Jen Jen’s Chinese Restaurant
9066 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS, 66212
Jen Jen’s Chinese Restaurant Menu
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Address :
9066 Metcalf Ave
Overland Park, KS, 66212 - Phone (913) 642-1838
- Website https://www.jenjensop.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Julius C.
Several times earlier this year, we drove by and either there was a sign saying they were on extended vacation for the Chinese New Year or the windows had plywood covering them and several padlocks were on the door. We were in the area this weekend and we were surprised to find that this place was actually open. Apparently, they had been closed from February to May 2014 due to the owners traveling and also a car crashed into the restaurant while they were away. I had assumed that the restaurant had closed for good but thankfully I was wrong. Because when you talk about authentic chinese food in the KC area, there's a handful of places in town that do it right and this is definitely one of them. We started with seafood soup with golden mushrooms and ordered pan fried noodles with beef brisket, pork ribs in peking sauce, and bok choy in garlic sauce (got to have some veggies). The wait staff also gave us the peanut tapioca dessert soup to end the meal, only place that still does this. Similar to Lucky Wok on 87th St, this place isn't fancy, no 7 flat screen TVs showing chinese subtitled Food Network shows, no modern decor either. Just great chinese food served until 1 AM.
(4)Lulu Y.
The deep fried soft-shell crab is awesome! One of the best Chinese restaurant around this area!
(5)Baylee P.
Defiantly not the best Chinese food I've ever had. I got the need lo mein and it was lacking in flavor, and I feel like there was an odd hint of a flavor that didn't belong in it. The water had no ice and the waitress seemed like she was in a hurry to grab our dishes from us. Would not revisit this place.
(2)Lianna N.
I grew up eating authentic chinese food, and for the midwest, this is the real deal. It's no wonder there are so many top rated reviews here. Open till 2? CHECK. yummy and quick service? CHECK. Exactly what good chinese food should be, which is sometimes hard to find in the heart of America. nuff said. Finding it can be a bit of a challenge-my GPS took me to the wrong shopping center. Its located by the walmart grocery store and panda express in that shopping center off 91st. The restaurant doesn't face the street so you wont see the sign until you are inside the center's parking lot driving around.
(5)Kelsey P.
I really wanted to love this place after reading reviews! We always go to Po's Dumpling Bar in Westport (Best Chinese and Dumplings in KC, hands down). We have moved out south and wanted to find Chinese closer to home when we didn't want to make the drive. Here's what we found: 1. Average Prices 2. Soggy Chicken 3. No crab in crabrangoon 4. No veggies or egg in fried rice 5. Soup tasted like a broth (even with beef and egg in it) 6. Restaurant was dirty Unless we are craving Chinese at 1:00AM, we won't be going back. Not worth the money, should have gone to Panda Express.
(2)Daniel H.
This place was a little hidden since they don't have any huge signs. My coworker told me that it's next to a Panda Express (as of 10/16/12) so that was a good landmark to indicate I was in the right plaza. There was a lot of parking in a somewhat lit parking lot outside of the restaurant. The interior was small (maybe can seat under 50?), but it wasn't busy around 6:30pm. The menu had reasonable prices and I didn't order anything in particular. My coworker and his friends were the ones that ordered everything. I'll try to label my cell phone pictures if I can remember the names. Yeah... I didn't bring my point-and-shoot camera so my cell phone was good enough. The food came out shortly after and it was good that they came quickly after one another. Our table didn't come with a lazy suzy so we all had to reach across the table or ask someone to pass a dish. There were 8 of us so it was a decent-sized table. Everything I ate was good and too bad we all finished everything so quick. We should have ordered more food. lol If I had to choose between this restaurant and ABC Cafe, then I would go to ABC Cafe and come here after for seconds since this place opens later than ABC Cafe. Good food still!
(4)Susan C.
Holy s*#t...a legitimate Chinese place in KC. Skip Bolings or any other "authentic" place that you have in mind. Jen Jens is as authentic as you will get. The salty pork ribs are SPOT on. If only they didn't close for months at a time and open for lunch. I'd give them 5 stars for sure.
