inside of this place gets nastier and the bathrooms are pretty gross. I am used to it so it doesn't bother me that much but if I walked in for the first time I would consider leaving. If you can handle the hole in the wall Chinese joint then this place is for you. Food is great.
(4)Safia A.
I've been coming here since I was a kid. Our family goes for almost every birthday, graduation, and I even had a wedding event here in their side room. I actually just came back from celebrating my 25th birthday there! My favorites include hot braised chicken, seafood noodle soup, hot and sour soup, braised tofu with vegetables, and more. Every dish has a distinct, amazing flavor that's pretty indescribable. The restaurant is getting a little old and run down, but the food is still as amazing as ever!!! Yen jing is truly a buford highway classic that I love!!
(5)Esther Y.
Great price and delicious black bean noodles. The ambience is your typical 90s opulent Chinese restaurant. The tables are a little sticky and everything is a bit faded---exactly as you want your authentic Chinese restaurant :)
(4)Addy C.
I remember back in the day when Golden Buddha was the only Chinese/Korean restaurant serving Jja Jang Myun and Jam Pong - then Yen Jing came along then Man Chun Hong and later others. I used to go to Yen Jing a lot then somehow forgot about them - until my friend said she thought Yen Jing had the best Jja Jang Myun in Atlanta. I finally went on Friday and I have to agree - their sauce is very good. CHA CHIANG MEIN - $5.95 (lunch special) Their menu spells Jja Jang Myun as "Cha Chiang Mein" - not sure if that's the Chinese phonetic spelling but I think Man Chun Hong uses the same spelling. In any case, their sauce has the nice smoky flavor, and includes chopped white onions and pork. The noodles don't look handmade but I still like them. The noodles have peas too - random, haha. I liked my lunch so much I ordered two more "to go" (and asked for uncooked noodles with lots of flour) for my parents next time I visit them -- just put the sauce and noodles in the freezer for storage. Lunch also comes with kimchi and picked peppers. My only complaint was the water tasted straight from the sink :( Next time I'd like to try their Jam Pong (spelled "San Shan Seafood" in their menu) which is a spicy seafood noodle soup, another popular Chinese/Korean dish. FYI lunch specials are available Tue-Fri 11:30-3pm, and cost $5.95/6.95/7.95. Closed Mondays.
(4)Sungjae J.
me and my friend was on the way pho dai lo for some hangover remedy and was talking about the old times.. He was like is Yen jing still open?? Before lots of korean and chinese restaurants moved up to gwinnett county this was a very popular chinese place on buford hwy along with Fung mi. When I walked in, mostly everything was setup exactly same as before. Sunday lunch time here was pretty crazy packed but 10yrs later there were about 6-7 tables with customers. We ordered jjamppong which is a spicy seafood noodle soup, hot braised shrimp and tahng-soo-yook which is similar to sweet and sour chicken but with made with clear sweet and sour sauce that has pineapple and other vegetables. also fried dumplings for appetizer. Food came out in a hurry and everything was really good. Better than I thought it was gonna be actually. I will be back to try out their jjajangmyun which is black bean sauce noodles.. so few chinese does good jjamppong and jjajangmyun
(4)Christine U.
My family has been coming here for as long as I can remember Buford Highway, and I'm always down to go. We always get the panfriend chinese roll (NOT TO BE MISSED! If they aren't out of them get one!) It's a hot bread thing that's a little crispy on the outside but soft and almost noodley on the inside. That may sound weird, but just get it. We also always split the hot braised chicken, spinach and tofu and seafood panfriend noodles. So much food for what is normally 3 people, but so cheap and we normally put it away. I thing we got some kind of crab rangoon-like thing one time, but I honestly can't remember ordering anything else ever. We're creatures of habit I guess. If it ain't broke... I'm sure there are some weird/lesser things on the menu, but these things that we get are always good.
(4)Yong Joon K.
I have been searching for some solid Korean-Chinese food (jjajangmyun, jjambbong, and tangsuyuk) around the Atlanta area, and I found my go-to Korean-Chinese place in Yen Jing! I've tried Golden Buddah, Man Chun Hong and even supermarket Korean-Chinese, only to be disappointed by mediocrity and high prices. Yen Jing (Yun Kyung in Korean) is in an obscure spot overshadowed by more popular locations, and I never noticed it until I read Korean blogs about Yen Jing having good Korean-Chinese food. In terms of Korean-Chinese, this is a hidden gem and by far the best in Atlanta! The tangsuyuk (sweet sour pork) was fried perfectly and the batter was satisfyingly crunchy. The jjajangmyun and jjambbong were both very solid and had the right flavors, although I wish they had more pork and seafood, respectively. I cannot say for more traditional Chinese food, but this is an awesome spot for Korean-Chinese!
