This is authentic Chinese food that caters to Chinese. That means the menu is exhaustive and has a number of unique items. It also means that the price is reasonable for NYC. It also means that you'll get a lot of food. It also means that the service can frustrate. Congee is definitely Chinese comfort food. In the same way that chicken soup "is good for the soul", congee is restorative. Their congee with abalone is the epitome of "I've got the flu and can't move - please get me congee".
(4)
Neil A.
Authentic Chinese cuisine, This place is always packed with real Chinese people. It can be very noisy, if there is a group as for one of the rooms downstairs. The food is great.
(5)
Alexandra C.
My first time having congee- and my last. I'm far from expert of course but I would have to say the chicken congee was good if you like congee-- Just nothing I would order again. Chicken and veggie dish was good..Nothing great. Liked the tropical type of decor. The place was packed with Asians --- so I think this is a good one, you just need to know what's best to order.
(3)
Sandee L.
Congee sure hits the spot on a cold winter day! We didn't stray far from the norm and ordered beef chow fun and the chicken, duck and pork congee. The beef chow fun was enormous! I was surprised that the two of us polished off both dishes, but that's how good they were! The congee was flavorful with huge chunks of meat in it. Perfect to warm our bellies before heading outside to endure the cold. Service was fast! Our food arrived less than five minutes from the time we ordered. Food here is cheap. We spent $7 per person on lunch! I can't wait to come back and try some other dishes with more people to share.
(4)
LISA N.
I have to add that SIX DOLLAR PATRON SHOTS... YES. I SAID SIX DOLLARS. I don't know where else I can get $6 patron shots.
(5)
Marianne D.
Definitely prefer this Congee Village over the one in Bowery. The space is simply bigger and the decor a bit more tasteful. The food is the same though and would simply like to reiterate that the "Rice Baked in..." section is hands down the best in my opinion, rice dishes with meat and veggies presented in a little bamboo shoot.
(4)
Chris A.
I came to this place because of a recommendation from the front desk clerk at the Windsor Hotel I stayed at a couple months ago. It was exceedingly delicious! It's very flavorful and succulent. The establishment was fantastic as well. It's not something you see very often in Maryland so it was a nice change of pace. The bathrooms and everything was clean. The waiters were okay. If I had one complaint it's that my waiter was kinda jerky and rushed to take our orders. Other than that, it's all good. I may have to come back here when I visit the city again!
(4)
Brian L.
I like it here. I went back. It was the same, and good.
(4)
Wuhoo S.
i really missed this kind of food! the seafood dishes are amazing. however, the spinach dish had a lot of raw egg whites in it...
(4)
Angela N.
Been to the Village on various occasions and if you're craving - what else - congee, the generous individual servings can hit the spot. Just made a trip here with the family and they can be picky about their congee - we can easy make a pot at home - so they're a great barometer regarding the quality of the rice porridge. Yum. Their also known for their fried salt and pepper sliver fish and calamari. Fun atmosphere with large groups. Tip: avoid Friday evenings - long waits.
(3)
Brad D.
Went to Congee for a birthday party with my girlfriend and her family. They are all Chinese and I am not so I may not accurately know what each dish was but I can say the Ginger Scallops with vegetables was amazing. The lobster was perfectly steamed. The Shrimp fried rice was very good. The T-Bone was underseasoned but that is normal for traditional Chinese in Chinatown.
(4)
Laura L.
The food was good, but because we weren't Asian the service was HORRID. No joke - folks who came in after us got their food before us and we had to order some dishes multiple times because they kept getting forgotten. Such a shame since the food really was decent.
(2)
Lodema A.
Great Chinese Food Hot and Sour Soup to die for
(4)
Nancy L.
There are two Congee Village restaurants in NYC and I just realized that the one on 207 Bowery Street has better tasting dishes! I recommend that one instead of the Allen Street chain.
(4)
Lani G.
Congee Village is far from the best Chinese restaraunt in New York, but I love this place. It's consistent, cheap, and filling. CV is also a great place to order delivery from. They have a pretty large delivery range and are relatively fast. There are hundreds of items on the menu so you may feel a little overwhelmed. Luckily, it's so cheap you can order 5 dishes for under $50! I recommend: congee (with pork and 100 year old egg), scallion pancakes, a duck dish and some sort of vegetable doused in XO sauce.
(5)
Brendan L.
Authentic Chinese cuisine that will give you a real taste of what Chinese food is.
(4)
Elliot H.
Generally our go to spot for more fancy nights when having chinese food, the food is consistently good, generally the staff is decent, but I knocked a star off because of the wait I've had in the past, not a big deal but definitely worth spending your money on.
(4)
Davina D.
fave restaurant to bring my non native chinatown/lower east homies...' the spot for cheap dining with a large party. High fives. I love waiting for a table for the fact that the bar is freakin''''''''''' sweet. I can indulge in 90% rum and 10% cokes, smirking happily like a lil girl.........once you get to your table and you end up ordering like a mad woman, everything here is solid and delish, love the sauteed black pepper scallops, make you gallop, love the veggies love the steamed fish love the soft fried tofu love the black bean sauce clams love the ribs in a sizzling hot plate, sizzles in your face. splak. love the young chow fried rice love the congee, fave:mince beef/seafood love the fried dough cruellers love the fried porkchops love the bar love the alcohol love the house special garlic chicken love the beef chow fun love the place love the chefs love the long wait because you get to get tipsy at the bar love the brown rice option love the take out option love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu. you leave here high fiving. a party of 8 (one round table) with a normal approximate of 8-10 dishes BAM. if you're not from chinatown/chinese/from the hood/local/regular here, you'll whip out ilke a $40. psssssssssssssssssssh put that shit away and give me just a $20 including the tip and tax and i'll still give you change. WHAT!!
(4)
Dana B.
Randomly found this place on my Yelp App and was intrigued because I've recently become a fan of congee. The service was mediocre at best, but what can you expect? Definitely want to go back and try more dishes. Go for the congee! A must for those into adventurous dining!!
(3)
Edward J.
This place was not popular 5 years ago. I don't know how and what happened, now its a place filled not only with Chinese and Taiwanese, its filled with diversity. Thank goodness the food stayed authentic! Here're few pointers on what to do and get when I go there: 1. Grab a number! Push through the crowd and get a number. Or else, get there by 5pm. 2. Its really loud, so be prepare to talk loudly. 3. Get the fried squid with bellpepper/onion/cashew. 4. Get the black bean clams. 5. Get the shrimp with walnut if you want something American. 6. Get the soup baos. (pork) 7. Get the salted fish fried rice. 8. Get the fresh sauteed sprouted bean leaves. 9. Get the blacken duck egg congee (pork or chicken or fish) 10. Get refill on your tea. (floral, forget the black) 11. Free dessert once you ask for the check. So keep that hand raised up high when you catch a waiter's eyes. Sounds like a chore to eat here, and it is. But the effort is worth it. This is how you eat in Hong Kong. Best if you bring a friend who can speak Mandarin or Cantonese.
(4)
john M.
The food is cheap. The quality of said food reflects the price. Our waiter grilled us the entire meal, his intimidation tactic earned him 20 percent.
(2)
Sarah L.
This place is pretty great. The food comes out pretty quickly and super hot. House special chicken: crispy and moist Congee: nice app Jumbo shrimp: mm fried and juicy Pork with leeks: could have been good if it weren't so, so salty Bokchoy in garlic: nice and mild Steamed dumplings: delicious but so much breading Soup dumplings: good but cannot compare to Joe Shanghai We also had two types of noodles: Singapore and one other one that was crunchy. The crunchy style had my vote. I went with a large group and came out a happy custy. The servers were very helpful and that whole feast was super affordable!
(4)
Lisa C.
I used to never come here because I felt like it was over rated and over priced chinese food. I still feel pretty much the same way about it BUT its saving grace is that their alcoholic drinks are CHEAP. You can get a lychee martini for $6 and it packs quite the punch. Don't get me wrong, the food is not bad at all. There's great flavors but it really is a tad over priced compared to other places in NYC. Still a relatively inexpensive meal though. Weird thing is I don't really enjoy their congee - Go figure with a name like congee village- but its a bit on the watery side for me. PS on the weekends there is a bit of wait so you may wanna head there early.
(4)
Zuzzi E.
Had a great birthday meal here. We enjoyed neat every item on the menu as it spun around our Lazy Susan. I was particularly invested in the honey glazed shrimp with broccoli and the veggie noodles which seemed to stop at my place setting quite a bit. Great place for groups. Ask for a room with karaoke machine in the basement.
(4)
Awani D.
The place is large and crowded, but it has multiple floors. Food: I think it depends on what you get. Overall, a lot of their food is wayyyy too salty for my taste. Favorites of mine were: the fried tofu, the shrimp with broccoli and candied walnuts, and the red bean congee.
(3)
Sourivone V.
I LOVE Congee Village! Eat like a queen and pay a commoner's price! Must Order: Congee of course, Peking Pork Chop, Sizzling Chinese Broccoli, Seafood Crispy Noodles, Peking Duck and more but those are the must haves!
(4)
Osman J.
Worst service in the history of mankind. Me: hello can we order Waiter: WHAT YOU WANT!!!!! (With a nasty look on his face and ganster tone) Food is not bad thus 3 stars.
(3)
Ekina1314 ..
Come here quite often with family whem we knew the manager before he retired. This location quite close to my home so walking after a latge meal was always a great idea. Prices are higher than a typical Chinese restaurant and platters are smaller but location and decor makes up for it. Food is good, evem though it has the word congee in it's name, other dishes are quite good. Go Order the thai chicken feet, delish!
(3)
Jeffrey Y.
Came here for a Valentines Day Lunch. First time I've had rice cooked in a log. I don't know if the wood enhanced the flavor but it was damn good. The pan fried noodles are crispy and filling. Dinner gets crowded and the service is slow. The dishes aren't huge so I would order a few extra items and eat family style.
(3)
Sean C.
My girlfriend's mom was born in China and this is her favorite chinese restaurant in Manhattan. I don't complain when we meet here for her family events. I do have demands though...I demand the house chicken right off the bat. They are great for parties and they're very reasonably priced. I see some people complaining about the wait, it must have been around holidays or CNY because this place is so large that we don't usually have to wait long at all.
(5)
Lisa K.
I've been here several times and it's amazing!! There are so many congee choices-- the ones that i've tried are delicious and the other entree dishes are tasty as well. I recommend the Mayo Shrimp with Walnuts and Brocolli and the Fried Pork Chops!! A huge plus is that it's cheap! I love chinatown and i'm going again tonight. Helpful hint: Congee is extremely satisfying when you are feeling under the weather. That's why i'm going tonight! It's more filling than soup (and it's not as salty!) and the thickness of the congee is like wrapping a big blanket around you! happy eating!!
(5)
David M.
This place is great for larger groups. The night I went with some friends, we had a short 5-10 minute wait, after calling ahead and making a reservation. The menu has a great selection, and if you can't find what you're looking for on the menu, Im sure the staff will be more than happy to see if they can make it for you. The best part about this place is the cheaper than dirt bar. They have shooters for $4, and beers (both domestic and import) for $5. This is a great place to start your night, and one of the cheapest pre-party bars I know of.
(4)
M Z.
Cheap cheap cheap and delicious congee/dumplings. Great place and it's a sit-down restaurant. They also give you tea, free peanuts and a dessert to make the meal even more special. Went with a friend and our dinner ended up being $12, total. We were both amazed. Fantastic affordable restaurant!
(4)
Michael B.
I ordered steamed chicken with black mushrooms..... I got chicken, pork, weird fruit and seaweed. This did not sit well with my girlfriend. You know when a shitty meal kills your hunger and leaves you unsatisfied? It happens here, and it can happen to you! The savior was the congee.....it was delicious!
(2)
Natalie C.
definitely more theme-ish than any other chinese restaurant out there. My boyfriend had the congee with crab and it was really good. The buble tea's are just how i like it to taste, light and flavorful. The sesame chicken was ok, not bad but not the best. They also surprisingly enough had drinks like the blue hawaiian which I have been dying to have since i came back from Hawaii 2 years ago with no luck.
(4)
Paul B.
Long wait, indifferent service, tiny water glasses, cold rice, a smashed tomato on the floor of the bar that no employee stopped to clean up, and almost ZERO air conditioning. Salt pepper shrimp mealy, sesame chix ok.
(2)
Kristian Q.
A nice place were I can bring people and get a good meal. We came on a Sunday with 4 people. Finding parking was easy and my group of people got a table within 5-10 min. They have an extensive selection of dishes that are in english making it easy to order. We ordered tbone steak it was ok, sizzling beef steak was not sizzling... :( , a chicken dish that was mmmmmm and the crispy tofu which was really good. They also have a bar with $6 cocktails.. the service was quick, 10-15 min. after we ordered we had are food on the table already. I would come back here if I had a big group that just want to eat and have a few drinks. For special occasions, dates.. I'll go somewhere else.
(3)
G.K. C.
One of the better family style chinese restaurants by chinatown. The food is good tasting. Lobster is awesome! Mayo shrimp! Beef short ribs, deep fried frog! Be ready to eat once you place your order because the food comes out like a train...one dish after another. The service is pretty decent. I go there with my wife and we eat up four or five dishes for about 60 bucks. The only downfall is that its pretty busy on weekends, and even on weekdays. Even with a reservation you may end up waiting close to an hour or longer to be seated. Especially if you have a large group.
(4)
Kevin D.
I have been to this location and the one on bowery numerous times. The portions are generous and the prices reasonable. food is delicious; love the congee. everything i have had is very good. cant go wrong here. the only downside is that some of the dishes is too greasy.
(4)
Michelle W.
I've been coming here for years and everytime, I always wonder why I come here. The food is decent, but it's pretty pricey and i really don't consider it the real chinese food that you get in Chinatown. The food comes out greasy and glistening and looks like it's been cooked more for a showcase than it has to be eaten. Really not impressed with this place and really don't get how so many people line up to get a table at this place. I'm not against coming back here for dinner, but it isn't going to be my suggestion. I rather trek it to Chinatown and get a real meal for a quarter of the cost.
(3)
RICKY L.
The decorations was great and all but the bathroom was crap! The house special chicken was bad and you can get it any chinese restaurant. The baked rice was horrible! DISGUSTING! it tasted like left over chicken from 3 days ago. HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT TO GO!
(1)
Jonlin P.
This place has great food. It's well priced, a nice selection, and is a good fit for a large party dining family style or for one or two people eating congee or casseroles. Dinner can run you around $5 - $20 depending on whether you get individual dishes, or family style (and how many dishes you get that way). So, cheap, good, and good location. The only downside is the wait at times.
(4)
Stephen C.
This place is a staple for late night folks who are looking for grub in the early morning hours. Their best is the Roast Duck and Crab Congee while their Ginger Frog is a little bland. There's also a karaoke room downstairs and if you are lucky--truly lucky--you can eat in that little indoor pavilion they've erected for royalty!
(4)
Joseph F.
still not sure how i feel about it i really liked the dumplings and the fried rice was good the menu is very authentic and thats great but some of the food i got was not prepared how i thought it would be so im not sure if i liked this place or not but it was not awful and thats kinda a good thing
(3)
Hannah L.
I'd like to give this place 3.5 stars. The pros - tasty, fast, CHEAP. The cons - ridiculously bad service to the point where some of the people I was with took it personally. If you go out to eat and like to be taken care of, this place is not for you. If you want cheap and super tasty food thrown at you quickly by a wait staff who won't even bring you a glass of water if you were on fire, then go here.
(3)
Andrea T.
great dumplings and the best lychee martini in Manhattan!
(4)
Clara A.
congee- goooood! reminded me of lugaw, a filipino rice porrige. some very cheap items and some expensive ones. relaxed and fun where you can try different foods. a wait to be seated but worth it. the decor is totally enjoyable!!
(5)
Nie K.
i love the variety of food, the authentic-ness of it and everything tastes so delicious and fresh. i have absolutely no complaints about this place except... if you're waiting at the bar area and you're sitting in those really tall chairs - don't lean back :) you will fall.
(5)
Qi X.
If its anything for an individual meal its not that great, must order family size with different dishes, the food is alright, but the waitress that served me there was horrible. Usually I eat in chinatown a lot and if you tip well, you'd expect some form of return such as oranges and sweets, and they usually bring it out before you pay the bill. I took my co-workers there and i tipped like $30 for $120 worth of food, all they did was say thanks, no dessert, no oranges, nothing. I wouldn't tip jack next time, they even hesitated when i asked for an extra beer, as if like they didn't work there to begin with.
(2)
Jane S.
Yumm...bad location though
(4)
Jayden Z.
Went there for congee one afternoon with my dad. We got the Pork Stomach Porridge, Sliced Pork and Preserved Egg Porridge, Deep Fried Dough and Salted Chinese Pancake. As a child I always liked the preserved egg porridge. The one I got from Congee Village was decently made. The pork stomach porridge, I would recommend. The salted Chinese pancake went well with the porridge. The deep fried dough probably tasted a lot better in the morning, but because it was in the afternoon, I don't think they decided to make a new batch (ours was the last one). The waiters were friendly and pretty helpful for the most part.
(4)
Mike B.
I'm giving this 5 starts mainly on the basis that it is great value. Can't think of any place in New York where you can eat more for less $ and have the food be very good. Of course, you can spend some $ here if you order some of the more expensive seafood items. But it is also very possible to have a huge meal (including one beer) for about $15 pp. The congee is excellent (always get preserved egg) as is the tofu with soy sauce. Portions are huge.
(5)
Rena H.
Oh my god! This place is so good! Authentic taste of real Cantonese food! Best restaurant for Cantonese favor in the town I have had ever! But good place also comes with crowded people in rush hours...sign
(5)
Aaron S.
Eaten here at least over 100+ times. Why ask why? Maybe b/c it's a few blocks from my building, Maybe lots of parking spots, Or a couple blocks away from Ludlow where I can get wasted after dinner with all the Eurotrash. Lol food quality here always been par to above average. But that's good enough for me. Get sizzling beef plate, Shanghai small dumplings, live shrimps always fun.. Lol rice cognee all sorts, idk so many choices!
(5)
Mary L.
I came here for my bday with a party of 13 ppl, they sat us a large round table and it was pretty tight (i saw a bigger table few tables down and it was unoccupied!!) so i recommend that when you call to make a reservation and you have a large party, ask for a larger table. No particular dish stood out for me but overall the food were great and came out fast. Prices are reasonable and otherwise NOT EXPENSIVE. Waiters were attentive and friendly.
(4)
Audrey C.
Always a solid and good experience with the food. Always delicious and cheap. Their congee and noodle dishes are the best.
(4)
Joshua V.
I always keep this good old battle axe of a Chinese restaurant on the top shelf of my mind. The joint is huge and can accommodate huge parties on relatively short notice (Saturday nights though, be a pal and put in a reservation). Skip the soup dumplings here, they're just aight. Instead, razor clam it, house special chicken it, and get some damn congee while you're here. It isn't called congee village for nothing. And the fixed meals are totally great for those who don't want to sort out the particulars with a big group. Just point, click, and ask if they have vegetables to go with all those carbs and proteins (they do).
(4)
Yujin O.
This place was so yummy! It is an ideal spot for big groups of people! Family style is easy and the service is fast. The prices are pretty low and with 10 people we ordered around 9~11 dishes, only paid 14 bucks each! I will definitely go again!
(4)
Tosh K.
Love this place. Great food, attentive service and affordable! Came here with friends from grad school meet here for a group get-together and had a great time. While the place is huge, it's recommended that you have a reservation on weekend nights The decor is a bit over the top, but it's part of the charm. We're definitely going to look into getting a karaoke room next time.
(4)
Alice W.
Lest anyone think that Indian restaurants alone trip the xmas-light fantastic, head on over to Congee Village where more is more. I have long held that Chinese food in Manhattan is unremarkable but Congee Village is one of the few bright spots (literally) in the generic slop that passes for sino cuisine in gotham. This is what you're going to order: -- Salt Fish and Chicken rice (in the pineapple or bamboo cooker) -- Filet of Steak Chinese style (in the sizzling iron platter) -- Congee (Chicken and Mushroom is simple and tasty) -- Snow Pea shoots sauteed in garlic -- An elective (pick something else off the menu. You have a 72% chance of it being decent to really good.) You can forget about dessert. My entire motherland has. (Don't believe me? Name the last really great Chinese dessert you've sampled.) If you must have something sweet, head on over to Sugar Sweet Sunshine and get the pumpkin or pistachio cupcake. Or be like me and just order another serving of meat.
(4)
Alexander H.
The best congee hands down. I've ate at various congee places from LA to SF and this place by far beats all the rest. You might ask why specifically? For me, my congee can't be watery or too thick and Congee Village does it right with it's perfect consistency. The congee is served in personal pots that can feed 2 ppl on a cold day. I've tried their fish fillet and combination (tan-chai-jok) which were both delicious. Their other dishes are highly recommended as well. I would definitely take my friends here to eat. =)
(5)
Natalie V.
Good food.. Great lychee ice!!!!
(4)
Richard H.
!!!!!!! White people beware!!!!! It took forever to get our sub-average greasy food while many Asians around that were seated after us got theirs. Service was beyond horrible. They made my daughter and I feel like we were personally responsible for the rape of Nanking. Pretty sure they cook rats in the back but can't prove it. It took us three trys to get soy sauce to our table. The first time I asked, the waiter put his hand in my face and simply walked away.
(1)
Steve W.
My mom's family loves to come here and eat. Service was excellent. We ordered razor clams with snow peapods in XO sauce, salted soy chicken, which was okay since it was really salty and I would suggest the squab, seafood pan fried noodles, and seafood egg's nest. We didn't order the congee although we have heard good raves about it. The razor clams, seafood pan fried noodles, and seafood egg's nest were pretty solid and @ par with the other restaurants. It was just your typically Chinese restaurant. I found it nothing special.
(3)
Carol L.
Awesome go-to Chinese food place that is great for groups, excellent ginormous selection of food, cheap drinks, and also has many traditional chinese dishes not found in normal chinese restaurants. The food is also very nicely priced. Make sure you try out one of the congees, snails, wide noodle stir fried in XO sauce...will get the chinese name of this sometime...and others I can't recall the name of. I haven't come back here in a while, and really need to do so. Portions are pretty good so come with more people to try more items! Open late so you can get your late night congee fix. Congee is a better hangover cure than pho...just FYI.
(4)
Susan A.
I keep coming back. And back. And back again. Dock one star for the waiter having bad b.o. I'm sure we all have our days, but gosh, each time he walked by really didn't want to eat anymore! At all! Gag. =/
(4)
Zhao H.
Small portions. Good tasting. Pricey for such small plates. Diarrhea waiting to happen every time.
(3)
Tia K.
Winter means congee! Their congee is delicious and cheap. The last one I had was the salted fish, a portion is $4.50 (if I'm not mistaken), definitely enough for two. The other dishes were tasty, but nothing special. Anything fried is very very very oily! The restaurant is spacious, clean, and their service is quick. It gets pretty crowded on weekends for dinner, so I suggest going there for lunch.
(4)
Phil C.
Yikes....Not sure I can write a valid review since I didn't eat here. Long story short, sat down at our table. Menus brought to our table by our friendly waiter. After several minutes of deliberation, I felt something on my shoes - look down and saw the world's largest rat staring at me...okay maybe not the world's largest but it was freaking big. Freaked out and stormed out of there. I'm sure the food is delicious but I'll never know or want to know.
(1)
Peeperkorn P.
Can't give it 5 stars cos I've only tried the congee and it seems that their other dishes are rather wanting??? The pork and century egg congee is the best that I have ever eaten and I've lived in several major Asian cities before. My friend tried the sliced fish congee and thought that it was way subpar bc they used cheap fish. But I mean at 3 dollars per bowl.. + stellar service really I only had 100 dollar bills and the delivery guy changed me out of his own pockets
(4)
Yippy S.
It's probably the best authentic chinese food you'll get. Don't be so shocked when they seem a bit rude. On the upside you'll get a really good meal for pretty cheap. The must try list: Chicken & corn soup Jellyfish Whole chicken with garlic Peking pork chop Lobster salad Usually when we go here we go with about 10-12 people and each person only really ends up paying $25 a person which includes 8 dishes, beers, and soda.. Ya can't really go wrong..
(4)
T Z.
Come here all the time. The food is awesome and cheap... Make sure you order the pi dan shou rou congee... and the jing du pai gu Also, this one is 100x better than the one on Bowery
(5)
Eri S.
Stumbled in after a few drinks at Hotel Chantelle. I'm not sure if congee would be my dish of choice whilst inebriated but we got the shredded pork with preserved egg. We also ordered chow fun and sweet potato pancakes. So we were in a rush and burned out tongues with the congee. Ow. Well that wasn't such a good idea....But the chow fun!!! It was your typical chow fun at any chinese food joint but it definitely hit the spot. We were raving about the greasy goodness amidst our large mouthfuls. Seriously, that's all we talked about. The sweet potato pancakes resembled the texture of mochi and served as a nice dessert. We ended up paying about $8 per person. Gosh, I love cheap eats!
(4)
Fiona P.
First of, the congee is really good. I am surprised that they put a decent amount of snail into the congee to make it taste better. The seafood dishes and their house chicken are good as well. The waiter is so funny when I was ordering and can't decide what size I should get for my friends and me. He is very friendly and kept making jokes. I wish they do delivery and take reservation. Food is really good for a night when you don't want anything heavy or salad.
(3)
john c.
Was here with a party of 8, and what we ordered was awesome, so thought I'd share (you're mileage may vary). In fact I never know what to order, so I'm posting this for my own future reference. S507 - Sauteed Scallop with Ginger and Scallion - $13.95 S520 - Boiled Sliced Conch with Asparagus - $22.95 P112 - House Special Shrimp Paste Pork Rib - $9.95 709 - Sauteed Snow Pea Leaf with Garlic - $11.95 717 - Pan Fried Bean Curd with Soy Sauce - $8.95 720 - Sauteed Bok Choy with Garlic - $9.95 801 - House Special Chicken - Half - $9.00 803 - Steamed Chicken with Black Mushroom - $8.95 901 - Sauteed Filet Beef with Chinese Broccoli - $12.95
(5)
dean s.
The congee with pork and preserved egg was a warm, delicious, satisfying meal to have before our trip to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum (1 block away). And the price was amazing. I would eat that meal any time I am nearby. So good.
(5)
Bruno M.
Been here a ton of times and for the most part the food is always good. I am a big fan of the: 1. Jumbo shrimp with walnut and broccoli (it has a mayo type of sauce on the shrimp, which freak some people out). 2. Blue Crab with garlic and pepper 3. Clams in black bean sauce 4. Bass in black bean sauce 5. Shrimp paste pork ribs 6. House special chicken 7. Snow pea leaves with garlic 8. Golden egg fried rice. The place gets packed on the weekend. If you're a planner like me reserve one of the rooms and do it banquet style
(4)
Angela C.
Such good Chinese food! I especially love the snail congee & the chicken pan fried noodles. The dishes were quite oily I'll say. Service was pretty quick too. You leave feeling good and happy.
(5)
Mike W.
Good quality dishes for a decent price. I recommend trying new and different things each time you go. You never know if you're going to like it. Be daring about your food. The decor is pretty cool, but the only thing that bothers me is that they put too much msg for my taste.
(4)
Jessamyn H.
This is the place you want to get Congee. Lots of selections of congee, but also they have lots of great other foods too. The price is unbelievable. Very cheap. one big bowl of Congee cost $2-$3. Just expect the food but not really the customer service. They do their job but not friendly and not going to serve you extra care.
(5)
Esther F.
What a horrible establishment! Service: lousy and rude. The waiters have a chip on their shoulders. Food: sub-par, oily, heavy and portions are small. not fresh either. Price: you've got to be kidding me considering what you have to go through and eat...eek. There other so many other places for Chinese food. This is the bottom of the list. I think the staff are prejudiced against Chinese people, sounds crazy, but if you're Caucasian, you'll probably get better service and food.
(1)
Christine J.
O M G. I miss this place soooo much!!!! nothing is better than Chinese comfort food! sigh.. their congee is so tasty, not to mention other dishes. I just want to go there for brunch, order congee and fried dough, some XiaoLongBao, and chow down! so many different choices of congees, love it.
(5)
Linh L.
Ahhh, the congee wasn't good. Watery and zero flavor. However, the food that I shared was superb. There was a lot of grabbing going on as the table we had did not have the spinning panel. Boo. The place is super spacious and chinese food is always good for a big group. Though the waiters did not understand English, a Chinese speaker was in the group fortunately. Downside, $20 dollar minimum on cards and the waiters are not attentive.
(4)
Linda X.
You would think that a place with congee in the name would serve congee at all hours of operation but it's actually only available for breakfast. For dinner, this place turns into your usual Chinese restaurant. There are booths for large groups which makes the table seem more private. Great pick for dinner with friends or family. If you were hoping for a bowl of hot congee on a cold day, mornings only.
(4)
Zhenrun Z.
Pineapple boat and eggplant casserole are pretty good. Steamed little buns å°ç¬¼åŒ… is bad.
(4)
Jess C.
This place is great for two reasons: 1. Good for groups As a frequent organizer of large birthday dinners in college (20+ people), this was an easy, reliable backup. They have different sized tables upstairs that seat about 2-15 people. But they also have private rooms in the basement, perfect for huge celebrations e.g. birthdays, family reunions, karaoke machine included. Note that they only take reservations for parties of 5 or more, but you'll have to wait anyways. 2. Value Most of the dishes are pretty cheap, and when shared family-style, you end up paying about $20-25 for your food coma. Drinks are inexpensive, but you can also BYOB ($10 a bottle). However, Congee Village serves Americanized Cantonese food; it's extremely oily, oversalted, & full of MSG, but it gets the job done. They have a ridiculously comprehensive menu from your usual "Chinese takeout foods" e.g. fried rice, lo mein, to the more atypical traditional foods e.g. frog legs, shark fin soup (NY shark fin ban starts summer 2014), and intestines. Definitely try their congee (rice porridge)! My favorite is the thousand year old egg with salted pork congee, but the abalone is good too. Notes: - There is ANOTHER location on Bowery. I can't tell you the number of confused guests I've had when I forget to be specific. - They have a $20 credit card minimum. - They have a lounge?? Weird.
(3)
Trisha D.
Solid place to get food. I like them because I live right around the corner...and their pork chop peking style is DELICIOUS. But it is a little overpriced.
(3)
Sandy O.
I come for the congee...duh, but it's freaking amazing. It's so amazing that I come here often, and alone. Like, it's my thing. Occasionally I'll invite someone, then I become cooler in their eyes because of the referral. So go alone if you must.
(5)
Thomas M.
the food gets saltier and saltier with every visit
(2)
Ace C.
Came here with my gf for dinner around 8pm and a wednesday night. Place was packed but we got a table within 5 minutes. Got the seafood pan fried noodle, house special chicken, and fried buns. Food was decent. Nothing to complain. Also had complimentary dessert (tong sui) in the end.
(4)
Bryant R.
Terrible service. Great food. The beef was tasty as was the flounder which I am still thinking about. I can't wait to explore the menu more fully.
(4)
Meredith X.
Came here for a birthday brunch. Spacious and convenient for large reservations but I'm not sure if I'll be returning for my Chinese food fix. We ordered a plethora of dishes. The two that stood out the most were the pork and preserved egg congee and the walnut shrimp. Flavorful congee, shredded pork with tasty, savory bits of egg. I would have preferred a couple slivers of ginger or a more generous sprinkling of egg. BEST candied walnuts in the walnut shrimp dish. Shrimp and broccoli covered in this tangy mayonnaise sauce. The other dishes were less than stellar. Scallion pancakes were under seasoned and I saw MAYBE one little slice of scallion, all pancake. Missing sauce with our pan fried tofu, everything else besides the congee and shrimp was flavorless and forgetful. Take a short walk or hop in a cab to Chinatown instead.
(3)
Josh W.
Solid place to get Chinese food. This place has a lot of the old classics that you'll find in Chinatown style restaurants. The veggie dishes that we ordered here was very good. The congee wasn't bad as all. The highlight of the meal for me was their Mui Choy Kau Yuk. This is a braised pork belly with preserved vegetables dish. This is a classic Chinese dish that I don't see at too many restaurants and I have to say the one they have here is very good. I'm definitely coming back to order that dish again. Great place to get some cheap Chinese food. It's not fancy, but it does everything very well.
(4)
Jack K.
House Special Chicken is the primary reason for the 4 stars. Fried Bread is good for appetizer or dessert. (Comes with carnation milk for dipping) Congee is okay, a bit water down. Good seating is a hit or miss. Good service, at times. Reasonable price. *The Congee Village on Bowery has better seating and service. Food is the same.*
(4)
Amanda Y.
I really wanted up like Congee Village due to all the hype, however the food is just mediocre at best. Ultra greasy without a ton of flavor is the common theme I experienced during my visit. The beef chow fun is ok, but suffers from the get go with oddly thin cut noodles and an ultra greasy texture. The orange pork chop is a grease bomb in it self, and taste more like a buttery cookie than a savory piggy treat.
(2)
Andy C.
Pro: Great food! Con: Prepare to wait We had a verity of food and all of it was great! My first time eating fried frog legs, and it was my favorite dish of the night! We went for a friends birthday with a party of 15 people. We made reservations and still had to wait an hour, so be prepared to wait. The place gets packed! This place is well known. While we were waiting outside, people stopped and took pictures under the Congee Village sign. There is a signed picture of Andrew Zimmern on the wall if anybody is a fan.
(5)
Loy B.
Seriously. Great Congee. I've been here several times and am surprised (every time) at the maze of seating they have in this joint. They pack us in. And no one seems to mind. We're here to eat. Word of warning: Dont stare too long at the decor, it'll make you dizzy. As always, I need to make a caveat: I'm here only for the congee. I have no clue how the other meals are ;-) But for congee, they have wicked variety (they've made the off menu combos I've requested as well). Sometimes I go for the crazee complificated combos - but if I havent visited in a while, I always go for the simpler duck/pork. Just like Mom's :-)
(4)
ko i.
I miss this place...I can eat two pots of congee on my own, because well, it's addictive. There are many varieties of congee, and if porridge isn't your thing, there are all the usual suspects on a Chinese menu. Only downer: the wait for seating is often up to 45 minutes, get there early.
(4)
Totoro R.
Decent food. Was better a few years back. I found an even better place for authentic Chinese food- Dragon Palace on Centre St. They take reservations and don't make you wait an hour even with one!
(3)
Dirty S.
Not the best like it's hyped up to be - I tried the house special fried chicken, and found it very overrated. However, the interior is amazing, and the lunch specials are a great deal. It can take a bit of a while to get your takeout order, and calling in advance does not help, but at least it's fresh.
(4)
Ming L.
I give this place 5 stars soley based on food quality. I only judge Chinese restaurants this way, since most authentic Chinese food is hard to find. If its good, they could stuff it in a brown paper bag and throw it at me, and I'd give it five stars. This place is top notch, with much of the draw around the old fashioned Chinese dish of congee. That's worth a try, but it also has a variety of authentic fares and my suggestion is that you go with someone who knows what to order. No General Tsoa's chicken here, so get used to some good food. As a warning, expect service to be slow and rude...and deal with it, it's worth the wait...
(5)
Jimmy C.
3 dollars for a piping hot bowl of congee in NY? Its winter right now...what the hell are you waiting for?
(5)
Chi-Chong s.
Ninjas +Really really really good chefs +good service =congee village
(5)
Winnie N.
I love Congee Village!!! It's pretty big Chinese resturant wise but you might have to wait a while to get seated if you're there for dinner or on weekends. The food is delicious and inexpensive. The food comes almost imediately after you order it. They have soo many choices of congee and it's all under $5. Go back many times and try it all. My favorite dish is the garlic roasted chicken. Yum. =) If those aren't your favorite foods, their menu is huge so there's a lot to choose from.
(4)
Mindy F.
We go here almost every week. My partner gets deep fried scallops off - menu, and I get veggie congee or pan fried tofu, and for greens, the snow pea leaves. When we've had the veggie dumplings for two dollars they were good. We've consistently found that the original Allen St. place, not their Bowery location, has fresher food, especially in non rush times. Open late, big bar.
(4)
Samantha W.
This is an excellent restaurant!!! I would totally recommend all my friends to go here. Some dishes they have are not served on most other restaurants. I love their soy sauce fried/steam tofu... yummy!!! =)
(5)
Sun M.
My favorite place to eat in chinatown for strait up chinese food. The food is fresh and light entrees can be ordered. The wait is slightly long but still worth it.
(4)
Kei Ling W.
Tried all the recommended items: -House special chicken: Delicious how the chicken skin still remains crispy even emersed in the garlicky sauce. Great with rice. -Pork and preserved egg congee has always been one of my favorites. It's good here and they serve it in a nice black cauldron for a great food presentation. -Mantao with sweet condensed milk is sooo good, however, I thought it was a bit too expensive for the tiny portion. -Fresh garlic squid was very fresh: First time I had it here it was very salty. Second time it was much better.
(4)
John H.
Has a special place in my heart (mostly because my family goes soo friggin often). The leafy greens are good, so are the house special chicken and congee. There's a flounder dish cooked two ways that is also very good. Bathroom is slightly gross.
(4)
Kerry S.
Recently went here for a Meetup Group dinner and had a nice time. Everything was preordered for us - and it was fun to try new dishes. The cold jellyfish salad was an experience - great dressing with a bit of a "kick"! Would like to go again and pick my own menu to get a taste of some other dishes.
Just go primarily for the congee and you won't be disappointed. The SAMPAN CONGEE that has peanuts and duck skin is delicious, but the rest of the menu is never consistent. I think the Allen street location is better than Bowery and has a nicer atmosphere. Some items like house special chicken, crispy frog, and razor clams have at times been great, but lately it seems to be getting few and far between. Most of the service staff are horrible, but that is to be expected.
(3)
Zy W.
Great place for almost all kinds of occasions. Pretty authentic Chinese/Cantonese food even for Chinese people. Fast, good service, take reservations. I would say the only con is something it's a bit noisy.
(5)
Stephanie T.
Too bad the food is great, cause the service sucks really bad. They didn't even refill our tea and our food didn't come out until 30 minutes later.
(1)
Vicky L.
Congee Village is so good. I had three chinese meals in two days, and this is the one that stood out the most. First off, the congee is amazing. I tried the preserved egg and salted pork congee ( a staple and benchmark ) and it really made an impression. First, it came in a clay pot with an extremely long handled spoon, that in itself was pretty unique and awesome. Second, the "jook" ( chinese for congee ) came out bubbling hot. It was as if they just finished cooking it in that clay pot and brought it straight out to the table so it would be served piping hot. All the other food we tried was also really good. Not too oily or over msg'ed. This place is AWESOME.
(5)
Margaret I.
Disclaimer - I did not end up eating here. Why: My husband and I put our names in (for 2 people) and were told 15 to 20 minutes. After an hour of watching much larger, more recent arrived parties be seated we gave up. The menu looked great, but we were hungry.
(2)
Cindy Y.
I love this place good Chinese food. My bf and I came here few months ago to take my parents out for dinner. I didn't even know they had a location on Allen street. Please is easy to find. Food we order. Squab - must get really good not gamey @ all. Frogs with vegetable love it frogs were meaty Chicken with chips white meat is so tender. Watercress Geo duck Fish filet with snow peas We order so much more but can't remember on top of my head now. Everything is worth the price.
(5)
Yon L.
This place has been around forever and offer a pretty decent selection of Chinese staples. Sauteed Dried Squid with chives is great. Fillet of Flounder with crispy fin was perfectly prepared. You can actually munch on and eat the bones b/c of the way they're cooked! The roast duck and the frog meat porridge (congee) are my two favorites. But just as usual (in Chinatown) their service is classically rude and hurried. They also blast their AC to the point where even the men in our group had to put their coats on. They refused to turn it down.
(3)
Jen C.
I came here with one of my family members since he said that this place had the best and most authentic congee. So we ended up ordering: Singapore Style Mei Fun: This was alright. They gave a lot but it was a bit dry. It was also a bit spicy. Although there was a good balance of noodles and vegetables/meats. Sliced Pork with Preserved Egg: All of their congees come in a clay pot. It's enough for one person. When it was served, it was still boiling a bit. The consistency of it was also good. I thought this was one of my favorite ones I've had in a long time. The only problem with this dish is that the meat isn't shredded and instead, it's cut. Other than that, it's perfect. This restaurant is a bit large. I thought it was small because we were seated in the smaller section of the restaurant. There's another side with and upper level so I'm not sure how big this restaurant is. But the decor is nice. Service was also good. I'll definitely come back here for another meal.
(4)
Jason Z.
Their scheduling is totally broken if you have a small group of people because you don't get to reserve tables and you are always prioritized lower than bigger groups. I had to wait for more thanan hour with my wife even though I was told there were only two groups before me.
(2)
Charlie P.
Terrible. The soups are 99% corn starch. The dumplings are pre bought & frozen. They use Basmati rice! The service ignored us. And the table was wobbly. All the hype for nothing.
(1)
Jia H.
My favorite pi dan shou rou zhou place so far in NYC. Not as good as mom's but the portions are generous and will satisfy my cravings for Chinese comfort food. One of the few places that is worth a trek down to LES....
(4)
Lex T.
Food is GooD. No Need to embellish on the 300 plus great reviews this place has.
(4)
Sisi Z.
OK, so the congee is only $4 and there are glossy pictures of dishes on the menu, but there is really nothing to rave about. I tried multiple congees on the menu but they all seemed meh. The first time I got here the waiter also forgot one dish we ordered so we sat around forever waiting for it to come out. At least they could have apologized for messing up the order but nope. This is Chinatown punk. The rest of the food is unremarkable, and reminds me of food that's slapped together quickly and in mass quantities without much thought to seasoning and ingredients. However it would be a decent place to hold a group outing since they have large tables and it's relatively easy to find.
(3)
Nyc L.
My favorite restaurant in Chinatown. You can get so many varieties all come with great quality. The food is so fresh and execution is perfect. Can not go wrong with anything.
(5)
Roc S.
Attended a party here. The party rented a private room for 5 hrs!!! which was great. Yummy food & drinks, excellent service......only complaint...there was a limited selection of good songs....old school favorites or contemporary jams.
(3)
Susan V.
Food is decent but service sucks. They take forever to get me my check on a night where there's barely anyone eating there. Servers have a bad attitude and don't bring utensils when they bring you your food. Maybe if I were white and came in with a group of white friends, they'd act like they give a shit. Oh yeah, and their fried dumplings suck.
(2)
Kevin F.
Went here on a recommendation and am sure glad we did!! Authentic Cantonese restaurant like back home (San Francisco) - killer tofu dishes, spareribs, and house chicken. We're definitely heading back!
(5)
Kenny N.
A star each for.the individual colors. White for rice, beige for pork, green for scallions, black for preserved egg. Subtract 1 for the hair. Overall, it was an ok neal. All the signage outside made me curious, so I'm glad I experimented. They also served complimentary tea here.
(3)
Miao W.
here's a fortune cookie: A thrilling time is in store for you. Lucky Numbers: S538 (Frog w/ chives), S527(Lobster w/ ginger & scallion), 714 (Snow Peas Leaf w/ garlic), 402 (Sliced Pork & Preserved Egg Porridge) Learn Chinese: girlfriend = neu pung you here's another fortune cookie: Life is a verb. (what do you think? eat.)
(4)
Brice D.
First of all: SERVICE IS SH*T !!! I asked a waitress for water twice and she just looked at me and went away with a hand sign saying "yeah yeah whatever". And it wasn't even packed that day. I had to ask another waiter (also twice) to finally get my water. Took 15 minutes. The food is good though, but the service ruined my experience there. If the service doesn't matter to you then go.
(3)
Olivia C.
Service SUCKS, waiters take their sweet time cleaning tables or caring about the diner. Waiter LAUGHED at me when I asked for no MSG in the congee. The seafood is SH-T quality and they give you a flimsy amount of anything on these GIANT plates to make them look grand. If you get delivery for lunch, I suppose it's worth it since they come super quick and give you a large amount of rice that comes with whatever you ordered for $4. Tons of places in chinatown that are WAY WAY BETTER. Expect to wait a LONG 4SS time if you are a group smaller than 4!
(2)
Viola L.
So silly of me for not ordering congee at congee village! But I did try my friend's, so I have some basis of judging! I ordered the combination fried rice and it was just as I had expected it: deliciously yummy. It was some good quality fried rice. I've been to some places where the meat looks sketchy and the rice doesn't seem right. But their fried rice was pretty solid. The congee was decent. I've definitely had better ones but the quality makes up for the average-ness. Pretty good value too. Service was a bit slow, but there were a lot of people so that's understandable.
(4)
Bonnie T.
the best tomato and beef over rice (lunch menu) ever. i mean... second best!
(4)
Alan P.
I came here with a few Asian friends for a bday dinner and Idk if its bcz its their cuisine that they knew exactly what to order but the food was delicious.. I came here tonight with my girl and my newborn, we ordered the simple house special fried rice and beef with broccoli.. well lemme tell u that the rice was yellow, no color, the shrimp wasn't cleaned and my beef with broccoli was a small portion and hardly and broccoli, and it was under cooked. Not only that, but they made it super obvious that I wasnt welcomed.. Not coming back.
(2)
Mike X.
This place is great. Amazing value for the money and very extensive menu. Sometimes the service is strange, but there can be a considerable language barrier. The way I take it is that there is a very well balanced efficiency the way they run things in this restaurant from the kitchen to the tables. Everyone in this place knows their job and does it to the T. Its obvious in the consistency that comes from this place. I have been here 5 times and have never had anything I wouldnt consider recomending to someone. And ive tried alot of this menu.
(4)
Jenn T.
i've been here twice for a "quick snack". both times we ordered the pork/egg congee with a sizzling hot plate and both times they tasted great. wish i could give a better review but i haven't tried anything new yet. i will make it a ritual to stop by this place every time i drive down to nyc as our first pit stop
(4)
Joe C.
probably one of the best chinese full dinner restaurants in nyc. and extremely cheap/affordable, the chinese food is amazing and very good. the seafood is excellent as are the congee. they have weird little cocktail drinks which i never tried, but you can't go wrong with the cheap congee or the other excellent dinner dishes. highly recommended. beware of the touristy wait though.
(3)
Kim N.
I've been here a couple times and it always feels like an amusement park, in a good way. You know, the glazed wood decor...just like Splash Mtn at Disneyland. Splash yourself with some congee because it is so so cheap and delicious. The menu seems tantalizing. I have yet to dine here with a large group in order to try various dishes. All of the different congees I've had were great. I don't think you can go wrong. The steamed dumplings are juicy. The bamboo fried rice is pretty good, as well. The atmosphere is suitable for all walks of life. I need to bring my Nintendo DS next time so I can battle one of the Asian kids.
(5)
Jacqueline B.
Best Chinese on NYC. Family style portions, fast service, and good prices! Real authentic chinese cooking. Excellent Mai Tai' s.......yum yum
(5)
Michael S.
I love this place. My daughter loves this place. The fake tree, the goldfish pond and the food - here are my recommendations: Flounder Two Ways - Crispy and then very savory - beautiful fish House Special Whole Chicken - The skin is crispy but the soy-garlic sauce is what makes it great. Duck and Meat Ball Congee - My favorite congee there - the way that the duck flavors everything is nice and the meatballs are good.
(5)
P.J. J.
I recently ordered some delivery from here and not having a menu, I just ordered my favorite Chinese dish; Orange Chicken and Steamed Veg. Dumplings. The food came pretty darn fast which is the one good thing I will say about this place. At first, I thought they got my order wrong because what I saw didn't look like what I usually get when I order the above...but it was right, and it was GROSS! I had about two bites before it went into the garbage. The dumplings where not any better. The karaoke rooms are fun, but bring a bag dinner.
(2)
Cleperson L.
hey people, if you feel like eating tasty squid deep fried in sumpin special, enjoy getting stares from other people because you and your family have ordered so much food, or just like the taste of a big ass garlic crab, come to congee village. i wasn't crazy about the red bean drink. my almond bubble tea was aight too. i think i didn't like it so much cos i have a cavity and it hurt when i drank. when it didn't sting, i loved it! came with my family and a baby. pretty kid friendly cos it's so bustlin and nobody really notices rice bein thrown. that is it.
(4)
Ricky L.
best cantonese restaurant in NYC period.
(5)
Akshat A.
I went to Congee on a Thursday night and it was still full. The food is excellent. I had rice bake with chicken and salted fish. It comes in a cool looking hollow bamboo trunk. The service leaves a little to be desired but given the food quality and the prices, this is definitely a place worth going to if you're in the LES area.
(4)
Juliet F.
I went with my friends and we met up with some of her extended family there. We had the fried pork chops in sweet and sour sauce, chow fun without the black bean sauce, bittermelon with beef, lobster, and..I forgot the other two dishes. Service was fast (we got in before a huge rush), and everything tasted authentic.
(4)
Michelle T.
I really like this place. The food is great and the price is reasonable. I specially like their Congee and their lunch special. The price is cheap compare with other restaurants in Chinatown. But there is only one complaint I have, for the past few Sundays, I went to have dinners there with my friends. I have discover that the dishes on the table are dirty. I have to ask the waiters to change them and I also use the tea to wash them. I think this is a turn off for me. How could they not check the dishes before they put them out on the table. They should change their dishwasher. I will go back there to eat, but I'll have to make sure the dishes are clean.
(3)
Jessica A.
To begin, it is probably not the best idea to venture into one of the more popular (or just crowded?) Chinese establishments on the Chinese New Year. Even if you have a reservation, you still may end up waiting an hour or so in a very crowded space with screaming children and a load of hungry, agitated people. In the end, the best food I had while there definitely was the bowl of roasted peanuts from the bar and the lychee martini. The rest...I could do without. I liked the big round tables for large parties. And, it was cheap. But, with such mediocre food, if I had ended up with a large bill, I would have not just been disappointed, I would have been pissed.
(3)
Queen G.
Great for large groups! They have many family style dishes. Their congee and baked chicken with rice is really good. I ordered their fried squid too and it was a bit salty. Some of the food on their menu is a little greasy, but they have a lot of options. Great fast service. They also deliver.
(3)
Rubie R.
Dear Congee Village, You took an hour to deliver my food because someone forgot to write "delivery" on the bag. Maybe I should've forgotten to pay you. I see why your House Fried Chicken is named so: I can do soy sauce and garlic at my own crib. Congee is always comforting but yours was not enough to make me go out of my way to return. Probably the only good thing that came from this was inspiring me to get off my lazy a$$ and make my own homemade congee, Filipino style. (Arroz Caldo, baby.) And I probably would've made it before you arrived with my delivery. In closing, you were not all that and I can do bad all by myself.
(2)
Michael M.
I was given the mission of finding a place where my friends and I could have New Years eve dinner with all the usual pain in the azz prereqs you always have with a group of people ( make sure there is something for everyone - vegetarians, dieters, carnivores). Congee Village meet all the requirements and exceeded all expectations. The service was fantastic, the food was amazing and I cant wait to get my tail back there for another round of Short Ribs in brown sauce and Saki. And I cant forget to mention Congee Village is very inexpensive - hell dinner w/ lots of booze was a mere 30 pp !
(5)
Linda S.
Looove the name because I'm a big fan of rice porridge. I really liked their seafood casserole dishes and deep fried pork chops. The place kind of reminds of Joy Yee's in Chicago because of the young and hip atmosphere, unfortunately the bubble teas here are quite a disappointment. The Happy Birthday music was quite amusing, sounded like something coming from a really terrible b-movie.
(4)
Crystal L.
having grown up in monterey park, california (aka chinese food heaven), i felt this was the only chinese restaurant comparable to the ones in cali. in fact, they probably have the best congee i've eaten- the rice is boiled to perfection- not too mushy, but just enough (the seafood one and the chicken with abalone are the best). other things worth mentioning is their sweet buns with condensed milk (awesome!!!) and fish in soy sauce. i haven't tried many other dishes, but from looking at other tables and smelling the food from the tables next to me, i have confidence that everything is just as good. this is a must go for asian food lovers!!
(5)
Joseph D.
I was recently brought here and the food is great, excellent variety and very reasonably priced. The restaurant was clean and the service was good, as with most restaurants some tables are better than others, we were sat at a fairly small table but it was nice and created a more intimate dinning experience, however, the lighting here is bright. Most importantly about the service, is that we were never rushed out, the food all came out very fast and mostly at the same time but we were able to eat at our own slow pace and talk without ever feeling rushed and the service was still attentive, so it wasn't because they forgot us. I think this may be be a new spot I will be a regular at.
(4)
Susan L.
The congee here is pretty good, along with the fried dough. The atmosphere of the place is pretty amazing and impressive. I would definitely come here again for the congee.
(4)
Johnny Y.
The price of the dishes cost more then other local asian restaurants. The food is mediocre. Nothing that will really "wow" you. I would recommend to explore other asian restaurants that has better palettes. This is definitely a tourist attraction. Don't fall for it! Unless your not from around here! I STILL would not recommend it!
(2)
Ting X.
i'm only giving 4 stars for the congee. try the preserved egg and pork congee. everything else is just so-so. servers are hard to communicate with--even though i speak chinese fluently! our waiter left a dish out and we were waiting forever for our steamed dumplings, half of which were broken when they arrived. it's a popular latenight spot, so be prepared for a wait if you got after or around 9:00.
(4)
Charlie L.
I have been to CV a bunch of times and last night (9/25/2010) will be the last time we will ever go there. A little background: I was there last night with my wife, mom, daughter (2.5), brother in law and his wife at around 9PM. We were seated fairly quickly, like 15-20 minutes. When the food is cooked right, it does taste quite good, but here is why we will never go back again: 1) The last several times we have been there, for some reason, we have to ask like literally! 3-4 times for our white rice. Last night we asked twice. 2) The last several times we have been there, they have forgotten a dish or two OR it would take for ever for them to come out. One time, my wife and I was waiting for congee (doh!) and they actually forgot! So we cancelled that order. At a different time, they also forgot the fried ribs, but we decided to keep that after reminding them. Last night we thought they were going to forget our ribs again and another dish but they got them out after a bit of wait. 3) The waiters all seem TO NOT BE HAPPY and I feel that I don't want to be at a restaurant where the people serving or cooking for you isn't the least bit friendly. I mean come on, crack a smile! Pretend if you have to! 4) Last night we were never offered the customary peanut appetizer or the red bean soup at the end (we did get oranges.) 5) Okay here it is, the mother of them all: when we did get the fried ribs I mentioned earlier, I took one piece and it was delicious as expected but when I bit into a second piece, there was BLOOD on the bone and meat. It was literally dripping from the inside. I almost threw up. I eat my steak medium/rare but not my PORK! So we politely sent it back for them to cook it right, (we asked nicely b/c I believe in treating your waiters right.) But guess what? It came out still uncooked! WWWWTTTTTFFFFF!?!?! Were we being punked?!?! We ALWAYS TIP OK, but it feels like WTF? My brother in law foot the bill last night and I never asked him what he left but if it was me, I woulda left a BUCK tip. We decided to return the ribs period! I almost wanted to speak to the manager, but I feel like the horrible service is a reflection of management and I would be wasting my time. I mean COME ON, we were nice enough to give them a second chance to cook it right but it came out raw again! So you can see, it seems like each time I went there it got progessively worse and this was the last straw! I don't feel like playing Russian Roulette with my dinner. BTW you can see their kitchen a little bit from the back (Orchard St) b.c. we parked there last night and I can tell you it wasn't what you would call clean. HHHMMMMMMPH!
(1)
Alaine H.
I don't know why I haven't written a review of Congee Village yet. This has been a go-to place to take friends (esp. Asian ones) b/c its pretty authentic. Even my parents thinks its all right - considering the fact that they live in Singapore. I really like to order the pan fried pork w/ salted fish, plain congee, and a vegetable dish of sorts. We also like the fried buns b/c it comes with sweet condensed milk for dipping. Their noodles is also delicious. I haven't had a bad meal here and the prices are pretty good, especially if you go in a big group. I remember I took a group of ten of us here and the bill came to about $100 total so that means it was only $10 per person for a ton of dishes! Word travels pretty quickly about this place and now its filled w/ folks wanting to eat authentic Chinese cuisine w/out having to go to Queens. I just hope they don't change the tastes to suit the new "locale" coming in.
(4)
Daniel L.
Listen up, non-Chinese folks! This is place is the REAL DEALof Southern Chinese food of various styles. How can your gweilo ass tell? The menu. It's got stuff on there that would make most Americans give that sour imperialist face that they are so good at making (note: I'm not anti-American. Yes, I am. No, I'm not. Yes, I am. Well not entirely...). Oxblood, bitter melon, fishhead, etc. are indeed ingredients you won't find at your local Hunan Garden or Happy Corner or whatever. I've come here a few occasions, and always for a birthday dinner. It's really great for groups! I won't bore you with the details of the decor and service because as I have said before, it's irrelevant when reviewing Chinese restaurants. It's all about the food and Congee Village just excels in this department. Everything I've tried here tastes good. The cooking techniques and the execution of those techniques on the ingredients are sumptuous! The eggplant and tofu casserole was SOO good! It was perfectly flavored and the sauce was perfectly thick. The stir fries were not par-boiled but rather perfectly textured, and not over oily at all. The congee was spot on too! Congee Village, despite it popularity with non-Chinese, is smartly a Chinese restaurant for the Chinese and the Chinese palette. And because of this, the food is all the better because it isn't trying to accommodate and adapt to the often too sweet Western palette. The way to eat here is what ya'll call "family style." Ordering your own dish and not really sharing is antithetical to our philosophy on eating and food so really, eat this way and you can taste so many dishes and pay so much less! Our party had 16 people and we ordered 6 or 7 dishes of appetizers and then 8 main dishes and it all came out to $26 a head including drinks and tip! It's like JIGGA WHA? In Manhattan? IS YOU PLAYIN'? Nope! And pity the fool who don't come here!
(5)
Wilbert O.
At the new year, I went with my friend to the Congee Village at the Allen Street near China Town in NYC. We waited there for almost one half hour, as there was a long que and the time was not right. The food proved that it was worthwhile waiting. We order tow main courses, one soup and two congees. I am a little pickey in food, but i should say the food is superb. The lobster we ordered was spendid, and the congee was superb, and the soup would be my favorite. I love this place. Next time when I visit NYC, it is on top of my destinations.
(4)
Alice C.
I made this yelp account just to complain about Congee Village, I don't even know why there is such a high rating on them. Maybe because I am Chinese and I know that any restaurant in Chinatown is better than them? They are super stingy on ingredients, dirty, the staff walks around picking their nose AND they use enough msg to make me drink gallons of water prior to sleeping! I would name restaurants deeper in Chinatown that are amazing, but that would just make me look shady. BUT trust me, DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE - they are simply over rated.
(1)
Kirby K.
I very rarely eat Chinese cuisine in restaurants because usually I am hugely disappointed. But...my friend dragged me, and to my surprise it was not bad at all. You may not receive the best service, but the congee or jook as we call it in Cantonese...is pretty impressive. Especially for the price! The other stuff--I can't judge because I didnt try it. I'd recommend it. I'm sure my dad would approve too.
(4)
Angela C.
The menu here is huge, but we just turned to the last page for the extensive list of congee varieties. I had the crab, but I probably should have just had the vegetable b/c the crab is so much shell and I find that intimidating (my problem, I know). In any case, it was delicious! My dining mate had the pork and crazy old egg madness variety and he gave it the first-generation chinese american thumbs up. We split some crispy but not overcooked scallion pancakes and perfectly sauteed snowpea leaves (yum!). It was all perfect for a late-ish weeknight dinner. Even if the food hadn't been good (but it was really good), the massive split level dining experience on the LES is something else. The other reviewers are not joking about the snazzy decor--whoa! We didn't have a wait, and the service was prompt and courteous. The only reason I can't give 5 stars is to me that's more of a 'drop everything and come here' rating, and if you are happy with the congee experience you have in your life, no rush, just check out CV sometime when you are in the hood.
(4)
Justine H.
after a full day of wandering the w. village, chinatown, the les, and the east village, scouring for happy hour deals and cheap eats, we came upon congee village, feet swollen, hearts full, livers slowly dying, stomachs empty, but spirits high. '10 minute wait,' said the lady at the front desk. sure, why not. lets get ourselves drinks at the bar. 1 tsing tao 1 macallan 12 $11 ding ding ding!!! winner. so, umm.. 30 minutes later (thank god for those drinks).... once we were seated at a rather curious table that faced the wall (literally), we decided on our order - pork & preserved egg congee (a personal fave), peking style pork chop, and 1/2 a duck. while the congee completely stole the show, the other dishes were pretty good too, though not mindblowing. i was a bit critical of the peking pork chop bc the sweetness reminded me too much of general tso's chicken, but the mister enjoyed it quite a bit, and said it was "just what he expected". i guess i was just craving something different. the duck was tasty, and the congee more than made up for what was lacking in the pork. a bit of chili oil would've helped, im sure. so the wait was longer than what we had originally been told. so we were seated in a corner where we were forced to stare at a wall. so our table was located in a room the size of my closet with 2 other tables and wafts of smoke coming in from one of the larger spacier tables outside. so the pork was too sweet for my liking. maybe all these things should've left me giving this place 2-3 stars. the fact of the matter is, their congee REALLY was amazing. and a scotch and beer for $11? that was the best deal we'd gotten all day!
(4)
Quinn R.
I'm beginning to fear that I don't have a solid grasp of what makes Chinese food good. I go into this place and it's packed with Chinese nationals, and I walk away feeling like I'm not enjoying it as much as them. I think it's that my bland American palette was not so thrilled by the fried chicken-head staring up at me. Or the bland, almost soupless soup dumplings. Decor-wise, this place is like some kind of bizarre theme restaurant. The tables are lit from below, and there's crazy bamboo and red velvet curtains. A +++ for creative decor. Not So Good Stuff: -Chicken-head staring up at me, asking "why?" -Lengthy Wait Good Stuff: -Potent Lychee Martinis at the bar -Crazy Themed Decor
(2)
Malik C.
I remember when this place first opened up only occupying the first floor with their humble and small space. The food was excellent, on eof the best in chinatown and they expanded. Now they gotten so large that they don't really care anymore about the food, the portions got smaller and they changed good chefs. They treat tourist better than locals who been coming here since they opened. The service is a complete joke, and i'm used to no service at other chinese joints. The waiters are just so rude and the managers don't care either. I went here once and there was a hair in my congee and told them to bring it back, they brought back the same one just hotter so it can look like a different congee. Then i saw a little mouse running around the dining area, and that was the last time i went there.
(1)
Jana D.
Crazy crowded - and the wait for a table is long, even with reservations. Went for a birthday party with a group of friends. Food is good (though I'm a little squeamish to try some of their dishes - my friends were game for turtle soup but I was not). Love love love the decor. Drinks were nice - liked the lychee cocktail. Definitely recommend for a evening out with friends.
(4)
Christina A.
An NYC must. Its always crowded for a reason. The food is always very tasty and abundant for a reasonable price.
(4)
Mr. Met s.
People, come here for the lunch menu. Their "other" menu is overpriced and honestly it isn't that good. Sure, the "other" menu have the more exquisite items like albaone, seafood, and such - but it's pretty average. (Sorry, I do not remember the items) Their lunch menu is ultra cheap(3.50 to 5 bucks)lots of goodies and rice. I love the Sweet Vegetables with beef and bitter melon with chicken. Check out their lunch menu. I am not sure if the lunch menu is available during late hours like from 6pm to closing......... Sure this place looks nice because the front and most of inside is made of bamboo. Service is of Chinatown norm, they have a small bar, and honestly their best feature is the karaoke private rooms downstairs.(There, you and your friends/family can enjoy a good meal in privacy and with some singing.) You have to make a reservation in order to get it. I still like this place and recommend you to bring your family and friends here. Remember NO parking from 4pm-7pm in front of the restaurant meters. This area does have viable parking, unlike the heart of Chinatown.
(3)
Nick W.
We came across Congee Village like a beacon of neon light after being out in the LES. It was just before 1am but they still seated us and oh god it was delicious. There were three of us and we were hungry after the bars so we ended up getting an absolute feast: the 1/2 house special chicken, soft shell crab, general tso's (i know, i know), congee with preserved egg and pork, and the juicy buns. All of that came out to only $40, this is some of the best Chinese food in the city for sure.
(4)
jack c.
They have an extensive congee menu. I've also had the walnut shrimp, salt pepper pork chops, and salty fish chicken eggplant casserole. All the dishes were prepared really well. On a side note, congee village has cheap strong drinks.
(4)
Rita K.
I came here on Chinese New Year, celebrated it with my fellow coworkers (gan pei!). The place was very busy, the hostess was friendly but not helpful, I asked her where my party was and she told me to go downstairs...ok? downstairs where? There were a bunch of rooms downstairs, and she expected me to sneak my head into every room (please be mindful that there were about 8 big tables in each room). After a 5 minutes of search and a bit of luck, I managed to find my party. They ordered the food, and there were fried peanuts on the table (yeah, fried, not roasted, they used oil to cook it). We waited for about 20 mins, which I didn't really mind, we were served with booze (sake, beer, Chinese vodka which was seriously intoxicating) and I had great companions. The lobster salad came first, followed with fried pigeons, clam stir fry, steamed fish with a bit of oil, tofu with something, etc (please excuse my memory, it was a about a month ago and there were a LOT of food served). One thing I remember clearly though, the food was a bit too greasy for my taste (except for the lobster salad, yummy and refreshing). They served this stir fry vegetable with tiny fried fish on a basket. When you lift up the paper on the basket, the oil literally dripped, that's how greasy the food was. The waiters were nice even though we never communicate (I don't speak either Cantonese or Mandarin sadly). Would I come again? Probably not, the food doesn't really suit my taste
(3)
Steve K.
Quality Chinese food for cheap. Doesn't get better than that.
(5)
Natalie E.
My all time favorite restaurant! I can only say wonderful things about Congee Village. The food is so fresh, from the pan fried flounder to the walnut jumbo shrimp. I always try to order different things but somehow I always get stuck on a few dishes. The congee is delicious with all of their different mix ins. I love the fried jumbo crab. I definitely enjoy the house fried rice with chinese broccoli and garlic. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, especially on Holidays they are always opened!
(5)
Joel M.
Going to a group dinner with 20 people is never easy. They did a good job, minus the 45 minute wait. If you don't have room at 930, tell us to come at 10. Other than that, the food was good, the service was pretty quick, and drinks were CHEAP. Would have been 4 starts easily without the wait.
(3)
Kim L.
I am a self-proclaimed congee addict.. I take after my father and can never get enough of it.. this location of Congee Village is consistently good even if I order take out..every kind of congee I've tried is YUMMY..if you go earlier in the day ask for a cruller(sp?) to go with it..they run out early.
(5)
Nicole L.
A friend of mine claims that Yelp has 2 types of people: Foodies and Fatties. I fall right in between, and Congee Village is the type of place we Foody-Fatties always want! It's like eating your Chinese grandma's food. If you're looking for chow mein and General Tso's chicken, go elsewhere--this place stays pretty authentic and dishes are consistently hearty and really satisfying.
(3)
Jessica D.
The menu variety is amazing. Rice Baked with shitake mushrooms will have you praising buddha, and it comes in a treasure chest log for some reason. Healthy Vegetarian porridge, though it sounds like gruel is actually very tasty albeit scalding. The sweet potato pancakes' consistency is like bubble gum meets french fries - gotta try it at least once as well as just about everything on the anytime dim sum section of the menu. The prices are good, too, with food items from about $2-$3 and up. It's a real Chinatown spectacle, complete with large lazy Suzan tables, blinking Christmas lights 365 days a year and actual Chinese people. I just can't help but get the sense that they wish I was Chinese, too.
(4)
M.C K.
Surprisingly a nice place to have a chow-out. Their house special chicken was delicious with a crispy skin and soy-sauce. We also had chow fun noodles. Although great in taste they could not beat the house special chicken.
(4)
masateru y.
Great & safe place for Chinese food. Many local people come here, I guess. Peking Duck was great & sophisticated, if you will go with many friend... Haven't tried Congee yet. Is it good?
(4)
Noah L.
Disclaimer: I'm not a huge Chinese food aficionado, I'm not Chinese, I don't travel to China all the time, and I'm not a professional food critic. This review is simply the opinion of a white dude from NYC who likes food. :) Had dinner at Congee Village last night for a longtime friend's birthday. Love the decor -- it's fun, festive, energetic. I think restaurants with a vibrancy like this make for an overall fun experience, because somewhere in your head you're going to think "well if all these people are having so much fun, it must be great, right?" Food was decent - nothing spectacular. Felt like "authentic" Chinese cuisine...not your beef-and-broccoli or crispy-orange-beef type of place. Real deal stuff. Take that as you will -- I consider myself fairly curious and excited about interesting foods, but when my table ordered the congealed duck's blood, well, that threw me for a loop a bit (to be fair, the adventurous ones who tried it said it was really good...like tofu just, well, bloody tofu.). We had a good mix of food -- some veggies, some steak, some chicken, some crab. All good -- nothing to write home about (very oily and greasy stuff), but satisfying. My only complaints were that it was LOUD in there. Like, really loud. Like, I was sitting in a round table and actually couldn't hear the person across from me, even when he was screaming at me (and I'm not deaf). So overall, would I go back? Probably not. Would I warn you to stay away? No...it's a good authentic Chinese food experience, but not really deserving of more than 3 stars.
(3)
Jennifer N.
MUST TRY THE HOUSE SPECIAL CHICKEN!!! Absolutely delicious. The service is ok, and the place is ok in terms of cleanliness, but the food makes it an absolute must go to place. Try the taipeng noodles too. It's probably my second favorite dish there. They have the most amazing chinese food. It may not be the cheapest in the area, but its definitely worth the money. My favorite thing about this place is that they're open late. My family always comes here to eat after a late flight. I believe it's open until 1am, so it was very convenient for us to grab a good, filling dinner. I'm chinese and i'm used to eating chinese food every day of my life, but if you want real authentic delicious chinese food, come here. It's not going to disappoint.
(5)
Mathew S.
Congee Village is a great place to go for Chinese in New York. It's cheap, the food is eclectic and it has a great atmosphere. You have to try one of the congee dishes, a sort of Chinese porridge, very tasty. If you get the one with preserved egg you're in for a treat. I also really like the salt and pepper squid and fried rice with Chinese sausage. Wash it all down with a Tsingtao beer. This place is filled with Chinese people so you know it's good. I always do wonder how come they seem to get special service and free shit. Unfair! Warning: I went there for a birthday party once, and we got the pancake dessert, yuck...stick to main courses. The Chinese version of "Happy Birthday" made up for it though.
(5)
Amanda B.
There is something about being able to get congee delivered when I'm sick that makes me really appreciate being in New York. When I was little my mom would always force feed me congee so this place is the closest I can get. I look forward to actually going there one day and ordering all the weird Chinese things that gross everyone out...
(3)
Claudia Z.
A favorite, for the food, decor, and general convivality. You will definitely get a kick out of the old school Chinese environs meets 60s mod furniture meets festively plaided up waiters - I always get a kick out of their bowties! This place is great for a group. The last time I came here there was 7 of us and we shared the snow pea greens sauteed with garlic, 2 heaping platters of salt and pepper squid - which are fresh out of the frier! - a whole steamed flounder - we watched with awe as the waiter removed the entire skeleton without breaking a bone - and meat dishes ( I didn't pay attention to what these were cuz I couldn't eat them). When we split the bill, it was only 13 dollars a person including tip! Can't tell you much about the congee...I think I've only had the one with the fish and I burned my tongue and thought it was a little on the soupy side - I like my congee thicker. I hear the lychee martinis are fantastic..
(4)
Tony L.
So the interior is a little mismatched and if you're seated downstairs you might end up next to a karaoke room serenaded by some agonized howls, but it doesn't matter since you're here for the food. This is authentic Chinese food at its best--authentic, great tasting, and cheap with filling portions. Don't let the name fool you, there are literally hundreds of other menu items on here that aren't congee. A couple dishes my family loves are salted fish, chicken and eggplant, chicken and bitter melon, and the beef chow fun. Congee Village is also great for take out or delivery.
(4)
Cindy G.
I've only gotten takeout here and have been satisfied every time. I call in about 10-15 minutes beforehand and the food is always ready by the time I get there. I LOVE the congee here. It reminds me of home in so many ways. The pork+egg congee is always a classic, so you can't go wrong with ordering this. If you are a seafood lover, I'd highly recommend the crab or lobster congee. You actually get a full mini crab or several chunks of lobster in the congee. Also, have I mentioned how cheap the food here is? You can definitely spend less than $10 and feel super full. Also, this place is opened until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights. The bar has a large variety of very reasonably priced options, so if you're in the LES and find the bar options to be too pricey, you can always consider stopping by Congee Village.
(5)
Lowie T.
mmmm...the simple pleasures of a delicious, hearty bowl of congee. it's immediately identifiable, yet such a simple thing. who would think "rice porridge" could be so complex?! it's one of my favorite comfort foods growing up and i actually still make it regularly, with chicken. i haven't had congee made so well until i had it at congee village, appropriately named. they have a variety of congees, but i think any one you get will be good. i have gotten the frog meat one and liver one, and both were excellent, depending on your preference of meats (and how adventuresome you feel). i think the secret lies in the porridge base. the consistency is smooth and not too thick or thin. and it has a nice hearty depth of flavor, like a stock that had been simmering with various beef/chicken bones, slowly packing in all the flavor. it comes out in a little clay pot which gives off a homemade touch, even though no one cooks congee in that lol. add some scallions, and you have THE perfect comfort food on a cold, blistery day. next dish i love here are the rice-baked items! it's almost like a semi-sticky rice cooked with various meats and veggies (i've tried the chicken & shitake, and mushroom & frog). baked inside a wooden log, the sauce from the meats & veggies coat the rice ever so lightly so that even though it's white rice, which i am typically not a fan of, it's so delicious that i couldn't stop eating! the salt baked squid was not a winner though. there seemed to be half the amount of squid to veggie ratio...kind of a rip off. but other than that, we've gotten various veggie dishes, all cooked with a lot of "wok" fire, as they call it- a testimony to a good chef. this is somewhere i'd be confident bringing my parents to when they visit me in nyc.
(5)
Ro N.
The 5 stars are of course for the FOOD and PRICE! I love love love this place to get my seafood fix! I definitely don't come here for the decor or the service! I come here to get Texas sized entrees for dirt cheap! I am obsessed with their free offerings of lightly toasted and just the right amount of salt----peanuts! Guess what---their water already has a lemony zest, so no need to ask the wait staff for your own lemon wedges! Hooray! I like to get their Seafood with Fish Maw Soup or their preserved egg with sliced pork soup! Of course their lobster-----ginger & scallions or the butter version! Or get them to add the Garlic and Pepper sauce on your lobster - this sauce taste the bomb diggity with your rice. TRUST ME I know FOOD! The crabs are good too... they offer blue stone crabs and dungeoness! It's sooooooooooo good with the Garlic and Pepper sauce that seriously when I eat this dish...the world shuts down and so does my mouth. I think this is the only time I am not rambling my mouth away. There's a moment of silence when I eat the Dungeoness Crab here! I also love their razor clam with black bean sauce-Yums! Get there early and watch out for the mean ol' Asian grannies that want to push you out of the way---they are ruthless! (I had to tell one of them what's up!) You can get seated a lot quicker if you have a party of 2 not 5! I like this location better than Bowery.
(5)
steve o.
NEVER GO HERE! WORSE SERVICE HORRIBLE/COLD FOOD OVER RATED Worse service i have ever had in my life! Waiter took roughly 20 minutes to come over to the table to get a drink order. Which he did not even ask for our drinks rather asked for our food. After telling him this, he took both orders. Brought my can of soda closed with a straw on the side. Pretty low if you ask me. Next we ordered appetizers. I received my entree instead. about 10 minutes later my mothers entree came out. Roughly 15 minutes later we were fed up with waiting for anything. The waiter multiple times looked directly at us while we were waving to him and walked away. Finally when we got up to walk out he came over with our check. They expected us to pay for 4 dishes, 2 of which never came out and the 2 that did came out ice cold. We paid $10 for a soda and some what of a tip. The waiter proceed to chase us out of the restaurant demanding we pay for everything. Completely rude and unprofessional. I explained we were not paying and he was lucky we left anything at all.
(1)
Michelle Q.
O.m.g. why didn't I know about this place sooner? This place has to be the best chinese food I've ever had since I moved back from LA. Weekend is super packed with super long line even with reservation. Hence, the wait can be an hour long. Service is fast and food comes in speed of light. I don't have anything bad to say about this place but drooling over their amazingly delicious dishes. YUM.
(5)
Matt K.
SUPER PACKED!!! We were a large group of about 30 people and had reservations, but still waited about 30 mins in order to get seated. Once seated, this place was a mad house. People everywhere, servers running around, mad chaos. The food was decent, not the best but also not the worst that I have had. I will say, our server really took the extra time at the end to cut our cake and serve it...for 30 people. We only bought 1 cake but he made it work, everyone got a piece and there was some leftovers. Mad skills man.
(3)
W Y.
The congee here is msg-ridden! There's got to be better places than here. This place is just hype.
(2)
Laurie c.
A lot of people have been raving about this place. And, I thought this place was pretty fancy until I found out about the one on Bowery. Both serve the same food, but the one on Bowery is newer. This is a must try if you like Chinese food!!! They have a mix of cheap and higher priced dishes so it's possible to go for a cheap meal or a fancy dinner. They serve a mix of traditional and specialty dishes. I always get the congee and hope that they serve me the yummy sago soup dessert at the end.
(5)
Sooj O.
I miss you, Congee Village, with your tacky decor and your long congee menu. You serve congee for cheap, you serve whole parties of my rancorous friends who want to cobble together twelve different dishes into an harmonious meal. You have weird green glass on the floor that looks below to a slight sunken space that does nothing whatsoever. It's weird, and neither I nor my friends understand it whatsoever. But you serve really great congee and it's cheap. And you serve many varieties of congee, all cheap. And your waiters talk loud and briskly; their pens fly writing down the order. Your decor and your waiters aren't comforting, but your congee and your prices are.
(5)
lora c.
Congee Village is the place you visit when you're A) in a large group or B) too lazy/too afraid to venture into Chinatown for the real stuff. Portions are generous, though prices are slightly higher than most places in Chinatown and you end up paying more so for the atmosphere and size of the restaurant than anything else. Still, even if you order family style or a la carte, the bill won't break the bank and you can easily come away for under $10 a person. I have never goen wrong with a noodle, rice, or congee dish and they have their lunch menu all day.The staff still speaks little to no English but the menus are easy to navigate and there's plenty for anyone's taste. Plus they serve congee (a delicious and extremely comforting Chinese rice porridge, flavored with salt, pork, chicken, duck or whatever your little heart desires) at all hours of the day-- which is something that most restaurants do not do after noon. Have a bowl of congee and be sure to order the "you tiao"-- a chinese salty donut-- to accompany your congee. This fried doughy krueller is perfect for dipping-- kind of the equivalent I guess of saltines in soup. Oh, and Congee Village is also convenient before a night downtown. The place has an well-stocked bar with cheaaaaaaaaap drinks so don't hesitate to have a boozy little meal here as well!
(4)
Kevin T.
Stopped by on a Saturday night. For a party of 2 they told us 30 minutes, but we weren't seated until 1.5 hours later. No problem, had some drinks by the bar but weren't impressed by the bartender. Finally a seat. They have a huge menu, lunch specials are cheap, most less than $5. For dinner we had a variety of dishes, none at all impressive. The congee was pretty good, but how hard is it to make rice porridge. The pot stickers were below average (I order them at every restaurant). Chinese vegetables were not fresh. The sizzling plate of short ribs with pepper was undercooked. The seafood stew was average, tofu was great but not enough of it was in the dish. It was filled mainly with squid and only had 2 shrimp, 1 scallop. Service was fast and typical for a Chinese restaurant. Overall I was disappointed. Maybe we just missed out or ordered the wrong stuff. This place has a lot of hype and a long ass wait probably for a reason, though we didn't find it. I'd probably go back to try the lunch but not for dinner.
(2)
molly c.
sometimes you realize that your friends are totally awesome. ::ring ring ring:: -hey wanna get some food? rainy friday. two people. three pork dishes. two very stuffed people. i just visualized what we ate and got a little misty-eyed. yup. i like pork
(4)
Joy C.
mmmm... My friends think I'm insane because while they're having cravings for ice cream and pizza, my cravings are for congee! I have to say there's just something special about a pot of steaming, gooey congee that gets me all hot and bothered. My favorite is the salted chicken congee which comes with big pieces of chicken. The rest of the food on the menu is pretty standard but good. I order take out from here at least once a week. One minus star for having inconsistent delivery - sometimes it takes 20 minutes, sometimes it takes an hour and a half. When this girl wants congee, she wants it fast!
(4)
Michelle H.
This place is great for lunch and dinner! I definitely recommend the congee. Piping hot in a claypot. Great in the winter when you want some comfort food on a chilly day. The fried bread that many eat with the congee is so so, but dip it in the congee and it's much better. I have also been here a few times for dinner. I don't recall have anything I didn't like. I brought my family here and they loved it too. However, there isn't one dish that particurlarly stood out that I would say is a must. All were good. Pretty big menu so if you go in a group, I suggest doing family style so that everyone can try a bunch of dishes. The restaurant is pretty big, so it can accomodate large groups, just call ahead to make reservations. This place gets crowded for both lunch and dinner. If you're looking for some good Cantonese food that is extremely reasonably priced, go here. Lunch is definitely doable for under $10/person, dinner might be slightly more, but under $15/person (if you're not ordering anything exotic).
(4)
I. C.
Compared to other Chinese restaurants in Manhattan, this place offers decent food at a decent price.
(3)
Manesh P.
The place is called Congee Village so go in and get the Congee! I've been there like a half dozen times and haven't ventured off the first page of the menu. So, realize the five stars is for the combination of congee deliciousness, dirt cheap price, and my utter ignorance of the rest of the restaurant's offerings. (Okay, truth is the rest of the restaurants offerings are a bit "expensive" i.e. $7-$9 and with congee so good for no more than $4.50 how can you get anything else?) Not only is the congee dirt cheap, but it's also easily the best congee I've had in the city. With so many interesting choices like abalone, crab (a real full crab is dropped in there), and frog (DELISH), it's good any time of day. Some of the "dim sum" isn't bad either. Their fried cruellers are pretty good if you rip it up and toss it into your congee and the fried mantou with condensed milk is delectable.
(5)
Will b.
The food is really good!!
(5)
Carrie L.
Congee village was good but their congee was not very good even though it's in their name. The deep fried dough that you eat with the congee was sub par. Their xiao long bao should not even be on the menu. I suspect it's from the frozen aisle in a chinese supermarket. Their frog casserole saved the meal. It was very flavorful. Their deep fried pork ribs was also pretty delightful. The place got pretty crowded after we sat down, a little before 7pm. I would go back but probably not anytime soon.
(3)
Tae K.
always love this place. had the salt/pepper fried squid last night. one of the best things i've probably ever tasted. it was perfectly crisply fried, steaming hot, and the squid just melted in the mouth. and as always, the house special chicken is top notch.
(5)
Marina C.
3.5 stars I've been here a couple of times for dinner and once for a wedding reception. Service is usually pretty decent, sometimes the menus might take a few minutes to get to us, but other than that the waiters are usually quite efficient. I don't expect waiters at Chinese restaurants to be extra friendly; the waiters here do enough to serve you, but that's all I really need. I just want my food served and the check to arrive quickly at the end. If they can do that without an attitude, I'm perfectly content. Food here is good, average Cantonese food. I don't think they use as much msg as some other cheaper, more popular restaurants in Chinatown. I forgot what we had here, especially since I've been here multiple times, but it's usually all the same as everyone else. The place is huge, plenty of tables, pretty decent option if you're in the area.
Four stars because this place reminds me of the places I eat in Asia. Big family style dinner tables with similar taste (extra plus for them speaking Canto!). I came here with my bf because we weren't feeling too well so we wanted to get some congee. This place, contrary to the name, doesn't only specialize in congee which worked out well for me! I'm not a huge fan of congee so we decided to get a plate of vegetables and sweet & sour pork. Pretty standard dishes. The congee we got was the fish fillet and preserved egg but they gave us pork instead of fish :( BOOO oh well..still ok. Has a lot of taste. The small bok choi was good too but had a LOT of chopped garlic. I liked the pork the most because it wasn't too batter-y like most of the sweet & sour pork dishes I've had. Good experience except the waiters are so busy/won't really check up on you unless you waive them down.
(4)
Warren C.
This restaurant is legit when it comes to congee. They have quite an extensive list of options. It's refreshing to come here on a cold, wintry day. As others have similarly commented, their house special chicken is delicious.
(4)
Arthur G.
The food is very tasty for my western palate, nothing fancy. My Chinese (and taiwaneese) friends comented that they have more of a "Hong Kongneese" style of cuisine. Super cost effective, you can have a meal for two with 9 dollars if you dont eat much. The waiters are kinda unatentive and the overall atmosphere is very unatractive. Not a good place to bring a date!
(3)
Anderson C.
A whole restaurant devoted to congee??? Yes PLEASE. Sadly, as I found out it wasn't all devoted to congee. Instead, this divey Chinese tourist trap as many have stated is pretty much a staple around this area of town (L.E.S.) With that being said, business is VERY good and you will most likely need a reservation if you want to eat...sitting. I went here on a weekday night and the wait for a table for 30 minutes for a party of one. I opted for the bar which was empty. Not exactly the most comfortable place to eat considering the bar stools weren't exactly a table seat. Still it will do especially if all you came here for is for the congee. The restaurant space itself is rather large. I didn't get a chance to peruse around but they have a 2nd/ mid 1st floor for all your dining needs. There is also seating downstairs which I would imagine is for the larger parties or private reservations. The 1st bathroom is by the bar. There are other bathrooms downstairs. If you go down the stairs and reach the kitchen, you have gone too far. It is on the floor in between the kitchen and the 1st floor. The bar area itself is small, maybe 5 seats total. It is located right next to the 1st bathroom as mentioned but also this funky smelling pond for fishes. Decor wise it looks nice. But that fishy watery smell next to the bar can work against anyone who even might think about grabbing a drink while waiting for their table. Service wise was pretty good. I mean I did have the whole bar to myself. I ordered the beef congee ($4.95) & the salted chicken congee ($4.95). Presentation wise was very authentic to me. They both came in these clay pots that the Chinese traditional use for porridge as well as certain soups and stews. The porridge didn't just come in some plastic or glass bowl. The taste was exactly as expected. Pretty good and well balanced throughout. Good stuff. You can read other Yelper's review about how the congee here used to cost around $3.00. As this place got more well known and essentially drawing a crowd of tourists every day, the price obviously rose. Still it was well worth the money and I wouldn't hesitate to eat congee here again. FAN.
(4)
Linda T.
This place is not just congee. Great Chinese food, family style! Go with a lot of people and get soups, seafoods, meats and veges. Everything was pretty good and portion sizes are great!
(4)
Andrea C.
I've been coming to this place for years and food is good, but service is impossible. If you can't actual turn tables over in time for reservations, do not take reservations. Absolutely not acceptable to have to wait 1 hour when reservations were taken. Not good for business and they have just lost a loyal customer as this is not the 1st time this has happened. Three strikes is enough.
(1)
Carol W.
I love to eat Chinese food family style especially when it comes to my birthday. Why you may ask? Because it's cheap, delicious and portions are perfect. The last thing you want to hear during your birthday are friends who are still hungry after paying $100 per person for a dinky over-rated, over-hyped and snarky restaurant. Food is fresh, perfect size and lots of sharing going on. Great for groups, there's two floors -- prefer the upper level because there's more space. There are TVs in the corner and service is pretty fast. Can't go wrong here.
Like many large places with a very long menu, the food is mediocre to good. Congee, which the place derives it's name from, luckily doesn't disappoint. The service is slow, not very attentive.
(3)
Sandy O.
Great food, but the service can really suck from time to time depending on the server. It's extreme, but i really love the food
(3)
Toby D.
Okay I am going to go crazy. This is the number one, my favorite, best of the best, most wonderful Cantonese place in the world. The food is definitely authentic. Some of the dishes can just be found local. No kidding. The congee is well made and I have tried ten different kinds and they are all delicious. Everything here reminds me of home and whenever I come here I have a felling of eating with my family. I love this place!
(5)
Chun H.
I liked. Cuz it is not that bad taste, I mean, fine and enough price. I tried couple of items and they were pretty good. I probably will revisit here.
(4)
Celeste Y.
This should be no stars. Hi fellow yelpers, please avoid this place! My friend and i was really craving congee so we searched up a place that would serve congee at night. This place came up so we decided to go even after reading bad reviews. Okay there's a reason why the restaurant only has a B rating outside their door from the Health Department. Don't get fooled by their bright sign. The wait was fairly short, about 10 minutes. It seemed really crowded and very touristy. When our seats were ready... Guess where they seated us, literally in a box. This room is smaller than your bathroom probably. It was with two other tables of two... Seriously?! It was practically their storage room. Their menu was pretty decent I would say. Seafood was very tempting but I was sick so I couldn't have any. I just wanted congee. We ordered a medium congee with filet and preserved egg and also a tofu seafood casserole. The casserole came first surprisingly. Well actually unsurprisingly it was warm, not hot at all. It was drenched in salt as well. The congee came and I was so excited because I was looking forward to this! The waiter served us the congee in two smaller bowls. Wait it gets better... As I'm about to eat my first spoonful of congee, I see a strand of hair. WTF. Seriously?! The waiter was "shocked" and said he'll bring a new one out. 10 mins later, he comes back with a "new" bowl. You can tell it's not new since scallions were mixed already. Okay so I'm about to finally enjoy my congee and.... I SEE A NEW PIECE OF HAIR. Okay this was ridiculous. We told him and not only did the waiter no apologize, he said oh we'll just cancel it then and walked off. We asked for the check and tried to pay exact change so we can just leave but we didn't have smaller bills. We gave the guy 20.37 for a bill of 17.37. So a normal person would bring back $3 change right? Yeah uh he came back with $2 and $1 of coins. Oh yes, we made a scene because he was obviously playing games. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRENDOUS. FOOD IS BAD. AVOID THIS PLACE, UNLESS YOU LIKE HAIR IN YOUR FOOD.
(1)
Maria Cristina C.
#NAME?
(4)
Wendy T.
WOW, am I in HK said my Chinese dad who lived in Asia!! We loved the fried spare ribs, salt pepper shrimp, ground pork salted fish patty, ong choi, tofu soy sauce and mushroom yee mien. The bad, congee was too runny and watery, XLB was to thick doughy and no juice inside. Would like to try bamboo rice next time.
(5)
Daniel K.
For our to-go orders: Good quality. Nice presentation. Reasonable price. Nice that this place hasn't lost its quality since it's gotten so big. The sesame chicken over rice was good. Large chunks of fresh chicken, lightly battered and coated in sauce. Not overwhelmingly saucy. The only room for improvement probably could've just been the rice. Too moist and clumpy. But overall good deal.
(4)
Van N.
I came here with some friends for the first time here & NY. I don't know the area & it's hard to find a nice & good restaurant & the prices is very reasonable for NY. I will come back here when I am in NY & I highly recommend House special chicken $24 for the whole chicken.
(4)
Gracie J.
This is the quintessential Canto dining experience, down to the 'bad' service (if you think this is bad service, please, never travel to Asia - you'll be so disappointed). Congee Village has absolutely DELICIOUS food. You can't go wrong ordering anything from the menu. As for the congee, my favorite is the abalone + chicken combo. Super yummy and great comfort food for cold nights. Service is like the typical hole-in-the-wall Chinese joint service. Maybe people are disappointed with the service because Congee Village is a large restaurant and they expected more, but it's pretty standard and boils down to "flag down a server if you want something." They do not come to you voluntarily or ask you how the food is. If you want something, ask. They'll do it for you. They're also typically stingy. I ordered some congee to go with my partner and they ended up giving us one spoon to share between the two of us. I never had high expectations for their service, so I can't say they have ever disappointed us. They have never been rude either. Price is good. Just know that sometimes it can be quite a wait for dining in.