(4)Jeremy W.
One of the few Chinese meals that I stopped eating before I was full. The chicken seemed to be full of msg and was just a bunch of mush. I will continue to drive out of my way to go to Lucky Dragon in North KC rather then try this one again. I have been having bad luck finding a Chinese place I like around the OP area..
(1)Rose L.
I cannot believe I have lived down the street for ten years and am just now discovering Jen Jen's!! First of all, this reminds me of the authentic Chinese I have had in California, so included in the smiley feelings are memories of great times out west. Also, the two times I have stopped by for carry out, the place has been packed with Asian people, and to me, that is a sign of good Asian cuisine! That aside, when my go-to Chinese place on 103rd changed their menu and closed on Sundays, I was at a loss. Then, I remembered I had read great Yelp reviews of Jen Jen's, so I decided to phone in an order. I have carried out twice. The steamed dumplings are spectacular, and I will make them a standard part of my order. I also had general's chicken, kung pao chicken, and lo mein pork. The chicken is exceptional quality, thinly sliced white meat. I will have them spice it up in the future. As I become familiar with more of their dishes, I will experiment with more authentic stuff, but I will play it safe with familiar dishes for now. Two things I love the most about Jen Jen's: they are open till 1am during the week and 2 am on weekends. Yes! Finally, somewhere in JoCo caters to night owls! Secondly, the customer service is spectacular. I feel like the staff really cares about pleasing customers. They have great communication skills, and I feel they value my business. I will definitely update after several more experiences, but for now, a solid four!!
(4)Davis N.
The best in kansas city! It's a no brainer for chinese food! Gotta go get it..the closest yo hong kong in kansas city!
(5)Jimmy C.
This is one of two places for traditional chinese food. When I am in the mood for authentic chinese I head here, especially late in the night dining. Like many previous reviewers have stated, this is the bomb outside of Cali and New York.
(5)Bobbi T.
This is my favorite place to go to for authentic chinese food! Everything here is soooo good, especially the fried foods! The best part is that they open late. The only thing I don't like is when they go on their super long trips...
(5)Kev L.
Very VERY good for Cantonese grub. Came in for a sneak attack late Fridaynight. Place was packed being it was 12:30AM The Yeung Chow fried rice here was okay. Definitely a ton of egg which for me Is always a plus. It did have BBQ pork (as opposed to SLICED LUNCHMEAT... Stupid ABC Cafe, I'm still angry about it......) and more shrimp than any other fried rice in the city. Rice was a bit mushy though. Fortune Star remains the undisputed Yeung Chow champion. The Pork in Peking sauce was very impressive, though not as good as ABC Cafe's. Had as well the seafood soup with golden mushrooms and was pleasantly surprised. Very delicious stuff. At the end, our server (Which was very friendly and attentive) brought us this ultra-awkward peanut butter soup with tapioca that was super fantastic. And yes Joe H., the midnight scene is freaking amazing :)
(4)Mnason M.
This place is legit Chinese like everyone is saying. Quite good too. It is certainly a small family owned restaurant or something of the sort. My wife and I ordered the Chicken with Black Bean Sauce and Shrimp, Snow Peas, and Crab Rangoon. All was decent. Portions were huge! We easily could have just had Crab Rangoon and one of the dishes and left full. I wish the black bean sauce was a little bolder and a bit more spicy. Service was good. It was ran by a single individual with a full dining room and some how we still managed to keep up fairly well. There were a few minor mistakes (like no silverware for a few minutes) but he noticed before we told him and delivered it. He also had a pretty good sense of humor. Summary: - Good amount food for the money - A great variety of authentic Chinese food - Seemed to certainly be family owned - Good food - Good service - Note that if you get a soft drink, they give you a can since they don't have a soda fountain
(4)Ann W.
Have been here twice since my original review and I'm still impressed. I daydream of the steamed dumplings with drool running out of my watering mouth.
(5)Dev C.
The best place for late night food. Love the food. A Chinese friend told me that people working in Chinese restaurants are regulars here. I believe him.