(5)Qiaoyi X.
Well, I'm surprised that Yen Jin is actually a Korean Chinese restaurant. I totally thought it was an authentic Chinese restaurant. We ordered sweet and sour chicken and some shrimp dish. It was not great considering my friend did not eat chicken more than two bites. But it was not that bad considering that I almost finished that chicken. I liked how dishes were presented. But I have to admit, it's not authentic. The service is okay. The ambience reminds me of China in 80s.
(3)David K.
I've been coming here since I was a little kid and I still come here to this day with my family. I can't begin to tell you how much I love this place. It brings back so much memories. Although I'm not a big fan of Chinese food. This is the place i find myself coming to whenever I crave chinese.
(5)Ashley M.
I've been coming here ever since I was a kid and after a spontaneous dinner with friends after not visiting for two years, I'm reminded why I like this place so much: delicious food at low prices--what's not to love? Between the three of us, we shared the following: Pan Fried Dumplings, Subgum noodles, and Chef's Special Chicken. One bite of the Chef's Special Chicken brought me back to my childhood. It's always the right texture of spicy, crispy, tangy, and sweet. The noodles are also a recent favorite--they were hot and tender, and the texture of what real fresh Asian noodles should be. All three of us stuffed ourselves silly and still ended up taking a plate of leftovers home AND the bill was only $24! Beat that. One of my favorites must try, order the Chef's Special Chicken--I will not lead you wrong.
(4)Tanya S.
So Yen Jing has been one of the "parental-approved" Chinese restaurants in the Atlanta area for the past 20-some years we've been here. Some restaurants change their flavor when they change owners and whatnot, but Yen Jing has remained the same. They're not located in a super active plaza--it's pretty quiet there and somewhat easy to miss. That said, most of the time I go visit, Yen Jing seems pretty quiet inside. The space is pretty big, but usually there's just a few tables. So that makes the place feel a bit slower. The interior looks a bit old, in terms of tables, booths, chairs, etc. However, the original design (Chinese style) is pretty nice and should be kept! Compared to the newer places, the interior gives off an "older" feel, but don't let this turn you away! Because the food is where it's at! Food: Right off the bat, the family favorites are the jajiangmien and jampong (that's the Korean name) noodles, the "Gan Pong Ji" (Chinese name, not sure what the English name is), and the "Wu Xiang Ji." These are the top ones I'd definitely recommend. So in more detail: Their noodles are made by themselves. It gives a really nice texture--I'm a complete fan! They're not too chewy, and they're not mushy or anything like that. Yen Jing should definitely get more shout-outs for their homemade noodles. The two main noodle dishes that we order is jajiangmien and jampong. The jajiangmien is a really dark sauce with not much else in it, but there's something about the flavor of Yen Jing's jajiang that keeps us coming back. It's hard to pinpoint and describe the unique flavor, but I think it's the high heat and wok (or whatever they use to cook it in) that gives it the special touch. Anyway, this is a must-try, and I'd think I'd recommend it over the jampong. The jampong is also really good with an appreciable amount of seafood (squid, mussel, shrimp). I usually choose jampong when I'm craving spicy soup and seafood. I'm usually not a soup-noodle person, but Yen Jing's jampong is the exception. I think their "Gan Pong Ji" is one of their classics as well. They do a great job keeping the chicken crispy, even in the sauce. There's a good integration of the meat and sauce so you actually taste the sauce permeating into the chicken. I think some other places don't do it well because the chicken just tastes like the sauce was just poured on and mixed around. I'm not sure what "gan pong ji" is listed as on the menu, but that's the Chinese name that my family always calls it. It's not the kung pao chicken or the sweet and sour chicken though. The Wu Xiang Ji is a cold plate (might be an appetizer, I'm not sure...but it's a substantial amount!) The chicken is marinated in a very strong vinegar-based sauce. It's pretty refreshing to eat, and the cucumbers and cilantro compliment the sour taste really well. Service: The food usually arrives pretty fast, which I always appreciate. They give two complimentary appetizers for you to munch on while you wait for your food to arrive. Usually the waiters/waitresses are really attentive in coming around to re-fill your water and asking if everything is okay. Overall, highly recommend! For all these years, Yen Jing's taste has remained consistent and authentic!