(4)
Paola A.
The service is HORRIBLE. We had to ask for water, and remind there were FIVE not FOUR. We also had to remind them that we needed refills and they just dumped the water pitcher at our table. The food is DELICIOUS. I recommend the fried chicken, salt and pepper pork and the bok choy in garlic butter. I love the food but I dont know if I will be back again given that I don't live in NY and would rather waste my precious vacation time at a restaurant that will not piss me off on my vacation due to their service.
(3)
Kaitlyn Y.
AH! probably my favorite family style place to eat with my fam bams. There is always a line so be sure to call in for reservation. Esp in the summer, alot of families come here for birthday, celebration dinners. I love all their chinese authentic food. There is two floors. First and second and there is also a bar and tv spot for you to wait for your table while sipping on a beer. I wouldnt say this is a place for a date. This is a place for groups of 10 etc.
(4)
David K.
Since my last visit to Congee Village for dinner, the food has been very mediocre and salty. When my mom doesn't want to go there for dinner anymore, the food must have tasted worst for her. Not much else to say but will remove two stars for their food being too salty and disappointing my mom with mediocre food.
(3)
William M.
All I have to say is that they made us wait over an hour while a long line of others who came in after us got seated. We ended up leaving the place after my sister yelled at the hostess for not doing her job properly. The saving grace is that their food is good enough to earn it a second star. I hope they get their service together because it'll be such a shame
(2)
Stephanie P.
I've been here over 10+ times and I don't know why it has taken me until now to Yelp about it...but I HEART CONGEE VILLAGE SO DAMN MUCH. Have I been here drunk with my girls? YES, several times, it's practically a tradition when we're engaging in LES shenanigans. Have I been here on a date? YES (more than once). Eaten here with Family? Damn right I have. Alone? Came once to kill time, had a Lychee Martini at the bar...don't judge. Let me also state that if you have a disdain for the one on Bowery, don't judge this location because it is a zillion times better and cleaner. The staff might not be the jolliest folks ever, but screw that - I don't come here so that the staff can be my friend, I come here because they have cheap and delicious cocktails (Lychee Martinis! Liquid Marijuana! Marakya! and a full list of Bubble Tea/Coffee concoctions!) and really awesome DELICIOUS Chinese comfort foods. My gal pals love their Congee (I really like the seafood one!), I heart their (GARLIC!!! YUM!!) House Special chicken, ADORE their scallion pancake & fried pork n' chive dumplings and live for their salt & pepper squid. I've also enjoyed their seared flounder, young chow fried rice, soup dumplings (not the best, the skin is thicker than I normally prefer - but the pork is tasty and they're cheap - although no Joe Shanghai's). Also, I cannot emphasize how great this place is for group dinners with their lazy suzans, large round tables, booths, private dining rooms and 2 floor of spacious and interestingly decorated atmosphere...plus it always smells amazing, their service is super fast & efficient...I love this place, they make me smile {3.
(5)
Tom L.
This place still has good food and prices are reasonable. It's a great place to have a group gathering as the tables are big and they have private rooms. Even though this place is call congee village, their congee are not that good anymore. This place to to be famous for congee but not anymore. If any of my American friends ask me to suggest a Chinese restaurant, this would be it as the staff is pretty good in English.
(4)
Lyla L.
The best sesame chicken I have tasted in a long time.This place takes pride in the maintaining the quality of their ingredients. I came here with a large party of people and we ordered the deluxe crab. It was one of the more memorable presentations.
(5)
H M.
BOMB. Congee here is really good, especially after a night out. I got the pork and preserved egg. It comes in your own pot and was about $5. My 4 friends and I shared a house special chicken which was perfectly juicy with nice crispy skin. We also got some yummy watercress and some sweet and sour pork that wasn't as memorable. Grand total for a freakin' awesome meal? $10. Tip included.
(5)
Jason C.
I recently revisited this location with some friends a few weeks ago and honestly I had to lower my rating from my previous experience. The portions of food here have certainly decreased as the restaurant has found ways of bedding every dish with lettuce or some kind of vegetal filler to leave the protein from getting into every dish. The food however is well prepared and you will enjoy their sweet and sour porkchops as well as their mayo shrimp with candied walnuts.
(3)
Lucy C.
Like every Chinese restaurant, the service is kind of wack. But honestly, out of all the ones in Chinatown, service at all the congee chains is pretty okay. Of course, the place feels cleaner than most and has a generally nice ambiance, particularly for Chinatown. It has an identical menu to the Congee Bowery location but definitely more seating at Congee Village, and can get busy so you can expect a wait. You might even sit at a large round family-style table with strangers. I would recommend trying any of the congees and the specialty log rice dishes, as well as anything on the specialty list. I would stray away from the Chinese-American food because you can get that anywhere, don't be tempted by General Tso's Chicken! Why not try what special cantonese dishes Congee Village has to offer? They have fun a fun menu you'll have trouble deciding what to get. Out of the congees try the abalone one, the frog leg one, or the pine nuts one, those are different. If you can, try ordering the cumin grilled lamb, which is off the menu. Best lamb I've had in ages! I also usually order a side of garlic sauteed bok choy--super crispy and flavorful and the serving is massive. If you love Chinese food, and you don't want to go broke for good service and clean dining utensils, definitely definitely definitely come to Congee Village. There was a time in the summer where I came 3 times in one week! I swear by this place.
(5)
Kar N.
I heard many reviews about this place so I decided to finally try it out. I got snails with black bean sauce at first with a beer. Then I got a pork, chicken and duck congee with Rice baked with chicken and shitake mushroom for my main dish. It comes in a log, that is pretty awesome for presentation. The Rice baked with chicken and shitake mushroom was really good like I would order this over and over again, would definitely come back. Really good food !!!!
Why is there so much random/unused space? Why is there fake foliage attached all over the ceiling? Why is there a treehouse inside? Why did they just start playing "Happy Birthday" when it was pretty clearly no one's birthday? Shut up. Stop asking questions. Order the Singapore-style noodles, a manly protein (no wimpy fish unless it's shark - shark is pretty manly), and drink a Tsingtao. Enjoy.
(4)
Blue G.
We came here after visiting one reception for new art show at an Art gallery, my friends came here before and really liked their Japanese Gekkeikan Ume-shu (plum sake). This time we also ordered it and I loved it as well, liked that they serve in wine glasses. Maybe because it was dinner time and on Friday night, we waited for nearly 30 minutes. We enjoyed overall, if you come as group, i think it's the best order dim sum menus and with Japanese Gekkeikan Ume-shu bottle, smile laugh and and share everything and perfect :)
(4)
Sandy L.
Chinese restaurant on the uppity up side is always a fun experience. You've got the same smells, the same type of people rollin into the place....the only difference is that you get more variety, higher quality food and a unique decor. In this case you have bamboo, EVERYWHERE! This is one of the better Chinese restaurants we've dined and loved how they had both Chinese American style and the traditional/home style dishes splattered all over the menu. If you don't see it on the menu, I'm pretty sure they could make it too! We ordered: Pan Fried Minced Pork w. Salted Fish - $9.95 - As you would expect....mined pork with that salty preserved fish taste. YUM! Extremely happy with the preparation because sometimes it can be too soft and just be pure mush but this had the right texture and enough of the salty fish so that you could taste it in every bite. TIP: Eat with rice or else you will be hit with an overload of saltiness. This dish is definitely mean to be eating in conjunction with a fork full of rice! Half House Special Chicken - $9.00 - This was the recommendation by everyone and it was definitely good! I would order again. Crispy skin on the outside, juicy white meat and lots of their special sauce coming through in every bite. Half order was more than enough for THREE PEOPLE so if you are wondering if you should order a half or full order, hopefully this helps you decide. Chinese Green w. Garlic in Broth - $7.95 - REALLY disappointed because I wanted pea shoots in garlic sauce but they ran out of pea shoots for the evening! They said that this was a close match to the pea shoots but it really was not. It was very bitter and not as leafy as pea shoots. I will not order this again. Fu Kan Style Fried Rice - $10.95 - The waiter was not that enthusiastic about us ordering this because it's "wet" and "soggy" rice topped with gooey seafood GOODNESS. I don't know why he doesn't like this.... This dish was delicious! They basically prepare their house fried rice and top it with gravy seafood. Overall, a really great place for Chinese food and wish it was closer to my home so I could get it delivered any time I crave =)
(4)
Krista R.
There's so many options in Chinatown! Noticing that many restaurants had been overtaken by hipsters and college aged people, we dedicated one night to finding a restaurant with a mostly Asian clientele. Congee Village was insanely busy and fit the bill. The food was gross. Everything had been frozen and fried. Our spring rolls were still frozen in the center and tasted freezer burned. Our potato pancakes (off the dim sum menu) were slimy. The scallion pancakes were greasy and tasteless. The eggplant and tofu entree was inedible. The pork buns were stale. We ate little, the waitress never returned to check on us. Stick to the hand pulled noodle and dumpling places. The hipsters are on to something.
(1)
Shu gin F.
My mother called the number on their menu to order food for this Christmas and when my dad went to pick up the order; They did not have the food prepared! Why? Because the phone call got "transferred" over to the one in Bowery. Like seriously? No one told my mother on the phone that it was the Bowery address and when I called back to ask what happened the women on the other end was very rude and unhelpful. NEVER GOING BACK THERE OR EVER ORDERING FROM THERE AGAIN. ONE STAR IS TOO GOOD FOR THIS PLACE. ALSO THEIR FOOD IS MEDIOCRE.
(1)
Han Y.
I came here with a few friends on a weekend, and I think we came around 11:30-noon and didn't have to wait. What we ate: -Sliced pork and preserved egg porridge: tasted pretty good, a good amount of pork and egg - chicken with black mushroom porridge: also tasted pretty good but definitely liked the other one better. - house special chicken (I think it was this chicken dish we got): it tasted pretty good, and I'm not even that big a fan of chicken. - vegetables: so funny story, after we had gotten all of our dishes for about 20 minutes, and when we were almost done with our meal, they come out to tell us that they didn't have the vegetable for the dish we had ordered. Obviously they didn't bother to check or start making it until 20 minutes into our meal. We had to substitute it with another vegetable dish
(4)
Cindy L.
I called for delivery. However, the woman who picked up the phone had really bad language. I was patient. Surprisingly, her attitude was extremely bad and rude. She was almost screaming at me after I repeated my address twice in case she didn't get it. It is your nonsense made the call repetitive, ok? Can you at least be patient and nice? Worst order experience ever.
(1)
Snowy D.
This looks like such a cheesy, loud, typical Chinese restaurant but the food was surprisingly good! It's always busy, despite the size of the place, and always loud. You see almost an equal number of Chinese and Westerners, so their menu appeals to both. I, for one, am a big fan of their pork chop and chicken! Their garlic bok choy is great too! Come with a big group as it's family style, and the dishes are usually big enough for a group to share.
(4)
Ying X.
Dying for some good congee and tasty food. Went to this place last weekend with a good friend. Congee is extremely tasty, so do cold appetizers. Hot seafood dishes are yummy as well. The restaurant gets really busy for dinner, especially during weekends. Try going there early for dinner, otherwise the wait line would be long!
This place is a staple for large family gathering with their large private room and never working karaoke machine (thank goodness). If you want to book a room downstair, it will cost you around $400 to $500 minimum spendingand expect to pay a good tip after. Upstair is for smaller group or people just wanting a quick meal then carry on. Both is good standard to have. This place offers drinks including full bar however it's not that great (cheap thou). Food is considered ok but expect to go on a busy night for Chinatown or you might be eating last night's leftover (True story believe it or not) Pricing is really decent from $5 meal comes with free angry looks from your waiter and something extra in your dish to $20 to $30 decent dinner for 2. Really come here either with someone to have a good dinner or don't come and order a congee. You will be just asking for the nasty looks. From my experience on the other Congee Village location, make sure you don't take one of their big table if your group is too small for it. Ordering wise, do order one of the congee dish to try out and I recently kept ordering that bamboo rice which is cook or at least looks like it's cooked in the bamboo bowl. If all things failed, just go for whatever you are familiar with like general chicken, sesame chicken, beef with mushroom...on and on just kidding (please don't do that) Try something new and that you are not sure what really is in there.
(3)
Becky W.
Honestly this place is a hit and miss. My family used to reserve dinner here all the time but it just got boring. Some days the service would be fine and smooth and the food would taste superb but there were those odd days were the waiter just wants to go home and the food is meh.
(3)
Sylvia H.
I used to like eating their stream fish belly. Now, not only the size is half and even the soy sauce has no taste. This place is called congee village, I will never order congee here. Their seafood congee has at least 40 piece of peanuts and it tastes horrible. I also ordered the shrimp with walnut, the size of the shrimp is just small and the presentation is sloppy. The service stays the same which the waiter just wants you out asap.
(2)
Vincent M.
I wasn't expecting too much, but the food was outstanding. Many yelp reviews say that the service is lacking, but my wife and I had a really positive experience there (neither of us is Chinese). We will definitely be back.
(4)
Yumi I.
Congee village is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants. Every time I come here, the food is delicious, and despite ordering heaps of food, the tab still comes out super cheap. Casual atmosphere, and great for a big group. Family style for the win!
(4)
Michelle W.
How can anyone not like congee village?? Or give them less than four stars? I mean come on, they give you great greasy super tasty chinese food for a nominal price. What more can you ask for? I've been coming here for years. I love the fried man tao (buns I think they're called) and soy sauce fried noodles and recently had their crispy chicken which was delicious. Of course their congee is also superb so you can't go wrong! Tables are quick turnaround but if you go late enough they wont care or rush you to leave. I'll be back for my late night or second dinner after HH.
(4)
Rumi F.
3.5 stars! Came here on a weekday 7pm with a party of 3 and seated immediately (yay!) We got the house special chicken, beef chow fun, bean curd with mixed veggies and chicken and black mushroom congee (i wanted to try the frog, but no one else was up for it haha) The congee came out in this piping hot bowl. Very smooth, not the usual lumpy messes you find elsewhere. Not as much mushroom as I had hoped, but lots of chicken. The beef chow fun was okay, not too different from your run of the mill Chinese takeout place. I noticed it had A LOT of bean sprouts in it. The house special chicken was awesome! Nicely seasoned with a really rich garlicy soy saucey flavor. The meat was very soft and the skin nice and crispy!! If I'm in the area, i may pop in again :)
(3)
Lynn P.
Food was great. Be careful when ordering because the plate sizes are quite large. We ordered way too much. Pork buns are great. Bok choy and garlic dish was so wonderfully garlicky that it was everyone's favorite of the night.
(4)
Jessica D.
I was in a mood for a comfy Chinese dinner which is ironic because I eat Chinese food pretty much every night and when I'm out for dinner, I usually don't opt for Chinese restaurants. The restaurant was a lot bigger than I thought. The decor very traditional and true to Chinese culture. The customer service was decent. I saw a Yelper posted a picture of a seafood fried rice inside a pumpkin and I thought it was extremely adorable, which is precisely why I dragged my boyfriend to Congee Village for dinner. When we ordered it, our waiter told us it would take an hour for it to be done and one hour can be long, but we just sat there,talked, and waited patiently for it to arrive to our table. The Pumpkin-filled seafood fried rice wasn't too big and it was just right for both of us. The waiter first broke a few pieces of the meat of the pumpkin and mixed it all up with the fried rice for us and served our fried rice to us. The fried rice was a little bland, but if you eat it with the pumpkin, there's a tad of sweetness. Glad we were able to finish this entire dish together! My boyfriend ordered half a salted chicken (country style). It was quite tasty, but definitely way salty. My only complaint about the experience is that in most Chinese restaurants there are nibblers like peanuts or sweet relish to nibble on, but at Congee Village there wasn't. However, on the bright side after our dinner they gave all the diners a plate of sliced watermelon, which is good to eat on a super hot day! Congee Village is definitely a worth restaurant to check out if you're in a mood for traditional and comfort Chinese food. I know I definitely want to return to try out more dishes.
(4)
Rahul S.
I just went to congee village today for lunch and ordered the blue crab with ginger and scallions. The flavor was amazing! The crab meat was succulent and it was a generous portion for $15. I got some white rice on the side and ate it with the sauce that was left over with the scallions and ginger. Delicious. Worth a try if you're looking for lunch in the LES.
(4)
Steph C.
This place has become the go-to spot for group birthday parties among my circle of friends. It's a big restaurant that can seat large parties, huge menu that caters to everyone's tastes (vegetarian vs. carnivore, spicy vs. bland, adventurous vs. picky), and the prices are extremely reasonable so the total cost is nice to everyone's wallets. Our repeat dishes are usually pan-fried noodles ( both beef and veggie), scallion pancakes (for the non-adventurous), bbq pork ribs or peking style ribs (for carnivores) and walnut shrimp (everyone seems to like this dish). And of course, several orders of congee! The congee is the standout of this place. They have so many different varieties and they don't skimp on the toppings so you really do get filled up. My favorite is the pork and preserved egg. You have to order at least one congee while you're here. One thing NOT to order: soup dumplings. They just don't do them well here. The service can vary depending on your group. If you've got a Cantonese speaker at your table, you increase your chances of better service. Mandarin speakers will do in a pinch. If all of you only speak English, then you're kind of out of luck.
(4)
Stella Z.
Food is relatively cheap and delicious. Service may seem a bit lack but this is Chinatown. Congee is a little bland to me but the person who came with me thought it was just right. She thought the dishes were too salty. The place is small and the decor is simple but not a hole in the wall place.
(4)
Mike C.
This place has rodent infestation problem. Check it on line NYC Dept. of Health before you plan a visit! I saw rats roaming around their kitchen back on Orchard Street.
(1)
Brian V.
Blah food and horrible, horrible, horrible service. We were seated next to the wait satiation and couldn't escape the unbelievably bad body odor of one of the waiters. Not a good way to feel excited about tasteless dumplings, crunchy steamed buns, tiny dried out ribs and a huge plate of fried chicken fat ( though the sesame seeds on top kind of looked fresh). 10 minutes to get a table at a half full Saturday lunch, 10 minutes for someone to acknowledge that we were there, 10 minutes to be asked to order, 20 minutes for bland food to come. All this and the killer stink from the waiter makes for a no return policy for us . . .
(1)
Raphael D.
Never has one restaurant so successfully brought together congee and the feeling of being in a green, plastic jungle. Kitsch aside what make's it such a great spot it doubles as a good place for a big dinner on the fly with lots of variety (the rice dishes are a meal in themselves) or a cheap and delish bowl of congee for one. If it's a frigid, gusty night it'll definitely warm you down to your heart, left cold by a stripper in Tampa who took away everything you loved.
(4)
Linda C.
I came here on a friday evening with my family of 4 and it took about 2 hours for us to finally be seated. Even though many tables were already done eating, the staff did nothing to make sure the tables were cleared. The waiting area was packed and some groups even had to wait outside. After we were finally seated, an unenthusiastic waiter came by and took our order. We ordered a t-bone steak, boiled sliced conch, sauteed dried squid & dried shrimp, the house special chicken, the crab congee, and sliced pork and preserved egg porridge. We drank tea for about 30 minutes (we finished over 2 teapots) because no food was coming out. At this point, my family was starving. When the food finally came out, it was only average at best. The only dish I really enjoyed was the house special chicken. It was very crispy and it paired well with their soy sauce. The service was terrible and the staff was not very attentive. I accidentally dropped one of my chopsticks and I had to remind our waiter that I needed another pair twice. Even though we tipped about 25%, I don't think we even heard a thank you or please come again. Overall the staff was very rude and unattentive. For the price, you could honestly find somewhere better to dine.
(1)
Keejoo L.
So...after many years of living in NYC and reading about this place from numerous sources I finally had linner here today. Walking around the LES always makes me curious to find some good chinese food, something outside the norm of 'chinese food' in Harlem. Since this place was around the corner I wanted to go since I didnt have cash for Cocoron ! ANYWAY. Since im a soup dumping fanatic I had to get those...but dare I say that they were the saddest soup dumplings I have had in Ctown?....5/6 of the dumplings had a hole in the bottom so , hence, no soup in the 'soup dumplings;.....fail. . . I ordered a scallion pancake that was a little too oily.... and lacking in flavor. . Then a beef congee. I have to say I wasnt expecting much but it was actually pretty good. It comes out in this piping hot clay pot with a overly large ladle. Enough for two people to share. Maybe the next time I go ill opt for the crab one. Finally I ordered the house special half chicken. Half a chicken...is quite a lot of chicken! Covered in a salty sauce and about half a pound of garlic it wasnt bad. Im not a huge chicken eater but it had a nice flavorful crispy skin and tender meat. Overall, ok. I think I need to branch out a bit and try something I havnt had before but it wasnt horrible. Its probably best to come with a large group and just order a bunch of different things to spin around on the tables with the lazy susans.
(3)
mary l.
Great for a large group, e.g. 8 or even more. Even if you have a reservation, you'll still probably wait 45 min or so. Just go the bar, grab a tsingtao, and pack yourself in. Go with a friend who knows how to work the hostess and line system, and pre order from the menu with the hostess if you think the wait will be too long. Avoid dumplings and go straight for the pea shoots, ginger scallion lobster if you want to splurge, pork chop, house special chicken, chinese broccoli and salt and pepper shrimp. Fried bread for only $2 is also on the menu, but not served with the typical condensed milk (wah wah)
(4)
Haruka H.
Went with a few of my friends and we all got different kinds of congee for lunch and some pee chutes cooked in garlic. Every congee tasted different and very authentic. I would recommend it for congee. The price of each congee is also very generous.
(4)
Sophie H.
Congee Village is a staple in Chinatown. First timers may be a bit confused as the entire setup is maze-like with three different levels, a bar and even private rooms not to mention the distracting Chinese displays of statues and fountains but be prepared for a top notch Chinatown meal. The servers are always very warm and friendly and most importantly, knowledgeable about the daily specials and their extensive menu. Congee of course is always a safe bet here, many opt for their frog congee or black egg with minced pork, pair that with some of their house special chicken and a vegetable and you have a warming and filling meal. Their house chicken on its own without rice however, is a bit too salty for my taste. My favorite dishes here range from their prawn and walnut in mayo sauce, sea cucumber, Cantonese style herbal soups and their fresh veggies sauteed in some garlic. Their crack dish however, has to be hands down the Chilean Seabass. Served on a giant (banana ?) leaf, it is grilled to perfection with a delicious brown sauce. i come here just for that fish drool*
(3)
Jill K.
The congee - so good (duh). Tasty, fresh ingredients, ginger, cilantro e 1000 yr old egg...yum. The pea shoots also very fresh and perfectly braised in garlic. The dumplings were fine, nothing to write home about, but overall, we were pleasantly surprised we found such delicious late night fare! I'd come back to NYC for the congee for sure!
(5)
Andy X.
Finally getting around to writing a review for this spot. Food is good, they have a large menu. Place is not anywhere near the typical dingy Chinatown spot as it's a bit out of the hood. Decor is interesting in some aspects. Will repeat.
(4)
Henry Y.
The reviews for this place have lots of negative reviews because the service is just straight up awful. The food here is solid. I'm talking solid enough to bring back non-Cantonese Chinese people solid. I'm talking mass reunion dinners with oldass Asian businessmen solid. But the service is just terrible. The young guy we were stuck with always seems to be around when I come here for food. We asked for the congee dish (that serves 3 people by the way, which is perfect for the 3 of us that was there) was a huge struggle to order. He kept saying that the smallest option wasn't enough and then went on to say that the larger option would take too long to cook. I don't even know what the hell this means. What's too long? Who said we were in a rush? Doesn't your entire job consist of taking orders and recommending orders? Why are you trying to hold back on recommending a dish simply because it "takes too long to cook"?????Whatever. So that was like an entire 5 minute conversation. Have you ever had an entire 5 minute conversation with a waiter? That should almost never happen. A few quick snippets back and forth should suffice, ESPECIALLY if it's a Chinatown restaurant, where service is already subpar to begin with. So we got the congee, a tofu dish, and a beef noodle stir fry dish to share family-style. Those were all great. The smaller congee option was just perfect by the way. It ended up being a bowl and a half for each individual, which is sufficient. Then we wanted to order another dish because we weren't hungry and this waiter straight up goes... "aww.. you should've told me earlier. Now it's going to take too long." lol. wtf. I don't even know what to say. Anyway. Come here for the food, but just pray that your waiter isn't the same guy we got.
(3)
Cathy H.
I have been coming to this restaurant for over 10 years, even before it expanded within its Allen Street location. I have seen it grow from being a hole in the wall place to now a thriving business with 2 locations. The food has stayed consistently great throughout the years. I have tried a plethora of the restaurants in Chinatown and this is by far, the best. In addition, I think the food at the Allen Street location is better than the Bowery location. They have a full bar at the entrance so it's a good place to grab a drink while waiting for your table. Congee Village has private rooms that you can rent out with karoke machine and TV but usually you have to order a minimum to be able to get the room. My favorite dishes are Baked Chilean Sea Bass in Garlic and Bean Sauce and Sauteed Lobster with noodles. The Sea Bass is a great deal at only $23 and if there were one dish I could eat every day, it would be this sea bass. So so good!
(5)
Jessica X.
Loved the endless choices of congee. The two we ordered ended up tasting very similar, but that was just because we chosen very similar items. The dishes themselves were good. The kongxingcai was cooked interestingly... tasted different from other places I've tried. Not bad though!
(4)
Eric J.
This place has gone downhill. Does it have to do with the gentrification of the area? Food quality is bad. I ordered the shrimp paste pork ribs yesterday and my stomach is still queezy from it. I also have to mention how slllloooowww service is here. My take out order took 45 minutes from the time of phoning it in. And at the front desk you have the laziest most miserable chinese woman. I swear she doesn't send the order back to the kitchen until you come in to pick up.
(1)
Luvlymui i.
I wish i can give it no star and report them for giving us food poison. The service was terrible and then the food was so bad, i stopped eating. I was already annoyed by their crappy service and now came home to food poisoning. My bf ate more than me to not waste food and we both end up with upset stomach, food poisoning. Avoid!
(1)
Victor H.
Great place to eat Chinese food. Food is tasty and worth the wait for it. Nights and weekends are crowded and the wait time can go as long as 40+ minutes, but after you get the table, it is worth it.
(4)
Kenny C.
Service: 4/5 - really no complaints - washrooms a little dirty - sometimes it takes a while to get the servers attention - They have large tables and private rooms downstairs for even larger parties, great for groups - Servers speak cantonese and english is ok too Decor: 4/5 - relatively clean, wood trim Food: 4.5/5 - relatively authentic chinese food - Congee is spot on - Crispy chicken in special sauce (House chicken) is always good - cripsy on outside, very moist inside - Pea tips with garlic - not too oily, I liked that Expect to pay around 15/per for a decent meal, excluding alcohol
(4)
Ceci K.
This is definitely a place to come with a big group of people. They serve family style food as in big portions for everyone to share! We had 14 people altogether and it felt really nice to sit at a table like that. The seats also throws a chinese accent to the area too! Food was delicious here. I didn't know what kind of pork we ordered but it was made juicy and chewy with their original made sauce. Never had better! Not a meaty type of person but I loved it. The tofu was made well, it wasn't burnt and inside was smooth. It was made firm so tofu doesn't fall apart easily. The fried squid was also delicious! First time eating it at a restaurant but it wasnt too salty and the squid was chewy, bouncy the way I like it. I also had the thousand year old egg with pork. Oooh the only thing I didn't like bout it was that they put cilantro in my congee and the flavor blew me off and the thousand year old egg didn't have any yolk anywhere in my congee. That made me pretty disappointed but overall this place was great. It's opened till late nights. Will definitely come again!
(4)
Elle C.
Their specialty, as their name indicates, is congee. So it isn't a surprise that their congee is quite delicious! I tried salty chicken congee and congee with sliced pork and preserved eggs and both of them were good. But I didn't fall in love with them, because they had way too much cilantro. I am not that big of a fan of cilantro to begin with, but they really went all out on cilantro with their congee, to the point that I had the bitter, minty aftertaste of cilantro in my mouth even long after I was done. I enjoyed their salty Chinese pancakes as well, which is part of the dim sum menu. Overall, I think Congee Village is one of the better places to dine at in Chinatown, along with Wohop and Joe's Shanghai. It helps that the portion is quite generous and most of their congee and dim sum menu are very cheap. It would also be a great venue for large group dinners, as they are equipped with multiple large, circular Chinese-style dinner tables.
(3)
Jasmine M.
First time eating congee at a restaurant and just like all the reviews said, this place is pretty darn amazing! Got the sampan congee and sliced pork with preserved egg congee. Both pretty different from each other but still equally as good. I enjoyed the crunch of the peanuts in the sampan and loved the flavor of the sliced pork. the overall appearance of the restaurant is nice, warm, comfortable.
(5)
Stephanie Q.
I tried the other Congee Village first.. then came to this one. This one is bigger in size. Two words: Cheap and good. For some reason, they kept playing "happy birthday" in different languages. So do not have your birthday here. The congee is delicious, so are all the meat dishes.
(3)
Kat W.
the congee is too watery and pork is lacking in flavor. the take out lady is a massive b*tch for no reason.
(2)
Homer S.
Congee for a tasty price. Worth a visit. The menu is large, but we only had congee. A simple but hearty dish.
(4)
Valerie G.
Congee Village is the absolute best! They get super busy at peak times, but take reservations for large parties! I was once easily able to book a room for my Greek family reunion. Wait times are horrendous during dinner time, so try to check this place out during odd hours. The last time I came here, it was a party of 4 at 2pm on a Saturday and we were able to be seated immediately. Every single one of their dishes I've tasted thus far are amazingggly yummy. I highly recommend the House Special Chicken (half an order was more than enough for 4 people, with 4 other dishes). Other solid choices are the preserved egg + pork congee as well as the beef pan fried noodles. The noodles stayed consistently crunchy until we mixed in the sauce - definite win! Portion sizes are huge, food is delicious, and the drinks are cheap and strong ($6). Love love love.
(5)
Michelle W.
I'm pretty sure this is my family's go-to restaurant when we're all in Manhattan. They have our phone number on file and tend to know what we're going to order before we actually order. And, they greet us by name. Or at least they greet my mom by name when we go and on the phone. I'm not sure if it's embarrassing or awesome that we order so often. They also tend to give larger portions when we order, and recommend other dishes or substitutions if they know something would be better. The last time I was here, we ended up getting a private room instead of our usual two back tables. They gave us the biggest table they have, and we were still squished for room. But since it was family, I guess it was a comfortable squishing? Not quite sure. Anyway, the food was good, as it usually is. My mom went and pre-ordered the entire meal, and she had gone to the restaurant earlier in order to make sure the meal was exactly to her specifications. They were extra large portions so everybody got enough of everything. We started with a Chinese antipasti dish, then came the geoduck carpaccio (my favorite). We also got some soup (typical), yi mein, yeung chow fried rice, ying-yang sauce over vegetables, lamb lollipops, shrimp with broccoli and candied walnuts with a mayonnaise sauce, duck feet with mushrooms, baby bok choy and sea cucumbers, and I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting four more dishes. Plus, since it was my grandfather's birthday, they gave us little cakes shaped and colored like peaches and stuffed with a lotus paste. Yum. But the service was ehhh. The host was great - he always served the dishes onto our plates so we wouldn't have hands and arms pushing each other. And he changed our dishes frequently so we wouldn't always have bones and other leftovers on our plates. But the waiter had more of a petulant teenage boy who didn't want to be there attitude. And he only spoke Cantonese, which only 1/4 of my family understood. So while the host was great, the waiter was ehhhh. Also, just a tip - this is a typical Cantonese restaurant, albeit a bit more high class than normal Chinatown places. But, it's still a Chinese restaurant which means most entrees are supposed to be shared family style! And then split the bill (or fight over it like my family members do.)
(4)
Susan C.
Hate hate HATEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE the wait. Hate the annoying fobs who stand in front of you with no knowledge of personal space. Step back, beetch. Love love loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee the food. I live in the Midwest where people think real Chinese is Panda Express. Let me have my Congee Village.
(4)
Huong V.
Wavering 4-4.5 stars. Hands down solid Chinese/Canto food in Ctown. It's become very saturated with the non-Chinese crowd, but nonetheless did not lose its authenticity or quality. Gets pretty jam packed during main dining hours, so be prepared to wait between 30mins-1hr: there's a wine bar to kill time if u can squeeze your way in and flag someone down to serve you. Reso's available for big parties. Not 5 star service, but sufficient and efficient. My usual orders (although I'm sure you won't go wrong with other stuff): 1) House Special Chicken: a MUST. Crispy skin, garlic, light delicious soy sauce. 2) Congee with thousand yo egg and pork. 3) Rice Baked: any combo is good, but I like it with chicken and mushroom. Salted fish is even better ;) 4) Sauteed Scallop with black pepper sauce 5) Sauteed Shrimp with walnut and broccoli: for those unfamiliar -shrimp has a honey mayo sauce and is deep-fried (not sauteed). 6) Peking pork chop 7) Salt and Pepper pork ribs 8) Assorted Seafood in sizzling hot plate 9) Fried Fresh Squid with salted pepper 10) Sauteed Snowpeas with Garlic 11) Pan fried bean curd with soy sauce: sounds plain, but has so much flavor. Enjoy!
(4)
Perry W.
Amazing house special chicken. Hot and sour pork came in at a strong second place; waiters could be more attentive, but definitely returning!
(4)
Pepper C.
The quality of food and service is really poor here nowadays. This place used to be one of my favorite congee restaurants and I used to enjoyed the food here in general. We ordered congees and some general dishes, not only the food was tasteless and the service was extremely poor. We asked many times for a glass of water and it never came. I accidentally burned my hand while pouring the congee into a bowl. After I told the waiter that I burned myself and I needed a glass of ice cold water to hold on to, the waiter told me to wait! My friend got so mad he ended up went to the work station to get it himself. The only time that the waiters came by quickly and got what we need was when we asked for the bill. One of my girlfriends also saw the waiter tried to measure the water of ready-to-cook rice by putting his bare hand into the pot. It's not an issue to measure the right amount of water over the rice by hand, however, the major issue is that we didn't see him wash hands before he walking over from other table. After the bowl of rice came to our table although it was not from the same pot, I already lost my appetite. Not only that, our waiter's thumb was also dipping in the source when he putting down the food on the table. Unfortunately congee village's congee is no longer a signature, it became tasteless and flavorless like water down rice soup. Other dishes were absolutely disappointing, either too oily, salty or plain. Despite of the taste itself, the portion of every dishes has gotten so much less compared to what it used to be. Sadly, this is our last time dinned at the Congee Village. We will not be returning no more. Definitely not for its lack of sanitation, tasteless food, small portion and poor service.
(1)
Katie M.
Was back to Congee yet again for the 4th year in a row to celebrate my best friend's birthday. This has become a seriously glorious tradition that always manages to please. In order to prepare yourself for the best possible Congee experience, heed to these tips very carefully: 1) Expect prompt service. However, don't expect any special requests to be honored, as there are at least 3-4 servers that will be bringing your food and submitting orders. That being said, if you ask the manager very nicely, he is quite happy to accommodate bringing your best friend a plate of sweet potato mochi cakes accompanied by crazy music and a lit candle! 2) Order at least one bowl of congee. Unless you're Chinese and/or grew up on the stuff, it won't taste particularly good. But you must order it anyway. It's tradition. 3) The mayo shrimp w/ walnuts & broccoli dish sounds disgusting but is actually the best thing on the menu. Don't think about the gloppy mayo, just don't, but do think about how perfectly fried and amazing that shrimp tastes with those perfectly candied walnuts. 4) There is no chance that you're not eating family-style in a group larger than 4 people. I suggest ordering one dish per person at the table + 2 - you will have a ton of food, but plenty of variety. It won't be timed perfectly, but you'll get your orders fast enough so that once the last dish makes it to your table, everything else will still be warm. 5) Make sure to go to Congee Village on Allen Street, NOT Bowery. It is far cleaner, better decorated, and has better staff. 6) Do use the lazy susan excessively. 7) Do expect a cheap bill!
(4)
Foodie G.
Best congee and good for group (round table like normal chinese restaurant) love love love to come back.
(5)
Bin H.
Congee, ftw! I had the duck, pork and chicken Congee. It was piping hot, full of flavor and so cheap (under $5 for a big bowl). I wonder what their big secret to successful congee-making is. My friend and I also shared a shrimp dish and scallion pancakes. The servers were friendly and the service was quick, like every other Chinese restaurant I love going to.
(4)
Sally C.
Love the house special garlic chicken and and pork rib!! Mixed mushroom and fried bean curd is delicious too! If you love tofu like I do :p Recommend! Price is very moderate too!
(4)
F S.
The food was very good and the portions huge. Items not on the menu but typical to American Chinese restaurants were prepared. The downside was the service. We came after lunch, but before the crowded dinner service and received little service other than getting the check. We were pointed in the general direction of where they wanted our group of 6 to sit; No drink order was taken. After our meals were done and I asked for a refill, the waiter threw a pitcher of water on the table. And there was no, "so how is your meal?" during the course of our meal. Some may like not being bothered or attended to at all by wait staff. It wasn't my cup of tea. And, no fortune cookies. BOOOO! While the food was above par, I won't be back.
(2)
S W.
WORST SERVICE EVER! So I reserved two tables for dinner and when I went up to the hostess and told her, then she saw my grandparents and decided to tell me "Oh you didn't tell us you have elderly people in your group, we actually have your table in the sub-basement"...uhh if you tend to ask people this wouldn't it be their job to ask if our party has elderly people? That's strike one already. Here is strike two, so we decide to get seated in the sub-basement....come to find out they have the two tables back to back (with no room in between) and right near the only door entrance and exit. There was only 6 chairs instead of 8 and the hostess says oh we can still add a chair there...WTF where are you going to add two chairs when people and waiters are walking back and forth? So as we ask her "Can we sit in the other table a little further from the two we were given, she said oh it's too far for the two tables to be together then we all said it's fine, then she goes to say "Oh it's reserved" . As we try to talk to her she just walks away like nothing happened. Let's just say I am never going back ever again.
(1)
Elaine H.
I have been to this place twice, once for friends's birthday party, the other for a farewell dinner, both time the food we ordered were memorable. Garlic chicken is definitely a must try, seafood is also good.
(4)
Hailey L.
Dirty, low quality ingredients, really disappointing. Especially the cleanliness -- the plates, table, tea cup...ALL were sticky and oily. To add, the service is appalling -- they didn't even serve water until we asked and the soda we ordered took 10 minutes to bring. They need to pay more attention to their customers' dining experience if they want to gain loyalty.
(1)
YUQI K.
The congee in here is soo good!!!!!!!
(5)
Leila Y.
what happen??? I use to come here all the time as a kid. Every Sunday after church, my mom would take me and my brother here for lunch. I use to be so excited to come here, now I am not. I came here with my bf and a few friends. I felt like all the portions got smaller. We ordered the fish with bean curd- there were 5 pieces of fish, well i cant even say fish, because it was a little piece of fish, and the rest was the breading, half the clay pot was filled with lettuce. All the rest of the dishes were a little too salty.
(2)
Anh P.
Cheap comfort food is what I'm all about. When you start getting the sniffles and you're craving that bowl of congee with pork and preserved egg that your mama used to make you, come here. For $5, you get a legit bowl of bubbling hot congee. The liver congee is good too, 1 order feeds about two people comfortably so if you don't want to fight over who has the last bowl, I suggest you order more. For such a vast menu, I've only been able to try the Fresh Squid with Salted Pepper (both times = hella good), Beef Chow Mein - which has crunchy noodles with sauce, the House Special Chicken - a must get, it was so good I didn't even have a chance to take a picture of it. Great place for groups. Got a full bar and they make a mean lychee martini.
(5)
Jenn S.
Cheap late night eats is what I love! This place is huge, with mini mazes of tables and chairs. The decor is loud, obnoxious and kind of gaudy but I think it was purposely done that way so that it creates a more lively party atmosphere. Had both the sliced pork & preserved egg congee and the chicken & black mushrooms congee and both were good but what's up with the copious amounts of fresh raw ginger!!! Next time I'll have to ask them to omit that or at least sautee the bitter out a bit before adding the other ingredients... Also had the salted fish & rice baked in bamboo and the Assorted Seafood w. Fried Bean Curd, both were very good. The server kept disappearing on us and we had to ask for things multiple times before we got them. And our server was a bad english yeller when he spoke so I had to ask him to slow down and lower his voice a few times because I couldn't understand what he hell was saying...and I'm asian mind you! It what just the 2 of us and it was nice but I can tell it'd be pretty awesome with a large crowd. This place loses half a star for the service but since yelp won't let me it gets 4....
(4)
Mai L.
There is nothing better than fresh hot congee served in a clay pot when you are not feeling well or just looking for some comfort food. This is a treat for all congee lovers because they have a very extensive selection. Unfortunately, their fried bread is not as good as some of the ones I've tried from other restaurants. It is too dry and it doesn't have a nice chewy consistency. They also have other delicious dishes on their menu as well. However, if you are looking for 'little juicy pork buns' don't go here. It is definitely no their speciality. The skin for the buns were too thick and there was barely any soup in it. The beef chow mein, which is a beef pan fried noodle was pretty decent. It will satisfy the taste of people looking for something not too complicated. It is embellished with chinese broccoli around the rim and topped with a brown sauce with slices of beef.
(4)
Dennis L.
Good quality Chinese food with a tiki lounge feel. Not only is there a tiki theme but if you have a party large enough for a large round top, you could find yourself sitting above the rest. On the iron throne. Ruler of the seven kingdoms. From there you can look down upon other lowly diners like me. FOOD: 1/2 house special fried chicken - should be ordered once since its pretty unique but it's essentially chicken fried in garlic infused oil. It's very similar to the chicken that's served during wedding banquets with the colored chips. It's good but not great Salted fried pork - different from the steamed version my mom makes. A tad on the salty side for me but I wouldn't mind ordering again. Fu Kan fried rice - our waiter desperately tried convincing us not to order this dish. He said it would be wet and clumpy. And even though he was right, I secretly thoroughly enjoyed it. Snap peas with garlic - sold out and replaced with another vegetable claiming to be its cousin. Not the same. We'll be back to try other dishes we didn't have room to order. Tip to myself: ignore all suggestions made by the waiter. Prices were moderate but justified given that its a step up from the dingy C-rated health score restaurant Chinatown has to offer.
(4)
Wendy Y.
As an Asian, I thought this place was below average. I will not go back again as there are better restaurants in Chinatown. I can't say how their congee is (I know, this is a porridge/congee restaurant) & ok, shoot me - I didn't get their signature porridge dish but I was lunching. Anywayz... Their restaurant looks clean. It has a Inspection Level B. I didn't enjoy the sizzling rib dish. The chicken is tasty and moist. The table next to us also ordered the same as us and didn't finish the sizzling ribs but finished the House Special Chicken. Service was not the best. I agreed with the other reviewer, you are not here to make friends with the servers but you have to at least enjoy your meal. My Dad was pretty thirsty & had to asked for a refill on his water every time. On his third request, they just gave him a pitcher. (I guess it's kind of typical Chinese service but still...!) I would not come back again. Or at least, the lunch menu is not worth coming back. And it is somewhat far from Chinatown. Restaurant does look clean on the inside. On a side note, my friend (who is a very selective eater) did enjoy the restaurant and their porridge. Cheers.
(2)
Sweet N.
Their food was delish. The congee was good but better was their tofu in a caramelized soy sauce, the salty pepper seafood and the rest of the food we ordered. Yum! I will definetly go back!
(4)
Allene T.
Question - why is this place in the middle of nowhere? Since I have a thing for congee when I'm NOT sick, unlike those who only choose to eat it when they can't swallow anything else and your mom makes you eat it, I'll review the congee. Preserved egg and pork congee - I would give it 5 stars, but I had to knock it down one because the pork is terrible. It tastes old, like cardboard or something. It's not tender and flavorful like you would expect from other congee places. BUT, the rest of the dish - amazing. I love the flavor of the rice soup itself and they give you plenty of preserved eggs. It doesn't go cold because of the ridiculously hot stone bowl they bring out (cold congee is worse than being sick) AND it's dirt cheap! Everything else - meh. The beef noodle soup was less than mediocre and the "dry pork flat noodles" (not sure how to say it in English...strange) was bland and not very flavorful. Overall, I'd come for the congee but skip the pork. The congee is cheap but everything else is pretty pricey.
(3)
Ben N.
very good food. but your delivery man always asks for money!
(3)
Marco M.
The food was decent and the price is right. But the place is dirty (they have a B rating on the date I went there) and I found a little piece of steel wool in the Rice last night. This has turned me off the place.
(1)
Christopher I.
Oh god... the House Special Chicken! Fried whole, then chopped and doused with a salty glaze, with shavings of golden garlic scattered on top -- this is chicken heaven on a plate. I will never eat here again without ordering this. You shouldn't either.
(5)
Anna W.
Your perfect blend of East meets West. And I'm not talking just the food. Almost every single table that sat down when I last frequented was the quintessential depiction of lower Manhattan. First generation Asian grandparents sat next to their bi-racial grandchildren and laughing with their Caucasian in-laws, and shared a meal that represented the fusion of cultures and the importance of family. Maybe they were just having dinner and totally hating each other, but this Congee Village screams "family" to me, with so many tables set up with lazy susans, and dishes that can serve an entire tribe with the flavors that remind me of home- but better (sorry mom) - this is my go-to chinese restaurant when I'm looking to eat a bit more upscale. My boyfriend and I ordered the Walnut shrimp with the sweet mayo sauce, duck, preserved egg and fish congee, and the beef chow fun. All of my favorites in one meal. In retrospect, we could have been good with just the noodles and one other dish but everything was too good to pass up. The shrimp was amazing. Crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside - but the condensed milk, mayo mixture is what ties everything together. Decorated with crunchy broccoli and sprinkled with candied walnuts. The chowfun was omg amazing. Tender beef and well cooked noodles. Fish from the congee was so delicate and fresh. We hoped the duck would be roasted but the steamed version was equally delicious. Servers could have been more polite. I must go, my mouth is watering.
(4)
Anikha R.
You know a Chinese food restaurant is authentic when you see Chinese people dining there, smiling! There was a whole-lot-of-food! I liked how diverse the menu was. They had the usual fried chicken and rice, but if you read further, they had things like pigeon! The next time I go there, I will try that. Can't knock it til you try it, right?! OK, I probably won't order that, but I'm just trying to convey how authentic and vast the menu is.
(4)
Diana O.
What a gem. I love coming here. Always have had excellent dining experiences. Usually come in for congee and something on the side like a dish of dumplings. Always hits the spot.
(4)
Tom W.
Terrible place. Rip off artists work there. Ripped us off on our debit cards. Don't they know thieves go to hell?
(1)
Lucie T.
This review is a fusion of two visits over an extended period of time ending in this evening's not so successful dinner with friends. My first visit to this establishment was calm, and the food was delicious especially the razor sauteed clams were very memorable and we didn't have to wait and the service was alright. Tonight the restaurant was a different experience,very busy and we waited for a table of 3 for 45 minutes, and then our dishes all came at different times and sine its family style dining you can imagine this to be troublesome. While the snowpeas sauteed in garlic were very good and regular clams as well and the fried rice that we originally wanted cooked in a pumpkin there was an hour wait to get it so we opted for a different fried rice which was good, and the razor clams weren't available so we also had to substitute. I can only hope the next time we can at least wait less and get the dishes we looked forward to all day.
(3)
Jenny W.
What a huge disappointment, and I should've known by looking at the menu. There were pictures of raw food on it. Like the simmered duck soup with chinese herb - it displayed a raw dead duck on a plate. This immediately killed my appetite for anything I had to order. Here's what we ordered: Frog Congee - mediorcore, not enough frogs but good for the price Triple delight congee: I think that's what it was called, duck, pork and chicken? It was good, and great value. Here's why it was 2 stars: House Special Shrimp Paste Pork Rib - Way too sweet, not enough meat on the bone. Blue Crab w. Garlic and Pepper - the crabs were way too small, not enough meat and tastes frozen Bean Curd w. Seafood Royal Style- the vegetable tastes old, very chewy and not very green. It was borderline yellow. Overall, pretty disappointed with the resturant, probably will not go back again.
(2)
Nidhi B.
Congee was great. I came here with a group of 20 people for a friend's birthday, which would cause most restaurants in New York to have collective simultaneous heart attacks. Congee, however, accepted the reservation, had tables in the back prepared for us when we arrived, were ready to take our order right away, brought everything out promptly, and brought us the check fast. Sure, they were a little gruff, but I think that was more language barrier than anything else, and they were certainly very efficient. The food was great, and with about a beer each and with totally over-ordering we paid only $20 each including tax and tip - you can't beat that! I couldn't even begin to remember everything we ordered, but we basically each got one or two things and shared everything, so I tried a lot of the menu. Unfortunately I wasn't in a very adventurous mood, so I ordered safely, as did most of us. I do remember having the sesame chicken (delicious, and total crowd-pleaser), the pan fried bean curd with soy sauce (so tender and yummy), some fried pork deliciousness (probably sweet and sour pork), chicken fried rice (fine), vegetable rice noodles (maybe called chow fun? delicious), the seafood surprise (bland and very unappetizing-looking - skip), sauteed short ribs (too fatty but good flavor), bean curd and mushrooms (texture was weird but good flavor). There was a lot more, but I can't remember it all. In any case, the basic Chinese takeout stuff here is great, and obviously way better than your normal corner Chinese takeout. I would love to come back here with other adventurous people and try some of the more exotic things. I don't think I'll ever be able to work my way up to the live fish or live shrimp, but never say never!
(4)
Rich W.
I remember Congee Village when it first opened for just congee over 25 years ago and their congee was very good and it is still good. Over the years it has grown into a full restaurant & bar for the LES hipsters that have replaced the previous immigrants that once packed the tenements. I am still a regular here for 31 selections of congee dishes and the 62 lunch special dishes on menu. Both the congee and lunch varieties are good and priced reasonability; lunch average $4 and congee average $4. Dinner is another story, my brother's family visits this place all the time because they live around the corner. When I am dining with them here I find that many of the dishes are too greasy, not consistent in quality, long waiting time, and pricey. The line for dinner is also long. A couple of time we got the "upstairs" tables that are just above the bar. The noise from the bar and the cheesy deco in this section make my dinner even less appealing. So for me, I think lunch and congee is great here but for dinner it could be better.
(3)
OIivia C.
I've come here three times before, although the visits were very far apart from each other so I'm only writing this review based on my most recent visit. The first two visits were nothing spectacular but since those were both about 3 years ago, management could have changed because it seemed that this restaurant has really upped its game since 3 years ago, earning themselves 4 stars from me. The dishes were well sized and very flavorful, in addition to being really decently priced. We got one of the sizzling platters (chicken and onion smothered in black bean sauce) which was definitely my favorite that night, rice baked salty chicken and fish (also really good and comes in this adorable wooden log looking container), and the fried squid (burnt the roof of my mouth a little cos I couldn't wait to eat it but turned out to be a bit lacking in flavor). These three dishes with tax came up to $30.10. Not bad at all. The waiter was lazy in serving our dishes and NEVER refilled my water which was completely gone by the middle of the meal. Very unprofessional in a restaurant. And when our waiter brought the dishes over, he would not move the other dishes around to fit all the dishes in the center of the table but instead just placed them on the edge of the table for us to adjust ourselves. Lazy service. Love the decor of this restaurant, both inside and out. They have bamboo decorations all throughout the restaurant which I found aesthetically pleasing. Sorry, don't actually know what their congee tastes like, it was sweltering hot outside so I will be sure to try it in the winter. Overall, really enjoyed the food and the prices are not outrageous. Will come back soon. EDIT: I have now tried their congee, and it is REALLY good. Get the one with liver and pork in it.
(4)
Bruce T.
I reserved tables for 30 people for dinner was seated on time yet as expected squeezed tightly into three tables. The head server was extremely RUDE and unaccommodating. We ordered Beer and Soda for all but when I asked for a glass of water for one of my guests they said "No! Only Soda" . Tables were seldom cleared after dishes were empty and we had to ask continually to have dishes cleared between servings. As far as the food goes the steak, pork chops, congee were great...the numerous vegetable stir fry's where very good. The seafood with noodles were bland and not tasty. Overall this visit was disappointing and the service was the worst I have ever experienced at this restaurant. I have had numerous events at Congee ...this time I was very disappointed.
(2)
John W.
This is usually one of those default places Chinese people go to (or at least the ones I know). Food is decent and atmosphere is usually better than most options around.
(3)
lisa y.
Went there for brunch last Sunday (5/15/11) with the family. We got there early, so sitting the 8 of us was not a problem. We've been to the other Congee Village on Bowery, this one is 100x better! We had 4 different kinds of congee - beef, chicken, pork with preserved egg and the sampan. We also had 2 baked rices, one with salt fish (stay away, no flavor) and chinese sausage. Everything we had was very good! I want to come back and try their drinks. $4 for an apple martini?? Yeah...that's what I'm talking about!
(5)
Ryan W.
In Joan Didion's "Year of Magical Thinking," Didion describes the upset stomach that comes with any stressful time in one's life. In her case, it was the loss of her husband and the illness of her daughter, but the magic of "Magical Thinking" is that the book's insights can apply to anyone, in any situation. "I will not forget the instinctive wisdom of a friend who, every day for those first few weeks, brought me a quart container of scallion-and-ginger congee from Chinatown," Didion writes. "Congee I could eat. Congee was all I could eat." I must admit that when I first read her book, I wasn't sure what congee was, exactly; I'd been to multiple Chinatowns, of course, but always on the hunt for something on the other end of the dietary extreme, something spicy, stimulating, maybe still swimming in a tank when I entered the restaurant. This time, things were different: I'd been sick recently, and had lost my appetite. I wouldn't have been out at all, the night we went to Congee Village, except for there was a poetry reading on the LES by Marty McConnell, of "Instructions for a Body" fame, which, for the uninitiated, is exactly what one would want if one were in need of emotional sustenance. After the reading, my companions wanted food, and I wanted nothing. The compromise was congee. When it arrived at our table, a hearty rice porridge in a crock, full of savory duck and scallions, I finally understood what Joan Didion meant. This was food for the soul, first and foremost. It was warm, flavorful but not too flavorful, cheaper than dirt, and served with a hot cup of tea and a smile, even at 11pm, when we came in from the rain. It was exactly what my body needed to come alive again. I can't speak for the rest of the food here (which was just so-so). But congree, I could definitely eat. And I would gladly do so again at Congee Village.
(3)
Nidaa M.
Any time I'm feeling down and want to eat my feelings away, or maybe I've heard some good news and want to celebrate with close friends, this is my place to be. I've been here so many times, I can't remember which time I pigged out the most. Their food is absolutely delicious, minus the congee. Ironic enough, it's just not their signature dish. But that doesn't matter, I can do without it. My favorite dishes have always been the sauteed garlic watercress and the crispy chicken with garlic. Add on a bowl of rice and I'm good to go for the night. The sizzling short ribs are pretty good as well, but nothing beats their steak! Get it done medium, it's delectable with rice. The black pepper steak is another tasty dish. The mayo shrimp with caramelized walnuts is decent as well, oh I'm getting hungry just writing about all of this. This place is decently priced, if you eat a normal amount. I once came here with a friend of mine and just the 2 of us alone, we consumed $100 worth of food. Keep in mind, we've been here A LOT. It was so frighting, even our waiter kept repeating "No no, I think that's enough!". That night, we had about 5 dishes? and still weren't full! We ended up getting clams for dessert. Along with the grapes they serve when you get the bill, we both finished EVERYTHING. Yup, we're mad beast. The ambiance is very nice, they even have a bar up front for when the wait is ridiculously long. This place tends to get crowded on peak days (Fridays and Saturdays), so I suggest getting there a bit early. The staff is nice and quick, very prompt with our food and drinks, also on the refills. I highly recommend this place. No doubt in my mind, you'll want to come back. I know I always do!
(5)
Stella A.
They would have gotten 5 start if not for terrible service. There were 7 of us at my table. We order 6 dishes and 4 bowls are rice (one guys have to go to a dinner after getting together with us so he wasn't going to eat much). The waiter was rude and also kept pushing us to order more food. He was rude: I had written all the dishes we wanted on a piece of paper. I waved him over and handed him the paper and said "4 bowls of rice please". He said, quite rudely, "all 7 of you are only eating 4 bowls of rice!?!" He was not joking. He was upset and really though I was only ordering 4 bowls of rice! Very obviously, he did not even see my piece of paper. Even so, he was very rude since the customer is always right. So what if I order only 4 bowls of rice! The tactics he tried to push us to spend more money were: The waiter said 6 dishes aren't enough for my group. We said we are not that hungry. Then he told us the dishes are small. We said we will order more food later if there isn't enough food. He told us if we reorder the food would take a longggggg time to prefer. We insisted we don't want to order more dishes. Then he told us the salt & pepper calamari is small and we will only have one piece per person. We said that's ok. We ordered 4 bowl of rice and it was just enough. We found out when the bill comes that each bowl was $1. So if we had ordered 7 bowls and ate 4, we still would be charge for 7 bowls! What really happened: The dishes weren't small. Every one had more than ONE PIECE of the salt & pepper calamari. The 4 bowls were just enough. The food came out SUPER fast (which means the kitchen was NOT slow as he claimed). Also, I had ordered house soup (which is free). I also ordered everything in chinese. We were a large group and some of my friends were seated at the next table. They are mostly non-Asian and even the Asians were ABC (non-chinese speaking). When one of them noticed our soup, he asked this same waiter, "Is that soup free?" pointing at our table. The waiter said bluntly "NO". I almost fell on the floor!! That is straight-out discrimination! The waiter gets an A for effort but a big fat F for being pushy, and lying!
(3)
Liang Z.
The portion and the authenticity of the food will blow you away. Try this Cantonese restaurant and you will be back in no time, hate the parking so try to come for a late lunch or early dinner.
(5)
Nina L.
I went to this place two days in a row, thinking that it'd be better the second time around. Same general consensus upon leaving: Meh. I'd only come here for two, maybe three things: The Congee (the sliced pork and preserved eggt), the drinks ($2 Lycee Ice), and possibly the House Chicken Special. The skin was deliciously crispy, but the meat could have been saltier. What to order and mostly not: Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage (good) Pan Fried Minced Pork with Lotus Root (not recommended) Steamed Minced Pork and Salted Fish (eh) Congee with Abalone and Chicken (not worth $2 extra) Fish head w Tofu/Mushrooms (not recommended)
(3)
Tom M.
Food was kind of bland... got a squid entree that had like 2 pieces of squid. Some of the other entrees my party had were ok but really nothing special here at all. Service was slow to downright unattentive, bathrooms were dirty and gross. restaurant is really big and on 2 levels (maybe even 3) so getting around is kind of confusing as there are staircases in several spots that lead to weird areas of the restaurant. Definitely an odd place that seems to be overated imo.
(2)
Ryna D.
The beauty of living in such a cosmopolitan city like New York includes the diversity of ethnic food available. Craving for takoyaki that reminds you of backpacking through Osaka? Want authentic Mexican street food? In the mood for injera or tagines or bibimbop? Yes, you can have pretty much anything in New York including Chinese exotic fare like jelly fish, century eggs, sea cucumbers, bird's nest, and shark's fin. For those type of cravings head down to the LES to Congee Village on Allen Street. The bi-level restaurant is ideal for large groups as the serving portions are better suited for sharing than it is for individual consumption. The menu is quite extensive but focus on dishes that you wouldn't find in your regular neighborhood Chinese joint. For those who have yet to try delicacies like shark's fin soup or bird's nest soup then check those off your foodie bucket list here. Order the sea cucumber or jelly fish in your preferred preparation. The cold sweet and spicy jelly fish salad is addictive as an appetizer. Among the entrees the razor clams in black bean sauce is particularly delicious. Very few restaurants in New York have razor clams on the menu and when they do it's a rather expensive item. At Congee Village they are fresh, cooked just right to keep them tender, and even at market price is reasonable. There are a dozen or so congee variations to choose from. None of then are particularly more remarkable than the rest of the menu but it's the kind of dish that you can get a random craving for in the middle of winter. There are also dumplings but stay away from the soup dumplings. It's clearly not their specialty and the dough is too thick and the broth itself mediocre. The service is prompt and direct as one might expect from a Chinatown restaurant. You come here for the food not the extra frills a more expensive restaurant affords you. So while we wait for spring drop in for a bowl of congee and be adventurous and try out some dishes you've never had before.
(4)
Robert G.
NO STARS. They serve SHARK FIN SOUP. Totally EVIL. For those who don't know, 10-20 million sharks are killed every year just to serve this mercury-laden soup from a big, mercury-laden fish. Sharks are finned then left to sink to the bottom of the ocean and die. It's EVIL. If you eat at Congee Village, you support shark finning. It's as simple as that. Oh, and one time one of their idiot delivery guys (who spoke zero English) tried to wrestle his way into my apartment -- he physically pushed me out of the way -- because he was too stupid to understand that he couldn't make a physical carbon impression on my credit card, which is flat. I had to call Congee's manager to give him my CC number over the phone and tell him about this insane incident. He apologized and told me that it would never happen again. (Well, of course it won't happen again, because I WILL NEVER ORDER FROM THEM AGAIN.)
(1)
Deana C.
The line which stretched down the block is what really made us want to eat there. The food is good but the service isn't. We were seated fairly quickly for a busy Saturday night but it took forever to get anyone to take our order. The menu is very impressive and you kind of want to order one of everything. We had the fried flounder (delish) scallion pancake and seafood soup. I wish the soup had more of a flavor, it was kind of like just a bunch of seafood thrown into water... I think I'd go back again to try some other things but I won't go out of my way for it.
(3)
Pinky And The B.
We do not go out for Chinese food very often in NYC any more since my husband cooks better at home. I know you are jealous so I will stop rubbing it in. We have tried most of the old school Chinese in NYC. Again my husband makes better at home. Most are so boring I don't even bother to rate them. Since Congee Village made the list of the top 10 Chinese restaurants in the country and I had to be in the area anyway I thought I would try it. top100.chinesemenu.com/e… For the rating I am only comparing it to other Chinese restaurants in NYC and not other areas of the US, Canada and Hong Kong, since their Chinese restaurants are cleaner than ours, have better service and superior food. (see my list of Chinese restaurants) yelp.com/list/chinese-re… Heather H's review is hilarious and I am sure it is true one of the many reasons I am not into NYC Chinese restaurants. After all of that how do I rate it? I know you are dying to know!I am not going to order the typical chicken with cashew nuts, General Tso's chicken or other Lo Fan menu items. But I am deathly allergic to shell fish (not all sea food just shell fish) but Chinese restaurants many times will have hidden shrimp in a regular sea food dish and I have been to dim sum in NY and asked and they said no and I ended up at the hospital. So I just don't mess with sea food in straight up Chinese restaurants in NYC unless the menu has a disclaimer on it to inform them of such allergies. So the menu items I ordered are tame but not Americanized. A quality Chinese restaurant will not skimp on the vegetables and add yellow broccoli and tons of carrots in everything. So many restaurants in China town do that now and we even got frozen vegetables at one restaurant. yelp.com/biz/shanghai-cu… So Congee Village has real and fresh vegetables. Who can't cook a big hunk of meat. So I judge partially by the vegetables at a Chinese restaurant. An authentic Chinese restaurant will also have the Wok sear. The Wok sear on a scale of 1-10 is about a 7. Authentic Wok sear but would be hotter. The flavors were blended very well in the sauces none of them were over powering. Since I am allergic to shell fish I was not able to have the Congee. We ordered Congee with frog legs thinking we could both share it as we do most dishes but though it doesn't say so on the menu it has scallops in it and I am deathly allergic. My husband caught the scallops before I ate it , so that was a good thing. The frog legs was a bit to chewy for his tastes.Congee Village is home style cooking. This restaurant is a perfect example of why the 5 star rating system isn't really that effective. If it was on a scale from 1-10 I would give it 6 and a half to 7 stars. There are no 8's in my opinion or far as Yelp stars goes 5 stars. I would not like to rate it as being average because as NYC Chinese restaurants go it is probably better all around with food, service and decor. But since the rating system is so inaccurate I can only give it 3 stars. But is more like 3 and half stars. There is something missing. Something that Yank Sing in San Fransisco has. I can't quite put my finger on it. It is something extra. I do think it is a nice option to take out of town guests who want Chinese food. There were other racially mixed couples and the waiters were used to it and okay with it. In China town proper we run into problems being a mixed couple. The whole grandma match making thing, you know. Here I did not experience any of that so I felt comfortable.
(3)
Big B.
Tasty congee. Totally CHEAP. All is good except the server is arrogant.
Good place for Congee. Doh! But they have much more! They offer yummy Cantonese style dishes and that includes chicken feet! But I really like the mayo shrimp ball with walnut, Peking Pork Chop, crab soup and their steamed lobster here. We had 10 people and we ordered the cheapest Dinner set on the menu (10 dishes for $269) and we couldnt even finish it. There were 1 or 2 dishes that weren't great but overall it is such a value meal! Drinks here are super cheap as well :)
(4)
Peter C.
I lived in Hong Kong for 5 years, and this is one of only two "chinese" restaurants I've been to in America that actually reminds me of being in Hong Kong. It's also cheap - including the martinis at the tiki bar (although the quality varies greatly depending on the bartender). It's great for groups too. The food isn't spectacular or made with the best of the best ingredients, but it's not that kind of place. It's a cheap place to go have a great time with your peeps and check out some authentic chinese food. Besides, the vast majority of the patrons whenever I've been there have been asian, which has got to be good, right?
(4)
wil o.
I was here years ago..ate there..recently I was able to see the kitchen..NO ONE in their right mind would give any stars to this joint....(mind you ,my tolerance for filth is high).. Ignorance was bliss .. now it is regret..
(1)
David L.
Felt the urge for congee, so decided to check out this place. Based on recommendations from previous reviews, ordered pork and preserved egg congee, scallion pancake, house special chicken and garlic snow pea leaves. All of it was rather good, though the house special chicken was served warm and not hot. I assume that this is how its supposed to be and it was tasty nonetheless. I could eat the garlic snow pea leaves all day, but they were a bit pricey relative to other items on their menu. Overall hit the spot. I would recommend this place to those looking for decent and affordable congee.
(3)
Kira M.
Forget Del Posto, Daniel, Bouley and Momo Ko. My favorite baby in the city is Congee Village. (One may argue that I can't confidently make that claim considering I haven't actually been to any of the name-dropped five-star restaurants, but... whatever.) I've visited CV twice; both times with a large group (the space is great for collectives of 10(-ish)), so I've managed to try a fair share of their dishes. To keep this review from resembling a Ken Follet novel, however, I'll stick to the highlights. Just note that there are no losers on the mile-long menu. 1) The restaurant's namesake offering, the Rice Congee (Try the Chicken with Shitake Mushroom Porridge.), is certainly worth a sampling. It's like the oatmeal your Mama made you eat when you were little. Only awesome. 2) The Boiled Sliced Conch with Asparagus is divine. The mollusk is tenderly chewy and its flavoring deliciously subtle. 3) The Cold Jellyfish was what originally lured me back for a second visit. The salty, tasty gummies can be slurped like spaghetti. Joy! 4) The runner-up to 'Favorite Dish' is the Blue Crab with Garlic & Pepper. Once you get past the legwork involved in stripping away the shell, oh man, will the frustration have been worth it! 5) While the Blue Crab is fantastic and all, the star of the show is hands-down the Braised Supreme Shark's Fin Soup. Environmental activists may hate me (I hate myself for it, too, guys), but it's Too. Effing. Good to resist. The broth is so flavorful I want to cry. The food is meant to be shared, family-style (rotating table!), which makes for a delightfully enhanced communal experience. (The decent alcoholic beverages don't hurt either.) All in all, I'm positively shivering with antici... PATION for visit no. 3.
(5)
Christine D.
I would never recommend this place to anyone and will never return again. The service was awful and there was nothing special about the food. It started with dirty tea cups and plates. I was kind of grossed out already at that point. The food took forever to come out, it came out in the wrong order and we also got wrong items. By the time the errors were fixed, I had already lost my appetite. We wasted 2 hours and 58 dollars for a crappy meal.
(1)
Robert S.
I went here with my wife for dinner after a movie. It was crowded so we figured it might be worth the wait. They first sat us in this extremely small room. Our seats faced a wall. We both looked at each other and said no way. We both got up and spoke to the young girl who seated us. She was very nice and assured us we would get a bigger table. Waited about another 20 minutes and finally got seated. The wait staff is very rude. They act like they don't see you. It's kind of funny. Ordered the fried vegetable rice. That was ok. Nothing special. We also ordered the chicken with vegetables. Not very flavorful. I would give it another try for lunch but not for dinner.
(3)
David L.
One of a few great places to eat in Chinatown. Was up in NYC for a few days to take friends around and stopped by here. Pro: Congee - they are great and have many different kind to choose from. My favorites are Abalone w Chicken and Chicken with mushroom. Rice in bamboo- this is another favorite for me. I like the combination one. House Chicken - You need to try this. This is their house specialty. Fast - the food comes out fast so it helps when you're hungry or in a hurry :) Price - Can't beat the price. I normally order to go also since I rarely come up here. Con: Service - you won't get great service here at all. Then again, you rarely do in Chinatown. So if you are visiting NYC, make sure to stop by here.
(4)
Alina G.
I waited until I ate here twice to write a review, so here it goes! The experience was a decent one but the service left a bit to be desired. The first plate that our waiter brought out turned out to be another tables plate. We didn't realize this and started eating it anyway until suddenly the waiter came by, didn't say a word, and took it away. The second mishap of the service was at the end, they gave us another tables check. I wasn't in a hurry or a bad mood, so these things didn't bother me; I just laughed them off. But I could understand if some people would not be amused by these mistakes. Other than that, the food itself was delicious. I ordered the Hong Kong style scallion pancake, beef chow fun, a tsing tao beer, and a liquid cocaine shot. hong kong style scallion pancake ~ a great appetizer choice. it was only $2.80. Korean style scallion pancake is a fave of mine so I had to try this and it turned out really yummy. beef chow fun ~ $7. One of the best chow fun I've ever had. Delicious flat noodle and beef. For only $7, it was extremely filling. I couldn't even finish all of it, I was so full. The liquid cocaine shot is interesting. Jagermeister, 151, and cinnamon schnaps. I thought the name was funny so I got it, but the cinnamon threw me off a bit. After all of that, plus tip and tax, I paid only $20. Two dishes and two drinks!?! I'll take less than perfect service for that any day.
(4)
Rachel C.
This has been a go-to place for a group of my friends for a year now, and it still has yet to disappoint. The fried squid is very good, as is the bok choy. I was also a fan of the vegetable dumplings, and my friends love their pork buns (I'm a pescetarian so I can't really vouch for that). The food is all insanely cheap for the portions given, so blowing money on drinks is less objectionable. The only thing that's less than great is the wait. We usually wind up waiting 15 to 20 minutes, which really isn't so bad, but I'm impatient. Some waiters also have a tendency to neglect tables, too, so service can be hit or miss. Regardless, we always have a good time when we're here, and I'm sure we'll keep coming back.
(4)
Wilson M.
So disappointing. I used to like this place a lot, so I was looking forward to some decent Chinese food. We ordered take-out during lunch for the six of us. First, they got our order wrong and left off an item we asked for. Second, a chicken with green vegetables dish we got was so incredibly bland. I was thinking how a restaurant would even put a dish like this on the menu. For me, I had the General Tso's chicken, which is a spicy orange flavored dish. It was really dry with hardly any sauce. The only dish I liked was the congee w/ fermented duck egg.
(2)
Little B.
Well, I WAS going to give this place a perfect rating, If it wasn't for the Cockroach show. If you get seated in the main elevated dining area ( the one without the plants on the ceiling) then you're in for a treat. HEAR YE HEAR YE! BRING OUT THE COCKROACHES. The food here is fantastic, don't get me wrong, I eat here at least 3 times a month. What irks me is that if you're sitting next to that gigantic illuminated waterfall painting, If you look closely you can see that between the painting and the lighted wall, there are about 2 dozen cockroaches (The German species you find in your kitchen - not the big scary waterbug kind). They're all dancing around the scenery, sometimes they have cute little toddler roaches following them, sometimes there's a couple wandering by the fake rocks making roach love and laying millions of baby eggs...ahhhh. How then is this comforting, you ask? Well,They're STUCK in there so you don't have to worry about one of them crawling out and onto your chow mein noodles, think of it as an exotic chinese aquarium. But I'm here to eat dammit! Not to watch Discovery LIFE: Cockroach Chronicles narrated by Oprah "Ultimate Pest" Winfrey. So I had to take away one star for showing me your lovable roaches, and I do hope this wall isn't connected to the kitchen otherwise that congee you're eating might have other "bugged out" ingredients besides century egg and fish maw. If I haven't upset you, here are the choice dishes: (1) HOUSE SPECIAL CHICKEN (2) SAMPAN CONGEE (3) PAN FRIED FLOUNDER (4) SNOW PEA LEAVES WITH GARLIC (5) MARTINI LYCHEE Hey, at least you're not at the Bangkok Hilton prison fattening up big ass roaches and eating them with your gruel, making crybaby Claire Danes faces at your inmates. A little cockroach won't hurt once in a while :)
(4)
Ron C.
I've always been curious about this place. I remember watching an episode of Bizarre Foods. It was a special about food here in NYC. Andrew Zimmern went here with two of his friends. (I'm pretty sure it wasn't this one) Well they ordered some interesting dishes. One including the Frog Meat Congee, which I ordered. It was really good. A big bowl for only $4.95. Not bad at all. I was expecting, for the price a few small pieces of meat. There was actually good chunks of it. I'm adventurous when it comes to food. There is a lot more on the menu that I will be trying soon.
(4)
Lisa L.
The first time I went, I had a pretty good experience. Sure, the waitstaff was kinda grumpy. But, I'm used to that sort of thing at Chinese restaurants that serve the kind of food I grew up with. That's the reason why I decided to go there. For the food nostalgia. For my second trip, I brought a friend. It was really busy just like last time. We ordered appetizers and entrees. The appetizers were good! I got a bowl of congee which was pretty much a meal in itself. However, they got our entrees wrong. We got something that was approximate but, my friend's dish ended up being something else that was twice as expensive and I had had mine sent back. Nonetheless, I would go back albeit during an off hour.
(4)
Eric L.
Food is good. When "americans" go here, prices go much higher for same chinese food down the block at cheaper prices abnormally long wait, the chinese restaurant wait where they scream out numbers and people death stare to steal that slot if nobody claims it
(4)
Lisa R.
I was feeling under the weather today and knew the only thing to make me better was a bowl of congee (aka chao to my Vietnamese peeps). It's my family's first line of defense for any ailment. After reviewing the menu with my bf, we decided on delivery. I had the combination congee and the small juicy dumplings. My bf wanted something full of veggies and chicken, but couldn't decide and went with House Special Fried Rice. The small juicy dumplings arrived with very little juice but still tasty. We happily shared those and they were the first to be gone from our dinner table. I'll give them a 2.5 stars. My bf's fried rice were pretty sad though. It came with mostly rice, a little bit of veggies and really not much else. This was pathetic and I give it 1.5 stars. As for the congee, it was delicious!! It came with a sprinkling of cilantro, scallions, ginger and was exactly what I was seeking. The soup temp was above warm and soothe my sore throat. Thanks, congee! I'm already feeling better! FYI: Placed the order before 6:30 pm on a week night and food arrived exactly 45 mins later.
(3)
C J.
I was expecting sub-par or rude service having read a few reviews prior to attending my sister's birthday party...but I was REALLY surprised when the service matched the quality of their food- above average! =) This was my first time to Congee Village because I prefer to get my authentic chinese in Flushing or a select few restaurants in the heart of Chinatown but I'd definitely come here again. Reasons being: 1) my sister called a week in advance to make reservations for her bday for a group of 12. when half the group arrived, the hostess asked us if we wanted to be seated or if we wanted to hang out at the bar for drinks. then she showed us downstairs to a private room with a mini karaoke system, and a large table with red semi-velvet tablecloth. I felt like a VIP haha! bc any other place would've charged extra for a fancy private room 2) our waiter was very nice. he wasn't rude, sour, or lazy. he checked up on us every now and then to get us more water and tea. and he was patient when taking down our large order bc I took a while to figure out what to order so as to accommodate everyone's palette. he assisted with 2 bday cakes and getting additional plates and utensils too. 3) The food was yummy! I am extremely picky with my chinese food LOL so if a place messes up my favorite dishes I'm banning it forever. But I had no complaints about any of the dishes: jumbo shrimp w/walnut, peking style porkchops, pan fried flounder, house special chicken, black pepper beef on sizzling hot plate, baby bok choi, etc. The only thing that irked me at the end was when the Big Boss patrolled back and fourth to see if we were ready with the check aka. waiting for us to leave. I think he would've kicked us out if we stayed an extra 5 mins. After all we were there for 2 hours.
(4)
Jen L.
Wow-wee ... that congee stuff is amazing! The sliced fish and preserved egg was the-best-congee I've ever had. Amazing soy chicken, great eggplant, bean curd and vegetable dish (tho the combo was a bit strange, it tasted just fine). Great portion sizes. I love great chinese at a great price - awesome!
(4)
julian d.
here's a place i've brought my out-of-town visitors who want chinese food for years. julian's list: - call ahead for a reservation and BE 10 MINUTES EARLY - average service for chinatown - good prices - great food 5 stars for being best bang for the buck. this is a great place to bring your out-of-town visitors (friends & family).
(5)
Denise C.
I came here to celebrate two friends' birthdays. The hostess directed me to the private room downstairs; to my surprise, our party occupied four of the seven tables. Initially, upon seeing such a large group, I figured dinner was either going to be amazing or a complete shitshow. Obviously, judging by my rating, it was the former and thankfully, not the latter. The most important thing about this entire evening was this: DRINKS ARE CHEAP. I am a diehard beer drinker and even I found myself sipping on $6 (!!!!) lychee martinis and some Ecto Cooler-like concoctions with Midori, vodka, and some other stuff I can't remember. Their cocktail list is fun and they also offer a decent selection of bubble tea and shakes for the non-drinkers. We had the advantage of sitting with Adam's friend who spoke fluent Chinese (I have no idea which kind) and ordered several different family-style dishes for each table: greens, house-special chicken (a whole crispy chicken, head and all), razor clams in black bean sauce, seafood medley with wasabi, large, fried chunks of tofu, and a shrimp, broccoli, and walnut dish in some sort of mayo-based sauce. All were brought out very quickly and were easily shared with the help of the table's lazy susan. The food was great: sauces were spicy, greens weren't soggy, and the razor clams weren't overcooked. The chicken was delightfully crispy. The entire feast cost around $20/person with tax and tip. Service was attentive, friendly, and fast. With the constant influx of drink orders, they still weren't overwhelmed, and everything was on point. Next time I'd like to come back and actually try the congee... as well as drink some more cheap-ass, tasty cocktails.
(5)
Brian H.
Pretty decent, good for tourist
(3)
John W.
It's always fun to go to a restaurant that breaks one or more of Robert Irvine's rules and still manages to be successful. This place has a GIGANTIC menu, with literally hundreds of choices, and the sheer scope of it all can be a little intimidating. That's where Yelp comes in handy, because you read a few reviews and automatically-BAM!-you know you want to try House Special Chicken, and something else. The HSC is every bit as good as advertised--juicy, garlicky, the meat falls off the bone like loose girls' underwear. So, the only decision we had to make was what else to have. This time out, we tried Peking-Style Pork Chops and Baby Shrimp Fried Rice. The pork chops are sweet like candy, severely addictive, and if they were in a plastic bag you'd totally eat all of them watching football. The fried rice is done exceptionally well--not greasy, and you can see nice chunks of egg in it (my litmus test for quality fried rice). Overall, a fantastic first impression that makes me want to come back with a large group, so I can sample more of that huge menu.
(4)
Jenny C.
I put Congee Village in my "to try" list when I saw it featured in Andrew Zimmern's show. I am glad I did. I loved the congee here so much I could just fly to NYC for it. I think they probably have about 15-20 variety of congee here. We tried the frog meat (in AZ's show), pig blood, squid, and mixture of chicken, pork and duck. We also ordered the "baked seafood rice" in bamboo shell. It was heavenly. Just to clarify that the congee place featured in AZ's show was Congee Village Bowery on Bowery, which is the sister restaurant of the one on Allen.
(5)
KB S.
DISCLAIMER: If you have a party of 3 or more, please CALL IN for a reservation and MAKE SURE your ENTIRE GROUP is there EARLY (before your actual reservation time). Heck, showing up 15-30 minutes early might make a huge difference in getting seats for your group. But be prepared to wait for over an hour, otherwise. There's really no guarantees you'll be seated, even with a reservation. But once you tell them your whole group has arrived, they'll make every effort to seat you, based on seat availability...because this place gets packed!! I'm talking about Asians, non-Asians and tourists all want to eat here for some reason on any given night. The front door waiting area is usually very crowded, so beware. This is really the only bad thing I found about this place. You have to be VERY PATIENT to get your seats, as the wait time is incredibly long if your whole group is not there. I learned the hard way. Anyway, onto the food. My large group of 11 ordered several dishes both family style (for all to share) and individual dishes for ourselves. I don't remember each item that we ordered but I can definitely recall having the house special chicken (whole size), 3 orders of the peking pork chop, 4-5 orders of various congee (rice porridge), 2 orders of the baked rice (one order of chicken/mushroom, the other was baked rice with two sausages), a tofu dish with seafood, 2 vegetable dishes (not sure what they were..one of them might've been the Chinese spinach with bean paste sauce), and a seafood chow fun. Every dish was good! This is hands down, one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Chinatown/Lower East Side area. If I were to nitpick, I'd say the house special chicken was a bit salty and dry. Although it did have a very tasty and crispy skin, I expected a bit more. Maybe if we had it on a different night, it would've been slightly better, but this kitchen was really busy and the waiters were running back and forth with orders all night. Overall, the food came out not long one after the other, the service was decent (wait staff understood both Cantonese and Mandarin), the decor was quite nice (we sat in the lower level, which was more private than the upstairs level) and there's a wine bar to get drinks while waiting. I would definitely love to come back, but with a smaller group, knowing that it's easier to seat.
(4)
Maynard G.
Congee with frog and abalone. I think there was one tiny piece of abalone in it, maybe two. The frog was totally bland; and the congee...well, congee, big deal. I can make better congee in a few minutes with ingredients that cost a few cents. The waiters in fancy duds didn't seem very friendly either.
(2)
Hoa T.
I freakin' love this place. If I could eat here everyday, I would. Came here again a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed almost everything I had. Seriously.. I stuffed myself. We had the tofu, house chicken, beef chow fun, peking pork, clams, congee, snow pea leaves, walnut shrimp. The only item I would not order again is the congee. Not because it was bad.. I'm just not a big congee/rice porridge kinda person. As far as the service goes, my food was brought out promptly and hot and that's all I really cared about.
(5)
Leese H.
Congee is the golden key to my heart. It is my all-time favorite Asian comfort food, and all my friend knows that I'm a die-hard congee fanatic. I talk about it, I cook it, and I love to it eat it anytime, anyday. (And so I admit... I've been having it every morning even during this NYC heat wave!) With that said, I know what makes congee amazing and delicious. Every time I come back home to NYC, I go straight to Congee Village. This congee joint delivers the right kind of consistency, texture, and love into their rice porridge. It takes time and commitment to make it right! I've also traveled here during the crazy NYC blizzard this past February, and they're always open despite increment weather and holidays. That's straight up Chinese business right thur. Other dishes that I always like ordering are the typical, Cantonese seafood meals or appetizers. They're all good, so you won't be disappointed. Only problem I have is their dirty bathrooms- after all, it's Chinatown for ya.
(4)
R Y.
Review for Chow Fun Noodles, House Special Chicken, Chow Mein Noodles, Fried Rice, General Zhio (Sho), Sesame Chicken, Tofu casserole and of course Congee... So, I am actually a regular here and above are basically what I normally order or had at the restaurant. When I have craving for some delicious chewy, wonderful flat rice noodles (Chow Fun), I come here. It's around 7/8 bucks and it's HUGE. House Special Chicken has this crisp skin and this delicious garlic/ sweet sauce that just compliments the moist chicken meat. The Friend Rice, simple, not too greasy, Sesame and General Zhio (Sho) is remarkably meaty and has the right amount of crisp and extra sauce you can eat with their rice (they give you white rice if you ask). Tofu casserole was a bit salty but warm and not too bad for the price. Congee, not such a big fan because they tend to be a little blend, but it's cheap and it makes good rain/ sick day food. So, I love these foods and you may wonder why in the world is my star only 3? Well... I would've given them 5 stars, honestly I would have, even just a few months ago... However, their food has changed! The portions got smaller, the noodles aren't the same type they used... the sauce also taste different. You may think, " You are just being fickle" or "How do you know the taste has changed?" Well, I found out that the Chef has changed. Their main chef is no longer working there. How may I know this? A guy I know that works in the food industry told me. Sad to say that their rating went down to 3 when it could have been 5 stars I wish the old Chef comes back :(.
(3)
Ruoyi J.
I'm a fan because the food quality matched up the price. A place for decent chinese food without spending much. The Pan Fried Minced Pork& Minced Lotus Root was pretty good. Except traditionally the minced pork is supposedly stuffed in a piece of cut open lotus root and breaded and fried. But this was the first time I ever saw this dish in new york. I was happy with it. Congee was ok, tasted like what it needed to be. I just loved their big menu, a big survey of chinese food.
(4)
Jenny D.
First, this place is HUGE!!! It's all fancy and lit up, waiters all dressed nicely, in Chinatown! That frightened me immediately. I came here in a group for my friend's birthday dinner and was not at all impressed. First off, we had a reservation at 8PM. We were seated at 8:35PM. That's totally unacceptable. Secondly, they hadn't even cleared the table by the time we got to our incredibly late table NOR did they ever give us napkins! Anyway. Let's break down the food-- Xiaolongbao: 1/5. The bottoms kept sticking to the wax paper (NEVER steam xiaolongbao on wax paper, wtf, that is such a n00by thing to do! Yes I said n00by, I really couldn't think of any better word.) The filling wasn't awful but the juice was gone. So sad. Congee: 3/5. We ordered snail&frog as well as chicken&mushroom. Snail and frog was pretty tasty, as was the chicken&mushroom. It was solid congee, but really nothing exceptional. For a place named "Congee Village" I was expecting something to really tingle my tastebuds. Oh well. Cashew chicken: 2.5/5. Average, chicken was diced so small my chopstick ability was severely undermined. Garlic saute ...chard?... I seriously have no idea what the English word for this vegetable is but it'd my favorite. 5/5. This was done exceptionally well. Not to greasy, young sprouts, and not too garlicy. Perfect. Stir-fried beef vermicelli: 3/5. This was surprisingly delicious! Good flavor. Beef was cooked well. Fried tofu & snowpeas: 3.5/5. The tofu was very tasty, nice and soft in the center and great fried texture (without too much grease) outside. Snowpeas were delicately cooked. Awesome. Small plain buns w/ sweet sauce: 1/5. Fluffy, enriched white buns. Small ones, but yummy. Nothing too special. Sweet sauce was like a weird custard not too good tasting gop.Not my thing. Soft noodles w/ vegetables: 4/5. This was really good, but I don't know what it was exactly. It needed a tad bit of salt but the noodles were this awesome texture--almost like nigiri but stretched out and soft and just really tasty. Just not my thing to wait so long for a so-so meal. There are so many better places in Chinatown.
(2)
Christine K.
I ordered two of the pork & thousand year old egg congee for my husband and me. Yes it was good. But only one order came out....Luckily they messed up on the order because I hated the CHINESE DOUGHNUT....Could you make it more disgusting (Probably fried in the morning left sitting there to serve all day long) Maybe it was my bad in ordering, but I also tried to get the green onion pancake. Whenever I see it on the menu, I have to try it because it reminds me of my dad's signature dish (But no one makes it as good). I also ordered the much loved garlic and green pea sprouts dish but they told me they ran out of the vegetbales till evening. On my way out the door, I saw three tables eating and enjoying their green pea sprouts and vegetables. GRRRR..
(2)
Vincent Y.
With each successive year and each successive addition, Congee Village takes another step away from its namesake. They are bigger and prettier but not better. On the last two occasions my wife and I ordered congee from the Village, it was flavorless and watery. I like to imagine the congee was so delicious that it was near sold out by the time my wife and I ordered. But if that were the case, the better course would have been to tell my wife and I that they were out. Instead of trying to stretch it out by watering it down. They remain very nice there and I will definitely wave hello as I pass by onto a heartier congee place.
(2)
Stanley Y.
mild taste
(3)
justin t.
More like a 3.5 or 3.75 but I cannot roll it up to four stars for some reason. This place is solid -- some great bang for your buck (it is Chinatown, afterall) and some scrumptious dishes. I'm here once a week basically. The good: -Crab dishes! (Truth: I did not eat crab before here) Get the crab & vermicelli -- spicy, oily, crabby goodness or get the salt and pepper crab (your choice of blue crabs or dungenous) This is my favorite dish here The OK: -The "famous" chicken. It wasn't too juicy and it was not all that tasty. -The shrimp paste pork ribs. These were just OK as well and did not blow me away. The not so good: -Weird Tiki theme -The wait time -- the hostess may give a 15 minute wait time, but many times it could be well over 45 minutes. -Many dishes over oily and over salty (the chicken and chinese sausage in a stone pot, for example) -Skip on anything that comes from the bar, including the virgin drinks.
(3)
Jenny B.
I realize I'm biased - being from Orange County, Ca with all kinds of cheap and fabulous asian foods at my finger tips. I'll cut to the chase and just rate the food: Walnut shrimp - The worst dish on the table. It was served sub warm at best. I tasted like I was eating cocktail shrimp directly dipped in mayo. Yuck! Hot and Sour Soup - Pretty good, except served slightly warm. I like my soup piping hot with the steam in full view. I felt like it had just been microwaved, rather than scooped from a large pot. Fried bean curd - Small curd nuggets with an odd onion taste and even stranger soy, chili sauce for dipping. General Tsao Chicken - Best dish on the table. Chicken was tender and sauce was fabulous. Served very hot, just how I like it. Beef Chow Mein with Chinese Vegetables - 2nd best dish. Only complaint - the only gave us bok choy as a vegetable. Throw in some carrots, mushrooms, or broccoli will ya. Duck and Meatball Congee - I was too full to have any, but my fellow guy friends seemed to enjoy it. Actually, they just enjoyed the duck and meatballs and picked those out after a few scoops of Congee. I'll give Congee another chance in the future, but just not the very near future.
(2)
christine h.
Look, I get it. Rude service, long waits, "fun" chintzy interior - it's all part of the deal. "The charm," I'm told. But seriously. When you make a reservation for a birthday party of 10, and are forced to wait in a cramped, un-air-conditioned bar for an hour before you're seated, and then treated with zero hospitality for the entirety of your meal - (which amounts to twice as much as you'd pay at Shanghai Cafe, Joe's Shanghai, or New Green Bo) - the charm doesn't feel so charming anymore. In fact it feels like a big, fat lie. On top of that - the food isn't even that good. There are some gems (I'll agree that the House Special Chicken is quite tasty). But there are more duds then not: the xiao long bao came in thick, sticky wrappers that instantly fell apart. The egglant tofu dish was oily, gelatinous, and oversalted. In fact most dishes were oily, gelatinous and oversalted. Guess that's another one of their "things"? In a city with as many dense, diverse Chinatowns as ours (Flushing and Sunset Park! Please go there if you haven't yet!) - why, why go to Congee Village? Before my last horrible experience, I might have said, "Because it's fun! Because of the atmosphere!" But after the nightmare I endured last weekend, I am pretty sure I will not be going back for more "charm" from this Congee Village. (That is, unless we're going to the 40 person karaoke room downstairs. That, I will make an exception for!)
(2)
Melinda C.