(5)Kay L.
Stumbled upon Jen Jen's one night when I told The Guy that I had a hankering for Chinese... he turned into a random parking lot off of Metcalf. "No, baby, not Panda Express." "Okay, I think there's another place behind it, wanna try that one?" Thank the gods for happy accident. Jen Jen's is everything a small family-owned Chinese restaurant ought to be: crazy hours, no particular eye to decor, amusing Chinglish mistranslations on the menu, ridiculously delicious food. The emphasis is on seafood, but The Guy had a chicken dish of some kind (don't remember exactly) that was also divine. Service was prompt & friendly -- we also got a complimentary sweet bean curd dessert at the end of our meal. Plus, you get to watch the crabs doing Pilates in the tank during your meal.
(4)Kathy S.
This is the place where real Chinese cooks go after work to enjoy real Chinese food (which explains the late hours). With that in mind, you KNOW this place is going to have amazing food. At some point, definitely try one or two of the specials that are written in Chinese up on the wall. If you don't read Chinese, just ask the server or bring along a fluent friend! These are usually the best dishes, in my opinion. Almost any of the seafood dishes and the soup with minced beef (not sure on the name) are great as well. Yes, the building is a bit of an eyesore, but the food is more than worth it.
(4)Walker W.
Low key and out of the way and worth the trip! Jen Jens is terrific. Best dumplings I have had in Kansas City! This was our first time there and we will be going back! This restaurant is on par with good Chinese places we have been to in NYC and on the West Coast.
(5)T N.
If u crave Chinese food late, this is your place. We used to make weekend stops here after work as they are til like 2am. Portions do seem a little less than I've seen at a few places but the food tastes fresh and hot. The jalapeno fried squid is great if you enjoy that kind of dish. Crunchy, hot, and spicy.
(3)Mai H.
They open late, always a plus.. The food was authentic. The ingredients were fresh. This place is run by Hong Kong people. I was joking with a friend that if you see a menu that has salted fish and hot clay pot on it, it's a good sign that the restaurant is catered for Chinese. The taste is nothing special but sure beats eating at Denny's after 10 pm in Kansas...my belly is happy...
(4)Arthur C.
Agree with Jon Y. that the portion is very small, and seems like they don't open for lunch, but only until very late at night, so better call before you go. They do serve many special Cantonese dishes that are quite authentic. Authenticity - 4 Taste - 4 Value - 3 Strange business hour - 3
(3)Joe H.
Jen Jen's is definitely an authentic Chinese restaurant. The clientele is probably at least 95% Asian. Jen Jen's posts some daily specials on a whiteboard at the entrance, but there are also specials posted in Chinese only on the wall. The menu, for the most part, is both English and Chinese, but there are a couple items listed only in Chinese. I think these are what would be "most scary" to typical white Americans. I don't know exactly what these are but will try to get one of my Chinese speaking friends to enlighten me. I have to assume one is a dish made with duck blood as I heard they had it but didn't see it on the menu. It makes me curious as to what the other items are. The food I've tried at Jen Jen's has been quite good. I've sampled some of the Funn dishes, dumplings, soups, and even tried the kid's orange chicken, which was actually quite tasty. I'd recommend Jen Jen's for authentic Chinese food that isn't served many places in KC. Be aware they open only for dinner at 5pm but stay open until 1am weekdays and 2am weekends. I'd really like to check out the scene at about midnight on a Saturday...I bet it is awesome
(4)Diana K.
Good solid Authentic chinese food. The owners sometimes leave the country whenever they feel like it and close their restaurant for months. But other than that, it opens until after 1-2am in o.p. Most chinese people know about this place, so it's a pretty solid place. Recommend: Their salty pork ribs are delicious, fried eggplant drrool, and my friend always gets their beef ribs soup. Similar to a korean rib soup too. But be aware portions are smaller than you'd think and lots and lots of msg and oil. Always order their daily vegetable to feel a little healthy. Place is pretty shabby. No real ambience to it. Once in winter they put up heaters on tables cause they didn't put up the heat. Hahaha... so chinese. But food still good.