(5)Monica G.
We ordered shrimp fried rice, salt and pepper squid and the the pan fried rolls. The food was good, but the salt and pepper squid was a bit too salty for my taste. Service was extremely slow. We waited for our food for a good 30-40 minutes. Quite disappointed.
(2)D L.
Old bastion of Korean-style Chinese food. Always order: - jja jang myun (black bean noodles) - jjang pong (spicy soup with noodles and seafood) - mapa tofu (tofu with beef and bean curd, spicy) - kang poong gi (spicy broiled chicken) However, be ready for the MSG backlash and make plans to have a designated driver.
(3)Lou G.
I have passed Yen Jing many times and have never realy felt drawn to it, but for some reason i decided to try it out. Since I had not read any Yelp reviews, the first thing that I noticed was that the menu seemed to be a mix of Korean and Chinese. The second thing I noticed was that the restaurant did seem to be like a relic from better Buford Highway days. The waitress was very friendly, and when I asked what was good, she recommended the ja-jjang myun, noodles with black bean sauce on the side. I was brought two small banchan plates, one kimche, another was a Chinese pickled vegetable. I was unimpressed with the presentation of the ja-jjang myun, the noodles were served in one bowl, black bean sauce in another. I was however impressed with the flavor of the sauce and found that it really worked. I found myself digging out the last pea I could find with my chopsticks, and wishing I had more noodles. I saw on the way out that they had Kimche fried rice, I was excited to try that next time, but then I noticed that the Health score is 80, not too excited about that. Overall experience: Tired furnishings, good service, good food, bad health score.
(3)Thanh N.
I was in Atlanta recently and looked for a nice Chinese restaurant with good reviews and landed here. I came here more than a week ago with my boyfriend and his friend and we really liked it! Unfortunately we came pretty late - around past 9pm - so we couldn't enjoy our food to the fullest, but it was still nice. Both of them had the house fried rice and I had the Kung Pao chicken. The portions were really huge and we were all stuffed in the end! Another plus: my boyfriend had a tea since he was sick and he can usually drink hot beverages. The restaurant's tea was super hot, so he even got burnt! Really good because hot beverages are supposed to be HOT and not lukewarm.
(3)Lisa J.
Wow, how have I failed to review Yen Jing in my time on yelp? This is my favorite place in Atlanta to get Chinese food. Not that I have a ton of go-to ATL restaurants for Chinese, but still. Their dumplings are stellar, as is the Chef Special Chicken and Mongolian Beef (I know, I'm such an American. It's embarrassing). They also have hands-down the best red-bean-buns that I've ever tasted... it just makes me sad that they only come in orders of 8, so I'm not allowed to have them unless I go with a big group! That said, Yen Jing is excellent for big parties and family-style food. Anyway, I'll keep it short and sweet. Go here; eat delicious things.
(4)Kritchel I.
Came here for lunch. Chose the lunch special, jia jiang mien. Good portion size to share if you're not too hungry or if you order another lunch dish. The handmade noodle was soft and the black bean sauce was delicious. Must order!
(4)Huntting B.
This is probably one of the best chinese places in atlanta. Where to start...I've been going here for over 5 years now. I've not found anything even close to it in the city. The service is actually pretty decent, whixh is rare for a chinese restaurant in that part of town. Ill comment on specific dishes in the rest of this review. Mapo tofu - always a winner here, they can make it as spicy as you want it. They make it traditionally with pork in the sauce. The only thing it is missing is a good helping of black pepper to be exactly like I had it in shanghai. Pan fried dumplings - totally awesomely made. Their sauce is good but for those of u that like it spicy I recommend that you pour some soy sauce, some vinegar and a good helping of red pepper and make your own sauce. orange chicken - one day a friend wanted to try the orange beef, it was awsome...for about 30 seconds and then the beef got super tough...it was at that moment that the group accepted that the better choice would have been to get chicken. Since then this is always ordered when we go here. You won't find it better...anywhere. Sizzling rice soup - its always good here, but nothing spectacular...just really good. Hot braised prawns - was always ordered until the discovery of the orange chicken. Still very good if you want some deep fried shrimp that have then been simmered in a sauce. Sweet and sour pork - excellent. The only downside to it is that the pork becomes a bit tough. Not super tough, but it probably could use being soaked/simmered in the sauce an extra 10 minutes to soften the deep fried meat. Made with pineapple and a dark brown sauce, this dish won't disappoint...