This is a previous birthday spot and frequent "where I bring city visitors" spot. What does this mean? It means: - I love bringing people here. - It's authentic and delicious. - It handles big groups (largest we had was 28) and small (2-top) really well. - You can get a room and do karaoke (don't expect the latest songs). - The menu has the Cantonese and typical Chinatown greatest hits: crispy jumbo shrimp with mayo sauce and walnuts, peking style pork chops, snow pea shoots, soup dumplings, lobster with ginger and scallions, garlic and pepper crabs, shark's fin soup, beef chow fun, and of course pork and preserved egg congee. - Family style dining means you'll be stuffed, get some beers, and still manage to pay $15 or less a person. But let's manage your expectations a bit. Here are the not so pleasant things to expect: - Waiters and waitresses hollering back and forth - Your Chinese restaurant standards of tacky decor and less than stellar service - A wait on busy days, even if you have reservations - Slowish service on the soup dumplings Still, overall this is worth the trip down. ----but if you can't make it here.. check out their sister restaurant on Bowery which is a touch easier to get to and often a lil less crowded.
(4)
Jinna W.
I love love LOVE Congee Village! Definitely the go-to place for great Cantonese food. I have been here quite a few times with both family and friends, and always ended up having a great time and eating absolutely delicious foods. THE MUST HAVES: 1) The House Special Chicken- If you are going to Congee Village, you have to get the House Special Chicken. It took me a while to find this absolute gem of a dish, and I have been addicted ever since. The skin of the chicken is juicy, crispy, crunchy, and oh-so-fragrant. But it doesn't end there, the flavor seeps through to even the whitest of the white meat, every bite is full of juicy flavorful goodness. The sauce is a bit salty, but perfect for dipping the white meat into, or to eat with some fried rice. DEFINITELY get this dish. Choose from either half a chicken, or a whole if you are feeling extra hungry. 2) The Sliced Pork and Preserved Egg Porridge The namesake congee of Congee is an amazing find for a cheap price. The $2.50 bowl could serve up to three people in the little bowls the restaurant provides. The congee itself is chock-full of flavor, seasoned with Chinese pepper and a special blend of spices. The pork is soft, never at all overcooked. The specks of real ginger add a spicy touch, making this a dish perfect for a cold, windy day. Other delectable dishes include the Small Juicy Bun in Shanghai style, Young Chow fried rice, and for other who prefer dishes on the blander side, the pan-fried bean curd with soy sauce. The bar is fully stocked, and prices are definitely reasonable. Seating is available for big parties of up to 15 or small tables for 2 or 4. For around $40, three of us overstuffed ourselves on all the amazing goodies of the Congee Village. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for an inexpensive but delicious dinner out.
(5)
Lisa H.
High prices, small portions. What are they trying to do? Very disappointed. No longer have the feel of authentic Chinese food here anymore.
(2)
Victor G.
I have been to this place on Allen before, but haven't been back for a while since moving to outer Queens so when the chance came up to drop by, my wife and I thought it would be great. It was nothing special this time around. It was cold so I figured the congee hit the spot. It was a bit watery and the fried crueller was old and nasty. Ordered soup buns and again, sub par to other restaurants in the area. I'm glad we didn't get anything more than congee and appetizers. Service was slow and in the end, I think we should have made the walk to Mott street and gone to Big Wong. Disappointed, but the upside was that it was really cheap, but so is Big Wong. Won't make the same mistake again.
(1)
Rolando N.
First, the food is great.. the decor is a bit silly with the fake village ambience .. however, it also, makes it fun .. the reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 5 is because the service is terrible.. the host and greeter are great but the waiters and waitresses are just awful.. I've been there over 30x and the service is either bad or worse.... they are young and look/ act miserable.. Les miserables
(3)
Diana B.
Huge place and menu.We went in mid-afternoon on hot summer day, and even then it was fairly filled with folks. I had a veg lotus root dish, and my friend had a chicken with cashews. Okay, but not special. Tasteless hot tea. Rice cost $1 extra, though prices were not high. Okay service. Probably won't return.
(3)
Tim W.
You know when you are white and you go to an asian restaurant with someone else who is white and you forgot to invite your token asian friend and whish you would have because you keep craining your neck because you wan to see what is coming by because you want every dish..that is congee village...each dish that comes from the kitchen is as interesting as the next. Dont let the fact that the pictures are on the menu...ususally that screams TOURST to me...but i was actaully glad they had it since I was curious and like i said above was craining my neck to see all the yummie asian peeps and what they were ordering We had 2 kinds of congee, the jellyfish (yum...dont shy away from this despite the ingredients), and duck. Wow, both were great and nicely presented. I'm sure its a little "americanized" but it was SO nice. We also had shanghai buns which were gross, and we sent them back...so avoid them...go to shanghai delux in c-town for those. also got some snow pea leaves...excellent!! Overall a great solid well rounded experience. Great to take the less adventureous out of towners if you are playing host, plus a lot of really adventerous for those of you like me who want the scary stuff. Best advice is to go early before the church crowd. i was there sunday at noon just before the rush. by the time we left it was quite busy. Our bill for 2 congee, snow pea leaves tax and tix was 24$. Steal!! Excellent service and english speakers. Gave great recdommendations too!
(4)
Angie C.
Fantastic. Super-special-awesome. So, I am going to gauge my reaction to a Congee Village dining experience based on my levels of hunger prior to stepping into this establishment. I was not hungry at all and I was actually complaining quite vigorously to my parents about dragging me here for their anniversary dinner. Turns out, this place is amazing. I became super voracious. My parents ordered seven different courses/entrees which I don't know the exact names of but I will try describing them so you can try also: Pan-fried Flounder: this took me by surprise and was my favorite dish. Perfectly crunch skin with perfectly cooked flounder meat. Completely surpassed my expectations. It reminded me of fish and chips with a Chinese twist to it. Jumbo Shrimp with Mayonnaise, Broccoli, Candied Walnuts: I usually don't like this dish. This was also the case at Congee Village. The shrimp did not taste fresh and I hate mayo. The candied walnuts were good though. Chinese Spinach(with this amazing sauce): Delicious. Probably completely stripped of nutrients because of the caloric-heavy sauce but still good. Fried Pork Chops(these were in little bite-sized pieces): Whoa. Did not expect such a punch of flavor. Also greasy. Deliciously greasy. Fried Squid/Calamari with green veggies(I forget what this is called but it has tiny pieces of squid and it's mixed in with scallions): This is a pretty standard dish for Chinese restaurants but this place makes it unique by having other pieces of seafood tucked in. I recommend this. I am totally drawing a blank on the other dishes but if I remember them, I will jot those down. I didn't really have high expectations for this place as I wasn't hungry but upon eating, I just found everything that I put into my mouth delicious. Yes, even that. I came here on a Wednesday evening at around 6 pm and the service was unbelievably quick. Like the quickest service I have ever seen in my short life. We ordered and not ten minutes later, two of our dishes arrived in pristine and sizzling platters. I noticed some negative reviews. Maybe I had a lucky run in with Congee Village, but I'll have to come again and see. Oh! And price wise, the total came to about $91 for seven dishes, which I thought was amazing.
(5)
Hedge K.
really good congee for such a great deal too (most are under $5) the sliced pork with preserved egg was my favorite other things we tried were the: house special chicken bamboo rice baked with salted chicken singapore noodles seafood chow fun some seafood dish these were all good (except for the baked rice in bamboo- it had a funky smell from reused wood?), but nothing really stood out, the congee was definitely my favorite
(4)
Julius B.
Got to get the special crab with garlic!
(5)
yuna l.
Better than most Chinese restaurants! We usually order the special chicken or general sauce chicken, salt n pepper shrimps or pork, crispy beef noodles and duck congee, all pretty good ^^ Funny thing is there is an All Asians section on the first floor and the tourists and other non-Asians are usually seated in the basement...... LOLOLOL Free delivery!
(4)
Lily T.
I am giddy with joy right now. My roommate and I had a craving for homemade comfort food and we had it bad. This morning, we took our Sunday trek down to the LES for an authentic Cantonese breakfast. On a 92 degrees, humid weekend, New Yorkers will tell you that that's love. They seated us in a corner table in the back room, which got us thinking that this was probably what people with leprosy felt like. On a more serious note, kudos to them for smart use of space. We ordered preserved duck egg & pork congee, Chinese donut, beef chow fun, and two other dishes to go (spare ribs with black bean and bitter melon with chicken) . When we received the check, we literally LAUGHED OUT LOUD. 4.5 dishes for under $20 (the half goes to the donut, which makes sense, no?) AND we got food for the rest of the week (if we eat it really, really slowly). We were fighting for the bill too; this IS a real Chinese restaurant. The only reason I have to be bitter is the fact that the Chinese restaurants in UWS by comparison are so inferior to Congee Village.
(5)
Chris B.
Considering the place is called Congee Village, I was expecting to be blown away by the congee. Maybe my expectations were much too high because I surely wasn't. I'm a novice cook but I feel I could have made much better. My group ordered two big bowls of congee to share family style. It honestly felt like the congee soup all came from a massive pot and they just added the difference ingredients in afterwards. The essence of the ingredients could not fully be embraced by the congee when done this way. Considering I went during the winter, I feel like the warm congee should have been better loved my body but this was not the case. The rest of their menu was pretty good. Sadly, very disappointed just because of the congee though. Congee - 2.5 stars Rest of the menu - 3.75 stars
(3)
Jared C.
Stepping inside is like entering a palace of gaudy decorations and lighting, all dedicated to the art and consumption of congee, the rice porridge so popular in China and many other Asian countries. It's actually best to enjoy congee for breakfast, starting the day with a hot, thick bowl served with whatever added ingredients are desired. That is a bit more difficult to do in New York City than in China, as there are only a handful of places to drop into. Congee Village is happy to serve you a bowl at any time day or night though. All but the few premium congee here ranges from $2.75 to $4.95, and with a small appetizer or two make more than enough for a meal. There is also a smaller location a couple streets away at 207 Bowery, but the Allen Street location seems more sufficient for groups and overall experience. Both locations have a full menu, so your visit is certainly not limited to just congee, but we always find that it is best to drag along at least a group of six to share everything with.
(3)
John W.
The food wasn't bad for what I paid for but the service was absolutely lacking. The waiter was rude from the start. I placed the order for our food and we waited over 30 minutes to get the food. When I confronted the waiter about it, he had an attitude and told me that they were running behind with the unexpected volume of customers. The restaurant was not full. When the food finally arrived, it was cold. I didn't bring management's attention since they were all the same people. Bottom line go for the cheap food if you are wiling to put up with the terrible service.
(1)
pink s.
Congee Village is an awesome place.. for white people. I go there often with my group of friends (who are extreme fans) so I am pretty well acquainted with this place. The decor is ridiculous and always amusing to me - bamboo theme littered with other random decorative objects - the "bar" area has modern lighting and seating, there are some Italian chef statuettes thrown about, etc. The other reviewers are right though - this place is huge with two floors of seating. Don't expect anything romantic though; it's full of loud groups of people. With that said, the food is pretty good and a great bargain if you get the rice or noodle platters. Hint: You can get items off of the lunch menu (which they will give you on paper) if you ask for it during dinner time for only a dollar extra. The service is also really fast (plenty of waiters around) though they have messed up orders for us (probably due to the number of customers they have). I mention it is great for white people because the food, though with decent variety, is pretty standard Chinese fare - at a slightly higher price. Nothing particularly special about it. This place is good only if you have to host a large party. (Don't forget to ask them to play their recorded Birthday song!)
(3)
Duyhien N.
Congee Village is like a village. I mean it, you walk in and it's like a village. There is bamboo, there are plants. It's a whole different world in there. I feel like I'm in the jungles of Hong Kong, stalking my cantonese prey.....actually nevermind. I feel like I'm ordering good quality cantonese food sitting at a table with an extensive menu. I usually order the House Special Chicken half order. This dish is where it's at. The sauce is a garlic soy sauce that is sublime. The key to this chicken dish is the beautifully rendered chicken skin. It is crunchy and freakin tasty. I love this dish like it was my grandma (not in that way you sick perverts). We also order bowls of delicious congee and this truly is a congee village as they have 2 and a half pages of congee varieties. Another dish of veggies and you have your perfect meal. You thought West, East, and Greenwich Villages were the only villages in Manhattan? Think again.
(4)
Emily R.
This place is real freakin' crazy. First, it's massive, and the host will lead you through like 100 rooms before sticking you in a teeny corner table in a room that only contains your table and 1 other, that a family is eating a giant bucket of snails at. House Special Chicken is all the rage, so I got a half order, and ... it's definitely legit? It's a half of chicken, bones, everything, with SO MUCH GARLIC, I was goin' nuts. The thing is..it's hard to find parts of the chicken that are actually edible. A lot of sinew, bones, skin...in a giant pile..in a salty brother. SO MUCH SALT. and I love salt. So when you got a good bite, it was good, but you really had to work for it and dig through a lot of scary stuff. My friend got the pork lo mein, which was pretty standard/good - massive portion, lots of bamboo shoots and spring onions. Service was really slow too.
Trendy, touristy, small portions, however never fails to please. This place is great for big crowds. Their big round tables with lazy susans are always accommodating for my "family dinners" with some of my besties. The wait, if any is usually short. There is a heated waiting area (for those cold summer days) with a small bar to help time pass by. Their congee is delicious (hence the name of the restaurant), my favorite being the thousand year old egg with salted pork. All of there other food is satisfying. I get my usual shrimp with walnuts and mayo, sweet and sour pork, salt and pepper calamari, stir fried dao mu (i don't know the english translation, just order it in your broken Chinese they will understand). Their menu is full of typical Chinese dishes. The service has been pretty good, it's unlike other Chinese restaurants where they rush you out after paying the bill. There is not automatic gratuity for large parties.
(4)
Geoffrey C.
Been going to HopKee and WoHop all these year, so disapointed to learn that I've been missing out on this gem in the East Village. We came here as a concession after Mission Chinese didn't have seats for us, and we were none the worse for wear. The place was packed with lots of families on a Saturday night. My wife and I ordered 3 dishes - the Beef chow fun, sauteed snow peas and garlic and seafood fried rice. The fried rice was bland, but the chow fun and sauteed snow peas I would come back for any day. Looking forward to trying more of the eccentric stuff the next time, including the fried rice steamed in a pumpkin (we wanted to order this, but we would have to wait an hour).
(4)
James K.
I went by myself after a meeting in the area, and I asked the waiter to recommend a rice/noodle dish or a porridge dish, and he recommended the sliced beef chow fun noodles. The dish was standard, nothing special about it. It tasted good, but so does many other places in the Chinatown area. It was about $7.50, so not cheap but not expensive either. Before I ordered, I was flipping through the menu and saw many items I wanted to try in the seafood section (although they were not cheap). I think this is a place better to come with a bigger crowd so you could try a variety of dishes and split the costs. So I would like to return here sometime and try other things.
(2)
hannah l.
5 stars for speedy lunch service and piping hot food. I ordered the scallion pancake and fried pork ribs which were AMAZING. I also was happy with my congee with thousand year old egg.
(5)
Richard W.
The bottom line: come here with a bunch of people to experience tasty food at a reasonable price. For $19 I tried something like eight dishes with a group of 10 people. It was awesome. I went here as part of a meetup group and we ordered a bunch of awesome dishes: shrimp with walnuts, fried rice, casserole with lop cheong and frog, crispy soy sauce chicken, chow fun, spare ribs, pork chops, sweet and sour pork, flounder, choy sum, etc. There was A LOT of food. I am definitely coming back here to pig out again. My favorite was, of course, the shrimp with walnuts. They do it right: the shrimp is crispy and covered with batter a little bit and not completely and totally slathered in mayo. The walnuts are honeyed, but not too much. Of course, there is broccoli as well just so you can pretend that you're not destroying your body by eating this dish. I also really enjoyed the crispy soy sauce chicken (yan su ji sp?). My grandmother always used to buy this in bulk when I came over for dinner. I remember her constantly putting more food in my bowl and me always eating it much to the dismay of my cousins were already full and received dirty looks from my grandmother because they didn't "eat enough". Ah, memories. The other dishes were also very good, but these two stood out for me in particular. Come and enjoy! Also, let me know if you do.
(4)
Tim D.
I don't come here for the best service but I don't expect to be scolded by the waiter (or possibly the manager) who looks like he's having a bad day for taking too long to order either. It makes me wonder why this place is always so crowded. Then I realized when we finished eating and the bill came out. The food was enough to feed a table of 8 and it wasn't half bad but the bill only came out to a little over $100. After tax and tip it was barely $19 a person. You can come here and eat like a king while working on a peasant's salary. lol. I do recommend the pork chops here and the bok choy. The fish head soup was also very good. Don't bother with the T-bone steak though. It was unevenly cooked and was a bit chewy. So if you're down to take some minor slack from one of the wait staff (other waiters seemed ok) and wanna get some pretty delicious and generous offerings of Chinese food I actually do recommend this place. It fills up fast on most nights so come early like around 6 ish or earlier to get a table for big parties. If you come later than that you can expect a wait.
(3)
Eric D.
Great congee (usually get the chicken with mushroom - get this as an appetizer to share) and decent food. The prices have gone up over the years as have the number of white people going to this restaurant but still cheap; I'm fine with the white people too:). Good reliable Chinese food. 4 stars is deserved for the value.
(4)
Shirley W.
My party reserved a table and was told to go to their other location because they didn't actually leave us one.
(1)
Janek N.
Why only one star? Let me tell you. Not only did the waiter had to come back to us so we could give our order a second time... He also managed to forget half of it... meanwhile constantly offering us food we did not order. After one hour we decided to ask for the check which we did not see for 15 minutes. Worst service I've seen in NYC in 5 years... Thanks for nothing!
(1)
Angel F.
Doesn't look like your ordinary Chinese restaurant. The decor is kind of Tiki-inspired. Some people think it looks cheesy, but I thought it was different and interesting especially the wide staircase leading to the upstairs dining area. Didn't get any congee since I was really hungry, but will next time. What I did get was the half of the house special chicken and beef chow fun. The chicken was moist and flavorful with slices of fried garlic. Huge portion and so satisfying with their fluffy white rice. Beef chow fun was good as well. No complaints. I liked the fact that the place was really spacious. It's nice not feeling crowded like some of the other Chinese restaurants that I have experienced.
(4)
Christopher L.
I haven't been back to Congee Village in ages. I used to come here a lot when they first opened back in the days and they were awesome. I understand that today was Christmas Day but as most of us know, almost every Asian restaurant is open and know that it will be busy. Service on this day was horrible. Our waiters weren't "friendly" at all and we had to ask multiple times just to get another table setting. The waiter who did finally get us our place setting cursed in Cantonese while apologizing about the wait. I found this to be amusing but unprofessional at the same time. The head waiter was pretty rude and rushed us through our ordering process. Yes you want to flip tables quickly to profit more but customer satisfaction comes first. Doesn't hurt to smile a little too instead of looking like a pissed off prissy little... We ordered two different kinds of congee which did not impress as it used to. It seemed watered down and did the bowls that it's served in get smaller? Flavors were okay though. The full order for the specialty chicken was awesome. Moist and full of flavor so no complaints there. DO NOT get the xiao long baos(soup buns) as it's basically the frozen stuff you'll get from a Asian supermarket but a bit worse. No soup, small and no flavor. Didn't come with the dipping sauce also and by the time we got it, the soup buns were room temperature. So there's this thing called Shrimp Paste Pork Ribs which my mom swore was excellent that last time she had it. When it came, the "presentation" was lacking. It arrived on a plate with a large sheet of white wax paper which the ribs sat on. The ribs were pretty moist but there was no taste or flavor at all. Okay, to be fair there was a hint...a very small hint of garlic. The fried rice had like no flavor also. How the hell? Yeah, don't ask. I highly doubt I'll be coming back anytime soon unless things change. If the food was good, I can over look the service aspect. If everything was "MEH", it's not worth my trip from Queens nor the wait time to eat here.
This is one of my favorite Cantonese restaurants. It's a must to-go place for family, grandparents' birthday dinner. The qualities of the food is much superior and it's more authentic, unlike typical chinese restaurants, I believel the chefs here actually put lots of thoughts into their cooking and they're constantly improving. Though the menu's been the same compare to other cantonese restaurants, Congee village definitely has more fresh ingredients and slightly more selections. I love any veggie dishes like chinese broccoli, water spinach, and any chinese greens. other main courses that i like included: stir-fry conch w tofu, grilled steak on hot plate, walnut shrimp, fish belly soup (you gotta have it w red vinegar), seafood casserole, oh and their seasonal specialty cold dungeon crab, it's soo well prepared that made me suspect whether there's a secret addictive ingredient in there! And of course, a dinner won't be completed without a fish, we usually order a fresh live fish and asked to cook 2 ways (steam fish and fish soup). It can be crowded on weekends but we usually go late so it wasn't a problem for us since they closed 1-2am. Its got multiple floors and private rooms in the basement for private dining. Over the years, although their prices went up and food portions became smaller, the foods are still pretty damn good!
(4)
Charlie Z.
This place does have a great variety of dishes to chose from which is the good part. The bad part is that most of their dishes fall way below average. The peking pork chop which is fried pork chop in a delicious red sweet sauce. The sauce was amazing but the pork chops pieces were most fat. I hate the fat but I would still get this dish since I am sucker for it since I was a child. I also tried their lamb, the sauce again was good but the lamb it self was super stuff that it was hard to even chew on it. For a dish that cost about fifty dollars you would expect a lot more. The biggest mistake was when I ordered the "soup dumplings". I use quotations because these were so bad I can't live with myself to call them such things. I am pretty sure these were frozen dumplings that they must have heated up because the quality was so bad. I think they have cut back on quality since they have such a great reputation. However their congee is still great. I am not sure how you can screw it up in the first place though.
(3)
Manny N.
Absolutely the restaurant where I received the worst service ever!!! Plenty of servers standing around NOT doing anything. We had to ask twice or thrice about our orders which did not arrive after 30 mins of wait. Very unhappy and unpleasant experience here. Food is so-so there are plenty of better restaurants in CTown so avoid going to this one if you are looking for Chinese food. The waiter even LOOKED at the tip we put on the bill in FRONT of us on our way out. Horrible.
(1)
HP T.
Fried chicken Congee: meat + preserved egg
(4)
Carla C.
This review is for their Chicken + Broccoli only. I used to work in the area, so I was craving Chinese for lunch. I heard good things about this place + decided to give it a try. I got the standard Chinese + Broccoli just to try out since it was my first time. I was super disappointed as, to me, it wasn't even mediocre. It actually had an interesting taste to it - not in a good way!
(1)
Valerie L.
I'm taken aback by all the negative reviews! I've only been twice during lunch hours, but still, this place is amazing. Aside from the spotty service, I am so blown away by Congee Village. The restaurant itself is spacious, ideal for large parties but don't let that stop you from making a lone trek. Enjoy some piping hot congee in a pot for only $3.50-5. One pot is good for one or two, depending on how hungry you are, and you can't go wrong with the sliced fish varieties. One of the BEST dishes I've had in New York--I don't say this often--is the eggplant and chicken casserole at CV. It was even better than my grandma's home-cooked version. The expansive menu can be overwhelming but there is something for everyone. Some dishes take upwards of an hour to prepare (i.e. seafood rice in pumpkin bowl) so take that into consideration. Also, you have to order rice to go along with the entrees. This is some straight-up delicious food, my friends. Best case scenario: go with a large group of people with adventurous taste buds and sample as much as you can!
(5)
Jamison F.
This is my go to spot in NYC Chinatown for lunch. My wife's friend's grandparents live a block away so when we visit them, this is where we go for lunch. Food is great, the congee rocks, the salty pork rib is awesome, the deep fried frog was addictive, and the snow pea tips with garlic is probably my favorite green veggie and they do it well. As for service, i've never had a problem with service, but I've only come here for lunch on the weekend while it wasn't too busy. It can get pricey if you get a little crazy with the menu. We spent around 200 for lunch 2 weeks ago. The Conch dish wasn't cheap but it was good!
(5)
Ash A.
.
(4)
Andrew L.
Authentic Cantonese cuisine at it's best. Don't bother with anything that's not seafood, tofu or congee on the menu. This place specializes in crab, whole steamed fish, shell fish and congee. If you're unfamiliar with Chinese food, the menu is full of pictures of excellent dishes to try, and what is served at your table does look like the pictures in the menu.
(5)
Renee S.
Perfect for a cold day. The congee was delicious, authentic and flavorful. True to it's ingredients. Service wasn't so great, but typical of what I would expect in Chinatown. Had the abalone & chicken congee, fish and duck egg congee and dried scallop congee. All were really good and tasted uniquely different. Not like regular congee w/ ingredients tossed in at the very end to mix. Would definitely come again!
(3)
Eugene H.
Obviously you need to try to congee here. The thing that makes this place great is the numerous choices in the menu as well as good quality of food. The service here is pretty fast and you'd be amazed on how little your bill when you're done (for New York standards that is).
(5)
Jessica C.
holy cow. it's like a little bit of the San Gabriel Valley (So-Cal speak) plopped down in Manhattan. As much as I love exploring the nooks and crannies of Chinatown or the LES for the perfect bowl of congee, I still manage to always turn back to the mothership of congee. $3.95 for Sampan (seafood mix) goodness, AND they take the plastic. I would give this place 6 stars if it were possible to do so!
(5)
Kenndy H.
Best place to go to for authentic chinese food! It's a bit pricey compared to other chinese restaurants but the quality of the food is top notch. I would definitely recommend ordering the following: (Dishes are ordered to be shared) Preserved egg and pork congee Cold Dungeness crab Steam tofu w/ soy sauce Golden raisin fried rice Good place to hold family dinners
(4)
Chuck P.
We were there for family dinner, and it wasn't busy at all. All the waiters seemed pretty occupied, they never came to our table and ask anything about the food. We had to remind them to bring things such as napkins and change the plates, remove the empty plates. At the end, one of the waiter were yelling at us for more tips. I mean they expect large tips for their terrible service? Nice try! 垃圾é¤é¦†æ¶å¿ƒæ»æˆ‘了ï¼
(1)
Alexa C.
You know its a good Chinese restaurant when everyone inside is Chinese. The inside was so lovely and the outside really drew my attention. The fried rice was one of the best I've ever had. The staff was very nice and a pleasurable experience.
(4)
Wendy Z.
It's a long wait if you decide to come here at night. I felt like I waited an eternity.. I like this place, they serve nice dishes at fair prices but I feel like if you're interested in individual portions you'll have a harder time finding something reasonably priced and of a fair portion. Most on it's menu is for family style in which you order many dishes and share with your friends and family. They also offer drinks if you want and you can order it and they'll bring it to you from the bar below. I found the drinks tasted good! I've never tried the congee here but my sister and friends said it tasted pretty good.
(4)
Mr F G And Ms M S.
The food here is pretty good. If we have to review the food alone here, the rating would be 4 or even 5 stars. The reason why we only give 3 stars rating is because of the service. The waiter were polite but the service is really slow. We have to ask more than once whenever we need something. It was annoying when we were waiting for one of our dish & when we were almost finish, they told us that the dish that we ordered wasn't available. Why didn't they say this earlier? They didn't tell us anything until we asked them about what happened with the dish that we ordered earlier. We were here on a Thursday evening around 7 for dinner with our family, It was busy. The place is pretty big. You can definitely come here with a group. The portion were decent. All total, we spent about $40 here.
(3)
Rita L.
great place for groups! the wait could be long so just make a reservation before you go, call ahead and check how long you have to wait before actually getting there. I'd totally recommend this place for a cold night, you can warm up with their congee which are pretty good. I tried their crab porridge, abalone n frog congee, sauteed chinese veggie fried squid, pork chop peki - too sweet, preserved veggie, house special chicken, everything's average... I wouldn't say they're amazing but prices are reasonable and it's good for large groups so I'd come back again on a cold night if I'm with a bunch of friends.
(3)
Doug H.
If you come with your Asian friend, the two of you will get a small table even if the place is not busy. However, if you come with a Caucasian friend, you will get a big table... feels weird... 粥之家
(1)
Long K.
I mean who doesn't want to chow down on affordable congee on miserably cold days?? All while you're surrounded by decor that transports you into a jungle in Asia, but with delicious cheap bubbling congee and sizzling hot plates flying out of the kitchen. Salt and Pepper Squid - These Yelp reviews do not lie. A giant plate of just purely fried and perfectly seasoned squid. The best I've had. So addicting I came back back less than 1 week for another serving. Get it. Pork Peking Style - Literally a giant bowl of meat. Fried outside, tender inside, in some sweet tasting unknown sauce...get it. Still was cheaper than the squid above too. Congee - There's over a dozen varieties! I was hoping for different tastes between then but it's just the ingredients that change really with the same congee base. Found that out the hard way when I ordered the crab congee my second visit, which came with a large useless inedible shell. Nevertheless still cheap though. Fast efficient service. Did I mention the salt and pepper squid?
(4)
Michal T.
I tend to order seafood or minced pork congee everywhere I go. The seafood congee has just the right amount of ginger to balance out the seafood flavor. House Special chicken is a must. Juicy on the inside and crispy and garlicky on the outside.
(5)
Mountain T.
Food is all right. Service is really bad. One of the waiters I dealt with was rude and unhelpful. He was acting like he didn't want to work there or hate customers. So like other people say, expect rude service from them.
(1)
Song C.
This is your typical old school Chinese restaurant with family style seating and menu. Huge portions, very reasonable prices, and tastes exactly the way I would expect it to be. There was only two of us so we couldn't order that much. We only ordered 2 dishes to be shared but other groups of 3 ordered 5-6 dishes. I was jealous. I love that they have pea shoot leaves - everyone who knows me knows that's my favorite thing to order when I'm at a Chinese restaurant or dim sum. The menu is broken down by appetizers, dim sum, chicken, pork, seafood, beef, and sweets - you know how this goes. I didn't get the congee but it looked good. I saw that there were a bunch of old asian people who dined here (that's a good sign). I would probably come back here if I am in the area.
(4)
Pallavi P.
I came here for a friend's birthday with a huge group of people (roughly 15). They are tough on seating a group, especially if everyone is not there but once we got a critical mass (13ish) we ended up getting the table that we reserved. This place gets packed!! Even though it is pretty spacious, people come here in droves especially on a weekend. If you're in a group, reserve, get there early and be prepared to wait a bit. The good news is that they have a bar area in the front where you can grab a drink and post up while you wait for your straggling friends to arrive. Ok, enough about the logistics, what is the food like? AMAZINGGG! Of course it depends what you order but my group of 15ish got at least 12 dishes and a huge shareable bowl of congee and it not only filled us up but we were struggling to finish off the last morsels of food off the plate. Also - SUPER CHEAP. Huge group as mentioned above and I ended up spliting the bill and it came out to about $20. Come hungry and leave happy.
(4)
Janice F.
Congee village is nothing new to tourists and certainly not a new favorite to natives in the area. Service is quick, food is absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere is cute. If you come, you must get the congee- it's called congee village for a reason. They all come super hot and ready to share so note it's a family friendly restaurant- just like any authentic Chinese restaurant! The veggies are also super hot and tasty. The steak was not that great, so I wouldn't recommend it. The crab was pretty good- very tasty. Chinese seafood is the way to do it right. If you're in the area- this is the place to go. Very good for big crowds, but one star off because the tables are too small if you're a small family like mine who orders a ton of dishes. Otherwise the prices are pretty good, just like the food!
(4)
Cat C.
I am currently sitting at the restaurant after waiting 40 minutes after my reservation because they gave my table away. The service and disrespect is unbelievable.
(1)
Ashti D.
The best congee...the cutest decor...and an unlimited amount of selections on the menu...we will definitely be back to enjoy this LES establishment.
(5)
Debra E.
Stopped in because I needed to get dragged out and Chinese food is always a winner. Who doesn't love some MSG every once in a while? On top of that it showed Andrew Zimmern had dined before so I was aware we were in for some funky dishes. We sat pretty quickly but service as most of the others said was undesirable. Glad I wasn't in a rush. The inside was very large and it felt like you were walking into a treehouse. My girl friend and I shared bean curd ($9.95) egg drop soup ($4.95)five spice duck ($5.95 for 1/4)and pork buns ($4.95). The options were endless but I didn't see your typical roast duck, shrimp in lobster sauce. It was definitely one of the best egg drop soups I had, not from your typical Chinese takeout. The pork/soup buns were as expected in flavor but too much meat and little broth. To my surprise I really liked the bean curd with mixed vegetables. It basically tasted like tofu and I liked the sauce it was in. The duck was meh, not how I was used to it being prepared and very fatty and boney. My main issue was staff wise being aloof. Poorly organized, if you asked questions it wasn't looked upon and large gaps in time between checking in on you.
(3)
Christopher F.
I really want to give a zero. Heard great things about this place in terms of their authentic Chinese food. We arrived around 2:00pm as the lunch crowd was leaving. We were seated promptly, with tea given immediately. Surprisingly, we waited for 45 minutes and the waiters just kept walking past us, they clearly knew we were not being attended to. When my wife finally said something the waiter just shrugged like he did not care. Needless to say we walked out. The only thing, I can think of is my wife is Asian, and I am from a European background, and our son is mixed. They did not even want to look at my son nor did they acknowledge him. I would hate to accuse someone of discrimination, but this was how we felt during the entire process here. I have never accused a restaurant of this and rarely give a one, but again for this restaurant, I wish I could give a minus rating.
(1)
Joanne K.
I was really craving porridge and I found this place. I came here at 10:30 am right when it opened! It's not too crowded at this time. But it's definitely a great place to bring a large group. The service was quick and great about refilling our waters. My friend ordered the Duck congee and I ordered the vegetarian congee and both of ours had strong ginger taste to it, because of the fair amount of ginger pieces. I thought their XLB aka soup dumplings were alright. In order to tell if the XLB you are eating is excellent or not, is by the delicate folds at the top and the dumplings' ability to contain the soup within. The meat and the casing felt completely separate and soup would fall out. There's places in the city to get better XLB. But I shouldn't be too harsh because this place specializes in its congee. I don't think I tried the right things! I should probably come back and give it another go.
(3)
Jenn N.
There are two Congee Villages, and this is the original one. College Village is a decent family style restaurant. Their food is great compared to many other restaurants around the area. Food is amazing, but it would be even more than amazing if the services are at least good. Services: (2 stars) Their services are like an ON & OFF button, meaning it can be a good experience or a horrible one. Too bad you can't pick when to turn on or off. I feel like they know for a fact that their food are good, so they don't have to try so hard on the services. Even calling in to make a reservation, they put you on hold for about 5-10 minutes before answer you. You can sense from their tone of voice that they're annoyed, or maybe I'm wrong because they did not sound friendly at all. Food: (4 stars) Recommendation: - West Lake Beef Soup - House Special Chicken - Blue Crab With Ginger And Scallion - Blue Crab With Garlic And Pepper - Chided Dungeness Crab - Sauteed Lobster With Butter & Cheese - Abalone And Chicken Porridge - Pan Fried Bean Curd with soy sauce
(3)
Phil Z.
attentive service. solid congee but mostly low price average food.
I enjoy a good bowl of hot congee like any other Chinese person. I have been wanting to try this place for quite some time and I got my chance. This is pretty big restaurant. I believe there are two floors to the restaurant. I like the way this place is designed. Plenty of tables if you want to do family style and plenty of tables where it can be only 2 people or 4 people. The menu is GIGANTIC!!! A lot of options to choose from. Many possibilities. We ordered the Abalone and Chicken Congee, the Sliced Fish with Lettuce Congee, Pan Fried Pork with Salted Fish, and Pan Fried Tofu with Soy Sauce. The Congee were excellant. They came out really hot in a little pots. Plenty of scallions and parsley to give it some fragrance. A considerable amount of abalone, chicken, and sliced fish. I think there was very little salt or MSG in it. I like it that way. All natural flavors. Definitely hit the spot. The Pan Fried Pork with Salted Fish were delicious. Pork was marinated really nice and it was not salty from the salted fish. Just enough salted fish flavor to infuse the pan fried pork. The Pan Fried Tofu with Soy Sauce was another great dish to try. A nice little crisp on the outside. A smooth and silky inside from the tofu. The soy sauce is a good compliment to the tofu. A very satisfying dinner. It didn't give me a food coma. The prices are very reasonable and affordable. Doesn't break the bank especially the congee. A great spot for dinner or lunch. I will be back for more later in the future.
(4)
Avi G.
The atmosphere was great and the space available was amazing. As far as the food goes though I have to say Wo-Hop still takes the cake. We had their famous Congee which was a new dish for everyone at the table. A porridge like dish but definitely tasty. We also and the beef Chow Fon which was ok as well as the chicken chow me fon also pretty good. Definitely don't get the plate full of shrimp. not tasty and very small shrimp. Look if you have family in town and they are down to be squeezed tight into a small restaurant and have unbelievable food then go to Wo Hop. If you are looking for a nice setting and room to stretch the legs and a Lazy Susan ( great touch) then go to Congee Village.
(3)
Susanna W.
The food is pretty good here if you're looking for Canto food. We came as a group of 8 and spent around $100 total after tip, which after many days of eating in the upper west side was a wonderful feeling. The restaurant itself is quite typical in what you'd expect in terms of decor, lots of light wood colors, smaller plants/trees, etc. The larger tables are set up family style with a spinning plate in the middle of the table. For food, definitely order some of the bamboo rice pots, they are kind of small so one is probably good for 2-3 people. Also definitely order the pork Peking style, super flavorful and satisfying. Food comes out whenever each dish is ready, so each dish will come out sporadically. Service is okay--someone will come to you if you need something, but we randomly only got waters for half the table and never got the rest, and sometimes they would forget to bring out more rice or something we asked for.
(4)
Tyler L.
This place is quirky (understatement) and definitely a good spot for groups. My first observation was that there were a shit ton of Asians (I assume Chinese) in there - this I took as a positive sign. Second observation - this place is cheap, like really cheap. We had a group of nine and we ate until we were full and had two drinks each (roughly); total bill? ~$25/head. Yep, cheap. Third thought, this is no frills service. You literally have to force them to serve you. I don't think I saw a smile and our thank you's might as well have been in ancient greek as they did little to chisel the icy service. It oddly made the experience better. Fourth - the food was good and others in our group thought it was great. I think is was good. Definitely get what you are paying for (not paying a lot, not getting gourmet). Overall I am going to say that I would recommend this place to someone who wants a unique experience on the cheap. We had drinks at Grey Lady afterwards which brought us back to NYC prices quickly. My first two drinks there cost more than my dinner and two drinks at Congee. Also a fun spot for groups.
(3)
Connie C.
The congee is generously portioned and comes in many varieties. However, the restaurant is best suited for a large group versus two or three people. I met up here with a friend and we both ordered bowls of congee - sliced fish with preserved egg, and chicken, pork, and duck - since we weren't that hungry. They seated us at a round table that we had to share with another group, which to me always makes for an awkward dining experience. The waiters kept forgetting which party ordered what, so we had to do some plate switching amongst ourselves. There was also a rowdy table next to us that made me regret not coming with more people. The congee itself is good, but just beware of the atmosphere that's pre-catered to larger dinner parties.
(4)
Justine S.
This place is HUGE! There are three levels: a main, busy dining floor at the very top, a middle floor waiting area/small bar, and a downstairs which I haven't the slightest idea of what it leads to. There was about an hour wait as we came for dinner at 7:30PM on a Friday night. Once seated we ordered almost immediately the House special chicken, fried bean curd (tofu) in soy sauce, garlic sprouts, and pork & preserved egg congee. Out of all the dishes, surprisingly, the congee was my least favorite. I was disappointed because my expectations were way high given the name of the restaurant. In my opinion, it was just bland and lacked any flavor. I'm aware you pretty much have to dress it up with sauces, etc. but there is usually still some inherent good flavors in it! I did love the texture as it was very light and creamy(?), which was a new but pleasant aspect of the dish. The House special chicken was crispy, juicy, and so flavorful! We ordered half a chicken and it was the perfect portion for the three of us. The garlic sprouts were also delicious and heavy on the garlic (which is a plus in my book). We only ordered this as they were out of kang kong and I'm glad we did. The favorite part of the meal was the fried tofu. It was pan fried at the top and bottom, but the middle part remained super soft and the flavors were amazing. The service here was OK as they took forever to bring out our last dish and they refilled our water maybe once? And it was a different person every time. Granted it was a Friday night and they were extremely busy, but still. Another great thing about this place are the prices especially when comparing them against the huge portions. I will always be a fan of cheap eats!
(4)
Kongjing C.
Friend held a wedding dinner party there I think the food mostly are Cantonese don't know if that is authentic or not since I'm not Cantonese. But were pretty decent and our people did enjoy it only thing was u probably would hear some "drunk" people shouting sometimes from the other rooms. overall. I think Its a pretty fine place to eat if you wanna try something Cantonese
(4)
Monica T.
This place open late and offer you the simple asian comfort food! I stopped by last night, and ordered the sea cucumber dish, frog leg congee and some sauteed clams. They were delicious and comforting! Congee was very good and I don't know why i've never been here! Next time, i'd like to try their abalone and seafood dishes. Takes credit card with a minimum of $20.
(4)
Vicky F.
The food is ok, I got the famous chicken dish that they have, it's more like deep fried with soy sauce and ginger in it, not as great as I thought it would be. There r many kinda of congee which tastes pretty good. And the Thai chicken feet is amazing, I would go back for that. The food is def worth the value, not expensive at all. However the servers are so out of their zone. They wonder around, play with their phones. We had to shout at them many times to actually ask them to take our order....
(3)
Erica L.
Delicious foods to choose from. I love the boneless chicken feet with thai chili sauce! Its by far the best appetizer to choose from and I totally recommend it! Chicken congee is good too!
(4)
Alice Z.
This place is great for groups and eating family styled. It's considered to be pretty cheap when sharing with your group. House Special Chicken: Ehh, it's pretty plain and dry. Pork Chops peking styled: The best thing ever. This is a long time favorite. Pork and Preserved Egg Congee: Pretty good. The pork was flavorful and the consistency of the congee is thinner than other restaurants. Chinese Broccoli with Garlic: As good as vegetables can get but very oily. Beef Chow Fun: Decent, oily, needs more beef Salt and Pepper Squid: Very crispy and chewy but overall very flavorful. Vegetable Fried Rice: Regular good ol' fried rice The service here is not the best. We made reservations but still ended up waiting about 45 minutes. When we first arrived, we were missing one person in our party and they didn't take us seriously until everyone was there. Lesson learned: It's best to make reservations but still be expected to wait a while. We asked for 6 bowls of white rice and it never came. At least we weren't charged for it. We had to ask for water multiple times before it came. Nothing here really stands out besides the pork chops but it's a cheap place to go with groups.
$10 for a plate of 干炒牛河 that feeds two? Sold. Also, nice atmosphere, free tea. Credit cards only on orders over $20.00
(4)
Jenny M.
The food and atmosphere here is perfect. They serve authentic Chinese food. This may seem like every other Chinese restaurant but their food is much more flavorful and the service is quick. Speaking of service, many reviews state that the staff are not very pleasant but actually this is how it's suppose to be and that's how it is everywhere else, they're not purposely trying to offend anyone. It's like having BRF(B**** resting face) and it's as authentic as it gets.
(4)
Jocelyn K.
Very popular and crowded like it's counterpart, Congee Bowery on Bowery Street. This place is very good for large groups, but it wouldn't be my first choice. The food wasn't amazing. In fact, it was very mediocre, but it is cheap and in large quantities. I came with a large group of friends for a going away party, so I was able to try an array of dishes. Of course coming to Congee Village we first had to order congee: Sampan Congee (è”ç£è‰‡ä»”ç²¥) - Supposedly one of the most popular congees in Hong Kong, but this was a big disappointment. I expected the dried squid to impart a lot of flavor to the congee but it was just lackluster. Very little peanuts or preserved eggs. In general flavorless and little ingredients makes it not worth ordering. *Side Note: If you want good Sampan Congee, I recommend going to Congee located on 98 Bowery. This is not the same place as Congee Bowery. Sliced Pork and Preserved Egg Congee (皮蛋瘦肉粥) - The standard congee and much better than than the Sampan Congee. If you don't know which one to order, this is a safe one. Other entrees we ordered: Garlic Pea Shoots (蒜蓉豆苗) - Easily the best dish we ordered. You might wonder what's so great about a plate of vegetables, but when Dou Miao is cooked right, you won't be able to get enough. The vegetables were fresh and crispy, not too oily, and perfectly seasoned. I could have easily eaten the whole plate by myself. Chinese Broccoli w/ Shrimp Paste - Also recommended. The Chinese broccoli was crunch and crisp. If you are not a fan of shrimp paste, I would avoid this dish though as it is very strong. Pan Fried Bean Curd w. Soy Sauce (豉油王生煎豆è…) - My second favorite dish next to the vegetables. I love tofu of any sort and I especially love the pan-fried ones. Best part is first biting the crispy shell and then getting into the soft tofu encased within. The simple soysauce based sauce is perfect for this dish. Rice Baked w. Chicken and Shiitake Mushroom (北è‡æ»‘雞燉飯) - An interesting dish that comes in a log-like container. The top consists of chicken, shiitake mushrooms, and other vegetables. All of that lays on a bed of rice soaked in all the juices from the chicken and mushrooms. The chicken and shiitake are average, but I recommend getting this because of the sauce soaked rice. Beef Chow Fun - Oily, lots of beef, lots of noodles. No complaints here. We also ordered two dishes, House Special Chicken (粥之家招牌蒜香雞) and Walnut Shrimp (æ ¸æ¡ƒè¦çƒ), which I did not try but others seemed to have enjoyed. For all the food we ordered, it came out to a total of only $15 per person. Chinatown cheapness at it's best.
(3)
Ivan K.
Fell into this place for lunch after exiting the NYC Tenement Museum, which is next store. We had few expectations, but once we entered and saw all the other diners appeared to be Asian we were psyched. We were not disappointed. The service was pleasant and efficient. All the dishes we ordered was excellent, fresh, plentiful and very inexpensive. Will return again. BTW we kept seeing serving items what looked like logs being brought to other tables. Then, the seafood and baked rice we ordered was served in one and we understood what they were.
(4)
Amanda M.
Happened upon this place by chance and thought i could get some authentic Chinese food but ended up waiting 20 minutes just for water and that's after we asked three times! The Fried Rice was great but didn't make up for the lack of service my party received. the staff just passed over our table many times and were incredibly inattentive. Would not recommend or return.
(1)
Cat L.
Congee Village gets my vote because it's one of the rare Chinese restaurants in Chinatown that actually has a decent amount of seating. Expect no-nonsense attitudes from the workers and average prices for a sit-down Chinese restaurant, but also expect some really delicious foods on an overwhelmingly large menu. We ordered the House Special Chicken (801), Sliced Pork Preserved Egg Congee (402), Pork Chicken and Duck Congee (413), Fried Squid with Salted Pepper and Sauteed Ginger (S502, S507), Pan Fried Tofu (617)and Water Spinach (cong xin cai, not sure about the number). My favorite dish was the tofu - you absolutely HAVE to get it. I usually pass on tofu because it's too bland, but this tofu was juicy and perfectly seasoned. Everything was delicious, and it was the perfect amount of food for 4 Asian girls stuffing themselves full. The bill came out to about $80 after tax and tip. We tried the bubble tea as well, which was reasonably priced ($3) but nothing special. I thought the bubbles were a little bland, but it was also probably scooped out from leftovers because we came so late. We came on a Monday night and stayed well after we were done eating and even broke out a box of cupcakes we had gotten somewhere else for dessert. The workers never bothered us and even got us knifes and plates upon request so that we could enjoy our cupcakes. We didn't leave til around 11, and even then there were still some guests enjoying their meals.
(5)
Caroline K.
I don't know. I don't think I'm cut out for Chinese food save for the "Westernized" takeout scene. Came here in a big group and wasn't impressed with any of the food selections. I took three bites of the congee they served and called it a night and started craving a big bowl of pho instead. Maybe it's just me.
(2)
Lily L.
We arrived at 5 pm for new year's dinner. No wait and got seated right away. So far so good. After we ordered the place started to be noisy and the place was fully seated at 6 pm. We ordered 7 dishes, the first 3 came pretty fast, after that it was a waiting time that ended up in the last dish came when we were ready to leave the table. The food was good, I'm a regular since few years back and most of the dishes have not changed. The fish tummy soup was not the same and lacked of taste and ingredients. Will not order it again next time. Tofu with seafood was pretty good, I prefer non oily dishes and this was more of a soup/chowder/stew. Cold chicken feet in spicy sour was delicious as always. Congee taste about the same except from the different toppings we'd picked. Best comfort food and also nice in this cold NY weather. Steamed fish, delicious but so pricy. Probably because almost every table ordered fish for new year's celebration. Service was confusing. It all depends on who you flag down. The female waiter ignored or pretended not noticing us when we tried to get her attention. The male staff who presented our dishes or cleared the empty plates was much more attentive, which was soso but that's OK considered the busy evening and night ahead for them.
(3)
Wilson L.
I like this place lots! Cheap, fast and delicious Chinese food. It's greasy all around but it's worth it. The beef chow fun is a staple. The congee is good but it is served soooo hot. The beef satay is a must try. My friend loved it. Overall a fun place to go to dine even if it's late. They have late hours for late crowds. One of the better Chinese restaurants in Chinatown.
(4)
Steph Y.
Came here for the first time with a few friends on a Saturday night. Came around 5 PM and it wasn't busy - but as we were leaving, it got packed! So I highly suggest coming here earlier because there was a line. If you're going through my uploaded photos for this place.. you're probably wondering why did I come to Congee Village and not have any congee? Lol.. well normally I would but the only type I thought that would be worthwhile to get was the Century egg one but apparently that scares the sh*t out of anyone who isn't Asian, haha. So that was out of the question. Maybe next time. The ambiance here is great - the restaurant itself is very clean and the decor is beautiful. I love how it's not super cramped in here like most Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, its actually very spacious here. This place would be great for large parties. There was actually 2 large tables next to us that were partying it up shot after shot in wine glasses! So classy, I want to be like that when I get older! Shoot, they were almost twice my age and can drink more than me! Haha. The service sorta of blows here, servers are not attentive - but what do you expect from an Asian restaurant that's not Americanized? I'm just glad they don't give you an attitude and they didn't screw up our order which is always nice. Now onto the food.. - Roast Pork Fried Rice: this dish was SO dry, we didn't even finish it. Don't get it. - Beef Chow Fun: This was one of my favorite dish out of everything we ordered, but then when you think about it.. how hard can it be to mess this dish up? But then again, I can say the same for fried rice, lol. - General Tso's - I'm not a huge fan of General Tso's and it's usually a dish I never order so I'm indifferent. - Sauteed Short Rib with Brown sauce in Sizzling Hot Plate - Not that impressed.. it's like Korean BBQ except Korean Kalbi BBQ is way tastier. - Sauteed Jumbo Shrimp with Walnut and Broccoli in Mayonnaise - I always have to order this dish, especially if I'm eating Chinese food for dinner. It's one of my favorite dishes no matter where I go. The dish was good here - however, it definitely wasn't the best I've had. My friends that have been here before told me the shrimp used to be bigger. Not so much jumbo shrimp then? I thought it was on the smaller side but it was still pretty tasty. This place serves booze and all of us got drinks - the prices here were very reasonable. I got the Lychee Martini and enjoyed it. Want some beer? Try the Chinese beer! I was actually shocked at how cheap everything came out to be when we got the bill. There's not many places you can drink for cheap in NYC while stuffing your face with MSG!
(3)
Jin C.
I was craving century egg congee one Saturday morning, and Congee Village immediately came to mind. Having only had delivery from here and never having had their famed congee, I was in for a surprise. Can Congee Village live up to its namesake? And boy, it did. I ordered a bunch of more exotic things like duck's blood and pig's intestines but none of them were as gimme-gimme-more as that humble, steaming bowl of century egg congee. The rice gruel was smooth and savory, and there was just the right amount of century egg in there. The pig's intestines and the sweet and sour pork were the next best things that I tried. I would caution against the duck's blood (bland), soup dumplings (overly thick skin and no soup at all, really), and the flat rice noodles (dense and gummy). Otherwise, just come here for a bowl of tummy-filling congee with all the evocation of home. Ahh.
(4)
Sherra L.
I grew up always eating here with family and friends especially during the holidays or celebrating one's birthday! It's a great gathering to be at this restaurant because the Resturant is big, comfy, and great food choices! It just reminds me of home being here! Majority of the time at night, this place is packed! People are lining up outside the door! There's always a mix of different ethnicity groups that come here to eat which shows its that populated! It's amazing how this business grew so much more that it open up another one not too far from here! Every Time we come here, 9 out 10 times we order the same exact food! ( it's a Chinese thing) but nonetheless, it still tastes amazing! Definitely give this place a try!
(5)
Pia V.
There's always a crowd here and a long wait for a table; also expect to share your table with other patrons. Once you are seated they are very quick to take your order so they can try to get you in and out as soon as they can. The place itself feels kinda large, but because they have such a following it can feel cramped. None-the-less they do a pretty good job with keeping the place clean. The food is great and very flavorful, we loved every single bite of everything we had; e.g. congee, chow fun, fried rice, etc. It is definitely on the pricier end as far as Chinese food goes, but the taste makes it worth it IMO.
(4)
Linda S.
This place has a damn fine # of authentic, Cantonese-style dishes on the menu. If a banquet is what you're looking for, then a banquet you will get, as all these dishes are really made to share family-style with a large table. I highly recommend the: - Salt and pepper shrimp - Duck congee (requested no century egg) - Snow pea leaves - Pan fried tofu - House fried chicken - Dungeness crab ($44) The cost for the above was about $120 with everything included and was more than sufficient for our group of 5!
(4)
Raquel O.
If you go to CONGEE village, get CONGEE. Do not get anything else. I made the mistake of ordering Chow Fun and it was no fun. Ha. Really, it was dripping in oil and I had one bite and couldn't finish it. For $5, you leave with a full tummy and a happy wallet. I love this place.
(4)
Jerome T.
I have a love hate thing with these people-no racial. I've been going to both locations for forever and a day now. This one is slightly more rude then the Allen street location. Come here about 2/3 times a year. More at the other spot. PRO: The food. Minced pork and salted fish cake is instant foodboner! Rice with mushroom in "bamboo cylinder" was delicious. Congee is ALL good in the hood. Pork chop is bomb. Never had a seafood dish here I didn't like. It's clean and they have T.V's Full bar. Really great for huge parties. Bathroom was clean. What? That's important yo! CONS: The dumplings are really thick in dough and just meh in flavor. The 5 spice duck is garbage. Bad service. Most Chinese joints are kind of rude by nature, but this place is slightly a little worse then the average. If you can get over that, it might be worth it. They won't let you split cards. Came here with my friend and they wouldn't split two cards. WTF. No explanation, just wouldn't. Annoying level at that point was a 10. There you have it.
(3)
Janice C.
Service is what you would expect. If you want great service, then you shouldn't be in Chinatown. The food was very good, except for the fried dough sticks. Those were cold and a bit too sweet for my taste. I feel that they made a huge batch and left it there, but they could have been at least warm... The congeee was very good, we ordered 3 diff types; preserved egg and chicken, abalone and chicken, and duck and meatball. I wish there was some sort of combo of preserved egg and duck, the duck one was deff more filling but I liked the traditional egg one. The abalone one had ginger and it was very refreshing! I would definitely recommend diff types depending on what you want at the moment. We also got a order of small juicy dumplings, and they were nice as well, although they were a bit sweet. I liked mine salty but it was still pretty good! The wait was about 25 mins, even though they said jt would be 15.., that is my only major complaint about service. Give this place a try! Especially when its snowing outside!
(4)
Elvan Z.
I went here with my mother recently. We used to come here some years ago and had fond memories of the place. We were seated pretty much right away since it was a Wednesday afternoon. As most have said the place itself is huge and nicely furnished, and there is even a koi pond in the lobby underneath the stairs leading to the second level (which I was downright fascinated by as a kid). However, the restaurant does seem a little run down looking. Of course we ordered congee (vegetarian for me, scallop and white nut for mom) which was delicious. We also got the mushrooms with bean curd, which was really nicely seasoned and well cooked. Both were reasonably priced, especially the congee. Thr good parts aside, the staff was stiff and inattentive, and it got a little frustrating having to flag someone down for everything. At the bottom of my "healthy vegetarian congee" was --the horror!-- a piece of chicken. I'm not sure what they think vegetarian means but chicken is definitely not it.
(3)
Xi L.
Worst and rudest service I have ever experienced of any restaurant, and when I go to a Chinese restaurant, I set the bar pretty low. We are shown to our seat and nobody comes by for over 15 minutes. Restaurant is barely at capacity, not overbooked or anything, just bad service. Next, we get 4 dishes but say we want it to be served at the same time. Waiter says no we cannot do that, we cant tell the chef to do that, impossible. I say what do you mean impossible, he can't start the dishes at different times so we can be served our dishes with our congee? Is it no longer normal to be served food together instead of one by one so I have to force feed myself a plate of vegetables and THEN I get chicken? Please. Anyways the only reason I asked was because last time I ordered these things it took 10 min to get congee, another 10 min to get eggplant and then 25 min to get peking pork chops. Unacceptable. What kind of dining experience is that? Anyways the attitude ticked me off. This time we get bok choy and chicken so I know these dishes are quick, and fortunately they did come quickly. Unfortunately the bok choy had 2 different hairs in it... Finally, for two people, apparently they only take one card for that. What the hell is going on? Is it no longer possible to split a check in half, are you serious? The service was atrocious and ended with more absurdity. You will lose a lot more money when I never come back to this place (than you would have for getting charged 2 transactions on credit cards).
(1)
Bob K.
Not a strong 4, but a 4. This is the 2nd time I've been taken here by my girlfriend's best friend. He is a sales rep, so I imagine he takes out a lot of clients. This appears to be his go-to Chinese restauarant. Anyways, the last time I was out here in the winter, he took us out here b/c of the congee. It was delicious, I really enjoyed congee even though congee is typically the last thing I'd order at a Chinese restaurant. Some other things he ordered were fried chicken (great crispy skin), Chinese brocolli, some kind of lamb dish with tofu skin (very delicious), fried rice ("moooost excellent" as my Indian friends would say), and the rest were somewhat forgettable. Most forgettable was some kind of greyish/brown soup w/ absolutely no visible appeal and the taste was bland. Overall, I'd give the food about a weak 4. But for the most part, the food was always served hot and tasted good. Now for the downside: the service. I thought we got decent service because my gf's friend dines there a lot, but being the former waiter that I was in my youth, I could observe many table's patrons having to do weird gyrations to get any kind of service. The food service (actual food coming out) was pretty prompt, but the after service (extra water, napkins, more sauce, etc) requests seemed pretty slow. So if Congee Village management is reading this, my best advice is to train your servers to recognize that service should be end to end. And that the end is not when the entrees are served, but when the customer walks out the door. One thing I liked about this place was their policy not to sit parties until all diners arrived. We were sat very quickly in front of a packed waiting room because of this policy. Good policy for restaurants and I'm glad this place employs it.
(4)
Donald S.
Dislike all of the tourists and nonlocals that frequent here now, hence causing the long waits. But they do have good, while not GREAT Chinese food. It's terrible how most non asians will order the most generic made-for-america type dish and rave about how awesome and authentic it is. I hope any future patron here will come with an asian friend that knows how to order true chinese dishes. With that said, the crispy garlic chicken is pretty popular here. Their sticky rice in steamed bamboo pots are also good. Lots of traditional Chinese dishes are good here, too many to name. Ironic that I've never had congee (asian ricen porridge) here. The portions are definitely on the smaller side compared to traditional Chinese restaurants. However if you're used to eating at lavishly expensive American restaurants, you and your dining party will surely eat like kings here for a fraction of the price.
(3)
Ben W.
Best sick day remedy. Or just any day remedy really. The thing I love about Congee Village is that you can go with a small group of friends and grab a bite for $5 a piece or go all out banquet style and get $20 worth of food. Regardless, Congee Village serves it all and I've never left feeling unsatisfied. Their namesake is my favorite on the menu. Congee is a traditional Chinese dish made from rice and has a soupy starchy texture similar to porridge. Their list of add-ins is very long, including all types of meats, preserved veggies, thousand year egg, and more. My favorite is the pork, chicken, and duck. Their main course dishes I like include pan fried bean curd and roast duck. To be honest, I almost always go with congee because it's such a good deal and delicious, but I don't complain if the tables wants to go for larger family style fare. If you come on Saturday nights, be prepared for a wait. I also suggest this place if you're looking for a brunch alternative and don't want dim sum.
(5)
Joanna N.
I used to come here all the time as a kid -- it's been open since the 90s! It was the closest chinese restaurant to home. We came mostly for family dinners and the occasional lunch if we wanted youtiao and congee of course. Haven't been back in about 9 years, since it was easier to eat chinese in Brooklyn when we moved to Staten Island. But, I'm back in the LES now and decided to give it a go again! We came here for my sister's birthday earlier in the month and also just dined here again tonight! My family pretty much orders the same dishes at whatever Chinese restaurant we go to -- a variation of the following -- shrimp with honey walnuts, clams in black bean sauce, a steamed fish of some kind, house special chicken, sauteed lobster, baked crabs with glutinous rice, lamb chops, sizzling beef, a seafood stir fry, and/or a noodle dish. We all agreed that Congee Village was just ok. Service was fine. However, their dishes are inconsistent! Our meal today was not nearly as great as it was for my sister's birthday. The portion sizes also changed! The lamb chops were tasteless this time, the shrimp was fried for too long and the noodles were super soggy. We much prefer East Harbor Seafood Palace or J.King Seafood Palace in Brooklyn where we've never had any issues. We'll probably come back if it's convenient but otherwise will be searching for a more consistent family style spot.
(3)
Jane S.
My second visit to Congee Village did not live up to my expectation, so I must sadly drop the stars I had give earlier. My boyfriend and I came here for a weekday dinner. There was no wait and we were seated on the first floor (there are three levels) right away. The waiter gave us only one menu to share. We ordered the juicy buns (soup dumplings) and steamed rice rolls from the dim sum menu, and the duck, pork, chicken congee and the pumpkin fried rice. The waiter said the pumpkin dish would take 40 minutes to prepare. The congee and the rice rolls were served within the first 15 minutes. I expected the rice rolls to be like the ones you get from traditional dim sum restaurants stuffed with shrimp or beef, but the rice rolls from Congee Village were cut up into bite sizes and seasoned with soy sauce. It tasted pretty bland so I had to put a ton of pepper on top. The congee, on the other hand, was really salty and had a very strong ginger flavor. The soup dumplings were a huge disappointment - never order this from Congee Village! Not only was the skin really thick, but there was NO juice in the buns!! Some dumplings had ripped skins as well. The most anticipated pumpkin fried rice wasn't served until an hour later. And sadly the pumpkin was undercooked (it was still hard...) and not sweet either! I liked the fried rice, especially the parts where the rice was crispy. We only had 1/5 of this dish because it was served so late. I will probably have to microwave it to cook the pumpkin more!
(2)
Ray L.
Do you want hair and nasty garbage in your take-out? Because coming here is how you get it. I found hair and garbage in my $40 conch. Called to complain and didn't even get an apology. Crappy service and mediocre food. Go elsewhere in Chinatown for better food, service, and cleanliness.
(1)
Brian L.
Been here numerous times and people who really need to read a review just to decide if they want to come here should really punch themselves in the face. Everyone knows Manhattan's Chinatown is suffering from gentrification. These stupid yuppies from out of state moving in and driving up costs and rent. Chinatown as we know is shrinking, taken over by hippies and sheik restaurants that probably close up every month. You still have a number of good Chinese restaurants in the Mott, Grand, Elizabeth and Bayard areas, but Congee Village is pretty consistent when it comes to traditional Chinese food. If you're writing a bad review of this place because you ordered General Tso, sesame chicken, chicken with cashew nuts or some form of beef and broccoli, once again... Go uppercut your own face. Get the Jelly fish, sliced conch, Cantonese style lobster over a bed of noodles, cow intestines with pepper and onions, scallops with black bean sauce, or something of the like and you'll be straight.
(4)
Romeo M.
Good but has "no dim sum" enough to be called dim sum place.
(4)
Samuel L.
Sometimes there are long waits sometimes there are not. But food, always worth it! I got the Peking pork chop for lunch!
(5)
Melissa C.
I've been going to Congee Village for the past 20 years with my family. We've tasted pretty much 80% of the menu by now. We keep returning because the food just doesn't disappoint. These are my go-to dishes-- 1- White noodles with XO sauce-- my ABSOLUTE favorite noodle dish i've ever eaten. it has bean sprouts, eggs, onions, scallions, and XO sauce which is a tad spicy. EXTREMELY flavorful. I could eat this EVERY DAY. 2- House special chicken-- every Chinese restaurant has this dish, but Congee Village does it really well. It's always a crispy chicken skin with tons of braised garlic and extremely tender/juicy chicken. YUM 3- Snails with XO sauce-- i guess my family really loves XO sauce. the sauce goes great with the snails. As for the actual congee, we always get the one with squid and beef. Super tasty and super cheap!!! There are private rooms that you can reserve on the 2nd level floor as well, that can fit 12-15 people. There's also a basement which I believe you can reserve that has about 6-8 tables. Always make a reservation--otherwise you might have to wait a reallllllllllllly long time. there's a tiny bar where you can wait at but it's not a full service bar. the bathroom is extremelyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy tiny and dirty, so i'd recommend not using the bathroom if you don't have to!
(5)
Ruoqi Z.
We came because our love for different kind of congee but we will keep coming back because they actually have a really comprehensive selection of Cantonese style food. The tofu, crab and fried ribs are so on point. The bak-Choy is so good and fresh that I wouldn't mind coming here at least once a week. The congee is really good and I can't think of a place having more kinds of congee than this place in manhattan. Love it!
(4)
Anne L.
This place is absolutely packed but the food is pretty good! I was craving lobster so my boyfriend took me there! We requested the lobster over the jasmine rice and it was so good! We also got the sizzling steak with green peppers. Both dishes were filling and amazing! It's a Chinese restaurant so portions were big of course so it was super filling! I would definitely come back for the food! The staff however was alright! The waiter was just okay. His service wasn't absolutely amazing or anything but the thing I really didn't like was when we got the bill, I paid with my card and she brought it back to me to sign and she literally stood in front of me holding her hand out waiting for me to finish my tip calculations and signature to hand back to her. It was like she thought I'd leave without paying and I certainly don't like to feel like a criminal of any sort. She was tapping her feet as well very impatiently because it was busy. I just thought that was very rude and unprofessional. But I think I would still give it another shot because I enjoyed my meal very much!
(3)
Lindsey S.
Pros: solid food! :) Cons: chinatown service Must-get: house special chicken and fried squid So, get these two for sure; house special chicken and fried fresh squid!!!! The chicken here is amazing here. It's fried and cut into bite size pieces and smothered in soy sauce based liquid. The batter must be really thin because it looks like they didnt use any batter, which leaves that thin crispy skin on the outside and super moist inside! :) And the fried squid... omg... the squid inside is super tender and plump and the batter outside is salty and spicy! Goes so well with the neutral flavor of squid!!! :) As for the congee, I always get the one with the duck. Avoid the seafood congee. The seafood inside didn't wow me... kinda flavorless.
(4)
Carmen G.
Brrrrrr.... cold winter night like tonight, felt like having some congee to warm my body up. Congee village is a good spot to go to if you're interested in decent food. Being the boss that I am, I did all the ordering. I picked the boy choy, sizzling chicken casserole and the sliced fish with cabbage congee. My favorite was the bok choy, it really hit the spot. Choy was crunchy, garlicky and a slight splash of soy sauce. So fresh and good. Each one is packed with salty goodness that keeps you wanting more. The sizzling chicken stir fried wit onions and mushrooms was ok. Nothing really to rave or highlight. The congee was tasty, although maybe I should have picked another flavor.
(3)
Alex H.
I really like this place as they have specialty dishes like Wooden boxed Rice Casserole, Herb Preserved Cold Crabs, Salted Fish Meatloaf and of course Fried Sweet Potatoes. Congee comes in many varieties here and you'll be happy to know that you can customize. For those with large parties (12-24), you can also reserve a room with Karaoke equipment in it. Also there is a full bar and you can BYOB but at $10 Fee per bottle. My only complaint is that the portion is fairly small compared to other Chinese restaurants and this is certainly one of the pricier restaurants to go with it but the food is almost always good. Service can be a hit or miss but overall I recommend this restaurant for it's good quality and excellent variety. *It can be packed on weeknights/weekends so be sure to plan ahead.
(4)
Elizabeth F.
I came here with my family for my sister's birthday. The food was good. The service was good; I think it's because there's no language barrier since my mom ordered in cantonese. We ordered 7 dishes: Garlic Da Mue, sweet and sour pork (MUST GET!), salt and pepper fish, steak (MUST GET!), duck, jumbo shrimp and broccoli with mayo (MUST GET!), and peking pork. By the way, they serve brown rice for those who wanna opt for something else other than white rice. The bill came out to be about $120. It's not bad. It's quite affordable for only 7 dishes. I would definitely come back here in the future. HOWEVER! I was aware that the servers ignored non-chinese speakers. So please be advised that you will have to flag down your servers if you don't speak chinese. Other than that, I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Jason S.
this place shit. this place mad shit. this place is complete shit. this place is major shit. you wanna die? eat here. you want your order wrong? eat here. you want disgusting food? eat here. you want extra salty food? this is the place for you! this place is utter shit. if you wanna die faster, eat here, believe me.
(1)
Ryan P.
Tasty food but very poor service. Asked for water and sodas and it took 10 minutes to get water and 20 minutes to get soda. Waiter then proceeds to tell us that he forgot. Our table is right next to the water and soda fridge. The waiter never bothered to serve us or seem like he was attentive. He decided to talk to the other waiters through our meal also forgetting our pork chop Peking style. I will never come back here. Also check the water photo I uploaded where they filled the water pitchers from the rinse sink and I ended up with black visible specs in my water.
(1)
Cassie C.
Would like to come again
(4)
Peng Z.
Service: Shitty. Congee Flavor: Horrible. As an Asian, I can tell you what is called real congee, and this place is definitely NOT.
(2)
Jason H.
3.5 stars - good food, meh service. To be fair, it's a pretty legit and authentic Chinese restaurant in NYC, so the meh service is really to be expected. The rating is based on just the food alone - Chinese places just really don't do service well, and that's something that should be expected. But yes, the food is quite good. The pork and preserved egg congee is really good - one order it's enough for three of their little cup-sized bowls. We also had the beef and seafood congee, which was all right. We had tofu with seafood too. - pretty good. The best, though, was the house special chicken. Really great crispy skin and really flavorful (the sauce is a bit too salty, so watch out). Do try the hot sauce, it's pretty spicy, but has a great flavor (hard to find that in hot sauces eh?) All in all, the place has good food for pretty cheap.
(3)
Laurie M.
I had no idea this restaurant would be so large, especially because it's in the LES where most places feel shoebox-sized. Turned out to be the perfect spot for our group of 8 on a Saturday night with no reservation. We arrived just before 10pm and were seated within 20 minutes. The food was good and satisfied the carnivores and vegetarians alike. No dish in particular stood out to me, as all were pretty good but nothing you haven't had before. The real stand out was the check - only $75 total for 8 full people! Don't expect much in the way of service. We tried to flag down our waiter for napkins (which are not automatically provided), but were completely ignored. When one of us got up to grab a few napkins behind the counter, we were instantly yelled at for taking too many.. meaning 11 total napkins for 8 people. A customer scolding for 3 measly napkins!
(4)
Chris R.
Decent congee, dumplings were average and service was mediocre but would still ear here
(3)
Stephany T.
The congee is good but the service is horrendous. It took us 5 minutes to even get menus. We had ordered 5 dishes but the last dish didn't come out until after we had finished. When we asked about it, the waiter raised his voice AT US - it was completely uncalled for. I normally don't have high expectations for service in Chinatown restaurants but this was hands down the worst. 2 stars tho cause that congee really hit the spot.
(2)
Katrina L.
I love this place! I'm very picky about my Chinese food, and this place is awesome. It's legit family sized Chinese food that is known for their congee. I never was a fan of congee, but this place made me like it. Everything else is amazing and affordable as well. A few of my favorites: - Congee (just don't get the fish one because it has a lot of bones) - House special chicken (garlic, salted, crispy skin) - Soy sauce tofu (really soft and flavorful) - Snow pea leaf - Mixed vegetable delight
(5)
mengzi w.
New York's Chinese food has pretty bad impression from us, usually low quality and unimaginative, only cheap stuff. Cognee village really changed that. First time in America there are so many creative dishes that we've not tasted before, and they are all delicious! We had the cold crab Chaozhou style, garlic chicken, lobster stuffed with sticky rice, especially impressed was the fish that was filleted first then put on with normal green onion and soy sauce, fresh, tastier, and slight crunchy texture since it is poured with boiling oil and then sauce and all. Definitely THE go-to place in New York.
(4)
Yuqing L.
Food is great. Don't like the ambiance though.... too crowded and weird decoration style....
(4)
Matthew F.
Chuck p sucks. No idea what he is talking about. He goes on and on and on about how he doesn't. But he sucks. Trust me. I've known him for years. This food is great. H, not so much.
(5)
Jenny L.
This place is so popular, and it's all because for the food. The food taste very authentic and they offer a wide selection of items... Like the geoduck salami which my friend dare my to try but I chickened out. Next time! Funny thing is I never tried the congee in this place before, despite their name. But I'm sure it must be phenomenal just like the rest of their dishes is. The prices here isn't too expensive, which is another star for it's popularity. Came here on New Years Eve and ordered family style with friends, their cold plate platter for jelly fish is mouth watering full of jelly fish and cold cut beef. (They ran out of ham.) Their shrimp walnut dish was a little small in proportion compared to what I'm used to, but their crispy chicken was on point lip smacking good!
(4)
Annette T.
If you're craving Chinese food, this is THE PLACE to get your fix! I came here with a few others while visiting New York and was recommended this place from a local police officer. We ordered many dishes (chow fun, Chinese broccoli, peking style pork, walnut shrimp with broccoli, lobster, and a few others). I didn't get a chance to try their infamous congee but if their other food was superb tasting, I can only imagine what the congee tastes like. Overall, the food and service was excellent. I'd highly recommend!
(5)
Eric J.
2.5 stars, but I'll round up solely because of the food. I usually come to Congee Village for some good rice porridge. It might seem pretty simple to most people, but they actually execute it very well, and despite the plethora of restaurants and stands that serve it, it's legitimately better at Congee Village. The pork and preserved duck egg congee is just very rich and delicious, and perfect for a cold day. Not only that, but they also have a very extensive menu of other delicacies and menu items that remind me of my grandmother and mother's cooking. I very much enjoy their house special chicken, salt-baked fish fried rice, sauteed pea shoots, and the deep fried tofu stuffed with shrimp. These aren't your run-of-the-mill dishes, and they're actually kinda hard to find in Chinatown, especially GOOD versions of these dishes. That being said, avoid the soup dumplings here. There's barely any soup inside, and the soup dumpling skins are way too thick and doughy. With all that said about the good food, the service here is just the worst. So yeah, you've heard of those Chinese restaurants where they treat you better if you speak the language? Yeah, that definitely doesn't happen here. The waitstaff just kinda mills around and if you ask for anything that might require the slightest extra effort on their part, they seem to mutter to themselves and give a look of disgust. You might think that it might just depend on the actual waiter, but it's literally all of them, including the hostess. The waitstaff can disappear for what it seems like hours at a time. It just boggles my mind how they get away with this and how this can continue for so long. As you can see from other reviews, I'm definitely not the first person to complain about the service. I had fairly low expectations to begin with, and to fall far below those expectations is quite an accomplishment. I'm not even mad, just impressed. Actually, no, I'm pretty mad. Anyways, I do have to admit that the fact that they can get by with just the quality of their food is impressive. But still, c'mon son. I would come here for a casual lunch, or a meal where you're not at all pressed for time.
(3)
Tony J.
We came with a party of nine and ordered the $400 meal for ten people. First of all, let me talk about the portions: the food is way too much for ten. The amount left over at the end of our meal couldn't have merely been due to the lack of one individual; it was probably enough to feed at least five people. So whenever they list a combo for a certain number of people, increase that number by 50% to have an idea of how many it actually feeds. Now, we're a bunch of 20-somethings; if there are children or seniors in the crowd, it may even feed twice the number of people than what's listed. The dining area has three levels; the ground floor, a basement, and then a sub-basement, where they have tables for large groups. We were in the sub-basement. I don't remember everything we ate since there were so many dishes, but I do recall all of it being delicious. We began with soy sauce tofu (which had a nice golden brown crust) and soup. Our mains were chow mein and fried rice. There was also crab, which was good but not the best I've had. The steamed fish was particularly good; by that time a lot of people were full, so I estimate I had about a third or half the fish myself. When the roast duck came around everyone was full, but I had a bite and it was quite tasty as well.
(4)
Felix W.
Service was horrible. Was told there will be a $10 fee to hold ice cream cake. When i asked her why she said its cleaning fee... Waited a hour and half to be seated even though we had a reservation. After being seated we were rushed to order immediately. Also messed up our order
(1)
Yanoh J.
Came here on New years for a delicious and surprisingly very affordable meal. We got so much food and drinks for under $100. I assume this is real authentic food.. The place is also huge. They were very accommodating as well, the place was packed and when we were initially seated we asked to be moved to another table and they moved us within five minutes. Definitely will be coming back,
(4)
Nahian L.
Horrible service! The dam waiter took my chilli sauce and gave it to my neighboring guest! I want my dam sauce back! Decent congee.
(2)
Reny Y.
Been there twice lately, used to come years more often ago, I can say this place has gone down the drain, I been there lunch and dinner recently both occasions I was disappointed, they used to be good, now food is mediocre, overpriced, seafood not fresh, service terrible, had to call them over just for place an order, no one change our plates, had to flag them down again for check, and the beef rib tips I order was still red! Fried octopus was disgusting, ate 2 piece I was done, I went to the restroom to take a leak, I was disgusted how unsanitary It was, didn't expect it at all, don't believe me check it out for yourself! would I come back? Don't know, but not anytime soon
(3)
Annie P.
Poor customer service from management and staff here tonight. Our party of 5 came in around 730 pm and was informed the wait is about 30 mins. We were sat at 850 pm. Still hoping for good service knowing it's the typical weekend restaurant environment. We order a total of 6 dishes including soup. Soup came after 20 mins of ordering. Then came the sauteed garlic snow pea leaves and the stir fried vermicelli. The grilled sea bass arrived 15 mins after the previous 2 dishes. To realize as if we were served plate by plate. Awful. So darn awful. Our house special chicken dish usually comes first and yet after an hour and half it was no where to be seen except at a table next to us that was sat a whole hour after us. Yet when we asked the manager or any staff, they hurried to respond, but walking away. That there is extremely rude since our friends mother, an elderly, had asked. The manager that took our order was "AN". He as management, I assumed, since he was in a suit, kept on giving us the run arounds on our food. We even spoke to a lady manager on staff. She didn't show no concern or sincerity about the delay or how we were being treated. We left like about 955pm and just paid for what was served and leave because there was still no righteous explanation to how the food hadn't come. He did apologize but only after we asked for like the 10th time. I really had to write this review because it bothers me to know we are paying customers who waited patiently and were poorly treated. I hope that your establishment will realize sooner before your customers take the business elsewhere. It's sad that our friend's mom was hungry waiting for her favorite dish and didn't even get to have any. Extremely dissapointed with Congee Village's customer service. We hope no one else's family has to experience this. All we tried to do was have family dinner and support the business. .
(1)
Sophie Y.
Really good congee (I have make the one with fish as my headshot)! Some other dishes and fast-food meals are also good. The environment is ok and service is good. This is the first restaurant I visited in NY, when I just arrived here no more than 4 days, living at the Bowery House just across the street... full of memory...
(4)
Sorena W.
I don't normally write reviews, but this place is terrible. If I could give it no stars, I would. They got two of our orders wrong. The food is not that great, it's very salty. The service is the worst. It took them an extremely long time to bring out the wrong orders, only to make us wait even longer to get what we asked for. In fact, they did not even accommodate nor apologize to the other customers next to us when they complained about their food. They gave customers attitudes. The people who work here are so rude. Never coming back here and I do not recommend this place to anyone. You can find tons of places in Chinatown, but don't put this one on your list.
(1)
Kenny C.
I have fond memories of this place because my parents used to take me out here when I came home from college via the Fung Wah bus (this probably dates me). Since then, Congee Village has gotten more and more popular, especially amongst out-of-towners and the foodie crowd. So expect a wait. Go early, grab a number from the hostess, and then plop down at the tiny bar inside. They have some beachy cocktails (most made with premade mixers) at reasonable prices and TVs with which to occupy yourself. Food can be cheap or expensive (depending on how/what you order). Not a fan of their Americanized dishes (like the sweet and sour chicken), but you should get the other family style dishes that reviewers mention over and over here (like the house special crispy chicken). The Thai-style clams (called Manilla style on the menu for some reason) were delicious. A bit on the spicy side, and full of veggies and hot broth for $12. Probably my favorite thing I had. The salt fried shrimp dish was okay, but not worth the price for how many individual shrimps we got. Veggies were pretty standard - nothing wrong with them. Taking off a star because we were a party of 5 and they gave us a table clearly meant for 4. My chair was lodged in between our table and a back railing, where if I breathed the wrong way, it'd be uncomfortable. But other than that, service was fast. Food was as good as I remember, and the bill was reasonable. Also, it's open late, which is also why it's a popular choice for drunk people and Chinese people coming back from casino trips.
A few years back, I would have said this is my favorite Chinese restaurant. I remember coming here when I was younger and just absolutely loving it. I haven't been here in close to 10 years and was super excited when it was chosen as the restaurant for our group get-together. Unfortunately, I left fairly disappointed. I came here with a group of friends (party of 12) and we rented out a private room downstairs. In order to get that room, we would have to spend over $400 in foods. We easily reached that amount even though we did not even order that much food nor anything that should be too expensive with the exception of probably the two lobsters. Everything we ordered was pretty much things I normally love to eat, so I should be over the moon right? I found everything to be pretty good, but not the best I've had and the taste definitely does not justify the cost. Even so, if a party is spending so much money in a private room you would think our waiter would visit every once in a while right? Nope. Service was non-existent. We had to hunt around for extra utensils ourselves and walk up the stairs to find someone constantly. At one point, the smell of reeking old garbage seeped into the room from a mysterious door in the back of the room. Gross! In my opinion, there are better Chinese restaurants out there. Congee Village is nothing but another restaurant that lives in the shadow of its former glory. P.S. I have never tried the congee here.
(2)
Colleen W.
The food was okay (nothing EXTRAordinary), but the service was downright TERRIBLE (even coming from a softie)! First of all, they seated us in the worst possible place. We felt so claustrophobic tucked away in the corner of a little closet. We asked if we could move to the free table next to us and the waitress didn't even make eye contact with us to say no. Next, we waited about 10 minutes for them to come and take our orders.... then before we were done eating, the waiter attempted to take away our unfinished dishes not once but TWICE while we were still spooning food off the plates... we felt so rushed. After they RUSHED us, we waited another 10 minutes for our check to come. WTF. You don't take someone's food away before they finish eating and then make them wait for the check to come. We were seriously contemplating chewing and screwing. We were that pissed. On our way out, the waiters didn't even make eye contact with us... they just frowned and looked down with disgusted faces. I know NYC can make people cold-hearted and rough and that service is tough work, but GEEZ, I've never encountered such rude service in my life.
(2)
Hallie C.
I was feeling under the weather so my hubs took me to this Congee Village. We ordered chicken & black mushroom congee, pork & aged egg congee& squid w salt & pepper. After ordering, we were served w a pot of tea to drink. When I flipped the cup to serve a cup to my hubs, I found two dark spots. So I just tried wiping them off. One came off but the other seemed as if it were dried there for good! We both tried taking the stain off ourselves but there was no point.... So I finally asked for a replacement to the waitress & a clean one came..... Both congees were superb. Perfectly seasoned n not greasy (I've had some very greasy n stinky congees before elsewhere)& I fell in love w their congees. It made me feel better. I loved it so much that my hubs ordered one more to go so I can have some more at home. The service was good, unlike the typical service u get at Chinese restaurants. They actually smile and were attentive. The reason why we've decided to give a four star was one, bc of the dirty cup & although the squid was yummy, they were very very very greasy...... It was so greasy u had to w them w hot peppers that came w it and or hot sauce to neutralise its greasiness in your mouth. I'd def go back when I want some congee!
(4)
Lisa M.
Came here on a Sunday with two of my friends, one who is from Taiwan and one who is like me, non-Asian. I can see how the menu is quite a culture shock for some; bird's nest, sharkfin soup, congee etc. I feel like when my friend and I are the only non-Asian people in the restaurant, it must be closer to the real thing. When I'm at the more authentic restaurants, I always get the peaking style pork chops and they usually are pretty delicious. The reason why I gave it two stars is because I feel that we totally were given worse service because we were not all Asian. The waiters rarely came to our table and they forgot to put in all of our dishes. Meanwhile, full tables of 5+ people were coming in after us, getting their food before us and leaving while we were still waiting.
(2)
Moon R.
Food is ok but service is garbage. I arrived alone at 11 pm on a Saturday night. The restaurant is half empty and they don't close until 2 am. The hostess asks the waiters if there were any seats available for one person. They said no, so they put me near the bar. I sit there waiting for 20 minutes but no sign of a waiter. I go find one and they said the bar area is closed, you need to sit upstairs. Really, then why did you seat me there in the first place? No answer. Perfect. To add insult to injury there were two waiters that actually walked down to the bar area to watch TV and not any one of them cared to tell me that that area is closed and there is no service. They in fact stared at me briefly and kept watching TV. I didn't realize they were waiters until later. Next, they clear a table, bring some tea, and I sit down. Another 10 minutes go by with no service and I try to make eye contact with a waiter. It is clear that no one wants to take my order. I look at the hapless couple near me listlessly gazing towards the kitchen area. Now, I am ravenous and very, very HANGRY (hungry-angry). I get up and walk out without a word. Advice to anyone thinking of coming here--the staff here only cares about the size of your party. If you're not in a group good luck trying to flag down service. While I like the food here and have been coming for years I've never been treated so dismissively; quality has definitely declined. If these people are too good for my money (and I eat enough for two), I'll be spending it somewhere else.
(1)
Alice T.
Dined-in for Chinese new year with fiance, my sister and her husband. Subpar service probably would discourage me from dining in again. They were far more accommodating of groups that were all Chinese.
(3)
Yayo V.
Was looking forward to eating here but due to its very incompetent and bad service I never got my food. I am more than familiar with how shotty service can be at resturaunts like these but usually that doesn't bother me. But when you make me wait 30+ minutes for my food then come tell me that due to a "computer error" the order was never put through to the kitchen!? Well that's just BULL. At least pretend you are sorry for being incompetent. Not snarky that I requested you to check how much longer my food was going to take.
(1)
Tiffany L.
Standard Chinese restaurant with decent food for a decent price. It appears a lot of their business is takeout but on a late afternoon they had a few opens occupied. The service wasn't very good but I'm quite used to that when it comes to Chinese restaurants. Ordered the: Beef chow fun 3/5 Pork chop with tomato sauce over rice 4/5 Soup dumplings 3/5
(3)
Alex W.
Solid place for some Chinese food. I had the rice stew which was very flavorful. The place was crowded and it smelled slightly foul. Portions healthy and prices affordable.
(3)
Gabby G.
I've visited this restaurant several times and I must say I am disgusted with my service here. Upon arriving I was told there would be a 30 minute wait which is understandable for a table in the city. After about an hour of sitting and waiting I see a group of 4 come in (the same number of people in my party) and after waiting 10 minutes are seated at a table by the manager. After confronting the manager and staff they simply laughed and said sorry and that a table would be ready for us shortly. After another 10 minutes we are seated at a table with another family. Absolutely ridiculous! The service here is terrible and I will not be returning here again. This isn't the first time that something like this has happened either. Another time my family and I were here with a baby and asked for a high chair, to which they told us that none were available. Yet an Asian couple beside us asked for one and got one immediately. I'm not one to blame it on race and call the establishment racist but the staff here are definitely prejudice.
(2)
Sarah E.
Honestly, I was excited about this place, really excited. I had seen some of the strange things on the menu, and immediately placed it on my list of restaurants to try. When I finally found a friend to try the weird fare, we headed there with high hopes. We placed a large 6 dish order, as the food was cheap enough and we wanted to allow room for a couple dishes we weren't sure about. Here's how it down: fired rice- this is just a staple for me, but it was SO dry. So dry I was forced to use a spoon to even pick it up. crab porridge- ugh. I love crab, but this had so much fish sauce I couldn't down more than two bites. Pork ribs- the only good thing we tried, although I must admit there hasn't been an asian pork rib I haven't liked. fried dumplings- the dough was really rubbery, even though it was cooked through. duck foot- also very dry, I have had good ducks foot, but this made me think of exaclty what it was I was eating. cow's heart- this wasn't cooked properly. I had done some research online, and from what I had read, this dish was inetable. I told the waiter who agreed with me and took it away. Tea- this was sitting on a table, one of my favorite things about visiting an older asian restaurant. It was good but certainly not a reason to go back. The servic was incredibly rude, and even sat down in the restaurant while we were eating at the tables surrounding us to have their own dinner, completely ignore us asking for the check before they had finished their own meal.
(1)
Amelie N.
Very good food! We ordered many different dishes and they were all delicious. I recommend the chicken Tso!
(4)
Dan B.
I love this place. Sure, the service is not great, but this just adds to the authenticity of the Chinese restaurant experience. The food is always delicious, especially the chicken porridge and the large steak platter.
(4)
Leonard L.
Why does this place remind me of a cheesy tiki bar? Hahah who knows but they must be doing something right after being open for so many years. If you're coming here as a two seater then avoid the left side of the place. Seems they only had 1 table for two on that side and it's near the bathroom where there's a lot of foot traffic. BAC (ball and chain, lulzz) did the ordering on a menu which had a bazillion choices to choose from. We went for - Slice fish congee - bok choy - Chicken and mushroom cassarole Congee was on the lighter side when compared to other places (big wong) which gave diners the option of seasoning more with salt if they wanted. Decent sized fish slices as well. It filled about 4 rice bowls per order. Bok choy was your standard veggie and they made it with minced garlic. Chicken and mushroom came in a clay pot coated with what seemed to be oyster sauce. Edible but nothing memorable. Waiters and service were your standard chinatown-esque " i don't really give a shit about your or my job". It's what i expect when coming to these type of joints, no change in rating there. What bumped this from 3 to 2 stars was the fact they still serve shark fin on the menu. If you don't know about shark fin and how it's harvested, you betta ask somebody.
(2)
Jeff L.
Great food, but racism is alive and well. Sat down and it took over 20 minutes and still no one even acknowledged us. I asked the waiter if he could take are order or should we just leave? The table of Chinese people behind us sat down 10 minutes after us and had menus and drinks and food within 5 minutes. They had 3 waiters attending to them. The owners of this place used to be my landlord and I busted them wide open in an overcharge case on my apartment. These are unscrupulous people. But damn the food is good. To recap, if you want to celebrate racism in America with some good seafood this s the place!
(1)
Jenny S.
I STILL cannot believe how CHEAP our meal was here!!! ---pork w/ preserved egg congee: it's one of the most popular congees & at $3.50?! i'll take some of that plus it was pretty good! great for sharing w/ others if you want to try other things! --seafood noodle soup: wasn't the best soup i've had but ALL the seafood in it was really good, squid wasn't rubbery at all (as expected from most cheap chinese joints) & the shrimp was yummy too --free grapes after our meal PLUS the staff was really friendly & always smiling.. i find that rare at a chinese restaurant these days CASH ONLY
(4)
Miao X.