(3)Payton H.
Jen Jen's is an experience. There is a fish tank full of soft shell crabs and lobsters. There is a cooler filled with cans of soda, Budweiser, Heineken, and Tsing-Tao. Every time I've been in there, it was mostly empty. A few booths were full, but not much else. Almost every time I go in, I'm the only WASP in the building. I love Jen Jens. Everything I've ever had there has been good. The fried pig intestine (?!?!) appetizer was amazing. It's the most "pork" flavored thing I've ever had, in the best way possible. Their pan fried pork dumplings are freaking great. They come with this mysterious white sort of sweet, sort of vinegar-y sauce; (my thought was that it's sugar water and white vinegar) My favorite entrée there is the Soft Shell Crab with Spicy Salt. It is, in all honesty, the best bar food ever, despite being in a traditional Chinese restaurant with a miserable at best alcohol selection . Jen Jen's ups the ante with their spicy salt treatment. Once out of the fryer, they cover the soft shell crab with sea salt and diced fresh jalapeño. I literally scraped the plate clean, jalapeño and all. It's absurdly tasty. It comes with some of the best white rice I've ever had, ever. I realize that some foodie types will whine "What? There's no dipping sauce? They only give you fried crab and rice? This isn't a well rounded / balanced meal..." To these types I say: You literally have no idea what the hell you're talking about. This food is simple and good. It's not fussy "Neo-Chinese / Pan-Asian with a Midwest Sensibility". It's just great, authentic Chinese food. Secondly, The Pork Ribs in Peking sauce were phenomenal. I had went to another Chinese place earlier and had their pork ribs, and they were okay. There were a ton of bones, etc, and they just weren't great. Jen Jen's pork ribs had three bones in a plate that can only be described as "meat mountain". The sauce is very reminiscent of good KC Barbecue sauce. It's kind of sweet, but not too much so. It had some smoke flavor and some spice as well. The pork ribs themselves were absurdly tender and super moist. Honestly, Jen Jen's isn't one of my favorite Chinese Restaurants in KC. It's one of my favorite restaurants ever. Yes, they're not open for lunch, but when I'm hungry for pork ribs at 12am on a Tuesday, Jen Jen's has my back. Sure, their alcohol section is atrocious, but I don't go there for that. I go there to get full on little to no money on great, authentic Chinese food, and they've came through every time.
(5)G. A.
Open at midnight? Check. Authentic? Check. Real pieces of crab instead of imitation krab? Check. Serves complimentary sweet peanut butter/tapioca at the end of the meal? Check. Friendly service? Check. Freshly made dumplings that can be amped with red vinegar, soy sauce, sugary vinegar sauce and chili oil? Here I thought the only good food places in Kansas were BBQ joints. Boy was I wrong.
(5)Lawrence N.
As a kid I spent a lot of summers and holidays in Hong Kong, the rest of the time growing up I was probably in my parents restaurants that served similar food as Jen Jen's. While I can't speak for the rest of the Chinese food spectrum, I can say with confidence that Jen Jen's has the most solid Cantonese fare in the KC area. They don't have much competition which is why I'll put up with the their weird hours (5pm-2am) and chilly (during the winter) dining room. Things to try: Fish Maw Soup Curry Hot Pot Salt Pepper Pork Chops BBQ Fried Rice Pan Fried Dumplings Any of their Vegetables that are stir fried with garlic
(4)Kathryn M.