(4)Peter Y.
One of the better Chinese restaurants I've been to here in Atlanta. I was there to get the spicy ja jiang mien (noodles in black sauce) based on my boss' recommendation. The sauce was pretty standard, nothing new but the noodles were great. They're hand-made and you could really tell from the fresh taste and the texture. We also had the Chinese broccoli, fried bread rolls, and a cold appetizer consisting of jellyfish and pig feet. Oh, we also got this fried chicken dish that was pretty good. It was too heavily breaded for my taste but the flavor was excellent. The sauce wasn't overpowering and the Chinese white pepper really stood out. I don't recall seeing shao long bao on the menu but it's been over a year since the last review and he did mention a change of owners. If you want good, non-takeout Chinese, check this place out.
(4)Yane Y.
This place has been around for years. It was always the "go-to" place when meeting friends, going out with family for reasonably priced Korean-Chinese food. Staples: jja-jiang-myun, sweet and sour pork, orange chicken, hot braised chicken, Mongolian beef, jjam-ppong, mapo tofu,... I hadn't been for awhile but have been waiting to take my husband here for their jja-jiang-myun since moving back to Atlanta. We decided to visit last week since traffic on 285 and 85N was jammed. We ordered the jja-jiang-myun and boy was it delicious. the noodles and the sauce was where it was at. I hadn't harsh good sauce in awhile, so it was awesome. It had a roasted type taste to it - random, I know. My word choice may be off. I'll try to correct it, if a better word comes to mind! Sweet and sour Pork - my husband liked the sauce and thought it had more meat than other restaurants typically give. I thought it was normal. You decide! Anyway, sauce was good, pork was just fried and fresh, so we were happy campers. Can't wait to go back for some more!!!!
(4)Ronnie S.
Great place to eat. I love their hot and sour soup. It's authentic and the best of all the chinese hot and sour soup. The hot braised shrimp has big shrimps and delicous souce. I have eaten here since 10 years ago. One of my favorite
(5)Paul N.
This place is pretty good, but the restaurant has a lot of flaws. The Jjang Bong is a big portion and very delicious. Jja Jang Myun is very good too. The restaurant gives you big portions, and you get your money's worth. There are few things that turned me away from the restaurant after so many years of going there. Now, I go to Mahn Chun Hong for the same type of food that Yen Jing offers. Here are the reasons: 1. The place uses so much MSG. You can request to take out the MSG, but that just completely changes the taste. Overall, all the food the restaurant serves is nuked by MSG. Even their kimchi or any other side dishes have MSG in them. 2. The place is not that clean. The chairs and the tables feel different from Mahn Chun Hong. 3. I feel like they use old ingredients. Some of seafood ingredients that I have tasted does not taste fresh at all. 4. I feel that their dishes are unhealthy because of the way they make it such adding too much sugar to adding way too much MSG. If you are looking for the Korean and Chinese fusion cuisine, I suggest going to Mahn Chun Hong down the street from this place which serves better food with better quality.
(3)J P.
In 1996, when I first started coming here, this restaurant was the best. Jja jang, jjampong, dumplings, etc all tasty. However, the owners refused to put any money back into the business and what you have today is a shell of it's former self. Taste is still here but it's just NOT sanitary. I ordered some takeout today for old times sake and found a metal staple in my beef!!! I don't expect Chinese restaurants to be spotless, but this place raises some serious health concerns beyond the double dose of MSG.
(1)Angelica Y.