4 star for food Congee is perfect for a winter lunch. Congee with minced pork and preserved egg is a must-try. It is served in a hot pot. Congee just melts in the mouth. It has a little bit salt which blend perfectly with the preserved egg and the pork. Steamed pork bun is good as well, but doesn't stand out as the congee. They serve pu er tea, which is not common in normal Chinese restaurant. 3 star for service Very very disappointed with the service. We sat for almost 10 min before served. Not until we finished the other dish that congee was served. I shouldn't call it served. The waiter simply put the burning pot at the edge of the table and left. We were staring at the pot, no plates and spoons, having no idea how to start. No one checked on us to see how everything goes the entire lunch. We had to wave for the bill. If you want people come back, please improve the service!
(3)
Jennifer T.
We've gone here numerous times with family, it seems the quality of the food can really range depending on what dishes you order. First of all, be prepared for it to be crowded. The wait time isn't too bad, but the area is very drafty where you wait, so be prepared to bundle up on a chilly winter night. Actually the entire place was drafty as we got a table in the farthest back of the room, and it felt like a window was open it was so cold! Also note, you need your ENTIRE party there in order to be seated. I know this is often the case at many restaurants these days, but the first time I noticed a Chinese establishment that had the same requirement. We've tried so many dishes here, its hard to keep track. I think their fried tofu is a tried and true favorite of ours, as well the salt and pepper calamari; both are well-fried and seasoned without too much breading. We've also ordered various seafood dishes like scallops, clams, all were good, and the sea cucumber for those looking for more of an adventure. Their frog is also very tender and flavorful. Another popular dish among some is their intestines in the claypot, but not for the faint at heart. The food overall is good, but can be quite savory, and often times the tea they give you is really bad quality, making it hard to really keep enjoying the meal.
(3)
Leslie C.
I love a good congee-- we shared the classic sliced pork and preserved egg congee which was a bit more gingery than I'm used to but still terrific; a very large portion for $4. Also shared the signature fried chicken (1/2 chicken, $11) which was fantastic, extra crispy skin and moist. a bit salty w the soy sauce seasoning, plus sauteed chinese greens w. garlic (we asked for garlic) $9 (which seemed a bit high) Came in around 2:15 pm on a thursday, seated immediately in the mezzanine area (only about 3 other tables were occupied but it filled in to about 1/2 full by the next 45 min, Chinese and caucasians. Tea and table setup was also immediate and food came within 5 minutes.... based on the other reviews I was expecting poor service but it was great actually, not trouble getting water, napkins, tea refill, check etc.; relatively friendly (on the chinese restaurant scale), clean dining area, and very good value...we had leftovers to take home. Chefs all came up to the dining area to eat at 3pm so that may also have sped up our service.
(5)
Chun M.
I love coming to Congee for our reunion of old co-workers. Make a reservation to cut down on your wait time, the same day if you have to. There's always a crowd waiting outside, in the reception area and the bar. We were seated right away when I told them I had a reservation. We were led down into the bowels of the restaurant to a room 2 levels down that I'd never seen before. To say that the decor is eclectic is an understatement. Traditional lacquered wood with aluminum radial armed multi-colored rainbow light fixtures?!? Who picked these out? This must be the karaoke party room. The food was spot on as with previous visits. Our menu this time was simple with our usual favorites. Nothing exotic this time and reasonably priced family style dinner. Seafood & yellow chives soup (needs a flavor boost) Peking pork chops Walnut prawns House special garlic chicken (solid) Whole T-bone steak Flounder cooked 2 ways (so-so, should have gotten the pan fried) Stir fried pea pod leaves Yellow egg fried rice If you want to try more unusual fare, ask your waiter for suggestions of different types of seafood, shellfish, live fish and you'll really run up that bill!
(3)
Laverne W.
I couldn't do the main dish Congee is known for... so I can't give any feedback on that. However, I can speak to everything else. I was part of a dinner party of 14; although reservation were made, we still waited 10-15 minutes for our table. We were escorted to large round family style table - good thing we like each other- sitting was elbow to elbow. Center of the table was a lazy-susan, with 2 teapots and menus. I ordered the rice, chicken and mushroom baked served in a bamboo case - pretty cool. Sorry no pics. It was just right in taste and serving portion. Someone order Congee's chicken - it was better than any other Chinese take-out joint I ever had. Service was fair for a close to closing reservation for a relatively large group. Congee is good for local dinning. It's not a destination.
(3)
Cat Y.
Don't get me wrong I enjoy eating here from time to time, but having to wait 1hr when we had already made reservations is unprofessional, a lack of good management and shit organization at this restaurant. Do they not understand the concept of reservations? We were told there are two parties ahead of us and cannot guarantee how long it would take to seat our party of 7. Aren't we suppose to be seated immediately at our reserved time or at most a 10min wait for our table to be cleaned? ABSURD! HELLO WE MADE A RESERVATION! Why have the option of reservation if we still had to wait an hour or more?
(2)
Priscilla T.
Clearly stating the obvious here but don't come here looking for friendly service. Do come here looking for a cheap-ass food bill that covers enough food for a small village. Ok, I'll temper that statement a bit: don't come here looking for friendly managers and front of house but the actual wait staff are efficient and helpful. Anyway, I brought a crew of 16 here and staked out one of the private rooms downstairs and brought our own music and portable speaker. Tasty food, dancing music, and good times. Other pluses: full bar available. And did I say cheap?
(3)
Kimberly W.
FYI -- Their hours have changed on Saturday night to 1:00 am. Don't be fooled by the neon lights and oddly tiki-style decor. This is the best Chinese food in the city, IMO. Every trip to Congee Village is a belly-bursting treat. Don't miss the house special garlic chicken, the Peking pork chops, and the delicious silken tofu with steamed onions, celery, and sauce. YUM. I've been here, uh, can't even count how many times, and have yet to try the congee, but I've heard it's amazing. Bucket list.
(5)
Cherie L.
Great atmosphere for large groups! Had eight to nine dishes and they were all really good. Will come again!! -Atmosphere: 6/10 (loud but nice seats) -Food: 7/10 -Customer service: 9/10 as long as you know Chinese -Prices: 10/10 how can you beat ~$13 for a group meetup?? Hope you enjoyed a charismatic review!
(4)
Lisa Y.
So I came here on a whim and I thought it was just okay. I ordered short ribs, a veggie dish, and I think mee fun. (It was quite unmemorable). The bill came out to be about $45, and it was really just meh. The mee fun lacked flavor, the veggie was just okay, and the shortribs were the only thing that made it good. My codiner loved the short ribs, I thought they were a bit lacking in flavor. But maybe that's why she liked it. I came back last weekend with another set of friends. My friend had a case of the stomach bug, so she was jonseing for some Congee. Now here is why I gave them 4 stars. I never liked Congee as a kid. Like absolutely not, unless I was sick. I would opt to eat anything but congee. So I came here with my buddies, and they ordered 3 things of congee. 3 Flavor, 1000 year old egg, and also the white scallop. They were really nicely sized. $5 bowl would probably feed 2 people easily. There were 6 of us. I didn't get to try the white scallop, but I had a 1000 year old egg and the 3 flavor congee (ham, chicken, and duck). They were both really really really good. My friend who's never had 1000 year old egg actually really liked it. I thought of it more as an acquired taste. The service is meh. You have to hail down the servers to order or anything else. Make sure you check the plates and cups first because sometimes they come out dirty. But at least it's fast and no bull-poop. They are direct and they are swifty. I'd totally come back here again for some delicious congee! Everything else is a little over priced. But then again, I'm not very good at ordering Chinese food. Maybe I'll come back with my dad.
(4)
Ingrid S.
I'm not sure how I feel about this place still. The last time I was here was about a year ago when 'someone' tried to convince me to go on a blind Grouper date. The three of us had cocktails and our groupers showed up late so we drank their complimentary drinks and I left without a care in the world. The drinks here are delicious and strong. This was my first time noshing here though and I had no idea what to order so I left that to Steph and my new found Yelp friends. We started with something that looked like Porridge. Actually, reading their menu now online, it was porridge. . . . It was salty and definitely not for me because my stomach is not agreeing with this today one bit. We also split an order of dumplings, fried squid, and some kind of meat dish. This is not too helpful. I'm pretty sure it was Beef Chow Fun. Much more helpful. But I took pictures and the fried squid was quite delicious. I also got lost in here. Which was kind of fun. For about ten to what felt like fifteen minutes after using the restroom I popped into various rooms, hallways, bombed in on someone's private karaoke party and unveiled secret hidden passageways. This place is huge and kind of fun. Not as exciting I imagine on a Monday night. But I was impressed with how long it took for me to make my way back to my table.
(4)
Asi H.
this place is one of the only chines places that have frogs and "real chines food" away from Flashing. don't get the fried stuff, get the cooked stuff and it is wonderful i will go back there again
(5)
Carlacjake N.
Love hate relationship. Love it on weekends. Don't bother on Monday - Wednesday. My mistake, took my family there on a Tuesday and food was not fresh. Go on the weekend and the food will be amazing. My "To Order" List Salt & Pepper Squid Salt & Pepper Pork Chop (peking sauce on the side) House Special Garlic chicken Snow pea leaves (veggie dish) Bean Curd with soy sauce Beef Panfried Noodle Beef Chow Fun Spicy Ma Po Tofu Ying Yang Fried Rice Singapore Chow Mei fun Clam with Black Bean Sauce Chinese Broccoli on Sizzling Platter Cons I'm a big seafood person, but I wouldn't recommend getting seafood here. Never get the Xiao Long Bao (Shang Hai soup buns) here, there's no soup in them...
(4)
Yang C.
Had roast duck and meatball porridge, chicken&black mushroom porridge, lamb and dried bean curd in casserole, house special shrimp paste park rib. All delicious and exactly what I expect to have. Definitely one of my favorite restaurant in NY.
(5)
Tre S.
Entrees were solid, but the service was sub-par and discovering after the meal that there would be no fortune cookie made this a spot I won't choose again. Besides, it's New York - why would anyone eat at the same place twice anyway??
(2)
Glen P.
Great food but really bad service..the main course per person was served at different individual times not at all at once..staff wasnt pleasant and non catering to us..wanted to get more but was slapped with a bill before u can say anything ..not polite..rude...just to get rid of u.. kinda felt bias. when u want to enjoy a night out with family...still left a descent tip even though they didn't deserve wouldn't belittle my self and stoop to there level...
(2)
William H.
CV has been around for ages. They also have a shop on Bowery, but the Allen St tastes better in my opinion. Most Yelpers can agree that this place is crowded, loud and a bit unkempt most of the time, but definitely has stood strong in the test of time. Pretty consistent experiences throughout the years and my only choice when craving congee and sides. Several dishes I usually always order (might not everyone's thing): Pork and preserved egg congee Thai-style chicken feet (boneless) Congee Village stir-fry (chives with fried squid, lotus strips, and some other small ingredients)
(3)
Jenn S.
AWESOME AND CHEAP CONGEE!! and good xiao long bao tooo! would definitely come back. also great for groups!
(4)
Diana S.
Despite the name of restaurant this place serves a lot more than just congee. The portion of the food were quite big. Food and service was nice. However some of the food was really salty but the flavor was fine. I didn't like how they would not seat me at a table since not all guest of the had arrived. If you come in a big group it's gonna be crowded. I had 14 people sitting at one table. Wasn't the most pleasant seating arrangement.
(4)
Wilson C.
Great, authentic Cantonese food. Always my recommendation for anyone looking for a "nicer" Chinese place in the city. Plenty of big tables and family style serving makes it great for groups. The menu is huge and if you're not very adventurous I'm pretty sure you can still order sesame chicken or something lame like that.
(4)
Chris L.
I came here with a couple of friends and my Boo Boo. There was a long wait for dinner. We waited near the bar and had a couple of fruity yet strong drinks and Heineken chasers. We waited almost an hour to be seated. I was interesting that there were many types of people dining here. From tourists, locals and haters like me, this place was packed. We ordered the salty fish chicken eggplant casserole, house special chicken, General tso pork chops, sauteed snow pea leaves, and walnut shrimp. It tasted alright just like any other decent Cantonese spot. Service was terrible. It took them over 10 minutes to come take our order after we were seated and tea came. We didn't get rice until 3/4 of our meal was over. But whenever we needed beers they arrived at the table just in time to pad the bill. Someone threw up by the stairs near the karaoke rooms and it was was not taken cared quickly enough. There are many other restaurant that serve the same quality food around the area. I would not make an extra effort to dine here anytime soon.
(3)
Alex T.
I loved this place. The congee was delicious (as expected) and the atmosphere. I let the Asians that I was with order a bunch of stuff to share and they did me right as always. The whole fried chicken was my favorite. Really, really delicious stuff here.
(5)
Adiba A.
Delicious Cantonese food! I'll go straight to the food: House special chicken: perfectly done. The skin was crispy but not burnt and the chicken meat was tender and juicy. Perfect with some hot rice and the snow peas with garlic (see below). Sesame chicken: so apparently you have to try the House Special Chicken at Congee Village but my personal favorite was the sesame chicken. It looks fiery red and tastes amazing! Some sweet and sour dishes can be a bit too overwhelming however the sweetness in this chicken was perfect - not too obvious and not too subtle either. And the broccoli it came with was really nicely done too - crunchy but not raw at the same time. Singaporean style noodles: My usual problem with Singaporean noodles is that the curry powder is a bit too strong for me - like you can almost taste the spice which I don't think is the purpose. But I thought they did a good job with this dish. Lot sof shrimp and veggies and you knew the curry spice was there somewhere but it remained elusive like it should. Snow pea leaves: This was a really nice surprise! I wasn't sure what to expect but I wanted some dish that ws straight up vegetables in the midst of all the meat and carb were indulging in. And this was perfect! Freshly cooked in garlic and salt (and maybe vinegar?) it was really nice mixing it with the sesame chicken, broccoli and the rice. Dumplings: Briefly, it they were very underwhelming. We ordered the vegetable steamed and panfried dumplings (shame that we don't eat pork). And the dumplings were minuscule! And did not taste that great either. Service was okay, a bit sluggish but the waiter was helpful while we were ordering. The seating was great and it's a good spacious space for family meals, especially if you have kids that need high-chairs. 4 stars because of the excellent entrees and the very reasonable price for great Cantonese food!
(4)
John S.
One thing is for sure: this place is good for groups. My friend Alex has had his birthday here every single year for at least ten years now, and part of the reason is because they happily accommodates the loyal 20 or so of us who show up year after year after year. They find us a couple huge round tables next to each other, and soon the party is started and the lazy Susans are spinning. Another reason I'm sure Alex likes the place is its somewhat kitschy decor, particularly in the bar in front. There are fake trees, fake rivers, fake bridges--it is kind of cute. Fashion photographers should do shoots here. The bar menu matches the look at the place; order something with a name that ends in -tini and have a good time. The food's fine, like a better-than-average Chinatown place. The namesake congee is not really the kind of dish anyone wants to make a night out of in any venue, but the seafood variation is a little different and exciting. Another thing that makes this place good for groups is that they can met the needs of vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Even though I'm happy enough to find myself here once a year, I don't come more often, mostly because I'm not often in the neighborhood and it doesn't call for a special trip. But if you're nearby, Congee Village has its charms.
(3)
Annie Y.
I had wanted to try this place for a while (who wouldn't with a name like Congee Village). Sadly I was very disappointed with both the food and the service. We ordered a xiao long bao, seafood congee, and regular congee WITHOUT cilantro for both because I have that genetic negative reaction to the herb. We asked our waiter after he took our order to double check that there would be no cilantro in our food and he haughtily told us that he's got it down. When the congee came...only one didn't have cilantro. They told us the kitchen messed up but we didn't send it back since one of us could eat it. So I basically picked the cilantro out. This place would make me nervous if I had an allergy and asked for things to be excluded from the dish... The flavor of the congee was pretty good especially for a cold afternoon. The xiao long bao on the other hand was disappointing because it didn't have enough juice AND the dough didn't taste like it had been steamed all the way through. Well, at least I've crossed off one place to try xiao long bao at. P.S. For those of you who don't know, xiao long bao = soup dumplings. :)
(1)
Jason K.
Great Food, great price, great location. My friends and I went to this place after a night out in LES on a Friday night. We had a feast, and probably paid less than $15 each. The house special chicken was absolutely amazing. I definitely recommend this place to others.
(5)
Amy C.
Finally had the chance to try this place. Hard to find a place that is mainly known for their Congee. The place was larger than I expected and the wait was about 20 minutes on a Saturday afternoon. (This was just for two people) We ordered the three meats- duck, pork, chicken congee, the house special chicken (half order- good size for 2-3), bok choy, and the clay baked rice with chicken and mushroom. The star of the entire meal would have to be the house special chicken- with the perfect amount of garlic and salt- one piece keeps you asking for more. The congee was pretty standard and the bok choy was probably overpriced. If I had to come back, I'd probably just get a to-go order of the house special chicken and a congee.
(3)
Paul H.
Decor: 4/5 Service: 3.5/5 -I've been here twice though I barely recall my first visit. My second visit was with a party of 16. We were guided down the stairs into a private room with two round tables and a 32" TV that's setup to a karaoke machine. The interior decor was definitely not sparse. -The place almost appears to be a maze with different levels and stairs. -Fairly attentive though we were stranded without tea a few times -They did offer to cut our surprise birthday cake which was kind of the server Food: 3/5 -Our fellow HK friend ordered for the whole party therefore I'm unable to name all the dishes. -Fried Fresh Squid ($9.50) was a hot item and disappeared fast. Lightly battered shell with chewy squid on the inside. The amount of salted pepper was just right. -Sliced pork and preserved egg ($3.50) was, to my surprise, quite delicious and I'm quite critical when it comes to congee. -Pan Fried Minced Pork w. Salted Fish ($9.95) came as small patties. While this was good, it was also fairly oily. -Hot Sizzling w. Chinese Broccoli ($9.95) was also slightly on the oily site though the broccoli was great. -House Special Chicken($18) was delicious. I was expecting this to be oily but the breast meat was just right in terms of moisture and tenderness. I'll tell you that I was not disappointed with eat bite. I did however avoid the typical dishes like fried rice so I can not comment on that. Overall a positive experience and I'll definitely come back to try their other dishes. EDIT: -I came here a third time and the food was just overly greasy and salty. Also the service was slow. Minus one star.
(3)
Madeline Z.
This was my first time having congee and I am officially a fan. A friend and I stumbled in here on a cold wet morning, and the chicken and black mushroom congee really hit the spot. We also shared the scallion pancakes and small steamed buns which were delicious. Most impressive was the service and the price. We were promptly seated and served, and for the quality, our meal was reasonably priced. Worth a return visit.
(4)
Olga B.
Terrible food, horrific service. How is this place in existence and why do people wait in lines to come here...
(1)
Nicole A.
Tofu, house special chicken, bamboo rice, bok choy all tasty. The skin on the xiao long bao (soup dumplings) was a little too thick for my taste, but filling was good.
(4)
Promee A.
Great Chinese cuisine. It is definitely no your typical Chinese spot. Do not forget to have their congee/porridge because it is one of their very yummy signature dish.
(3)
Anne Z.
The food is delicious. Following the recommendations provided by Yelp's friends, I ordered House Special Garlic Chicken, fried tofu in soy sause, and congee. They are all wonderful. But, don't expect more with their customer service.
(3)
Jennifer C.
food was good! service.... meh. although there were many other tables in the place, we were seated at half of a table shared with 3 old Asian women with a toddler. not particularly an enjoyable meal... the grandma kept slapping the toddlers wrist and yelling at her when she refused to eat and it made for a really awkward meal. complimentary watermelon at the end though! idk, the seating arrangement kind of ruined my experience... and they took my bowl away before I was done eating. :/ oh well. the congee was good and very flavorful! we also ordered a garlic chicken and it was good too, especially with the congee! probably would come back again, just hope to get better service next time.
(4)
Deb E.
Solid amazing & cheap. Def one to keep filed away esp for group dinners. Drinks were cheap & potent but not huge. The chicken dish came with the head - which became our mascot as we toured a bunch of LES bars. Noodle dishes & beef dishes were delish- our group of 8 hard drinking pals left with a bill of $35 each (3drinks each & lots of food) We were the only non Asian table in the place on a Saturday night- no one flinched when we got a little silly.
(5)
Irene C.
As good as ever! Our family goes once a year when we're back in the old neighborhood. Salt and Pepper Squid, T-Bone, Walnut Shrimp, Eggplant Salted Fish Casserole and Two Ways Flounder are the standbys. Added Snow Pea Shoots and fried rice to their and yummy was for all!
(4)
Fransisca M.
I'd say my experience was an okay. We came on a Saturday night, group of 8. They sat us down pretty quickly since the restaurant wasn't that crowded anyway (*hint hint*). Of course, we all ordered congee because that's the restaurant's name. And surprise surprise, the waiter boy didn't even remember which congee was which. Anyhow, I like trying out new things. To me, the Sampan porridge served in a porridge pot quite did the trick. Definitely not the best (how could a congee restaurant run out of you tiao?!?!?), but oh well.
(3)
Jen J.
The food is good. It's your typical Chinese restaurant food. The place can get pretty noisy tho. I couldn't even hear my friend talk. But they do give a decent size portion for each dish. Overall a good Chinese place to try if you are in town.
(4)
Dan S.
I used to like this place but lately it's gotten out of hand. If you're anyone other than Asian, prepare to be treated poorly. The servers want you gone as soon as you step through the door. About a year back the waitress called me a white devil in Chinese, a friend translated it for me, kind of funny but also very wrong. I visited again recently and before I was even done with my food they were starring me down. They clearly didn't want me there. I've seen them treat other westerners in the same way. If you're still curious about the food, it's okay. Certainly not the best I've had, not even close to be honest. The only reason I'd recommend this place is for belligerent pre-gaming.
(1)
Kare C.
Bad service/attitude and food. Had high hopes due to reviews, but was disappointed the second we walked in the door. Bowls and plates were dirty and there was a layer of grime on all the condiments. Was sweeping the floor with people eating in the restaurant. Overbearing service, placed the order for us the second we mentioned a dish (we mentioned it because we had questions) and impatient to answer anything. Kept breathing down our neck when we were looking at menus. It felt like they wanted to get us out of there and we had not even sat down for 10 minutes yet, very uncomfortable. If food was better, I can prob put up w the service, but it was just ok. Congee was one of the better items ordered, but not very hot even though it came in a metal bowl? The seafood fried rice baked in pumpkin was the biggest rip off. There was not much taste and it seemed like they just fried the rice with some small shrimp and put it into a cooked pumpkin. Don't understand why it would take 40 minutes to prepare. I just wanted to get out of there towards the end of the meal. You can get much better food in Chinatown w bad service.
(2)
Jay N.
We ordered using CTowndirect -- a takeout service for the jersey city area where they deliver food from various chinatown restaurants. The food that we ordered was quite good, considering it took an hour-long ride from manhattan into jersey city. we ordered: duck and meatball congee (excellent - would order again, despite some reviews saying it was "too fatty") beef chow fun with black been sauce (it was dryer than i would have expected; didn't have the gravy that i'm accustomed to having on this dish at other places) fried squid with salt and pepper (tasted good, but i think the quality was compromised by the deliverytime) house special chicken (good, and it came with some garlic/soy based dipping sauce) eggplant with vegetables and fried bean curd (also quite good, has a bit of sauce in it) Pricing was $43 for everything, but with the ctowndirect surcharges, came out to $55
(4)
Tina L.
Food here is quick, cheap, and varied. Taste-wise isn't the best, but if you're craving congee, it's $3.50 for a piping hot stone pot full! Of course, we didn't stop there. Add the house special chicken, fried buns with condensed milk, and baked rice with chicken and mushroom. Bill came out to $27, tip included. I'm reminded of MC Escher when I'm at the staircase that goes in five directions.
(3)
Ken C.
It is a decent Chinese food place, but the service wasn't that good. A little too crowd and lacking courtesy to other tables. A very tradition type of Chinese restaurant. You can enjoy the Chinese food, but also need to suffer the noise and service.
(3)
Chen W.
Their service is TERRIBLE! We've waited conjee for an hr and ppl came later than us already had their conjee. The manager made up BS to ask us cancel the orders... We ended up only got 3 dishes out of 7 orders. No free desert, of course no tips. Terrible service...food is way too salty.. Well I only had three dishes so my feedback of food won't be that accurate...
(2)
Ray U.
Found this place randomly walking around the neighborhood, dodging traffic spilling off off of the Williamsburg bridge into the Lower East Side. And what a nice surprise it was to walk into Congee Village. Immediately, the smell of deep fried steaming goodness hits your nostrils. The place is big and clean which is saying a lot for a Chinese restaurant around her. And this place is cavernous. The winding, multi-level restaurant is attached to a small bar, lounge area which was open for any interested day-drinkers. I sat right underneath the crooked branches of their Indoor tree. Yes, indoor tree. I didn't check to see if it was real or not, but it was impressive either way. I stuck with a basic beef congee. The price is very good for the huge bowl they bring out, enough to feed 2-3 people for about 6 bucks. The rice broth was flavorful, and its some of the better congee I've had in a while. I also ordered the 'special chicken' based on other reviews on this site. It did not disappoint. It's basically a deep-fried chicken -- with the skin crackling-crispy with a hint of sweetness and soy sauce. If I wasn't already full of Congee I would've ordered even more of it. The service isn't amazing, and they could probably learn to be a little more pleasant -- but this place was crowded and the food more than made up for it.
(4)
Sandy C.
The Original Congee Village. A New York Staple. You know you're at a good Chinese restaurant when you see mainly Chinese people in the restaurant with trickles of cool Americans who are "in the know" and crave a authentic Chinese meal. Congee Village is huge. It's three levels with full bar, and tiny little hidden themed rooms. What to order: House Special Chicken - crispy skin, and tender succulent chicken Anything veggie Tofu and of course, Congee, a boiled rice porridge. "It's not where you go, it's what you order" -I'm still trying to figure out the best things on the menu, so please let me know what your favorites are. Come hungry, leave stuffed.
(4)
Jeruen D.
Lonely Planet's Guide to Extreme Cuisine listed this restaurant as a place to get century eggs, in rice porridge (or congee). I decided it was worth exploring, so I took my sister and decided to eat exotic fare. We had cold jellyfish, razor clams in black bean sauce, Shanghai buns, and of course, pork and preserved egg congee. Four items, and more than enough to feed a hungry pair for dinner. The servings are made to share; most tables are equipped with lazy susans and indeed, most patrons are families. The great thing about this restaurant is that it is cheap: 4 entrees and a bottle of beer only cost us 39.00 USD plus tip. That's cheap for New York City. The only thing I do not like is the not-so-clean restrooms. The dining area might be bright and clean, but the restroom is a little sub-par.
(5)
Anny Y.
For a party of two girls and light eater...we decided to go easy on a Thursday night meal. We were craving and ordered the infamous Dungess crab cold with spicy red chili sauce. The waiter prompted us if it was ok to order the $42 crab. We were splurging and definitely ok. Another light order was the abalone chicken with congee. We left feeling very satisfied and happy. Thanks Congee Village!
(5)
Grace O.
I had my last dinner in New York City here, and there is no other place I would want to have it! The restaurant is very large, and the decor is pretty funny. It's like an asian treehouse? There is a large party room downstairs that has it's own bathroom, which is hugely convenient. If there is no party scheduled, regular diners can dine here. A few years ago, my family had a reunion and held it in the party room. I remember the food being delicious then, and it was sure as hell delicious this time around too. We had Honey Walnut Shrimp, Congee with Liver, Congee with Century Egg, Hokkien Fried Rice, Black Bean Clams, Garlic Pan-Fried String Beans, Squab...Everything was cooked to absolute perfection. I had no complaints about anything. Every entree was delicious...I'm going to go drool in a corner now, thinking of this meal...
(5)
Cindy G.
The food was good -- but the service was TERRIBLE -- the servers look miserable at their jobs and are horrible.... First our server forgot one of our dish and did not bother to tell us until we asked. Next they kept saying it was coming but that was a lie. When we asked again he said (with an attitude)-- do you want me to just remove it? um no we would like you to give us our dish and if its late to TELL us --- antoehr server said they didnt have it initially, got it and are now just making it ....ok fine (thx for telling us???), then they bring us our dish......after we finish that one (which was our 4th dish by then) someone brought us our bill ....EVEN THOUGH WE HAD ONE MORE DISH.....which they didnt even realize......no apologies what so ever.....so we wait another 30 min for our last dish to come out. I honestly dont think i have ever been treated this badly service-wise at a restaurant......my bf was pretty close to punching the guy it was that ridiculous. We basically left a 2% tip.... The only reason this place gets 2 stars is becuase the food was very good. Great selection of congees -- we got the egg one. And their fried tofu dish was delicious. We also got the lobster,cooked in pretty standard way for asian lobster dish. but yeah -- TERRIBLE SERVICE.
(2)
Stacey C.
Decor - 4 Service - 2 Presentation - 4 Taste - 4 Came here with a party of 13. Originally they wanted outlet party to spilt between two big tables, we said it wasn't necessary. The waiter came to our table as so as we sat down and asked us if we were were to place out order. Seriously?! We just sat down of course we aren't ready to order. Because we weren't ready at that moment, he then had an attitude with our table and was barely attentive to us. Extremely poor service!!! Even though the service was horrible the food was delicious. Dishes I recommend: House special chicken Shrimp walnut Eggplant and tofu casserole
(4)
Gary L.
Not sure why I skipped this. Been coming to this place since it was a very small hole in the wall with shady late night mah-jong session in the basement. Always a favorite place to go to whenever with a big group of friends and family. Spent many special occasions and after-events dinner here. So much stuff to choose on the menu. My standards always include the century egg congee to start, squid, chicken, noodles... ends with the fried dough dipped in condensed milk.
(4)
Clay K.
Stamp your passport - you've left the USA when you enter this place. With a traditional woodsy decor and spunky waitstaff, it feels like China. Food is traditional cantonese (no General Tso's Chicken here) with an emphasis on seafood. Fish is OVERPRICED - $75/pound. Everything else is just a tad expensive for what it is. We ordered (in order of favorites): House Special Chicken - My Favorite & Finished very quickly - RECOMMENDED Snow Pea Leaf w Garlic - Best Veggie, but slightly oily - finished quickly (because I ate a ton of it) - RECOMMENDED Filet of Beef Chinese Style Sizzling - A Winner, finished quickly - RECOMMENDED Fish - small size whole fish cost us $57 - light and fluffy (not fishy at all) served with the head (ours had some big fangs) - Very Good, but not worth $57 Fried Jumbo Shrimp with Salt and Pepper - Very good (finished quickly) Razor Clams - Tasty, but wasn't finished quickly Sweet Potato Cake (Dessert) - SKIP IT - it's very oily and not sweet Sauteed Chinese Vegetables - SKIP IT Beware: This place takes reservations but does not honor them. We had a 9PM reservation and did not get seated until 9:40PM. Since we knew this to be normal for Chinese establishments, it wasn't that big of a deal. Set your expectations low for reservation time of bigger parties (we had 7).
(3)
Todd M.
Food was good. Service very slow. Not sure they welcome non locals. Convenient location in heart of Chinatown.
(2)
Mare C.
3 stars for the food and 0 star for the lousy service. My family and I had dinner here past weekend. The waiters were real unprofessional, rude, and LAZY!!! They just stood around not doing crap. Lazy @ss people I'm surprised they're still employed. Their @ss should all be fired and let the real hard working people work. We ordered 4-5 dishes for 5 people. I politely asked for a fork 3 times for my brother's gf. The waiters never came back. Finally my mom said something hey we requested a fork 3 times. Really? The waiters still ignored us and were talking smack. "Oh they only ordered 5 dishes and they all came out. Gosh they asked for too much for only ordering 5 dishes." When I heard those remarks, I immediately confronted them where's my fork? Worse service ever!!! The patrons around us were also complaining that they were slow and took them forever to bring over the food and water when the restaurant wasn't even packed/busy. They're sooo retarded/slow/LAZY!! Honestly the food was pretty alright, but I refuse to go back. The service was real lousy. If knew, I rather go somewhere else. They were lucky that my mom tipped them 20% only because she was nice/generous and that my dad was waiter so we understand it's rough working in the restaurant. I think they have another branch/restaurant, go to that one instead probably better service. Again, LOUSY SERVICE EVER!!! If you want to get mistreated, then be my guest.
(2)
Jade N.
I haven't been here for several years and it's fallen off my radar, but the other day I ended up at a restaurant that was fully booked and we defaulted to Congee Village since it was right across the street. Boy was I happy to get reacquainted with this place! We had to wait 20 minutes to get a table but I considered the long line including tons of Chinatown natives to be a signifier of quality authentic food. The decor was tacky beyond belief, with faux stone walls and jungle greens, but it all added charm and character to the place. We were seated in a tiny room and our table was pushed up against a corner. Kind of odd, but I could live with it. The menu offered such a variety of foods that we spent a good deal of time sifting through it. They have everything including delicacies (abalone/shark fin), odd eats (intestines), classics (sesame chicken), noodles, and of course congee! The prices were so low it was absurd. Both me and my friend ordered two items each and after eating as much as we could, packed the leftovers to go. The food was perfectly cooked. There's a fine balance between grease and flavor and Congee Village has it down. The crab congee which was only $4 included a whole crab inside. My soup dumplings were only $3.50. I could do without the smell of vinegar stinging my nostrils, but the food was so delicious it didn't even bother me for long. I am very glad that even with all its success, Congee Village has kept their low prices. I will be back for more!
(4)
Larry L.
I really didn't think too much of Congee Village after my first trip here. I felt it was OK, but nothing to write home about. However, after coming back 2 more times I'm a believer. The Sampon Congee is really good. Good flavor and lots of stuff in the congee. It's funny, growing up I hated soggy rice so the idea of congee really didn't do it for me. However, now that I've opened up my mind a bit to foods that I rejected as a youngster, I'm a big fan. We also had the congee with the preserved egg and fish slices - that was OK, but not as good as the Sampon Congee. The ho fun (dry not wet) is also good and so is the garlic chicken. The skin was crisp and the chicken was moist. The chow mein was good also. This place is well worth the wait.
(4)
Alice C.
One of the things I miss about being home with my family is the huge family-style Chinese dinners with a large variety of dishes. So coming here with 2 friends (including fellow Yelper Angela B.) was very nice as it was a bit reminiscent of that experience. We ordered beef congee, xiao long bao (steamed buns, an order comes w 6buns), snow peas w garlic in rice water, and pan-fried tofu. The beef congee was good, though it came with a smaller portion than I imagined (only filled 3 small bowls). The xiao long bao were also good, but not great. I'm always a fan of snow peas, but I think my favorite dish was the pan-fried tofu-- it had a nice very lightly fried texture on the outside while remaining soft on the inside. For these four dishes, the three of us ended up having to pay only ~$12.50 each including tax and tip. (Oh, we also got three bowls of rice though, which they charged us for. I haaaate when Chinese restaurants charge for rice, ugh.) While I didn't feel like the meal was super filling, it still left me very satisfied especially for that price. Oh, and interior is pretty nice and food gets served very quickly. A little difficult communicating with the waiters in my Chinglish, but we got all the right things we ordered so I guess it wasn't a fail. **Card minimum of $20
(4)
Randy F.
Congee Village looks like Hainan Island. For those who haven't been to Hainan Island, Hainan Island is the Hawaii of China--- except for the Russian prostitutes of course. It looks like a villa resort that is off the beach ; the decor-- and downstairs at Congee Village are the private rooms. Lol. Anyhow, I've been coming here with my little Thai princess and all the time she's been telling me that this place is the best place for Congee. Me on the other hand, isn't really a big fan of Congee because I see Congee as food for the frail and Congee is like the Asian CREAM of OATS--- ahhh no bueno I hate cream of oats. Typically my Thai princess would get the pork with thousand year old egg Congee and I would get the beef Congee. We would then get something like XLB or a Beef chow fun but last time, we got the XLB. The XLB was all right, nothing special. It doesn't taste like the ones I've had in Shanghai or nan xiang XLB in flushing but hey this place is run by Cantonese people not shanghainese people so what do expect. The Fried half chicken drenched in garlic and the sizzling beef plate is really good here. The manila clams for some reason is a rarity here. Every time I come here, they keep telling me that they are sold out of it. Last time I came here ( April 2011), with 3 friends ( their white ) they wanted ribs. The waiters were very nonchalant and they brought out beef ribs. aha LOL.
(3)
Audrey K.
I was at first skeptical of this "congee" restaurant but it was really good eats! Not to mention super cheap (like $35 for 5 people?! in nyc?!) I was game for most of the congees they offered, but couldn't take the duck dishes - which isn't much of a reflection on the restaurant, duck in general is too gamey for me ;( Overall, this place was a real treat and an experience. Going in, it wasn't very busy but WOW, as we were leaving the wait time was over 75 minutes, with people standing outside - it was ridiculously cold at the time, like painful cold. Wowies.
(3)
Tina T.
If you're craving congee this is the place to go as it's definitely better and cleaner than other Chinese restaurants. Throw in some house special chicken and you're golden!
(3)
Jerome Espinosa B.
you have to give it to them for risking to build a huge place that merely relies on the attraction of the words "congee village." came here on a weekday, after a thunderstorm, with my friend, and we had to wait for at least 15 minutes before being a table. & we even had to share the table with a family (who was waiting for their father to arrive, & who came much later)--it's actually nice to share a table with customers who speak a different language from what you could speak, at least, we can switch to our language w/o worrying if our neighbors understood what we said and meant. of course, we ordered congee----the presentation's grand (steaming hot, in nice looking bowls!), considering that this is basically porridge, i.e. food for those with ailments he he he! & we had their pork ribs fried w/shrimp paste---good enough, i just wish it tasted better, actually & much bigger serving sizes he he he. i forgot the other dish we had---oh, yea, it's dimsum (some kind of a dumpling with ground meat inside), which tasted great. all the others in the area where we're seated were asians (or probably asian-americans), which is a sign that this place ranks top among the locals & those who know where to get the best chinese food in town at the most affordable prices.
(3)
Rachel T.
Absolutely delicious chinese food! Came here one night with my boyfriend and we really fell in love with the place. The prices were also extremely reasonable. The ma po tofu was perfectly spiced (not underdone which tends to happen) and seasoned so nicely. The dumplings were juicy and filled with great meat. This would also be an excellent place to come with a group if people because the portions are huge!
(4)
Galvin C.
Whenever I walk into this place I can't help but think of it as a sort of Asian TGIFriday's, mostly due to all the hokey shit on the walls. But that doesn't stop it from being delicious. Congee isn't for everyone, which is understandable, since it seems like the kind of dish originally invented purely by accident and then only actually eaten afterward due to optimism, or maybe shamed determination. But me, I grew up on this peasant gruel so I love the stuff. I'm American enough not to be willing to toss pig's blood or whatever in there, but pop in some salty chicken, pork or fish and I'm ready for a satisfying, vaguely disgusting-looking meal, all for basically pocket change. Similarly, the dim sum items are exactly what I want from dim sum items: delicious and cheap. In addition to the usual suspects, they also offer both "fried bread" and "fried dough," which sound like they should basically be the same thing, but aren't. Both are delicious if hilariously simplistic, though I can never remember which is which. It doesn't matter: they're each like a dollar so try them both.
(4)
Rachel H.
There aren't that many places I'd wait two hours for, but this is one of them. I've been coming here for years for congee, fish, chicken, and all of the special Chinese foods I can't make by myself (read: all of them). The congee is served in cool clay pots and is delightfully seasoned and creamy in texture. As for the waiting, they have a bar area open to pass the time, meet up with friends, and hang out before you're ushered to your table. And the decor of the place is awesome and entertaining.
(5)
Kristina M.
Lets say I've been here more than 5 times. I just never had the chance to write a review. No kidding with this wait issue. Its either a very long time or immediately - no grey area at all. My usual: Congee, of course. It must have preserved egg and chicken. The fried salt and pepper squid is also a must for me as it is MY dish in any Chinese restaurant. CV's squid tend to be very salty, but it works in conjunction with the congee. This is my order when I'm with my friends. If I'm feeling crazy and wanna blow some money or I'm with the fam, I'd opt for the dungeness crab (because I'm a seafood FIEND). Three different types of congee to feed my big family. Portions are semi-generous as I leave with less than 100% satisfaction. Probably like 85%. Decor is quite tacky. However, I LOVE the layout of the place. It may seem inconvenient at first, but if you look closely at the walls you can find hidden doors that the staff use for storage or whatever. I would LOVE to see that place empty and play some old fashioned HIDE and SEEK. But I digress. As far a the rice dishes, they're not spectacular. I *tried* to order some crispy fried chicken - because of their article in Time Out NY on their front window - but I think I ordered the wrong one. Either way - it was like any ol' fried chicken. Beef dishes are alright but it brings my friend to LA-LA land like he just hit that "White Castle crave" The pricing is doable. Not dirt cheap but affordable. Its why I sometimes run to Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery on Rivington for dessert ^_^.
(5)
Theresa L.
Family style restaurant = bring a large crowd. Yes, it's not what is typically encouraged when dining in nyc, but there is so much good food that is meant to be shared. Any seafood based dish is excellent. Don't get the lo-mein, it tastes likes bland pad thai. I ate like a famished hippo (as did 13 others) and the bill was very reasonable.
(4)
Paula C.
It was our fault for trying this place out during Saturday dinner service. Despite whatever you might think comes with that time (bad service, crowded lobby, long wait), this wasn't a terrible place. The food was awesome. It turns out the cheaper stuff we ordered was leaps and bounds better than some of the more expensive/delicacy stuff we also tried. The congee was great and made me want some arroz caldo right after. The pigeon was tasty, I'd definitely order that again. We ordered a bit too much food and I'm pretty sure they were making fun of us. Whatever, I was pretty satisfied with most of it (I'd skip the chicken feet and sliced tofu) and was surprised with the birds nest soup (is that supposed to be sweet/taste like crystallized ginger?) in that it was better than the shark fin's soup (seriously, nothing to write home about). Go there to try the food, don't expect too much customer service-wise.
(3)
Micaela L.
Oh, Congee Village. What an institution! I've never actually eaten here, but I'm a fan of the super-cheap drinks in the bar area. How can you not love $3 glasses of wine, chairs fashioned out of tree stumps, moon chairs, blaring neon signs, and broken English? It's not nearly the best bar in the area, but it's a good stop if you need a dose of fabulous Chinese kitschiness. Judging from the crowds rushing through for congee at midnight, the food is pretty good, too.
(3)
Billy C.
After visiting Congee Village a few times and trying a variety of their dishes, I want to give them 4 stars but after considering the only dish that I am really a fan of here is the Bean curd, Chicken and Salted Fish casserole I must be fair and give it a rating of "A-OK". Would I come back? Sure, but the other dishes I have tried here were really just "A-OK". What keeps me coming back is that Bean curd, Chicken, Salted Fish casserole. I have tried their congee and it is good but not great. Big Wong King's congee is also good in comparison. I think even the congee I make at home is slightly better, I'm just saying. I really think they offer too many dishes and don't specialize in any one or few particular dishes. Service is generally good and generally don't have a problem finding parking. The prices are also quite reasonable.
(3)
kenny s.
It's A-okay here, but nothing to rave about (something I never understood). I've eaten here multiple times and when people are raving zealots of this place it only makes me more skeptical. Now, I don't need to drone on about what everyone else has said about food (it's good). But obviously, I would have given a higher mark if service had been better the past few visits. It would also help a lot if our soup hadn't arrived to our table ICE COLD. I repeat ICE COLD. The waiter plopped it down on our table and I stopped people from scooping into it when I noticed there wasn't a single bit of steam coming from it. The soup was COLD and why? With tons of restaurant experience at the table, we all agreed that the soups are made ahead and chilled (for HOW long? who knows). So there goes the whole "their soups are so awesome because its made fresh everyday". We asked them what was up with the soup only to catch some attitude. Seriously now? Cold soup and we get attitudes? Another thing that doesn't bode well is the fact that my party and I leave this restaurant EXTREMELY thirsty. Is it it salt? What is it that makes us so thirsty? I'm not going to speak my theory, I'll let the readers out there make an educated guess.
(2)
Pui Ying S.
This place is super busy even at 10 PM. The congee is excellent and well priced. Negative - The scallion cakes were bland and soggy, they ran out of fried bread (for congee), and ran out of pumpkin rice bowl stuff. Our total tally for 5 people was 75 bucks not including tip so I think this is a bargain for an overall delicious experience. The menu is quite extensive, so even though some dishes were misses, I think there is plenty to try. I'll come back.
(3)
Esteban S.
More than decent pork buns!
(3)
Elizabeth C.
I still dream of their house chicken! The service is good and fast. The menu is a bit long but everything we ordered was delicious. Of course we had some congee, which was really flavorful. The house casserole and walnut shrimp were also great. I liked the decorations - they were cheesy, but the place was very clean and it was definitely interesting to look at. Just get there early on Saturday nights because we had a short wait before 7 but there was a huge crowd outside when we left at 8.
(5)
Lorena F.
The whole chicken is good, a little bit too salty. The steamed dumplings were tasteless, but the pan fried minced pork was good. The restaurant was full of Chineses, so this must be a good sign and I should come back to give the restaurant a second chance.
(3)
Jenn L.
Happy Chinese New Year! Or Lunar New Year if you want to get more PC about it. After 7 months of no good Chinese food, I finally stumbled to Congee Village on CNY eve. Even though it was packed, we decided to wait at the bar, downing a couple of Heinies in the process. Well... beer is relatively cheap here, so we bought a round of beer for another party that didn't have cash so that we could meet the $20 credit card minimum. Good karma all around! My friend and I got the congee with pork and preserved egg which is one of my favorite congee flavors of all time. It was the perfect consistency, so Congee Village definitely lives up to its namesake in that sense. We also got some of the pork soup buns, which seemed to be a hit or miss as far as whether or not there was even any soup inside. Lastly, we grabbed a plate of what was essentially beef and broccoli for my friend - and it was a hit with her! (Then again, she's only used to Chinese fast food / takeout.) My tummy was happy. And a good meal means that I'll have lots of good food in this coming year (or something to that effect). No qualms there. The bill came out to $20 for the two of us, which only made my friend enjoy it more. I can't wait to go back and get some beef chow fun and house chicken. I think I've re-awoken the Carb Zombie in me that craves congee.
(4)
Ash S.
This place has good food but the service is horrible, disorganized and all over the place. And it's also kinda dirty.
(2)
Master J.
Amazing congee. Excellent food. One of the cleaner restaurants in china town. Not so great service. People there are loud. That's china town for you.
(4)
S C.
I got a chicken corn soup and a winter melon and scallop soup to go from here since I live nearby. The corn soup had huge amounts of... cornstarch.. in it (really, it was like halfway to cake frosting) but was eminently edible. The scallop & winter melon soup, though. When I opened it, I saw two pieces of what appeared to be a ... giant... curved... PIG'S FOOT CLAW with like, visible toenails and veins and... are you grossed out yet? i mean, really, i can't even speak of it. SO GROSS. the soup itself, though authentic (i.e. BITTER) tasting, contained numerous pieces of scrum and small bone chips, the kind that you would skim off the top of a stock. that, and images of a VEINED CLAW in my soup, made me get queasy. i mean, what kind of restaurant does that?? +1 for the house special chicken, snow pea leaves, shrimp & walnut dish that I've tried while dining here before, etc etc.
(2)
Chris C.
For some reason, my friends love having their birthday dinner here. I guess it's convenient catering to large groups. Food is average for a Chinese restaurant.
(2)
Humphrey B.
We were brought here by some friends who are from China, and let them order for us. Our expectations were high, and I must say that my wife and I were both bitterly disappointed. The food was bland, the service was bad, and the congee, which I had never tried before, tasted like oatmeal with some unidentified stuff thrown in. Getting a glass of water was a major accomplishment. The service stank, and language ability (our friends were native Chinese speakers) didn't help. Maybe sign language or smoke signals would have done some good. A man who looked like the owner walked by at one point. I motioned for him to help out, and he acted like I had a disease. Dehydration, maybe. I did like the chicken appetizer, which was so good that it tasted like duck. That's about it. Everything else was mediocre. I really don't understand the enthusiasm for this place in some of the reviews. There are hundreds of better Asian restaurants within a few blocks.
(1)
Marcie L.
This is meant to serve more as a warning to future patrons rather than an insult to the restaurant. I called ahead on a Saturday to make reservations, and I was told that a party of two didn't need one. When we arrived later that evening, we were told it was a 10-15 minute wait. 40 minutes later, we still hadn't been seated. The place was packed, and the hostess did her best to keep those waiting for a seat happy and let us know she appreciated our patience. But when our table didn't manifest after a 40 minute wait, we left. So, if you're planning to grab a bite to eat at Congee Village on a Friday or Saturday night and don't have reservations (actually, even if you DO have reservations), have a back-up plan in case the wait is too long.
(3)
Renee C.
Congee creates magic in my mouth! It literally makes me forget my name the minute I scoop that blissful white rice porridge into the tip of my tongue, I begin to build a bubble around my body blocking out any oxidative radicals and surrounding noises. Not that Congee has any antioxidant capablities but it really was not neccessary at that point. I do not go for over the counter meds or go see the Dr. when I feel a little under the weather until I make a pot of plain congee. It usually helps alleviate some of the symptoms and gives me the comfort I need. My all time favorite congee choice would be the thousand year egg and salted pork...I think this is the most Asian someone can get, it's really not something everyone can appreciate if you didn't grow up with FOBBY parents. This is late night Chinese (mostly Cantonese style) food at it's best....but I still don't have enough time to tell you how disappointed I've been with Chinese food in NYC! :( Growing up in Vancouver, the haven for Chinese food out of Asia, definitely spoiled my palate and since NYC is the haven for Food, I cannot believe there was not one restaurant that I was impressed with. I mean there is so much potential for greatness...how can this be? Even spending a couple days in flushing didn't help. My favorite dish here are the garlic pea sprout immersed in stock. I had the Singaporean fried vermicelli last night and I thought it was very good too. Everything you order is quite good in fact that I will say this is my go-to Cantonese restaurant.
(4)
Zach L.
I've been touring a ton of Chinese restaurants both in and out of Manhattan, and have done my best to avoid Americanized restaurants. Most of the places I go are either in Flushing or in Chinatown, and most specialize in noodle soups, and thus I don't usually venture out of that space. But of the few restaurants I've been where I ate legit dishes that didn't consist of soup, this was at the very top of my list. I went with a group for the Chinese New Year -- it was completely packed and ridiculous in there. The only fault I give this restaurant, is that their reservation system is a little screwed up. The couldn't find us on their list -- under my friend's English name, Chinese name, or even the number of guests. You would think that a group of 15 would be pretty easy to find in their list...but we were definitely trumped by groups of 20-25+. We hung by the bar for about 30 minutes, drinking some pretty cheap drinks -- $6 vodka tonics, $5 lychee martinis, etc. Good deal for sure, and pretty tasty. The food, though, is where this place shines. We ordered about 15 dishes, ranging from pork intestine, long-neck clams, a prawn dish, veggies, etc. All were absolutely amazing, each tasted different from the next, and I'd say this was one of the best tasting restaurants I've been to in quite a while. Even better was the price. With the food and drinks, tax and tip...the total was $25 per person. Absolutely amazing for a HUGE feast. I will definitely return.
(5)
Larisa T.
To the people who gave Congee Village 2 and 3 stars -- are you sure we ate at the same place? Service: There were 13 of us, including some kids. They found a giant table with a lazy Susan for us, and accommodated our annoying needs and wants. The food is so good!!! It's like real, flavorful, yummy authentic Chinese. We ordered: -- Garlic chicken. This was a whole chicken, sliced into pieces. It was so tender. I love the skin and fat, and there was plenty of that. The garlic flavor was subtle. --General Tso's chicken. One of the best I've had, and they didn't skimp on the veggies. The sauce was finger lickin good. --Vegetable dumplings and egg rolls...Omg. So good. They were fresh and full of veggies. And huge. --Beef chow fun. Mind blowing. --Chicken fried rice. The dish is HUGE. What can I really say about fried rice? --- Some other stuff, I forget. Everything is so good!!!! You can't lose. I can't remember when I was last this excited about a restaurant.
(5)
Vic-Crys W.
Pros (quality) - Trust us. This place serves very, very authentic Cantonese Chinese dishes. The garlic chicken is one of their signature dishes and it's very good. The skin is perfectly crispy and the chicken is tender. You generally can't go wrong with their other dishes too. In this case, if the picture in the menu looks good, it's gonna be good, and all the pictures are delicious looking. You can even get the steak if you're desperately looking for a way out. Cons (services) - This place gets very packed on the weekend even though it's a big place with a high turnover rate. They don't take reservations so sometimes you have to wait a while, expect 40 minutes minimum on peak times. Parking is also a bit hard to find but it's Manhattan so that's to be expected. Comparable to: Congee Recommended: Garlic Chicken, rest of the menu.
(4)
Art L.
When travelling to Congee Village, diners will discover that this restaurant is much more than congee. This location at the far reaches of Chinatown was the first Congee Village ever in New York opening in the mid-1990's. Through the years, the full frontal tropical theme hasn't changed, albeit with minor renovations now and then. Somehow I've always thought that the decor was more suited to a Malay, Thai or Vietnamese restaurant, but I digress. As its namesake, Congee Village serves decent quality congee of many types. It is served in stone pots and it's always very hot when arriving at your table. Alas, Congee Village serves much more congee. It offers a full Cantonese menu. I had the chance to sample a large list of menu items and here's my take. For those of you who are familiar with Cantonese cuisine, you'll see a lot of familiar dishes. 1) Ginger and Scallion Lobster: A bit disappointing. Not enough ginger, but still tasted good. Major weakness was the lack of deep frying which cause the lack of a thin coating to soak up the juices while stir-frying. 2) Whole Garlic Chicken: Easily the best dish I had. Chicken was deep fried with a thin skin separating cleanly from the meat. There was no fat in between, plus the tasty and plentiful fried garlic and mild soy gave this dish sumptuous aromatics. Highly recommended. 3) Seafood Bird's nest. Not so good. The bird's nest was made of noodles, not the traditional taro basket. That being said, all was not lost as the seafood inside the basket was plentiful and well prepared. 4) Fish soup: We ordered a live fish that was made into two dishes, a soup and a plate of its remnants mixed with shanghainese bok choy. This soup came out milky white and was absolutely delicious. Just the right amount of salt was added to draw forth the sweetness of the fish. 5) Salt Pepper Fried Frog: An excellent rendition of Salt Pepper Frog, which again is deep fried. Frog had its usual satisfying rubbery texture. 6) Fried Squab: Fried Squab was excellent. The skin separated nicely from the bone and was not overdone, which is a distinct possibility with squab, whose meat is not fatty. 7) Stir fried fish: This dish was fish slices stir fried with snap peas, celery and other veggies. Solid for a basic dish. 8) Snow pea leaves: Excellent with garlic sauce, although the snow pea leaves this time of year is lacking in size. 9) T-bone "steak kew": A bit overdone in my opinion, yet nicely sliced on a bed of green chives. 10) Seafood E-Fu Noodle: Tons of seafood on their E-fu noodles (the type of noodles that are deep fried and reconstituted as a soft noodle). Absolutely top notch. 11) Braised Goose Feet: An unusual dish served in a hot pot. Goose feet are much bigger than duck feet, but much easier to get off the bone. Braising sauce was more oyster saucy, than soy based, so it was alright. Not too salty. Finally, the service at Congee Village is attentive. We easily flagged down our waiter when we needed something. For wine drinkers, we brought our own bottle of wine and were not charged corkage! Thumbs up for Congee Village!
(3)
M L.
in chinatown there are so many good places to eat, but congee village is consistently a place that my friends and i crave. the food here is as good as any place in chinatown. house special chicken is a must-try if you haven't been to congee village. lightly crisped chicken doused in soy sauce and garlic. so awesome. fried squid is also very well done. very little on the menu that they do poorly. have taken a number of friends there and they've never been disappointed.
(5)
Chino P.
Arrived at 6:30 pm Tuesday July 30,2013 party of 2. We were seated rather quickly and the place filled up fast. Service was absolutely horrible as we had to wave down anyone who wasn't giggling and touchy feeling on the other all male staff. I mean we had to wave them down even to order. They sttod around lolly gagging and all the tables were at one point trying to get service. We ordered the Half House Special Fried Chicken and Yang Chow Fried Rice....Both arrived at the table room temperature and the peas in the fried rice were still thawing.... Even the managers were acting like it was an inconvenience for them to bring a fork or refill a tea pot.. Even the larger party of 8 or more had experienced poor service and when someone did say something they told the elderly lady " if you are done eating get out because we have customers waiting" and where do we make a big scene over a tip which you feel should be $5 more? BEWARE I HEARD A TABLE SAYING TO PAY CASH BECAUSE THEY TEND TO DOUBLE CHARGE AND ADD MORE TIP IF USING A CREDIT CARD I WON"T BE BACK
(1)
Angelica K.
I come here for the salt and pepper squid and the lychee martinis. This is definitely the kind of place where you should come with a huge group -- the magic of the more people you have the more food you can get and the less per person you wind up paying. When I'm here on regular evenings, seating is fast and easy but on holidays (for example, Chinese New Year) this place is a MAD HOUSE with a terrible reservation system. In other words, make a reservation but you're still not bound to be seated even close to on time. However, once you're seated (holiday or non-holiday), the service is great and the food shows up super fast.
(4)
Andrew S.
More like 3.5 but I will not take it up to 4 stars nevertheless. It has nice decor and good ambiance inside the restaurant. The staff was pretty friendly although not the best waiters for Chinese restaurants. The menu was extensive and might be bad or good based on how you see it. For me, when restaurants has too many things to offer, means they are a jack of all trades, king of none. We ordered a special cooked crab (I forgot what it was called) and it was really good, it was great and might be one of the best crab I have ever had in my life. We also had some sliced pork and thousand years egg congee. You need to eat the congee when it is warm since it became inedible when it reached the room temperature and I didn't finish it. I also think that the congee was too strong in the cilantro flavor, therefore it was offensive to my taste buds. We also ordered some hot plate bbq beef, it tasted alright. The specialty tofu with some sauce over it was pretty good, I liked it. It was really soft but for me it lacked flavor, tasted pretty bland for me. Basically the best thing was the crab, but everything else was alright. I wouldn't go back here again just for the crab.
(3)
Leo F.
Best chinese in Chinatown!
(5)
Tony U.
Pretty good juk here and for a decent price.
(4)
Marc I.
This is the first time I even heard of congee. A medicinal rice stew of sorts. We had the chicken and mushroom. It was consitant and was tasty. I went to this place, which my sister picked out on Christmas day. It was packed with people, but we got there early enough to get a seat for four. We had her son, who was 4 and they were accomodating with the seating. We also had General Chaos chicken, beef with broccoli, shrimp with mixed veggies and some sort of pork pattie. All were tasty and done very well. This is not your usual American-Chinese place. The service was good but not the best but with the crowd and the time of year, i expected this. Definitely make a reservation during the weekend.
(3)
Aka C.
I feel that as a food snob, and particularly Chinese food snob (b/c like most Chinese people we get the best food at HOME)... this place has impressed me as one of the best in Chinatown. The food is quite good (everything I have tried here is very good) and the important thing is that it's very clean, service is decent, and it doesn't discriminate against you if you were Chinese (it happens more than you'd expect :p). If I have friends who like Chinese food but can't stand the craziness of typical Chinese restaurants, this is a great place to take them. It gets crazy here as well, but never chaotic like in some Chinatown restaurants when they are jam packed. The only down side is that they get quite crowded so if you have a big party it's good to reserve a table in advance. I've never tried their dimsum, but their seafood (particularly the fish and squid) is great and their congee (duh) and rice cooked in bamboo container is excellent. Their razor clams are OMG good and they also have the great practice of giving dessert soup (in colder weather) or fruit (warmer months) for the table after dinner. I rarely give Chinese restaurants such high praise, but I do feel that Congee Village deserves it.
(4)
Gerard P.
I went here as part of a large group straight after coming from Lolita Bar, which is a block or two away. Although I don't eat Chinese very often, I think I can make a reasonably sound judgment as to the merits of this restaurant after eating dinner there last night. There are a number of things I like about this place, including the relatively prompt service, creative seating arrangements-there aren't many restaurants that can improvise a seating chart for 11 different people on the fly-and the delicious food. At least, the food that I was served, which was Peking pork chop. That being said, there were also some very conspicuous downsides to the experience, including a rather shabby-looking men's restroom, somewhat cramped spacing, and waiters whose command of the English language leaves something to be desired. I was also slightly peeved by the fact that we were not able to request individual checks. Overall, I would give Congee a strong B- or B.
(3)
Adam F.
My table and I ordered what appeared to be an endless amount of food for 5 people including a rare assortment of items from the Dim Sum section (actually, not rare at all: juicy buns, steamed dumplings, etc.). Also ordered a delicious plate of the General's chicken and of course, Sesame chicken (typical American orders in what it supposed to be an authentic Chinese restaurant). The total bill? $35 before tip. We were BAFFLED. Xie xie! Adam
(5)
Lily T.
Great place! The food here is sooo fresh and delicious! Love their congee! they have really good chinese brocoli and steak! the steak is so tendered. And their casserole dishes are awesome as well. My personal favorite is the chinese eggplant with chicken and fish. But the dish does smell alittle, since the fish is dried and salted. All the dishes here are good and authentic with good price. And a plus is they have a full bar, and great cocktail menu with prices like 5 dollars for a long island ice tea. it doesn't get better than that! Definitely a loud place, on weekends, there's usally a short wait. I hosted a party here before, and the staffs were friendly and accomandating. Overall, a great place, will return over and over again!
(5)
Tai K.
One of the best places you can eat in NYC for the price. Everything you eat is going to be quality!
(5)
Jando S.
This mega sized Chinese restaurant on the heels of East Chinatown is great for groups, solid on prices, and serves a mean array of Cantonese style dishes that are authentic and delicious to boot. Its too bad the service wasn't the greatest during my times here, but sometimes its the environment and experience with friends that trumps the shortcomings of this place. For most people who are used to the dingy dives that make up the core of many Chinatown restaurants, expect to be surprised with a plethora of Chinese inspired decor, complete with bamboo and wooden crafted tables and private areas, mega sized wall decorations ranging from paintings, to fans, to traditional style art, and an ambiance with an Asian feel and a slight contemporary flair. When rounding up some friends and sitting at a table, prepare to feast as their portions are of decent sizes and the food is well prepared with style and good presentation. Surely its not entirely authentic, as there is your typical General Tso's and some whack dish with orange sauce in the menu, but the most creative stuff that is atypical, is probably the best bet for the tastes of the Chinese groups that swarm this place. Congee in the mornings, is great with my favorite being the simple pork + preserved egg or salted duck egg with a side of Chinese donut (Youtiao). Other major recommendations are their shark fin soup platters (spendy), steamed country style crab pot, the dual sausage rice pot, abalone slices with vegetable rim, and the steamed rock fish. Avoid the disasterous Dim Sum (unless on weekends) or that pathetic lobster with butter and cheese dish.
(4)
Li C.
Yes, the Dim Sum menu is cheap..but so bland. I've had better fried rice..much better. The congee was awesome though! Maybe I ordered wrong. I'll give this place the benefit of the doubt.. 3 stars. for now.
(3)
Liz M.
Three stars because this girl got something besides CONGEE. How do you mess up congee? Oh yes, let me count the ways.... too salty....but too bland? just add a 1000-year old egg or sou sauce. Yes, this place has its claim to fame from an almost fool-proof recipe.... Fried noodle dishes - just standard. Clams with black bean sauce - eh. Sizzling beef - eh Sauteed veggies (I've gotten 3 or 4 variations) - eh House special chicken - a bit better but nothing phenomenal in my book... Verdict - stick to the congee...
(3)
Wing L.
This is one of the places I go back to again and again when my family and I want to eat out together. We love the quality of the food here. We are Cantonese and have been to a few Chinese Restaurants but this is one of the places we could always agree on going to. The menu is overwhelming. Lots of choices to choose from a 14 page menu. Yep, that right, 14 pages. Makes you feel like you're studying for a exam for Chinese food instead of looking at a menu. Seen a group of people come here and ordered fried rice and sesame chicken. You could get that at any corner takeout Chinese restaurant. For heaven sake, why even bother coming here if that is what you wanted to eat? Not that I'm saying there is anything wrong with sesame chicken... or fried rice.... I recommend these dishes at this place: Start off with assorted seafood with fish maw soup. Lobster with Butter and Cheese. Blue crab with garlic and pepper. Jumbo shrimp with walnut and broccoli. Manila clam with black been sauce. Pork chop Peking style. House special chicken (You must try this dish). Fillet of beef with Chinese broccoli Beef Sauteed in satay sauce in sizzling hot plate. For veggies, I recommend the Chinese green with garlic in broth or Snow bean leaf with garlic in rice broth. Not that I'm saying you should try these all at once...unless you really want to. There are many other dishes worth trying but these are among the ones I always end up go back to once in awhile. All the dishes are family style which is meant to be shared. These are big plates so it's not individualized dishes meant for only one person. You get to try more food this way. The small juicy bun in Shanghai style here is alright but not as good as some of the other places better known for serving them in Chinatown. They have less broth in them here so it's not as juicy. Be prepared for a wait here, especially towards the weekend. Call ahead to reserve a seat before you get here or you'll end up waiting a long time along with a crowd of other people trying to get a table. Luckily there is a full bar inside for those that need to pass the time waiting. Best of all, no matter how hard you try, it's tough to make the bill expensive for the amount, and quality of food you get. Unless of cause you actively only go after the most expensive dishes in the menu.
(4)
A L.
I go to Congee Village with my brothers, sisters, and their families whenever I am visiting New York. And in a Chinese restaurant, a lot of people at a table means a good variety of dishes to order. After every meal I've had here, I leave sated. The food never fails to be satisfying. The "house special chicken" (in Chinese, garlic fragrant chicken: syun heung gai) is a must. The skin is crispy, and the meat is super tender and flavorful, especially the dark meat. My sister-in-law says that other restaurants in Chinatown have tried to replicate this dish, as have some in Flushing, but not one has come close. "Sauteed Jumbo Shrimp with Walnut and Broccoli" (hup toe ha kau) is something else we always order. When I tell people I like jumbo shrimp more than lobster, it's because of dishes like this one. The mayonnaise (a British influence in Hong Kong cooking?), in which the shrimp are tossed once cooked, is a nice touch. The textures of the shrimp, the walnut, and the broccoli somehow all go together. "Sliced Conch and Crispy Bean Curd Stuffed with Shrimp" (gum jyun law peen) is no ordinary tofu dish. The flavorfulness of the tofu's being both stuffed and deep fried, and the conch's being plain and delicate, seem to balance each other. I never really liked lotus root until I had "sauteed lotus root with special bean paste sauce" (nom yu chow ngau peen). As a boy, I always thought of lotus root as looking like little wagon wheels. Well, here they stir-fry the bland little wagon wheels in a great sauce and they turn out crispy. The "steamed minced pork with salted fish" (hom yu jing yook bang) is a comfort food from my childhood. It's essentially a steamed ground-pork pie spiked with salted-fish bits for flavor. The steaming can take a long time, so sometimes we will order instead the "pan fried minced pork with salted fish" (hom yu jeen yook bang), where you end up with small-burger-sized ground-pork pies that are fried. I prefer the steamed version, but fried food does taste better. The pan fried flounder (gone jeen lung lay) here is never a mistake to order, but nothing spectacular either. The kids and teenagers like the "beef chow mein with Chinese vegetables" (the noodles are skillfully pan fried to be crispy and crunchy -- something that is way too much trouble to do at home), even though it's not really a proper dish for dinner. Congee Village's "house special T-Bone Steak" (boon lau jeen see dick) is how a Chinese restaurant classically prepares a T-Bone. After the steak is grilled, the meat is taken off the bone, chopped up into chop-stick-friendly-sized pieces, and then reassembled on the bone to look like a T-Bone steak. The meat was perfectly tender. The "sauteed Chinese seasonal spinach with bean paste sauce" (fu yu tung choi) was properly stir fried so that it was done but still crispy. It's a good thing I looked in my tea cup before I filled it. There was some left-over rice stuck inside it -- likely an artifact of a too-full dishwasher. I tried scratching the rice off, but it wouldn't come off. My next tea cup had a dark smudge in it, which I was able to clean off with a moistened napkin. Yes, as good as the food is at Congee Village, it's still that sort of restaurant. The fact that this restaurant is outside of Chinatown has its advantages. The sidewalks around it aren't strewn with overflowing and smelly garbage bags -- the bane of Chinatown in summertime. And you can find parking.
(4)
Eric W.
When I searched for the phrase 'food is love' on Yelp, Congee Village topped the list. Maybe this had to do with my GPS location, or maybe this was some sort of cryptic, mystical message. I don't believe that the food served here is made of love, or that it is deserving of the L word...but I do very much like this place. I've had several of the congees, all quite tasty. The sliced pork with preserved egg is dependable, and I'm also a liker of the beef with fish. Note that the congee is cheap - less than $5 cheap - and can serve two people. Sure, there are other places that serve congee well, and at a lower price. But Congee Village also offers other dishes, the dining space isn't egregiously ugly or spartan, and service is decent. Beyond the congee, I'm less enthused. There's nothing that's wrong per se, just nothing that's uber-likeable. Skip the xiao long bao, although their yangzhou fried rice is one of the better I've had in chinatown.
(4)
Kriti S.
Despite having many Asian friends who love to take me to Asian restaurants in and around the city, I only visited Congee Village for the first time this past Saturday. Even as a vegetarian, I was impressed - loved the tofu pot and my Buddhist veggies - they tasted clean and flavorful without being covered in indeterminable sauces. The kicker of course was the feast my friends shared - our group ordered a dozen dishes, most of which made everyone blissfully happy. So yes, we dined, we feasted, we made merry - I recommend this place for a group as they have several rooms which give some semblance of privacy. Service and prices are a-ok too.
(4)
Lucy X.
Went here by mistake thinking I put the address to my favorite congee place on Bowery (98 Bowery to be exact). I was surprised this was the one that received so many reviews instead of that one... but then I realized all the Americans here and understood why. I got what I would usually get at the other congee place, razor clams in black bean sauce, snails, shredded pork and preserved egg congee. In addition, we also ordered their House special chicken and snow pea leaves (per Yelp). All three of the familiar dishes were all not as good as the congee place on Bowery. The razor clams were rather cold, and not as flavorful. The congee wasn't as good either. The snails was probably the only dish that was comparable to the other place. As for the two new dishes I tried here, both were pretty good (as expected), especially the veggie dish which gave a nice balance between all the meaty dishes. Overall, I still favor the other place over this one because it seems that this one is more targeted towards Americans and tourists (explains its popularity on Yelp), while the other one is more known amongst the Chinese locals, which IMHO is always better, tehe.
(3)
the y.
This place has become a reliable comfort zone for me, especially after alcohol binges. They're open till 3am, and there's nothing better to fix your drunken stupor than a nice bowl of congee or shark fin soup. Food is fresh, tasty, and made to order super-fast. Do try their house special chicken on your next visit. And the staff here appear to have received etiquette lessons since 2007.
(5)
Boki H.
One of our favorite! Love it. Can't say more about its amazing food. You must try it by yourself! Don't go on Saturday night though, it'll be a long queue.
(5)
Tony H.
Let me start by staying -- if you are absolutely clueless about chinese food -- consider staying away from this place. They were good a while back but this time around, I think they killed my taste buds and my wallet. We've ordered a total of 11 dishes and the bill came out to $162.17 feeding a group of six. After we were done, we were still hungry. Given the price of this meal, I was surprise how miniture the dishes were. Let me start with the Cons: 1) don't expect to get seated on time. You wont.... 2) White rice -- They managed to screw that up. Too much water? I dont know but I picked up a clumb of white starchy material and you cant see the grains. 3) My $21.95 shrimp special had 6 small shrimps plus lots of brocolli. I think they should call it Brocolli Special instead. That's $3.65 a shrimp and it is not even the large size 4) My $28.95 slice Conch had 4 slices of conch in it. Are you kidding me? While it was very colorful with all the fillers, I didn't expect 4 slices of conch so some of us did not even get a slice. In other restaurants, you get a lot more than that for the price. I had no idea they were shrinking all their dishes to this. 5) Fried Bread was offered at 6 for $1.95 and we were presented with 5 pieces. Not a signicant deal, but we asked and were told that we were wrong and it is now 5. 6) Everything else was VERY salty.... You may be wondering if I complain about this... You can try but I dont know what they will bring out next. Pros: 1) If you plan on losing weight and possibly your wallet, give this place a shot. If you are able to walk a few blocks away from this area and deep into chinatown, I am sure you can get a lot more food for the price that you will pay for. 2) The decor of the place was nice but it doesn't fill my stomach or my taste buds. 3) I really can't think of anything good aside from the location. If you need to meet near Allen street, then this will be a great place.... 4) The food dishes were very colorful and was loaded with fillers. That's about all I can say. My group of six will NEVER come back again.
(1)
Mandy Z.
Congee Village lives up to delivering delicious food at a very reasonable (and dare I say it, cheap) prices. It offers its signature congees as well as other yummy chinese dishes. The decor is beautifully designed; I caught myself staring at the mosaics on the walls. Being Christmas, there were tons of families celebrating the holiday today which set a very nice festive mood for the restaurant. The congees were served in stone pots, which in my opinion should be the only way congee should be made! We also had the sliced beef chow fun, which was well prepared compared to other restaurants I've tried at. The pan fried minced pork with salted fish is another fantastic dish, probably best served as an appetizer. The only slight upset was the dim sum menu. But then again, this is a congee village. so why expect awesome siew mai when there is congee galore! Bottom Line: great comfort food. so go.
(4)
Susan L.
I have a love and hate relationship with this place. I love it when this place is not so busy (early morning, early lunch, weekday dinner, late night snacks) and hate it when it is busy (Chinese new year/eve, peak lunch hour). When the place is busy, the food tends to be OK; and when its not so busy, the food is incredible. So why the inconsistency? Not sure, but I am guessing the kitchen is not as large as the seats available in the restaurant! With all of that being said, Congee Village is still my "go-to" Cantonese restaurant despite some of the off-days because its still better than other NYC Chinese restaurants. So, I continue to come back to this place for my fill of good Chinese food at inexpensive prices (especially, if you go in a group). A few of the absolute GREAT dishes here include: - Peking pork chops ($8.95) - probably the best Peking style pork chops I've found since moving from Los Angeles... very crispy, very sweet with the perfect tangy-ness to it. - Shredded Pork Chow Mein ($6.95) - have to love the mixture of crunch paired with the delicate balance of sauce to moisten the noodles; the sauce is incredible. For some reason, one serving of this is just not enough -- so be prepared to be over-stuffed. - The House Special Chicken made with garlic (yum!; $9.00 Half; $18 Whole) -- I believe everything has to do with this sauce. If you think about it, it doesn't seem like anything special about a chicken dish; however, its the House Special Chicken for a reason -- the skin is crispy (likely deep fried) and the chicken is tender/moist. The soy sauce and garlic heighten the flavoring of the chicken. - Sauteed Snow Pea Leaf w/ garlic (it looks like spinach, but with hollow stems; $11.95) - sometimes on the oily side, so request it will less oil; but I enjoy eating this over the Chinese broccoli because it has more flavor than broccoli - Fried Bread with Condensed Milk - think this is an odd combination? try it and see if you like it... -- Rice Baked with Chicken & Shitake Mushroom ($6.25) - this is reminiscent of the olden days when they served rice baked with chicken and shitake mushroom at dim sum (well, at least in CA and in Hong Kong). Its a very simple, but authentic Cantonese style dish, that I absolutely love to order. -- and of course, Rice Congee (aka Chinese porridge) is one of my favorites here. One of their food specialties is Congee (hence the name of the restaurant) and it comes with a choice of ingredients, including fish, pork, vegetable, roast duck, etc -- or plain. Probably the most common, and one of my favorites, is the Rice Congee with Sliced Pork & Preserved Egg ($2.95). Many people are thrown off by the egg, especially since they've never seen a black egg before. The blackness is from the preservation/fermentation process where the eggs are preserved in a mixture of clay, ash, salt, lime, and rice hulls for several weeks to several months that creates this coloration. The preserved egg has another name that you may be more familiar with -- The Thousand Year Old Egg, which also had a few minutes of fame on an episode of Fear Factor many years ago. I enjoy it, but perhaps its an acquired taste. :D There are a lot of great items on their extensive menu. My friends and I have also previously ordered the Jumbo Shrimp with Walnut & Broccoli (aka Shrimp and Walnuts in Mayonnaise; good, but high in calories! $14.95), Assorted Seafood with Fried Bean Curd (good, $13.95), Pan Fried Bean Curd with Soy Sauce (decent, $9.95), and much more. Some of the ones I was not a fan of include: - House Special T-Bone Steak - ($16.95) - At this price, why not pay slightly more for a better steak elsewhere? Just not worth it to order something like this at a Chinese restaurant. Or go get Steak Frites somewhere for less? - Rice Baked with Seafood in Whole Pumpkin ($12.95) - Concept is great, but it was very bland. As you can see, not many items that I've disliked here -- but I do admit, even some of my favorite dishes have been "ok" on occasion. So the lesson learned is to go when its not that busy, otherwise, it may be a hit and miss dining experience. One last thing -- this place has a bar -- so if you do find yourself waiting for friends, you can get some inexpensive cocktails/beers at the bar; or tapioca milk teas! Happy Eating!
(4)
Deanna L.
I usually don't like walking into overhyped-catered-to-white-people-chinese food that you can only find non-asians in because it's been broadcasted in the nytimes, yelp etc. However, this place is authentic. MY friend and I tried: 1) congee with chicken and shitake mushrooms,3.5/5 2) do miao (I think it's snow peas with garlic?) 3/5 3) and the sizzling plate of chicken with black bean sauce. 4/5 It wasn't 5-star-out-of-the-world amazing. I really don't think you can find that in nyc honestly (try california, hk, taipei, shanghai or beijing). It reminds me comfort food that isn't too salty, and it hasn't been white-washed. I love that the congee had cilantro! Overall it was a good experience but I think I need to try the other dishes to be a better judge. There are a couple of dishes I would have loved to order if I was with more people. I'll come with a bigger crowd next time, and order the dishes that will REALLY tell me if they can cook. Expect an update.
(4)
Aaron C.
Congee Village seems to love its reviews; they're plastered all over the windows. I was walking towards Chinatown when the flashy blue sign caught my eye. It was a cold day, and new as I am to the city, a bowl of hot congee would be perfect for bringing me back home. The decor--tacky. Chinese restaurants don't need to have fake bamboo. But it's not like I ever evaluate ethnic restaurants on decor. On a sidetrip to the bathroom, I realized how big the restaurant actually is. Besides the more casual dining room in the front, the back had much more seating. Even better, the basement had door after door leading to private banquet rooms. Ordering the abalone chicken congee and a scallion pancake, I didn't realize how starchy my meal was until I was halfway through the bowl. The congee came in clay pots, something I can appreciate for keeping rice porridge hot. The flavors were all there; the ginger, the scallions, the abalone, the chicken. They all greeted me like I haven't visited in years. Better yet, the congee is only like $4. Now that's how I really evaluate a Chinese restaurant!
(4)
Jane K.
So...um...wow this is awkward. I was not impressed. Have to say after working up and appetite, craving Chinese food, sitting at their cool little tiki bar drinking Mai Tais and finally being seated...the food that arrived was underwhelming. We had to add soy sauce, salt and even spicy red chili sauce (yes, I used the sauce) to every flavorless greasy dish that we ordered. - Hot and sour soup - gelatinous from too much corn starch, I ate one bite and was so repulsed by the bland jelly texture - House Special Chicken - a whole deep fried chicken with a machete taken to it. There were layers of yellow fat everywhere and tiny bones you had to pick out of your mouth. So greasy, so hard to eat and so bland. - Duck and meatball congee - I never liked to eat my porridge and when it tastes like something out of the annals of a insane asylum cafeteria, i like it even less. - soup dumplings - the meat was too big, almost no soup and the skin of the dumpling was too thick - Shanghai noodles - saving grace of the meal. Thin eggs noodles fried in yellow curry with meat and veggies. Tasty, flavorful yum! Service was excellent, the waiter noticed we needed new plates and additional cutlery before we had to ask and everything came out quickly. The bill for this feast came to about $30...and we had an entire meal leftover in doggie bags. Great deal but it's definitely not the best Chinese I've had in the city.
(3)
Sasha C.
this place is such a maze i am unsure how many floors they really have. they have minimum spending requirements when booking a private room, but i doubt they are that strict if you can sweet talk or if you holler at the manager in his native dialect LOL. either way, the food is always good here, the prices are a bit steeper than most restaurants in chinatown that do family style and the portions seem smaller. but to be honest, this chain is looked at as classier/trendier so i guess that's what you are paying for as well because you can clearly tell there is more decor /ambiance than your usual run of the mill family style canto restaurants in chinatown. this would be the place to impress your non asian friends for a good meal and good time! the best is to make a reservation becuase they do get packed!
(4)
Iliana D.
Ok we just got home and I came straight to yelp. The food was soooo on point I had preserved egg congee n it was so creamy salty n hot it hit the spot. Then our fried squid arrived and o m Ggggg it was the best I ever had! The food was very cheap and very good! Authentic. I will be going back VERY SOON !! Oh and they are NOT CASH ONLY
(5)
nyc c.
Finally New York is getting a little bit more like Fall season, which makes me want to curl up with a nice pot of congee and nestle with my dog. So definitely the first restaurant that came to mind is Congee Village situated in Chinatown and LES. If I want authentic great satisfying good home cooked congee otherwise know as rice porridge Congee Village is the place to go. The menu offers a huge selection of congee, from the exotic for example pork stomach to plain rice porridge; we got the Crab Porridge ($3.50) cooked with small blue crab. We found the whole crab that fit into a small cay pot; some of the main ingredients found in the congee were large chunks of ginger, green onion, and tiny slivers of dry scallops. Came sizzling hot all gooey and bubbling I couldn't wait for my first slurp, the taste was brilliant the rice soaked in all the crab flavor along the supple rice where large cuts of ginger, a great complement. The heat of the ginger just reinforced the crab essence. Rice in Bamboo Pot was a cute idea but failed us a bit. The dish Chicken and Black Mushroom Rice In Bamboo Pot ($6.95) was good, and the flavor was just right however I felt the rice was way over cooked. The last entre of the night was clam with special sauce in sizzling hot plate ($9.95), I was expecting a show but came with out the sizzle - sad. Nonetheless it was great had a hint of fermented black beans with some heat mixed with some green bell peppers, red bell peppers and onions. +++-The Lunch Specials are so cheap they range from $3.50-$4.95 can't beat that.
(3)
W Z.
A friend of mine recommended the place but I wasn't too excited about having rice porridge for dinner, but I was drawn into the place with its colorful interior and bright lights and spacious seating when we walked by. We started with the chicken congee, moved on to the vegetable dim sums. Our waiter was honest enough to point out the entrees that were not worth the price and we ended up selecting cheaper and delicious picks - sauteed mixed vegetables, chicken with the black bean sauce in sizzling hot plate (sizzling alright!), and scallop with ginger and scallion. The meal was delicious! And they give you unlimited green tea :)
(4)
JulieJuli A.
Julie/Julia So I surprise myself by giving out a 2 STAR to Congee Villa... A place that I frequent often. It's really diminishing returns for me at this spot. What was once a possible 4 STAR place has really lost it's flavor for me.... Maybe it was what we ordered??? or maybe I'm just tired of always waiting on line at this place no matter when I come, especially since i do know a few other spots close by that are just as good. So what was on the menu for this meal... Blue Crabs done cantonese style... Really nothing special and it was pretty pricey. Not enough of the salty stuffings that they usually make it with... And although it was a big crab it wasn't very meaty... Clams in Black Bean Sauce were ok as well. The dish got incredibly smalllllll... Chinese Veggies. I can't describe the name... ordered it in chinese but again.. just ok... Fried Dumplings... I know I know.. not very chinese of me to order this... not my idea and again nothing special... A Tsing Tao to complete the $80 meal for 2... pretty pricey for chinatown... I sometimes do get cravings to come here.... Congee is usually good. Or peking pork chops or a rice dish in the wooden containers... and it's nice to see the pictures in the menu... I'll probably still drop by here every now and then... but as soon as i see a line, I'm gonna bolt to the next spot...
(2)
Myko L.
Congee, congee, congee! William L. introduced me to this little congee place with cheap, authentic, yummy food. We went overboard in ordering and ordered quite literally 1/2 the menu (HUGE MENU!).... but it was pretty worth it. The congee (duh!) was pretty good but not amazingly good. The decor is quite a sight....you'll just have to see it! =) One more star for that!
(4)
Wayne K.
We went here for dinner after hearing some good recommendations. The decor is pretty interesting with bamboo and fake trees hanging on top on their main level. However, they also have a lower level and an upper level. Overall, the food was pretty good, although I wasn't a fan of everything. It was a bit fattening and some dishes seemed high in oil, but it was definitely tasty and service was pretty good. I would say excellent for a Chinese restaurant...:)
(4)
Alex C.
for the price, you just can't beat this place in manhattan. hands down my favorite go to chinese food in the city. get the house special chicken, i'll keep you coming back again and again. yelp.com/biz_photos/rYw5… yelp.com/biz_photos/rYw5… and the snow pea leaves, they do it the best yelp.com/biz_photos/rYw5…
(5)
Candy L.
yummyy :] i decided to come here with friends after reading a bunch of good reviews here on yelp. i like it a whole lot better than the other cantonese restaurants i usually go to for family gatherings. the dishes here are simply amazing. the prices were decent and the service was quick. we did not feel rushed at all - after we finished our food, we were able to sit there and chat for awhile...and they gave us the bill when we asked for it, which is a total plus considering how busy this place usually is. ill definitely come back here again...:]
(5)
Sara S.
the house special chicken is DOPE. like extra moist and juicy, crispy skin, extra flavorful garlic-ness. at 9 bucks for a half chicky it's a great deal too. couldn't stop eating this and would gladly return and repeat. and repeat and repeat etc. sadly though everything else we tried was...not great. sizzling short rib came with a flavorful, somewhat spicy sauce, but the cut of meat was extra chewy and fatty. and like i love fatty but this was not phat fatty. veggie fried rice was some of the blandest shit i've ever tasted. also we had to try dat CONGEE...we got one with roast pork and a thousand year old egg. i actually didn't mind this dish, the congee was very comforting and almost tasted like a savory porridge, but it's not something i would crave unless i was sickly or had my jaw wired and couldn't eat solid food. the preserved duck egg was black and the consistency of jello with virtually no taste. COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! points for friendly service and some weird ass decorations, like 2 fat italian chef statues in the entrance (wha??) and lots of kooky lights outside.
(3)
Abe H.
I like it.
(5)
Bryce A.
Excellence authentic food! Order everything! ~no dessert though, go across the street for that!
(4)
Juliette L.
Pretty great variety of food all deliciously inspired by the villages of canton. I love the congee.. I swear they add some special ingredient(s) because the base isn't thick like most Chinese restaurants. I also love their private karaoke rooms, although it can get pricey to book. This place is always a return for me.
(4)
Lori Y.
It's all relative. Congee has great service for a Chinatown restaurant. Their food is consistently decent, but not great compared to some Chinatown restaurants. E.g., despite its namesake, other restaurants have better congee. The food is also pricier, obviously. But, this place is suitable if you want good Chinese food and don't want to venture into the heart of Chinatown. I avoid this place Friday and Saturday nights (except after 11pm) due to the large crowds. It's even crowded on many weekday nights. Crazy... Like some other reviewers, more and more, I've noticed this place attracts large crowds of yuppies/hipsters. Some of them get really drunk. E.g., 1 night 1 table spent $300+ on alcohol alone and some of girls were singing so loud we could hear them half-way across the 2nd-level room. $300 isn't a lot at a club but at Congee, that's a little insane. After a while, they just kept repeating the same songs. That kind of behavior wouldn't be acceptable at many restaurants. As we were leaving, 1 of the girls was leaning on the handrail above the fish pond looking like she was going to throw up. I really hoped she made it to the bathroom. Can you imagine cleaning puke out of a fish pond?
(3)
Dave K.
I've gone to this restaurant a handful of times since they've been opened, and I have to say that their customer service has taken a nosedive in the last few years, getting worse with each visit. My friend took me and coworkers there for lunch, and was so embarrassed by their service. The hostess and wait staff was rude as we requested to be seated near the front of the restaurant. From what my friend told me, he was making snide remarks in Cantonese. When placing our orders, my Cantonese-speaking friend helped us translate what the waiter recommended, as his English wasn't that great. He and his coworkers made some condescending comments, which I could tell from their smirks and facial expressions. Although their tones pretty much conveyed what they were saying. Overall, we all agreed that the food was good, but they would never come back on account of the terrible service we had. Another time, I had gone with my Chinese friends for dinner and had worse service. The waitress kept trying to push us to place our orders, even though we were still waiting for people. Throughout the meal, we felt rushed. Some of us weren't even done with our rice and there were still food on the table, and the waitress came by to start clearing dishes and asked if we wanted dessert. Even though some of us were still eating! Then, as we were figuring out the bill, she kept hovering over us and watching us counting our money and grabbed it when we all put our money in. It was the first time that my friends, who are generally very friendly and amiable people, actually complained to the manager as we were leaving. If you really want to try out the food at Congee Village, as they do have a good selection of dishes, I would suggest visiting their other location on Bowery, about 2 blocks above Delancey. The service is better there. Just be prepared to wait a bit for your table on the weekends. Pros: Good Food!! Cons: Horrible Customer Serivce at the Original Location Solid 4 star.
(4)
helen k.
umm... no. i was really excited to check out this place because of all the great reviews. this is the first time that yelp has ever let me down! i was seriously writing this review in my head while i was eating b/c i was so annoyed.. where to start.. 1. the food. i would say the food was about 2 stars. it wasn't great by any means. ordered the pork fried rice, abalone & chicken congee, fried squid, duck, and the short ribs. my fried rice was good thanks to siracha, congee was ok, squid was decent, duck was prob the best dish b/c it was very flavorful, and the short ribs were just a complete disappointment. i couldn't even hold the damn ribs b/c the plate was just too hot but i was too hungry and impatient to wait. the meat was so chewy that i had a hard time even getting it off the bone. i mean seriously.. how are u supposed to eat this? pry it off with your chopsticks? i was making a mess! 2. service.. yes i understand it's busy and a popular restaurant but must all 5 dishes come out 10-15 min apart from each other? the rice came out first and we had pretty much finished it by the time the other entrees came out. i want to eat everything (or most) together!! is that so much to ask for? 3. nasty ass condiments. seriously i had to think twice about using the soy sauce because the bottle was so crusty and dirty. every single one of the condiments on the table were in terrible condition. how hard is it to wipe it down?? 4. this isn't the restaurants fault but we just got really unlucky by being seated next to an obnoxious dinner party. half loud ass girls and half loud ass gay guys. i swear they all sounded like they were fighting because they were so loud. i'm korean. we don't talk when we eat. i want some peace and quiet. i do not want to hear a guy yelling about how he didn't get his rice over and over for 5 minutes. my head hurt by the time i left the restaurant b/c i was so annoyed! never going back here again unless i have to for a bday party.. maybe i'll eat some pizza before i go so i don't have to touch the food -_-
(1)
Ye P.
One of the most authentic southern Chinese food. Great price value! Must try the frozen crab. Order the Americanized stuff if you want to be disappointed.
(5)
Craig Z.
New York institution. Services was suprisingly courteous on last visit. Congee is fantastic and so cheap. Seafood dishes are good too.
(4)
The R.
I was here for the first time & it was a good first impression. I had - - Fried Frog in Salted Garlic & Pepper - Boneless Chicken Feet in Thai Sauce - Pork Chops Peking Style - Mimosa The food tasted GREAT. The service was just aiiight. I recommend it, though.
(4)
Terren J.