hey, check it: I've actually only been here once. Being a Yelp fav I agreed (was told we were going) to Jen Jen's for din din (yeah, I'm gonna say that in one sentence, zing!). Ahem. Located off the Mega Strip Mall known as Metcalf Ave. the directions can be slightly confusing. The Panda Express and Walmart make great landmarks, but don't look too closely and be enticed by the corporate sirens. Before making it through the front door is a white board menu (specific language needs confirmation) of daily specials with English translations. Mainly sea foods and pork, $15-$$ range. Directly inside is a fish tank of tasty critters for eating. On this particular Tuesday the place was empty. Considering we were under tornado warning and Joplin had just been eaten, God Bless, not really a surprise. My parents, being the good Midwestern folks that they are, ordered Cashew Chicken and Kung Pao Chicken and I, the adventurous, had the Garlic Shrimps (yes, plural). Mom and Dad's dishes came steaming hot and decorative. While I waited. No problemo. I nibbled off of others dishes while being sweetly updated on the status of my shrimps. When those little shrimps came out they were fresh and pink with perfectly caramelized minced garlic atop the rice noodles. Get me a doctor because I might be dying. Holy Whoa. Not sure if it's because I had to wait or we were charged (probably not) but we were served the most delicious peanut butter dessert. Tapioca bubbles in a warm peanut butter condensed milk soup was aaahmmmm...yumamm Service is quite acceptable, warm and friendly, comfortable and considerate. Leftovers (lunch and dinner, thanks mom) nom nomnom oh yeah I'll be back
(4)Jeana C.
Food is good, not great. It is authentic, but why are the portions so small? It seems as though the portions get smaller and smaller every time I go here (I have been eating at this restaurant for the past five years) and the price of each dish just increased. When eating authentic Chinese food, its all about ordering a few dishes and being able to share it with six or more people, but this last time we went, the eight dishes we ordered were not enough for six people. The soup was only a two serving... I mean seriously? The first time I went here, it was a huge bowl of soup for eight people... what happened. I'm better off saving my money and traveling to California for better food that is more worth the price. Sad.
(2)Lung T.
Best authentic chinese food in the metro area....place is understated, but service and food makes up for it....the black and pepper beef ribs are awesome and so is everything else on the menu....so authentic they have menus in chinese along with english.....opens until 2am on the weekend...
(5)Lela T.
Awesome food! We had ong choi, the softshell crab, spicy salt ribs, and the beef and veggie flat rice noodles, and pork pot stickers. Family of 6 and we were all stuff with the authentic Chinese food. Not fancy or super fast but quality food!
(5)Blaine W.
If you want authentic Chinese food in KC, this is the place to go. The ambiance is very low-key to say the least but the food more than makes up for it. Some of my favorites are the Fried Squid, Black Bean Chicken, Singapore Noodle, Chow Fun, and Mixed Veggies. Prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are good. Order off the Chinese menu to get away from the General Tso's and Crab Rangoon regulars. It's only open for dinner but the late night hours are a plus.
(4)W L.
If you are a die-hard Chinese (to be precise, Cantonese) cuisine lover like me (born and raised in Hong Kong), you'll be glad that a place like Jen Jen's exist here in Kansas. Simply put, there is not a single Chinese restaurant in the Greater KC metro that will deliver the authentic, flavorful dishes like Jen Jen's. I am not related to them -- just a very grateful Chinese guy in KC. I travel frequently to both coasts and make it my quest to visit the best Chinese restaurants whereever I go. I can assure you that this place is right up there. It helps that the owner is the chef so the consistency is very high. So the place is a bit of a hole in the wall but I go there (and go there a lot) for the fantastic meals. Dress causal and be sure to order from the Chinese menu for a real treat. Bon Appetite!
(5)Jon Y.
hmm sadly i can't give as amazing a review as the fellow before me. jen jen's is good. that's about it. it's not amazing, it's not horrible, it's just good. this is probably one of the more respectable canto restaurants in town, but then again, there weren't very many to begin with. nothing on the menu is particularly bad-tasting, and the flavors are what you would expect from any self-respecting cantonese restaurant. before i go on, i'd also like to point out that i'm chinese-american, and have had my fair share of chinese food across the years. i have a few annoyances about this place though. my parents and friends all agree that these people feed you the tiniest of portions. i'm talking like, each person serves themselves once and the plate is gone. and they prorate! by prorate i mean; say you have 3 people eating there. the dish will have enough servings to serve each person once, and no more. so 4 people = 4 servings. we even had an experiment to test this. once i went with a friend, and another time i went with my whole family (4 people). the ratio of pieces of meat from the time with the friend to the time with my family was 8:13, so maybe it's not a direct proportion, but it's still a very apparent pattern. also, they don't treat white people particularly well, but hey, which authentic chinese restaurant does? staff isn't particularly sociable, but maybe that's just a chinese thing. this place would get 2.5 or 3 stars from me. the fact that it's open til 2 on thursdays/fridays is quite a redeeming factor, though. since i'm feeling merciful, i guess i'll settle for 4.