Like others have written, this restaurant has been around for a long time. It is a Chinese-American/Chinese-Korean restaurant. The decor is not new, fancy or hip but for me (and my family including 2 picky mini food eaters...a 5 & 6 yo to be exact) they do have some dishes that make us come back to visit them time & time again. The steamed or fried dumplings are a must. You'll be able to tell a difference from other places that serve prepackaged, frozen dumplings. They make the dumpling skins from scratch as well as their noodles. I still haven't found a ja-jjang myun (black bean sauce and noodles) better than this one. Very yummy! Actually my son loves this & asks for it every time. The jam-pong ( a Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup) is yummy but I can't say it's the best since I haven't tried this out in many other locations around town. If you typically like the Chinese-American sweet & sour dishes (like pork, beef or chicken), you may like the Chef's Special Chicken. The chicken is fried with a batter. The sauce has very small chopped up onions, carrots & celery (i think). It's sweet with a spicy hot kick. Definitely not heart healthy but yummy! We've tried other dishes here but I can't think of anything else worth mentioning at the moment. Overall restaurant review: 3.5 out of 5 Cleanliness: 4 (but the bathroom is a 2.0 (from the hubby) and a 3.0 for me) Friendly service: 3.5 Hope you find this review helpful!
(3)Michael L.
Given the few sterling reviews of this place, I thought it'd be worth a shot. Mmm....wish we didn't. I haven't tried this place when the 'old management' was here, so I have nothing with which to compare tonight's experience. Here's what we ordered: 1) Guo Ba Tang- This dish is supposed to be a very flavorful soup that has large pieces of 'burnt' rice thrown into it. The 'pot scab' (this is what "guo ba" literally means) should be very crispy, and should soak up the flavors of the soup. What their rendition basically turned out to be was a dilute chicken broth with canned vegetables (baby corn, water chestnuts), sliced carrots, some chopped scallions, mushrooms, and a few pieces of white meat chicken, with some broken pieces of semi-crispy rice. Edible, but that's it. You could make this at home- and do it just as well, if not better. Score: 2 Salt and Pepper Squid- :( Think rubbery tempura. Oy. The squid was definitely not fresh, and was soaked in the wrong type of batter, so that from a distance, the squid looked like McDonald's old chicken nuggets. This dish should be bursting with flavor and spice, but had neither. Bad. Again, edible, but no more. Half a star off for such a bad rendition. Score: 1.5 Za jiang mian- According to these reviews, this is the trademark dish of the place, so we had their spicy rendition of it. Was it spicy? Yes. But you can have spicy without being tasty- by using green jalapenos to spice things up. BOOOO. I understand that times are tough, and it's a cheap way to spice up food. But it does no justice to Chinese or Korean food (this place is a fusion of the two). The noodles were okay, but I'd argue that Man Chung Hong has much better noodles, and better flavoring as well. Just my opinion though. Way too much onions, hardly any meat (there should be a decent portion of shredded pork and baked tofu cubes). It was so salty that my wife had to eat the noodles with rice as an extra salt-diluting element. Again, edible, but nothing close to being above average. Score: 2.5 I felt sort of bad when the chef and the waiter would come by and ask us how the food was- we would say in Mandarin, "Ke yi"- meaning it's satisfactory- but it can mean either very very good, or just okay- I'm thankful for vague phrases sometimes. Maybe we ran into a bad night- but we're probably not coming back. Should've gone to Delicious Kabob...
(2)Jin K.
This place is solid. The best part is It's never crowded and you can order a majority of their dishes without msg. My brother-in-law can't eat msg at all due to migraines and he's never had a problem eating here. Just ask the waiter when you put in your order to exclude it; they'll let you know if they can't.
(4)Andrew L.
Without a doubt the best tangsooyuk (chinese sweet and sour beef/pork) I've ever had... and tangsooyuk has been my favorite 'chinese' dish ever since I can remember. Unfortunately, the tangsooyuk in Chicago nowadays pales in comparison to what they serve here at Yen Jing in Atlanta. The restaurant is Korean owned by 2 sisters. It's in a strip mall with a lot of parking off of Buford Highway. The service is very good. Your ice water will usually never go empty. The prices are reasonable. They even have a fish tank! Who doesn't like looking into a fish tank on the way into a chinese restaurant? The typical dishes such as kkampongi (sweet/spicy chicken), mongolian beef, cchajangmyun (black bean noodles), cchampong (spicy noodle soup) are all average to above average. But the real reason I come here is for the tangsooyuk. You have the option for pork tangooyuk or beef tangsooyuk - they both taste great. Just a hint, though, you need to eat the ttangsooyuk fresh - so it's slightly crispy right after being fried, and just when the sauce is starting to soak into the golden crispy breading.... sweet... tangy... goodness... If all they served was tangsooyuk, I'd give it 5-stars. If they didn't have a fish tank, I'd give it 3-stars.