This place is so far the best Chinese restaurant I've been to in the city. It's the closest to good LA Chinese food restaurants out of the places I've encountered. I was craving salt & pepper pork chop and even though it wasn't on the regular dinner menu, they still made it. =) The staff actually speaks Mandarin, as opposed to only Cantonese, so it was easy to order, even with my Chinglish. They were nice too. This place is going to be my go-to for authentic Chinese food.
(4)
May L.
Summary: Delicious food for large groups at a reasonable price. Below is what they are known for/good at, and it's 4 stars. Flat Screen TV's abound. You can watch the game here in peace. (No honey... I was just craving Chinese food....) Intro Commentary: I went to Congee Village to fill out my Crustaceans Celebrations list. Despite the deceiving name, this is what "my peeps" actually go here for. I like a good congee, and if you're craving it, this place is solid in all things Congee. But seriously folks... it's for breakfast. I guess if I was in HK or China and saw a restaurant called "Cereal and Oatmeal" I might also think that it made sense for dinner; and then be a bit disappointed. Atmosphere: The decor is weird. Props, though as I realized, if a restaurant dares to choose to be a "Village" and really owns it, leaning all the way in with random pools, bamboo trim for stairs, an odd array of Christmas-esque lighting, then, I say... I get "The Village" concept. It's not Village like East or West "Village", with its urban, NYU Bobcat coolness. It's more like Santa's Village, if Santa moved his elves to China - to be closer to where the toys are made sort thing. Total props to you, CV. It's weird, but I am feeling it. There are three levels of restaurant. I prefer the top one for lighting, but the lower levels are fairly clean. The Crowd. Casual chill. Dress up if you want or wear whatever. No one appears to be caring. And let's face it, you couldn't possibly wear something louder than the decor.The people are a mix of races, ages, citizenships, etc. CV is great for large tables, though you may want to make a reservation on weekend nights. We had a group of 6 mixed, international stomachs with three friends joining for drinks. 20 minutes for seating, but no problem for people to join. They just don't care. The Service: Great. It's Chinese though. If you want the waiter's attention, make eye contact and say "Seen-Song" means sir. They will change your plates for crustaceans as often as you like. If you need more crackers for the crustaceans, just let them know. Water? fork? speak up and they will hook you up, no problem. The Food & Drink: As with all Chinese Restaurants, there is a trick. It's all in what you order. I use to think Chinese menus were long because they wanted to make sure to list everything you could want to purchase. Now, I think it's an inside ethnic joke or secret masonic-esque handshake. A little cruel to play with the taste buds that way, but here's the secret to CV for my fellow Yelpers: Wines: Around $30-40 per bottle. Non-Vintage listed, but oddly a descent list that includes: Sancerre, New Zealand Sav Blancs, a few Italian and French wines with the seasons being such that it's impossible to mess up. Example, the Mouton Cadet, was an $8 bourdeaux at Astor Wines, but a great restaurant price of $25. Food: Order this list minus the ones indicated as a pass. - Dungeon Crab with Garlic & Pepper - Classic Cantonese preparation. Good execution. $35 - Lobster Ginger Scallion - Descent, but not so remarkable I would choose it over the other two crab. $25 - Chilled Dungeon Crab Chao Style - Awesome. Chao... I like you're chilled style. It's all about the dipping sauce. - Clams with Black Bean Sauce - A pass. Very average execution. Pan Fried Minced Pork with Salted Fish - Good, but not as attractive as the picture. A pass. - Salted Fish, Eggplant and Chicken in Casserole - Good. - Sauted Snow Pea Leaves in Garlic - I've had better, but this wasn't bad. - Sauted Bok Choy in Garlic - Ditto - Pan Fried Bean Curd with Soy Sauce - Delicious. I was glad people were distracted by the crab. I ate my fill... - Fillet of Beef Sizzling Hot Plate Chinese Style - Nice. This is always slightly a slightly fattier cut of beef than non-Chinese may be use to.
(4)
Vanessa O.
Finally came here after years of wondering what was inside. this place is interesting to go to for the atmosphere alone. I felt like we were transported to Hong Kong or something. tons of rooms with crazy and tacky design, with separate rooms for private parties. we ordered the house chicken which was good, but I am not so keen on eating off the bone, but that is how it is done with real chinese food. also, i am probably one of the last people to try congee, but we ordered the one everyone said to order. we got the preserved egg and pork which was fine. it was darn cheap though! i just think i am not really a congee person. we ordered another beef dish which was fine. there are plenty of safe bets if you are not too adventurous, so I am sure I will be back here again. i hope to bring a group of people here just because the environment is that weird. in a good way of course!
(3)
Misha T.
Ah congee, my eternal comfort food. My mom basically gabe it to me every time I was sick so I sort of associate it with that. Anyways their congee is pretty good. I was sad they didn't have salty fish and peanut. I had the dried scallop and white nut this time and will probably go for the frog next. We also ordered baked rice and seafood which tasted amaaaazing. The texture of the rice was perfect and it was seasoned just right. Our side of greens was the standard garlic and snow peas which they were able to pull of just fine
(4)
Julie L.
Their crispy chicken is sooo yummmmmmy. I'm definitely getting that again the next time I'm back in NY!
(4)
David C.
Mexicans have menudo for their hangover cures. Matzo ball soup is the traditional jewish penicillin. For me, it's all about call it what you want, congee, rice porridge or jook...it's all the same to me! If your in the LES, you MUST come here to enjoy the perfect chinese remedy that takes care of that hangover or nagging cold. I ordered a delicious bowl of hot congee with pork and preserved egg (the classic) and one order of juicy buns. And the best thing is that the congee is only $2.50! Oh Congee Village, I've missed you so much, with your tacky decor, your long menu of hundreds of items and your late hours open til 3am! Every time I'm back in NYC I promise that I will always come visit you!
(5)
Angela C.
Oh, yum. Thinking about the zesty and tender salted pepper squid makes my mouth water. Huge menu with lots of good Chinese dishes. As an Asian American now stuck in the Midwest with a dearth of good Chinese food, this place hit the spot. The food is great with tons of authentic dishes, and the bamboo decor makes you feel a little like you are sitting in a hut in the tropics. All good. This probably would be a 5 except for the service, which was a little slow (it took us almost the entire meal to get glasses of water!).
(4)
Jie S.
I went there for a early lunch with my old friend and her family. I was first impressed with their decoration. Congee Village looks like a village with all bamboo chairs, wood wall, wood fence, and a little bridge. We were seated right away. My friend's family have been here many times so they did most of ordering: sliced port and preserved egg porridge, scallop and kinkgo seed porridge, garlic egg plant casserole, a whole roasted chicken, and stir fried vegetables I just added Razor clams with black bean sauce. I always loved congee which is my go-to comfy food and could be easily made at home. The rice in porridge was cooked long enough so those had a melting in the month taste. The meat, scallops, egg, and Kinkgo seeds were added at the right time so they were cooked right and mingled with the rice well. Those were slightly on the salty side for me. Otherwise those would be perfect. The garlic eggplant casserole was also cooked right but on the salty side. The roasted chicken was her husband favorite. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender enough with the right seasoning. I loved the razor clams which was fresh and delicious. I kind of hoped they had a bigger portion since I ate most of it and there was not enough for my friend. I would say the service was typical China town service. It didn't do any of our favor as her 2 year old threw and broke one tea cup on the floor. And parking was definitely an issue for this location as well.
(4)
Marissa P.
I have had much better Cantonese food. Plus, better service. At many Chinese restaurants, the waitstaff generally isn't the greatest, but this place takes the cake for overall rudeness. They couldn't be less attentive if they tried. You ask for water and receive a snarl back -- finally the water comes 15 minutes later. You may have to ask for it twice. The food is bland. I have to add the red spicy chili sauce to everything. Plus, food always arrives way too hot. So hot it will burn your mouth. Go elsewhere for Cantonese food in NYC. There are tons of way better options at the same cost!!!
(2)
lin h.
Place is clean and inviting. It's no Hop Kee on Mott, but is definitely above average and not expensive. Had the salt pepper squid, peking pork chop, and their famous (fried/rotisserie?) chicken. Also the corn chowder soup. Chicken corn chowder is pretty good (but not as good as Mai Lai Wah in Philly). Salt pepper squid is average (again, Mai Lai wah has the best i've had). The peking pork chop was also average. Go to Hop Kee on Mott if you want the best peking pork chop the world (literally, i've had it in many places in china and its not as good Hop Kee's). Little disappointed that it wasn't crispy. Now, the chicken, well....as amazing as chicken can get, if you like salty foods. Delicious and I would order it over and over again. I have to go back and try some of their short rib dishes.
(3)
Ally W.
Change is not always good. The biggest difference is the portion of food. Gone are the days of ordering 4 dishes to feed 7 people to the brim... now, you need to order 7 dishes to feed 7 people. The quality of the food has also slipped. We ordered pork chops, but instead got small bite size pieces of pork fat. The salt-and-pepper calamari was a bit rubbery. But the congee.... still the best in town. Overall, our group enjoyed the meal and the price was still a good deal. We will return again.
(3)
Mich L.
Unlike other asian restaurants who base their names off of stereotypical things like: dragons! woks! lanterns! red! slizzards! Congee Village's name actually makes sense. It's a restaurant that serves lots of congee and the decor inside is that of a crazy bamboo village. Or at least that's my interpretation of the unique decor anyways. The place was pretty crowded when we went in the morning so business seems to be good here. The wait wasn't too bad though, probably under 20 minutes. PROS: + Colored menus with lots of pictures. We all know that colored menus full of adequate English translations, pictures and captions make life way better. + So many friggin' dish choices! I'm pretty sure there's something for everyone here so carnivores and herbivores can temporarily coexist for a meal. + I love seafood. All I want to do is eat cantonese LOBSTER and CRAB all day. Om nom nom. + I was pretty sure Geoduck was a duck pokemon until I saw it on the menu under seafood and found out it was a type of clam. New knowledge is pro! D:'s: 1. Service isn't the greatest. Our waiter mistakenly gave us an extra bowl of congee that we didn't order and stubbornly insisted we ordered it. The manager took our order the remainder of the meal LOL. Luckily, he was cool. 2. I expected a little more from the congee. I think Andrew Zimmern came here once for the frog congee, which we also ordered. It wad decent but as someone who has grown up eating congee, I didn't find it amazing. The frog was a little bony but had good flavor within itself. Thanks to my boyfriend's family for taking me. It was a nice experience!
(4)
Eunice T.
This is a really big place just for congee so its a good thing they serve a lot more than congee. I went on weekday during that awkward time of day nobody really eats--late lunch (after 2PM) early dinner (before 6PM) so the place was quite empty. It was a plus for the community that nobody was there since my body was riddled with a deathly illness resulting in excessive coughing & sneezing & a general feeling of "WTF is wrong with my body?" THUS my venture out for congee--& congee village did not disappoint. They have a lot of options. I just got the standard preserved egg & pork but it definitely tasted above standard. The best congee I've ever had--sorry Grandma. It's served in a stone bowl that I assume was hung over an open fire bc it actually comes out bubbling. So warm & soothing for my destroyed throat. My friend got the duck, chicken, & pork congee---the manly & meaty congee. The menu is large. I peeped @ their private dinner rooms for large groups & family dinner, super Asian furniture & everything. Reminds me of my mom's house. A definite return whether feeling 100% or under the weather.
(5)
Dave H.
"Congee will fuck you up." Uttered by a friend in jest, the recuperative powers of congee on famished folk can't be denied. Who would have thought chicken congee could be so good? The rest of our lunch's lineup - greens, chow fun, and tofu (delightfully warm and flavorful) - was tasty and a madly inexpensive lunch: $7/head, after tip and tax. Luckily, Congee Village wasn't crowded - thanks to my friend's planning, we secured an upstairs table. This venue is well-lit, spacious, and multi-level, perfect for parties (they have karaoke too). Definitely check out their lounge and bar area. Highly recommended.
(5)
Josephine L.
Impressive Cantonese lunchtime congee fare. The house special chicken (of garlic chip beauty in the Yelp pictures) is truly a marvel to be savored. Succulent, juicy, garlicky with crisp skin and a delicious soy-sauce blend accompaniment, this is the kind of thing to pig out on with dining companions. Their soup dumplings were not bad considering it's a Cantonese place, but they were a tad too small and didn't have enough soup. The duck and meat ball congee was fantastic. They serve all their congees straight from the pot so you know it's fresh and piping hot. As with most Cantonese dishes, they layer on the Chinese parsley/scallions so if you're not a fan (like me), be sure to scoop those out first. The congee was thick and comforting and the meat balls were great. Not enough duck pieces, in my opinion, but the flavor was definitely there. Kitschy jungle-esque decor but the AC was turned on nice and strong so I'm not complaining.
(4)
Sarah G.
Why is it so hot in here?? And if it is that hot why are your water glasses so small and why did it take so long to get our beer? They were in bottles.... But this restaurant is huge. It goes on for days inside. And their menu is just as big, so if you don't like being overwhelmed then this isn't the place for you. They also have shark fin soup on their menu which I know is a dish common in authentic chinese and cantonese food, but they literally take the fins from sharks and through the rest away to make that dish so I just think it is sad when people offer that dish... That aside, their beef chow fun noodles are AWESOME. The black bean sauce on them is perfect and those noodles were just perfect. I could have eaten a whole order of that if we had nothing else on the table easily. We also got their peking pork ribs and those were pretty good as well, but not as good as the pork sizzling platter. But the beef chow fun still definitely won. They also serve dim sum items pretty much all day but their pork buns were not juicy enough inside at all--too much bread. Their dumplings were okay but really I should have just stuck with that beef chow fun as an entree for myself. For 5 people eating with a beer each totaling to around $45 that is pretty awesome though, especially for NYC.
(3)
Jessica K.
This place is great for large groups. Ive gone to congee multiple time with anywhere from 3 to 20 people. The staff is efficient and prompt. My friends and I always order several dishes to share, usually, rice, vegetable, 1 or 2 meat dishes and a seafood dish. Just some of my favorites: salted fish fried rice, razor clams sizzling plate, fried squid. They have an extensive menu so im sure youll find something you'll like. As for the price- I have never had to pay more than $12-13 bllls split including 18-20% tip. And we order a lot of food. It can get really noisy when its busy.
(4)
Ian C.
This is widely known as one of the better Cantonese restaurants in the city. Its good, but service is horrible. I guess that's to be expected in a place like this. You never go for ambiance or service, just good food at a pretty reasonable price. The steamed fish is one of the pricier things you can get on the menu but if you are with a big group its great. The pea shoot leaves and congee (preserved egg and pork) are all good. The only thing that I don't really order on the menu is the fried stuff. The salt and pepper shrimp has a huge doughy coating, not good. Other then that, a great place to eat for a leisurely Sunday dinner.
(4)
Michael L.
"A-Ok, " 3-stars good. When this place first opened up, I had an urge just to dislike this place even without trying it. Perhaps it was the cheaply themed storefront, or because it was located at the very edge of Chinatown and not deserving full Chinatown status, I don't really know. My first time to patron this spot, I was very surprised that they offered more than just congee. My party booked up four banquet tables and ate decent Cantonese fine dining dishes. They even had abalone dishes. Oh yes, they have congee too. I was shocked and enlighten. I've been open to dining here ever since. The decor is still cheap, and free street parking is nearly non-existent without a healthy cardio walk. Service is okay, nothing fantastic. Most servers know enough English to get our order through, and it helps that I can speak broken Cantonese. The prices are fair and comparable to other Chinatown equivalents. This place is okay.
(3)
P C.
The decor is fun and kitschy, with christmas lights, some bamboo decor. The prices here are very reasonable. Try the Pan Fried Minced Pork with salted fish. Smells heavenly and you get 8 small patties to salivate in. The sauteed bok choy with garlic is a winner as well and you won't smell like garlic afterwards either, and if you do it is worth it. Try some of the clay pot rice dishes as well They also have interesting things like frog legs, which I have never eaten before. Listen you can;t go wrong with trying new things especially when they will not leave a hole in your pocket.
(4)
Kenny L.
I must have strayed from my Chinese roots. Congee or Jook is Chinese breakfast food, it is also food for cold weather and is a cure all like chicken soup is. I rarely eat Jook anymore. Mainly because in Oakland we have great options with Korean food and the Tofu stews are perfect for cold weather. In fact, last winter I probably spent three out of five workweek lunches at Korean restaurants. But also I think the Jook in Oakland's Chinatown has the consistency of instant oatmeal. I hate oatmeal. Oatmeal this Jook ain't. It was thick, flavorful and filled with stuff. The Sampan Jook was missing shrimp but also had duck. The duck fat that rendered in with the stuff made it even better. Best yet, it was served piping hot. This was perfect food for me to adjust from a temperate California autumn to a chillier East Coast autumn. I doubt I needed help with the adjustment, everywhere I went, it seems that acceptable room temperature was around 80 degrees (while room temperature is 68-70 degrees in California) and I was sweating profusely whenever indoors.
(4)
Dat N.
You can not go to a place called congee village and not get congee. That said, congee is amazing and a super cheap eat - especially when you're sick and get it to go! Yes the special chicken is amazing, the do miao (snow pea) is amazing , fried rice is good but also P107 - pan fried minced pork with salty fish!! Dont be a retard and get cocktails here - these guys dont know which end of the bottle is up.
(4)
Kevin J.
This is now my go to Chinese restaurant when I'm in manhattan. One of the best places I have every eaten for Chinese food. The lamb was just amazing and so was the pork. The restaurant might be small but the taste is something that can't be beat. If you're close by I highly recommend you go.
(5)
Eugene K.
While sitting at the bar for a good 40 minutes, at least 70% of the patrons, including guys, ordered the lychees martinis. I couldn't help. I had to try one. Man card. "Maker's on rocks please." Didn't help that my pinky was up. Their fried rice here is pretty killer. They use freakin' jasmine rice. WHO DOES THAT?????? Love it. Oh, and pray pray pray you don't get the dungeon room. Basically, it's a small corner in the back end of the restaurant on the left. You walk down 2 steps and you see 3 small tables. Tiny. 2 of the tables has seating for 2 only, while both patrons stare at the wall. Sucks. When we got seated there, AGAIN, the gf says, "Oh no, we're stuck in the dungeon again." The girl at the table next to us was like looking around and told her bf "Yea, this is like a dungeon." I did appreciate how the bf tried to man up and complain to the waiters only to find out it would be like a 45 min. wait. Don't worry bro, we all tried. For some reason, the food comes out QUICK. You order 5 dishes, they bang them out 1 by 1 in like 10 minutes. It's awesome if you're starving but not if you order 5 dishes sitting in the dungeon. Damn, I sound like I'm complaining. But I'm not. Cheap drinks, huge portions, fast service... and the dungeon.
(4)
Angie C.
I come here probably once a month as it is my go-to chinese restaurant when family and/or friends don't know where to eat. Of course, I always order the duck congee and it is an inexpensive and tasty appetizer for 2 (or 1) in place of the house soup. Don't expect great service here as it is Chinatown but do expect your food to arrive quickly. Try not to get the rice dish that comes in a bamboo vessel as I find it always lacks flavor no matter which version you order. The tofu casseroles are always a hit with my group as are any of the noodle dishes. They do party rooms downstairs but there is a minimum. The wait gets pretty long if you come here for a weekend dinner (up to an hour), but other than that you should be seated relatively quickly. Although there is a bar, try not to order alcoholic drinks here that isn't Tsingtao beer--my coworkers once ordered a vodka tonic and a glass of merlot, but they weren't very good. Overall, highly recommended for authentic chinese/cantonese fare!
Come for the kitsch and the congee. First, the bad: The Steamed Vegetable Dumplings were the worst I've EVER had. I love dumplings and opted to try them despite seeing the warnings here when I pre-visit yelped. They're horrible (soggy wrapping encasing a dry spinach mixture) and not worth the $2! The sauteed vegetables (tried the broccoli rabe and mixed veg) were swimming in oil, voiding any freshness and killing my stomach for a good 24 hours after. And the overwhelming MSG factor really detracts from the overall food quality. The upside: The Vegetarian Congee - carrots, celery and ginkgo nuts lace sweetness into the thick bland porridge, delivering comfort in a piping hot bowl. It definitely could have used more veg, but I liked it overall. The sprawling, cheesy interior is a creative place for friends to gather to celebrate an occasion (lots of bdays when I was there). The staff will tuck you into a room, largely ignore you but then treat you to a plate of fresh fruit (honeydew, grapes and lychee) with a lit candle. Maybe go once or get the veg congee take-out but don't expect to be blown away by the food.
(2)
Elizabeth L.
I liked this place. Kinda like the Shopsin's of Chinese food in terms of the menu (though not THAT overwhelming). There's a lot of choices, the portions are reasonable, the prices are a little higher than Chinatown...but the atmosphere is nice and there are plenty of tables. The congee portions were HUGE! Very tasty, and perfect for sharing. Also got the salted fish with tofu dish, one of my childhood favorites. Wasn't as salty as I like it, but I was happy it was on the menu.
(4)
Jo K.
Congee village has yummy congee. My favorite is the thousand year old egg and pork congee. They also have dungeness crab, my favorite, but it's pretty salty some days. Everything else is average for a Chinese restaurant.
(3)
Sui B.
The upstairs looks a lot better than downstairs so try to get seated in the former if possible. The soup dumplings all ripped apart when we tried to pry it off the paper. The pan-fried tofu was so good though~ The congee was okay, from souther China, so it is more fancy that I would prefer.
(3)
Maggie L.
Super yummy!! The portion size is huge, great to have a friend share with you. You can pig out with the food here. Went with a group of friends, didn't expect the portion of to so big so we end up making the guys finish our food. Food is freshly made, nice and hot, but be careful of not to rush or else you with burn yourself. Very clean location, nice and orderly. Staffs are really nice and polite, and gives great recommendations and explanation about the food to help you decide on what to pick.
(5)
Watson L.
I come here all the time, they do a splendid job on the razor clams and the beef dishes. Their congee is top notch, you must have the fried dough with it. Don't order generic chinese take out food fyi gwei lo.
(5)
Jia J.
I do believe that I shouted, "HOLY SHIT" when I walked through these doors. After downing some horrendous "pizza" just blocks away (separate review, Rocket Joe's), this was like walking into an oasis of health presented in the for of good, hot food served in maximally kitschy approximations of Asian nature scenes.The structure of this place was like a parody of a fiction movie misrepresenting Asian culture and aesthetics. And yet...it was all too real. Amid fishtanks, bamboo stalks, bubbling noises from unseen indoor brooks, UV lighting, and probably images of pandas, a sharp looking staff greeted us with half contemptuous, half solicitous expressions. We were seated immediately in a nice nook in a slightly elevated area. Even at the random hour of almost 11 p.m., there were all kinds of people dining here, but mostly Asian, and of those, mostly Chinese. Hot Jasmine tea was at our disposal as we pored over the menu. Luckily, the fact that I was still kind of full and wanted to cleanse myself more than gorge myself helped me make a decision pretty fast. I knew that the fresh squid congee ($3.50) had to be mine. My friend got the beef chow fun. Both dishes were pretty honkin' huge, though next to the sprawling landscape of my companion's chow fun, my congee looked like a tiny snow covered lake with bergs of scored white squid rising up here and there. For some terrible reason, all I could bear to eat off my friend's plate were a few good sprouts. However, the fresh snap and flavor that even these stray sprouts delivered indicated a superior version of a hackneyed dish. As for my congee...it was just what I needed. Hot, thick, wholesome, and chock full of tender squid that was indeed fresh. Had I not spoiled the full extent of my appetite with lesser food, I would have tried to try them all! It's intensely comforting to know that there IS a way to get a whole pot of good congee late night for less money than a craphouse slice of pizza or probably even a bag of expired Combos and a dusty deli soft drink in this neighborhood. Good to know if stuck in foul weather or an inebriated state on the fringes of Chinatown.
(4)
Hetty W.
Great place for consistent chinese food! The house specialty--congee--delivers with flavor and texture and it's served piping hot! They have these yummy rolls made out of rice noodle (chang fun) that they sautee with chives and pork that's really delicious as well. The food is a little greasy, but what Chinese food place isnt? Tastes just like home.
(4)
Kim T.
This places was great! We had a little bit of a wait but it was Friday at prime dinnertime. Prices were great, the bill for 5 people only came to $86. We got friend calamari which had a very light batter coating, seafood stir fried noodles, mayonaise shrimp, a sizzling chicken dish, but the real star was the house special chicken--roasted chicken in a soy sauce. Will definitely be going again.
(5)
Kyri K.
This place was great. They have different "party" rooms or whatever those things were. First time having congee so I couldn't compare it to anything, but I enjoyed it. Very modestly priced. Service was a little slow, but its all good. I also loved their decor. Kept saying that I felt like I was in a "village" - get it? Scallion pancakes are always good too. Wanted to try the fried bread with the congee but they said they were out. Oh well.
(4)
Dust B.
To be fair we've come here quite a lot, and their food is quite tasty. If you are going to eat here I recommend the Beef Satay, the bean curd in sauce, and the congee. So why only 2 stars? Well for one we always seem to be tucked into the most claustrophobic space, bumping at the knees. Yesterday they literally put us in the corner where I was staring at, well, the corner. I felt like I was being punished. The table is so small that I knock over 3 things and when our congee came, there was barely any space for the waitress to put the bowls down. Anyway, we ate our congee, which was tasty and perfect for a chilly January afternoon. Then as my boyfriend was just about to eat his last spoonful, he discovers a baby roach or some miscellaneous type of bug, waterlogged, bloated and floating belly-up in his congee. When we told the waiter, he asked us what we wanted. Umm to show you that there is an INSECT IN OUR FOOD. Then he got his manager who inspected the bug and asked what we wanted again. We said that we just wanted to inform them that there was a bug in our congee. Then he asked if we wanted a replacement. Are you out your mind? Are you high??? Oh yes, more congee from the batch we just found a bug in perhaps. Then he said, "OK, cancel. We cancel." As if there was anything to cancel. We ate the congee. It's not like you can cancel our digestive process. Finally another manager came out and apologized and told us it was on the house. We didn't want to freak anyone else out so we just tipped the waitress (after all it wasn't her fault) and left. It breaks my heart because this was one of our favorite places and now we don't think we could bring ourselves to eat there again. I'm not saying this to ruin them because they really do serve delicious food but I do want to say that you should examine your food before ingestion unless you want to get some real EXOTIC, New York cuisine.
(2)
Vincent V.
Never actually ate here but made people order from them. Good food for when you are sick or lazy. The food is home style and authentic. There's some nasty stuff on the menu if that's your thing. They deliver which give them high marks in my book.
(3)
David W.
So I'm really not sure what the hype behind this place is. It's good, but definitely not a memorable Chinese restaurant in Chinatown (except for the fact it's not some dump that looks like it's never been mopped). The scallion pancakes? Not good at all...was there even any scallion in there or just fried dough? The soup dumplings...why in the world would you put them on paper instead of lettuce leaves, the moment you pick them up the skin will break. The black bean sizzling chicken and seafood rice were good enough to keep this place from dropping all the way down into 2 star territory; but even then, our sizzling chicken had more onions than meat it seemed like. The congee was good, but how hard is that? Maybe that's just what you need to stick to here, but it sounds like the quality has gone down a lot. I'm putting this place at 2.5 stars, bumping up to 3 since it is probably the cleanest restaurant in Chinatown and they have a cool decor.
(3)
Carson Y.
The food is legit. They haven't sacrificed quality over quantity. I know it's always busy and the wait is long, but there's a reason for that. If you look around you'll see Chinese mom and pops eating around you. That just means your eating at the right place and it's not on the Chinatown washed out list. Must Try: Sauteed Jumbo Shrimp with Walnut and Broccoli Pork Chop Peking Style House Special Chicken Beef Chow Fun
(4)
Brenda S.
We were there the last Friday and if you show up after 7, you have to wait. Food Recommended: Congee!! No doubt, the congee is delicious. I ordered the fish and preserved egg congee while my friend ordered abalone congee. Not recommended: House special chicken. I guess Cantonese people would prefer it but I prefer heavy sauce dishes, so it's not the one I would like to try. Service Fast and polite. One thing I am not very comfortable with is the traffic along our table. So many people talked and laughed while walking past our table. I am afraid they will bring bacteria to my dishes. :) Environment: Spacious. A lot space for family dinner, bar, even rooms. Generally, this is not the restaurant I will go back since there are so many other congee places, but I don't have a major complaint.
(4)
Ashley L.
Boyfriend's family are regulars/VIP here so my rating on service might be bias...but overall I find the staff to be fast and get whatever you need done. Food is served family style and most dishes are legit. I've gotten take-out too and they're pretty fast. Drinks are VERY WELL PRICED ($5-8 cocktails...most are $6)!! If you don't want to come for food, come for the drinks!
(4)
Chris M.
Probably the best restaurant in Chinatown (imo). We came here for one of my best friend's going away parties last night. We had about twenty people and so this review will include all the family style dishes. We started with the congee with shredded pork and thousand year egg. Perfect way to gain some appetite for the rest of the feast. After the congee, the rest of the food came out. and it did not stop. Whole roasted/fried chicken - very good. The skin was crispy and the white meat was juicy. Sweet fried pork chops - very good. The pork was juicy on the inside. Salty fried pork chops - good. Extremely salty but I guess that's expected given the name. Razer clams - very good. These clams are not easy to cook. The meat was tender and it fell right off the shell. Fried flounder - the entire fish is deep fried so the skin is creepy and the meat is tender. Very flavorful. Veggies - very good. And much needed with all the meats and seafood. Steak - a tbone steak perfectly cooked. The meat looked like it was medium well but was still extremely tender. This dish was devoured. I was about to pick up the bone picck the meat off that. Mayo Shrimp with broccoli and walnuts - the signature Asian dish. Not a lot of mayo which was great. The broccoli was perfectly cooked and the walnuts still crispy. The shrimp was not overlooked and delicious. Wet fried rice - I think this dish is called the fj rice? no idea. But it is seafood fried rice topped with a wet sauce. Best fries rice ever because the sauce makes it moist. Ended the feast with some red bean soup. Can't leave a Chinatown restaurant without the red bean soup. Hapoy eating, suckers.
(4)
Katrina L.
There was a long line out the door so get here early to get a number then walk around Chinatown. Our waiter was incredibly funny and nice. The jouk (congee) is really inexpensive considering it was a seafood type of restaurant. The cold crab was delicious, must try! $38-42ish per crab. Well worth it as it tasted delicious! It was my first time having chilled crab but so good! Entrees are so so. It's not your typical Cantonese flavors though so don't come here expecting Hong Kong style flavors. A little dirty and the restrooms are so tiny you have to move side ways to get in and out. They also had karaoke downstairs which was kinda random. Well definitely come back!
(3)
Patricia C.
I prefer going to this Congee Village versus the newer branch located on Bowery Street. The atmosphere feels a lot better! But anyway, I suggest ordering from the rice CONGEE aka rice porridge section if it is your first time dining at Congee Village because congee is what they are known for. Besides for congee, most of their family style Chinese dishes are very delicious, such as the Shrimp with walnuts/broccoli, Pork Chop Peking Style, House Special Chicken, and Sauteed Chinese Seasonal Spinach. If you want to find a place to celebrate special occasions, then this will definitely be the right place since there are rooms available for parties over 15! Side Note: There is a cocktail bar for those who like to drink!
(4)
Xiao Y.
Went to Congee Village last night with 3 other friends. I'm not going to say this is the best restaurant, but this is the place you want to go to if you want a low-key, chill time with friends kind of meal. Menu offers a lot of variety and the prices were very reasonable given the alternatives around the area. We weren't very hungry so we only ordered: Perserved duck egg w/ shredded pork Congee (2) Garlic stir-fried snow pea leaves Pork chop Peking style The congee was pretty good, full bodied and not too watery. A good congee is made with some sort of pork broth as the base but without the oil often associated with a pork broth. The congee was well balanced with just enough preserved duck egg and pork. I would have been fine just ordering a bowl of the congee and eating only that. One order of congee is enough for 3 people to each get a little bowl. The garlic stir-fried snow pea leaves was good - greasy, garlic wasn't too overpowering, and most importantly - the snow pea leaves were tender and not overcooked! This is dish isn't too hard to make, but it can definitely be screwed up. This is probably one of my favorite veggie dishes to get at Chinese restaurants so I've had plenty to judge from. The pork chop Peking style was a first for me - but it has probably made my list of things to order consistently. Think of it as thinly pounded pork chops deepfried and then tossed with the Chinese bbq sauce/honey. I wish I had gotten more pork but most of what I had was batter, the pork pieces that I did get were very tender and the outside was a little crispy which made the entire experience better. Like I said, I don't think there's much to wow at, but this place is consistent, good, and can accommodate groups well. Some people like to experiment every now and then, but I feel like everyone has a few staple stores they go to when they want a guaranteed good meal below a certain price and this place might be it for me. I wouldn't hesitate to go back to this place again.
[3.5 stars] Formerly the home of post-hockey scrimmage dinner for people with large appetites, this is the perfect place to take a large group especially if you're willing to make some choices you normally wouldn't make. We found the scallops in spicy pepper sauce and the 'my fun' to be particularly good, though none of us ordered the house special chicken. The scallion pancakes were awesome, and though lotus root isn't my favorite, the vegetarians in the group loved it. The most amazing thing? With six people ordering an entree (we thought about getting five thinking that'd be enough, but were feeling hungry) our total only came to $72 with tax. That's insane! Couple of things to note: service is a little slow and they will bring your food out as it's ready. If you're ordering appetizers, order them first and then give it some time before ordering your entrees.
(3)
Miguel S.
Dined here a few times over the past several years & the positives easily outweigh the negatives. The menu is ridiculously huge, but a bit short on beer options. Stick to the standards (General Tso's, Sesame Chicken, etc.) & you'll do very, very well with the food quality. Dig further into the atypical & it gets more spotty. Service is decent. Though I do OK with it, I've noticed some people struggle a bit over language barriers with the wait staff (e.g. "asparagus" does not = "spare ribs"). Overall, a solidly reliable option near Bowery Ballroom & the other night spots in the area.
(4)
Derek C.
The atmosphere isn't the best, and the wait is long most of the time, but the food isn't too bad.
(4)
Tsz-Cheong C.
Congee is always delicious and service is OK, nothing to write home about. The Singapore Mei fun, Seafood casserole, and pan fried beef with Chinese broccoli are overly too sweet for my taste. I mean don't get me wrong. The place is known for it's Congee and that is what they are good at. The other dishes are mediocre at best. So if you want great Congee, this is the place, if you want great tasty Cantonese food, try the other joints around Chinatown. Another thing that bothered me and made me hysterical laughing, 1st the temperature of the food in the seafood casserole dish was inconsistent throughout the dish. The fried tofu and broccoli were barely warm and the scallops were hot. When you rush the quality of the product suffers. secondly, they had this server who brought out the food he sounded just like "froggy" from "The little rascals" It was hysterical when he announced the dish as it approached our table in a grumpy monotone voice, complete with a sneer and stare down, priceless!
(3)
Kristi G.
Oh congee village, how I love you... even the cheesy happy birthday song! Definitely a good place for large groups - the decor is all over the place, and pretty tacky, but somehow it's fitting. Also if you're looking for an intimate, quite evening, this is not the place for you. The service is also not the best, and you get charged for each bowl of rice. It's kind of an outcry to get charged for rice at a Chinese restaurant - but I also get pissy when I don't get complimentary chips & salsa at Mexican restaurants, or bread at Italian joints. My favorite dishes are the veg congee (add thousand year old egg), sweet potato pancakes, morning glory, and lotus root! Lots of other great options! When my parents visit NY, I'm definitely bringing them here!
(4)
Sandy C.
I've been here a few times. It's always been for someone's birthday so we always come with a large group. It's good for Chinese food and it's cheap. I'm not sure why it's so crowded and why people are so drawn to this place because the quality of food is not the freshest nor the best tasting. We waited between 30-45 mins for our tables because somehow our reservation for the private room got lost. While we were waiting in the lobby, I noticed the decor was oddly mismatched. What's up with the light fixtures and matching neon lite stools? That totally doesn't mesh with traditional hand carved Chinese wood and water fountains. So Tacky! Some dishes we ordered: Razor clams - Not sure why everyone gets this every time, I'd rather eat regular clams. This overly sized long clam kind of freaks me out. Pan Fried Tofu - This was actually the most flavorful thing we had (I know, Tofu..flavorful!) T-Bone Steak - Do not order this, it didn't taste good at all and the steak tasted freezer burned. House special Snow pea shoots - It's only special because they put salted egg yolk, egg whites (egg drop soup style), and 100 yr old preserved duck egg in here. The presentation itself looks gross but it tasted ok. Salt & Pepper Squid - Good Sliced flounder with stir fried veges - Good Chives with octopus - Good Chicken & black mushroom casserole with rice - Nice presentation and pretty good House Special Chicken - Decent What worries me is how the food come out so fast, especially since all the tables are full and it's so busy? And why is it so dirt cheap? Total for 20 people came out to be $27 p/p. For all that food we ordered (I'm sure I'm forgetting some dishes). We didn't find anything in our food but the dishes just kept coming out one after another. As Yu-Ching mentioned, there is something going on behind the scenes and I'm almost afraid to find out. I'm all for cheap fast classic Chinese food, but it doesn't taste all that great. I still think High Pearl in Elmhurst is the best place to go.
(2)
John K.
Food was delicious but honestly can't beat monterey park/san gabriel chinese food IMO. If you are craving chinese, this place is spot on and guaranteed to satiate your hunger. We ordered so much food that I'm not going to even begin to list them, but everything was pretty good so just order whatever your craving and I'm sure you wont be dissapointed. But again, chinese food in so-cal is better (in my opinion) haha
(4)
Sylvia C.
I've been here so many times but this place never disappoints. The food is really good and cheap. We went there last night. There were seven of us and we ordered eight dishes with drinks and it was only $16 including tip. Crazy right? The only downside is that you have to wait, even when you reserve. We waited 40 minutes but the food comes out pretty fast so once you sit down you're pretty much set.
(4)
Sarah B.
Stumbled upon this place while in search of a place to stumble upon. Totally worth the 40 minute or so wait for a table. The constant flow of patrons was a big clue we had found a true gem. The interior was very cool. Large tables for big groups. Yet another clue we found a fabulous restaurant. My sis and I had never tried congee, so of course, that was part of our order. The crab congee...wow...crabtastic. The dishes are served family style so we ordered a few entrees...a chicken dish and beef satay. Delicious. The beef dish was very spicy, so it was fabulous. When in chinatown, check this place out. You won't be disappointed and you also won't break the bank when the bill comes.
(5)
Selena L.
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who lived in a dungeon. She was kept there by the evil stepmother named Unemployment, a cruel witch who wouldn't give the princess enough money to dine out in the manner to which she was accustomed. Our beautiful princess was very sad about this. One day, she managed to escape the dungeon and found herself a freelance job. This made the princess very happy, and it placated the mean old evil stepmother who was too busy forcing her other children to go to boring required seminars at 9am to bother harassing her. Soon after the princess escaped from the dungeon, she met a man named S who had written her on a not-free dating website. He was nice and funny and seemingly handsome, although he did bear a great resemblance to one "Marky Mark" (former of the Funky Bunch). They made plans to get dinner, but before they could meet, he had to cancel, for he was being sequestered for a reality show. The princess was disappointed, but she understood, and carried on with her life. A few months later, S wrote her to say that he'd been released from his prior obligation and would she like to meet him for dinner? The princess readily agreed, and they met up at a bar in NoLIta for a few drinks. Well, the princess did, for S admitted he was on a mood stabilizing drug. Afterwards, the princess and S walked over to Congee Village, where they tucked into some fine standard Cantonese cuisine, including salt & pepper snails (periwinkles), roast squab and tofu casserole. They ate and talked, and ate and talked some more, but as the princess ate and talked, she realized she wasn't particularly attracted to this man. His arms were like pythons, and the princess didn't care for snakes. Outside, S asked if he could see her again, and the princess didn't reply when he kissed her on the mouth. Instead, she hailed a cab and went home, ignoring his subsequent texts and messages over the next few days. A few months later, the reality show starring S aired, and little did the princess know she had sidestepped a real landmine. She watched footage of him picking fights with other contestants and she cringed as he bawled about his personal life which often spilled into the challenges. The princess was so traumatized that she was never able to look at a cinnamon candy again without thinking of S. Boys and girls, the moral of this story is if you are a prince or a princess, you're going to have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your mate. Sometimes, you will have to kiss pigs and snakes too. In the meantime, you're better off kissing frog legs at a Chinese restaurant because at least those won't humiliate you later down the line.
(3)
Thomas F.
Delicious Chinese food! Reasonable prices. Good variety of choices.
(5)
Cindy X.
Really good mayo shrimp with walnuts. Although it only have 9 pieces and its 15.95. Shrimp was crunchy and nicely coated with honey mayo. The shrimp didn't taste bland like the other places. This place didn't taste like it had baking soda in it. If you understand what I mean. It's that weird taste you get when eating mayo shrimp. The broccoli from the shrimp wasn't hard and even lightly salted unlike other Chinese restaurant where they have uncooked hard broccoli. I also had the salted fish, slice chicken, and tofu casserole. The casserole had a lot of flavor to it. It goes really well with white rice. It had lettuce, mushrooms, fish fillet, slice chicken and fried tofu. We order 3 white rice to go and the bill came out to be 33$ with tax for 3 people. We were so full and we still have leftovers.
(4)
Jimmy C.
Congee Village is a tasty delight when it comes to Chinese Family Style Cuisine. Big Party of Friends + Chinese Style Eatery + Congee Village = Success!! FOOD: I came with my gf and family and being my first time they ordered some of the staples for me to try and they were DELICIOUS! We ordered Seafood Hot Pot, the famous House Special Chicken, 1000 Year Old Egg + Chicken Congee, and Seafood Pan Fried Noodles! Everything was tasty, brought out hot and sizzling, and made to order. The only thing I feel that is a little sad is they probably use MSG, however it is easily overlooked to how awesome everything tastes. I would recommend the House Special Chicken and Pan Fried Noodles for any first timers! They are staple Chinese style dishes and Congee Village makes them as good as anyone else. SERVICE: Above average and quick and efficient. ATMOSPHERE: Large, Meandering and reminds one of a jungle with the wallpaper/decor. I hear that the place is very large and deep. Its very deceiving from the outside in that it looks small but that is not the case at all. Provides a very family style and warm atmosphere. Great for large groups of friends or family! When we came we sat by the door and the table next to us was the staff cleaning and cutting veggies. The restaurant gives a really homie and cultural background of what an Asian Family style restaurant is all about...fellowship, being together and making everything work together. SUMMARY: Great place for having family style food and eating staple traditional Chinese cuisine. I definitely will be back and be bringing lots of friends and family!
(5)
hugo z.
Great food!! This is a must for great Chinese food!! Been coming here for years but my first review on this place because i kept wanting more of the food i had recently here. Was here for a family dinner, huge family dinner.LOL Alot of food but the boneless yes boneless chicken feet in thai sauce was the BEST I`ve had OMG cant say enough about it!! All the dishes we had was top notch i have to say, from soup to fish everything was excellent! Our party of 13 cleared up a total of 11 courses and 1 soup! Best dinner i had in awhile, even my oldman (great chef in his prime days) gave his approval!! Enjoy everybody!!
(5)
Daniel Z.
First things first, I used to love congee village. Now, things are a bit different. The food is still decent, the sizzling hot pepper steak is good. Their food is good, the portions are decently sized. However, the service is horrible. I've gone there twice in the past month and both times I had horrible waiters. They look at the tip and frown if you tip too little and all I can say is, most chinese restaurants of that caliber give you ice in a glass with soda, they gave me a straight up soda. When the waiter took our order, he seemed like he was in a rush to go somewhere and almost frowned when I told him what I wanted. Do not reccomend if you want good service, if you want decent food, go here.
(2)
Jonathan C.
I've been here at least four times. It was just ok the first time, but every time I've come back the food just seems to be getting better and better. Food aside, this place is serious, serious bang for the buck. You should definitely come with a group and be prepared to eat family style. Everything we ordered on my last trip was superb. I'm blanking a bit on the exact English names of the dishes, but we ordered congee, some type of glazed pork chops, a whole fish, sauteed greens with garlic, dungeness crab, and a fried tofu dish. The pork chops were right on. At first glance it sort of looks like your typical Chinese takeout, but it's not. It's mostly meat here with a little batter (not the other way around) and there is no heavy, sugary and goopy sauce that you find in the chinese takeout version. The dungeness crab is massive. Even with five people, we almost couldn't finish it. I'm not sure what sauce they use to cook the crab in, but it was so good I was putting it on my rice. The fried tofu was actually fried in the kitchen, rather than packaged fried tofu (as you would find at the grocery store) that's simply heated. We could taste the difference and definitely appreciated the extra effort they made. All in all, we had a great meal. Even though their restaurant is huge, they get very crowded during dinner time. Expect at least a 30 minute wait.
(5)
Gunnar W.
I have been eyeing Congee Village down for months. In fact, we went all the way to New York just to try it. I had my mind made up: I was going to get the Turtle Soup and the Frog and Abalone Congee. When he finally came over to ask us what we wanted, I said Turtle soup. He didn't know what turtle meant! He was "all out". Then i asked for the market price of the Geoduck. He proclaimed 'duck, 16.95 for whole!' He seemed confused. Then he took our orders and left. about 20 minutes pass and the Buns, Dumplings, Congee and Satay come out. We ask for a drink menu. He brings the menu but never follows up on what we wanted. We then signal him to bring us a lychee martini and a regular martini. He comes back AFTER our whole meal with the drinks. He places them at the extreme end of the table so we had to get up and grab them. What happens next was the deal breaker: we are finishing up, and then the waiter goes over to the bar area upstairs and hocks a lugie right into the garbage. The whole room could see and hear it. DISGUSTING! Great meal, but service was so bad that we didn't even tip him.
(1)
Ally Z.
Delicious cold dungeness crab here. Extremely meaty and very sweet. It will satisfy and crab cravings. Other good dishes: Pea shoots, clams in a Thai broth. The salt and pepper squid was a disappointment- outside had mushy fried breading and inside had mushy squid. The drinks were yummy and reasonably priced- mango and yogurt drink $3; lychee ice drink $2 (and lots of lychees). And if you're into fruity martinis, most are $5.
(4)
Thomas A.
I went here over the weekend for a friends get together/ belated bday celebration. The place is pretty big. We got our own private room which came with a big circular table, a small table, some chairs/couches and a tv that is hooked up to a karaoke machine. The service is pretty good. They came around replenishing our waters and beers. They even helped us to work the karaoke machine. Food wise, we ordered a set of dishes since we had like 20 ppl. It came with various dishes and the food was pretty good. The set came with apps, meats, soup, rice/noodles, fruit, etc. There really wasn't anything that I didn't like. Although one friend mentioned that the watermelon at the end tasted like sweaty hands. It was a bit odd that they served the rice and noodles at the end...before the dessert, but i guess they did that so you don't get full from that and instead get full on the real food. In the end, we spent $45 per person which i think is really cheap since the set was $20 per person plus we bought lots of beer and the birthday boy didn't pay. Caveat - there seems to be no a/c near the bar, but the private room had A/C. It was controlled nicely. The rest of the menu looks good and the congee looks very cheap. I definitely want to come back and try it out.
(3)
Compulsive e.
Such an overrated place... Food doesn't taste authentic at all. Even worse is the service. If you're not white nor a Cantonese speaker, don't expect to get any respect here. They have no time for you. So sick of these gangster-looking HongKongese treating other Asians like crap. Will never go back.
(1)
Angela W.
My overall experience at Congee Village was good. I am originally from Texas, and I've had some fair share of good Chinese food before. But this place did kind of make me feel like I'm at home. The chinese food was authentic, it made me feel like I'm in Asia. The walnut shrimp was probably my favorite dish. I don't really remember what else we ordered, but all I know is I had a good meal.
(4)
Jean L.
[ATMOSPHERE] This place is much larger inside than I expected and pretty traditionally decorated for a Chinese establishment. I came here looking for some shelter from a pretty windy rainy night. [FOOD] I ready awesome reviews about the congee and had to have some. To be honest, it fulfilled my craving but not as good as grandma makes. [BEVERAGE] I had a pot of tea to go with my comfort food. [SERVICE] My waiter seemed to not notice my existence. Considering it was past midnight and there were very few people there on a Wednesday, I would have expected a little bit more attention. [PRICE] My salted chicken congee was $4.45. Considering I could only finish half of it, my meal was pretty cheap.
(3)
Yann P.
This is still one of my fav places in Chinatown. When I pass buy I do take out on their rice noodles nd anything is good, but if u order late the congee might have other stuff you might not of expected, I think one time they head pork intestine maybe the mix up my congee, buy the fav if pea leaf and the razor clams. Just remember if u get there flyer 6 pm you may be out of luck with the razor clams. The drinks are not to cost,y but if you want bubble tea go around the orner instead
(4)
Abbey C.
We came here last night only because we were craving pork congee, and when we went to Big Wong King, they told us that they were out of the roast pork and the duck. Whaaaat? How does that even happen? Anyway... headed over to Congee Village and joined the throngs of people waiting for a table. "how long is the wait?" "10 minutes". 40 minutes later it became clear that this was the standard response, no matter how long the wait would really be. Everyone that went up to the hostess was told "10 minutes". We finally get seated in a room that looks like part tiki hut, part ewok tree house, and part long john silver restaurant meets princess castle in the 1980's (yes, it's a bizarre description... go see for yourself and tell me I'm wrong). Cleanliness.... not happening here. From the very dirty floor, to the sticky salt and pepper shakers, to the disgusting bathroom. Cleaning is not happening here. Not in the least. Food... not great. We ordered Pork Congee, Pan Fried Dumplings, Soup Dumplings, and steamed pork buns. I've had much better everywhere else. The pork in the congee is in tiny shredded pieces, and was bland. Fried dumplings were tough, and didn't come with the usual soy/ginger/garlic dipping sauce. Soup dumplings had a good flavor, but no soup in the dumplings. Steamed pork buns... just alright. Service... We actually had decent service with a nice waiter. Overall, there was nothing to get excited about here. I will be heading back to Big Wong for my congee, Excellent Dumpling for my fried dumplings and pork buns, and Joe's Shanghai for my soup dumplings.
(1)
Phoenix F.
Rats, rats, rats..that's what is here and what I felt as a rat (not a mouse) traipsed about the dining room here on Friday night. Not a single employee blinked twice, and their grade 'A' was not removed from the window in shame. I have reported to 311, vomited all my insides out, and had nightmares about the incident in honor of his viewing. Can't say enough bad things about unclean ethnic restaurants in this city.
(1)
Sonia C.
Very solid Cantonese restaurant. The wait here is pretty long but worth it as the food here is better than any other Chinese restaurant I've tried in Manhattan. Stuff we tried: - crispy chicken: It was alright, but the skin wasn't super crispy and the meat wasn't super hot. - salt & pepper squid: SUPER crispy, ultra-fried, delicious. - congee: their namesake dish didn't disappoint - good consistency and flavour. - sizzling black pepper beef short ribs: one of the best dishes of the night. Not spicy, but piping hot and tasty. - garlic snow pea shoots (dou miao): rather ordinary, hard to mess up this one - black bean clams: really savory with very plump and clean (no sand!) clams. - frog & mushroom rice steamed in bamboo container: I'm pretty sure the bamboo thing is just for show, as the rice wasn't very fragrant, but it was still pretty good. - red-braised (hongshao) tofu: Eh, don't get this. They serve it atop a very aggressive sterno which easily burns the tofu and the thick gloopy sauce it comes in. Service is pretty standard for a Chinese restaurant, which means you can get a waiter's attention about once every five tries. The MSG in the food kept me reaching for water 5 hours later. Still, I would come again.
(4)
Victoria T.
This is my go to congee place when the weather is cold or I am feeling sick. I am from Texas so this cold weather really gets to me. I need my congee fix so I go here. I normally get the minced pork congee (i think thats what it is called). It is very yummy in my opinion. It is off the menu so I ask them to make it for me. I'm not really into the weird stuff like thousand year old egg. My boyfriend loves that stuff though so his go to dish is the fish congee adds preserved egg. He once got the frog legs and if I remember correctly he wasn't a big fan of it. Down fall about this place is there is always a wait. It is a pretty big place just with lots of customers. I've been here 3 times now and every time I've had to wait for a table but the wait is never long. Max 10 mins. I really wish they had pickled cucumbers and fried long doughnut thing (don't know what it is called in english) to eat with my congee. It would make me feel like I'm back in Texas eating congee my mom made. So, sometimes I just order togo so I can eat it at home with these other side dishes that are MUST HAVES for congee.
(4)
Thuy V.
I remember coming here when it first opened some 3 years ago and while I was still living in NY. The food was great and the place was quiet, all family style. No problem finding a table. Everyone I brought here raved about the food. 3 years later, I've moved to LA and returned for some Chinatown chow and wow...the food is just as great but the place is now so crowded. If you have a huge crowd and it's Sat night, expect to wait 1/2-1 hr. If you're looking for a table for 1 or 2, there's usually no wait time. The food is so good, so you can go wrong.
(5)
Marc R.
I was brought here by my cousin's family. They said it was a destination place and they eat there all the time. I eat a good amount of Chinese, but often it's take out. I guess the tacky decor is standard issue and really is to be expected. In that respect, they deliver, strongly. The service was mediocre, not a lot of speed nor personality. The food was all tasty. We had a lot of different dishes and all of them were good. I won't rush here again, but I would eat here again. If I could give it 2.5 stars I would be more accurate. I guess I'm in the minority since so many people have given this place rave reviews. I'm a pain in the ass and I'm hard to please so...
(3)
R Y J.
The whole chicken is really a WHOLE chicken! You get the head on your plate, too! My friend was terrified and we had to keep the head on someone else's plate. The chicken was good, though. But that's about it. And the wait was horrendous. And the hostess had no idea what she was doing. Why in the world would you tell me we only have to wait 20 minutes when I see that there are a million people waiting? 40 minutes later I asked her when we were getting called, and she said "soon." I went in another 20 minutes later and she finally got us seated. She looked like she wanted to cry the whole time.
(3)
Rob R.
The rule seems to be: don't go on a Fri or weekend. This time had a better overall experience on a weeknight. Same feelings about the food which was good, but nothing great (duck blood, beef satay, and crispy chicken were the mains).
(3)
Jordan S.
I came here with Chinh, Sally, and their mutual friend. I hadn't had congee in a few years, and had never really been a fan. To that point, I had only had really thin consistencies of congee, and thus likened it to bad porridge. Well, thank you three for convincing me to come here. The congee is affordable, at around $5, and it is delicious. I ordered the roast duck and roast pork congee, which came with a good deal more meat than I was expecting. Sweet. I like that they leave individual condiments for each person in your party, allowing me to white pepper the bejesus out of my congee. We also shared a few family style dishes, most of which were good, but all of which took a relative backseat to the congee. As at any good Chinese restaurant, the tea was refilled quickly and was of decent quality. Also typical of better Chinese restaurants, there was a crowd of boisterous families and a harried vibe about the waiters. The decor is a little silly, but that's really not what you're coming here for. Apparently, good congee also takes a village.
(4)
Winifred X.
This is actually my second time here, I totally forgot to review it the last time I was here.. Given that I am not that familiar with the Chinatown area, I have to say that the 3 tier deck layout is unique and very interesting, the decor is the most interesting thing here. . -- food: I ordered a serving of Sampan congee, and it's EXCELLENT, this is probably the best congee I had in NYC so far, not watery, not bland, and plenty of stuff inside the special clay pot.. $4.50(?) I think I will try their other congee in the future. --- however, I do recall that the dishes we ordered my first time eating here was so-so.. -- other ppl on my table ordered various other Chinese dishes, they look fine to me..
(4)
Martin C.
This is not a nice place to go if your white we were seated for over 15 minutes and never offered service so we got up and left, seems they are prejudiced and only serve Chinese........ :-(
(1)
Hank C.
Well, I'm going to have to downgrade this Village, because of the 1. hair in my congee, and 2. the food getting ever the more oily. I'm not sure why, but they're not getting better at controlling quality, and so I'm sadly going to have to take them down a notch as I've discovered other, better, congee places.
(2)
victoria v.
Ignorance is bliss? I am ignorant. Not blissful. Don't know what is so hot 'bout this place except it was open at, ah 2am. I loved the salty crispy fried pepper squid thing that Ting ordered. The soup dumplings? Eh. Not soupy. General Tso's chicken? Not bad, but I could have endured a bit more flavor! My seafood chow fun (shit, is that what I ate?....see how ignorant? It's the one with flat rice noodles, right?...) It was edible. Needing to add soy sauce...that's not a good sign, is it? ah well. Glad I didn't go home at 2am starving. :D
(3)
D Z.
Consistently authentic chinese. My favorites - snails, congee (pork blood, frog), clams with black bean sauce, house chicken, jumbo shrimp with walnuts and broccoli (it's called something else at most restaurants), dungeness crab, assorted seafood casserole, hot and sour soup This location is better than bowery.
(5)
Carrie L.
BIG BIG fan of this place. The first time I came here was in March 2011 ..when my sister took me here. I am a huge fan of congee so my expectations are pretty high, but this place lived up to all of it. We had the seafood porridge and the abalone chicken porridge, as well as the steamed buns (it comes with condensed milk) which was all amazing. I think one of the key things that make their congee so great is that they add this sort of dried vegetables in it. It gives it a kick (sort of a sweetish taste) that I don't usually get. Fast forward 8 months later and I came back with the rest of the family. The porridge and steamed buns were just as good as I remembered, but this time we tried more dishes. In addition to our original porridge + bun, we ordered the yang chow fried rice, steamed fish, and some greens. The fish was great - really fresh and tasty but the rice and greens was so so. The rice lacked taste and was a bit hard. The greens seemed kind of old and wilted. Overall, I will continue coming to this place each time I visit New York, but I think the quality/taste of the food depends on what you order..though I do believe a majority of their food will be a hit with me.
(4)
Tam N.
I love Congee Village. It's one of those unique chinese food experiences that you can get in NYC. The atmosphere is like stepping into a remote chinese "village" with all the laquered wood etc. And the strange food items (duck tongue, jellyfish etc) to standard regular chinese food (Orange chicken, Lobster etc) offer a good variety of different textures and tastes for any palate. I highly reccomend the roast chicken. Their roast chicken is the best chicken you will have anywhere. Perfectly cooked, moist and the skin is crispy. Their congees are top notch as well. Not everything is great as the menu is really large and it's hard to have quality on everything when there is too many dishes to create, but there are a lot of gems on the menu. It will take many trips to try everything. The restaurant is very popular and expect a bit of a wait if you don't have reservations
(4)
Paul G.
I went here around midnight with 8 other friends. Waiters refused to take our orders. There was 6 waiters standing around talking. Only 4 other tables with people. We had to get up and walk out after 15 minutes. Never again.
(1)
Lauren L.
Was I drunk? Yes. Was it about 1 in the morning? Of course. Did I eat an insane amount of delicious Chinese food (ordered by my lovely Chinese friend) for about $25 and eat everything on my plate? Yes. Not sure I'd have the most pleasant of experiences since the staff wasn't the friendliest, but with food like that, I sooooo don't care.
(5)
Lou C.
Clams with Black Bean Sauce is amazing, when I get the craving I must have it !! Everything I have tried I liked too, sometimes you have to wait, but have a beer and enjoy the chatter
(4)
Heather S.
I'm not sure what was was going on the night I went to Congee Village, but I was not happy. I went with a group of coworkers (the majority were Chinese) and we got a table for 10 and ordered family style. Us non-Chinese left the ordering up to the ones who knew better and waited patiently for our feast to arrive. The appetizers (soup, calamari, clams) came out relatively quick and were quite good. After that it all went down hill. No refills on our beverages, no utensils. The main courses came out in ridiculous distances of each other we waited 15 minutes after finishing our steak for the pork dish and then 25 minutes after the pork dish for the last main course to be served, the chicken. We were pretty sure they butchered one fresh for us and our suspicions were later confirmed when they told us the wait was due to the fact that they ran out of chicken. Hmmm... Mostly we just felt absolutely ignored by the staff at Congee Village. Honestly, it was more of a 2.5 star experience, but service is such a big factor for me that I had to round down and not up this time around. I'm sure we'll back for another group dinner and I hope when we are Congee Village is able to flip this review into a 4 star one.
(2)
Jason P.
3.5 stars is exactly where I would rate them. I like that they've made an effort to decorate the place, which is rare for the Chinese places I'm used to visiting. There's a jungle-meets-a-junk (the ship, not the other thing) sort of feel to this joint. I ordered the house special chicken and the walnut shrimp. Both were pretty good, not spectacular though. I'm quite nit-picky when it comes to Chinese food. The chicken was a little salty and the shrimp was a little blah blah blah... It doesn't really matter. The point is this-- you should come to this restaurant if you're in the area. And you're hungry. Or with a group of friends. It will be affordable; everyone will be sated. Make witty comments about the decorum, the service, and the patrons. Fin.
(3)
Neil P.
Where else can 4 people eat like kings for $60? Soup Dumplings, Fried Silverfish, Pork Salted Fish Cakes, Chow Fun, Snow Pea Leaves, Congee (Dried Scallop and White Nut), and Peking Pork Chops. Roll me on out of here.. I'm full and done!
(5)
Angel C.
Cheap, great for groups, came on a Tuesday night which = no crowds, fast service. Our party took 2 adjacent tables and had about 10 plates each out within 10 minutes of ordering. Excuse the lack of accuracy and cultural nuances, but we got a wonderful plate of sauteed spinach, pan fried flat noodles, yellow fried rice (w/ peas and carrots), the mushroom Congee - yum! - veggie and pork dumplings, calamari, duck, and much more. I understand the negative reviews, but I stand by my v positive experience! Time your arrival and recognize what you are paying for when considering quality and experience.
(5)
Linda C.
The congee, smooth, hot, and watery, hovers to my table with a pleasing alacrity. I doubt I could finish announcing the Gettysburg address between ordering and getting my meal, while sipping the complimentary black tea. The $3-5 congee portion is big enough to sate even the moderately gluttonous among us, but the Michael Phelps may need to order a few extra servings. The best part - you'll never get bored, as there are dozens of flavors to dally with. The peaceful village with fake plants, air conditioning, woody furniture, beautiful art, and attentive wait staff, sells much more than rice porridge. In fact, the menu is as thick as a Dr. Seuss book (and I like my menus thick). Try the bitter melon soup or one of the many edible marine animals. No matter the menu item, it seems that they're mostly better at cooking than I am, and fortunately for me, only two blocks away. Overall, low latency, decent portions, affordable pricing, and large selection make Congee Village a great place to bring a desperate date or a herd of friends.
(5)
JP B.
Many reviewers are saying this place has slipped a little recently. Realizing I hadn't been to this former favorite in years I figured I'd have to make a trip back. And while I don't think I can let my five star review of this restaurant from three years ago stand, I still consider them a very solid four for the following reasons: Congee: Theirs is still superb, and I remain a fan of the sliced fish and lettuce version. Value: You can go nuts with the seafood and blow the bill sky high if you want to, but dinner here can still be just over the $10 per person mark, if you're smart about how you order. It's all on you how far you want to go. Menu - Plenty of good choices for the adventurous eater. I wouldn't advise coming here with a fussy eater, because there's way too much fun they could ruin. The quality of the food varies from OK to superb; most of the OK stuff being the less adventurous menu items. Decor - Love it or hate it; I love it. There are flaws, of course. The wok dishes are a bit oily and salty, reminding me of the Cantonese joints I first fell in love with decades ago. This is a heavy (and out of fashion) style. It works well in dishes like the house special chicken and the greens (baby bok choy or snow pea greens), less well on dishes like beef chow fun, which was simply too oily tonight. Then again, I wouldn't even have ordered that if it hadn't been for two less-than-adventurous teenage girls in our dining party. Service is fine, although I've heard some complain. My experience has always been that servers are efficient and helpful. They don't come off as friendly because they don't smile much, nor make small talk, but so what? I'm not coming to a Cantonese restaurant looking to make new BFF's among the waitstaff. I come for good food at an almost embarrassing value. So in letting a former five star review slip to four I really can't tell whether Congee Village has actually slipped a little or I've become a more sophisticated diner. Maybe it's a little of both. I'll have the chance to find out, because I will be back. My wife is crazy over the congee, and I'm crazy over both the value and adventurousness of the menu. I think we're both right.
(4)
Betsey L.
when i want chinese food...i go to congee village. and i'm chinese. (not some non-asian person who equates good chinese food to a darn good general tso's chicken and beef lo mein) the congee is good, contains a good heaping of ginger (good for your health so just eat it). cold giant crab. good. crispy peking style pork chops. good. razor clams w/ blk bean spicy sauce. good. house special chicken. omg so good....if you really like garlic and aren't on a first date, get this. skin is crispy and it is drenched in garlic. bring after dinner mints. they accommodate large parties pretty well too....i've had rsvps for groups over 15 a few times. OH and the LYCHEE martini is strong and only $5. cheap place to pregame if you like lychee martinis.
(4)
Jackie K.
My first Congee Village experience was for a friend's birthday party. We first went to a little bar on Spring St., then tried like hell to find a place that could accommodate about 9 people (on a Friday night, around 8pm). We wandered down to CV and I immediately thought we were doomed by the number of people standing outside. Just by luck, they had a table open upstairs. We enjoyed the Chinese beer, sucked down the porridge, languished on the Singapore mei fun and munched on the sweet potato pancakes. I love this place--I love the tiki decor, the fact that they sing happy birthday in English and then Chinese, and bring out a huge Western-looking white sheet cake for the lucky person of honor. The menu has so much variety and everything I had that night was awesome. I recently went again. Another huge line outside, but just myself and my husband. We were seated immediately once we caught the host's attention, which took a few minutes because of the clamoring of our fellow diners waiting to be seated. My husband got the General Tso's and I got the Singapore mei fun again. The Tso's was seriously out of this world. Best I've ever had. I don't often get any food that is heavily breaded b/c often chewy pieces of meat lurk beneath the sweet spicy sauce and doughy exterior. Two things I noticed right away: the sauce was nice and spicy, but almost a little like a barbecue with its sweetness (this was all good to me) and then the batter on the chicken was the crunchiest I'd ever had. And finally, I ended up sharing a lot of that dish because the meat was perfectly white, every bite. That was a first for me and Chinese food. I'm not really that lily white, but I don't know--the wiggly stuff under the breading kinds creeps me out. I'm just tell you that this is particularly good stuff. The mei fun was just ok--not as spicy as I like it. Frankly, Lili's makes better mei fun because they add a lot of curry, which I love. But it was still quite good. We got the sweet potato pancakes as an appetizer/dessert and these were unfortunately slithering in oil, which I was kind of disappointed by, but the pancake dough itself was delightful. So I guess I was more frustrated that I couldn't eat many of the pancakes because I was kind of nervous the abundance of oil would lead to killer indigestion. Thankfully, that wasn't an issue. So once again, another good meal at Congee. Yes, the portions are truly massive and you will have food for days. And ridiculously cheap for the quantity and quality. A fine (though often raucous) dining experience
(5)
Matter Eater Lad I.
We came in here wholly by chance. I'd spent the whole afternoon zig-zagging up and down the city road, and I had to drop into Lolita's (Allen & Broome) where, dazed, I imbibed a cup of white wine and felt my head reel. I had to eat something. We went straight round the corner and there was Congee Village. It looked like Prehistoric Pets when I went inside - without the creepy yellow pythons and the children tormenting the various fish and reptiles in the rockpool. Otherwise the decor was a perfect match and also the air of a slaughterhouse pervades both places. Other Yelpers have commented on all the duck-blood variations. Sixty-eight bucks for shark's fin soup? It really is like going into Prehistoric Pets and eating the animals. I was starving and so we ordered too much. You have to know this about Congee Village; the servings are massive. We had the pork dumplings and pork buns for starters plus a pork egg and green mustard soup. I best liked the little fragments of egg yolk (hard-boiled) floating about like small nuggets of fool's gold. ETERNAL COMPANION had the General Tso's Chicken while I took the Peking pork chops. By the time the chops came I was all but full up and we sheepishly asked for the rest to go. The doggy-bag was a horse-bag the size of a five-year-old boy. That's a good thing and excellent value, only we're on diets and so I shouldn't have gone for all these spicy glucose baked meats for the funeral. I shoulda had the ... let me think... black bean sauce and chicken. Yeah. H401.
(3)
Ben H.
came here for dinner today. We had the seafood and abalone congee, steam pork dumplings, fried chicked chinese brocolli and chow mein. Nothing special but still very good. Service was excellent and prices were fair. about $48 for 3 people
(3)
Douglas H.
Their food are really good, especially the sauna shrimp.
(5)
Taishi T.
I would give this place 3 stars if it wasn't for the horrible blatantly racists service towards us non-Chinese clientele." "The food - fabulous, the service - well if you are not Chinese, don't come here. They treat you like an alien from another world. And I have been around many places in the world that are usually homogeneous, and this place is probably the most blatantly racist place on the planet. But, the problem is that the food is great - soy sauce chow mein - fantastic - the congee is decent - the fried squid (a level of standards indicator) succulent and just right salty - and the pork belly hotpot - amazing. I have entered into this Chinese sanctum way too many times for my own good thinking that it will be better next time, with all kinds of people that look Asian. Well, unfortunately every time we have been treated like injured but irrelevant by-standards of a train wreck. I hurt my neck, but my triage level is not sufficient for even a glance. I would recommend calling in and getting take out, and put on a Jackie Chan mask for good measure. Excellent food, horrible service for us non-Chinese population.
(2)
Barry W.
Alright I went here the other day and the place has dropped considerably. I use to love this place, but something happened, I don't know maybe this place got too big. But I had the special fish, which was supposed to be steamed right out the tank. But it was clearly a day old as the meat was just chewy and had a soggy texture. The congee meanwhile wasn't all that good. I had the garlic watercress and the fried rice. The bill came out to around $65 - the fish, which was M.P was $30. This place used to be so much better a few year sback, I'm never coming here to eat. HOWEVER, you want a place to drank, this place is where to go. The bar is open til 2:30 in the morn- a great place to pre-party. You want a beer? $4. Martini? $4. Jon Walker Black label on the rocks? $4. Ask for the grass hopper. Tastes like mint ice cream, but gets you F*$%ed up after a few or so.
(2)
Anthony C.
This is one of the regular places I do go to in Chinatown where I know I can get consistent food for dinner. Yes, I know, it is actually in LES but who's counting. Funnily enough, I don't order the congee anymore. I used to think it was on point but one time I went they screwed it up and I've never ordered it since. I'm sure it's still ok; I'm just a congee connoisseur! I do like their garlic chicken which is juicy with crispy skin and oh so garlicky. It's probably my favorite dish there, and I could eat it all myself if need be. Love it!
(4)
H K.
i don't know what happened to this place. the food quality has reached pitifully low levels. it used to be a pretty good joint, but the past three times i went, all the dishes that we ordered were awful. greasy, tasteless, sloppy, and cheap. the only edible thing was the chinese broccoli.
(1)
Noah W.
Great food, a different take on your classic chinese dishes you might found in the neighborhood restaurant. Cheap and huge portions. Some of the more out there dishes I've only otherwise seen in China too. The place is ugly, in the way a Chinese restaurant on a low budget trying to fit in to a Las Vegas hotel would look. But it's charming in that way -- kind of.
(4)
Worksindumbo L.
Absolutely wonderful. Everything was so fresh and flavorful! We had a party of seven people, and were seated immediately, served immediately, and no one had a heart attack when the bill came. The congee was great, the drinks (mai tais) were delicious (and surprisingly potent), and the greens were cooked perfectly. I will definitely go back.
(5)
Ray C.
I've been coming here for many many years ever since it opened. I remember the days before the expansion when it just had left dining room, sitting in the now storage closet nook. Was a very good and cheap date. Nowadays it's become too "touristy" and trying too hard to be hip for my taste. The biggest gripe i have though is the portion sizes. They are ridiculously small. The value factor has really gone down the drain. And.... why would anyone serve Chinese food on wax paper in a basket?? I'm not talking about just fried foods either. As for the food, it's really hit or miss. I definitely recommend going for lunch on a weekday. You'll get much better food and service. For dinner, there are much better options, like Pings. It may be more expensive but the portion sizes more then make up for it. Plus the food is just better there.
(2)
Aaron K.
The menu spans the entire spectrum of food you could possible want to eat. From the morally questionable (bird's nest soup, shark fin soup) to the standards (General Tso's) and then back to the just plain questionable (Young Pigeon). I would highly doubt that there's a person of any ethnicity or upbringing that couldn't find something on this tome of a menu to eat here. and surprisingly, given the amount of items- the food is quite good. As we went family style, I'll recap as many dishes as I can remember for you. Rice Porridge Soup- delightful consistency, but surprisingly strong notes of cilantro General Tso's Chicken - the standard is done well here. the less adventurous will be pleased. Tofu and Mushrooms - very flavorful tofu, tender mushrooms Fried Scallops in Spicy Sauce - surprisingly good, looks exactly like general tso's - so be wary. Fried Rice - a little heavy on the egg, but done well Fried Sweet Pea Greens - surprisingly tender We also had another soup that was basically chicken and mushrooms in broth- and it was good also. The Tea - it keeps flowing! I guess I'm forgetting a couple because it was a few days ago - but anyway, it's a very nicely decorated place with an expansive menu and good food.
(4)
ruta k.
Let me tell you who dined with last saturday night. A rat, big fat rat!! It was running around restaurant like no tomorrow. So suit it for yourself. The place is just overrated.
(1)
Anita C.
The tiki-bar decor was fun and funky although my friend and I were seated in an undecorated side room that might have been designed to be a closet. Our table was about the size of a nightstand, but to his credit, the host did tell us he had a "small" table available and asked if we wanted to wait for another one. We were hungry. The congee was very nice, and I like how it was served in a clay pot. We had chicken and mushroom, but next time I might try something more adventurous, like pig stomach or duck tongue. The house special chicken was good very good, although the sizzling platter of some kind of rib meat was just OK. I think this place is especially nice in the winter since the congee is so hot and warming. Might not pick this place in the summertime though.
(4)
Jean M.
This has to be the BEST congee I've had since I moved to NYC. And this is coming from an Asian, so do take it as a huge complement. A group of our friends had a birthday dinner here and we all loved it! The food was remarkable and so is the price!
(5)
See M.
I think I have found my new favorite regular Chinese restaurant to eat at. We came here for dinner at 6:30pm on a Sunday night and still had to wait. I hear it's busy throughout the day on the weekends. Ended up getting seated after about 15 minutes and boy was it worth the wait. The menu was extensive and the food was tasty. We had some congee, sweat pea vegetables, sizzing short ribs and chicken. Full, happy and satisfied!
(4)
B ..
I would totally celebrate my bday here..they play a funky karaoke version of "Happy Birthday" over loud speakers that most def cause the bday star to turn bright tomato red!
(3)
Ting S.
Well, 5+ stars for my mindblowing stellar first visit here for lunch, a disastrous 2- stars for the second visit, an early 5:30 dinner. Huge menu, very cantonese style food with a couple Americanized dishes thrown in. Good congee, great authentic sampling of dishes that you don't normally see. The portions were more than generous for lunch, and came out quickly, piping hot. The second visit, the portions were skimpy, came out staggered 15-20 min. after one another, and arrived barely room temp. Asked 3 servers for white rice before asking a manager who promptly delivered. We ordered 3 dishes, and didn't see the last one until 50min after ordering. Not only that, it was my favorite $15 vegetable dish, and arrived with RAW egg on top (supposed to be cooked) After pointing it out to a server, it was sent back, and upon returning the dish to our table, I took my first bite and tasted......wet paper. EEeeeeeeew! The manager explained that it was probably from the paper tag that each cook places along the side of each dish, and it probably fell into the food, then got cooked in when the dish got sent back. I found it a bit strange that he said this tagging system was primarily because of the flux of Caucasian customers who dine there, and it was his way of keeping tabs on his 5 cooks for accountability reasons. Also, he mentioned he was having issues with his staff, and admitted they needed to fall in line. Perhaps he was thinking of the one server who scolded me for asking for rice, suggesting that I wait until all the food arrived on the table before asking for it. Or it could be the other server who kept getting distracted from taking our order by his cell phone ringing to the tune of "When the Saints Go Marching In". Needless to say, the veggie dish got taken off the bill by the apologetic manger, and after the torturous hour and a half we were there, and the lingering taste of paper in my mouth, we couldn't stomach the thought of packing leftovers to go. Was it more of a cardinal sin that we wasted food by not taking leftovers, that I had bits of paper stuck in my molars, or that our salt and pepper fried squid dish had the batter and old grease of cheap onion rings? Then the tune of that damn cell phone interrupted any and all further thoughts..... Now, almost 24 hours later: "oh when the saints, go marching in...."
(3)
Christie D.
$3.50 for crab congee?!?! where am I? It was the good kind of crab too, with a plentiful amount of eggs and inards. yuuumm. Seriously the food was gooooooooddd. The house special chicken is not only moist, but the soy sauce and garlic flavor is in every inch of the meat, right through to the bone. how'd they do that? Its a pain in the ass waiting for a table though, especially if you are hungry, so come early and eat some congee with me!
(5)
Laura A.
Fantastic. I ordered delivery and it was absolutely perfect. I got the pan-friend tofu and snowpea leaves with garlic. They are spicing experts when it comes to the vegetarian stuff. My boyfriend had the hot and sour soup and declared after the first bite that he could tell the whole meal would be great. He was right. I'm telling you, this meal MADE MY DAY. Yummy perfection.
(5)
Devin A.
I grew up in north Jersey. I loved Chinese takeout, a lot. Fried rice, Lo Mein, sesame chicken, that stuff. There was this cheap chinese restaurant that I loved every time I got to go there... Which wasn't often, because for whatever reason, nobody was interested in going with me often. Since I've been in the city, I have not had one experience with Chinese food that has been even nearly as good as what I used to get in Jersey. This place, however, is right on mark. Lot's of strange things on the menu, as is to be expected when strolling through chinatown. I will still never opt to order the boneless chicken feet. But I had awesome sesame chicken, and awesome fried rice. IT was so good, I wanted to cry.. It's not hard to miss if you're around there. It's the tackiest thing in the world. Super cheap dinners too. Love it!!
(5)
Poonam S.
Great congee (if you're a gruel fan def go for it, my favorite is the Minced Beef). Other highlights include the Hot and Sour Soup, the Braised bean curd with veggies, and salt and pepper anything. Delivery is quick, though it seems more expensive than in-restaurant eating for some reason. Good solid Chinese on the LES/eastern Chinatown edge.
(4)
Peter K.
The food here is really good and it's closer than Chinatown proper. The congee is very flavorful. The pork chops are amazing. I love the bamboo rice dishes. I would eat here all the time if they delivered to 30th st. Great place to come with a large group of friends as they have the space. I would only come with friends who don't have dietary restrictions though as their menu is quite extensive and some of the better dishes require you to be a little indiscriminate in your diet. In other words, just come with a big group of Chinese friends and you will be good to go.
(4)
Nick L.
5 star food. 1 star service. But this is a Chinese restaurant so that's par for the course. House special chicken. Wow. How do you even make that? It almost tastes like Peking duck which is super yummy. Congee. Excellent. Salted chicken accompanied by a second one of liver and pork. The scallion/cilantro/ginger blend is perfect. It's piping hot in a clay pot. Can't ask for more, except more in the bowl! Very reasonable prices so all in all worth a visit whenever you can!!! In fact, so good we went 2 days running!
(5)
M S.
Really solid restaurant in its category. Food is always spot on. Don't order the usual suspects that you might at some regular Chinatown place. Go for good, stick to your bones Canto fare like chicken cooked with shiitake in a box, rice with crab cooked in squash, dreamy creamy congee with fish or chicken, or if you are feeling fancy feast on the Long Island sound deep water dungeness (meatiest crab I've ever had!) I've always had attentive service. I smile, say thank you and leave a good tip. Friendliness begets friendliness. Also I'd do a bit of research before writing off waiters. In Asia waiters and help staff don't act like your servants. Just ask them for what you need and be nice. They'll always help out. I love the people here and the food is so good. Great for groups!
(4)
Safa R.
A place rightfully named. The pork chicken and duck congee is my personal favorite. Very cheap chinese food in NY. And it is a Michelin recommended restaurant.
Went there Sunday night at 10:45pm before Memorial Day wknd and surprisingly pretty busy. Their house special chicken is always good and their congee doesn't have any MSG which is a plus. Salt baked calamari, fu yu tong choy and tai ping mai fun were all deeelish as well. Service is seriously lacking though - rude as heck and they complained when we asked for leftovers to be packed up. Plus they snatched my $20 when i asked for change (to tip them bastids no less!) probably won't be back for awhile...
(3)
David N.
BEWARE. If I could give it no stars I would. the guy at the front desk was rude when I asked for a table inside. the staff were cleaning vegetables right next to me. OVERATED FOOD. Much better options elsewhere.
(1)
Ershad Z.
The food here is pretty good the place is clean for a china town restaurant :) the down side is that the place is always crowded, you may have to wait an hour or so to be seated.. Specially if there is a holiday..
(3)
Diane Z.
The quality has definitely gone down. Everything is just oily, and they serve food on pieces of paper to absorb the oil. I guess they've accepted the oily food and are not even trying to hide it. It's also very inconsistent. We ordered one dish, and realized we didn't have enough of it, so we ordered another, and it tasted saltier and made me regret getting more. The presentation of the food overall is poor. The taste doesn't redeem it much either. Nothing can really make up for the shitty service and the sticky feeling of the furniture and utensils.
(1)
Bruce T.
This was a fun experience. It is a huge place for NYC and not what you would expect. The have large tables and serve things family style. It seems very authentic and great for groups. It reminded me of Tony Chengs in Washington DC's Chinatown. We did have some issues with ordering in English, but that is what made it an adventure :) It has a HUGE menu with pictures and some very unusual dishes that I was not familiar with and would love to try. We had a sea bass dish (just ok), a beef dish with bok choy (excellent), a shrimp dish with sweet onions (this was the best and the shrimp where VERY fresh) and a large pot of Hot and Sour soup. Its on the edge of Chinatown and definitively worth the trip. I want to go back and experience more.
(3)
Cynthia L.
MMmmm congee. It's breakfast or similar to soup to Asians. When I try to make congee, it comes out too thick or too thin. Congee Village has mastered the congee to perfection and its extremely cheap. I highly recommend the preserved duck egg and pork congee. That's the congee my parents always ordered for me growing up and I'm not particular to any other type although there are dozens to choose from. Make sure to ask for a side of peanuts and if you go in the am, they might have the fried cruller. Other dishes are typical for Chinatown and like other restaurants, service is kinda sucky.
(5)
Danny P.
The food from Congee Village looks good on these yelps pictures. It is making me crave this place as I write this review. I've tried their congee soups, wonton noodle soup, pancakes, tofu dishes, and various fried noodle dishes. All of them were pretty good. This place has authentic Chinese food banging with flavor. Congee village specializes in congee and they have a whole page of different congees to choose from. Congee soup is only good and useful when you are sick. Try it when you're sick, it'll help you feel better! But when you're healthy, I think that their other dishes are better than congee soup, especially something pan fried. It really doesn't matter what you order here, every dish is authentic and flavorful, not a let down at all!
(4)
Xi Z.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the city! have been here a couple times and never disappointed. Dishes are inexpensive and well made. Especially love that they have a wide variety of congee choices. Decor is pretty as well.
(4)
Noah G.
An extra star because we came for dinner at midnight. They're open until 2am! We weren't drunk so I write with credible, coherent taste buds. We ordered congee-- mine had chicken and mushroom. By itself the soup is thick, savory and extremely satisfying when it's cold and rainy outside. I did have to add a few drops of soy sauce and some chilis to add some needed kick to it, but this is a personal preference. The soup was $5-- a great value and the service was fast. This place isn't for everyone though. The decor is Chinese tacky and ugly, and there is a complete lack of ambiance. Might be a good drunk option, come to think of it. They had some soups with frog legs and random animals' livers. Great for the adventurous appetite! Can't speak for the rest of the expansive menu, but the congee was good...
(4)
Julia L.
This is the most awful place in Chinatown, and I'm not just saying that because I hold contempt for Chinese people, despite being Chinese myself. My family and I have been frequenting this restaurant close to 8 years now. However, after three horrible experiences, we've decided that this place is the most horrendous and disgusting restaurant in Chinatown. Don't be fooled by its overly Asian decor, resembling a cross between a tacky karaoke place and an old village in China. The first strike happened years ago. Perhaps our second outing to this restaurant, when I was still in an itchy Catholic elementary school uniform. We had ordered congee (of course) and in the midst of eating, my father discovered a whole cockroach in his bowl. Despite the profuse apologies by the manager and staff and discount on our meal, it didn't erase the fact that there was an INSECT in our FOOD. I don't understand why we came back a second time, but this time, there was another cockroach but in our tea. After this, we stopped holding our family dinners here. Surprisingly, the Bowery street location is a little better. And, I'll blame my third time purchasing food from this establishment on momentarily lapse of judgment and the summer heat. I had ordered a chicken and cashew rice dish, taken it back to my job to eat, and found a bug in the complementary soup that comes with the order. Right, so if all three of my strike outs with Congee Village don't turn you off, you might have a chance with winning Fear Factor. Or you enjoy some extra protein in your meal, free of charge.
(1)
yinjie l.
i will give it six stars if there is one. I seriously suspect all those ppl who gave less than 4 stars are not Chinese or cannot appreciate authentic Chinese food. For someone who grows up in China, i think the food here is as good as you can get in China. A couple of "must-try"s if you are first timer to this restaurant: 1. house special chicken 2. braised fried fish head in casserole (if you are brave enough, please please give it a try) 3. any congee dish 4. pan fried bean curd with soy sauce - heavenly; silk tofu with crispy skin and tons of flavor!!! 5. pan fried minced pork with lotus root - very homey dish
(5)
Will T.
My regular chinese brunch spot. What to order + ratings: Under Congee Section: -Sliced Pork and Preserved Egg (4.5/5) -Sampan (4/5) Under Dim Sum section: -Rice Roll with XO Sauce (4.5/5) -Scallion Pancake (4/5) -Deep fried Dough (4/5), goes well with congee -Rice Rolls (4/5) -Small Juicy Buns (2/5), it's terribleeeee! Downside: -Cash only -they tend to sit you in the weirdest places (i.e. in the back room, under the stairs, etc). I tend to request a different seat.
(4)
Judy C.
Always solid food... We usually order: Peking Pork Chops Pan Fried-Steamed tofu Steamed fish Garlic Chicken Clams w/ Black Bean Sauce But service is kind of stinky... literally. I often get a whiff of BO from a couple of the waiters there. Sometimes makes it hard enjoy the meal. But overall their food is the only reason we come back. Definitely not the weird decor.
(3)
Joi B.
This place is SO cheap, so over-the-top, so delicious and SO perfect, it kills me. For years, I had walked past its garishly lit facade thinking I had to go inside one day because surely here I could get a big dish of Chinese food AND an umbrella drink, alas the huge groups of people standing outside were a little off-putting (and truly, sometimes you ARE going to have to wait, but it's worth it). First time I went was at an off time in the winter and it wasn't yet crowded (I think it was about 5pm). That bowl of vegetarian congee warmed my body and soul that day (and for 4 dollars, it's a huge portion). Imagine my joy when I saw that not only do they have drinks decked with umbrellas, but they are dirt cheap (6 bucks for a pina colada? HELL YEAH!). I passed on this visit, vowing to get my girly drink fix on in more appropriately warm weather and chose the $5 glass of wine instead which was just fine. Have I mentioned yet how much I love this place?? Fast forward to the last week of June and I was back with my girlfriends who had pinas and shellfish on the brain. We were crammed into a tiny table that couldn't fit all of our order, but no matter, it's all part of the charm. This time I was extra hungry and wanted a side portion of veggies (mmmm sauteed lotus root for 6.95 and it was a HUGE portion) along with the congee. My friends were happy with their dishes (the unidentifiable-by the waiter-cheese on the lobster was a weird way to serve it but it wasn't gross or anything). The blue crab dish was plentiful and according to my friend, satisfactory. We left stuffed to the gills, and had two rounds of drinks, and the bill was shockingly cheap. Decor is kind of dingy Polynesian style (yes, there is a waterfall and lit up fish tanks and palm is ever present). The odor of fish is not all that appetizing and it could be a bit less bright in there. Then again, I can't imagine the place without that ick factor, so that's not exactly a criticism.
(4)
Havar E.
pretty good Chinese food. A bit too Americanized for my taste but still a fun spot to hang out at
(3)
Jenny C.
I've been here countless number of times, and never really been disappointed by this place. They have traditional Chinese dishes like albalone and they also cater to the increasingly gentrified LES crowd with americanized staples such as General Tso and Orange chicken. The congee is great too, comes in little clay pots. One of the best things about this place is the layout and design of each room. You never know if you're going to be in the classic red and gold banquet-style room, downstairs in a private room, or the bamboo room. Be prepared to wait though if you're going on a weekend with a large group.
(4)
Amy L.
How to order a cheap, delicious, and satisfying meal for two or three: 2-3 congees (pork with preserved eggs is my favorite) ~$3.5 each 1 scallion pancake ~$3 You do the math!
(5)
Trisha W.
My all time favorite chinese restaurant. Over 20 Congee to choose from (rice porage), Salty fish fried rice, bitter melon, soul food for chinese people. Great service, really quick, seating can be hard on a Friday or Saturday night because it is very popular. was on the travel channel for bizzar foods, they have all types of seafood, lobster big size is only 20 bux!! whoa! and they also have PEA SHOOTS aka sauteed pea sprouts, it's there under vegetables. Beer is 2.75 a bottle tsing tao or heinaken anything!! you can bring your own boos, no service charge. Great for parties, group dinners, everything is soooo delicious. If you live in the area, they'll deliver. Insider tip, make reservations for parties over 4 people on a friday or saturday. If the Allen St location is packed, try the bowary location just around the corner, slightly slower service, but they'll seat you asap. Anything you are craving that's not on the menu, describe it to the waiter and he will have the chef make it! :) feeling adventerous? Try the snails, frog leg rice bamboo box, chicken and mushroom rice bamboo box, mmmmm sooo good!!!
(5)
Chu Z.
It's just a fancy version of Chinese take-out. Food quality: decent but definitely have been adjusted to suit American customers (too much sauce and covered the fresh flavor of food itself). Congee: quite good but not the best. As a local Chinese I won't choose to dine here on a regular basis.
(2)
Nona C.
The wait is annoying but the food is great and that's what matters! The establishment itself is built in a maze-like pattern with multiple stairs leading you to floors and half-floors of tables where you can feast on your traditional family-sized portions. I'd come back in a heart beat!
(4)
Shelley V.
After reading the variety of reviews, good to bad on Yelp, we headed over to Congee Village to sample one of my favorite comfort foods, congee. They offer a wide variety from your standard fare like chicken and shitake mushrooms, lobster, seafood etc to the plain not-so-hot sounding like pigs blood or intestines. Yeah, I decided to go with lobster. A very decent sized bowl for a cheap price. Flavorful and great consistency. We also ordered sauteed scallops, pretty good except for a small hair found by M and some potstickers with pork. The decor was definitely kooky and the service okay to spotty at best. Would I come back? Well if I had a congee craving, quite possibly!!
(3)
Max C.
The food was tasty. The interior decoration was like stepping into a bamboo forest slash Caribbean bar. The service was so so depending if the night was busy or not. I would recommend this place as a business outing for dinner.
(3)
Jing Jing T.
Love love love their congeeeeeeeee,we ordered lobster congee that night., taste gr8,all of us love it!!!!
(4)
Kristen W.
Stick to the congee and the shanghai shao long bao's... they're really really good! Everything else is just generic Chinese food unfortunately...
(3)
Andrew C.