(4)Anush J.
We have looked for an authentic Chinese place in Kansas City since we moved here. This place is the closest to it that we have found. Our second and third experiences were even better than our first. Spicy, tasty, homestyle portions in a simple environment. Love the mayo shrimp (not the real name of it)...so addicting. Also we have tried a couple eggplant dishes that are amazing. MMM.
(4)Amanda F.
I am happy to say this is a great Chinese (Cantonese) authentic restaurant! I was a little skeptical when I was told where I was going, I was slightly unsure after looking over the menu. But I stumbled upon the Spicy Salted steamed Pork and goodness it was really good! I don't know if anything else would have hit the spot at the time! This is a great place to try if you enjoy authentic chinese food!
(4)Chris T.
My fiance and I came here late on a Saturday night to find out this place is open until 2AM on Saturdays. We ordered the Pork Ribs with Spicy Salt and the Ong Choy sauteed in garlic. I felt like I was back in Chinatown in Chicago. The restaurant's decor leaves something to be desired however the food is very authentic. If you're for General Tso's Chicken or Orange Chicken, there's a Panda Express across the street. If you're looking for real Chinese cuisine, Jen Jen's is the place to be.
(5)Chris B.
You know a chinese restaurant is legit when you walk in and 90% of the customers are chinese =) I have frequented Jen Jen's often, usually very late because one of the main draws to this place is that it opens very late (1am i think?) The food is pretty good too, you just have to know what to order. Thankfully you guys (and gals) have me here to lend you a hand =) For a more authentic meal, I suggest getting: water spinach with garlic, the spicy/saly pork ribs, and the seafood soup (starter). If your feeling super hungry then I would also suggest getting the salty fish fried rice. The steamed oysters are amazing but pricier because they are oysters. I also like how I always have the same server each time. It makes me feel more welcome I guess because the dude remembers faces pretty well I think. Remember guy and gals, when it comes to chinese, Just say NO to panda express (and all other fast food "chinese" restaurants)
(4)Lin L.
One of most authentic Chinese food you can find in Kansas City area even... Mostly are Chinese clientele, with Chinese speaking male waiter which is very helpful. Place was decent like any regular Chinese place, don't expect to be extra fancy like westerner standard..... It would have been better with better ambiance and a bit cleaner restroom, but hey, food is not a complaint. They have good dish with stir fry vegetables in garlic, ad salt and pepper dishes (can be fish, pork chop, soft shell crab, eggplant etc). And like any other typical Chinese restaurant, they serve Chinese dessert by the end..... not the greatest dessert, but it serves your craving for better Asian food in LA/SF/NY. Hours are quite unusual for western standard, which they are open in the evening till late at night. But supper time folks...... and that is good for late eaters... except for they can be closed at certain times... Quite enjoying the late hours actually for dinner and supper. Bottomline.... good Chinese food in the area, late hours which suit late eaters.... and somehow this place makes me keep coming back again and again....
(4)Alisha V.
It's always a toss-up with good food. Especially if it's food that is hard to get in whatever area you live. You are willing sometimes to put up with a hassle or poor hygene just to get that one or two great dishes you're craving. That's how I feel about this place. They have weird hours. The dining room smelled like cat pee each time we've visited (a lingering smells like the location had been a pet store prior or like there was a pet store next door, if that makes sense). The soda was in can's. They put the casual into the word casual. And, the waiter was super busy running everywhere and wasn't especially attentive. Having said all that, the food was good. Was served with amazing speed. And the place was packed quickly. So clearly other people knew the food was good. Jen Jen's is a bit out of the way... easy to get to but located a way off Metcalf, in a crop of shopping center buildings. I'm glad we found it. I'm strangely curious to go back again and again. But I really with they did a renovation first and took their location aesthetics more seriously. It's hard for me to love a place if I'm turned off by how dirty or smelly it is.