(4)Wanda J.
OK, there's more good stuff here besides the jja jjang myun and jjam bbong. I also like their mapa tofu and tang su yook with beef (sweet and sour beef). But beware! There is so much sodium and MSG in their food that you will wake up the next morning with peripheral and possibly facial edema, which should subside in a couple of days. This is probably not the best place to eat if you have kidney or heart issues. This place is purely a Chinese-American/ Chinese-Korean restaurant. You will not find authentic Chinese here. I tried to order sauteed snow pea leaves tonight and the waitress (who was Chinese) had no idea what I was talking about.
(4)Ryan F.
After finding out Wan Lai is closed, we made our way over here. There was nobody in the place and it looked kind of run down, so atmosphere was below average. Fried dumplings were exactly the same as Pung Mie's - heavy on the vegetables, but good. Ja jiang mien was actually awesome - handmade noodles, great sauce, diced onions and little sauteed chunks of meat (pork?). Perfect amount of spice. Shredded pork with red peppers was overly spicy, and had unexpected, and somewhat dreaded glass noodles. Still not terrible just not what I was expecting. Overall, a pretty pleasant experience minus the lady sweating us to order. Give me more than 30 seconds, please!
(3)Alex H.
I've been enjoying this restaurant for close to 15 years now. This is the place where I was educated on the difference between "white boy" Chinese food and the real thing. This place made me want to learn to use chopsticks. This is a Chinese establishment run by Koreans. The dumplings are fantastic and no visit should start without them. When not sharing my meal family style or I want to clear out the congested sinuses, I'll go for the San Shan Seafood Noodle Soup which contains most of the things in the ocean and a health dose of fire. Family style is where this place really takes off, and my top two dishes are the Chef's Special Chicken and the Salt and Pepper Squid.
(4)Canyouwoowoo W.
A "Chinese-Korean" joint, which means that they serve certain Chinese dishes that are very popular in Korea, and the clientele is mainly Korean. Some of the best known of these dishes include... --Ja-Jiang-Myun - Noodles in black bean sauce --Jom-Pong - Spicy Seafood Soup with noodles --Kon Poong Gee - spicy chicken --Tong Soo Yuk - basically sweet'n'sour, but the sauce is lighter than the American style. --Mondoo - dumplings Had the Jom Pong here last Sunday night. Good broth, but the seafood was a huge downer - the frozen and process cuts you find in your run of the mill Chinese joints (rubbery or devoid of any flavor). I didn't try their other dishes, but if this is indicative of what they do, then I'll pass on those as well. Had better in the Asian food courts (Assi, H-Mart) which is sad, considering that this is supposed to be a sit down joint and they're charging me almost $10 for it.
(2)Peter B.
This place earns top marks in every aspect. The food is superb; it's closer to real Chinese than most places, but it will still please picky eaters. There's a lot of atmosphere without feeling like you're paying money just for the decor. They are GREAT for big groups; even with 12 people I've always been seated immediately, and the service is still great. Because of the large portions, most people here eat family-style: order several dishes, and share them among everybody. All in all, a great restaurant for everyone.
(4)Dena P.