Came for a birthday dinner. Great time! It gets packed during dinner. I'm fairly certain there's good business at lunch time too. I love the bar! It's somewhat small, but the decor is nice and ;) you get the occasional cuties here and there. The restaurant overall is nice too. Service is good. They know their know food and recommendations. Quick and speedy. Friendly. My group caused a "mess" with the cake and such, and I'm sure we've most likely pissed them off, but they bit their tongue and acted professionally about it. Very pleased. The food is pretty GOOD, but not over the top. It's very good Chinese food that's all. I don't remember the dishes, but there were too many! :/ UNFORTUNATELY, I was too stupid to not have ordered some CONGEE. Fail, but I think the rest is still pretty good. I'm aware I'm using "good" often, but that's the only word I can describe the place with. Price is "somewhat" pricey, but it's not over the top. It's still pretty cheap. You'll walk out eating alright I guess. The area the restaurant though..Personally, I feel safer with a car/group of people. I mean, everything looks a little dirty here and there in the streets. Makes me wonder if I'd get robbed going from the train station to the place. I would recommend this to others yes. I'm not sure about if they take reservations, but small groups and big groups are accommodated. Not sure about bring a date here, but I guess if you're to the point of already dating, this would be pretty good.
(4)
Jennifer S.
My boyfriend thought he didn't like congee until we ate here. The congee is amazing and inexpensive. Seafood is also very good, I have had the conch. This is definetly not a Chinese American restaurant, so if you want something less exotic I would suggest going to a take out place and paying half the price. One of my less adventurous friends ordered stemed vegetables, which was just kind of meh. I like the ambiance and the food is great, but the B rating I saw on the window kind of freaked me out a little ... I am not taking a star off for that because the Squid and Ginger Congee was just so gooooood.
(4)
Ling L.
You know a Chinese restaurant is good when you see a lot of Chinese folk eating there. Like many other Chinese restaurants in NYC, they try to overwhelm you with the extensive menu they plop down on your table. There must have been at least 100 dishes to choose from, but my eyes immediately zoomed in on the congee and dim sum section. I never had a craving for congee while living at home with the parents, but once I had been weaned from the Chinese food I had been brought up on to journey forth into my first summer living alone in the city, I began to miss the traditional home comforts. True, congee is usually served during the cold winter days, but there's nothing wrong with some good congee in the summertime. The dim sum we ordered was quickly whisked out from the kitchen, and we snacked on xiao long bao and scallion pancakes as we waited for our congee. Pork & preserved egg is definitely recommended, as is the crab. (Though for some reason we felt like they mixed the order up and put other seafood into the congee besides crab). Only qualm about our meal was that our waiter forgot to pick up the sad lonely glass of lychee martini that I had ordered. Oh yeah, try to eat here on the weekdays, because weekends generally mean a much longer wait to endure before being seated.
(4)
Daph L.
This is one of the few Chinese restaurants in NY that I would bring my parents to. It's not much to look at but the food is pretty authentic Cantonese and service feels Chinese as well meaning it's spotty unless they think you're going to spend a lot of money or make a lot of noise. I've been here a few times and the wait is generally no wait or long (over 30 min) as a few other reviewers have noted. They don't have a really organized way of looking for those who are waiting so a few times I've missed my table as a result of not standing right next to the podium where the hostess is doing her thing. I go for the congee and comfort foods like stir fries, noodles and . I wouldn't get anything too fancy here although I see bigger families ordering the more expensive seafood dishes. I love that the congee comes still bubbling from a little personal sized pot. Just like mom would make when I was sick. My friend swears by their Peking pork chops- she says they taste like pork doughnuts. I wouldn't quite go that far but I would order it again. The dim sum is OK but FYI it is Shanghainese dim sum, not Cantonese so definitely not their forte. The prices are on the higher side for Chinatown but really quite inexpensive if you come with a group and stick with the more moderately priced dishes. I once came with a group of non-Chinese friends who told me that our dinner at Congee Village was less than the drink (singular) that they had earlier at a fancy bar not too far away. My recommendation is to stick with their specialty and come here on a cold day for belly warming congee.
(4)
Yudi E.
This is not a good restaurant. It is dirty. The food is not of good quality. The service is bad. They do not speak English.
(1)
Rico R.
The place looks nice. We only ordered 2 items - a congee and beef nooodles. It took 15 minutes for them to bring our congee. It was not bad, but not good enough to wait that long for. I get better congee in China town within a few minutes. It took another 15 minutes for the noodles to arrive and it was a huge dissapointment. Greasy and tasteless. This was our first time here and the last.
(1)
J.J. M.
This place had some of the best Chinese food I've had in a long time. The dishes were bursting with flavor, and I figured it's NOT because there's MSG (otherwise, my cousin would've complained about her allergies). The prices were fair. The atmosphere was great. You can have a small group of two and not feel out of place, or a group of 10 and not crowd the space. The service was also excellent. I'm taking my brothers here the next time I visit NYC. Beware: My cousin tells me we were very lucky there wasn't a line to get a table. Apparently, during dinner time the wait line extends out to the street.
(4)
Noor S.
If your a large group that needs a restaurant in the LES that accepts reservations at short notice - this is it!! You'll get a nice big table with super cheap (but slightly terrible tasting) booze. Definitely do not go near the cocktails b/c they use very low grade booze, but hey- you also pay very low prices for it. The only bad thing about the meal was that my friend found a metal nail in her food. They were very apologetic about it though and gave us a free round of beer.
(4)
Johnny G.
Great food, great lychee martini, fun setting. Congee village is a well rounded, exciting Cantonese experience. I tried (and loved) the Deep Fried Frog, Razor Clams, Sauteed Scallops in Back Pepper, Sea Cucumber and Goose Web, Small Juicy Bun in Shanghai Style, House Special Chicken, and of course the famous Congee. Every dish was equally amazing; however, if I had to pick top two it would be Deep Fried Frog and Razor Clams. Next visit I hope to test my comfort zone and try Nature's Bird Nest and Geoduck Clam Shashimi. I highly recommend Congee Village for places to bring out-of-towners. For more Monday Night Dinner Club - NYC reviews, checkout: themndc.com/mndc-picks
(4)
Bo K.
Congee Village always hits the spot! When in need of some comforting Congee on a rainy day, no better place to head than CV. Lots of variations to choose from, just pick your favorite and in a couple minutes, steaming hot bowl of Chinese comfort food. House special chicken is pretty awesome and they make a mean pork chop. Downside, the tea was kind of off today and they always seem to be trimming vegetables in the front dining room when I go.
(4)
Stephan H.
It's like going to an amusement park! The red bean dessert soup is a nice surprise. Dinner: Scallion Pancake In Hong Kong Style (dry); Snow Pea Leaves With Garlic In Rice Broth (very good, fresh and not too greasy); Fillet Of Beef Chinese Style In Sizzling Hot Plate (an oddly medicinal flavor).
(2)
H A.
Go to Queens.
(3)
Ken W.
there are only a few things I like here, but they are executed very well, and I stick to them. They are: the congee, the house special chicken, the jellyfish, and razor clams in broth. I get that, pay very little, and leave very happy. The congee is crazy cheap and delicious, can't go wrong with century eggs, rice, pepper, and lots and lots of water. Mmm. Congee.
(4)
Lee J.
There are some seriously out-there things on the menu here, which is exactly why I like it so much. One of my favorite things to do when I am eating here is to survey the dishes being served to the tables around me, particularly if the party at the table is a large Asian family. I've seen the craziest things, food-wise, by paying attention. Go weird with your order and look at what's around you. It also tickles me that every section and room of the restaurant is decorated differently. I'm sure someone else must have mentioned that, but just in case. I love this place also because it's a place every New Yorker goes, no matter what economic bracket they're in or lifestyle they lead. I know for a fact that a high-powered, extremely influential magazine holds certain of its dinner events here every couple months. But it's also a place where a huge group of my broke artist friends can all enjoy a delicious full meal and a beer together after an opening. And this place has definitely saved my drunk self at least once with a warm pot of congee with its late late hours on the weekends.
(4)
Dwain R.
My wife, who is Cantonese, and I always end up going back for the Chicken. I'm a fan. Not perfect, but some of the items on the menu are great.
(4)
Alex Y.
I was lucky enough to have a well informed New Yorker introduce me to this place early on in my time here in NYC. The first thing that clued me into Congee's legitimacy is it's ground pork with salty fish dish. Look, I can't spell it's Chinese name but I can inhale this dish faster than you can say "Engrish." My Grandmother used to make this for me when I was a little girl, and this version makes me feel like donning pigtails again. It's definitely not for the faint-of-heart, but it's a great gateway Chinese food. Before you know it you'll be slurping down a plate of jellyfish, which is also a fabulous dish at Congee Village. I had my last birthday party here, and though I wasn't able to grab a private karaoke room (they book up wellll in advance), they seated 12 of us comfortably in the main dining room. Here's a little secret: $5 martinis. If you want to get drunk on your birthday without breaking the bank, this place is a great start.
(5)
Janelle T.
This crap of a place deserves one star and this very thing ruined it for me: there was a pubic hair in my tea. the hair was curly and was 2 inches long. I was so disgusted. I asked for a spoon and fork 5 times but they never gave it to me. The waiter who was serving us spit on my face and the girl in the entrance was a complete idiot. The wait was just way too long. I can't believe how disgusting this place is. It deserves to be shut down by the health department. So for anyone planning to go, watch out for pubic hairs in your food.
(1)
L A.
This is the best Chinese delivery food I've had. now its my go-to chinese delivery when im missing home! the congee is good but I love their rice rolls with beef ribs. NOM NOM. we ordered 4 dishes and it was approx. $30
(4)
Mike G.
a big WOW. highlights were fried calamari, peking pork chops, sweet&sour pork, braised sea cucumber, garlic-sauteed snow pea shoots, prawns with broccoli&walnuts, shrimp-chicken hong kong noodles, manila clams in black bean sauce, salted shrimp-chicken fried rice. plus i may have missed a couple more dishes. sooo much, sooo good and sooo cheap! i didn't eat this all by myself, silly.
(4)
Julianne L.
Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to try the congee, but I did try a bunch of different dinner entrees. The food was good and the prices were great. I think we ended up spending like $70 (6-7 dishes INCLUDING lobster) for 6 people. The lobster was fantastic, sauteed in a ginger/scallion sauce. There was a sizzling pork dish that was great as well. Tender and well marinated. Yum! The beef chow fun and sweet and sour spareribs were standard and hit the spot. If you're looking for some authentic Chinese food, Congee Village will not disappoint. Try to make a reservation or come early as this place gets CROWDED. We came here around 6pm and there was no wait, but by the time we finished (around 7pm) there was a looooong wait.
(4)
Jeannie Y.
There are few things I love more than Congee Village. Where to start? When you walk in, you'll either be pleasantly surprised at how fancy it is compared to most eateries in China Town, or you'll be fascinated by how not fancy it is compared to the standard East Village fare. There's a weird theme going on for decor, but if you'll suspend your judgment, just head right and up the stairs to the main seating area. The service is...typical (not great), though since we've always come for lunch, we've never had to wait. Ice water seems to be as precious as diamonds for how often it's given out. But again, stay with me here. The fried squid with salted pepper is to die for - a Chinese version of calamari, tossed with jalapeno slices (which are only minimally spicy) is tender, juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. The sauteed snow pea leaves with garlic is an amazing portion (i.e. large) that is so delicious that the BF who rarely likes anything green will consume the entire thing alone. Eating the congee with pork and preserved egg is like wrapping myself in warm blanket and falling asleep next to the fire - AWESOME. And the house special chicken (half portion is PLENTY) - well, the BF will eat that everyday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And the price at the end of this meal? $30 for two people to eat until comatose. PROS: - Fried Squid with Salted Pepper - House Special Chicken - Congee with Sliced Pork and Preserved Egg - Sauteed Snow Pea Leaves with Garlic CONS: - Not a fancy date place (but your date might forgive it in light of the INCREDIBLE food)
(5)
Cecilia Z.
Although I've been to this Congee Village location a few times in the last 2 years, it never really appealed to me until recently. I visited on Chinese New Year evening for dinner, as expected, the place was packed. Good thing I only dined with the bf, so the wait for our party of 2 wasn't too bad... around 20 minutes or so. Even though I am Chinese and have eaten my share of Chinese food growing up, Chinese cuisine is definitely not one of my favorites. I think my general disliking for some regional Chinese cuisines only grew after moving to NYC... I find most restaurants in chinatown here to be either greasy, dirty, unauthentic, bland or just overall unappealing. I guess I can be somewhat of a snob when it comes to Chinese food since I grew up in the SGV. However, Congee Village has managed to prove me wrong. I ordered a mixed seafood (with some black bean sauce) on a sizzling plate, vermicelli & squash casserole, healthy vegetarian congee while bf ordered the soup dumplings. Everything tasted great except for the soup dumplings, which were dry and somewhat cold as if they had been sitting out for too long. Can't say I didn't advise him to not order soup dumplings here... this is why any non-Chinese should listen to the Chinese. I loved that the generously portioned seafood dish came out sizzling hot, with large scallops, shrimps and calamari all nicely tender. The sauce really added some robustness only found in Cantonese cuisine. The casserole dish played a nice contrast, more reflective of Shanghainese cuisine using an abundance of squash and dried shrimp and mushrooms to add subtle umami flavors. The vegetarian congee was also good, not too rich but still beautifully creamy and warm on a cold winter night. While Congee Village still doesn't come close to the many restaurants in my hometown of LA, it is a good bet for anyone looking for affordable and tasty Cantonese food in a clean environment in this city.
(4)
Kimmie S.
I came here for my birthday last night and was SO disappointed. We had passed this place a million times and knew that one day we would love to go here. After realizing that we were going to a bar nearby, this seemed like a great place as I love Chinese food. I wish that we had gone somewhere else after the fiasco. First off, know that if you're in a large group, you stand a better chance of being seated prior to parties of two. Once we got upstairs we saw that there were more tables for groups as opposed to "intimate groups". But I'm getting ahead of myself. We waited for an hour at the bar. It was a little annoying as I was hungry but my boyfriend and I planned what we would eat and the drinks were decent (pretty cheap). For all intensive purposes this restaurant is merely a large Chinese place that you would order from for takeout; however, if you eat there you can have this park like setting. We arrived at 8:30 and were seated at 9:30 after watching large groups leave and being replaced by equally large groups. When we sat down, food did come out quickly; however, everything was either underseasoned or just underwhelming! I LOVE Singapore Mei Fun and order this everywhere and this was the worse. I had to have hot sauce to make it "decent". My boyfriend ordered the fried intestines and also the snails and was unhappy. I encouraged him to eat my food so that he would become full (and I hate sharing). The only thing that tasted amazing - the Cognac and honey drinks. I was so unimpressed and will not be back! The other upside, it's not an expensive place and it's quite lively. I guess I just don't get why people like it - but then again it could have been an off night?
(1)
Dan S.
Went here for lunch on Xmas day. My first experience with congee -- we got the pork and preserved egg congee based on numerous recommendations, and I thought it was great. My wife and kids, not so much. Also got the house special chicken on several Yelp recommends, and was not disappointed there either - great flavor, but watch out for those shards of bone! A few other dishes were decent - sliced tofu & veggies, chow mein & veggies, etc. The service though was pretty terrible. We were pretty much ignored the entire time while the wait staff hurried past our table to take care of everybody else. After looking around, we realized that we were literally the only non-Asian folks in the place. Then recalled seeing other negative reviews about preferential treatment, and it all made sense. Oh well. After flagging down various wait staff at different times, they eventually took care of what we needed. At least go for the congee for sure - cheap and yummy.
(3)
Ashley Z.
It is a very good restaurant. You can find lots of similar restaurants in Hongkong. This restaurant provides delicious food, and the price is also very reasonable. I think I will go there again!
(5)
Rebecca C.
If you're not quite in the mood for takeout and you're over the Asian Fusion scene then have your next meal at Congee Village. It hits the spot, it brings people together, and it doesn't break the bank. This is some great Cantonese-style cooking right here, in a neighborhood that's getting gentrified, I'm glad Congee stands strong on Allen Street. Get the noodles, seafood, and wok-seared anything.
(4)
Jamie S.
I love this place for a cheap filling meal with tons of options. I love the over the top decor here and am intrigued at the karaoke parties they host in rooms downstairs. We were seated at a tiny table in the little room in the back. The menu is huge and the prices are low low low. They also have a decent drink menu with cheap drinks and an even cheaper happy hour at the bar. I usually go for the mushroom and chicken congee here, but my friend does not care for mushrooms and we went for the high roller chicken with abalone instead. The congee was huge and satisfying as usual, a fair substitute for chicken soup if feeling under the weather. We also ordered a squid dish with cashews and onions that we gobbled down quickly.
(4)
Diana L.
I don't normally give 5 stars to restaurants bc i usually haven't had ALL the comparisons but for a Chinese restaurant in NYC, and speaking as a Chinese gal, i believe this is as good as it gets. The food is consistently spot on. If you're wondering what to order at this place and i hope you have a lot of people, here are some must -haves: Pork Fried Rice Fish in two tastes CONGEE House Chicken Sizzling Short Rib Bok Choy Please don't bother with crap like General Tso's or Seseame beef which you could have got from your neighborhood flee bag. This is as authentic as it gets next to HK. Enjoy. Only one time has this place disappointed so eat on, friends. Eat on.
(5)
JR W.
Happy Chinese New Year! This is a non-congee, dinner review. bottomline: A good deal. Just order the pictures. :) notes: -$10 dishes. - long waits on wkends/holidays (i.e. from now until 2/14) and reservations are loosely followed. don't yell at the hostess bc it's not her fault. it's just how chinese restaurants operate. following the manager around the split levels to honor your reservation doesn't seem to work either... - Good flavor, a little on the salty side. - Cantonese style (hint: sugar in every dish) - The dungeness crab appetizer is served cold, pretty good start. - Most dishes were good, except the peking style pork. Don't get Beijing style food at a Cantonese restaurant if you can tell the difference. Otherwise, eat on!
(4)
Jeff D.
The outside looks like it belongs on the vegas strip, and the inside looks like Rainforest Cafe. The irony is that the kitchen here serves up some of the most authentic Chinese food available that close to Chinatown. The menu is extensive, and after you get through 7 pages of things you don't know how to pronounce or didn't realize you could eat, you'll find youself in familiar 'chicken', 'beef', & 'seafood' territory. I can't speak for the 7 pages of authentic chinese food that I'd never touch, but the classic american standards (beef w/ broccoli, sesame chicken, dumplings, etc.) are really the best I've had. Huge portions make the dishes very affordable - and once you get over the flashy lighting and fake palm trees outside, you'll be able to understand why there's a long line out the door that snakes around Delancey every night.
(5)
Anna B.
I had a quick, late lunch here. The place is a maze of kitch and staircases but overall, I liked the effect. Lunch at 3:30 on a Friday afternoon was me, alone, eavesdropping on a 5 top business meeting/lunch discussing publishing, (namely printing books) I felt sorry for them. And a couple of large groups of Asian friends chatting and chomping away. I over ordered, Fried dumplings, Hot and Sour Soup, Steamed pork buns and juicy pork dumplings. Hot & Sour Soup very good. Fried dumplings too greasy. Juicy dumplings good. I couldn't eat the pork buns at the table. From the prices on the menu, I had thought that I spent around $20.00, and felt really wasteful when I couldn't finish half of what I ordered. When the bill came, it was $10.85. What a bargain. I asked for the pork buns to be wrapped for takeout, and I headed off looking for a nail salon - carrying a really pretty purple and green plastic bag. Hours later, as I was chomping away on the pork buns, they were ok very filling - a lot of dough, surrounding a pork meatball. I'd go back again for dinner and drinks - I have been searching NYC for something like Peking on Fresh Pond in Cambridge, and so far, Congee has come the closest. I miss my Boston Chinese food and Mai Tais.
(3)
Serena l.
This place is great for large groups and off hours. (Either an early or late night dinner. Or during the weekday.) And for eating family style. Try the razor clams. Have their congee to go. (I like the pork with egg.) I'm not so sure about the racist claims made below; I've had non-Chinese friends go and are treated very well and very poorly. (It's across the board, if they're going to be rude, it isn't because of your race.) The food is also inconsistent. (Don't try to go there for Lunar New Year's Eve dinner -- bad idea. It's too busy to get any service. And, they forget to account for the rush and we ended up with smaller sized orders, long waits, no service, and poor quality dishes.) But, I keep going back. They're convenient after happy hour for some congee. Or to bring a large group of friends to (as they're able to accommodate a large table). And, if it's your birthday, you will be greeted!
(3)
Parka P.
I love love love this place. I went there for the first time a few months ago and there isn't a bad thing i can say about the place. The food is super inexpensive and incredibly delicious. I wish i could try almost everythign on the menu. This place is defnitely family style so to get maximum enjoyment, go with a bunch of people!
(5)
Sam C.
Loved this place! This place is probably on the more well-decorated end of Chinatown restaurants, and it's got a great atmosphere. The selection of food is big, and the portions are huge, not to mention that they taste fantastic. We went with a huge group, everyone was so full, and each person paid only around $11. You usually can't expect that price unless it's in smaller restaurants or joints, but you can at Congee Village. Great for bringing family and friends to have some great food.
(5)
Chhayrithy C.
Great food and very economical. I recommend the Beef Chow Fun, Salt and Pepper Squid and of course the Congee!
(4)
Ryan K.
This 5-star review is pretty limited in scope. You gotta understand: 1) I wasn't drunk BUT 2) I was STARVING. I hadn't eaten in 14 hours at the end of a very long day. My friend lives nearby in LES so suggested Congee Village since it was past midnight. So our party of 3 went, ordered some simple stuff (the house special chicken is amazing), a simple stir-fry pea shoot dish (dou miao), and a beef/scallion chow foon. Nothing special about the dishes, but they were blindingly fast, the service is efficient and professional and catching the end of the Lakers game and having sportscenter following was a huge plus. Exactly what I want in a late-night Chinese place. Fast tasty junk food with a flat-screen TV.
(5)
jamie N.
I probably eat here once a week because it's cheap and close to my apt. Their delivery is fast. I'm a carnivore, so I only switch between 3 dishes here in order of rating: salt and pepper pork chops (crispy and juicy), house special chicken (good sauce with thin slices of garlic), and general's chicken (okay for delivery, but better dining in). Their chicken and corn soup is also good. Keep in mind their delivery is usually $5 bucks and under for lunch (weekends included), but dinner jumps up to $8-10.
(4)
Lindsay M.
Oh Congee Village... now that I've found you, how am I justified eating cheap* Chinese food in a sit down anywhere else? Went there on a Tuesday night and there was absolutely no wait- we had many tables to choose from. The service was not exactly friendly but it wasn't bad either, so I can't complain there (We weren't really expecting fine dining attention. When the waitress ignored us, it actually added to the experience). We got the chicken and shittake mushroom congee, chicken and shittake baked rice, beef and black bean sauce chow fun, steamed dumplings shanghai style, some other thing, a beer and a juice. $31. Believe it. If you go with people and split some dishes, it's a really great bang for your buck. You shouldn't spend over $10 unless you drink to0, in which case it'll be like $15. AND the food was great, portions were great, atmosphere was great. Big tables for big groups. The menu was very huge and you know a place is legit if the majority of the clientele there are from the food's origin country (in this case, China). Will be back soon for sure. *I know cheap usually also implies bad on some level, but I would say Congee Village is quality in taste, just inexpensive. We didn't order the healthiest dishes, and they were pretty sauteed, but well done and enjoyable.
(5)
Samir G.
the food is great but this place is a complete waste of time. I've ordered out from here many times and have loved everything I've ordered. portions are large, quality is high and prices are reasonable. so why the 2 stars? I decided to venture to the restaurant for a dine in meal for the first time. I called first and was told it would be a 15-20 min wait. great. I put my name down and was there 15min later. i ask the hostess for timing and she says: 15-20 min. hmm... ok. Long story short, an hour and 15min later we were still no seated. I was standing right next to the hostess as she was taking walk in reservations and she spit out the same standard line to EVERY group: "15-20 min". i complained to the hostess and she said her boss instructed her to say that to everyone. ridiculous. They need to set expectations better. I've spoken to many friends since then and heard similar stories from everyone. Lesson learned. i will only order out from this place. It's not worth the hassle and poor service of trying to dine in.
(2)
Atif Q.
Went for a late night dinner with my wife, sister-in-law and parents as part of a larger party. We were directed to the basement, two flights downstairs to two large round tables. We were all given menus and picked out our dishes and then engaged in conversation with our table mates. After ~15 minutes I looked behind me to other table and noticed that all their menus were gone. ME: Um, hey guys, did they take your order? THEM: Yeah, like 5 minutes ago...didn't they take yours? ME: Not yet....um, excuse me, waiter person, can you please take our order too? Verbal Exchange with Waiter: ME: Table mates order separately. We'd like Chicken Fried Rice, Beef Chow Mein, Filet of Beef Sizzling Hot Plate and for the fourth item, can you please recommend a no-salt dish? WAITER: No Sauce? ME: No, no SALT. WAITER: No sauce in any dish? ME: No, no Salt-tah in only final dish? WAITER: Any dish you want, we can give no sauce. ME: No, wait...nevermind. Please give me beef and broccoli with no SAUCE. WAITER: OK Food comes. All dishes have SALT and SAUCE. No serving spoons provided in dishes. ME: Can we have some spoons for the food? WAITER (with an exasperated look): You want Spoons? ME: Yes. Please? US: Excuse me...this tofu dish has pork in it. We've ordered this from you before with no Pork. WAITER: YOU need to tell us that you are Vegetarian when you order. You did not tell us so you got what you ordered. Order is fixed but bill comes with both dishes on it. Tablemate: Do you mind removing wrong order from our bill. WAITER: No. He walks away from our table. Tablemate: Can we speak to the manager please? WAITER: Points to waiter serving next table...in the basement...she is the manager. Back and forth...back and forth. "Manager" says to remove wrong dish from money owed. Beef with broccoli was good. Chicken fried rice, beef chow mein & filet of beef were just o.k. Would've given three stars if we could've had a better experience. Would've given four stars if more of the food was better.
(2)
Cindy L.
LOOOOVEEEE their soy sauce tofu! I've just discovered that they have this on the menu today. I could probably just eat that with rice alllll dayyyyy (haha). I also like their steam frogs, it comes with dates and some other good stuff. They have really good seafood-- the crabs, lobster, conch and scallops are deeee-lish. Not to mention they have really awesome bamboo rice! If your family is a fan of seafood, definitely bring them! We had a party of 5 and we didn't have to wait at all, not sure about everyone else but it was definitely packed! I can understand some of the reviews complaining about the wait time, hopefully you'll be seated as quickly as I was!
(4)
Jurgen J.
I'm a sucker for these kinds of chinese place. Authentic and delicious. All the food that i ordered are cooked perfectly and tasted amazingly well. I had the clams with pea pods. The clams are sauteed perfectly, the dish came with a thin light sauce. The peking style pork chop is one of my favorite cantonese dishes. And the ones that Congee village have is tender, juicy and flavorful. I also had the lamb stew. It was also good. This is one of the authentic chinese places that manages to serve great traditional chinese food. This is a rare find in manhattan.
(5)
Jack N.
Good portions, delicious authentic Chinese foods, Interesting dish designs I been here more than a few times, the decor is interesting, even though if its not my taste. It has yellow bamboo kind of feel, the same kind of design that I seen in Nyonya. Although this restaurant is several times bigger than most Chinese restaurants (that are not dim sum restaurants) with multiple floors, the layout is strange and the numerous staircases make you feel like you're lost in an artwork by Escher. We sat down in an area with a huge mural of the Asian mountains. But the hanging lights in front of the mural were too low and distracted from the view of the mural. As for the food, we had: Abalone and chicken Congee - Delicious, but I wish they serve the abalone as a whole instead of chopped pieces (the same gripe that I have with most New England Clam Chowders not serving whole clams). But pluses for the tenderness of the chicken in the Congee. The portion is bigger than what you expect (shareable for 2 ppl, as long as you order other dishes). Eggplant & bean curd plus veggies - I eat anything, and if its prepared differently, I will try things again even if I didn't like the way they were prepared the first time. Eggplants fall under that category, and this dish is a must have. The eggplants were cut lengthwise and had a hint of a plantain flavor in them. I don't even recall having eggplant taste like that, but I love it! The dish comes out hot but they keep it hot by having it raised above their specially designed Sterno. There is also bamboo in there, which is a softer crunchy veggie, which I'm not sure if it fits everyone's taste, but its only plant, so don't freak out over it (There are so many other things Asians eat that would freak out some ppl). I personally liked it a lot. The bean curd and lettuce was the only thing lacking in this dish as bean curd crumbled after overheating on the Sterno flame when you fry to pick them up w/ chopsticks. Lettuce is not a favorite for Chinese style cooking as there are so many other delicious veggies in the arsenal of any Chinese chef. Clams in spicy Thai broth - I liked it, but I prefer the black bean sauce much more. The spice is really mild, but that is to be expected in a Chinese restaurant (the same dish in a Thai restaurant would probably have me in tears) They don't get the traffic as other restaurants because they are off Chinatown. This location is actually a lot closer from the F train (Delancey St stop) then the B, D train (Grand St stop), yet, on the night I went, I mainly saw Asians in the restaurant. I, and I'm sure my friends would come here more often if it was closer to the heart of Chinatown.
(4)
Jon S.
If this were an actual village I would rape and pillage it every day. I have a thing for jook, aka congee, aka chinese porrige, aka hot steaming bowl of love. I went here on a recommendation by awesome ex-New Yorker Rachelle R. and ordered the preserved egg and pork congee. It was like $2.95 so I thought it would be small, so I also got some har gow dim sum and these scallion pancake thingies. That'll fill me up. I could order more if I wanted to. Ho ho ho. Silly American. As I ladeled my steaming hot porrige of century egg love from the big iron pot they bring you, I realized I had ordered way too much. I could've had lunch for $2.95. Instead I induced food comatose for 8 bucks and change. Not bad at all. And EVERYthing was good, really good.
(4)
Catherine W.
I felt the portions were a bit small, but it was definitely inexpensive. I've definitely had better congee and shanghai dumplings elsewhere. I felt like you were paying for "dressed up" decor and presentation.
(2)
Sarah C.
Let me start out by sayin that Congee Village's eponymous dish is without a doubt delicious, not to mention a total bargain. In fact, it was a very reasonably priced meal, with a beer, a kumquat "mojito," two orders of congee, half a duck, tax and tip all coming to about $32 or so. If that's not affordable Manhattan dining, I don't know what is. Despite all the positives, this is ultimately one of those 3.5 star places, and I'm afraid I'm going to have to round down. I know that Chinatown's poor service is infamous, but I felt that Congee Village's was particularly bad. We were ignored for long periods at a time, we waited 15 minutes for a menu, water refills were non-existent, and we were never asked if we wanted a second alcoholic beverage. Combined with the fun but ultimately tacky decor, I'm bumping Congee Village down to three stars. Service issues aside, I still feel comfortable recommending Congee Village on the merits of the food alone. The congee was a real treat, and it felt like a big old reward for being adventuresome with my food: I was afraid and expecting the consistency to be gooier and thicker, but it was actually very light and easy to eat. We split two kinds, crab, and one with pork and I think beef and duck. Both were delicious, the meat one being slightly more so. The crab one had a whole crab it it, which Boyfriend found impressive, but I thought was too potentially messy and inconvenient. I was ill-prepared to deal with a scalding hot crab shell covered in rice porridge, and was annoyed that my dinner was becoming so labor intensive. In the chef's defense, we ended up deciding that the shell appeared to be mostly for show, and that the crab meat had been already mixed into the congree, but I'm still not entirely sure. The duck was duck, which means that it tasted great, (when does duck NOT?), but had an annoying number of bones. I wasn't particularly impressed with this particular plate of duck, as it was a very simple and straightforward preparation. Obviously, it's not the house specialty, so its lack of memorability doesn't bother me too much. As for my drink, for $5 I couldn't resist, and I wasn't disappointed. It was tasty and kumquat-y, if not particularly strong, and I enjoyed it, even if it was light years away from any mojito I've ever had. What it comes down to is this: I'd totally recommend that you come here for the cheap congee and the cheap drinks. It was a nice dinner with Boyfriend, but the place really seems ideal for large groups. I'd definitely consider this for a big dinner with friends, and so should you.
(3)
Will C.
Congee dirt late in the night. If you want to have good congee late at night this is the place to be. You will stumble into it after a fun night in the lower east side. Oh yeah Chinese place accepting credit cards!!! WOW. Too bad you need to order a lot so that you can met the minimum. I love the duck egg congee. My friends got the roasted duck in congee. which was flavorful. This place can fit a lot of people and they serve the food quick. The bad thing about this place too many stairs all over the place =)
(4)
jay b.
zero stars - part 1 of 2 worst nightmare dining experience, ever. ever!!! my uncle's in town helping me recover from an illness, tonight was his last night in nyc. i wanted to take him out to dinner to thank him for taking time out of his life to help me, so i asked him what he wanted for dinner. when he said chinese, i thought of this place - my friend took my mom and i here last winter, and it was fun and the food was good. tonight was like the twilight zone. i don't know what the f##k was going on, but there was no help to be found, whatsoever. long ass wait (they said "10 - 15 minutes" and it was more than double that) to be seated on these rinky dink uncomfortable ass stools in the bar area (fyi: bar + rinky dink, wobbly as fuck stools + nyc = high potential for a lawsuit, people - get your shit together). we survived being perched precariously only to be seated, half an hour and 2 crappy drinks later (i had a "fuzzy mango" that promised mango juice and "vodka" - there was hardly any alcohol in the tiny glass, and the mango was some sort of nasa space program tang powder crap). my uncle got the honey lemonade, which, okay - he said it was good. (can you tell i'm pissed? but i'm still gona try to be as fair as possible) - only to be seated, half and hour later, in these horrible chairs that instantly start to make my lower back hurt. (they're, like, "lean-back" chairs - not dining chairs. i'm sorry to be picky, and i swear i'm not usually picky about stuff, nor whiny, but these chairs sucked). (i did spot a straight-backed chair and asked the waiter guy next to it if i could swap mine? he nodded and i did it myself, he didn't even ask if he could help - not that i expected it or anything, but it would've been nice..) ok, so we're seated with menus. yay! we're looking around in anticipation, trying to see what's on people's plates to order "off the menu" and get something great. it wasn't meant to be. after another 15 minutes of sitting there getting indifferent looks from the servers, (and wondering where the hell ours was..) we finally are approached and asked if we're ready to order. we asked 3 questions, got super snooty / short answers, (the last one being from my uncle - what should i order if i've never been here before / what's popular / what do most people seem to like? - the answer was "the chicken special".) so this is what we got: the chicken special (half chicken) chicken and bitter melon sauteed broccoli 2 bowls of rice 1 spring roll steamed bun the spring roll came first, it was good and crunchy, usual. the sauces had to be requested, and took forever to flag down someone / have them bring them. then came the dumplings / steamed buns - they were great and flavorful, albeit tiny (but, for $3.95 they were fine). again we had to wait and ask the waiter for the little spoons and plates that go with them as well as the dipping sauce. my uncle's chicken came next, by itself, with no rice or sign of my dishes (the bitter melon dish or the sauteed broccoli). no soy sauce on the table, nothing really on the table except a whole bunch of empty dishes and my uncle's chicken which, he funnily pointed out, had no breast - "they stole my breast meat!" he exclaimed later on the drive home, when we were still incredulous over the whole fiasco). basically, they served him this "half chicken" which was mostly bones and chicken parts - and absolutely NO breast meat, whatsoever! they probably use the breast meat on other dishes, like my chicken and bitter melon - what a rip off!!!) my uncle was nearly done with his chicken, and had eaten it with no rice, no soy sauce, no stopping by of the waiter to see if we needed anything, and me still sitting there sipping on some lame ass "tea" - (it was just hot water, seriously - hardly any tea in there that i could see or taste or anything..) i finally flagged down the waiter and asked him to bring over the manager, and when the manager came, suddenly the waiter and like 2 more were all hovering around the table, like eavesdropping, to see what i was going to say - SO uncomfortable and awkward!!! i just told the manager that, look - my uncle has eaten his dinner, and mine hadn't even arrived! i told him that we hadn't gotten our rice or anything like that. the manager was a total chode and just kept making excuses like "well, we're really busy" and then blamed US for not SPECIFYING to the waiter that we wanted our rice WITH our food (come ON!!!) and that we wanted our dinners to come at the same time (COME ON!!!!!!!!) what the fuck!!!??!! i kept my voice calm and was very nicely trying to explain how problematic this was, and how we would appreciate a discount on our meal - (my uncle's plate was literally empty at this point - he was done, hadn't gotten his rice, and i hadn't even gotten my meal yet), and the manager said he would give us a discount and go check on the rest of my order.
(1)
Donna Z.
Lunch on Sunday here is a whole different ballpark. The beef chow mein only faintly resembles what is served in the evenings. The waiters are out on the floor prepping veggies. We ordered rice this time and found it be more like congree...it was cooked with way too much water!
(3)
Rachel H.
congee village is a strange and wondrous place. it's run illogically, and the layout is just begging to be optimized. (honestly, who needs a room with 12 giant banquet tables?) if you happen to go on a saturday evening, with only a party of 2, you should prepare yourself to wait a looooong time. my buddy and i kept getting passed up so parties of 6+ could be seated at one of the many giant round tables you'll find at congee village. they definitely love the big parties there. should you decide to wait the 45 or so minutes (the hostess told us it would be 15-20...nice estimating), you'll probably be seated in the cacophonous upstairs dining room. it's loud, but friendly. the service is very prompt. the menu is fairly intimidating. it's like a diner menu, and just goes on and on. this is an issue because how are you to know what's going to be awesome or not. the soup dumplings we had were amazing, the pan fried dumplings were not. my friend got rice baked with chicken and mushrooms (R301), which was yummy, but my rice baked with salted fish (R302) was a nightmare. You'd have to be some sort of lingual ninja to remove the fish bones, which are both numerous and pointy. it's not a good sign when your meal causes you to yelp in pain. still, the good food trumped the bad. and i've been here for birthday parties, too, and the staff is very accommodating. the place really is an odd and fun experience.
(3)
A C.
very quickly: solid recommendation One of the better Chinese places, spoiled only by the wait. Food is delicious but most are not very subtle. That said, you can get decent stir-fry, and surprisingly good seafood (giant crab, well worth the 28 dollars, and fried-anything) along with the eponymous congee, which is flavorful without being salty. Menu is large, so you can find something for even the pickiest eater Good for groups (party rooms require a minimum) so bring some friend and try more dishes. You can still pick out a decent and cheap meal for 2 but miss out on the variety. Clean for a chinese place, decor is quirky, bright and fun. Definitely confirm your spot on the queue if you show up on a busy night, if only to remind the host you're there. Feel free to drop some dollars for a cocktail, they make them stroooong!
(4)
GarGuPi L.
Came here for a Saturday lunch. The resturant wasn't crowded, but the waitstaff wasn't very attentive. I literally had to wave my hand in the air to get their attention, even though they were just standing around. The congee was alright. It had a "mixed" of meat. Smaller portion than you could've gotten in other restaurants in Chinatown. The steamed rice roll was decent. A bit expensive, but at least it was freshly made, but they only provided soy sauce, whereas in other places, they also provide the yummy sweet sauce and sesame seeds as well (the HK style kind). I wasn't very adventurous with the menu, so I'm sure there are some specialty dishes that are great. But in all, that's how I feel for now. I would go back though, but not for dinner since I heard it's very crowded.
(3)
Vanessa T.
My friends and I initially came here for a birthday dinner but all the banquet tables were filled so we decided we'd just do our own thing. At the recommendation of other yelpers, we ordered the House Special Chicken, fried tofu, some veggies and a bowl of Preserved Egg Congee to share. I honestly don't care for chicken since it's bland and most of the time dry but I have to say the House Special Chicken is one of my favorite ways to eat it. The meat was tender and the outside skin was crispy. The soy sauce that came with it wasn't overly salty either. The congee was also a winner being under $5 for a huge clay pot. Although this is a bit out of the way for me, I'd stop by any day to get some good Chinese comfort food.
(4)
Cindy C.
After eating out all weekend (after moving to the big city) my friend and i decided to eat something "lighter" so we went for congee. As a group of 3, we ordered 2 bowls of congee and a vegetable. Congee was definitely authentic, and it was still bubbling when it arrived at our table. deliciousness! The only problem i have with this place is the service. Instead of waiting for our own table, we opted to share a big table with another group of 3, which, i'm totally accustomed to, since i'm from Hong Kong and this happens all the time. What SHOULDN'T happen is that orders shouldnt be messed up, and the wait staff should be informed of the situation, so they dont look confused and set the food right in the MIDDLE of the table, letting the patrons figure it out on our own. So despite the good congee, I'm lowering it to 3 stars, because really, any authentic chinese, espectially cantonese restaurant would know better about this sharing table concept and execute it way better
(3)
Virginia Y.
Obviously come here for the congee of course. The hot and sour soup's not bad either. Seafood's always fresh and cooked perfectly. One of the best places to dine in Chinatown. Inexpensive, friendly waiters, fast service. What's there to not love?
(4)
David C.
i come here all the time even though you can get something similar and half the price elsewhere. over price Chinese foods but good
(4)
rene P.
We had the veggie dumplings which were good. The spring roll was ok. My hubby ordered the beef and broccoli which he enjoyed but I didn't like. The chicken fried rice was the best thing I ate. I ordered a fuzzy navel which was ok nothing special. Don't expect fancy service here. I had to ask for utensils. The waiter brought us dirty forks w rice in them. There is no orderly system in delivering the food. My hubby's sticky buns came after we ate. you have to call the waiters to get there attention to take your order. also not the cleanest place.
(2)
A C.
I give this place 2 thumbs down. Went there yesterday. I always came here with all my friends and family but this time was a let down. Service was terrible. No utensils were provided for our congee which is watery rice. The food were all salty. I will never come here again and neither should anyone else. I would put no stars if I can.
(1)
elise h.
Congee Village is one of my tried and true Lower East Side places and I've always loved the food here. True, there is way too much neon, bamboo, water falls, lights, rocks, fish and other silliness going on with the decor, but it's always good for a laugh. And if you can stand to dine in such ostentatious tackiness, you will find that the food is yummy and cheap. I'm a fan of their crunchy salt and pepper squid, their huge $3 bowls of congee, their sauteed ginger scallops, their garlic Chinese greens . . . in general they do seafood and vegetables really well, the meat and vegetables always taste fresh and the portions are huge! So you can share them with like, 2 other people and that's how your bill stays low. I've had a couple of hilarious Congee Village moments. One year, a friend had a birthday dinner there, and without even asking, they put us in one of the private karaoke rooms downstairs. At first we were like "Okay, whatever!" (having shown up way too sober to appreciate this auspicious turn of events) but after eating and knocking back quite a few drinks from the fully stocked bar, we turned the karaoke machine on and had one of the rowdiest, silliest, longest nights out ever. We stayed on so long that we started ordering whole bottles of stuff from the bar and a second round of food, and the waiters just kept on coming, never complaining and always accommodating and prompt. They are really good with large parties because they're quick and organized. We really appreciated their patience and graciousness that night because our wild bunch really gave them a lot of work to do! Last night, after spending hours putting together IKEA furniture, we were hungry and ordered some Congee Village over the phone. After a half hour, our food arrived, and my roommate looked in the bag and said, "Uh, there's half a pineapple in here." I was like, what?! I had ordered some kind of seafood and pineapple dish, but had failed to realize that there wasn't just pineapple in the dish . . . the whole entree was nestled in half a hollowed-out pineapple, leaves and all! So we ate the seafood right out of the pineapple, and of course, it was delicately flavored and delicious, with some nice cuts of squid, shrimp and scallops thrown in. Go to Congee Village if you want decent, quick and inexpensive Chinese food at mostly any hour of the day. They will take care of you and trust me, it is not like any other place in New York!
(4)
Justin G.
I feel I can't really give this place the stamp until I try the congee, but here's the prelim: We had a group of twenty looking for food and drink after a show at the New Museum on a Saturday night. Right, how is that going to work? After a couple unsuccessful attempts we landed here after waiting less than ten min. for a table. Props for that. Not everyone ordered food but we did share most of what we had. I was not terrible impressed with anything we had. Three of us ordered tofu dishes, some fried, with different ingredients. None of the three had much flavor. The shrimp lo mein tasted unlike any lo mein I'd had before - not in a memorable way. Someone ordered a hot pot wrapped with foil filled with different meats, which had better flavor but wasn't exactly amazing. As for drinks we ordered the standard Tsingtao beers and a few of us split a bottle of Kendall Jackson. At the end we may have been a bit overcharged for the total bill, and the manager? was kind of scowling at us each time he brought out an order, but for getting a table relatively quickly with that big a group, can't really complain. Would go back to try the congee in a more low-key grouping - otherwise no impetus to return.
(3)
Nicole F.
Just not as great as we wanted it to be. Though the food was good (some of it exceptional), the ambiance festive, and the table service fine (especially for a large group), our experience getting seated for our reservation (made weeks in advance) left a mar on the experience. The good: Once seated, the staff was very patient and pretty attentive for a large party (18). The food came quickly and was noted all around as being very tasty and satisfying. Of note, the house special chicken and Manila clams in black bean sauce. The bad: Knowing we had a large party on a Saturday night, we made reservations weeks in advance. Unfortunately, when we arrived for our reservation, the host told us that they didn't have our table because another large party had been seated there at 6:00pm. He told us that there was nothing he could do for us, as he didn't have control over who gets seated. If the host has no control over this, I'm just not sure who does. After some strategic reasoning, they managed to seat us at three nearby tables (not so great for conversations, but at least we were able to eat). The other thing that kind of put a damper on the evening was that, as we were waiting for the resolution, we were in the bar area having some beers. Unfortunately, a funky meat-market smell had enveloped the whole bar area. I suppose it was wafting up from the kitchen, but it wasn't the best appetizer. The food came quickly, it was affordable, and everyone had a decent time. Overall, it was fine, but just not great for a large party on a busy night.
(2)
Tina C.
Allen Street/Delancey Street is the original location where the cooking is close to authentic Chinese as you can get. They have numerous flavors of congee. They open late at night also.
(4)
Sharon T.
I love the look of this restaurant. When you enter, it looks so modern and "clubbish", but when you go in more, it's like a typical oriental Chinese restaurant. The food is great here - I definitely recommend the Winter Melon soup here. I haven't been here in a while but I know the food was real good and not expensive.
(4)
michelle k.
oh congee congee village. it's my go to chinese when i want something warm, quick and comforting. whenever i eat @ CV, i eat till i feel like i don't need food for the next 2 days it doesn't ever put a hole in my wallet. that's always a plus in my book. honestly, i always go with my canto speaking friends so they always order the right stuff but it always includes congee and alot of seafood..can't remember all but the crab, lobster & black bean clams are delish!
(4)
Stefi C.
Ah, reminds me of good old home cooked Chinese comfort food. The pork and preserved egg jook (rice porridge/congee) came bubbling hot and one order filled 5 bowls. 5!!! For less than $4! Cannot wrap my head around this. If it weren't so far from my place, I'd be getting it for dinner every night (ay, unpaid internship+nyc=financial disaster). The House Special Chicken was good and we had chinese spinach in garlic sauce as well. I'll give them an A-/B+...the spinach wasn't cut so everytime we tried to get some we'd end up grabbing huge clumps that were hard to eat. All in all, a great place for some authentic Chinese food. wooowooo
(4)
Erika G.
I briefly read a yelp review about Congee Village before heading out to LES tonight to meet with a friend for dinner. We were on the corner of Allen and Essex and we were craving some Chinese food. He pointed excitedly at the Chinese sign and we ran over to discover that it was CV! Nice coincidence. We waited for a few minutes while they cleaned off a table. The restaurant space is small but I'm sure they have a banquet room or something in the back because it sounded like a party was going on. The decor is.. interesting. They have a mural of tropical waters with hills in the background.. I don't know, it reminds me of SE Asia. And the ceiling has (fake, I'm assuming?) vines stretched over it. It's all very tacky Asian decor, right down to the bamboo chairs. I loved it, honestly. The food is CHEAP. Dude, we ordered so much. I was afraid that the congee would be pricey but the prices were as cheap as $4 and as expensive as $8!!! We shared a bowl of the crab congee ($4). It was alright.. the crab was halved and we were too lazy to really pick the meat out. That was probably a poor choice on our part. We had the fried fresh squid with salty pepper ($10) and it was SO SO SO good. It's good by itself but even better with rice. We also ordered the chicken with garlic sauce ($9), which was very flavorful but could have had more pieces of chicken, pan fried dumplings ($2) and mini pork buns ($4). Everything was very good. CV has such an extensive menu. The seafood section spans several pages! PAGES! And everything is SO reasonably priced. The dim sum section is ridiculously cheap; prices range from $1 to $4!!!!! Damn, son! Oh, and just because it's cheap, it doesn't mean that you're getting what you pay for. The quality of the food is great. Okay, the crab in the congee was so-so but everything else was excellent. Our bill came out to roughly $35 for a SHITLOAD of food, you guys! And we finished it all because we were heifers! And it was worth it!
(4)
Laur T.
Apres a ballet at the Met and prior to partying the night away, we decided to do a light dinner @ Congee village so here we came for some delicious congee. We got another friend to meet up with us here so that we could head out together after dinner but somehow due to a miscommunication, she ended up heading to the Congee branch in C-town instead of the one here. So after a couple of cab rides, she finally arrived. I'd say this decor here although kitschy, is slightly better than what I would have expected. As usual, I had a little communication issue with the wait staff here. Fortunately my friend is fluent in Cantonese and it worked wonders. While I had the liver and lean meat congee straight off the menu, my friend was able to order the most amazing "yin yang" fish dish that I believe was an off-menu dish. How do people just know dishes off the top of their heads? ok this was what is was: Half the fish slices were sauteed and were soft and delicious. My fav! and the other half was fried. Nice combi. We might have ordered an appetizer in addition to the above. I was stuffed apres dinner and bailed out on post-dinner party and drinks. We got a cab, dropped my friends off in the East Village and then I proceeded home. Stuffed in a happy, satisfied kind of way. PS: I forgot to mention the congee I had. It was OK... a little below expectations but I really like the menu here and wouldn't mind checking out some of their other dishes. The truth is I have been meaning to come back but the thing with NYC is there are just too many options and I haven't had the chance to. I'm putting this on my calendar... you should too.
(4)
Eric M.
This place is not bad if you're looking for something different in terms of Chinese food or ambiance. As many other of the reviews noted, the quality in terms food and service is all over the place depending on when you go and what you order. Some dishes I would rate as very good (salt and pepper calamari) , and others pretty bad (most of the beef dishes are very fatty and don't seem to have a lot of taste). The service is typical for a NYC Chinatown restaurant that is busy = not great but that's the way it is. There is almost always a wait, but the lines have always gone fast for us whenever we go there. Oh and of course, as for the congee, it IS very good, so if that's what you're in the mood for you probably won't be disappointed.
(3)
Michael H.
I ate here with some friends and the food was great; some of the Best Chinese I have eaten in my life. It is best to go at night as the day chefs are nowhere as good as the night staff. If you live or visit NYC you must eat here. Update: August 24, 2013 Came her last night and they took 20 minutes to put me in a small out of the way room with a tiny table. Waited about 15 minutes and no waiter came to bring us water or anything. There was a couple in the room that informed us that they also received horrible service. My Friend and left before being subjected to more embarrassment.
(1)
Mags L.
i love love love congee (or as my people call it chao). this place does it up right. not only was the congee on point, so was the garlic crab, all the squid dishes and everything else we ate. my brother made reservations and we had no problems getting our table for 7. the place was bumpin'. i don't care if service may feel abrasive (though i didn't really catch that vibe, just busy). the food is good. that's all i really care about.
(4)
Jake A.
If Oliver Twist's gruel tasted this good, then someone should have told the ginger cunt to shut up and stop complaining. This wacky-looking porridge is a tasty treat and cheap as hell. Don't taste it right away though because it will burn you quicker than the hottest albino dragon's fire. Duck with mushrooms was a great choice as was the pork style. Pleasant surprise considering how spastic the interior of the place is.
(4)
Christopher S.
All around a good experience. Just expect a long wait for a table, but worth it. Good food. Well priced.
(4)
Brandice H.
Open at 2am = Plus Edible food= plus Very expensive and overdone - MINUS MINUS MINUS Not too impressed
(3)
Alexis L.
The only thing I really like there is the congee. Light and tasty as I expect it to be. The rest of the menu is less appealing to me. But then I'm not a chinese cuisine connoisseur.
(3)
Nina C.
I used to hate this place, mainly because I hate waiting. Anything that involves waiting or a line drives me insane. You even have to wait when you make a reservation! Why bother then? Like I said, I hate waiting. But then one day, I ordered this and it changed my mind: Roast Duck and Meatball Congee! It's sooooooo yummy. It doesn't really have any duck in there and there's maybe three small meatballs (total - they're freakin cut in half!), but I love the rich, hearty flavor of this congee. So much so that I always order an extra whenever I come here so that I can have it the next day. I even turned my entire family on to this congee. This is very nearly our go-to place whenever there is a celebratory family dinner (now usurped by another place, but we still come here, just less often...). Birthday? Congee Village! Mother's Day? Congee Village! Friday? Congee Village! Anyhoo, one day I insisted that we get this. My family poo-poo'd it and said that I was wasting my money on congee. I argued that we're in CONGEE Village, we should at least try a congee! It comes, they try, they like and the rest as they say IS MINE! hahahah I hate sharing my congee! hahahah So, besides that congee, our family standards are the Crispy Stuffed Bean Curd, the Chilled Dungeness Crab, the House Special Chicken (lots of fresh garlic in this), the House T-bone Steak, the lamb chops, Steamed Live Fish and the Pan-fried Minced Pork with Lotus Root. My Dad loves the rice baked in the pumpkin! The Peking Pork Chops here are decent as well. So, I'd highly recommend. One star off for the wait as it is perpetually crowded on the weekends and at prime dinner time. Go early and you'll have no problems!
(4)
Megan C.
Meh. Not a big fan of this place, and I probably would have never even gone here based on most of the reviews, except it was a friends bday and for whatever reason she really wanted to go here. I really wanted to like this place from looking at the menu, it is very extensive with some very interesting options. And as the 4 of us walked in we couldn't help but feel a little excited thinking this place MUST be good as we are the only non Asians practically in the whole place... and the place is huge. We had 8:30 reservations but spent an hour at the tiki bar area having drinks before our table was available, no big deal but we were starving and I am pretty sure they actually forgot about us at some point until we had to remind them we were still waiting. This is fine if you are a walk in, but we had a reservation? Anyway, onto the dinner. Pretty sure our waiter either hated us or was disgusted by us as he basically yelled at us once because we weren't ready to order and then rolled his eyes at us when we asked several questions about the menu. We all started with dim sum, one steamed vegetable dumpling, one pork fried dumpling, and two steamed buns. All were really underwhelming and the ratio of filling to dumpling/bun was really bad. I had to cut away most of the dumpling as there was WAY too much, my pork dumplings had the most flavor of them all, but still were just so-so. One of us had sesame chicken (best of the bunch), myself and another had the shrimp with walnuts and broccoli which could have been the stars, they were prepared beautifully but really lacked any flavor, lastly my friend had a crab dish and this by far the worst, minuscule crabs with hardly any meat in them at all. We all gave her some of our meals so she could actually have something substantial for dinner. In fairness the portions are large and the fried rice was decent, but can you really mess up fried rice?? It was a fairly cheap dinner for 4 with apps, meals, and drinks but not worth the sub par food and poor service to ever come back.
(3)
Steeeeeeeve H.
Hello friends. This is absolutely, positively, irrefutably, my newest craze. I love Congee Village so much that I am going to take it behind the middle school and get it pregnant. I enjoy Congee Village so much that I will drive on Super+ $4.15 / gal gas just to reach this delectable venue -- A million times over. Oh yes, it's that good. When ordering, be adventurous with the congee. You made it this far, you might as well order something you never tried before. Their congee selection is quite good. I highly recommend the sliced pork (or fish) and preserved egg congee and also the crab congee. As for meat, I would order the pan fried minced pork with salted fish and the peking pork chop. They are overwhelmingly unhealthy, but who cares? It's delicious. Lastly, don't forget to try their frog casserole and sauteed snow peas leaf for veggies. A tip for any first timers -- do not take The Table in the back. Yes, I have deemed it "The Table." Awkwardly located near the entrance to the bamboo backroom, The Table comfortably sits two Smurfs or possibly half an adult. Yes you will be offered The Table everytime in lieu of waiting, but unless you are eating alone (which I can totally see myself doing), expect to have your partner sit on your lap while you two engage in an intimate conversation alongside 3 Chinatown families. I believe this may take away a bit from the dining experience. That's just me though...
(4)
L O.
3 words that summarize why I shall never set foot in this establishment again: SHARK FIN SOUP. Need I say more? Not ok.
(1)
Stephen K.
Order family style. You can't go wrong. Make sure you get the porridge, so good!
(5)
Gloria K.
I love this place! I am Chinese, grew up and still live in Flushing, studied abroad in Hong Kong, been to many asian countries and eat Chinese food all the time so when it comes to Chinese food, I've eaten it all! Everything I've ever ordered at Congee Village has been good. The congee is great, fried frog legs, house special t-bone steak, veggies, fish, clams, pork chop peking style are wonderful as well. I never had any complaints about this place (and i'm a pretty nit picky person) "Their fried flounder is dope!" - my boyfriend ... lol one of my favorite chinese restaurants and places to eat in chinatown!
(5)
Tong G.
First time in New York City in a long time. Where do I end up? Congee Village! My friend and I werent sure what to expect. But when I googled this place on Yelp New York and it had 92 reviews with 4 star rating. We had to try it out. I mean, can 92 people be wrong? Let me start off by saying, the service here isnt the best. But if you just want good ole fashion Congee. This is the place to be. Its a rather large menu for a place that distinguishes itself with the name Congee village. It fools you! There's only one page listing their congee items and its on the last page I might add. Anyway, the prices seem rather reasonable. $4 for congee? Not bad at all. Everything else was about avg prices for Chinatown. We were expecting rather small bowls for the price. We didnt know what to expect, so we ordered a main dish and sauteed chinese spinach. It was a lot of food. So well worth your buck here. The server seemed rather busy to pay us much attention and he could have used a bar of soap. Sorry, that was a bit mean. Good food, good prices. I would come again.
(4)
Anonymou S.
One of the best Chinese restaurants in NYC. The quality and authenticity of the dishes are high, I never get that feeling that they're trying to pull one over on me like at other places. You know, that suspicion that the restaurant is trying to see how much money they can get out of you for the least amount of effort. I've never had a bad dish here, my favorites though are the house chicken, hot sizzling plate of Chinese broccoli, seafood chow mein, the baked rice with Chinese sausage... who am I kidding, it's all delicious. On par with the gold standard restaurants in Southern California. P.S. - Regarding the complaints of cleanliness... everyone realizes this is New York City, right? One of the oldest cities in the country? The most populated? The dirtiest?? I love a clean kitchen but it's also the last thing I expect in this city. Until NYC's health dept. adopts a grade system like California, no one should be shocked about certain conditions. As long as I don't get sick, bring on the grub.
(5)
Yvonne Y.
If you like congee, this place has a great variety (20+) served steaming hot in individual clay pots. It's creamy, thick but not too thick and costs roughly $4 only. I had the sweet fried dough with it which was cold but edible. If I return, I'd consider trying other small plates (pot stickers, chives pancakes, etc) with the congee. Great decor which out of town guests would appreciate.
(4)
Deborah H.
I must be the only one who likes Congee Bowery better than the original! The one time I've been here, the wait was much longer, the zha ji gai (fried house special chicken) wasn't as crisp (squirting the lemon juice over it didn't make the SIZZLE), and the service wasn't as friendly. And though the two restaurants are very close to each other, Congee Bowery's more accessible for me. Still, it's delicious. But Congee Bowery's still the better in my eyes.
(4)
seriously J.
Great Price! Taste Good! Been coming here for 10 plus years. This place never disappoints. This is the best chinese food in chinatown ever. We usually get the chicken with garlics, cold crab, fish maw soup, and any veggie dish sauteed with garlic. For a group of 3 or 4, $$ is around 60$ to 80$ and you leave feeling pretty damn good. I've spent more on food for only 2 people and felt ripped off. This is definitely not one of those place that leaves you feeling empty wallet and empty stomach.
(5)
Kathryn G.
Went for lunch. ASK for the lunch menu - they don't offer it up. Good thing I had my NYC pal with me. I had the short ribs, but I wished for something different. They were not bad, but other stuff looked better. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Tiffany H.
Best pork and preserved egg congee ever. And cheap!! What a great meal that reminds me of home. I wish there's something like close to this at home! Definitely a must.
(5)
Wilson C.
I walked in this place and was very impressed with the design. How often to you see a "pretty litto pond with fishies" under the stairs. The place fits the food's style pretty good too. Simple and not classy, things made of bamboo or wood. Sadly I judged this book by its cover and was very disappointed. My gf and I got the salted fish with diced chicken baked in a bamboo and frog congee, creme brulee (me eating the main course and my gf having dessert). The salted fish with diced chicken in bamboo had no trace of bamboo at all, it tasted like the ones I can get in Brooklyn(rip off). The frog congee.........cilantro and ginger covered the taste of the whole congee, a trace of it being burnt as well. The quality of the food was mediocre and left me unsatisfied. The worst part for me is the dessert made my gf unsatisfied too (so much for a nice date). Walked down a couple of blocks from the restaurant and my gf is still complaining about the creme brulee being bought and not made. 2.5-stars for mediocre service,food and a nice cover to lure customers. Not worth the hype.
(2)
Jill S.
I found out that congee is a rice porridge; this restaurant offers a full page of choices with their menu. I got the plain congee which, with some chili oil, was wonderful. Also a dish with corn and toasted pine nuts. This was a wonderful find and surprisingly inexpensive for lunch. Interesting and reasonably priced cocktails, too. I had a Makara, with passion fruit vodka, passion fruit liquor, and simple syrup. Fabulous and only six dollars!
(5)
Jennifer W.
If you don't go here at night you are LIVING THE WRONG LIFE. There are dynamic stools in front, very 60s, a Koi tank, and the waiters look like they're all the stars of Flower Drum Song, really urban and natty. I get the Seafood Congee, which is just $5 and as others are inexplicably rattled by the idea of seafood porridge one seldom has to share. The shrimp with walnuts and cream sauce is outstanding comfort food, I ignore the broccoli. Its fresh, I just don't want to live forever.
(5)
Nader T.
Either of the Congee restaurants (this or the one on Bowery, which has a little more atmosphere) are OK in my book, and the destination of choice for non-dim sum Cantonese food in Manhattan. You can't go wrong with black mushroom and chicken congee--pile on the ginger, green onion, and white pepper; salt-and-pepper squid; frog's legs; soy-sauce chow mein--ask for some red vinegar and chili sauce to go with this; the list could go on. And on. And on. Nothing to write home about by L.A. standards, but it sure as hell beat the places my buddies were scouting out for Chinese food in Manhattan!
(4)
Kristina C.
NY Food Inspection Score: 2 Stars (out of 5). Yikes, that's a rough score.... Oh well! This was an awesome spot when we were hung over. Congee, veggies, and tea hit the spot. They have other dishes that looked really tasty but my weak stomach couldn't handle it at the time... Will come again even if their score is really lame.
(5)
Millhouse R.
I don't like congee much so I ordered shrimp rice rolls and pork stomach with x.o. sauce. It's pretty good stuff. The shrimp rice rolls are made with dry shrimp mixed into rice noodle dough and steamed. Very subtle taste and very delicious. The pork stomach comes with fresh and naturally sweet snow peas. Also very good. What really surprised me was the plain white rice. It's not gooey and has a nice nutty flavor. Serrvice is to par as well. My only complaint is you have a lot of customers doing the "Where you at?" nonsense on their cells.
(4)
Wendy S.
We went for a late lunch on Saturday. The food was incredible, but the service was slow. I would happily go again. The food is worth the slowness, as long as you are not in a hurry. The menu goes from average price for the more standard dishes to very expensive for some of the fancier ones. The menu is very extensive. They have everything from orange chicken to shark fin soup.
(5)
Yu-Ching L.
I'm about to put Congee Village on blast. The food is so very delicious if you don't know what happens behind the scenes. I won't go into specifics but there is not enough Purrell in this world for this place.
(2)
Jeff C.
BEST congee. Main dish portion sizes are BIG. Ordered the crab meat shanghai buns, peking pork chops, piping hot whole crab congee, beef chow fun w/ black bean sauce, minced pork buns. Shanghai buns were not as good as Joe's. Pork chops were nice and crisp but a tad on the fatty side. Congee was bubbling and tastes very authentic, with tiny slivers of ginger and bits of crunchy radish. Beef chow fun was greasy, just the way it should be. Minced pork buns were just the way my friend's mom makes it. Split amongst 3 ppl, it came out to $11/each with a fat tip. Must try the crispy garlic chicken next time! Decor: casual, everything is polyurethaned wood Note: Notoriously packed on weekends, so be forewarned!
(4)
Bleep S.
Congee might be something that if you did not grow up eating it ,you might not think it is so ooo-la la. I think if it was very cold out, this could be a satisfying comfort food. I had vegetable congee and some very oily onion pancakes. It was not bad but I feel like if I never had these items again...it would be ok.
(3)
Barney L.
I have spent much time in China and my wife lived there for 12 years. So yes, with some authority, I can say that this is probably the best Cantonese place in Manhattan Chinatown (Flushing, Queens and Brooklyn are other subjects to discuss!). And they have some quite original dishes that you might not find elsewhere. Try the Pan Fried Bean Curd with Soy Sauce (not what it sounds like) or the Steamed Minced Pork with Salted Fish. Don't try obviously Sichuan or Hunan dishes. These guys are from Hong Kong (or maybe Guangdong Province). They can't find Sichuan on a map. (Although one non-Cantonese dish they do fairly well is the Small Juicy Bun in Shanghai Style.") And the Peking Pork Chop (actually a Cantonese dish) is superb. The congees are divine. And try the "Rice in Bamboos Pot" dishes and the casseroles. And don't pay attention to the aesthetics. Most people know that the best Chinese food is not found in quiet, beautiful ambiances.
(5)
tiffanie n.
I keep hearing about this place so decided to try it and I LOVE it. It's very spacious here, decoration is nice and staff is pretty friendly. Food is delicious and cheap!! I got about 10 dishes and can't really recall what they were but I was satisfied with all of them. It's also good to have big parties here.
(4)
John T.
Congee, the ultimate comfort food. Curing colds, thousands of years before chicken soup. The original potluck. Low in fat, high in nutrients, cheap, filling and TASTY! I love congee, so a restaurant devoted to congee sounds like it would be right up my alley. The atmosphere seems fun and cheery, but young (like high school young). The food is great, and the prices are good. What is a deal breaker for me though is the absolutely horrible service. Long wait for a table, long wait for the food, if you have any questions, there are only a few people there that can speak english (and take orders), the others are servers. Maybe if I wasn't hungry and I was there with a large group, this would be fun. For 2 hungry people in a rush -disaster.
(3)
Titus P.
All around decent, nothing to write home about Chinese place with horrible service and decent food and prices.
(3)
Sarah T.
I went here last night for a large birthday dinner and had an amazing amazing time. This place is not your normal General Tsao's Chicken place. There was literally an entire section of the menu reserved for intestines. Baked fish intestine and rice. Pork intestine with broccoli. etc.. You get the idea. But there are some delicious and relatively safe things on the menu as well (try the baked rice! delicious) that filled the bellies of many a whities. To boot, I don't know how much we drank while we were there, but let's just say there were many rounds of shots. In the end, the dinner all told (including tip, tax, and covering the cost of the birthday girl's dinner) was just $40/person. (I thought we had easily drunk $40 in alcohol alone!) A great deal indeed, and a great place to get 10+ ppl together for a great fun dinner. The last thing I'll mention is how quickly the food comes out. We literally sat down, ordered, and before we could look up from our tea cups, the first round of dishes were coming out.
(4)
S Y.
The service made me feel like I was in China (rush rush rush! I don't care what you want) but the food reminded me I was in America. The House Special Chicken was authentically chopped in the Chinese way (yeea, suck on the bones and spit it out on your plate!) but the vegetable dumplings were awful, the xiaolongbao was stuck to the paper (what a waste of the juices, the best part), the Yangzhou fried rice was incredibly unimpressive with frozen shrimp and frozen veggies, and the garlic snowpeas were just...salty garlic snowpeas.
(2)
T L.
It used to be a 5-star but the quality of the food is no way near what it used to be when it first opened. I had their number on speed-dial because it used to be so yummy and convenient. At las--all good things must come to an end. Below is a list of dishes that I still love and will always get from this place...I can pass on everything else. Their signature house chicken. I have no idea what they put into it or how they make it but it is CRACK. Very salty and very flavorful. Do not eat this on your first date unless ya'll have super-strength breathe mints. (I love roasted garlic and this dish has a ton). If you love garlic, you will do well in Italy and S.Korea. The congee hands down is awesome. It is nice, thick, flavorful and inexpensive! Try the classic- Thousand Year Old Egg and Beef Congee. My go-to congee whenever I am sick. Another favorite is the fish and lettuce congee. A very light congee for the summer. Don't get squimish but the frog-legs are also quite tasty. Expensive though. The fried tofu dish is so-so. The jellyfish dish is also so-so, spicy if you like spicy....in general- i think everything else is just so-so. The service--I'm happy they get me my food. Contact is minimal which I am happy with. If the place gets really busy which it often does, bring some snacks. Getting food can feel like forever. The rice is horrible. Not fluffy enough, kinda raw--I can make better rice than that.
(2)
Katie C.
Definitely a place I could take my family to. The food reminds me of home and the Chinese restaurants there. That's a big deal to me. Ever since moving to New York, I have yet found a place to satisfy the full on Chinese Dinner I crave for from time to time. Whenever I go back home (San Jose, CA) I make it a MUST to have an authentic Chinese dinner out with my family. Congee Village has brought those authentic flavors across the country for me and has become my new favorite Chinese restaurant in the city. Let just start off by saying this place is complicated to get to. I live close enough where I can just take the bus, but subway wise it would be difficult. Definitely worth the trip though! The restaurant it decorate beautifully. You truly get the Chinese feel of the place. There is a room separated for the bar where you can order food as well. There is a waiting place with man seats when the place gets packed which is usually is. The restaurant is two stories and VERY huge. I love this place, the appearance is simply fantastic. For the food. Boy does everything look delicious. Seriously, you can't order ANYTHING wrong here. The favorite dish I love to order is the sauteed scallops with black pepper. The flavor is just so good. You cannot resist eating more and more. It's a MUST try. You have no idea... And I HATE shell fish but this dish makes me LOVE the scallops. The food is truly good if it makes you love what you hate. The veggies I usually order is the snow peas leaves with garlic. The best veggie plate you can order. It's flavored to perfection and has no oil or grease! So good. It was my first order a tofu dish and really you can't go wrong with tofu. We ordered the pan fried tofu with soy sauce (tofu=bean curd) and it was very very very satisfying. YUM. Definitely prefer pan fried than deep fried. Of course, since the place is named Congee, we ordered the sliced pork with preserved egg. It was okay, not the best porridge I ever had, but it was just mediocre. It's odd that the place is named Congee, but it's not the best dish on the menu... Anyway, the last thing we ordered was the salted fish and chicken fried rice. It was PERFECTION. Great flavor and so addicting! The overall experience was great. They service was okay. Not fantastic. They give complementary peanuts and red bean soup for dessert. The red bean soup was pretty good. Maybe because I haven't had it for awhile, but I ate it and liked it. I recommend this place to everyone who LOVES Chinese food, because this is definitely the place to go. Always packed with Chinese families wanting the real stuff and also attracts the American families wanting to explore the true flavors of Chinese food. YUM
(4)
Edwin T.
Definitely one of the best place you can pick for family style Chinese food. The food is very good and the service is really reliable. If you are interested in trying more traditional Chinese food you have a lot of options to choose from and if you not wiling to try something exotic they definitely have more of the main street type of Chinese food.
(4)
Lolo M.
I live in Astoria now, and unfortunately there is no congee place or really good Asian restaurants in the area... unless I venture out to Elmhurst or Flushing. While living in the Lower East Side, Congee Village was my staple take-out place. One advice: I would stick to their varieties of congees and hot plates... ummm not so sure about the dimsum items.
(4)
David K.
Congee Village is easily one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the city. While there is usually a wait(i've personally never waited more than 30 minutes), what do you really expect from a popular restaurant in the city? My only real gripe is the service which is mediocre at best. Portions are fair, the food comes out quickly, and almost everything I've tried is tasty. You can't really go wrong with any of the congee, the dim sum is a nice addition(i LOVE fried dough), and the house special chicken is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. lol. yea. Based on food alone, I would've definetly given Congee Village 5 stars. Whether it's seafood, vegetable, or meat you can't go wrong here.
(4)
B T.
The food was mediocre and the service was awful. I would have rated 1 star if it wasn't for the house chicken special. The chicken was moist and juicy, and the garlic slices were flavorful. The rest of the food was oily (e.g. sweet and sour pork), and the vegetables in the spicy chicken dish were spoiled. The grand marnier prawns and bass filet were better than the other dishes, but I've had better. The waiters were rude and unfriendly. For example, they started clearing the table while we were seated, reaching over us to grab our plates, to signal it was time for us to leave. The space was good for large groups and a little quieter than other Chinese restaurants (until the obnoxious frat boy group came in).
(2)
Ray R.
been here with group of friends... good food... reasonable prices... nice setup... not bad for date spot (grab a nice drink while waiting for ur table) its a mix between families, dates, and group of friends gathering for dinner... parking in the area is pretty easy to find i believe...
(4)
Brian K.
I saw a woman say, "oh the pork chops!" and hop up and down excitedly last night when Congee Village was mentioned. If you know what to order here (fortunately someone did,) the food is very good and very cheap. And now whenever someone mentions Congee Village, I too will hop up and down and say, "oh, the pork chops!"
(4)
andres S.
Horrible. Would rate it with negative stars if I could. Came here for lunch with a friend who was visiting from out of the city. The place was pretty empty yet all the waiters were too busy gossiping and doing nothing to seat us. Five minutes after we finally decided to seat ourselves, we got our menu's thrown on our table by a waiter who did not even bother to acknowledge or greet us. Although we were ready to place our order, we had to call around three different waiters until one of them finally decided to take it. He stood there and stared at us in a disgusting way, we asked question about some of the dishes and he gave replies like "its chicken" with much unneeded attitude. After a while of waiting we finally got our dishes almost thrown on our table by the same skinny waiter with disgustingly long nails. But all was good, we are not the type to make a scene over silly things. The food was, ok. SLIGHTLY better than your average Chinese take out, but most definitely not worth its price. The poor service would have been forgiven if, the place had been crowed. But it was not. It was only us and another table there, and more than 6 waiters doing NOTHING but talking to each other . After almost 30 minutes of waiting and asking, we finally got our check. And of course thanks to the HORRIBLE service, we did not bother to leave a tip. But what really made me write this was what happened next. As we were walking out, the waiter ran up to us and yelled "WHY NO TIP?", I replied, "because of the horrible service". Not only did he raise his voice at a COSTUMER, but he also decided to argue with us about the whole tip issue. Not once did he, or ANY of the other waiters check on our table, yet its so remarkably FUNNY how quickly he came to us because we did not leave a tip. All the employees stood there and did nothing, they let the waiter insult and raise his voice at paying costumers (not that we didn't tell him off and gave him a piece of our minds, but stil...) Due to anger, I forgot to take the names of the waiters involved in this. But I am most definitely returning tomorrow to report them to their manager (I'm sure the same waiters will be there and even so I doubt he cares since I am sure he was one of the ones watching). The other table there seemed to have experience the exact same issues we did, not sure if they left a tip or not but they did not get any attention at all. This place is not worth it. Food is overpriced for its quality, and not to mention the DISGUSTING costumer service and rude waiters. If I am ever here again, it will be only to prove how disgusting the people working in this place are.
(1)
Daphne H.
Came here a few more times with my gf and I LOVE THIS PLACE! Good old cantonese dishes with congee is awesome post workout food. I loved their ground meat patties with salted fish & the steamed soy sauce tofu (I finished the plate all by myself... :D) SO GOOD!
(5)
Eric O.
Better than your average Chinese Restaurant. Seems like it would be better for large groups. All in all I'd go there again.
(4)
Bruce S.
I haven't been here for years, but I have fond memories. Not of the service, of course. As others have noted, the service is rude and horrible which would usually be enough to turn my wife off forever. But the house special chicken calmed her right down. For chicken like this we can brave a few nasty waiters.
(4)
Linda T.
i *heart* congee. like, a lot a lot a lot. it's probably one of my favorite comfort foods in the universe. and what i like just as much as i like congee is spending only $6 on breakfast / brunch. the congee is available in 15+ varieties and comes to the table still bubbling. portions are just right to fill you up and for an extra $1 you can get an order of 'you tiao' ... the fried dough sticks that taste amazing when dipped and covered in congee. yum yum yum. the only thing i don't like about the congee is that i always burn the roof of my mouth eating it because i'm not patient enough to wait for it to cool down (because it's soooooo good.) but i won't dock any stars because really, that's my own fault. :P
(5)
I went with the pork, chicken and duck congee, with a couple of pieces of you tiao (a savory fried doughnut stick) to dip into it. The congee was flavored well with ginger, spring onions and cilantro sprinkled throughout. It was the perfect meal - cheap, tasty and comforting. No idea why I am paying for this, which is basically just leftover rice boiled with stock, but it is so freaking delicious and cheap I don't even care.
(4)
John W.
Chinese Cuisine, specialty is Congee I don't like congee, I do admit. I rarely eat it at a restaurant and even when my mom cooks it. So why did I review this place? Because there is other foods here other than congee. My dad took me here a while back and he liked the congee here. I ordered the rice in bamboo pot with the chinese sausage. At that time, it was the first time I had ever tried it and it was pretty good. The rice was very flavorful and it wasn't dry, moist and tasted great. It's not that hard of a dish to make, but as long as it tastes good, my stomach is happy!
(4)
Jennifer S.
3 stars is an average - the food was easily five stars, the service was only one or two stars. We had juicy buns, steamed pork buns, beef with wide noodles, and pork fried rice. The buns were delicious and the beef with wide noodles was one of the best dishes I've ever had at an Asian restaurant! However, the service was awful: we were never asked for drink orders, the wrong food was brought to us and the waitress argued until she realized it actually was scallops instead of beef, no one ever checked on us after the food came, and the waitress just walked off instead of answering a question I asked about if we could exit through a different door than we came in. Though those noodles were amazing, I won't return - there are too many other restaurants with great food AND great service.
(3)
Lawrence L.
This is the go-to place when there's a big hungry group looking for a cheap dinner in a place that can accomodate more than 8 people without making a big deal of it. If it's someone's birthday, don't forget to have them put "Happy Bersday" on the speakers.
(4)
Alexis M.
The great thing with Congee Village is that they can accommodate big groups very easily. We were a party of 7 that became a party of 9 that ended up a party of 11 halfway through the meal and, as we had ordered the family meal the only extra expenses were for drinks. We were sitting in a circular booth with a big lazy susan in the middle. It made it a little more difficult to interact with the people sitting on the other side but it was really convenient. The cocktails are cheap & potent but be aware of the quality of the vodka.... The food was nice but not exceptional. However there is little to complain about for the price. There was chicken (with the head), fish, clam & tofu soup, sea cucumber, cold noodles, lo mein, spring rolls, shrimp rolled in some type of mayo and more... The service was great with very attentive waiters. Overall it was a great experience but I am not sure I would go there on a date. It seems more appropriate for birthdays and parties in my opinion.
(4)
M F.
Love this place. its such a steal for the price! The congee is great! The other dishes are great! I LOVE the crab there. A mess to eat, but both styles are great. I can't believe how long we end up staying when we order the crab, but hoowee it's worth it. The two downers are that the downstairs area and in general has a smell, not rotting food or anything, just not a smell that should not be in a restaurant. The other thing is that there is a tremendous wait when you go at the wrong time. But since its such a good deal, those things I can overlook. I'm not a huge chinese food fan either, and I recommend it.
(4)
Yinna W.
Congee my love. I can eat one order of sliced pork and preserved egg congee (the classic), and one order of juicy buns everyday and be happy forever. And the best thing is that the congee is only $2.50! Try to get seated on the right side of the restaurant, on the upper level, and eat your congee while listening to the waitstaff sing Happy Birfday every 15 minutes. If all else fails, just get take-out, its just as good.
(5)
Fab R.
Good for groups. Always reliable, but never amazing.
(3)
Sasa S.
pretty good. go early, as it gets packed around 7 or so. yummy soy sauce fried egg noodles. good cantonese home cooking. not just congee. have yet to try the congee. but pretty typical cantonese restaurant, when you are done, they expect you to leave. but definitely will go back next time i am in the city and around that area and wanting some home cooking cantonese cuisine.
(4)
Anna L.
Decent Cantonese-style food, not a big fan of congee (what they are known for, but every dish had lots of shredded ginger which I cannot pick out) but it made up for it with Chilean sea bass (topped with some kind of soy-based sauce), tofu dishes and garlic sprouts. This restaurant is not the conventional Chinese place, more for the adventurous eater.
(3)
John W.
It was one of my friends birthday and he decided that he wanted some good Chinese food, we decided to hit up Congee Village. When we got there it was packed silly full of people so we assumed that the place must be pretty good to have so much business . . . That assumption was pretty darn stupid. After we were all seated, they asked us to move to another table for some odd reason even though it was the same size and all. Our seats were in the lower level near the sink area, and I kept getting hit with drops of water at random. At first I thought it was the waiters flicking cups to dry them but later on I realized the stupid ceiling was dripping water on me which was annoying as hell. That basically ruined the evening, water continuously hitting me on the back every so often. Another thing was the service . . . the waiter was rude and annoying as heck. We had 10 or so people with us and she only gave us about 2 or 3 minutes to review the menu. She kept rushing us and trying to get us to order more. Seeing as how they serve the dishes family style, we ordered 8 dishes for 10 people which we thought was adequate. But unfortunately that was not to the waiters liking and she kept badgering us and telling us it would be too little for so many people. She didn't leave us alone until we ordered 3 additional dishes which was rather annoying. Aside from being rude and rather impolite, the staff is also quite incompetent. One of them served us a dish that we did not even order. When we notified them of the mistake, they just said uh ok oh well and we ended up getting charged for it. My friend who likes to eat fish decided to order a fish dish. Boy was that a mistake. The price tag on a steamed / cooked fish was 44$. We would have been happy to pay it if only it was any good. The fish was poorly done and did not taste good at all. I could have prepared a better fish than that and it was definitely not worth the 44$. I assume it was a fish that was already dead and frozen cause it definitely did not taste fresh. The food in general was ok at best, nothing spectacular or amazing about it. Definitely have had far better at other restaurants at lower price. Everyone else in our group agreed, that this would be the last time we'd ever come to Congee Village to dine.
(2)
Kenny T.
I've come here many a Sunday morning for some great post-hangover food. Their congee is really flavorful and I always get the sliced beef and fish congee ($3.95!). Their small juicy buns (xiao long bau) aren't the best - the bau could be thinner and there doesn't ever seem to be that much soup inside - but solid.
(5)
Marcus S.
I'm so glad I found this place and their house special chicken. Love the over the top decor which reminded me of some of the restaurants I went to in Shunde, China last year. Also got the razor clams in black bean sauce and was impressed. This just became my favorite Chinese restaurant in NYC.
(5)
Caroline S.
Every meal is super delicious at Congee Village and the best time to go is definitely when it's freezing outside...in the dead of winter. I love the congee with fish and ginger, as well as the more taste-acquired thousand year egg with ginger congee. It always comes piping hot (the only way to eat it) in a clay bowl with a thick soup spoon. They also serve some surprisingly delicious noodle dishes and dim sum. The only downside to the restaurant is space- if you have a large group, or heaven forbid, a baby with you, it won't be an easy feat to get seated comfortably. I say it's worth the hassle! Look for those tacky twinkle lights and faux bamboo fence to fulfill your next congee dream.
(5)
Dorothy P.
I'm so glad i made a stop here on my recent visit to NYC. Fellow yelpers were right on this one. great authentic chinese food! and at a great price. I just wished the hot pots were the traditional kind instead of coming out w/ flames underneath them. I think i was gettin a lil' high off the fumes.
(4)
Lisa F.
Sensitive stomachs eat at your own risk. While this place serves up tasty Cantonese style chinese food, the kitchen is slightly heavy-handed with the oil. Certain dishes contain MSG, but you can request it additive-free. Those that don't want congee can try the consistently good garlic baked chicken with its crispy skin and tasty meat. In fact, any you can't go wrong with the garlic or chicken dishes here. Just remember to bring the Tums. The portions are pretty big, and there is usuallly a wait thanks to the relatively low prices. Don't take it personal if the hosts seem abrupt. The restaurant runs at full capacity for the dinner rush. Congee Village is a place that's better suited for large friends and family gatherings rather than an intimate first date. (Trust me, she will not be impressed by the fake trees in an "outdoor" setting.)
(3)
Amy N.
The food is tasty. They have extensive menu choices. I like the Golden Egg Fried Rice & their congees. I could have give them 4 stars, but their food was too salty. Next time If I do go again, I will ask them not to put so much salt in the food.
(3)
Sherilyn T.
this has got to be one of my favorite chinese restaurants in nyc. instead of a fancy overpriced fine dining restaurant, i hosted my graduation dinner here and everyone seemed extremely pleased...even my parents, and older asian ppl are the toughest critics when it comes to eating out...esp at asian restaurants. the portions are decent, the prices are very reasonable...and the food...in the words of the annoying rachel ray, "YUM-O!" the congee is flavorful (try the sliced fish w/preserved eggs). get an order of the pan fried tofu to go with it...compliments it well. the steamed shanghai dumplings here aren't nearly as tasty as joe's shanghai, but eh whatevers...at least you don't have to wait like 5 hours...although, there usually is a wait here if you come friday/saturday evenings....but it's never ridiculously long. i *heart* congee village.
(5)
Heather C.
I don't see what everyone else is seeing. The place smelled like garbage and spoiled fish and the service was the worst. The food was mediocre, but we happened to notice a waiter blowing his nose in his sleeve. Ew. I will never ever go back there.
(1)
Muriel L.
I love you Congee Village, and not just because you kept the booze going for my friends and I for the past five years. Actually, my first experiences with Congee Village were with family. You'll find that the fine line between family dining and Friday-Saturday night sloshing about with friends is often blurred in this establishment. Growing up, my mother and I would trek out to Manhattan from Queens to meet up with extended family in Chinatown for weekly dinners. Although I don't think I've ever actually ordered congee from Congee Village, my family's enjoyed a whole slew of dishes from roast duck, chicken, steamed fish, steamed clams, shark fin soup, etc. No complaints from a generally opinionated gathering! So it's a surprise then that a couple of years later during my first year at college, new friends insisted it was THE place to go (a weird mix of tradition, novelty, and cheap drinks). How strange to roll in with your pack of 20 something friends, and find small children running around by the bar... or maybe not that strange at all because that used to be me. Regardless, those feelings were quickly reconciled, and Congee Village has been the perfect go-to spot for friends of mine for the last couple of years. In place of my family's elaborate dishes however, friends and I would order plates of noodles or fried rice to share. If we went family style, we'd negotiate stir fried beef with roasted bell peppers, snow pea leaves (the best Chinese vegetable dish--you have my word on it!), and a couple of bowls of rice to pass around. Warms my heart to see friends doing the same thing I would do around the dinner table growing up. Perks include a small bar with only one bartender who mixes drinks with a 9-1 liquor to mixings ratio. If the plan was to get you so inebriated, you'll order greasy platter after platter for your table, then they've succeeded. I also know that Congee Village staff are used to birthday celebrations taking place at the restaurant, and one thing I like to do is to track down a waiter on my way to the bathroom to humiliate/celebrate my one-year-older friends. Just ask the waiter to "play the birthday song" and in about 10-20 minutes, a barrage of children's voices will penetrate the usual chorus of diner noises, children singing Happy Birthday in Mandarin. Bringing your own cake should be okay, and I'm sure the wait staff would be more than happy to store it in the fridge for you until dinner is over if you ask nicely. Beware of long waits on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Take a number and wait in the bar for 30-45 minutes. Sometimes if you come with a smaller party, you might get seated at a large table with another party. I understand that a lot of folks who aren't used to this setup would grumble about this arrangement, but it really isn't that big of a deal (it's pretty common in Chinese restaurants that I've been to). Come with a good party of people, and you won't even notice these small inconveniences.
(5)
Robin S.
This place was exceptional! I don't eat congee, but I am a big lover of Chinese. We ordered some of their sizzling dishes, in both beef and chicken. The food was tender and spicy, just the way we like it. We're definitely not afraid of hot. If you are a wimp at heart, better not order hot dishes in this place. The vegetable dishes were less impressive but certainly good. I also enjoyed the soup dumplings which are an all time favorite for me. The decor is a bit cheesy, but interesting to look at. The staff was efficient and courteous. I can't wait to go there again. Oh, and the prices were great.
(5)
Noah N.
know what? I think these cats have so much real chinese business (like families, business groups, and couples) that they don't like my white ass and deliberately ignore me and seat chinese folks before me. but again, I'm not hating, because of what? the taste. easy, get the eggplant, the chinese broccoli, juicy pork buns shangai style, mixed vegetable, mushrooms with bean curd, what ever, it's gonna break your mouth off. although I haven't tried the frogs or snails or gizzards or guts or eyeballs or tripe or Royal Emperor's Sharks Fin Swallows Nest Goose Liver Pimp Stew for 10
(5)
jozilla w.
somehow or another I got convinced to go to both congee villages at some point, and I had almost the exact same thing at both. and white boys brought me to each location, so I was skeptical both times. but I can say it was fairly decent...like, if push came to shove I might even take my parents there!
(4)
Loretta C.
As much as I hate to endorse "tourist" Chinese spots (by tourist in this case i mean people visiting from around the world but also people from non-Chinese parts of NYC. Everyone and their moms knows about this place), Congee Village has some good eats. I'd probably go more often, but I it really isn't so spectacular that it's worh a 30+ min. wait. The food could be worthy of four stars, but the crowds, wait time and sub-par service (due to the crowds) bring it down to 3. I'm a hater. As for the rudeness, believe me -- they can be rude to their Chiense clientele as well. I wouldn't take it personally.
(3)
Yeni H.
came here for my graduation dinner with a group of 11 people. tried their congee the first time i came but had forgotten how it tasted like but anyways, randomly ordered a mix of vege, meat and fish dishes and they were all good cantonese style food i had since i was young. food were served up fast and still hot.
(4)
Dan S.
Great food, great value, great atmosphere! The jumbo shrimp with walnuts was awesome, and the congee was excellent as well! $55 for 4 entrees, congee, and dumplings ... that value can NOT be beat in NYC!
(4)
Tam N.