(3)Michelle H.
HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE! I wanted to eat dinner there with a classmate and do some studying and they kicked us out because they said "this isn't a library!" NEVER GOING BACK THERE EVER AGAIN!
(1)Kieu N.
According to an article I read once, there are more Chinese restaurants in and around Kansas City than there are McDonald's. However, so many of these Chinese restaurants are "Americanized". Do I mind? No, I occasionally crave your orange chicken or your general tso's. But when my palette is craving something a little more authentic, that is where Jen Jen's come in. I always start with the seafood tofu soup. Add a little bit of chili paste for an extra kick. Since I'm so crazy about tofu, I usually order their shrimp stuffed tofu as well. They deep fry it for a perfect thin layer of crispiness, but it doesn't come out greasy. Their tofu is probably the best I've had. And of course, you need a veggie dish. Their water spinach sauteed in garlic tastes just as great as how my mom cooks it. Among other dishes I've enjoyed are the steamed flounder, thin singapore noodles, and stuffed crispy eggplant. By the way, I add chili paste to just about...everything! This is a restaurant my family and I have come to love over the years. It's small, not esthetically pleasing, and perhaps it doesn't always have the most charming service; but the food warms my belly, and that keeps me happy!
(4)Ami T.
Most authentic Chinese food visited in KC so far. My husband tried speaking mandarin to the waitress, apparently she only speaks Cantonese. I liked the fact that they are open late. Westlake soup (forgot what the restaurant named it) has ground beef with egg drop and cilantro. Delicious soup but not the best I've had. Two people can almost have two small bowls of soup each. Singapore thick noodles - flat noodles with curry flavor sauteed with meat and veggies. Pretty good but I think I prefer the thin noodles. Spicy Fried scallop - TINY scallops deep fried and sauteed with jalapeños. Tasted pretty good but small scallop, didn't think it was worth the price. Overall pretty good. Probably come back for late night meals.
(3)Alex T.
Jen Jen's isn't quite what I'd expected or hoped for. With all the reviews claiming it stacks up favorably against ABC Cafe, I thought I was in for a real treat. Unfortunately, that was not the case. That's not to say that Jen Jen's isn't good, however. I enjoyed my meal here. It just wasn't the awe-inspiring awesomeness I'd anticipated. Let's be clear; everything I had here was good. There's no danger of running into a half-cooked plate of soggy General Tso's chicken here, folks. The shrimp balls were tasty, and the dumplings were pretty good. The entrees we had were also done decently but were a bit greasy, surprisingly. I feel like the flavors were pretty standard for what you'd expect from a solid American Chinese restaurant. The peanut soup dessert thing (eloquent, no?) was tasty at first but cloying after 5-6 spoonfuls. It also sits in your stomach like a freaking brick. I doubt I could finish the cup of it after downing a full meal. Basically, Jen Jen's is in this weird limbo between authentic Cantonese food and Panda Express. The funky menu items - sea cucumber, intestine and mystery meat dishes, etc. - are available, but the rest fails to separate itself enough from the Kin Lins and New Pekings of the world. If I'm heading out of Midtown for Chinese food, I want the real deal at ABC Cafe (which is not far away from Jen Jen's at all, remember). There's nothing wrong with Jen Jen's, exactly, but ABC is just too good to pass up.
(3)Nathan G.
Never a disappointment with the food here. Good portion size, authentic flavor, always just right.
(5)Max C.
Good food. Just don't expect good service here unless you are Chinese. There's a reason this place is always empty.
(3)Azile Y.
Great authentic food. I wish they had dim sum!! My friend and I had the shrimp ball appetizer, then the pork ribs and the beef curry hotspot. Everything was very good. Can't wait to come back!
(4)Kevin H.
This place is a great late night stop. Fantastic dumplings. Nice and quiet hidden treasure in OP. Authentic and delicious menu.
(4)