After tackling three Targets on the prowl for good after xmas crap on sale, we really didn't want to go home and cook. This is mostly my fault, seeing as I'm the cook, but I can bribe the other half to let me out of cooking if I let them pick the cuisine. Not the restaurant mind you, just the cuisine. Tonight she wanted Chinese (I secretly wanted Korean, but a promise is a promise) and I didn't want our usual chinese fare. Enter a trolling up and down Buford Hwy a bit before deciding to go to a chinese restaurant in a shopping center called Korean Town. It seemed like a good compromise to me. We ended up at Yen Jing. Although it's evident from other reviews this has been around a while, we've never been there before. The decor is old and pretty chinese restaurant, nothing overly interesting. The table condiments were another matter, I think that red powder was chili powder, but mother o' god what was in the salt and pepper shakers? I digress. On the way in I checked out the specials board. Score for me! Kimchi fried rice was listed, to me that's the best of both worlds, chinese AND korean. I was so clever for deciding to come here. Some menu snapping and studying took place, but my mind was already made up. The girlfriend went straight for her usual, Orange Beef. Just to be as mundane as she was I ordered the fried dumpling appetizer. There, let's be the white bread middle class gay couple we look like anyways. Ok, the dumplings get a 9.75. They were great. Yummy on the bottom, juicy on the inside, not to packed, a good mix of meat and veggie. Getting the sauce brought to us in a syrup dispenser was the king of kings. I can drink that stuff so getting as much as I wanted to make a soggy sort of sauce soup mix with my dumplings was win. Kimchi fried rice gets a 7 out of 10. It was fried rice. When it came to the table it had a red tint, this caused me to squirm in my seat in anticipation. (oh boy EXTRA red pepper sauce yes?yes?), but sadly no. While it was very tasty fried rice, with the obligatory carrot, peas and onions and bits of beef and pork, it distinctly lacked anything that made it kimchi fried rice in my opinion. It wasn't even spicy. And there seemed to be bits of charred cabbage sort of mixed in, it still wasn't anything like kimchi. Color me a sad person who thought they had been clever only to have been tricked. It was good though, don't get me wrong. Orange Beef gets a 7 from me, a 8 from the girlfriend. When it came out we sort of stared at it, thinking it was sweet and sour chicken. We are not use to the big slabs of meat being batter dipped and deep fried, so it was kind of odd. However, the sauce was oh so nummy, and I for one loved the fried orange rind that was almost candied. That made it good in my book. We will give this place another go, mainly because the dumplings were just that awesome. The staff was great, attentive, friendly, eager to please, so that was A+ and helps give them a second go around for me.
(3)Cynthia S.
One of my favorite Chinese-Korean restaurants. I am a sucker for their shrimp with tomato sauce- good amt of cleaned jumbo shrimp. The sauce is delicous and spicy- not like Italian sauce- its sweeter and stickier. The steamed and fried dumplings are excellent. Hot braised chicken is good. Another favorite is the seafood noodle soup- I always find myself picking some of this up when I am feeling a little under the weather and it makes me feel better. ;)
(4)Dorothy P.
I've made my final decision now: this place has the best dumplings in town. probly not the best in the country or the world, but the best in ATL. I'm sure I've tried every authentic chinese rest't in town by now. some places don't even make it from scratch, which is a culinary sin in my opinion. they definitely make the filling and wrapper from scratch. the filling is a perfect mix of pork and chives and the wrapper is just thin enough. nothing worse than thick dumpling wrappers! and the accompanying sauce is the right mix of sweet, spicy, and tangy. on a cold winter day such as this one, the perfect meal is: a bowl of their shan shan noodles (regular spicy is plenty spicy enough!) and an order of their fresh steamed dumplings. Warms me up just thinking about it again!
(4)Gloria M.
I have been going to this place for over 15 years. It hasn't changed one bit, and that is a good thing. The hot and sour soup is mouthwatering and the mapo tofu is heavenly. My old favorites were jja jjangmyun and the jjam pong. Oh and the management is the same...the two sisters --; it's a current and childhood favorite. the dumplings aren't the bomb but then again, you can always go to the grocery store and buy ones to eat yourself
(5)Alex L.
It's been my brother's favorite place ever since I was little. He would take me there and we would order the same things every time. The last time I went there was in 2006, and I'm not sure about the cook/owners change either. However, there are certainly some dishes worth merit. The spinach tofu (buo tsai to fu), the spicy seafood noodle soup (chao ma mein), the dumplings and the small soup buns (xiao long bao) have been a must every time I go there. They also have a back room for parties. The 2006 Asian American Leo Club of Atlanta had their kickoff celebration there, and we (the Leo Club) really enjoyed their facilities and their 10-course meal. It's definitely worth a visit.
(5)Fred L.
I've been going here since I was a boy, my family always came here and shin dong yang a joint across the street but has closed down. this place has hands down the BEST jja jjang myun I've had. and for the lunch special I think it's $4.95. You can not beat that. I can't say there Kkan poon gee is the best, but it suffices with the jja jjang myun. I like taking my friends from NY here, b/c I think the sauce here is so much better. It's all in the sauce... This is one of my favorite places to come when I come back home and I want some Korean/Chinese food.
(4)Aya I.