After a series of phone calls, e-mails, and text messages, 4 friends and 13 friends-of-friends arranged to meet up at Congee Village on a Sunday at noon. Based on Camilla C's words of wisdom, we were working the Daylight Savings Time angle, hoping to roll in at a less frenetic hour. And it worked. Business didn't pick up until 1:30 PM (Or maybe 12:30 had people not been confused by the time?). Reservations were honored, but we didn't challenge their ability to do so. Interior design-wise, CV looks like a split-level Tiki bar. Kitsch-factor did not bode well for the food. But I was wrong, hooray! Solid 5-stars: * Squid Congee with Ginger Sauce At CV, congees (rice porridge) are served bubbling hot in a claypot. Squid was a touch overdone, but the ginger, flecks of cilantro, and sprinklings of chive made this rice porridge an instant favorite among the 4 I tried. * Pork and Preserved Egg Congee Presumably a 5-star; it was decimated by the time the lazy-susan stopped the pot in front of me. (Ah, popular opinion can't be wrong.) * Razor Clams with Black Bean Sauce Tender, bouncy clams with an amazing black bean sauce. Tastes made-to-order; not too sweet, gummy, or oily. Note: if your friends fear the phallic, this dish may not be for you. * House Special Chicken Deep-fried skin and juicy flesh. Generously topped with pan-seared garlic and soy sauce. Note: "whole" chickens come with heads. (Oh hells yeah! Horrify and/or impress!) * Fried Salt and Pepper Squid Perfectly battered and fried, just the right amount of crunch and bounce. Seasoned with a touch of the 5-spice, along with garlic, scallions, and jalapenos. 4-stars: * Pea Sprouts Sauteed with Garlic Solid. A nice intermission from the Parade of Meat. * Sticky Rice Baked with Chicken & Black Mushrooms (baked in a bamboo trunk) Decent flavor, but I wished for a less smushy treatment of the sticky rice. (If I get over this preference, I might next try the version that comes with 2! 2 Flavors of Chinese Sausage!) 3-stars (well-executed but bland): * Seafood Congee Opted for this one as the Fish Congee is said to be riddled with bones. * Salted Chicken Congee * Eggplant with Bean Curd * Healthy Vegetarian Congee The name pretty much spells it out for you. No stars (i.e., I wouldn't eat this even if it were free): * All of the dim sum, soup dumplings, and fried/steamed breads. The skins were too thick, the fillings too bland. Fried breads were on the verge of petrifaction. (Shanghai breakfast -- not their specialty.) Total bill for our table of 12: $16/person (incl. tax + tip) Brunch: food: 4 value: 5 service: 3.5 ambience: 3.5 craveability: 5
(5)
camilla c.
Congee can easily get 4 stars for its food... esp their abalone congee (probably the best congee I've ever had), crab dishes, and sauteed veggies. BUT, the ridiculous wait at this place (they don't understand the concept of reservations here since they don't seem to do much to honor them... it's like that Seinfeld episode when Jerry is at the rental car counter: "you know how to TAKE reservations, but you don't know how to HOLD the reservations."), zero customer service (1 in 10 chance they'll pay any attention to you), combined with the chaotic, noisy, hectic vibe (at its worse when they sing happy birthday in Chinese and turn up the mic on the whole damn place) makes for a pretty shitty dining experience. We had a reservation for 10 ppl on a Saturday night (lesson learned: avoid this place at all costs during the wknds) for 8pm. I knew it was a bad sign when a lady told her group of people, "one MORE hour 'til we get our table". There were hungry families, little kids, etc. all over the place... all of them growing agitated by the minute, as the hostess gave no indications whatsoever of when anybody can expect to get seated. True story: I once witnessed a pregnant woman at Congee that lost it with the hostess, "They lie... it's more than a 20 minute wait!... I've been here for over 45 minutes and I'm pregnant and I'm fuckin' hungry!!!" (another lesson learned: don't bring pregnant ppl here). So, after waiting for over an hour for our table (with still 2 other parties ahead of us!?!), our group finally gave up hope and had to leave. As we were leaving, they said, "thank you"... to which I responded, "thanks for nothing. and don't bother next time pretending to take reservations." It's amazing that people keep coming here when the waits are this ridiculous... I've eaten here several times and as much as I do enjoy the food, I probably will only go back here during off-peak hours or for delivery. It's pretty sad that places like this that don't really give a shit about their customers still can thrive and profit of us.
(2)
Michelle Q.
CV really does make good, soul-satisfying, congee. They have an extensive menu specializing in seafood, but nothing was out of this world to have me coming back like a fiend. My dad prefers many other places over CV for family dinners. Only if I was in the neighborhood I'd stop by for take out (not saying their service is bad).
(3)
Jennifer Y.
If you're in the mood for Chinese in a lively atmosphere look no further then Congee Village. A mammoth space, esp great for large parties, the drinks are very reasonable, food is good and prices are decently low without making you suspect of the food. Staff is decent with quick turnaround and the whole place is deceivingly large. Authentic Chinese food that gives you a real b@ng for your buck. They're ready for you. Are you ready for them?
(4)
David X.
Not as big a fan of this place as the other Congee place on Bowery. The fried cruller here was much much worse, it could've just been taken out of the fridge for all I know, and the porridge had way too much ginger in it for me.
(2)
Celicia C.
If I want authentic, stick to your ribcage, incredibly satisfying Chinese village-style food, this is where I go. It is actually one of my boyfriend's and my favorite places to have a major meal. True Chinese come here and I have numerous friends whose families eat here on a regular basis for their main family dinner on Sunday nights. NOTE: This NOT the place to get your Chinese American beef and broccoli/general gau's chicken! What we usually get here is the amazing spicy special house fried crab (consisting of blue crabs tossed in a baby shrimp and hot pepper stir fry); cold dungeoness crab (the meat is so succulent and tasty, and it comes with an amazing sauce to dip in!), sliced beef with bitter melon (this isn't even on the menu, you have to ask for it) because it has the most amazing what my boyfriend calls "wok-hei" - i.e. "wok fire" that he says reminds him of how food is cooked in China when the wok is extra hot and fiery; fried pigeon; the black bean razor clams, all of the different vegetable dishes (pea pod stems, and all of the different water vegetables), the soft fried tofu drenched in a scallion sauce in a bucket...and of course all of the different congees (jook) that are all so incredibly yummy. We love the frog legs one - it really does taste like chicken! I had forgotten that we had ordered it once and I had exclaimed how tender the chicken was. My boyfriend burst out laughing and said "Baby, you're eating frog!" And it's only fitting that in Cantonese the word for frog is "field chicken" =P Dessert will usually include some kind of red bean soup which comes with if you get a decently sized meal. We usually walk away with a ton of leftovers since the portions are all fairly large. Drinks are good too - I love the longan/lychee baing (longan or lychee in ice) and the watermelon drink. Really refreshing and delish! And the alcoholic drinks are cheap and potent too, if that's your thing (around $4.00). I love the lychee martinis here. Congee Village never disappoints! Has an interesting decor though...you truly feel like you're in some kind of village. You can't miss the bright lights outside! Also check out the one on Spring and Bowery, which is their new location called Congee Bowery. Much cleaner, slightly (only a tad) more expensive but the service is top notch.
(5)
Theresa X.
2 words, lobster & pork fried rice, DONE.
(4)
Bing S.
humongous menu. the congee is fantastic. the drinks cheap and good. the ambience and festive. the decor is extravagantly eclectic (sometimes in a weird way). lots of asian people. don't be deceived by the inexpensive prices, the portions are ridonkulous, which is bigger than ridiculous. i love the tokyo island drink. this is a new york must.
(4)
Layla C.
this place is alot of fun and the food is great - especially for family style sharing amongst friends. nice loud atmosphere in which to shout obscenities at your friends across your giant table (which appears to be in captain's quarters on a boat). but the service is friggin' abysmal. prepare to get side-eyed by your waitress if you order another drink, and to be judged if you don't finish your rice. it literally took 30 minutes for two glasses of wine. and they brought one. and then didnt bring the second out for another 15 minutes. the chicken, black mushroom and rice dish comes in a log. and other things come in boats and shit. it was a nice celebration for chinese new year, but just be warned that the service is piss poor.
(3)
Kristina W.
I went to Congee Village with high expectations of finding the best congee ever... I did not find it. I tried the fish and lettuce congee which was OK. Very gingery, a bit fishy, and I kept finding fish bones in it. It also wasn't as thick as I like it. The best congee that I've had can be found at Victoria Seafood in HK or South Sea Seafood Village in SF. I also tried the Gai Lan which was good... a bit salty but fairly tender and pretty good flavor. Lastly, I tried the fried man tao. It was pretty good but the best ones are the ones that can be peeled while you're eating them, however, these ones could not. Overall, the service was very good, the food was good (I'm looking forward to going back and trying more dishes), and you can't beat the price.
(4)
Huba G.
this is a great place to get some authentic chinese food. plan on eating family style to get the most out of the experience by trying a bunch of different dishes. i had some absolutely delicious veggies, nicely crispy fried pork, and fried flounder. i can't wait to go back and try some of the other items they have to offer. make sure you go with some chinese friends and follow their advice. worked out great for me.
(4)
Glee M.
It's been our "go-to" place for years, we're regulars. Went there on a Saturday night, party of 3 @ 7:00PM and was PROMISED that there would only be a 20 minute wait. Sat at the bar with a bunch of teens, who were drinking heavily and were not asked for their ID. @ 7:30 we inquired about our table, we were told very, very soon. Took my daughter to the ladies room - gross, absolutely horrible. It smelled and there was mold all over the sink. I've never had to use the rest room while there so this was an eye-opener. At 8PM, we inquired again and were given an aisle table for 2 and were told they would bring an extra chair (for 3ppl)! We said it wasn't going to work and that it was dangerous to be squished in with a child and hot food going by. The host said, then you have to wait...We were regulars!! Never again...and now that I think about it, I don't think they would pass a health inspection. Sorry grandma - we're gonna have to find you a new restaurant.
(1)
jjj z.
Excellent all around. The food (several dishes shared family style) were all excellent. The establishment is big for NY, especially Chinatown.
(5)
Scott S.
Probably my favorite chinese restaurant in Chinatown. The restaurant is interestingly decorated. I've seen a big wooden horse, tree trunks carved into seats, cool looking seats with Eagles sculpted into the backs and even an Italian pizza maker man statue. The dining room when you first walk has a bit of a jungle village type vibe to it. Upstairs dining room is more traditional Chinese banquet style. There are also private rooms (for parties I suppose) downstairs. But it's the food that keeps me coming back. Some of the best Salt and Pepper Squid that I've ever had. Also the Pork Chop and noodle dishes like Singapore Chow Mei Fun are tasty. It's relatively cheap too! I've never saddled up at it, but I hear the bar has some pretty cheap and strong cocktails as well.
(5)
mary s.
the draw at this place is the congee. helllooo! it's called congee village! i had to learn the hard way... when you go to adeli, order a sandwich, not some fancy shmancy dish that they hardly make and that will turn out pretty bad. so, it follows that when you go to congee village, you should order, well, CONGEE. there's a whole history to congees in asian culture, and many of them are used for medicinal purposes. I really enjoyed the congee that i had, and the variety of different asian vegetables that were inside, indluding differnt types of button and shitake mushrooms, and a soft, wonderful nutty thing that i took to be a ginko nut. true, the decor was a little 'vegas on acid' but it was extrememly reasonably priced and i definitely want to make a trip back here, specifically for the congee.
(4)
Aly W.
After the YELP party last night at Fontana's, me and my very trashed friends decided some greasy carbs were in order...and we found an awesome random Chinese restaurant. SO inexpensive - three of us ate for under $20, and great food. Try the steamed chicken and black mushrooms...and omg, free peanuts on the table!
(4)
carmen n.
march 21, 2008. the kind of new york chill where you cant feel your lips and you dont know if snot is dripping down or not and your hands are frozen. the last chill before spring is PIERCING in mahattan. my friends and i had just finished the limited edition controversial "Bodies exhibit" at seaport. While starving for some hot food, we had refused to eat pho cuz the flanks, tendons, n tripe wud remind us of the disturbing exhibit. 20 minutes later...our hungry stomachs led us under the brooklyn bridge n into chinatown. friends bf wanted congee instead..so we kept walking until a taxi finally stopped for us. Enter in congee village, a very decorative chinese restaraunt...the kind that looks like it cud be in a RUSH HOUR movie. table wait took us 2 minutes, so we went to the bar. i had a lychee drink. they put coconut extract in it, rather than in sf whereas they only put ice cubes. their gin du gwat (sweet/sour spareribs) was excellent. enough sweet/sour taste, and the spareribs were cripsy. mustard greens with garlic sauce was flavorful, clams in black bean sauce had a little spicy kick to it. and salted fish meat patty was like the kind your chinese grandma makes at home. only except they at congee village they roll the meat patties liek hamburgers n grill them. everything was excellent. the kind of chinese food that leaves you in a good food coma. it was a perfect ending in getting rid of that end of winter chill.
(5)
Cassandra P.
This place makes me so happy, I can't quite explain it. The drinks are super cheap, which makes the whole suspending your disbelief and imagining you're in a forest thing a lot easier. Don't get me wrong, the decor is supposed to look like some feudal village of mystery, but some cheapy mixed specialty cocktails can't hurt. The selection on the menu is intense and absurd...offering everything from shark's fin, to sea cucumber, to birds nest, to, yes, congee. If you can't find anything you like on the menu, you should just go back to wherever it is that you came from (the menu reads like War and Peace). My favorite dish is, of course, the vegetarian congee, and the assorted mushroom dish (the more expensive one) you will get a sizzling family sized portion of delicious mushrooms, some of which you've never seen before to fill your belly. They have a small but satisfying dim sum menu if you're absolutely starved and can't wait a minute more for the food to come out. This place is really only fun when you're drunk with a ton of people. It's great for large groups and birthdays, and needs to be checked out at least once, if you want to say you've really lived in New York.
(4)
toasterstrudel k.
wow, I must have ordered the wrong thing! I really had my hopes up based on all of the rave reviews, but I really found the food terrible! I ordered chicken and brocolli, fried rice, veggie dumplings and an egg roll - yes, all for me...i'm hungry! So, first thing that threw me off was teh price, $23 for the lunch special, normally they throw in an egg roll and rice with the chicken & brocolli price, but they didnt do that here. The egg roll was the greasiest, most fried thing i've ever eaten, i cant get the grease off my fingers, to some that might be good, but I dont like grease. chicken & broccoli was ok, low on the sauce when I asked for extra, broccoli was good, veggie dumplings disgusting, didnt even finish one - sauce was nasty too. then i saw i recieved like 2 lbs of rice, what the hell am I going to do with 2 lbs of rice - this is the small?? it's pretty good, the only thing i liked, but in 30 mins it'll be worthless and I certianly am not even making a dent in it. Normally i feel it necessary to try a place 2x before giving it a bad rating, but I will not be going back. it also took almost 45 mins for delivery and I'm only 5 blocks away. I'll have to continue on my mission to find the best chinese food in nyc!
(1)
Anthro Food E.
just the congee alone is filling...if rice porridge aint yo thang, then you can order other appetizing dishes like chinese broccoli, soup dumplings, or any other item on the menu for that matter...
(4)
Dee W.
Of all the Chinese places that we ate at in New York, I think that Congee Village was my favorite. It's sorta BYOB - $10 per bottle - so we brought a bottle of vodka and wine. They brought us limes, tonic water, and ice for our vodka - great service! There were only six of us but we ordered two bowls of the congee with preserved egg, salt and pepper porkchops, Chinese broccoli, shrimp with almonds, beef chow mein, clams, and some chicken dish - the food was just fantastic. Service was friendly and quick. ALL of that food plus all of our alcohol for six ppl came out to $20 plus tip and tax. How great is that??
(5)
Sabrina L.
Had a great time here with a big group of friends around Holiday season. We ordered the scallion pancakes which were perfect and juicy buns to start, all perfect. We ordered probably 6 different entrees for the table, huge family style portions and everyone was happily stuffed at the end of dinner. As far as congee we had the chicken and 1000 yr old duck which everyone enjoyed. The best thing is I think the bill came out to about 80 bucks for the whole group..amazing!
(5)
Tony C.
Affordable and tasty Chinese food, opens late, with a fully stocked bar. I have yet to be disappointed in their offerings. Lines out-the-door with locals, on weekdays. Enough said.
(5)
Tina C.
Terrific place to have a super cheap warm meal. Imagine: clam congee for $3.50!
(3)
A Z.
"Yes, Chinatown's summit..." You can find great food in chinatown, Of course, your gonna find alot of the same things, but a handful of places that do theirs, much better... But when you crave chinese food, done chinese style, this is where you wanna go. If you dont know what to order, go by what you see. Just remember chinese food done like this is hard to find, and thats what i really go for...
(5)
Broke-Ass Stuart S.
If a cheesy antique dealer teamed up with an Asian schoolgirl to design a moderately priced Chinese food restaurant in Disneyland, that place would look like Congee Village. You can't fucking resist now can you? What if I told you that they have oddly themed karaoke rooms that you can rent out with a group of friends? Yeah, it really is that sweet. The karaoke rooms vary in price by your group's size and the day of the week, but the good part is that you're not actually renting the room, you just have to meet a food & drink minimum. All I've gotta say is that this place just inspires shenanigans, so it's fun to see how much they will put up with before you get 86'd.
(5)
Brenda M.
Good chinese food!! Especially if you are a vegetarian as they have a good variety of vegetables and yummy yummy tofu. Had two dishes with excellent tofu! Seafood is also very good. The sizzling beef dish was a little too chewy for my taste. Although their specialty is congee, I however am not a fan of their congee. It is a little too bland for me but supposedly thats Hong Kong style. I like my congee with more flavor. But they have a good selection for those that like the congee here. Everything else I would say has great flavor. Also has very cheap drinks (martinis, beer, boba, fresh squeezed orange juice-my favorite) so its a great place for dinner and a drink. Complimentary tea throughout the meal and watermelon for dessert are also much appreciated :D
(4)
Wing L.
I been wanting to give this place a 5 star review but don't know what it is, but lately the food seem a little different. 1 year or 2 back, I would have definitely given this place 5 Stars. Despite that, the food is still good. The only thing I hate is waiting on line for this place. Some night, this place is way too crowded and the wait is too long. But if you want some good Chinese food, this is the place to visit.
(4)
Xue T.
Love the atmosphere here. Whenever my friends run out of ideas to eat in Chinatown, this is our backup, never fails. There is a bar near the front entrance, drinks are mediocre running from around $4 to $6. Quick service, enjoyable food, great decor. Food is always fresh. Not too pricey. They have many types of congees that are pretty tasty, not too much msg either.
(4)
Vinh L.
Very good Chinese restaurant in NYC. To me, there are not too many in the city. Having eaten in San Francisco, there is no comparison. But this place shines. Get the congee w/ various options available. I like the pork and egg congee. Get some veggies, spinach, Chinese broccoli or the Snow-pea leaves. and also some favorites of walnut shrimp, Peking duck or BBQ pork (char siu).
(4)
Letitia W.
I didn't go for the congee but now that I've thought about it, I probably should have. I went in with friends and ordered out of their regular menu (everything except congee). The food was okay. Nothing very exciting. It's a pretty typical restaurant. We ordered Chow Fun and I wasn't very impressed. I've definitely had better. The Bitter Melon was good if you've acquired the taste for them. I know it told me over 20 years to appreciate them. The Lobster was good. We had ours prepared with ginger and scallions (the only way I really like them). The prices were decent too. Nothing too overpriced. Again, I didn't think this place was very exciting. Could have been better.
(3)
Sabrina V.
Been here many times. I love the congee here! I'm actually having a craving right now thinking about the amazing congee they serve. Yeah I grew up thinking congee is like gruel, but here the flavor and viscosity of the congee are great! I also love that the "twin bread" things can be ordered with the congee. They have such a variety and you can see most of the choices by looking at the menu that is full of pics. I love menus with pictures. It really helps people figure out what to order. Besides congee, all the other food was relatively good too. Overall, great place for Chinese food for a good price and very spacious. The only down point is service. It can be slow and once had a lady that was rude...
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
Bob B.
This is authentic Chinese food that caters to Chinese. That means the menu is exhaustive and has a number of unique items. It also means that the price is reasonable for NYC. It also means that you'll get a lot of food. It also means that the service can frustrate. Congee is definitely Chinese comfort food. In the same way that chicken soup "is good for the soul", congee is restorative. Their congee with abalone is the epitome of "I've got the flu and can't move - please get me congee".
(4)Neil A.
Authentic Chinese cuisine, This place is always packed with real Chinese people. It can be very noisy, if there is a group as for one of the rooms downstairs. The food is great.
(5)Alexandra C.
My first time having congee- and my last. I'm far from expert of course but I would have to say the chicken congee was good if you like congee-- Just nothing I would order again. Chicken and veggie dish was good..Nothing great. Liked the tropical type of decor. The place was packed with Asians --- so I think this is a good one, you just need to know what's best to order.
(3)Sandee L.
Congee sure hits the spot on a cold winter day! We didn't stray far from the norm and ordered beef chow fun and the chicken, duck and pork congee. The beef chow fun was enormous! I was surprised that the two of us polished off both dishes, but that's how good they were! The congee was flavorful with huge chunks of meat in it. Perfect to warm our bellies before heading outside to endure the cold. Service was fast! Our food arrived less than five minutes from the time we ordered. Food here is cheap. We spent $7 per person on lunch! I can't wait to come back and try some other dishes with more people to share.
(4)LISA N.
I have to add that SIX DOLLAR PATRON SHOTS... YES. I SAID SIX DOLLARS. I don't know where else I can get $6 patron shots.
(5)Marianne D.
Definitely prefer this Congee Village over the one in Bowery. The space is simply bigger and the decor a bit more tasteful. The food is the same though and would simply like to reiterate that the "Rice Baked in..." section is hands down the best in my opinion, rice dishes with meat and veggies presented in a little bamboo shoot.
(4)Chris A.
I came to this place because of a recommendation from the front desk clerk at the Windsor Hotel I stayed at a couple months ago. It was exceedingly delicious! It's very flavorful and succulent. The establishment was fantastic as well. It's not something you see very often in Maryland so it was a nice change of pace. The bathrooms and everything was clean. The waiters were okay. If I had one complaint it's that my waiter was kinda jerky and rushed to take our orders. Other than that, it's all good. I may have to come back here when I visit the city again!
(4)Brian L.
I like it here. I went back. It was the same, and good.
(4)Wuhoo S.
i really missed this kind of food! the seafood dishes are amazing. however, the spinach dish had a lot of raw egg whites in it...
(4)Angela N.
Been to the Village on various occasions and if you're craving - what else - congee, the generous individual servings can hit the spot. Just made a trip here with the family and they can be picky about their congee - we can easy make a pot at home - so they're a great barometer regarding the quality of the rice porridge. Yum. Their also known for their fried salt and pepper sliver fish and calamari. Fun atmosphere with large groups. Tip: avoid Friday evenings - long waits.
(3)Brad D.
Went to Congee for a birthday party with my girlfriend and her family. They are all Chinese and I am not so I may not accurately know what each dish was but I can say the Ginger Scallops with vegetables was amazing. The lobster was perfectly steamed. The Shrimp fried rice was very good. The T-Bone was underseasoned but that is normal for traditional Chinese in Chinatown.
(4)Laura L.
The food was good, but because we weren't Asian the service was HORRID. No joke - folks who came in after us got their food before us and we had to order some dishes multiple times because they kept getting forgotten. Such a shame since the food really was decent.
(2)Lodema A.
Great Chinese Food Hot and Sour Soup to die for
(4)Nancy L.
There are two Congee Village restaurants in NYC and I just realized that the one on 207 Bowery Street has better tasting dishes! I recommend that one instead of the Allen Street chain.
(4)Lani G.
Congee Village is far from the best Chinese restaraunt in New York, but I love this place. It's consistent, cheap, and filling. CV is also a great place to order delivery from. They have a pretty large delivery range and are relatively fast. There are hundreds of items on the menu so you may feel a little overwhelmed. Luckily, it's so cheap you can order 5 dishes for under $50! I recommend: congee (with pork and 100 year old egg), scallion pancakes, a duck dish and some sort of vegetable doused in XO sauce.
(5)Brendan L.
Authentic Chinese cuisine that will give you a real taste of what Chinese food is.
(4)Elliot H.
Generally our go to spot for more fancy nights when having chinese food, the food is consistently good, generally the staff is decent, but I knocked a star off because of the wait I've had in the past, not a big deal but definitely worth spending your money on.
(4)Davina D.
fave restaurant to bring my non native chinatown/lower east homies...' the spot for cheap dining with a large party. High fives. I love waiting for a table for the fact that the bar is freakin''''''''''' sweet. I can indulge in 90% rum and 10% cokes, smirking happily like a lil girl.........once you get to your table and you end up ordering like a mad woman, everything here is solid and delish, love the sauteed black pepper scallops, make you gallop, love the veggies love the steamed fish love the soft fried tofu love the black bean sauce clams love the ribs in a sizzling hot plate, sizzles in your face. splak. love the young chow fried rice love the congee, fave:mince beef/seafood love the fried dough cruellers love the fried porkchops love the bar love the alcohol love the house special garlic chicken love the beef chow fun love the place love the chefs love the long wait because you get to get tipsy at the bar love the brown rice option love the take out option love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu. you leave here high fiving. a party of 8 (one round table) with a normal approximate of 8-10 dishes BAM. if you're not from chinatown/chinese/from the hood/local/regular here, you'll whip out ilke a $40. psssssssssssssssssssh put that shit away and give me just a $20 including the tip and tax and i'll still give you change. WHAT!!
(4)Dana B.
Randomly found this place on my Yelp App and was intrigued because I've recently become a fan of congee. The service was mediocre at best, but what can you expect? Definitely want to go back and try more dishes. Go for the congee! A must for those into adventurous dining!!
(3)Edward J.
This place was not popular 5 years ago. I don't know how and what happened, now its a place filled not only with Chinese and Taiwanese, its filled with diversity. Thank goodness the food stayed authentic! Here're few pointers on what to do and get when I go there: 1. Grab a number! Push through the crowd and get a number. Or else, get there by 5pm. 2. Its really loud, so be prepare to talk loudly. 3. Get the fried squid with bellpepper/onion/cashew. 4. Get the black bean clams. 5. Get the shrimp with walnut if you want something American. 6. Get the soup baos. (pork) 7. Get the salted fish fried rice. 8. Get the fresh sauteed sprouted bean leaves. 9. Get the blacken duck egg congee (pork or chicken or fish) 10. Get refill on your tea. (floral, forget the black) 11. Free dessert once you ask for the check. So keep that hand raised up high when you catch a waiter's eyes. Sounds like a chore to eat here, and it is. But the effort is worth it. This is how you eat in Hong Kong. Best if you bring a friend who can speak Mandarin or Cantonese.
(4)john M.
The food is cheap. The quality of said food reflects the price. Our waiter grilled us the entire meal, his intimidation tactic earned him 20 percent.
(2)Sarah L.
This place is pretty great. The food comes out pretty quickly and super hot. House special chicken: crispy and moist Congee: nice app Jumbo shrimp: mm fried and juicy Pork with leeks: could have been good if it weren't so, so salty Bokchoy in garlic: nice and mild Steamed dumplings: delicious but so much breading Soup dumplings: good but cannot compare to Joe Shanghai We also had two types of noodles: Singapore and one other one that was crunchy. The crunchy style had my vote. I went with a large group and came out a happy custy. The servers were very helpful and that whole feast was super affordable!
(4)Lisa C.
I used to never come here because I felt like it was over rated and over priced chinese food. I still feel pretty much the same way about it BUT its saving grace is that their alcoholic drinks are CHEAP. You can get a lychee martini for $6 and it packs quite the punch. Don't get me wrong, the food is not bad at all. There's great flavors but it really is a tad over priced compared to other places in NYC. Still a relatively inexpensive meal though. Weird thing is I don't really enjoy their congee - Go figure with a name like congee village- but its a bit on the watery side for me. PS on the weekends there is a bit of wait so you may wanna head there early.
(4)Zuzzi E.
Had a great birthday meal here. We enjoyed neat every item on the menu as it spun around our Lazy Susan. I was particularly invested in the honey glazed shrimp with broccoli and the veggie noodles which seemed to stop at my place setting quite a bit. Great place for groups. Ask for a room with karaoke machine in the basement.
(4)Awani D.
The place is large and crowded, but it has multiple floors. Food: I think it depends on what you get. Overall, a lot of their food is wayyyy too salty for my taste. Favorites of mine were: the fried tofu, the shrimp with broccoli and candied walnuts, and the red bean congee.
(3)Sourivone V.
I LOVE Congee Village! Eat like a queen and pay a commoner's price! Must Order: Congee of course, Peking Pork Chop, Sizzling Chinese Broccoli, Seafood Crispy Noodles, Peking Duck and more but those are the must haves!
(4)Osman J.
Worst service in the history of mankind. Me: hello can we order Waiter: WHAT YOU WANT!!!!! (With a nasty look on his face and ganster tone) Food is not bad thus 3 stars.
(3)Ekina1314 ..
Come here quite often with family whem we knew the manager before he retired. This location quite close to my home so walking after a latge meal was always a great idea. Prices are higher than a typical Chinese restaurant and platters are smaller but location and decor makes up for it. Food is good, evem though it has the word congee in it's name, other dishes are quite good. Go Order the thai chicken feet, delish!
(3)Jeffrey Y.
Came here for a Valentines Day Lunch. First time I've had rice cooked in a log. I don't know if the wood enhanced the flavor but it was damn good. The pan fried noodles are crispy and filling. Dinner gets crowded and the service is slow. The dishes aren't huge so I would order a few extra items and eat family style.
(3)Sean C.
My girlfriend's mom was born in China and this is her favorite chinese restaurant in Manhattan. I don't complain when we meet here for her family events. I do have demands though...I demand the house chicken right off the bat. They are great for parties and they're very reasonably priced. I see some people complaining about the wait, it must have been around holidays or CNY because this place is so large that we don't usually have to wait long at all.
(5)Lisa K.
I've been here several times and it's amazing!! There are so many congee choices-- the ones that i've tried are delicious and the other entree dishes are tasty as well. I recommend the Mayo Shrimp with Walnuts and Brocolli and the Fried Pork Chops!! A huge plus is that it's cheap! I love chinatown and i'm going again tonight. Helpful hint: Congee is extremely satisfying when you are feeling under the weather. That's why i'm going tonight! It's more filling than soup (and it's not as salty!) and the thickness of the congee is like wrapping a big blanket around you! happy eating!!
(5)David M.
This place is great for larger groups. The night I went with some friends, we had a short 5-10 minute wait, after calling ahead and making a reservation. The menu has a great selection, and if you can't find what you're looking for on the menu, Im sure the staff will be more than happy to see if they can make it for you. The best part about this place is the cheaper than dirt bar. They have shooters for $4, and beers (both domestic and import) for $5. This is a great place to start your night, and one of the cheapest pre-party bars I know of.
(4)M Z.
Cheap cheap cheap and delicious congee/dumplings. Great place and it's a sit-down restaurant. They also give you tea, free peanuts and a dessert to make the meal even more special. Went with a friend and our dinner ended up being $12, total. We were both amazed. Fantastic affordable restaurant!
(4)Michael B.
I ordered steamed chicken with black mushrooms..... I got chicken, pork, weird fruit and seaweed. This did not sit well with my girlfriend. You know when a shitty meal kills your hunger and leaves you unsatisfied? It happens here, and it can happen to you! The savior was the congee.....it was delicious!
(2)Natalie C.
definitely more theme-ish than any other chinese restaurant out there. My boyfriend had the congee with crab and it was really good. The buble tea's are just how i like it to taste, light and flavorful. The sesame chicken was ok, not bad but not the best. They also surprisingly enough had drinks like the blue hawaiian which I have been dying to have since i came back from Hawaii 2 years ago with no luck.
(4)Paul B.
Long wait, indifferent service, tiny water glasses, cold rice, a smashed tomato on the floor of the bar that no employee stopped to clean up, and almost ZERO air conditioning. Salt pepper shrimp mealy, sesame chix ok.
(2)Kristian Q.
A nice place were I can bring people and get a good meal. We came on a Sunday with 4 people. Finding parking was easy and my group of people got a table within 5-10 min. They have an extensive selection of dishes that are in english making it easy to order. We ordered tbone steak it was ok, sizzling beef steak was not sizzling... :( , a chicken dish that was mmmmmm and the crispy tofu which was really good. They also have a bar with $6 cocktails.. the service was quick, 10-15 min. after we ordered we had are food on the table already. I would come back here if I had a big group that just want to eat and have a few drinks. For special occasions, dates.. I'll go somewhere else.
(3)G.K. C.
One of the better family style chinese restaurants by chinatown. The food is good tasting. Lobster is awesome! Mayo shrimp! Beef short ribs, deep fried frog! Be ready to eat once you place your order because the food comes out like a train...one dish after another. The service is pretty decent. I go there with my wife and we eat up four or five dishes for about 60 bucks. The only downfall is that its pretty busy on weekends, and even on weekdays. Even with a reservation you may end up waiting close to an hour or longer to be seated. Especially if you have a large group.
(4)Kevin D.
I have been to this location and the one on bowery numerous times. The portions are generous and the prices reasonable. food is delicious; love the congee. everything i have had is very good. cant go wrong here. the only downside is that some of the dishes is too greasy.
(4)Michelle W.
I've been coming here for years and everytime, I always wonder why I come here. The food is decent, but it's pretty pricey and i really don't consider it the real chinese food that you get in Chinatown. The food comes out greasy and glistening and looks like it's been cooked more for a showcase than it has to be eaten. Really not impressed with this place and really don't get how so many people line up to get a table at this place. I'm not against coming back here for dinner, but it isn't going to be my suggestion. I rather trek it to Chinatown and get a real meal for a quarter of the cost.
(3)RICKY L.
The decorations was great and all but the bathroom was crap! The house special chicken was bad and you can get it any chinese restaurant. The baked rice was horrible! DISGUSTING! it tasted like left over chicken from 3 days ago. HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT TO GO!
(1)Jonlin P.
This place has great food. It's well priced, a nice selection, and is a good fit for a large party dining family style or for one or two people eating congee or casseroles. Dinner can run you around $5 - $20 depending on whether you get individual dishes, or family style (and how many dishes you get that way). So, cheap, good, and good location. The only downside is the wait at times.
(4)Stephen C.
This place is a staple for late night folks who are looking for grub in the early morning hours. Their best is the Roast Duck and Crab Congee while their Ginger Frog is a little bland. There's also a karaoke room downstairs and if you are lucky--truly lucky--you can eat in that little indoor pavilion they've erected for royalty!
(4)Joseph F.
still not sure how i feel about it i really liked the dumplings and the fried rice was good the menu is very authentic and thats great but some of the food i got was not prepared how i thought it would be so im not sure if i liked this place or not but it was not awful and thats kinda a good thing
(3)Hannah L.
I'd like to give this place 3.5 stars. The pros - tasty, fast, CHEAP. The cons - ridiculously bad service to the point where some of the people I was with took it personally. If you go out to eat and like to be taken care of, this place is not for you. If you want cheap and super tasty food thrown at you quickly by a wait staff who won't even bring you a glass of water if you were on fire, then go here.
(3)Andrea T.
great dumplings and the best lychee martini in Manhattan!
(4)Clara A.
congee- goooood! reminded me of lugaw, a filipino rice porrige. some very cheap items and some expensive ones. relaxed and fun where you can try different foods. a wait to be seated but worth it. the decor is totally enjoyable!!
(5)Nie K.
i love the variety of food, the authentic-ness of it and everything tastes so delicious and fresh. i have absolutely no complaints about this place except... if you're waiting at the bar area and you're sitting in those really tall chairs - don't lean back :) you will fall.
(5)Qi X.
If its anything for an individual meal its not that great, must order family size with different dishes, the food is alright, but the waitress that served me there was horrible. Usually I eat in chinatown a lot and if you tip well, you'd expect some form of return such as oranges and sweets, and they usually bring it out before you pay the bill. I took my co-workers there and i tipped like $30 for $120 worth of food, all they did was say thanks, no dessert, no oranges, nothing. I wouldn't tip jack next time, they even hesitated when i asked for an extra beer, as if like they didn't work there to begin with.
(2)Jane S.
Yumm...bad location though
(4)Jayden Z.
Went there for congee one afternoon with my dad. We got the Pork Stomach Porridge, Sliced Pork and Preserved Egg Porridge, Deep Fried Dough and Salted Chinese Pancake. As a child I always liked the preserved egg porridge. The one I got from Congee Village was decently made. The pork stomach porridge, I would recommend. The salted Chinese pancake went well with the porridge. The deep fried dough probably tasted a lot better in the morning, but because it was in the afternoon, I don't think they decided to make a new batch (ours was the last one). The waiters were friendly and pretty helpful for the most part.
(4)Mike B.
I'm giving this 5 starts mainly on the basis that it is great value. Can't think of any place in New York where you can eat more for less $ and have the food be very good. Of course, you can spend some $ here if you order some of the more expensive seafood items. But it is also very possible to have a huge meal (including one beer) for about $15 pp. The congee is excellent (always get preserved egg) as is the tofu with soy sauce. Portions are huge.
(5)Rena H.
Oh my god! This place is so good! Authentic taste of real Cantonese food! Best restaurant for Cantonese favor in the town I have had ever! But good place also comes with crowded people in rush hours...sign
(5)Aaron S.
Eaten here at least over 100+ times. Why ask why? Maybe b/c it's a few blocks from my building, Maybe lots of parking spots, Or a couple blocks away from Ludlow where I can get wasted after dinner with all the Eurotrash. Lol food quality here always been par to above average. But that's good enough for me. Get sizzling beef plate, Shanghai small dumplings, live shrimps always fun.. Lol rice cognee all sorts, idk so many choices!
(5)Mary L.
I came here for my bday with a party of 13 ppl, they sat us a large round table and it was pretty tight (i saw a bigger table few tables down and it was unoccupied!!) so i recommend that when you call to make a reservation and you have a large party, ask for a larger table. No particular dish stood out for me but overall the food were great and came out fast. Prices are reasonable and otherwise NOT EXPENSIVE. Waiters were attentive and friendly.
(4)Audrey C.
Always a solid and good experience with the food. Always delicious and cheap. Their congee and noodle dishes are the best.
(4)Joshua V.
I always keep this good old battle axe of a Chinese restaurant on the top shelf of my mind. The joint is huge and can accommodate huge parties on relatively short notice (Saturday nights though, be a pal and put in a reservation). Skip the soup dumplings here, they're just aight. Instead, razor clam it, house special chicken it, and get some damn congee while you're here. It isn't called congee village for nothing. And the fixed meals are totally great for those who don't want to sort out the particulars with a big group. Just point, click, and ask if they have vegetables to go with all those carbs and proteins (they do).
(4)Yujin O.
This place was so yummy! It is an ideal spot for big groups of people! Family style is easy and the service is fast. The prices are pretty low and with 10 people we ordered around 9~11 dishes, only paid 14 bucks each! I will definitely go again!
(4)Tosh K.
Love this place. Great food, attentive service and affordable! Came here with friends from grad school meet here for a group get-together and had a great time. While the place is huge, it's recommended that you have a reservation on weekend nights The decor is a bit over the top, but it's part of the charm. We're definitely going to look into getting a karaoke room next time.
(4)Alice W.
Lest anyone think that Indian restaurants alone trip the xmas-light fantastic, head on over to Congee Village where more is more. I have long held that Chinese food in Manhattan is unremarkable but Congee Village is one of the few bright spots (literally) in the generic slop that passes for sino cuisine in gotham. This is what you're going to order: -- Salt Fish and Chicken rice (in the pineapple or bamboo cooker) -- Filet of Steak Chinese style (in the sizzling iron platter) -- Congee (Chicken and Mushroom is simple and tasty) -- Snow Pea shoots sauteed in garlic -- An elective (pick something else off the menu. You have a 72% chance of it being decent to really good.) You can forget about dessert. My entire motherland has. (Don't believe me? Name the last really great Chinese dessert you've sampled.) If you must have something sweet, head on over to Sugar Sweet Sunshine and get the pumpkin or pistachio cupcake. Or be like me and just order another serving of meat.
(4)Alexander H.
The best congee hands down. I've ate at various congee places from LA to SF and this place by far beats all the rest. You might ask why specifically? For me, my congee can't be watery or too thick and Congee Village does it right with it's perfect consistency. The congee is served in personal pots that can feed 2 ppl on a cold day. I've tried their fish fillet and combination (tan-chai-jok) which were both delicious. Their other dishes are highly recommended as well. I would definitely take my friends here to eat. =)
(5)Natalie V.
Good food.. Great lychee ice!!!!
(4)Richard H.
!!!!!!! White people beware!!!!! It took forever to get our sub-average greasy food while many Asians around that were seated after us got theirs. Service was beyond horrible. They made my daughter and I feel like we were personally responsible for the rape of Nanking. Pretty sure they cook rats in the back but can't prove it. It took us three trys to get soy sauce to our table. The first time I asked, the waiter put his hand in my face and simply walked away.
(1)Steve W.
My mom's family loves to come here and eat. Service was excellent. We ordered razor clams with snow peapods in XO sauce, salted soy chicken, which was okay since it was really salty and I would suggest the squab, seafood pan fried noodles, and seafood egg's nest. We didn't order the congee although we have heard good raves about it. The razor clams, seafood pan fried noodles, and seafood egg's nest were pretty solid and @ par with the other restaurants. It was just your typically Chinese restaurant. I found it nothing special.
(3)Carol L.
Awesome go-to Chinese food place that is great for groups, excellent ginormous selection of food, cheap drinks, and also has many traditional chinese dishes not found in normal chinese restaurants. The food is also very nicely priced. Make sure you try out one of the congees, snails, wide noodle stir fried in XO sauce...will get the chinese name of this sometime...and others I can't recall the name of. I haven't come back here in a while, and really need to do so. Portions are pretty good so come with more people to try more items! Open late so you can get your late night congee fix. Congee is a better hangover cure than pho...just FYI.
(4)Susan A.
I keep coming back. And back. And back again. Dock one star for the waiter having bad b.o. I'm sure we all have our days, but gosh, each time he walked by really didn't want to eat anymore! At all! Gag. =/
(4)Zhao H.
Small portions. Good tasting. Pricey for such small plates. Diarrhea waiting to happen every time.
(3)Tia K.
Winter means congee! Their congee is delicious and cheap. The last one I had was the salted fish, a portion is $4.50 (if I'm not mistaken), definitely enough for two. The other dishes were tasty, but nothing special. Anything fried is very very very oily! The restaurant is spacious, clean, and their service is quick. It gets pretty crowded on weekends for dinner, so I suggest going there for lunch.
(4)Phil C.
Yikes....Not sure I can write a valid review since I didn't eat here. Long story short, sat down at our table. Menus brought to our table by our friendly waiter. After several minutes of deliberation, I felt something on my shoes - look down and saw the world's largest rat staring at me...okay maybe not the world's largest but it was freaking big. Freaked out and stormed out of there. I'm sure the food is delicious but I'll never know or want to know.
(1)Peeperkorn P.
Can't give it 5 stars cos I've only tried the congee and it seems that their other dishes are rather wanting??? The pork and century egg congee is the best that I have ever eaten and I've lived in several major Asian cities before. My friend tried the sliced fish congee and thought that it was way subpar bc they used cheap fish. But I mean at 3 dollars per bowl.. + stellar service really I only had 100 dollar bills and the delivery guy changed me out of his own pockets
(4)Yippy S.
It's probably the best authentic chinese food you'll get. Don't be so shocked when they seem a bit rude. On the upside you'll get a really good meal for pretty cheap. The must try list: Chicken & corn soup Jellyfish Whole chicken with garlic Peking pork chop Lobster salad Usually when we go here we go with about 10-12 people and each person only really ends up paying $25 a person which includes 8 dishes, beers, and soda.. Ya can't really go wrong..
(4)T Z.
Come here all the time. The food is awesome and cheap... Make sure you order the pi dan shou rou congee... and the jing du pai gu Also, this one is 100x better than the one on Bowery
(5)Eri S.
Stumbled in after a few drinks at Hotel Chantelle. I'm not sure if congee would be my dish of choice whilst inebriated but we got the shredded pork with preserved egg. We also ordered chow fun and sweet potato pancakes. So we were in a rush and burned out tongues with the congee. Ow. Well that wasn't such a good idea....But the chow fun!!! It was your typical chow fun at any chinese food joint but it definitely hit the spot. We were raving about the greasy goodness amidst our large mouthfuls. Seriously, that's all we talked about. The sweet potato pancakes resembled the texture of mochi and served as a nice dessert. We ended up paying about $8 per person. Gosh, I love cheap eats!
(4)Fiona P.
First of, the congee is really good. I am surprised that they put a decent amount of snail into the congee to make it taste better. The seafood dishes and their house chicken are good as well. The waiter is so funny when I was ordering and can't decide what size I should get for my friends and me. He is very friendly and kept making jokes. I wish they do delivery and take reservation. Food is really good for a night when you don't want anything heavy or salad.
(3)john c.
Was here with a party of 8, and what we ordered was awesome, so thought I'd share (you're mileage may vary). In fact I never know what to order, so I'm posting this for my own future reference. S507 - Sauteed Scallop with Ginger and Scallion - $13.95 S520 - Boiled Sliced Conch with Asparagus - $22.95 P112 - House Special Shrimp Paste Pork Rib - $9.95 709 - Sauteed Snow Pea Leaf with Garlic - $11.95 717 - Pan Fried Bean Curd with Soy Sauce - $8.95 720 - Sauteed Bok Choy with Garlic - $9.95 801 - House Special Chicken - Half - $9.00 803 - Steamed Chicken with Black Mushroom - $8.95 901 - Sauteed Filet Beef with Chinese Broccoli - $12.95
(5)dean s.
The congee with pork and preserved egg was a warm, delicious, satisfying meal to have before our trip to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum (1 block away). And the price was amazing. I would eat that meal any time I am nearby. So good.
(5)Bruno M.
Been here a ton of times and for the most part the food is always good. I am a big fan of the: 1. Jumbo shrimp with walnut and broccoli (it has a mayo type of sauce on the shrimp, which freak some people out). 2. Blue Crab with garlic and pepper 3. Clams in black bean sauce 4. Bass in black bean sauce 5. Shrimp paste pork ribs 6. House special chicken 7. Snow pea leaves with garlic 8. Golden egg fried rice. The place gets packed on the weekend. If you're a planner like me reserve one of the rooms and do it banquet style
(4)Angela C.
Such good Chinese food! I especially love the snail congee & the chicken pan fried noodles. The dishes were quite oily I'll say. Service was pretty quick too. You leave feeling good and happy.
(5)Mike W.
Good quality dishes for a decent price. I recommend trying new and different things each time you go. You never know if you're going to like it. Be daring about your food. The decor is pretty cool, but the only thing that bothers me is that they put too much msg for my taste.
(4)Jessamyn H.
This is the place you want to get Congee. Lots of selections of congee, but also they have lots of great other foods too. The price is unbelievable. Very cheap. one big bowl of Congee cost $2-$3. Just expect the food but not really the customer service. They do their job but not friendly and not going to serve you extra care.
(5)Esther F.
What a horrible establishment! Service: lousy and rude. The waiters have a chip on their shoulders. Food: sub-par, oily, heavy and portions are small. not fresh either. Price: you've got to be kidding me considering what you have to go through and eat...eek. There other so many other places for Chinese food. This is the bottom of the list. I think the staff are prejudiced against Chinese people, sounds crazy, but if you're Caucasian, you'll probably get better service and food.
(1)Christine J.
O M G. I miss this place soooo much!!!! nothing is better than Chinese comfort food! sigh.. their congee is so tasty, not to mention other dishes. I just want to go there for brunch, order congee and fried dough, some XiaoLongBao, and chow down! so many different choices of congees, love it.
(5)Linh L.
Ahhh, the congee wasn't good. Watery and zero flavor. However, the food that I shared was superb. There was a lot of grabbing going on as the table we had did not have the spinning panel. Boo. The place is super spacious and chinese food is always good for a big group. Though the waiters did not understand English, a Chinese speaker was in the group fortunately. Downside, $20 dollar minimum on cards and the waiters are not attentive.
(4)Linda X.
You would think that a place with congee in the name would serve congee at all hours of operation but it's actually only available for breakfast. For dinner, this place turns into your usual Chinese restaurant. There are booths for large groups which makes the table seem more private. Great pick for dinner with friends or family. If you were hoping for a bowl of hot congee on a cold day, mornings only.
(4)Zhenrun Z.
Pineapple boat and eggplant casserole are pretty good. Steamed little buns å°ç¬¼åŒ… is bad.
(4)Jess C.
This place is great for two reasons: 1. Good for groups As a frequent organizer of large birthday dinners in college (20+ people), this was an easy, reliable backup. They have different sized tables upstairs that seat about 2-15 people. But they also have private rooms in the basement, perfect for huge celebrations e.g. birthdays, family reunions, karaoke machine included. Note that they only take reservations for parties of 5 or more, but you'll have to wait anyways. 2. Value Most of the dishes are pretty cheap, and when shared family-style, you end up paying about $20-25 for your food coma. Drinks are inexpensive, but you can also BYOB ($10 a bottle). However, Congee Village serves Americanized Cantonese food; it's extremely oily, oversalted, & full of MSG, but it gets the job done. They have a ridiculously comprehensive menu from your usual "Chinese takeout foods" e.g. fried rice, lo mein, to the more atypical traditional foods e.g. frog legs, shark fin soup (NY shark fin ban starts summer 2014), and intestines. Definitely try their congee (rice porridge)! My favorite is the thousand year old egg with salted pork congee, but the abalone is good too. Notes: - There is ANOTHER location on Bowery. I can't tell you the number of confused guests I've had when I forget to be specific. - They have a $20 credit card minimum. - They have a lounge?? Weird.
(3)Trisha D.
Solid place to get food. I like them because I live right around the corner...and their pork chop peking style is DELICIOUS. But it is a little overpriced.
(3)Sandy O.
I come for the congee...duh, but it's freaking amazing. It's so amazing that I come here often, and alone. Like, it's my thing. Occasionally I'll invite someone, then I become cooler in their eyes because of the referral. So go alone if you must.
(5)Thomas M.
the food gets saltier and saltier with every visit
(2)Ace C.
Came here with my gf for dinner around 8pm and a wednesday night. Place was packed but we got a table within 5 minutes. Got the seafood pan fried noodle, house special chicken, and fried buns. Food was decent. Nothing to complain. Also had complimentary dessert (tong sui) in the end.
(4)Bryant R.
Terrible service. Great food. The beef was tasty as was the flounder which I am still thinking about. I can't wait to explore the menu more fully.
(4)Meredith X.
Came here for a birthday brunch. Spacious and convenient for large reservations but I'm not sure if I'll be returning for my Chinese food fix. We ordered a plethora of dishes. The two that stood out the most were the pork and preserved egg congee and the walnut shrimp. Flavorful congee, shredded pork with tasty, savory bits of egg. I would have preferred a couple slivers of ginger or a more generous sprinkling of egg. BEST candied walnuts in the walnut shrimp dish. Shrimp and broccoli covered in this tangy mayonnaise sauce. The other dishes were less than stellar. Scallion pancakes were under seasoned and I saw MAYBE one little slice of scallion, all pancake. Missing sauce with our pan fried tofu, everything else besides the congee and shrimp was flavorless and forgetful. Take a short walk or hop in a cab to Chinatown instead.
(3)Josh W.
Solid place to get Chinese food. This place has a lot of the old classics that you'll find in Chinatown style restaurants. The veggie dishes that we ordered here was very good. The congee wasn't bad as all. The highlight of the meal for me was their Mui Choy Kau Yuk. This is a braised pork belly with preserved vegetables dish. This is a classic Chinese dish that I don't see at too many restaurants and I have to say the one they have here is very good. I'm definitely coming back to order that dish again. Great place to get some cheap Chinese food. It's not fancy, but it does everything very well.
(4)Jack K.
House Special Chicken is the primary reason for the 4 stars. Fried Bread is good for appetizer or dessert. (Comes with carnation milk for dipping) Congee is okay, a bit water down. Good seating is a hit or miss. Good service, at times. Reasonable price. *The Congee Village on Bowery has better seating and service. Food is the same.*
(4)Amanda Y.
I really wanted up like Congee Village due to all the hype, however the food is just mediocre at best. Ultra greasy without a ton of flavor is the common theme I experienced during my visit. The beef chow fun is ok, but suffers from the get go with oddly thin cut noodles and an ultra greasy texture. The orange pork chop is a grease bomb in it self, and taste more like a buttery cookie than a savory piggy treat.
(2)Andy C.
Pro: Great food! Con: Prepare to wait We had a verity of food and all of it was great! My first time eating fried frog legs, and it was my favorite dish of the night! We went for a friends birthday with a party of 15 people. We made reservations and still had to wait an hour, so be prepared to wait. The place gets packed! This place is well known. While we were waiting outside, people stopped and took pictures under the Congee Village sign. There is a signed picture of Andrew Zimmern on the wall if anybody is a fan.
(5)Loy B.
Seriously. Great Congee. I've been here several times and am surprised (every time) at the maze of seating they have in this joint. They pack us in. And no one seems to mind. We're here to eat. Word of warning: Dont stare too long at the decor, it'll make you dizzy. As always, I need to make a caveat: I'm here only for the congee. I have no clue how the other meals are ;-) But for congee, they have wicked variety (they've made the off menu combos I've requested as well). Sometimes I go for the crazee complificated combos - but if I havent visited in a while, I always go for the simpler duck/pork. Just like Mom's :-)
(4)ko i.
I miss this place...I can eat two pots of congee on my own, because well, it's addictive. There are many varieties of congee, and if porridge isn't your thing, there are all the usual suspects on a Chinese menu. Only downer: the wait for seating is often up to 45 minutes, get there early.
(4)Totoro R.
Decent food. Was better a few years back. I found an even better place for authentic Chinese food- Dragon Palace on Centre St. They take reservations and don't make you wait an hour even with one!
(3)Dirty S.
Not the best like it's hyped up to be - I tried the house special fried chicken, and found it very overrated. However, the interior is amazing, and the lunch specials are a great deal. It can take a bit of a while to get your takeout order, and calling in advance does not help, but at least it's fresh.
(4)Ming L.
I give this place 5 stars soley based on food quality. I only judge Chinese restaurants this way, since most authentic Chinese food is hard to find. If its good, they could stuff it in a brown paper bag and throw it at me, and I'd give it five stars. This place is top notch, with much of the draw around the old fashioned Chinese dish of congee. That's worth a try, but it also has a variety of authentic fares and my suggestion is that you go with someone who knows what to order. No General Tsoa's chicken here, so get used to some good food. As a warning, expect service to be slow and rude...and deal with it, it's worth the wait...
(5)Jimmy C.
3 dollars for a piping hot bowl of congee in NY? Its winter right now...what the hell are you waiting for?
(5)Chi-Chong s.
Ninjas +Really really really good chefs +good service =congee village
(5)Winnie N.
I love Congee Village!!! It's pretty big Chinese resturant wise but you might have to wait a while to get seated if you're there for dinner or on weekends. The food is delicious and inexpensive. The food comes almost imediately after you order it. They have soo many choices of congee and it's all under $5. Go back many times and try it all. My favorite dish is the garlic roasted chicken. Yum. =) If those aren't your favorite foods, their menu is huge so there's a lot to choose from.
(4)Mindy F.
We go here almost every week. My partner gets deep fried scallops off - menu, and I get veggie congee or pan fried tofu, and for greens, the snow pea leaves. When we've had the veggie dumplings for two dollars they were good. We've consistently found that the original Allen St. place, not their Bowery location, has fresher food, especially in non rush times. Open late, big bar.
(4)Samantha W.
This is an excellent restaurant!!! I would totally recommend all my friends to go here. Some dishes they have are not served on most other restaurants. I love their soy sauce fried/steam tofu... yummy!!! =)
(5)Sun M.
My favorite place to eat in chinatown for strait up chinese food. The food is fresh and light entrees can be ordered. The wait is slightly long but still worth it.
(4)Kei Ling W.
Tried all the recommended items: -House special chicken: Delicious how the chicken skin still remains crispy even emersed in the garlicky sauce. Great with rice. -Pork and preserved egg congee has always been one of my favorites. It's good here and they serve it in a nice black cauldron for a great food presentation. -Mantao with sweet condensed milk is sooo good, however, I thought it was a bit too expensive for the tiny portion. -Fresh garlic squid was very fresh: First time I had it here it was very salty. Second time it was much better.
(4)John H.
Has a special place in my heart (mostly because my family goes soo friggin often). The leafy greens are good, so are the house special chicken and congee. There's a flounder dish cooked two ways that is also very good. Bathroom is slightly gross.
(4)Kerry S.
Recently went here for a Meetup Group dinner and had a nice time. Everything was preordered for us - and it was fun to try new dishes. The cold jellyfish salad was an experience - great dressing with a bit of a "kick"! Would like to go again and pick my own menu to get a taste of some other dishes.
(4)L. Z.
My Chinese food credentials: I was born in Beijing and have been back at least once a year my entire life. I lived in Asia for a few years after college. I grew up eating nothing but home made Chinese food. That said, I think Congee is the best Chinese resteraunt I have eaten at in NY (outside of flushing). The key is to know what to order. I would recommend the sautéed crab (amazing flavor), the house chicken (juiciest chicken I have ever eaten), the fried shrimp (delicious shrimp flavor packets - warm and gooey) and of course the congee (cheap and delicious! ). Highly recommended. P.s. There are two locations fairly close together. Make sure you and your friends are meeting at the right one. But the food at both is great!
(5)One D.
Just go primarily for the congee and you won't be disappointed. The SAMPAN CONGEE that has peanuts and duck skin is delicious, but the rest of the menu is never consistent. I think the Allen street location is better than Bowery and has a nicer atmosphere. Some items like house special chicken, crispy frog, and razor clams have at times been great, but lately it seems to be getting few and far between. Most of the service staff are horrible, but that is to be expected.
(3)Zy W.
Great place for almost all kinds of occasions. Pretty authentic Chinese/Cantonese food even for Chinese people. Fast, good service, take reservations. I would say the only con is something it's a bit noisy.
(5)Stephanie T.
Too bad the food is great, cause the service sucks really bad. They didn't even refill our tea and our food didn't come out until 30 minutes later.
(1)Vicky L.
Congee Village is so good. I had three chinese meals in two days, and this is the one that stood out the most. First off, the congee is amazing. I tried the preserved egg and salted pork congee ( a staple and benchmark ) and it really made an impression. First, it came in a clay pot with an extremely long handled spoon, that in itself was pretty unique and awesome. Second, the "jook" ( chinese for congee ) came out bubbling hot. It was as if they just finished cooking it in that clay pot and brought it straight out to the table so it would be served piping hot. All the other food we tried was also really good. Not too oily or over msg'ed. This place is AWESOME.
(5)Margaret I.
Disclaimer - I did not end up eating here. Why: My husband and I put our names in (for 2 people) and were told 15 to 20 minutes. After an hour of watching much larger, more recent arrived parties be seated we gave up. The menu looked great, but we were hungry.
(2)Cindy Y.
I love this place good Chinese food. My bf and I came here few months ago to take my parents out for dinner. I didn't even know they had a location on Allen street. Please is easy to find. Food we order. Squab - must get really good not gamey @ all. Frogs with vegetable love it frogs were meaty Chicken with chips white meat is so tender. Watercress Geo duck Fish filet with snow peas We order so much more but can't remember on top of my head now. Everything is worth the price.
(5)Yon L.
This place has been around forever and offer a pretty decent selection of Chinese staples. Sauteed Dried Squid with chives is great. Fillet of Flounder with crispy fin was perfectly prepared. You can actually munch on and eat the bones b/c of the way they're cooked! The roast duck and the frog meat porridge (congee) are my two favorites. But just as usual (in Chinatown) their service is classically rude and hurried. They also blast their AC to the point where even the men in our group had to put their coats on. They refused to turn it down.
(3)Jen C.
I came here with one of my family members since he said that this place had the best and most authentic congee. So we ended up ordering: Singapore Style Mei Fun: This was alright. They gave a lot but it was a bit dry. It was also a bit spicy. Although there was a good balance of noodles and vegetables/meats. Sliced Pork with Preserved Egg: All of their congees come in a clay pot. It's enough for one person. When it was served, it was still boiling a bit. The consistency of it was also good. I thought this was one of my favorite ones I've had in a long time. The only problem with this dish is that the meat isn't shredded and instead, it's cut. Other than that, it's perfect. This restaurant is a bit large. I thought it was small because we were seated in the smaller section of the restaurant. There's another side with and upper level so I'm not sure how big this restaurant is. But the decor is nice. Service was also good. I'll definitely come back here for another meal.
(4)Jason Z.
Their scheduling is totally broken if you have a small group of people because you don't get to reserve tables and you are always prioritized lower than bigger groups. I had to wait for more thanan hour with my wife even though I was told there were only two groups before me.
(2)Charlie P.
Terrible. The soups are 99% corn starch. The dumplings are pre bought & frozen. They use Basmati rice! The service ignored us. And the table was wobbly. All the hype for nothing.
(1)Jia H.
My favorite pi dan shou rou zhou place so far in NYC. Not as good as mom's but the portions are generous and will satisfy my cravings for Chinese comfort food. One of the few places that is worth a trek down to LES....
(4)Lex T.
Food is GooD. No Need to embellish on the 300 plus great reviews this place has.
(4)Sisi Z.
OK, so the congee is only $4 and there are glossy pictures of dishes on the menu, but there is really nothing to rave about. I tried multiple congees on the menu but they all seemed meh. The first time I got here the waiter also forgot one dish we ordered so we sat around forever waiting for it to come out. At least they could have apologized for messing up the order but nope. This is Chinatown punk. The rest of the food is unremarkable, and reminds me of food that's slapped together quickly and in mass quantities without much thought to seasoning and ingredients. However it would be a decent place to hold a group outing since they have large tables and it's relatively easy to find.
(3)Nyc L.
My favorite restaurant in Chinatown. You can get so many varieties all come with great quality. The food is so fresh and execution is perfect. Can not go wrong with anything.
(5)Roc S.
Attended a party here. The party rented a private room for 5 hrs!!! which was great. Yummy food & drinks, excellent service......only complaint...there was a limited selection of good songs....old school favorites or contemporary jams.
(3)Susan V.
Food is decent but service sucks. They take forever to get me my check on a night where there's barely anyone eating there. Servers have a bad attitude and don't bring utensils when they bring you your food. Maybe if I were white and came in with a group of white friends, they'd act like they give a shit. Oh yeah, and their fried dumplings suck.
(2)Kevin F.
Went here on a recommendation and am sure glad we did!! Authentic Cantonese restaurant like back home (San Francisco) - killer tofu dishes, spareribs, and house chicken. We're definitely heading back!
(5)Kenny N.
A star each for.the individual colors. White for rice, beige for pork, green for scallions, black for preserved egg. Subtract 1 for the hair. Overall, it was an ok neal. All the signage outside made me curious, so I'm glad I experimented. They also served complimentary tea here.
(3)Miao W.
here's a fortune cookie: A thrilling time is in store for you. Lucky Numbers: S538 (Frog w/ chives), S527(Lobster w/ ginger & scallion), 714 (Snow Peas Leaf w/ garlic), 402 (Sliced Pork & Preserved Egg Porridge) Learn Chinese: girlfriend = neu pung you here's another fortune cookie: Life is a verb. (what do you think? eat.)
(4)Brice D.
First of all: SERVICE IS SH*T !!! I asked a waitress for water twice and she just looked at me and went away with a hand sign saying "yeah yeah whatever". And it wasn't even packed that day. I had to ask another waiter (also twice) to finally get my water. Took 15 minutes. The food is good though, but the service ruined my experience there. If the service doesn't matter to you then go.
(3)Olivia C.
Service SUCKS, waiters take their sweet time cleaning tables or caring about the diner. Waiter LAUGHED at me when I asked for no MSG in the congee. The seafood is SH-T quality and they give you a flimsy amount of anything on these GIANT plates to make them look grand. If you get delivery for lunch, I suppose it's worth it since they come super quick and give you a large amount of rice that comes with whatever you ordered for $4. Tons of places in chinatown that are WAY WAY BETTER. Expect to wait a LONG 4SS time if you are a group smaller than 4!
(2)Viola L.
So silly of me for not ordering congee at congee village! But I did try my friend's, so I have some basis of judging! I ordered the combination fried rice and it was just as I had expected it: deliciously yummy. It was some good quality fried rice. I've been to some places where the meat looks sketchy and the rice doesn't seem right. But their fried rice was pretty solid. The congee was decent. I've definitely had better ones but the quality makes up for the average-ness. Pretty good value too. Service was a bit slow, but there were a lot of people so that's understandable.
(4)Bonnie T.
the best tomato and beef over rice (lunch menu) ever. i mean... second best!
(4)Alan P.
I came here with a few Asian friends for a bday dinner and Idk if its bcz its their cuisine that they knew exactly what to order but the food was delicious.. I came here tonight with my girl and my newborn, we ordered the simple house special fried rice and beef with broccoli.. well lemme tell u that the rice was yellow, no color, the shrimp wasn't cleaned and my beef with broccoli was a small portion and hardly and broccoli, and it was under cooked. Not only that, but they made it super obvious that I wasnt welcomed.. Not coming back.
(2)Mike X.
This place is great. Amazing value for the money and very extensive menu. Sometimes the service is strange, but there can be a considerable language barrier. The way I take it is that there is a very well balanced efficiency the way they run things in this restaurant from the kitchen to the tables. Everyone in this place knows their job and does it to the T. Its obvious in the consistency that comes from this place. I have been here 5 times and have never had anything I wouldnt consider recomending to someone. And ive tried alot of this menu.
(4)Jenn T.
i've been here twice for a "quick snack". both times we ordered the pork/egg congee with a sizzling hot plate and both times they tasted great. wish i could give a better review but i haven't tried anything new yet. i will make it a ritual to stop by this place every time i drive down to nyc as our first pit stop
(4)Joe C.
probably one of the best chinese full dinner restaurants in nyc. and extremely cheap/affordable, the chinese food is amazing and very good. the seafood is excellent as are the congee. they have weird little cocktail drinks which i never tried, but you can't go wrong with the cheap congee or the other excellent dinner dishes. highly recommended. beware of the touristy wait though.
(3)Kim N.
I've been here a couple times and it always feels like an amusement park, in a good way. You know, the glazed wood decor...just like Splash Mtn at Disneyland. Splash yourself with some congee because it is so so cheap and delicious. The menu seems tantalizing. I have yet to dine here with a large group in order to try various dishes. All of the different congees I've had were great. I don't think you can go wrong. The steamed dumplings are juicy. The bamboo fried rice is pretty good, as well. The atmosphere is suitable for all walks of life. I need to bring my Nintendo DS next time so I can battle one of the Asian kids.
(5)Jacqueline B.
Best Chinese on NYC. Family style portions, fast service, and good prices! Real authentic chinese cooking. Excellent Mai Tai' s.......yum yum
(5)Michael S.
I love this place. My daughter loves this place. The fake tree, the goldfish pond and the food - here are my recommendations: Flounder Two Ways - Crispy and then very savory - beautiful fish House Special Whole Chicken - The skin is crispy but the soy-garlic sauce is what makes it great. Duck and Meat Ball Congee - My favorite congee there - the way that the duck flavors everything is nice and the meatballs are good.
(5)P.J. J.
I recently ordered some delivery from here and not having a menu, I just ordered my favorite Chinese dish; Orange Chicken and Steamed Veg. Dumplings. The food came pretty darn fast which is the one good thing I will say about this place. At first, I thought they got my order wrong because what I saw didn't look like what I usually get when I order the above...but it was right, and it was GROSS! I had about two bites before it went into the garbage. The dumplings where not any better. The karaoke rooms are fun, but bring a bag dinner.
(2)Cleperson L.
hey people, if you feel like eating tasty squid deep fried in sumpin special, enjoy getting stares from other people because you and your family have ordered so much food, or just like the taste of a big ass garlic crab, come to congee village. i wasn't crazy about the red bean drink. my almond bubble tea was aight too. i think i didn't like it so much cos i have a cavity and it hurt when i drank. when it didn't sting, i loved it! came with my family and a baby. pretty kid friendly cos it's so bustlin and nobody really notices rice bein thrown. that is it.
(4)Ricky L.
best cantonese restaurant in NYC period.
(5)Akshat A.
I went to Congee on a Thursday night and it was still full. The food is excellent. I had rice bake with chicken and salted fish. It comes in a cool looking hollow bamboo trunk. The service leaves a little to be desired but given the food quality and the prices, this is definitely a place worth going to if you're in the LES area.
(4)Juliet F.
I went with my friends and we met up with some of her extended family there. We had the fried pork chops in sweet and sour sauce, chow fun without the black bean sauce, bittermelon with beef, lobster, and..I forgot the other two dishes. Service was fast (we got in before a huge rush), and everything tasted authentic.
(4)Michelle T.
I really like this place. The food is great and the price is reasonable. I specially like their Congee and their lunch special. The price is cheap compare with other restaurants in Chinatown. But there is only one complaint I have, for the past few Sundays, I went to have dinners there with my friends. I have discover that the dishes on the table are dirty. I have to ask the waiters to change them and I also use the tea to wash them. I think this is a turn off for me. How could they not check the dishes before they put them out on the table. They should change their dishwasher. I will go back there to eat, but I'll have to make sure the dishes are clean.
(3)Jessica A.
To begin, it is probably not the best idea to venture into one of the more popular (or just crowded?) Chinese establishments on the Chinese New Year. Even if you have a reservation, you still may end up waiting an hour or so in a very crowded space with screaming children and a load of hungry, agitated people. In the end, the best food I had while there definitely was the bowl of roasted peanuts from the bar and the lychee martini. The rest...I could do without. I liked the big round tables for large parties. And, it was cheap. But, with such mediocre food, if I had ended up with a large bill, I would have not just been disappointed, I would have been pissed.
(3)Queen G.
Great for large groups! They have many family style dishes. Their congee and baked chicken with rice is really good. I ordered their fried squid too and it was a bit salty. Some of the food on their menu is a little greasy, but they have a lot of options. Great fast service. They also deliver.
(3)Rubie R.
Dear Congee Village, You took an hour to deliver my food because someone forgot to write "delivery" on the bag. Maybe I should've forgotten to pay you. I see why your House Fried Chicken is named so: I can do soy sauce and garlic at my own crib. Congee is always comforting but yours was not enough to make me go out of my way to return. Probably the only good thing that came from this was inspiring me to get off my lazy a$$ and make my own homemade congee, Filipino style. (Arroz Caldo, baby.) And I probably would've made it before you arrived with my delivery. In closing, you were not all that and I can do bad all by myself.
(2)Michael M.
I was given the mission of finding a place where my friends and I could have New Years eve dinner with all the usual pain in the azz prereqs you always have with a group of people ( make sure there is something for everyone - vegetarians, dieters, carnivores). Congee Village meet all the requirements and exceeded all expectations. The service was fantastic, the food was amazing and I cant wait to get my tail back there for another round of Short Ribs in brown sauce and Saki. And I cant forget to mention Congee Village is very inexpensive - hell dinner w/ lots of booze was a mere 30 pp !
(5)Linda S.
Looove the name because I'm a big fan of rice porridge. I really liked their seafood casserole dishes and deep fried pork chops. The place kind of reminds of Joy Yee's in Chicago because of the young and hip atmosphere, unfortunately the bubble teas here are quite a disappointment. The Happy Birthday music was quite amusing, sounded like something coming from a really terrible b-movie.
(4)Crystal L.
having grown up in monterey park, california (aka chinese food heaven), i felt this was the only chinese restaurant comparable to the ones in cali. in fact, they probably have the best congee i've eaten- the rice is boiled to perfection- not too mushy, but just enough (the seafood one and the chicken with abalone are the best). other things worth mentioning is their sweet buns with condensed milk (awesome!!!) and fish in soy sauce. i haven't tried many other dishes, but from looking at other tables and smelling the food from the tables next to me, i have confidence that everything is just as good. this is a must go for asian food lovers!!
(5)Joseph D.
I was recently brought here and the food is great, excellent variety and very reasonably priced. The restaurant was clean and the service was good, as with most restaurants some tables are better than others, we were sat at a fairly small table but it was nice and created a more intimate dinning experience, however, the lighting here is bright. Most importantly about the service, is that we were never rushed out, the food all came out very fast and mostly at the same time but we were able to eat at our own slow pace and talk without ever feeling rushed and the service was still attentive, so it wasn't because they forgot us. I think this may be be a new spot I will be a regular at.
(4)Susan L.
The congee here is pretty good, along with the fried dough. The atmosphere of the place is pretty amazing and impressive. I would definitely come here again for the congee.
(4)Johnny Y.
The price of the dishes cost more then other local asian restaurants. The food is mediocre. Nothing that will really "wow" you. I would recommend to explore other asian restaurants that has better palettes. This is definitely a tourist attraction. Don't fall for it! Unless your not from around here! I STILL would not recommend it!
(2)Ting X.
i'm only giving 4 stars for the congee. try the preserved egg and pork congee. everything else is just so-so. servers are hard to communicate with--even though i speak chinese fluently! our waiter left a dish out and we were waiting forever for our steamed dumplings, half of which were broken when they arrived. it's a popular latenight spot, so be prepared for a wait if you got after or around 9:00.
(4)Charlie L.
I have been to CV a bunch of times and last night (9/25/2010) will be the last time we will ever go there. A little background: I was there last night with my wife, mom, daughter (2.5), brother in law and his wife at around 9PM. We were seated fairly quickly, like 15-20 minutes. When the food is cooked right, it does taste quite good, but here is why we will never go back again: 1) The last several times we have been there, for some reason, we have to ask like literally! 3-4 times for our white rice. Last night we asked twice. 2) The last several times we have been there, they have forgotten a dish or two OR it would take for ever for them to come out. One time, my wife and I was waiting for congee (doh!) and they actually forgot! So we cancelled that order. At a different time, they also forgot the fried ribs, but we decided to keep that after reminding them. Last night we thought they were going to forget our ribs again and another dish but they got them out after a bit of wait. 3) The waiters all seem TO NOT BE HAPPY and I feel that I don't want to be at a restaurant where the people serving or cooking for you isn't the least bit friendly. I mean come on, crack a smile! Pretend if you have to! 4) Last night we were never offered the customary peanut appetizer or the red bean soup at the end (we did get oranges.) 5) Okay here it is, the mother of them all: when we did get the fried ribs I mentioned earlier, I took one piece and it was delicious as expected but when I bit into a second piece, there was BLOOD on the bone and meat. It was literally dripping from the inside. I almost threw up. I eat my steak medium/rare but not my PORK! So we politely sent it back for them to cook it right, (we asked nicely b/c I believe in treating your waiters right.) But guess what? It came out still uncooked! WWWWTTTTTFFFFF!?!?! Were we being punked?!?! We ALWAYS TIP OK, but it feels like WTF? My brother in law foot the bill last night and I never asked him what he left but if it was me, I woulda left a BUCK tip. We decided to return the ribs period! I almost wanted to speak to the manager, but I feel like the horrible service is a reflection of management and I would be wasting my time. I mean COME ON, we were nice enough to give them a second chance to cook it right but it came out raw again! So you can see, it seems like each time I went there it got progessively worse and this was the last straw! I don't feel like playing Russian Roulette with my dinner. BTW you can see their kitchen a little bit from the back (Orchard St) b.c. we parked there last night and I can tell you it wasn't what you would call clean. HHHMMMMMMPH!
(1)Alaine H.
I don't know why I haven't written a review of Congee Village yet. This has been a go-to place to take friends (esp. Asian ones) b/c its pretty authentic. Even my parents thinks its all right - considering the fact that they live in Singapore. I really like to order the pan fried pork w/ salted fish, plain congee, and a vegetable dish of sorts. We also like the fried buns b/c it comes with sweet condensed milk for dipping. Their noodles is also delicious. I haven't had a bad meal here and the prices are pretty good, especially if you go in a big group. I remember I took a group of ten of us here and the bill came to about $100 total so that means it was only $10 per person for a ton of dishes! Word travels pretty quickly about this place and now its filled w/ folks wanting to eat authentic Chinese cuisine w/out having to go to Queens. I just hope they don't change the tastes to suit the new "locale" coming in.
(4)Daniel L.
Listen up, non-Chinese folks! This is place is the REAL DEALof Southern Chinese food of various styles. How can your gweilo ass tell? The menu. It's got stuff on there that would make most Americans give that sour imperialist face that they are so good at making (note: I'm not anti-American. Yes, I am. No, I'm not. Yes, I am. Well not entirely...). Oxblood, bitter melon, fishhead, etc. are indeed ingredients you won't find at your local Hunan Garden or Happy Corner or whatever. I've come here a few occasions, and always for a birthday dinner. It's really great for groups! I won't bore you with the details of the decor and service because as I have said before, it's irrelevant when reviewing Chinese restaurants. It's all about the food and Congee Village just excels in this department. Everything I've tried here tastes good. The cooking techniques and the execution of those techniques on the ingredients are sumptuous! The eggplant and tofu casserole was SOO good! It was perfectly flavored and the sauce was perfectly thick. The stir fries were not par-boiled but rather perfectly textured, and not over oily at all. The congee was spot on too! Congee Village, despite it popularity with non-Chinese, is smartly a Chinese restaurant for the Chinese and the Chinese palette. And because of this, the food is all the better because it isn't trying to accommodate and adapt to the often too sweet Western palette. The way to eat here is what ya'll call "family style." Ordering your own dish and not really sharing is antithetical to our philosophy on eating and food so really, eat this way and you can taste so many dishes and pay so much less! Our party had 16 people and we ordered 6 or 7 dishes of appetizers and then 8 main dishes and it all came out to $26 a head including drinks and tip! It's like JIGGA WHA? In Manhattan? IS YOU PLAYIN'? Nope! And pity the fool who don't come here!
(5)Wilbert O.
At the new year, I went with my friend to the Congee Village at the Allen Street near China Town in NYC. We waited there for almost one half hour, as there was a long que and the time was not right. The food proved that it was worthwhile waiting. We order tow main courses, one soup and two congees. I am a little pickey in food, but i should say the food is superb. The lobster we ordered was spendid, and the congee was superb, and the soup would be my favorite. I love this place. Next time when I visit NYC, it is on top of my destinations.
(4)Alice C.
I made this yelp account just to complain about Congee Village, I don't even know why there is such a high rating on them. Maybe because I am Chinese and I know that any restaurant in Chinatown is better than them? They are super stingy on ingredients, dirty, the staff walks around picking their nose AND they use enough msg to make me drink gallons of water prior to sleeping! I would name restaurants deeper in Chinatown that are amazing, but that would just make me look shady. BUT trust me, DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE - they are simply over rated.
(1)Kirby K.
I very rarely eat Chinese cuisine in restaurants because usually I am hugely disappointed. But...my friend dragged me, and to my surprise it was not bad at all. You may not receive the best service, but the congee or jook as we call it in Cantonese...is pretty impressive. Especially for the price! The other stuff--I can't judge because I didnt try it. I'd recommend it. I'm sure my dad would approve too.
(4)Angela C.
The menu here is huge, but we just turned to the last page for the extensive list of congee varieties. I had the crab, but I probably should have just had the vegetable b/c the crab is so much shell and I find that intimidating (my problem, I know). In any case, it was delicious! My dining mate had the pork and crazy old egg madness variety and he gave it the first-generation chinese american thumbs up. We split some crispy but not overcooked scallion pancakes and perfectly sauteed snowpea leaves (yum!). It was all perfect for a late-ish weeknight dinner. Even if the food hadn't been good (but it was really good), the massive split level dining experience on the LES is something else. The other reviewers are not joking about the snazzy decor--whoa! We didn't have a wait, and the service was prompt and courteous. The only reason I can't give 5 stars is to me that's more of a 'drop everything and come here' rating, and if you are happy with the congee experience you have in your life, no rush, just check out CV sometime when you are in the hood.
(4)Justine H.
after a full day of wandering the w. village, chinatown, the les, and the east village, scouring for happy hour deals and cheap eats, we came upon congee village, feet swollen, hearts full, livers slowly dying, stomachs empty, but spirits high. '10 minute wait,' said the lady at the front desk. sure, why not. lets get ourselves drinks at the bar. 1 tsing tao 1 macallan 12 $11 ding ding ding!!! winner. so, umm.. 30 minutes later (thank god for those drinks).... once we were seated at a rather curious table that faced the wall (literally), we decided on our order - pork & preserved egg congee (a personal fave), peking style pork chop, and 1/2 a duck. while the congee completely stole the show, the other dishes were pretty good too, though not mindblowing. i was a bit critical of the peking pork chop bc the sweetness reminded me too much of general tso's chicken, but the mister enjoyed it quite a bit, and said it was "just what he expected". i guess i was just craving something different. the duck was tasty, and the congee more than made up for what was lacking in the pork. a bit of chili oil would've helped, im sure. so the wait was longer than what we had originally been told. so we were seated in a corner where we were forced to stare at a wall. so our table was located in a room the size of my closet with 2 other tables and wafts of smoke coming in from one of the larger spacier tables outside. so the pork was too sweet for my liking. maybe all these things should've left me giving this place 2-3 stars. the fact of the matter is, their congee REALLY was amazing. and a scotch and beer for $11? that was the best deal we'd gotten all day!
(4)Quinn R.
I'm beginning to fear that I don't have a solid grasp of what makes Chinese food good. I go into this place and it's packed with Chinese nationals, and I walk away feeling like I'm not enjoying it as much as them. I think it's that my bland American palette was not so thrilled by the fried chicken-head staring up at me. Or the bland, almost soupless soup dumplings. Decor-wise, this place is like some kind of bizarre theme restaurant. The tables are lit from below, and there's crazy bamboo and red velvet curtains. A +++ for creative decor. Not So Good Stuff: -Chicken-head staring up at me, asking "why?" -Lengthy Wait Good Stuff: -Potent Lychee Martinis at the bar -Crazy Themed Decor
(2)Malik C.
I remember when this place first opened up only occupying the first floor with their humble and small space. The food was excellent, on eof the best in chinatown and they expanded. Now they gotten so large that they don't really care anymore about the food, the portions got smaller and they changed good chefs. They treat tourist better than locals who been coming here since they opened. The service is a complete joke, and i'm used to no service at other chinese joints. The waiters are just so rude and the managers don't care either. I went here once and there was a hair in my congee and told them to bring it back, they brought back the same one just hotter so it can look like a different congee. Then i saw a little mouse running around the dining area, and that was the last time i went there.
(1)Jana D.
Crazy crowded - and the wait for a table is long, even with reservations. Went for a birthday party with a group of friends. Food is good (though I'm a little squeamish to try some of their dishes - my friends were game for turtle soup but I was not). Love love love the decor. Drinks were nice - liked the lychee cocktail. Definitely recommend for a evening out with friends.
(4)Christina A.
An NYC must. Its always crowded for a reason. The food is always very tasty and abundant for a reasonable price.
(4)Mr. Met s.
People, come here for the lunch menu. Their "other" menu is overpriced and honestly it isn't that good. Sure, the "other" menu have the more exquisite items like albaone, seafood, and such - but it's pretty average. (Sorry, I do not remember the items) Their lunch menu is ultra cheap(3.50 to 5 bucks)lots of goodies and rice. I love the Sweet Vegetables with beef and bitter melon with chicken. Check out their lunch menu. I am not sure if the lunch menu is available during late hours like from 6pm to closing......... Sure this place looks nice because the front and most of inside is made of bamboo. Service is of Chinatown norm, they have a small bar, and honestly their best feature is the karaoke private rooms downstairs.(There, you and your friends/family can enjoy a good meal in privacy and with some singing.) You have to make a reservation in order to get it. I still like this place and recommend you to bring your family and friends here. Remember NO parking from 4pm-7pm in front of the restaurant meters. This area does have viable parking, unlike the heart of Chinatown.
(3)Nick W.
We came across Congee Village like a beacon of neon light after being out in the LES. It was just before 1am but they still seated us and oh god it was delicious. There were three of us and we were hungry after the bars so we ended up getting an absolute feast: the 1/2 house special chicken, soft shell crab, general tso's (i know, i know), congee with preserved egg and pork, and the juicy buns. All of that came out to only $40, this is some of the best Chinese food in the city for sure.
(4)jack c.
They have an extensive congee menu. I've also had the walnut shrimp, salt pepper pork chops, and salty fish chicken eggplant casserole. All the dishes were prepared really well. On a side note, congee village has cheap strong drinks.
(4)Rita K.
I came here on Chinese New Year, celebrated it with my fellow coworkers (gan pei!). The place was very busy, the hostess was friendly but not helpful, I asked her where my party was and she told me to go downstairs...ok? downstairs where? There were a bunch of rooms downstairs, and she expected me to sneak my head into every room (please be mindful that there were about 8 big tables in each room). After a 5 minutes of search and a bit of luck, I managed to find my party. They ordered the food, and there were fried peanuts on the table (yeah, fried, not roasted, they used oil to cook it). We waited for about 20 mins, which I didn't really mind, we were served with booze (sake, beer, Chinese vodka which was seriously intoxicating) and I had great companions. The lobster salad came first, followed with fried pigeons, clam stir fry, steamed fish with a bit of oil, tofu with something, etc (please excuse my memory, it was a about a month ago and there were a LOT of food served). One thing I remember clearly though, the food was a bit too greasy for my taste (except for the lobster salad, yummy and refreshing). They served this stir fry vegetable with tiny fried fish on a basket. When you lift up the paper on the basket, the oil literally dripped, that's how greasy the food was. The waiters were nice even though we never communicate (I don't speak either Cantonese or Mandarin sadly). Would I come again? Probably not, the food doesn't really suit my taste
(3)Steve K.
Quality Chinese food for cheap. Doesn't get better than that.
(5)Natalie E.
My all time favorite restaurant! I can only say wonderful things about Congee Village. The food is so fresh, from the pan fried flounder to the walnut jumbo shrimp. I always try to order different things but somehow I always get stuck on a few dishes. The congee is delicious with all of their different mix ins. I love the fried jumbo crab. I definitely enjoy the house fried rice with chinese broccoli and garlic. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, especially on Holidays they are always opened!
(5)Joel M.
Going to a group dinner with 20 people is never easy. They did a good job, minus the 45 minute wait. If you don't have room at 930, tell us to come at 10. Other than that, the food was good, the service was pretty quick, and drinks were CHEAP. Would have been 4 starts easily without the wait.
(3)Kim L.
I am a self-proclaimed congee addict.. I take after my father and can never get enough of it.. this location of Congee Village is consistently good even if I order take out..every kind of congee I've tried is YUMMY..if you go earlier in the day ask for a cruller(sp?) to go with it..they run out early.
(5)Nicole L.
A friend of mine claims that Yelp has 2 types of people: Foodies and Fatties. I fall right in between, and Congee Village is the type of place we Foody-Fatties always want! It's like eating your Chinese grandma's food. If you're looking for chow mein and General Tso's chicken, go elsewhere--this place stays pretty authentic and dishes are consistently hearty and really satisfying.
(3)Jessica D.
The menu variety is amazing. Rice Baked with shitake mushrooms will have you praising buddha, and it comes in a treasure chest log for some reason. Healthy Vegetarian porridge, though it sounds like gruel is actually very tasty albeit scalding. The sweet potato pancakes' consistency is like bubble gum meets french fries - gotta try it at least once as well as just about everything on the anytime dim sum section of the menu. The prices are good, too, with food items from about $2-$3 and up. It's a real Chinatown spectacle, complete with large lazy Suzan tables, blinking Christmas lights 365 days a year and actual Chinese people. I just can't help but get the sense that they wish I was Chinese, too.
(4)M.C K.
Surprisingly a nice place to have a chow-out. Their house special chicken was delicious with a crispy skin and soy-sauce. We also had chow fun noodles. Although great in taste they could not beat the house special chicken.
(4)masateru y.
Great & safe place for Chinese food. Many local people come here, I guess. Peking Duck was great & sophisticated, if you will go with many friend... Haven't tried Congee yet. Is it good?
(4)Noah L.
Disclaimer: I'm not a huge Chinese food aficionado, I'm not Chinese, I don't travel to China all the time, and I'm not a professional food critic. This review is simply the opinion of a white dude from NYC who likes food. :) Had dinner at Congee Village last night for a longtime friend's birthday. Love the decor -- it's fun, festive, energetic. I think restaurants with a vibrancy like this make for an overall fun experience, because somewhere in your head you're going to think "well if all these people are having so much fun, it must be great, right?" Food was decent - nothing spectacular. Felt like "authentic" Chinese cuisine...not your beef-and-broccoli or crispy-orange-beef type of place. Real deal stuff. Take that as you will -- I consider myself fairly curious and excited about interesting foods, but when my table ordered the congealed duck's blood, well, that threw me for a loop a bit (to be fair, the adventurous ones who tried it said it was really good...like tofu just, well, bloody tofu.). We had a good mix of food -- some veggies, some steak, some chicken, some crab. All good -- nothing to write home about (very oily and greasy stuff), but satisfying. My only complaints were that it was LOUD in there. Like, really loud. Like, I was sitting in a round table and actually couldn't hear the person across from me, even when he was screaming at me (and I'm not deaf). So overall, would I go back? Probably not. Would I warn you to stay away? No...it's a good authentic Chinese food experience, but not really deserving of more than 3 stars.
(3)Jennifer N.
MUST TRY THE HOUSE SPECIAL CHICKEN!!! Absolutely delicious. The service is ok, and the place is ok in terms of cleanliness, but the food makes it an absolute must go to place. Try the taipeng noodles too. It's probably my second favorite dish there. They have the most amazing chinese food. It may not be the cheapest in the area, but its definitely worth the money. My favorite thing about this place is that they're open late. My family always comes here to eat after a late flight. I believe it's open until 1am, so it was very convenient for us to grab a good, filling dinner. I'm chinese and i'm used to eating chinese food every day of my life, but if you want real authentic delicious chinese food, come here. It's not going to disappoint.
(5)Mathew S.
Congee Village is a great place to go for Chinese in New York. It's cheap, the food is eclectic and it has a great atmosphere. You have to try one of the congee dishes, a sort of Chinese porridge, very tasty. If you get the one with preserved egg you're in for a treat. I also really like the salt and pepper squid and fried rice with Chinese sausage. Wash it all down with a Tsingtao beer. This place is filled with Chinese people so you know it's good. I always do wonder how come they seem to get special service and free shit. Unfair! Warning: I went there for a birthday party once, and we got the pancake dessert, yuck...stick to main courses. The Chinese version of "Happy Birthday" made up for it though.
(5)Amanda B.
There is something about being able to get congee delivered when I'm sick that makes me really appreciate being in New York. When I was little my mom would always force feed me congee so this place is the closest I can get. I look forward to actually going there one day and ordering all the weird Chinese things that gross everyone out...
(3)Claudia Z.
A favorite, for the food, decor, and general convivality. You will definitely get a kick out of the old school Chinese environs meets 60s mod furniture meets festively plaided up waiters - I always get a kick out of their bowties! This place is great for a group. The last time I came here there was 7 of us and we shared the snow pea greens sauteed with garlic, 2 heaping platters of salt and pepper squid - which are fresh out of the frier! - a whole steamed flounder - we watched with awe as the waiter removed the entire skeleton without breaking a bone - and meat dishes ( I didn't pay attention to what these were cuz I couldn't eat them). When we split the bill, it was only 13 dollars a person including tip! Can't tell you much about the congee...I think I've only had the one with the fish and I burned my tongue and thought it was a little on the soupy side - I like my congee thicker. I hear the lychee martinis are fantastic..
(4)Tony L.
So the interior is a little mismatched and if you're seated downstairs you might end up next to a karaoke room serenaded by some agonized howls, but it doesn't matter since you're here for the food. This is authentic Chinese food at its best--authentic, great tasting, and cheap with filling portions. Don't let the name fool you, there are literally hundreds of other menu items on here that aren't congee. A couple dishes my family loves are salted fish, chicken and eggplant, chicken and bitter melon, and the beef chow fun. Congee Village is also great for take out or delivery.
(4)Cindy G.
I've only gotten takeout here and have been satisfied every time. I call in about 10-15 minutes beforehand and the food is always ready by the time I get there. I LOVE the congee here. It reminds me of home in so many ways. The pork+egg congee is always a classic, so you can't go wrong with ordering this. If you are a seafood lover, I'd highly recommend the crab or lobster congee. You actually get a full mini crab or several chunks of lobster in the congee. Also, have I mentioned how cheap the food here is? You can definitely spend less than $10 and feel super full. Also, this place is opened until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights. The bar has a large variety of very reasonably priced options, so if you're in the LES and find the bar options to be too pricey, you can always consider stopping by Congee Village.