Yen Jing is a Chinese-Korean restaurant that I've been going to for a long time. If you order the right things, you will enjoy this place.I have a group of dishes that I stick to when I come here. The thing about Yen Jing is that they have a lot of dishes that they do well and a lot of dishes that aren't so good. Here are a few dishes that I can remember disliking: The orange beef comes to the table sizzling and it smells amazing. However, as the dish cools down, the orange glaze goes from syrupy to tacky and sticky an almost candy like taste and consistency. It is hard to chew and is WAY to sweet. If you leave it on your plate for a few minutes and try to return to it, you practically have to rip it off the plate. I love a good bowl of Jam Bong but don't order it here (surprisingly, Golden Buddha on Clairmont actually has great Jam Bong). The seafood has that obvious frozen taste and rubbery texture. The broth is too thin and just does not taste right. Not good. Stay away from the mediocre meat and mixed veg type dishes. Now, here is the good, great and even amazingly delicious dishes. If you are an appetizer type person, start with some pan fried pot stickers. Not the best and not nearly as good as the ones my mom makes, but they are good. The eggplant in spicy garlic sauce is one of the ways I judge a Chinese restaurant. For me, if the eggplant is good, the restaurant is good. The eggplant is delicate and silky on the tongue and is cloaked in a slightly spicy and sweet sauce with lots of garlic throughout. The pork with nira is a simple and delicious dish. Thin strips of pork are paired with nira, a green vegetable that tastes like mild green onion. The dish is fresh and unfussy and one of the best meat dishes on the menu. The jelly fish salad is so good. Cold strips of jelly fish with julienned cucumber and shredded napa cabbage are served with a slightly acidic dressing and it is to die for. It is a light and fresh summery dish that even picky eaters will love. One of my favorites at Yen Jing is the sauteed spinach with tofu. A bed of spinach sauteed with lots of garlic is covered with pieces of fried tofu in a thick garlicky sauce. The tofu is in nice sized pieces that don't break up when you are serving yourself and are creamy and deliciously soft on the inside. Just thinking about it is making hungry. The hot pepper squid is another favorite of mine. The squid is fried and has a light and crispy coating that is not overdone. The squid is surprisingly tender. It is very peppery and slightly spicy. Definitely my favorite seafood dish on the menu. It is easy to be disappointed at Yen Jing but also easy to be amazed. Years of trial and error have helped me to come up with this list of favorites. I have never had a terrible meal here, but now I always have amazing meals.
(4)Rebecca W.
If you come here, do try their kimchi (one of the small appetizers) and chow-mar seafood noodle (soup noodle). Good amount of seafood and the soup is very comforting (its spiciness comes from ground chili pepper so it's not that harsh). Their main dishes come in very fair portion so you'll have enough to doggy-bag for next meal. Good service - they keep your glass full all the time, and the servers are all very courteous.
(3)Lee N.
I go to Yen Jing for lunch at least twice a month and always with a group. When someone new to Buford Highway is with us, this is a top choice. We start with pan fried dumplings, and then order Mongolian beef, chef's special chicken (cooked soft), salt and pepper squid, and jja jjang mien (noodles with black bean sauce). We always order dinner sized portions. This is one of my top five restaurants in Atlanta.
(5)Melissa H.
Yen Jing is a Chinese restaurant run by Koreans, so you'll see some Korean flair on the menu here and there. I love both Chinese and Korean food, so I don't mind this fusion one bit. I've visited Yen Jing countless times since moving to Atlanta over 7 years ago. My favorite dish is the salt and pepper squid. I also love their dumplings (steamed or fried, I like them all). My husband is a big fan of the chef's special chicken, but it's too sweet for me. I like my food more on the fiery side, and I would never order something "sweet and sour" on my own. But hey, if we're sharing...
(4)Em S.
Korean. Chinese. Well, if you know the difference between the cuisines, you can get both here... or if you don't, even better, it's all Asian anyway! This place has a great vegetarian feast... but lot of dishes are not on the menu and are only be made if the head chef is there. They'll make lots of things that aren't on the regular menu. On the regular menu are both Korean and Chinese dishes. Things like fried vegetables, fried bread, fresh uniquely flavored veggies, soft tofu... mm mmm mmmm. Most of the dishes are great and fresh, though a few of them are premade (frozen or with MSG like almost every other place), so just ask if you don't want the average restaurant fare. The inside is decorated... a somewhat dated but still very nice and East Asian feel... the ceiling is intricately painted! Booths and tables including big round tables for large parties. Restaurant is in a plaza right off Buford Highway - definitely worth checking out! Prices are decent, and service is friendly and typical of a family-run restaurant.
(5)