(5)Lowie T.
mmmm...the simple pleasures of a delicious, hearty bowl of congee. it's immediately identifiable, yet such a simple thing. who would think "rice porridge" could be so complex?! it's one of my favorite comfort foods growing up and i actually still make it regularly, with chicken. i haven't had congee made so well until i had it at congee village, appropriately named. they have a variety of congees, but i think any one you get will be good. i have gotten the frog meat one and liver one, and both were excellent, depending on your preference of meats (and how adventuresome you feel). i think the secret lies in the porridge base. the consistency is smooth and not too thick or thin. and it has a nice hearty depth of flavor, like a stock that had been simmering with various beef/chicken bones, slowly packing in all the flavor. it comes out in a little clay pot which gives off a homemade touch, even though no one cooks congee in that lol. add some scallions, and you have THE perfect comfort food on a cold, blistery day. next dish i love here are the rice-baked items! it's almost like a semi-sticky rice cooked with various meats and veggies (i've tried the chicken & shitake, and mushroom & frog). baked inside a wooden log, the sauce from the meats & veggies coat the rice ever so lightly so that even though it's white rice, which i am typically not a fan of, it's so delicious that i couldn't stop eating! the salt baked squid was not a winner though. there seemed to be half the amount of squid to veggie ratio...kind of a rip off. but other than that, we've gotten various veggie dishes, all cooked with a lot of "wok" fire, as they call it- a testimony to a good chef. this is somewhere i'd be confident bringing my parents to when they visit me in nyc.
(5)Ro N.
The 5 stars are of course for the FOOD and PRICE! I love love love this place to get my seafood fix! I definitely don't come here for the decor or the service! I come here to get Texas sized entrees for dirt cheap! I am obsessed with their free offerings of lightly toasted and just the right amount of salt----peanuts! Guess what---their water already has a lemony zest, so no need to ask the wait staff for your own lemon wedges! Hooray! I like to get their Seafood with Fish Maw Soup or their preserved egg with sliced pork soup! Of course their lobster-----ginger & scallions or the butter version! Or get them to add the Garlic and Pepper sauce on your lobster - this sauce taste the bomb diggity with your rice. TRUST ME I know FOOD! The crabs are good too... they offer blue stone crabs and dungeoness! It's sooooooooooo good with the Garlic and Pepper sauce that seriously when I eat this dish...the world shuts down and so does my mouth. I think this is the only time I am not rambling my mouth away. There's a moment of silence when I eat the Dungeoness Crab here! I also love their razor clam with black bean sauce-Yums! Get there early and watch out for the mean ol' Asian grannies that want to push you out of the way---they are ruthless! (I had to tell one of them what's up!) You can get seated a lot quicker if you have a party of 2 not 5! I like this location better than Bowery.
(5)steve o.
NEVER GO HERE! WORSE SERVICE HORRIBLE/COLD FOOD OVER RATED Worse service i have ever had in my life! Waiter took roughly 20 minutes to come over to the table to get a drink order. Which he did not even ask for our drinks rather asked for our food. After telling him this, he took both orders. Brought my can of soda closed with a straw on the side. Pretty low if you ask me. Next we ordered appetizers. I received my entree instead. about 10 minutes later my mothers entree came out. Roughly 15 minutes later we were fed up with waiting for anything. The waiter multiple times looked directly at us while we were waving to him and walked away. Finally when we got up to walk out he came over with our check. They expected us to pay for 4 dishes, 2 of which never came out and the 2 that did came out ice cold. We paid $10 for a soda and some what of a tip. The waiter proceed to chase us out of the restaurant demanding we pay for everything. Completely rude and unprofessional. I explained we were not paying and he was lucky we left anything at all.
(1)Michelle Q.
O.m.g. why didn't I know about this place sooner? This place has to be the best chinese food I've ever had since I moved back from LA. Weekend is super packed with super long line even with reservation. Hence, the wait can be an hour long. Service is fast and food comes in speed of light. I don't have anything bad to say about this place but drooling over their amazingly delicious dishes. YUM.
(5)Matt K.
SUPER PACKED!!! We were a large group of about 30 people and had reservations, but still waited about 30 mins in order to get seated. Once seated, this place was a mad house. People everywhere, servers running around, mad chaos. The food was decent, not the best but also not the worst that I have had. I will say, our server really took the extra time at the end to cut our cake and serve it...for 30 people. We only bought 1 cake but he made it work, everyone got a piece and there was some leftovers. Mad skills man.
(3)W Y.
The congee here is msg-ridden! There's got to be better places than here. This place is just hype.
(2)Laurie c.
A lot of people have been raving about this place. And, I thought this place was pretty fancy until I found out about the one on Bowery. Both serve the same food, but the one on Bowery is newer. This is a must try if you like Chinese food!!! They have a mix of cheap and higher priced dishes so it's possible to go for a cheap meal or a fancy dinner. They serve a mix of traditional and specialty dishes. I always get the congee and hope that they serve me the yummy sago soup dessert at the end.
(5)Sooj O.
I miss you, Congee Village, with your tacky decor and your long congee menu. You serve congee for cheap, you serve whole parties of my rancorous friends who want to cobble together twelve different dishes into an harmonious meal. You have weird green glass on the floor that looks below to a slight sunken space that does nothing whatsoever. It's weird, and neither I nor my friends understand it whatsoever. But you serve really great congee and it's cheap. And you serve many varieties of congee, all cheap. And your waiters talk loud and briskly; their pens fly writing down the order. Your decor and your waiters aren't comforting, but your congee and your prices are.
(5)lora c.
Congee Village is the place you visit when you're A) in a large group or B) too lazy/too afraid to venture into Chinatown for the real stuff. Portions are generous, though prices are slightly higher than most places in Chinatown and you end up paying more so for the atmosphere and size of the restaurant than anything else. Still, even if you order family style or a la carte, the bill won't break the bank and you can easily come away for under $10 a person. I have never goen wrong with a noodle, rice, or congee dish and they have their lunch menu all day.The staff still speaks little to no English but the menus are easy to navigate and there's plenty for anyone's taste. Plus they serve congee (a delicious and extremely comforting Chinese rice porridge, flavored with salt, pork, chicken, duck or whatever your little heart desires) at all hours of the day-- which is something that most restaurants do not do after noon. Have a bowl of congee and be sure to order the "you tiao"-- a chinese salty donut-- to accompany your congee. This fried doughy krueller is perfect for dipping-- kind of the equivalent I guess of saltines in soup. Oh, and Congee Village is also convenient before a night downtown. The place has an well-stocked bar with cheaaaaaaaaap drinks so don't hesitate to have a boozy little meal here as well!
(4)Kevin T.
Stopped by on a Saturday night. For a party of 2 they told us 30 minutes, but we weren't seated until 1.5 hours later. No problem, had some drinks by the bar but weren't impressed by the bartender. Finally a seat. They have a huge menu, lunch specials are cheap, most less than $5. For dinner we had a variety of dishes, none at all impressive. The congee was pretty good, but how hard is it to make rice porridge. The pot stickers were below average (I order them at every restaurant). Chinese vegetables were not fresh. The sizzling plate of short ribs with pepper was undercooked. The seafood stew was average, tofu was great but not enough of it was in the dish. It was filled mainly with squid and only had 2 shrimp, 1 scallop. Service was fast and typical for a Chinese restaurant. Overall I was disappointed. Maybe we just missed out or ordered the wrong stuff. This place has a lot of hype and a long ass wait probably for a reason, though we didn't find it. I'd probably go back to try the lunch but not for dinner.
(2)molly c.
sometimes you realize that your friends are totally awesome. ::ring ring ring:: -hey wanna get some food? rainy friday. two people. three pork dishes. two very stuffed people. i just visualized what we ate and got a little misty-eyed. yup. i like pork
(4)Joy C.
mmmm... My friends think I'm insane because while they're having cravings for ice cream and pizza, my cravings are for congee! I have to say there's just something special about a pot of steaming, gooey congee that gets me all hot and bothered. My favorite is the salted chicken congee which comes with big pieces of chicken. The rest of the food on the menu is pretty standard but good. I order take out from here at least once a week. One minus star for having inconsistent delivery - sometimes it takes 20 minutes, sometimes it takes an hour and a half. When this girl wants congee, she wants it fast!
(4)Michelle H.
This place is great for lunch and dinner! I definitely recommend the congee. Piping hot in a claypot. Great in the winter when you want some comfort food on a chilly day. The fried bread that many eat with the congee is so so, but dip it in the congee and it's much better. I have also been here a few times for dinner. I don't recall have anything I didn't like. I brought my family here and they loved it too. However, there isn't one dish that particurlarly stood out that I would say is a must. All were good. Pretty big menu so if you go in a group, I suggest doing family style so that everyone can try a bunch of dishes. The restaurant is pretty big, so it can accomodate large groups, just call ahead to make reservations. This place gets crowded for both lunch and dinner. If you're looking for some good Cantonese food that is extremely reasonably priced, go here. Lunch is definitely doable for under $10/person, dinner might be slightly more, but under $15/person (if you're not ordering anything exotic).
(4)I. C.
Compared to other Chinese restaurants in Manhattan, this place offers decent food at a decent price.
(3)Manesh P.
The place is called Congee Village so go in and get the Congee! I've been there like a half dozen times and haven't ventured off the first page of the menu. So, realize the five stars is for the combination of congee deliciousness, dirt cheap price, and my utter ignorance of the rest of the restaurant's offerings. (Okay, truth is the rest of the restaurants offerings are a bit "expensive" i.e. $7-$9 and with congee so good for no more than $4.50 how can you get anything else?) Not only is the congee dirt cheap, but it's also easily the best congee I've had in the city. With so many interesting choices like abalone, crab (a real full crab is dropped in there), and frog (DELISH), it's good any time of day. Some of the "dim sum" isn't bad either. Their fried cruellers are pretty good if you rip it up and toss it into your congee and the fried mantou with condensed milk is delectable.
(5)Will b.
The food is really good!!
(5)Carrie L.
Congee village was good but their congee was not very good even though it's in their name. The deep fried dough that you eat with the congee was sub par. Their xiao long bao should not even be on the menu. I suspect it's from the frozen aisle in a chinese supermarket. Their frog casserole saved the meal. It was very flavorful. Their deep fried pork ribs was also pretty delightful. The place got pretty crowded after we sat down, a little before 7pm. I would go back but probably not anytime soon.
(3)Tae K.
always love this place. had the salt/pepper fried squid last night. one of the best things i've probably ever tasted. it was perfectly crisply fried, steaming hot, and the squid just melted in the mouth. and as always, the house special chicken is top notch.
(5)Marina C.
3.5 stars I've been here a couple of times for dinner and once for a wedding reception. Service is usually pretty decent, sometimes the menus might take a few minutes to get to us, but other than that the waiters are usually quite efficient. I don't expect waiters at Chinese restaurants to be extra friendly; the waiters here do enough to serve you, but that's all I really need. I just want my food served and the check to arrive quickly at the end. If they can do that without an attitude, I'm perfectly content. Food here is good, average Cantonese food. I don't think they use as much msg as some other cheaper, more popular restaurants in Chinatown. I forgot what we had here, especially since I've been here multiple times, but it's usually all the same as everyone else. The place is huge, plenty of tables, pretty decent option if you're in the area.
(3)Chris L.
Got a takeout order of pepper steak and onions here and it was alright. The beef was very tender and vegetables cooked to a crisp, but the sauce was quite bland and disappointing. The entrée to rice ratio was 1:3, a little lower than I would have liked, but for the price of the food, you can't really complain. Overall a mediocre experience and I might come back if I'm in the area to try something else and give them another shot.
(3)Tiffany E.
Four stars because this place reminds me of the places I eat in Asia. Big family style dinner tables with similar taste (extra plus for them speaking Canto!). I came here with my bf because we weren't feeling too well so we wanted to get some congee. This place, contrary to the name, doesn't only specialize in congee which worked out well for me! I'm not a huge fan of congee so we decided to get a plate of vegetables and sweet & sour pork. Pretty standard dishes. The congee we got was the fish fillet and preserved egg but they gave us pork instead of fish :( BOOO oh well..still ok. Has a lot of taste. The small bok choi was good too but had a LOT of chopped garlic. I liked the pork the most because it wasn't too batter-y like most of the sweet & sour pork dishes I've had. Good experience except the waiters are so busy/won't really check up on you unless you waive them down.
(4)Warren C.
This restaurant is legit when it comes to congee. They have quite an extensive list of options. It's refreshing to come here on a cold, wintry day. As others have similarly commented, their house special chicken is delicious.
(4)Arthur G.
The food is very tasty for my western palate, nothing fancy. My Chinese (and taiwaneese) friends comented that they have more of a "Hong Kongneese" style of cuisine. Super cost effective, you can have a meal for two with 9 dollars if you dont eat much. The waiters are kinda unatentive and the overall atmosphere is very unatractive. Not a good place to bring a date!
(3)Anderson C.
A whole restaurant devoted to congee??? Yes PLEASE. Sadly, as I found out it wasn't all devoted to congee. Instead, this divey Chinese tourist trap as many have stated is pretty much a staple around this area of town (L.E.S.) With that being said, business is VERY good and you will most likely need a reservation if you want to eat...sitting. I went here on a weekday night and the wait for a table for 30 minutes for a party of one. I opted for the bar which was empty. Not exactly the most comfortable place to eat considering the bar stools weren't exactly a table seat. Still it will do especially if all you came here for is for the congee. The restaurant space itself is rather large. I didn't get a chance to peruse around but they have a 2nd/ mid 1st floor for all your dining needs. There is also seating downstairs which I would imagine is for the larger parties or private reservations. The 1st bathroom is by the bar. There are other bathrooms downstairs. If you go down the stairs and reach the kitchen, you have gone too far. It is on the floor in between the kitchen and the 1st floor. The bar area itself is small, maybe 5 seats total. It is located right next to the 1st bathroom as mentioned but also this funky smelling pond for fishes. Decor wise it looks nice. But that fishy watery smell next to the bar can work against anyone who even might think about grabbing a drink while waiting for their table. Service wise was pretty good. I mean I did have the whole bar to myself. I ordered the beef congee ($4.95) & the salted chicken congee ($4.95). Presentation wise was very authentic to me. They both came in these clay pots that the Chinese traditional use for porridge as well as certain soups and stews. The porridge didn't just come in some plastic or glass bowl. The taste was exactly as expected. Pretty good and well balanced throughout. Good stuff. You can read other Yelper's review about how the congee here used to cost around $3.00. As this place got more well known and essentially drawing a crowd of tourists every day, the price obviously rose. Still it was well worth the money and I wouldn't hesitate to eat congee here again. FAN.
(4)Linda T.
This place is not just congee. Great Chinese food, family style! Go with a lot of people and get soups, seafoods, meats and veges. Everything was pretty good and portion sizes are great!
(4)Andrea C.
I've been coming to this place for years and food is good, but service is impossible. If you can't actual turn tables over in time for reservations, do not take reservations. Absolutely not acceptable to have to wait 1 hour when reservations were taken. Not good for business and they have just lost a loyal customer as this is not the 1st time this has happened. Three strikes is enough.
(1)Carol W.
I love to eat Chinese food family style especially when it comes to my birthday. Why you may ask? Because it's cheap, delicious and portions are perfect. The last thing you want to hear during your birthday are friends who are still hungry after paying $100 per person for a dinky over-rated, over-hyped and snarky restaurant. Food is fresh, perfect size and lots of sharing going on. Great for groups, there's two floors -- prefer the upper level because there's more space. There are TVs in the corner and service is pretty fast. Can't go wrong here.
(5)Syyu C.
I was mind blown during my first meal at congee village - a huge bowl of congee for only $3? However, the more I dined at Congee Village, the worst the experience was. I've had many of the dishes at congee village - some that stood out were the sautéed short rib with black pepper, house special chicken, and the Pan Fried Tofu with Soy Sauce. The tofu was one of the best I've ever had - it is slightly crisped on the outside, but very smooth and silky on the inside. The soy sauce made the tofu extremely juicy and was perfectly seasoned. The congee is served in heated little crock pots to keep the Congee warm. The crock pots make it seem like you are getting a decent portion, but they have such thick walls that the amount of Congee you get is not that much. I am a fan of the Pork, Chicken, and Duck Congee. Unfortunately Congee Village has unbelievably rude and terrible the service, no matter what time of the day it is. Every time, I have to indulge in a lot of hand-waving and flagging down to get any waiters' attention. Service in unfriendly and brusque - the waiters all have really bad attitudes, they don't acknowledge the table when they take orders or bring dishes out, don't re-fill water glasses until we ask 5 times, never smiled, and spill things without cleaning it up or apologizing. The wait time night during Friday/Saturday nights can be over an hour, and unfortunately, it is not worth the wait. The hostesses are rude and seat larger groups over smaller parties no matter which group was there first - it is very frustrating. I have waited over 2 hours for a table for THREE, and we watched 15 other groups get seated even though they came after us. I was reasonable and polite, followed up and asked when our table would be ready. After 2 hours passed by - the gloves really came off. I tried to talking to the manager after the hostesses were unresponsive, but he simply dismissed us and walked away. Horrible management. 3 Stars for the food. 1 Star for the Service. 2 stars overall.
(2)Luiza O.
Like many large places with a very long menu, the food is mediocre to good. Congee, which the place derives it's name from, luckily doesn't disappoint. The service is slow, not very attentive.
(3)Sandy O.
Great food, but the service can really suck from time to time depending on the server. It's extreme, but i really love the food
(3)Toby D.
Okay I am going to go crazy. This is the number one, my favorite, best of the best, most wonderful Cantonese place in the world. The food is definitely authentic. Some of the dishes can just be found local. No kidding. The congee is well made and I have tried ten different kinds and they are all delicious. Everything here reminds me of home and whenever I come here I have a felling of eating with my family. I love this place!
(5)Chun H.
I liked. Cuz it is not that bad taste, I mean, fine and enough price. I tried couple of items and they were pretty good. I probably will revisit here.
(4)Celeste Y.
This should be no stars. Hi fellow yelpers, please avoid this place! My friend and i was really craving congee so we searched up a place that would serve congee at night. This place came up so we decided to go even after reading bad reviews. Okay there's a reason why the restaurant only has a B rating outside their door from the Health Department. Don't get fooled by their bright sign. The wait was fairly short, about 10 minutes. It seemed really crowded and very touristy. When our seats were ready... Guess where they seated us, literally in a box. This room is smaller than your bathroom probably. It was with two other tables of two... Seriously?! It was practically their storage room. Their menu was pretty decent I would say. Seafood was very tempting but I was sick so I couldn't have any. I just wanted congee. We ordered a medium congee with filet and preserved egg and also a tofu seafood casserole. The casserole came first surprisingly. Well actually unsurprisingly it was warm, not hot at all. It was drenched in salt as well. The congee came and I was so excited because I was looking forward to this! The waiter served us the congee in two smaller bowls. Wait it gets better... As I'm about to eat my first spoonful of congee, I see a strand of hair. WTF. Seriously?! The waiter was "shocked" and said he'll bring a new one out. 10 mins later, he comes back with a "new" bowl. You can tell it's not new since scallions were mixed already. Okay so I'm about to finally enjoy my congee and.... I SEE A NEW PIECE OF HAIR. Okay this was ridiculous. We told him and not only did the waiter no apologize, he said oh we'll just cancel it then and walked off. We asked for the check and tried to pay exact change so we can just leave but we didn't have smaller bills. We gave the guy 20.37 for a bill of 17.37. So a normal person would bring back $3 change right? Yeah uh he came back with $2 and $1 of coins. Oh yes, we made a scene because he was obviously playing games. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRENDOUS. FOOD IS BAD. AVOID THIS PLACE, UNLESS YOU LIKE HAIR IN YOUR FOOD.
(1)Maria Cristina C.
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(4)Wendy T.
WOW, am I in HK said my Chinese dad who lived in Asia!! We loved the fried spare ribs, salt pepper shrimp, ground pork salted fish patty, ong choi, tofu soy sauce and mushroom yee mien. The bad, congee was too runny and watery, XLB was to thick doughy and no juice inside. Would like to try bamboo rice next time.
(5)Daniel K.
For our to-go orders: Good quality. Nice presentation. Reasonable price. Nice that this place hasn't lost its quality since it's gotten so big. The sesame chicken over rice was good. Large chunks of fresh chicken, lightly battered and coated in sauce. Not overwhelmingly saucy. The only room for improvement probably could've just been the rice. Too moist and clumpy. But overall good deal.
(4)Van N.
I came here with some friends for the first time here & NY. I don't know the area & it's hard to find a nice & good restaurant & the prices is very reasonable for NY. I will come back here when I am in NY & I highly recommend House special chicken $24 for the whole chicken.
(4)Gracie J.
This is the quintessential Canto dining experience, down to the 'bad' service (if you think this is bad service, please, never travel to Asia - you'll be so disappointed). Congee Village has absolutely DELICIOUS food. You can't go wrong ordering anything from the menu. As for the congee, my favorite is the abalone + chicken combo. Super yummy and great comfort food for cold nights. Service is like the typical hole-in-the-wall Chinese joint service. Maybe people are disappointed with the service because Congee Village is a large restaurant and they expected more, but it's pretty standard and boils down to "flag down a server if you want something." They do not come to you voluntarily or ask you how the food is. If you want something, ask. They'll do it for you. They're also typically stingy. I ordered some congee to go with my partner and they ended up giving us one spoon to share between the two of us. I never had high expectations for their service, so I can't say they have ever disappointed us. They have never been rude either. Price is good. Just know that sometimes it can be quite a wait for dining in.
(4)Paola A.
The service is HORRIBLE. We had to ask for water, and remind there were FIVE not FOUR. We also had to remind them that we needed refills and they just dumped the water pitcher at our table. The food is DELICIOUS. I recommend the fried chicken, salt and pepper pork and the bok choy in garlic butter. I love the food but I dont know if I will be back again given that I don't live in NY and would rather waste my precious vacation time at a restaurant that will not piss me off on my vacation due to their service.
(3)Kaitlyn Y.
AH! probably my favorite family style place to eat with my fam bams. There is always a line so be sure to call in for reservation. Esp in the summer, alot of families come here for birthday, celebration dinners. I love all their chinese authentic food. There is two floors. First and second and there is also a bar and tv spot for you to wait for your table while sipping on a beer. I wouldnt say this is a place for a date. This is a place for groups of 10 etc.
(4)David K.
Since my last visit to Congee Village for dinner, the food has been very mediocre and salty. When my mom doesn't want to go there for dinner anymore, the food must have tasted worst for her. Not much else to say but will remove two stars for their food being too salty and disappointing my mom with mediocre food.
(3)William M.
All I have to say is that they made us wait over an hour while a long line of others who came in after us got seated. We ended up leaving the place after my sister yelled at the hostess for not doing her job properly. The saving grace is that their food is good enough to earn it a second star. I hope they get their service together because it'll be such a shame
(2)Stephanie P.
I've been here over 10+ times and I don't know why it has taken me until now to Yelp about it...but I HEART CONGEE VILLAGE SO DAMN MUCH. Have I been here drunk with my girls? YES, several times, it's practically a tradition when we're engaging in LES shenanigans. Have I been here on a date? YES (more than once). Eaten here with Family? Damn right I have. Alone? Came once to kill time, had a Lychee Martini at the bar...don't judge. Let me also state that if you have a disdain for the one on Bowery, don't judge this location because it is a zillion times better and cleaner. The staff might not be the jolliest folks ever, but screw that - I don't come here so that the staff can be my friend, I come here because they have cheap and delicious cocktails (Lychee Martinis! Liquid Marijuana! Marakya! and a full list of Bubble Tea/Coffee concoctions!) and really awesome DELICIOUS Chinese comfort foods. My gal pals love their Congee (I really like the seafood one!), I heart their (GARLIC!!! YUM!!) House Special chicken, ADORE their scallion pancake & fried pork n' chive dumplings and live for their salt & pepper squid. I've also enjoyed their seared flounder, young chow fried rice, soup dumplings (not the best, the skin is thicker than I normally prefer - but the pork is tasty and they're cheap - although no Joe Shanghai's). Also, I cannot emphasize how great this place is for group dinners with their lazy suzans, large round tables, booths, private dining rooms and 2 floor of spacious and interestingly decorated atmosphere...plus it always smells amazing, their service is super fast & efficient...I love this place, they make me smile {3.
(5)Tom L.
This place still has good food and prices are reasonable. It's a great place to have a group gathering as the tables are big and they have private rooms. Even though this place is call congee village, their congee are not that good anymore. This place to to be famous for congee but not anymore. If any of my American friends ask me to suggest a Chinese restaurant, this would be it as the staff is pretty good in English.
(4)Lyla L.
The best sesame chicken I have tasted in a long time.This place takes pride in the maintaining the quality of their ingredients. I came here with a large party of people and we ordered the deluxe crab. It was one of the more memorable presentations.
(5)H M.
BOMB. Congee here is really good, especially after a night out. I got the pork and preserved egg. It comes in your own pot and was about $5. My 4 friends and I shared a house special chicken which was perfectly juicy with nice crispy skin. We also got some yummy watercress and some sweet and sour pork that wasn't as memorable. Grand total for a freakin' awesome meal? $10. Tip included.
(5)Jason C.
I recently revisited this location with some friends a few weeks ago and honestly I had to lower my rating from my previous experience. The portions of food here have certainly decreased as the restaurant has found ways of bedding every dish with lettuce or some kind of vegetal filler to leave the protein from getting into every dish. The food however is well prepared and you will enjoy their sweet and sour porkchops as well as their mayo shrimp with candied walnuts.
(3)Lucy C.
Like every Chinese restaurant, the service is kind of wack. But honestly, out of all the ones in Chinatown, service at all the congee chains is pretty okay. Of course, the place feels cleaner than most and has a generally nice ambiance, particularly for Chinatown. It has an identical menu to the Congee Bowery location but definitely more seating at Congee Village, and can get busy so you can expect a wait. You might even sit at a large round family-style table with strangers. I would recommend trying any of the congees and the specialty log rice dishes, as well as anything on the specialty list. I would stray away from the Chinese-American food because you can get that anywhere, don't be tempted by General Tso's Chicken! Why not try what special cantonese dishes Congee Village has to offer? They have fun a fun menu you'll have trouble deciding what to get. Out of the congees try the abalone one, the frog leg one, or the pine nuts one, those are different. If you can, try ordering the cumin grilled lamb, which is off the menu. Best lamb I've had in ages! I also usually order a side of garlic sauteed bok choy--super crispy and flavorful and the serving is massive. If you love Chinese food, and you don't want to go broke for good service and clean dining utensils, definitely definitely definitely come to Congee Village. There was a time in the summer where I came 3 times in one week! I swear by this place.
(5)Kar N.
I heard many reviews about this place so I decided to finally try it out. I got snails with black bean sauce at first with a beer. Then I got a pork, chicken and duck congee with Rice baked with chicken and shitake mushroom for my main dish. It comes in a log, that is pretty awesome for presentation. The Rice baked with chicken and shitake mushroom was really good like I would order this over and over again, would definitely come back. Really good food !!!!
(4)Sadaaf M.
The food is good enough - they're one of the few places north if Chinatown that do perfectly sautéed snow pea leaves. However when my friends and I dined here at around nine on a Thursday, the service was quite poor. Our server was inattentive and short with us, and my friend didn't get what she ordered. The server made no apology or effort to correct the mistake.
(2)Leo K.
Why is there so much random/unused space? Why is there fake foliage attached all over the ceiling? Why is there a treehouse inside? Why did they just start playing "Happy Birthday" when it was pretty clearly no one's birthday? Shut up. Stop asking questions. Order the Singapore-style noodles, a manly protein (no wimpy fish unless it's shark - shark is pretty manly), and drink a Tsingtao. Enjoy.
(4)Blue G.
We came here after visiting one reception for new art show at an Art gallery, my friends came here before and really liked their Japanese Gekkeikan Ume-shu (plum sake). This time we also ordered it and I loved it as well, liked that they serve in wine glasses. Maybe because it was dinner time and on Friday night, we waited for nearly 30 minutes. We enjoyed overall, if you come as group, i think it's the best order dim sum menus and with Japanese Gekkeikan Ume-shu bottle, smile laugh and and share everything and perfect :)
(4)Sandy L.
Chinese restaurant on the uppity up side is always a fun experience. You've got the same smells, the same type of people rollin into the place....the only difference is that you get more variety, higher quality food and a unique decor. In this case you have bamboo, EVERYWHERE! This is one of the better Chinese restaurants we've dined and loved how they had both Chinese American style and the traditional/home style dishes splattered all over the menu. If you don't see it on the menu, I'm pretty sure they could make it too! We ordered: Pan Fried Minced Pork w. Salted Fish - $9.95 - As you would expect....mined pork with that salty preserved fish taste. YUM! Extremely happy with the preparation because sometimes it can be too soft and just be pure mush but this had the right texture and enough of the salty fish so that you could taste it in every bite. TIP: Eat with rice or else you will be hit with an overload of saltiness. This dish is definitely mean to be eating in conjunction with a fork full of rice! Half House Special Chicken - $9.00 - This was the recommendation by everyone and it was definitely good! I would order again. Crispy skin on the outside, juicy white meat and lots of their special sauce coming through in every bite. Half order was more than enough for THREE PEOPLE so if you are wondering if you should order a half or full order, hopefully this helps you decide. Chinese Green w. Garlic in Broth - $7.95 - REALLY disappointed because I wanted pea shoots in garlic sauce but they ran out of pea shoots for the evening! They said that this was a close match to the pea shoots but it really was not. It was very bitter and not as leafy as pea shoots. I will not order this again. Fu Kan Style Fried Rice - $10.95 - The waiter was not that enthusiastic about us ordering this because it's "wet" and "soggy" rice topped with gooey seafood GOODNESS. I don't know why he doesn't like this.... This dish was delicious! They basically prepare their house fried rice and top it with gravy seafood. Overall, a really great place for Chinese food and wish it was closer to my home so I could get it delivered any time I crave =)
(4)Krista R.
There's so many options in Chinatown! Noticing that many restaurants had been overtaken by hipsters and college aged people, we dedicated one night to finding a restaurant with a mostly Asian clientele. Congee Village was insanely busy and fit the bill. The food was gross. Everything had been frozen and fried. Our spring rolls were still frozen in the center and tasted freezer burned. Our potato pancakes (off the dim sum menu) were slimy. The scallion pancakes were greasy and tasteless. The eggplant and tofu entree was inedible. The pork buns were stale. We ate little, the waitress never returned to check on us. Stick to the hand pulled noodle and dumpling places. The hipsters are on to something.
(1)Shu gin F.
My mother called the number on their menu to order food for this Christmas and when my dad went to pick up the order; They did not have the food prepared! Why? Because the phone call got "transferred" over to the one in Bowery. Like seriously? No one told my mother on the phone that it was the Bowery address and when I called back to ask what happened the women on the other end was very rude and unhelpful. NEVER GOING BACK THERE OR EVER ORDERING FROM THERE AGAIN. ONE STAR IS TOO GOOD FOR THIS PLACE. ALSO THEIR FOOD IS MEDIOCRE.
(1)Han Y.
I came here with a few friends on a weekend, and I think we came around 11:30-noon and didn't have to wait. What we ate: -Sliced pork and preserved egg porridge: tasted pretty good, a good amount of pork and egg - chicken with black mushroom porridge: also tasted pretty good but definitely liked the other one better. - house special chicken (I think it was this chicken dish we got): it tasted pretty good, and I'm not even that big a fan of chicken. - vegetables: so funny story, after we had gotten all of our dishes for about 20 minutes, and when we were almost done with our meal, they come out to tell us that they didn't have the vegetable for the dish we had ordered. Obviously they didn't bother to check or start making it until 20 minutes into our meal. We had to substitute it with another vegetable dish
(4)Cindy L.
I called for delivery. However, the woman who picked up the phone had really bad language. I was patient. Surprisingly, her attitude was extremely bad and rude. She was almost screaming at me after I repeated my address twice in case she didn't get it. It is your nonsense made the call repetitive, ok? Can you at least be patient and nice? Worst order experience ever.
(1)Snowy D.
This looks like such a cheesy, loud, typical Chinese restaurant but the food was surprisingly good! It's always busy, despite the size of the place, and always loud. You see almost an equal number of Chinese and Westerners, so their menu appeals to both. I, for one, am a big fan of their pork chop and chicken! Their garlic bok choy is great too! Come with a big group as it's family style, and the dishes are usually big enough for a group to share.
(4)Ying X.
Dying for some good congee and tasty food. Went to this place last weekend with a good friend. Congee is extremely tasty, so do cold appetizers. Hot seafood dishes are yummy as well. The restaurant gets really busy for dinner, especially during weekends. Try going there early for dinner, otherwise the wait line would be long!
(4)Sonia N.
This place has been around for a while. I have noticed their quality going down somewhat, and the size of their dishes getting smaller over time. Despite that, it's still a good option if you're in the mood for chinese food. If you're wondering what to order, the following dishes are always a good choice: cantonese style lobster with ginger and scallion; pan fried flounder; sampan congee (ask for extra peanuts); preserved egg and pork congee; ong choy (a leafy vegetable) sautéed with garlic and preserved bean curd (this dish may not be on the menu); pea shoots sautéed with garlic; house special chicken; and chilean bass with garlic and black bean sauce. Lastly, if you get any of the congee, make sure you add a little soy sauce and white pepper to it before consuming as it makes it tastier. :)
(4)Kevin Z.
This place is a staple for large family gathering with their large private room and never working karaoke machine (thank goodness). If you want to book a room downstair, it will cost you around $400 to $500 minimum spendingand expect to pay a good tip after. Upstair is for smaller group or people just wanting a quick meal then carry on. Both is good standard to have. This place offers drinks including full bar however it's not that great (cheap thou). Food is considered ok but expect to go on a busy night for Chinatown or you might be eating last night's leftover (True story believe it or not) Pricing is really decent from $5 meal comes with free angry looks from your waiter and something extra in your dish to $20 to $30 decent dinner for 2. Really come here either with someone to have a good dinner or don't come and order a congee. You will be just asking for the nasty looks. From my experience on the other Congee Village location, make sure you don't take one of their big table if your group is too small for it. Ordering wise, do order one of the congee dish to try out and I recently kept ordering that bamboo rice which is cook or at least looks like it's cooked in the bamboo bowl. If all things failed, just go for whatever you are familiar with like general chicken, sesame chicken, beef with mushroom...on and on just kidding (please don't do that) Try something new and that you are not sure what really is in there.
(3)Becky W.
Honestly this place is a hit and miss. My family used to reserve dinner here all the time but it just got boring. Some days the service would be fine and smooth and the food would taste superb but there were those odd days were the waiter just wants to go home and the food is meh.
(3)Sylvia H.
I used to like eating their stream fish belly. Now, not only the size is half and even the soy sauce has no taste. This place is called congee village, I will never order congee here. Their seafood congee has at least 40 piece of peanuts and it tastes horrible. I also ordered the shrimp with walnut, the size of the shrimp is just small and the presentation is sloppy. The service stays the same which the waiter just wants you out asap.
(2)Vincent M.
I wasn't expecting too much, but the food was outstanding. Many yelp reviews say that the service is lacking, but my wife and I had a really positive experience there (neither of us is Chinese). We will definitely be back.
(4)Yumi I.
Congee village is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants. Every time I come here, the food is delicious, and despite ordering heaps of food, the tab still comes out super cheap. Casual atmosphere, and great for a big group. Family style for the win!
(4)Michelle W.
How can anyone not like congee village?? Or give them less than four stars? I mean come on, they give you great greasy super tasty chinese food for a nominal price. What more can you ask for? I've been coming here for years. I love the fried man tao (buns I think they're called) and soy sauce fried noodles and recently had their crispy chicken which was delicious. Of course their congee is also superb so you can't go wrong! Tables are quick turnaround but if you go late enough they wont care or rush you to leave. I'll be back for my late night or second dinner after HH.
(4)Rumi F.
3.5 stars! Came here on a weekday 7pm with a party of 3 and seated immediately (yay!) We got the house special chicken, beef chow fun, bean curd with mixed veggies and chicken and black mushroom congee (i wanted to try the frog, but no one else was up for it haha) The congee came out in this piping hot bowl. Very smooth, not the usual lumpy messes you find elsewhere. Not as much mushroom as I had hoped, but lots of chicken. The beef chow fun was okay, not too different from your run of the mill Chinese takeout place. I noticed it had A LOT of bean sprouts in it. The house special chicken was awesome! Nicely seasoned with a really rich garlicy soy saucey flavor. The meat was very soft and the skin nice and crispy!! If I'm in the area, i may pop in again :)
(3)Lynn P.
Food was great. Be careful when ordering because the plate sizes are quite large. We ordered way too much. Pork buns are great. Bok choy and garlic dish was so wonderfully garlicky that it was everyone's favorite of the night.
(4)Jessica D.
I was in a mood for a comfy Chinese dinner which is ironic because I eat Chinese food pretty much every night and when I'm out for dinner, I usually don't opt for Chinese restaurants. The restaurant was a lot bigger than I thought. The decor very traditional and true to Chinese culture. The customer service was decent. I saw a Yelper posted a picture of a seafood fried rice inside a pumpkin and I thought it was extremely adorable, which is precisely why I dragged my boyfriend to Congee Village for dinner. When we ordered it, our waiter told us it would take an hour for it to be done and one hour can be long, but we just sat there,talked, and waited patiently for it to arrive to our table. The Pumpkin-filled seafood fried rice wasn't too big and it was just right for both of us. The waiter first broke a few pieces of the meat of the pumpkin and mixed it all up with the fried rice for us and served our fried rice to us. The fried rice was a little bland, but if you eat it with the pumpkin, there's a tad of sweetness. Glad we were able to finish this entire dish together! My boyfriend ordered half a salted chicken (country style). It was quite tasty, but definitely way salty. My only complaint about the experience is that in most Chinese restaurants there are nibblers like peanuts or sweet relish to nibble on, but at Congee Village there wasn't. However, on the bright side after our dinner they gave all the diners a plate of sliced watermelon, which is good to eat on a super hot day! Congee Village is definitely a worth restaurant to check out if you're in a mood for traditional and comfort Chinese food. I know I definitely want to return to try out more dishes.
(4)Rahul S.
I just went to congee village today for lunch and ordered the blue crab with ginger and scallions. The flavor was amazing! The crab meat was succulent and it was a generous portion for $15. I got some white rice on the side and ate it with the sauce that was left over with the scallions and ginger. Delicious. Worth a try if you're looking for lunch in the LES.
(4)Steph C.
This place has become the go-to spot for group birthday parties among my circle of friends. It's a big restaurant that can seat large parties, huge menu that caters to everyone's tastes (vegetarian vs. carnivore, spicy vs. bland, adventurous vs. picky), and the prices are extremely reasonable so the total cost is nice to everyone's wallets. Our repeat dishes are usually pan-fried noodles ( both beef and veggie), scallion pancakes (for the non-adventurous), bbq pork ribs or peking style ribs (for carnivores) and walnut shrimp (everyone seems to like this dish). And of course, several orders of congee! The congee is the standout of this place. They have so many different varieties and they don't skimp on the toppings so you really do get filled up. My favorite is the pork and preserved egg. You have to order at least one congee while you're here. One thing NOT to order: soup dumplings. They just don't do them well here. The service can vary depending on your group. If you've got a Cantonese speaker at your table, you increase your chances of better service. Mandarin speakers will do in a pinch. If all of you only speak English, then you're kind of out of luck.
(4)Stella Z.
Food is relatively cheap and delicious. Service may seem a bit lack but this is Chinatown. Congee is a little bland to me but the person who came with me thought it was just right. She thought the dishes were too salty. The place is small and the decor is simple but not a hole in the wall place.
(4)Mike C.
This place has rodent infestation problem. Check it on line NYC Dept. of Health before you plan a visit! I saw rats roaming around their kitchen back on Orchard Street.
(1)Brian V.
Blah food and horrible, horrible, horrible service. We were seated next to the wait satiation and couldn't escape the unbelievably bad body odor of one of the waiters. Not a good way to feel excited about tasteless dumplings, crunchy steamed buns, tiny dried out ribs and a huge plate of fried chicken fat ( though the sesame seeds on top kind of looked fresh). 10 minutes to get a table at a half full Saturday lunch, 10 minutes for someone to acknowledge that we were there, 10 minutes to be asked to order, 20 minutes for bland food to come. All this and the killer stink from the waiter makes for a no return policy for us . . .
(1)Raphael D.
Never has one restaurant so successfully brought together congee and the feeling of being in a green, plastic jungle. Kitsch aside what make's it such a great spot it doubles as a good place for a big dinner on the fly with lots of variety (the rice dishes are a meal in themselves) or a cheap and delish bowl of congee for one. If it's a frigid, gusty night it'll definitely warm you down to your heart, left cold by a stripper in Tampa who took away everything you loved.
(4)Linda C.
I came here on a friday evening with my family of 4 and it took about 2 hours for us to finally be seated. Even though many tables were already done eating, the staff did nothing to make sure the tables were cleared. The waiting area was packed and some groups even had to wait outside. After we were finally seated, an unenthusiastic waiter came by and took our order. We ordered a t-bone steak, boiled sliced conch, sauteed dried squid & dried shrimp, the house special chicken, the crab congee, and sliced pork and preserved egg porridge. We drank tea for about 30 minutes (we finished over 2 teapots) because no food was coming out. At this point, my family was starving. When the food finally came out, it was only average at best. The only dish I really enjoyed was the house special chicken. It was very crispy and it paired well with their soy sauce. The service was terrible and the staff was not very attentive. I accidentally dropped one of my chopsticks and I had to remind our waiter that I needed another pair twice. Even though we tipped about 25%, I don't think we even heard a thank you or please come again. Overall the staff was very rude and unattentive. For the price, you could honestly find somewhere better to dine.
(1)Keejoo L.
So...after many years of living in NYC and reading about this place from numerous sources I finally had linner here today. Walking around the LES always makes me curious to find some good chinese food, something outside the norm of 'chinese food' in Harlem. Since this place was around the corner I wanted to go since I didnt have cash for Cocoron ! ANYWAY. Since im a soup dumping fanatic I had to get those...but dare I say that they were the saddest soup dumplings I have had in Ctown?....5/6 of the dumplings had a hole in the bottom so , hence, no soup in the 'soup dumplings;.....fail. . . I ordered a scallion pancake that was a little too oily.... and lacking in flavor. . Then a beef congee. I have to say I wasnt expecting much but it was actually pretty good. It comes out in this piping hot clay pot with a overly large ladle. Enough for two people to share. Maybe the next time I go ill opt for the crab one. Finally I ordered the house special half chicken. Half a chicken...is quite a lot of chicken! Covered in a salty sauce and about half a pound of garlic it wasnt bad. Im not a huge chicken eater but it had a nice flavorful crispy skin and tender meat. Overall, ok. I think I need to branch out a bit and try something I havnt had before but it wasnt horrible. Its probably best to come with a large group and just order a bunch of different things to spin around on the tables with the lazy susans.
(3)mary l.
Great for a large group, e.g. 8 or even more. Even if you have a reservation, you'll still probably wait 45 min or so. Just go the bar, grab a tsingtao, and pack yourself in. Go with a friend who knows how to work the hostess and line system, and pre order from the menu with the hostess if you think the wait will be too long. Avoid dumplings and go straight for the pea shoots, ginger scallion lobster if you want to splurge, pork chop, house special chicken, chinese broccoli and salt and pepper shrimp. Fried bread for only $2 is also on the menu, but not served with the typical condensed milk (wah wah)
(4)Haruka H.
Went with a few of my friends and we all got different kinds of congee for lunch and some pee chutes cooked in garlic. Every congee tasted different and very authentic. I would recommend it for congee. The price of each congee is also very generous.
(4)Sophie H.
Congee Village is a staple in Chinatown. First timers may be a bit confused as the entire setup is maze-like with three different levels, a bar and even private rooms not to mention the distracting Chinese displays of statues and fountains but be prepared for a top notch Chinatown meal. The servers are always very warm and friendly and most importantly, knowledgeable about the daily specials and their extensive menu. Congee of course is always a safe bet here, many opt for their frog congee or black egg with minced pork, pair that with some of their house special chicken and a vegetable and you have a warming and filling meal. Their house chicken on its own without rice however, is a bit too salty for my taste. My favorite dishes here range from their prawn and walnut in mayo sauce, sea cucumber, Cantonese style herbal soups and their fresh veggies sauteed in some garlic. Their crack dish however, has to be hands down the Chilean Seabass. Served on a giant (banana ?) leaf, it is grilled to perfection with a delicious brown sauce. i come here just for that fish drool*
(3)Jill K.
The congee - so good (duh). Tasty, fresh ingredients, ginger, cilantro e 1000 yr old egg...yum. The pea shoots also very fresh and perfectly braised in garlic. The dumplings were fine, nothing to write home about, but overall, we were pleasantly surprised we found such delicious late night fare! I'd come back to NYC for the congee for sure!
(5)Andy X.
Finally getting around to writing a review for this spot. Food is good, they have a large menu. Place is not anywhere near the typical dingy Chinatown spot as it's a bit out of the hood. Decor is interesting in some aspects. Will repeat.
(4)Henry Y.
The reviews for this place have lots of negative reviews because the service is just straight up awful. The food here is solid. I'm talking solid enough to bring back non-Cantonese Chinese people solid. I'm talking mass reunion dinners with oldass Asian businessmen solid. But the service is just terrible. The young guy we were stuck with always seems to be around when I come here for food. We asked for the congee dish (that serves 3 people by the way, which is perfect for the 3 of us that was there) was a huge struggle to order. He kept saying that the smallest option wasn't enough and then went on to say that the larger option would take too long to cook. I don't even know what the hell this means. What's too long? Who said we were in a rush? Doesn't your entire job consist of taking orders and recommending orders? Why are you trying to hold back on recommending a dish simply because it "takes too long to cook"?????Whatever. So that was like an entire 5 minute conversation. Have you ever had an entire 5 minute conversation with a waiter? That should almost never happen. A few quick snippets back and forth should suffice, ESPECIALLY if it's a Chinatown restaurant, where service is already subpar to begin with. So we got the congee, a tofu dish, and a beef noodle stir fry dish to share family-style. Those were all great. The smaller congee option was just perfect by the way. It ended up being a bowl and a half for each individual, which is sufficient. Then we wanted to order another dish because we weren't hungry and this waiter straight up goes... "aww.. you should've told me earlier. Now it's going to take too long." lol. wtf. I don't even know what to say. Anyway. Come here for the food, but just pray that your waiter isn't the same guy we got.
(3)Cathy H.
I have been coming to this restaurant for over 10 years, even before it expanded within its Allen Street location. I have seen it grow from being a hole in the wall place to now a thriving business with 2 locations. The food has stayed consistently great throughout the years. I have tried a plethora of the restaurants in Chinatown and this is by far, the best. In addition, I think the food at the Allen Street location is better than the Bowery location. They have a full bar at the entrance so it's a good place to grab a drink while waiting for your table. Congee Village has private rooms that you can rent out with karoke machine and TV but usually you have to order a minimum to be able to get the room. My favorite dishes are Baked Chilean Sea Bass in Garlic and Bean Sauce and Sauteed Lobster with noodles. The Sea Bass is a great deal at only $23 and if there were one dish I could eat every day, it would be this sea bass. So so good!
(5)Jessica X.
Loved the endless choices of congee. The two we ordered ended up tasting very similar, but that was just because we chosen very similar items. The dishes themselves were good. The kongxingcai was cooked interestingly... tasted different from other places I've tried. Not bad though!
(4)Eric J.
This place has gone downhill. Does it have to do with the gentrification of the area? Food quality is bad. I ordered the shrimp paste pork ribs yesterday and my stomach is still queezy from it. I also have to mention how slllloooowww service is here. My take out order took 45 minutes from the time of phoning it in. And at the front desk you have the laziest most miserable chinese woman. I swear she doesn't send the order back to the kitchen until you come in to pick up.
(1)Luvlymui i.
I wish i can give it no star and report them for giving us food poison. The service was terrible and then the food was so bad, i stopped eating. I was already annoyed by their crappy service and now came home to food poisoning. My bf ate more than me to not waste food and we both end up with upset stomach, food poisoning. Avoid!
(1)Victor H.
Great place to eat Chinese food. Food is tasty and worth the wait for it. Nights and weekends are crowded and the wait time can go as long as 40+ minutes, but after you get the table, it is worth it.
(4)Kenny C.
Service: 4/5 - really no complaints - washrooms a little dirty - sometimes it takes a while to get the servers attention - They have large tables and private rooms downstairs for even larger parties, great for groups - Servers speak cantonese and english is ok too Decor: 4/5 - relatively clean, wood trim Food: 4.5/5 - relatively authentic chinese food - Congee is spot on - Crispy chicken in special sauce (House chicken) is always good - cripsy on outside, very moist inside - Pea tips with garlic - not too oily, I liked that Expect to pay around 15/per for a decent meal, excluding alcohol
(4)Ceci K.
This is definitely a place to come with a big group of people. They serve family style food as in big portions for everyone to share! We had 14 people altogether and it felt really nice to sit at a table like that. The seats also throws a chinese accent to the area too! Food was delicious here. I didn't know what kind of pork we ordered but it was made juicy and chewy with their original made sauce. Never had better! Not a meaty type of person but I loved it. The tofu was made well, it wasn't burnt and inside was smooth. It was made firm so tofu doesn't fall apart easily. The fried squid was also delicious! First time eating it at a restaurant but it wasnt too salty and the squid was chewy, bouncy the way I like it. I also had the thousand year old egg with pork. Oooh the only thing I didn't like bout it was that they put cilantro in my congee and the flavor blew me off and the thousand year old egg didn't have any yolk anywhere in my congee. That made me pretty disappointed but overall this place was great. It's opened till late nights. Will definitely come again!
(4)Elle C.
Their specialty, as their name indicates, is congee. So it isn't a surprise that their congee is quite delicious! I tried salty chicken congee and congee with sliced pork and preserved eggs and both of them were good. But I didn't fall in love with them, because they had way too much cilantro. I am not that big of a fan of cilantro to begin with, but they really went all out on cilantro with their congee, to the point that I had the bitter, minty aftertaste of cilantro in my mouth even long after I was done. I enjoyed their salty Chinese pancakes as well, which is part of the dim sum menu. Overall, I think Congee Village is one of the better places to dine at in Chinatown, along with Wohop and Joe's Shanghai. It helps that the portion is quite generous and most of their congee and dim sum menu are very cheap. It would also be a great venue for large group dinners, as they are equipped with multiple large, circular Chinese-style dinner tables.
(3)Jasmine M.
First time eating congee at a restaurant and just like all the reviews said, this place is pretty darn amazing! Got the sampan congee and sliced pork with preserved egg congee. Both pretty different from each other but still equally as good. I enjoyed the crunch of the peanuts in the sampan and loved the flavor of the sliced pork. the overall appearance of the restaurant is nice, warm, comfortable.
(5)Stephanie Q.
I tried the other Congee Village first.. then came to this one. This one is bigger in size. Two words: Cheap and good. For some reason, they kept playing "happy birthday" in different languages. So do not have your birthday here. The congee is delicious, so are all the meat dishes.
(3)Kat W.
the congee is too watery and pork is lacking in flavor. the take out lady is a massive b*tch for no reason.
(2)Homer S.
Congee for a tasty price. Worth a visit. The menu is large, but we only had congee. A simple but hearty dish.
(4)Valerie G.
Congee Village is the absolute best! They get super busy at peak times, but take reservations for large parties! I was once easily able to book a room for my Greek family reunion. Wait times are horrendous during dinner time, so try to check this place out during odd hours. The last time I came here, it was a party of 4 at 2pm on a Saturday and we were able to be seated immediately. Every single one of their dishes I've tasted thus far are amazingggly yummy. I highly recommend the House Special Chicken (half an order was more than enough for 4 people, with 4 other dishes). Other solid choices are the preserved egg + pork congee as well as the beef pan fried noodles. The noodles stayed consistently crunchy until we mixed in the sauce - definite win! Portion sizes are huge, food is delicious, and the drinks are cheap and strong ($6). Love love love.
(5)Michelle W.
I'm pretty sure this is my family's go-to restaurant when we're all in Manhattan. They have our phone number on file and tend to know what we're going to order before we actually order. And, they greet us by name. Or at least they greet my mom by name when we go and on the phone. I'm not sure if it's embarrassing or awesome that we order so often. They also tend to give larger portions when we order, and recommend other dishes or substitutions if they know something would be better. The last time I was here, we ended up getting a private room instead of our usual two back tables. They gave us the biggest table they have, and we were still squished for room. But since it was family, I guess it was a comfortable squishing? Not quite sure. Anyway, the food was good, as it usually is. My mom went and pre-ordered the entire meal, and she had gone to the restaurant earlier in order to make sure the meal was exactly to her specifications. They were extra large portions so everybody got enough of everything. We started with a Chinese antipasti dish, then came the geoduck carpaccio (my favorite). We also got some soup (typical), yi mein, yeung chow fried rice, ying-yang sauce over vegetables, lamb lollipops, shrimp with broccoli and candied walnuts with a mayonnaise sauce, duck feet with mushrooms, baby bok choy and sea cucumbers, and I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting four more dishes. Plus, since it was my grandfather's birthday, they gave us little cakes shaped and colored like peaches and stuffed with a lotus paste. Yum. But the service was ehhh. The host was great - he always served the dishes onto our plates so we wouldn't have hands and arms pushing each other. And he changed our dishes frequently so we wouldn't always have bones and other leftovers on our plates. But the waiter had more of a petulant teenage boy who didn't want to be there attitude. And he only spoke Cantonese, which only 1/4 of my family understood. So while the host was great, the waiter was ehhhh. Also, just a tip - this is a typical Cantonese restaurant, albeit a bit more high class than normal Chinatown places. But, it's still a Chinese restaurant which means most entrees are supposed to be shared family style! And then split the bill (or fight over it like my family members do.)
(4)Susan C.
Hate hate HATEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE the wait. Hate the annoying fobs who stand in front of you with no knowledge of personal space. Step back, beetch. Love love loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee the food. I live in the Midwest where people think real Chinese is Panda Express. Let me have my Congee Village.
(4)Huong V.
Wavering 4-4.5 stars. Hands down solid Chinese/Canto food in Ctown. It's become very saturated with the non-Chinese crowd, but nonetheless did not lose its authenticity or quality. Gets pretty jam packed during main dining hours, so be prepared to wait between 30mins-1hr: there's a wine bar to kill time if u can squeeze your way in and flag someone down to serve you. Reso's available for big parties. Not 5 star service, but sufficient and efficient. My usual orders (although I'm sure you won't go wrong with other stuff): 1) House Special Chicken: a MUST. Crispy skin, garlic, light delicious soy sauce. 2) Congee with thousand yo egg and pork. 3) Rice Baked: any combo is good, but I like it with chicken and mushroom. Salted fish is even better ;) 4) Sauteed Scallop with black pepper sauce 5) Sauteed Shrimp with walnut and broccoli: for those unfamiliar -shrimp has a honey mayo sauce and is deep-fried (not sauteed). 6) Peking pork chop 7) Salt and Pepper pork ribs 8) Assorted Seafood in sizzling hot plate 9) Fried Fresh Squid with salted pepper 10) Sauteed Snowpeas with Garlic 11) Pan fried bean curd with soy sauce: sounds plain, but has so much flavor. Enjoy!
(4)Perry W.
Amazing house special chicken. Hot and sour pork came in at a strong second place; waiters could be more attentive, but definitely returning!
(4)Pepper C.
The quality of food and service is really poor here nowadays. This place used to be one of my favorite congee restaurants and I used to enjoyed the food here in general. We ordered congees and some general dishes, not only the food was tasteless and the service was extremely poor. We asked many times for a glass of water and it never came. I accidentally burned my hand while pouring the congee into a bowl. After I told the waiter that I burned myself and I needed a glass of ice cold water to hold on to, the waiter told me to wait! My friend got so mad he ended up went to the work station to get it himself. The only time that the waiters came by quickly and got what we need was when we asked for the bill. One of my girlfriends also saw the waiter tried to measure the water of ready-to-cook rice by putting his bare hand into the pot. It's not an issue to measure the right amount of water over the rice by hand, however, the major issue is that we didn't see him wash hands before he walking over from other table. After the bowl of rice came to our table although it was not from the same pot, I already lost my appetite. Not only that, our waiter's thumb was also dipping in the source when he putting down the food on the table. Unfortunately congee village's congee is no longer a signature, it became tasteless and flavorless like water down rice soup. Other dishes were absolutely disappointing, either too oily, salty or plain. Despite of the taste itself, the portion of every dishes has gotten so much less compared to what it used to be. Sadly, this is our last time dinned at the Congee Village. We will not be returning no more. Definitely not for its lack of sanitation, tasteless food, small portion and poor service.
(1)Katie M.
Was back to Congee yet again for the 4th year in a row to celebrate my best friend's birthday. This has become a seriously glorious tradition that always manages to please. In order to prepare yourself for the best possible Congee experience, heed to these tips very carefully: 1) Expect prompt service. However, don't expect any special requests to be honored, as there are at least 3-4 servers that will be bringing your food and submitting orders. That being said, if you ask the manager very nicely, he is quite happy to accommodate bringing your best friend a plate of sweet potato mochi cakes accompanied by crazy music and a lit candle! 2) Order at least one bowl of congee. Unless you're Chinese and/or grew up on the stuff, it won't taste particularly good. But you must order it anyway. It's tradition. 3) The mayo shrimp w/ walnuts & broccoli dish sounds disgusting but is actually the best thing on the menu. Don't think about the gloppy mayo, just don't, but do think about how perfectly fried and amazing that shrimp tastes with those perfectly candied walnuts. 4) There is no chance that you're not eating family-style in a group larger than 4 people. I suggest ordering one dish per person at the table + 2 - you will have a ton of food, but plenty of variety. It won't be timed perfectly, but you'll get your orders fast enough so that once the last dish makes it to your table, everything else will still be warm. 5) Make sure to go to Congee Village on Allen Street, NOT Bowery. It is far cleaner, better decorated, and has better staff. 6) Do use the lazy susan excessively. 7) Do expect a cheap bill!
(4)Foodie G.
Best congee and good for group (round table like normal chinese restaurant) love love love to come back.
(5)Bin H.
Congee, ftw! I had the duck, pork and chicken Congee. It was piping hot, full of flavor and so cheap (under $5 for a big bowl). I wonder what their big secret to successful congee-making is. My friend and I also shared a shrimp dish and scallion pancakes. The servers were friendly and the service was quick, like every other Chinese restaurant I love going to.
(4)Sally C.
Love the house special garlic chicken and and pork rib!! Mixed mushroom and fried bean curd is delicious too! If you love tofu like I do :p Recommend! Price is very moderate too!
(4)F S.
The food was very good and the portions huge. Items not on the menu but typical to American Chinese restaurants were prepared. The downside was the service. We came after lunch, but before the crowded dinner service and received little service other than getting the check. We were pointed in the general direction of where they wanted our group of 6 to sit; No drink order was taken. After our meals were done and I asked for a refill, the waiter threw a pitcher of water on the table. And there was no, "so how is your meal?" during the course of our meal. Some may like not being bothered or attended to at all by wait staff. It wasn't my cup of tea. And, no fortune cookies. BOOOO! While the food was above par, I won't be back.
(2)S W.
WORST SERVICE EVER! So I reserved two tables for dinner and when I went up to the hostess and told her, then she saw my grandparents and decided to tell me "Oh you didn't tell us you have elderly people in your group, we actually have your table in the sub-basement"...uhh if you tend to ask people this wouldn't it be their job to ask if our party has elderly people? That's strike one already. Here is strike two, so we decide to get seated in the sub-basement....come to find out they have the two tables back to back (with no room in between) and right near the only door entrance and exit. There was only 6 chairs instead of 8 and the hostess says oh we can still add a chair there...WTF where are you going to add two chairs when people and waiters are walking back and forth? So as we ask her "Can we sit in the other table a little further from the two we were given, she said oh it's too far for the two tables to be together then we all said it's fine, then she goes to say "Oh it's reserved" . As we try to talk to her she just walks away like nothing happened. Let's just say I am never going back ever again.
(1)Elaine H.
I have been to this place twice, once for friends's birthday party, the other for a farewell dinner, both time the food we ordered were memorable. Garlic chicken is definitely a must try, seafood is also good.
(4)Hailey L.
Dirty, low quality ingredients, really disappointing. Especially the cleanliness -- the plates, table, tea cup...ALL were sticky and oily. To add, the service is appalling -- they didn't even serve water until we asked and the soda we ordered took 10 minutes to bring. They need to pay more attention to their customers' dining experience if they want to gain loyalty.
(1)YUQI K.
The congee in here is soo good!!!!!!!
(5)Leila Y.
what happen??? I use to come here all the time as a kid. Every Sunday after church, my mom would take me and my brother here for lunch. I use to be so excited to come here, now I am not. I came here with my bf and a few friends. I felt like all the portions got smaller. We ordered the fish with bean curd- there were 5 pieces of fish, well i cant even say fish, because it was a little piece of fish, and the rest was the breading, half the clay pot was filled with lettuce. All the rest of the dishes were a little too salty.
(2)Anh P.
Cheap comfort food is what I'm all about. When you start getting the sniffles and you're craving that bowl of congee with pork and preserved egg that your mama used to make you, come here. For $5, you get a legit bowl of bubbling hot congee. The liver congee is good too, 1 order feeds about two people comfortably so if you don't want to fight over who has the last bowl, I suggest you order more. For such a vast menu, I've only been able to try the Fresh Squid with Salted Pepper (both times = hella good), Beef Chow Mein - which has crunchy noodles with sauce, the House Special Chicken - a must get, it was so good I didn't even have a chance to take a picture of it. Great place for groups. Got a full bar and they make a mean lychee martini.
(5)Jenn S.
Cheap late night eats is what I love! This place is huge, with mini mazes of tables and chairs. The decor is loud, obnoxious and kind of gaudy but I think it was purposely done that way so that it creates a more lively party atmosphere. Had both the sliced pork & preserved egg congee and the chicken & black mushrooms congee and both were good but what's up with the copious amounts of fresh raw ginger!!! Next time I'll have to ask them to omit that or at least sautee the bitter out a bit before adding the other ingredients... Also had the salted fish & rice baked in bamboo and the Assorted Seafood w. Fried Bean Curd, both were very good. The server kept disappearing on us and we had to ask for things multiple times before we got them. And our server was a bad english yeller when he spoke so I had to ask him to slow down and lower his voice a few times because I couldn't understand what he hell was saying...and I'm asian mind you! It what just the 2 of us and it was nice but I can tell it'd be pretty awesome with a large crowd. This place loses half a star for the service but since yelp won't let me it gets 4....
(4)Mai L.
There is nothing better than fresh hot congee served in a clay pot when you are not feeling well or just looking for some comfort food. This is a treat for all congee lovers because they have a very extensive selection. Unfortunately, their fried bread is not as good as some of the ones I've tried from other restaurants. It is too dry and it doesn't have a nice chewy consistency. They also have other delicious dishes on their menu as well. However, if you are looking for 'little juicy pork buns' don't go here. It is definitely no their speciality. The skin for the buns were too thick and there was barely any soup in it. The beef chow mein, which is a beef pan fried noodle was pretty decent. It will satisfy the taste of people looking for something not too complicated. It is embellished with chinese broccoli around the rim and topped with a brown sauce with slices of beef.
(4)Dennis L.
Good quality Chinese food with a tiki lounge feel. Not only is there a tiki theme but if you have a party large enough for a large round top, you could find yourself sitting above the rest. On the iron throne. Ruler of the seven kingdoms. From there you can look down upon other lowly diners like me. FOOD: 1/2 house special fried chicken - should be ordered once since its pretty unique but it's essentially chicken fried in garlic infused oil. It's very similar to the chicken that's served during wedding banquets with the colored chips. It's good but not great Salted fried pork - different from the steamed version my mom makes. A tad on the salty side for me but I wouldn't mind ordering again. Fu Kan fried rice - our waiter desperately tried convincing us not to order this dish. He said it would be wet and clumpy. And even though he was right, I secretly thoroughly enjoyed it. Snap peas with garlic - sold out and replaced with another vegetable claiming to be its cousin. Not the same. We'll be back to try other dishes we didn't have room to order. Tip to myself: ignore all suggestions made by the waiter. Prices were moderate but justified given that its a step up from the dingy C-rated health score restaurant Chinatown has to offer.
(4)Wendy Y.
As an Asian, I thought this place was below average. I will not go back again as there are better restaurants in Chinatown. I can't say how their congee is (I know, this is a porridge/congee restaurant) & ok, shoot me - I didn't get their signature porridge dish but I was lunching. Anywayz... Their restaurant looks clean. It has a Inspection Level B. I didn't enjoy the sizzling rib dish. The chicken is tasty and moist. The table next to us also ordered the same as us and didn't finish the sizzling ribs but finished the House Special Chicken. Service was not the best. I agreed with the other reviewer, you are not here to make friends with the servers but you have to at least enjoy your meal. My Dad was pretty thirsty & had to asked for a refill on his water every time. On his third request, they just gave him a pitcher. (I guess it's kind of typical Chinese service but still...!) I would not come back again. Or at least, the lunch menu is not worth coming back. And it is somewhat far from Chinatown. Restaurant does look clean on the inside. On a side note, my friend (who is a very selective eater) did enjoy the restaurant and their porridge. Cheers.
(2)Sweet N.
Their food was delish. The congee was good but better was their tofu in a caramelized soy sauce, the salty pepper seafood and the rest of the food we ordered. Yum! I will definetly go back!
(4)Allene T.
Question - why is this place in the middle of nowhere? Since I have a thing for congee when I'm NOT sick, unlike those who only choose to eat it when they can't swallow anything else and your mom makes you eat it, I'll review the congee. Preserved egg and pork congee - I would give it 5 stars, but I had to knock it down one because the pork is terrible. It tastes old, like cardboard or something. It's not tender and flavorful like you would expect from other congee places. BUT, the rest of the dish - amazing. I love the flavor of the rice soup itself and they give you plenty of preserved eggs. It doesn't go cold because of the ridiculously hot stone bowl they bring out (cold congee is worse than being sick) AND it's dirt cheap! Everything else - meh. The beef noodle soup was less than mediocre and the "dry pork flat noodles" (not sure how to say it in English...strange) was bland and not very flavorful. Overall, I'd come for the congee but skip the pork. The congee is cheap but everything else is pretty pricey.
(3)Ben N.
very good food. but your delivery man always asks for money!
(3)Marco M.
The food was decent and the price is right. But the place is dirty (they have a B rating on the date I went there) and I found a little piece of steel wool in the Rice last night. This has turned me off the place.
(1)Christopher I.
Oh god... the House Special Chicken! Fried whole, then chopped and doused with a salty glaze, with shavings of golden garlic scattered on top -- this is chicken heaven on a plate. I will never eat here again without ordering this. You shouldn't either.
(5)Anna W.
Your perfect blend of East meets West. And I'm not talking just the food. Almost every single table that sat down when I last frequented was the quintessential depiction of lower Manhattan. First generation Asian grandparents sat next to their bi-racial grandchildren and laughing with their Caucasian in-laws, and shared a meal that represented the fusion of cultures and the importance of family. Maybe they were just having dinner and totally hating each other, but this Congee Village screams "family" to me, with so many tables set up with lazy susans, and dishes that can serve an entire tribe with the flavors that remind me of home- but better (sorry mom) - this is my go-to chinese restaurant when I'm looking to eat a bit more upscale. My boyfriend and I ordered the Walnut shrimp with the sweet mayo sauce, duck, preserved egg and fish congee, and the beef chow fun. All of my favorites in one meal. In retrospect, we could have been good with just the noodles and one other dish but everything was too good to pass up. The shrimp was amazing. Crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside - but the condensed milk, mayo mixture is what ties everything together. Decorated with crunchy broccoli and sprinkled with candied walnuts. The chowfun was omg amazing. Tender beef and well cooked noodles. Fish from the congee was so delicate and fresh. We hoped the duck would be roasted but the steamed version was equally delicious. Servers could have been more polite. I must go, my mouth is watering.
(4)Anikha R.
You know a Chinese food restaurant is authentic when you see Chinese people dining there, smiling! There was a whole-lot-of-food! I liked how diverse the menu was. They had the usual fried chicken and rice, but if you read further, they had things like pigeon! The next time I go there, I will try that. Can't knock it til you try it, right?! OK, I probably won't order that, but I'm just trying to convey how authentic and vast the menu is.
(4)Diana O.
What a gem. I love coming here. Always have had excellent dining experiences. Usually come in for congee and something on the side like a dish of dumplings. Always hits the spot.
(4)Tom W.
Terrible place. Rip off artists work there. Ripped us off on our debit cards. Don't they know thieves go to hell?
(1)Lucie T.
This review is a fusion of two visits over an extended period of time ending in this evening's not so successful dinner with friends. My first visit to this establishment was calm, and the food was delicious especially the razor sauteed clams were very memorable and we didn't have to wait and the service was alright. Tonight the restaurant was a different experience,very busy and we waited for a table of 3 for 45 minutes, and then our dishes all came at different times and sine its family style dining you can imagine this to be troublesome. While the snowpeas sauteed in garlic were very good and regular clams as well and the fried rice that we originally wanted cooked in a pumpkin there was an hour wait to get it so we opted for a different fried rice which was good, and the razor clams weren't available so we also had to substitute. I can only hope the next time we can at least wait less and get the dishes we looked forward to all day.
(3)Jenny W.
What a huge disappointment, and I should've known by looking at the menu. There were pictures of raw food on it. Like the simmered duck soup with chinese herb - it displayed a raw dead duck on a plate. This immediately killed my appetite for anything I had to order. Here's what we ordered: Frog Congee - mediorcore, not enough frogs but good for the price Triple delight congee: I think that's what it was called, duck, pork and chicken? It was good, and great value. Here's why it was 2 stars: House Special Shrimp Paste Pork Rib - Way too sweet, not enough meat on the bone. Blue Crab w. Garlic and Pepper - the crabs were way too small, not enough meat and tastes frozen Bean Curd w. Seafood Royal Style- the vegetable tastes old, very chewy and not very green. It was borderline yellow. Overall, pretty disappointed with the resturant, probably will not go back again.
(2)Nidhi B.
Congee was great. I came here with a group of 20 people for a friend's birthday, which would cause most restaurants in New York to have collective simultaneous heart attacks. Congee, however, accepted the reservation, had tables in the back prepared for us when we arrived, were ready to take our order right away, brought everything out promptly, and brought us the check fast. Sure, they were a little gruff, but I think that was more language barrier than anything else, and they were certainly very efficient. The food was great, and with about a beer each and with totally over-ordering we paid only $20 each including tax and tip - you can't beat that! I couldn't even begin to remember everything we ordered, but we basically each got one or two things and shared everything, so I tried a lot of the menu. Unfortunately I wasn't in a very adventurous mood, so I ordered safely, as did most of us. I do remember having the sesame chicken (delicious, and total crowd-pleaser), the pan fried bean curd with soy sauce (so tender and yummy), some fried pork deliciousness (probably sweet and sour pork), chicken fried rice (fine), vegetable rice noodles (maybe called chow fun? delicious), the seafood surprise (bland and very unappetizing-looking - skip), sauteed short ribs (too fatty but good flavor), bean curd and mushrooms (texture was weird but good flavor). There was a lot more, but I can't remember it all. In any case, the basic Chinese takeout stuff here is great, and obviously way better than your normal corner Chinese takeout. I would love to come back here with other adventurous people and try some of the more exotic things. I don't think I'll ever be able to work my way up to the live fish or live shrimp, but never say never!
(4)Rich W.
I remember Congee Village when it first opened for just congee over 25 years ago and their congee was very good and it is still good. Over the years it has grown into a full restaurant & bar for the LES hipsters that have replaced the previous immigrants that once packed the tenements. I am still a regular here for 31 selections of congee dishes and the 62 lunch special dishes on menu. Both the congee and lunch varieties are good and priced reasonability; lunch average $4 and congee average $4. Dinner is another story, my brother's family visits this place all the time because they live around the corner. When I am dining with them here I find that many of the dishes are too greasy, not consistent in quality, long waiting time, and pricey. The line for dinner is also long. A couple of time we got the "upstairs" tables that are just above the bar. The noise from the bar and the cheesy deco in this section make my dinner even less appealing. So for me, I think lunch and congee is great here but for dinner it could be better.
(3)OIivia C.
I've come here three times before, although the visits were very far apart from each other so I'm only writing this review based on my most recent visit. The first two visits were nothing spectacular but since those were both about 3 years ago, management could have changed because it seemed that this restaurant has really upped its game since 3 years ago, earning themselves 4 stars from me. The dishes were well sized and very flavorful, in addition to being really decently priced. We got one of the sizzling platters (chicken and onion smothered in black bean sauce) which was definitely my favorite that night, rice baked salty chicken and fish (also really good and comes in this adorable wooden log looking container), and the fried squid (burnt the roof of my mouth a little cos I couldn't wait to eat it but turned out to be a bit lacking in flavor). These three dishes with tax came up to $30.10. Not bad at all. The waiter was lazy in serving our dishes and NEVER refilled my water which was completely gone by the middle of the meal. Very unprofessional in a restaurant. And when our waiter brought the dishes over, he would not move the other dishes around to fit all the dishes in the center of the table but instead just placed them on the edge of the table for us to adjust ourselves. Lazy service. Love the decor of this restaurant, both inside and out. They have bamboo decorations all throughout the restaurant which I found aesthetically pleasing. Sorry, don't actually know what their congee tastes like, it was sweltering hot outside so I will be sure to try it in the winter. Overall, really enjoyed the food and the prices are not outrageous. Will come back soon. EDIT: I have now tried their congee, and it is REALLY good. Get the one with liver and pork in it.
(4)Bruce T.
I reserved tables for 30 people for dinner was seated on time yet as expected squeezed tightly into three tables. The head server was extremely RUDE and unaccommodating. We ordered Beer and Soda for all but when I asked for a glass of water for one of my guests they said "No! Only Soda" . Tables were seldom cleared after dishes were empty and we had to ask continually to have dishes cleared between servings. As far as the food goes the steak, pork chops, congee were great...the numerous vegetable stir fry's where very good. The seafood with noodles were bland and not tasty. Overall this visit was disappointing and the service was the worst I have ever experienced at this restaurant. I have had numerous events at Congee ...this time I was very disappointed.
(2)John W.
This is usually one of those default places Chinese people go to (or at least the ones I know). Food is decent and atmosphere is usually better than most options around.
(3)lisa y.
Went there for brunch last Sunday (5/15/11) with the family. We got there early, so sitting the 8 of us was not a problem. We've been to the other Congee Village on Bowery, this one is 100x better! We had 4 different kinds of congee - beef, chicken, pork with preserved egg and the sampan. We also had 2 baked rices, one with salt fish (stay away, no flavor) and chinese sausage. Everything we had was very good! I want to come back and try their drinks. $4 for an apple martini?? Yeah...that's what I'm talking about!
(5)Ryan W.
In Joan Didion's "Year of Magical Thinking," Didion describes the upset stomach that comes with any stressful time in one's life. In her case, it was the loss of her husband and the illness of her daughter, but the magic of "Magical Thinking" is that the book's insights can apply to anyone, in any situation. "I will not forget the instinctive wisdom of a friend who, every day for those first few weeks, brought me a quart container of scallion-and-ginger congee from Chinatown," Didion writes. "Congee I could eat. Congee was all I could eat." I must admit that when I first read her book, I wasn't sure what congee was, exactly; I'd been to multiple Chinatowns, of course, but always on the hunt for something on the other end of the dietary extreme, something spicy, stimulating, maybe still swimming in a tank when I entered the restaurant. This time, things were different: I'd been sick recently, and had lost my appetite. I wouldn't have been out at all, the night we went to Congee Village, except for there was a poetry reading on the LES by Marty McConnell, of "Instructions for a Body" fame, which, for the uninitiated, is exactly what one would want if one were in need of emotional sustenance. After the reading, my companions wanted food, and I wanted nothing. The compromise was congee. When it arrived at our table, a hearty rice porridge in a crock, full of savory duck and scallions, I finally understood what Joan Didion meant. This was food for the soul, first and foremost. It was warm, flavorful but not too flavorful, cheaper than dirt, and served with a hot cup of tea and a smile, even at 11pm, when we came in from the rain. It was exactly what my body needed to come alive again. I can't speak for the rest of the food here (which was just so-so). But congree, I could definitely eat. And I would gladly do so again at Congee Village.
(3)Nidaa M.
Any time I'm feeling down and want to eat my feelings away, or maybe I've heard some good news and want to celebrate with close friends, this is my place to be. I've been here so many times, I can't remember which time I pigged out the most. Their food is absolutely delicious, minus the congee. Ironic enough, it's just not their signature dish. But that doesn't matter, I can do without it. My favorite dishes have always been the sauteed garlic watercress and the crispy chicken with garlic. Add on a bowl of rice and I'm good to go for the night. The sizzling short ribs are pretty good as well, but nothing beats their steak! Get it done medium, it's delectable with rice. The black pepper steak is another tasty dish. The mayo shrimp with caramelized walnuts is decent as well, oh I'm getting hungry just writing about all of this. This place is decently priced, if you eat a normal amount. I once came here with a friend of mine and just the 2 of us alone, we consumed $100 worth of food. Keep in mind, we've been here A LOT. It was so frighting, even our waiter kept repeating "No no, I think that's enough!". That night, we had about 5 dishes? and still weren't full! We ended up getting clams for dessert. Along with the grapes they serve when you get the bill, we both finished EVERYTHING. Yup, we're mad beast. The ambiance is very nice, they even have a bar up front for when the wait is ridiculously long. This place tends to get crowded on peak days (Fridays and Saturdays), so I suggest getting there a bit early. The staff is nice and quick, very prompt with our food and drinks, also on the refills. I highly recommend this place. No doubt in my mind, you'll want to come back. I know I always do!
(5)Stella A.
They would have gotten 5 start if not for terrible service. There were 7 of us at my table. We order 6 dishes and 4 bowls are rice (one guys have to go to a dinner after getting together with us so he wasn't going to eat much). The waiter was rude and also kept pushing us to order more food. He was rude: I had written all the dishes we wanted on a piece of paper. I waved him over and handed him the paper and said "4 bowls of rice please". He said, quite rudely, "all 7 of you are only eating 4 bowls of rice!?!" He was not joking. He was upset and really though I was only ordering 4 bowls of rice! Very obviously, he did not even see my piece of paper. Even so, he was very rude since the customer is always right. So what if I order only 4 bowls of rice! The tactics he tried to push us to spend more money were: The waiter said 6 dishes aren't enough for my group. We said we are not that hungry. Then he told us the dishes are small. We said we will order more food later if there isn't enough food. He told us if we reorder the food would take a longggggg time to prefer. We insisted we don't want to order more dishes. Then he told us the salt & pepper calamari is small and we will only have one piece per person. We said that's ok. We ordered 4 bowl of rice and it was just enough. We found out when the bill comes that each bowl was $1. So if we had ordered 7 bowls and ate 4, we still would be charge for 7 bowls! What really happened: The dishes weren't small. Every one had more than ONE PIECE of the salt & pepper calamari. The 4 bowls were just enough. The food came out SUPER fast (which means the kitchen was NOT slow as he claimed). Also, I had ordered house soup (which is free). I also ordered everything in chinese. We were a large group and some of my friends were seated at the next table. They are mostly non-Asian and even the Asians were ABC (non-chinese speaking). When one of them noticed our soup, he asked this same waiter, "Is that soup free?" pointing at our table. The waiter said bluntly "NO". I almost fell on the floor!! That is straight-out discrimination! The waiter gets an A for effort but a big fat F for being pushy, and lying!
(3)Liang Z.
The portion and the authenticity of the food will blow you away. Try this Cantonese restaurant and you will be back in no time, hate the parking so try to come for a late lunch or early dinner.
(5)Nina L.
I went to this place two days in a row, thinking that it'd be better the second time around. Same general consensus upon leaving: Meh. I'd only come here for two, maybe three things: The Congee (the sliced pork and preserved eggt), the drinks ($2 Lycee Ice), and possibly the House Chicken Special. The skin was deliciously crispy, but the meat could have been saltier. What to order and mostly not: Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage (good) Pan Fried Minced Pork with Lotus Root (not recommended) Steamed Minced Pork and Salted Fish (eh) Congee with Abalone and Chicken (not worth $2 extra) Fish head w Tofu/Mushrooms (not recommended)
(3)Tom M.
Food was kind of bland... got a squid entree that had like 2 pieces of squid. Some of the other entrees my party had were ok but really nothing special here at all. Service was slow to downright unattentive, bathrooms were dirty and gross. restaurant is really big and on 2 levels (maybe even 3) so getting around is kind of confusing as there are staircases in several spots that lead to weird areas of the restaurant. Definitely an odd place that seems to be overated imo.
(2)Ryna D.
The beauty of living in such a cosmopolitan city like New York includes the diversity of ethnic food available. Craving for takoyaki that reminds you of backpacking through Osaka? Want authentic Mexican street food? In the mood for injera or tagines or bibimbop? Yes, you can have pretty much anything in New York including Chinese exotic fare like jelly fish, century eggs, sea cucumbers, bird's nest, and shark's fin. For those type of cravings head down to the LES to Congee Village on Allen Street. The bi-level restaurant is ideal for large groups as the serving portions are better suited for sharing than it is for individual consumption. The menu is quite extensive but focus on dishes that you wouldn't find in your regular neighborhood Chinese joint. For those who have yet to try delicacies like shark's fin soup or bird's nest soup then check those off your foodie bucket list here. Order the sea cucumber or jelly fish in your preferred preparation. The cold sweet and spicy jelly fish salad is addictive as an appetizer. Among the entrees the razor clams in black bean sauce is particularly delicious. Very few restaurants in New York have razor clams on the menu and when they do it's a rather expensive item. At Congee Village they are fresh, cooked just right to keep them tender, and even at market price is reasonable. There are a dozen or so congee variations to choose from. None of then are particularly more remarkable than the rest of the menu but it's the kind of dish that you can get a random craving for in the middle of winter. There are also dumplings but stay away from the soup dumplings. It's clearly not their specialty and the dough is too thick and the broth itself mediocre. The service is prompt and direct as one might expect from a Chinatown restaurant. You come here for the food not the extra frills a more expensive restaurant affords you. So while we wait for spring drop in for a bowl of congee and be adventurous and try out some dishes you've never had before.
(4)Robert G.
NO STARS. They serve SHARK FIN SOUP. Totally EVIL. For those who don't know, 10-20 million sharks are killed every year just to serve this mercury-laden soup from a big, mercury-laden fish. Sharks are finned then left to sink to the bottom of the ocean and die. It's EVIL. If you eat at Congee Village, you support shark finning. It's as simple as that. Oh, and one time one of their idiot delivery guys (who spoke zero English) tried to wrestle his way into my apartment -- he physically pushed me out of the way -- because he was too stupid to understand that he couldn't make a physical carbon impression on my credit card, which is flat. I had to call Congee's manager to give him my CC number over the phone and tell him about this insane incident. He apologized and told me that it would never happen again. (Well, of course it won't happen again, because I WILL NEVER ORDER FROM THEM AGAIN.)
(1)Deana C.
The line which stretched down the block is what really made us want to eat there. The food is good but the service isn't. We were seated fairly quickly for a busy Saturday night but it took forever to get anyone to take our order. The menu is very impressive and you kind of want to order one of everything. We had the fried flounder (delish) scallion pancake and seafood soup. I wish the soup had more of a flavor, it was kind of like just a bunch of seafood thrown into water... I think I'd go back again to try some other things but I won't go out of my way for it.
(3)Pinky And The B.
We do not go out for Chinese food very often in NYC any more since my husband cooks better at home. I know you are jealous so I will stop rubbing it in. We have tried most of the old school Chinese in NYC. Again my husband makes better at home. Most are so boring I don't even bother to rate them. Since Congee Village made the list of the top 10 Chinese restaurants in the country and I had to be in the area anyway I thought I would try it. top100.chinesemenu.com/e… For the rating I am only comparing it to other Chinese restaurants in NYC and not other areas of the US, Canada and Hong Kong, since their Chinese restaurants are cleaner than ours, have better service and superior food. (see my list of Chinese restaurants) yelp.com/list/chinese-re… Heather H's review is hilarious and I am sure it is true one of the many reasons I am not into NYC Chinese restaurants. After all of that how do I rate it? I know you are dying to know!I am not going to order the typical chicken with cashew nuts, General Tso's chicken or other Lo Fan menu items. But I am deathly allergic to shell fish (not all sea food just shell fish) but Chinese restaurants many times will have hidden shrimp in a regular sea food dish and I have been to dim sum in NY and asked and they said no and I ended up at the hospital. So I just don't mess with sea food in straight up Chinese restaurants in NYC unless the menu has a disclaimer on it to inform them of such allergies. So the menu items I ordered are tame but not Americanized. A quality Chinese restaurant will not skimp on the vegetables and add yellow broccoli and tons of carrots in everything. So many restaurants in China town do that now and we even got frozen vegetables at one restaurant. yelp.com/biz/shanghai-cu… So Congee Village has real and fresh vegetables. Who can't cook a big hunk of meat. So I judge partially by the vegetables at a Chinese restaurant. An authentic Chinese restaurant will also have the Wok sear. The Wok sear on a scale of 1-10 is about a 7. Authentic Wok sear but would be hotter. The flavors were blended very well in the sauces none of them were over powering. Since I am allergic to shell fish I was not able to have the Congee. We ordered Congee with frog legs thinking we could both share it as we do most dishes but though it doesn't say so on the menu it has scallops in it and I am deathly allergic. My husband caught the scallops before I ate it , so that was a good thing. The frog legs was a bit to chewy for his tastes.Congee Village is home style cooking. This restaurant is a perfect example of why the 5 star rating system isn't really that effective. If it was on a scale from 1-10 I would give it 6 and a half to 7 stars. There are no 8's in my opinion or far as Yelp stars goes 5 stars. I would not like to rate it as being average because as NYC Chinese restaurants go it is probably better all around with food, service and decor. But since the rating system is so inaccurate I can only give it 3 stars. But is more like 3 and half stars. There is something missing. Something that Yank Sing in San Fransisco has. I can't quite put my finger on it. It is something extra. I do think it is a nice option to take out of town guests who want Chinese food. There were other racially mixed couples and the waiters were used to it and okay with it. In China town proper we run into problems being a mixed couple. The whole grandma match making thing, you know. Here I did not experience any of that so I felt comfortable.
(3)Big B.
Tasty congee. Totally CHEAP. All is good except the server is arrogant.
(4)Lilian A.
Bad experience. We were seated near stairs & bus area. We felt rushed to order from the extensive menu with unique items. It would have been nice to be able to ask questions and ask for suggestions. We finally sent the somber waiter away with a dumpling order so he could leave us alone to peruse the menu. Then...no dumplings or waiter for a long time, until finally one order of dumplings which was covered with the thickest gob of chewy dough ever. We finally ordered. We asked for shrimp in fish sauce, waiter said there was no shrimp, but then he pointed to a picture on the menu of some pale shrimp.We did not order the sorry looking thing. We ordered what was described and pictured as squid sautéed with vegetables & cashews, what we got was a few, very few, fried squid tentacles buried in lots and lots of cashews, lots & lots of onions and peppers. We ordered the fried frog, it was so greasy I could feel it ribbet ribbet in my stomach hours later. We ordered something else that I can only recall as being greasy,salty ground pork burgers. I noticed we did not get rice, which I thought would help with the squid thing and greasy frog. So I had to ask for some. Later I noticed they charged $2.00 for each little bowl of rice. Very disappointing. We were never offered tea or peanuts as I noticed other people just getting in got. There were many interesting things on the menu and if we had not felt rushed we may have made better choices. Maybe next time...
(1)Athena C.
Good place for Congee. Doh! But they have much more! They offer yummy Cantonese style dishes and that includes chicken feet! But I really like the mayo shrimp ball with walnut, Peking Pork Chop, crab soup and their steamed lobster here. We had 10 people and we ordered the cheapest Dinner set on the menu (10 dishes for $269) and we couldnt even finish it. There were 1 or 2 dishes that weren't great but overall it is such a value meal! Drinks here are super cheap as well :)
(4)Peter C.
I lived in Hong Kong for 5 years, and this is one of only two "chinese" restaurants I've been to in America that actually reminds me of being in Hong Kong. It's also cheap - including the martinis at the tiki bar (although the quality varies greatly depending on the bartender). It's great for groups too. The food isn't spectacular or made with the best of the best ingredients, but it's not that kind of place. It's a cheap place to go have a great time with your peeps and check out some authentic chinese food. Besides, the vast majority of the patrons whenever I've been there have been asian, which has got to be good, right?
(4)wil o.
I was here years ago..ate there..recently I was able to see the kitchen..NO ONE in their right mind would give any stars to this joint....(mind you ,my tolerance for filth is high).. Ignorance was bliss .. now it is regret..
(1)David L.
Felt the urge for congee, so decided to check out this place. Based on recommendations from previous reviews, ordered pork and preserved egg congee, scallion pancake, house special chicken and garlic snow pea leaves. All of it was rather good, though the house special chicken was served warm and not hot. I assume that this is how its supposed to be and it was tasty nonetheless. I could eat the garlic snow pea leaves all day, but they were a bit pricey relative to other items on their menu. Overall hit the spot. I would recommend this place to those looking for decent and affordable congee.
(3)Kira M.
Forget Del Posto, Daniel, Bouley and Momo Ko. My favorite baby in the city is Congee Village. (One may argue that I can't confidently make that claim considering I haven't actually been to any of the name-dropped five-star restaurants, but... whatever.) I've visited CV twice; both times with a large group (the space is great for collectives of 10(-ish)), so I've managed to try a fair share of their dishes. To keep this review from resembling a Ken Follet novel, however, I'll stick to the highlights. Just note that there are no losers on the mile-long menu. 1) The restaurant's namesake offering, the Rice Congee (Try the Chicken with Shitake Mushroom Porridge.), is certainly worth a sampling. It's like the oatmeal your Mama made you eat when you were little. Only awesome. 2) The Boiled Sliced Conch with Asparagus is divine. The mollusk is tenderly chewy and its flavoring deliciously subtle. 3) The Cold Jellyfish was what originally lured me back for a second visit. The salty, tasty gummies can be slurped like spaghetti. Joy! 4) The runner-up to 'Favorite Dish' is the Blue Crab with Garlic & Pepper. Once you get past the legwork involved in stripping away the shell, oh man, will the frustration have been worth it! 5) While the Blue Crab is fantastic and all, the star of the show is hands-down the Braised Supreme Shark's Fin Soup. Environmental activists may hate me (I hate myself for it, too, guys), but it's Too. Effing. Good to resist. The broth is so flavorful I want to cry. The food is meant to be shared, family-style (rotating table!), which makes for a delightfully enhanced communal experience. (The decent alcoholic beverages don't hurt either.) All in all, I'm positively shivering with antici... PATION for visit no. 3.
(5)Christine D.
I would never recommend this place to anyone and will never return again. The service was awful and there was nothing special about the food. It started with dirty tea cups and plates. I was kind of grossed out already at that point. The food took forever to come out, it came out in the wrong order and we also got wrong items. By the time the errors were fixed, I had already lost my appetite. We wasted 2 hours and 58 dollars for a crappy meal.
(1)Robert S.
I went here with my wife for dinner after a movie. It was crowded so we figured it might be worth the wait. They first sat us in this extremely small room. Our seats faced a wall. We both looked at each other and said no way. We both got up and spoke to the young girl who seated us. She was very nice and assured us we would get a bigger table. Waited about another 20 minutes and finally got seated. The wait staff is very rude. They act like they don't see you. It's kind of funny. Ordered the fried vegetable rice. That was ok. Nothing special. We also ordered the chicken with vegetables. Not very flavorful. I would give it another try for lunch but not for dinner.
(3)David L.
One of a few great places to eat in Chinatown. Was up in NYC for a few days to take friends around and stopped by here. Pro: Congee - they are great and have many different kind to choose from. My favorites are Abalone w Chicken and Chicken with mushroom. Rice in bamboo- this is another favorite for me. I like the combination one. House Chicken - You need to try this. This is their house specialty. Fast - the food comes out fast so it helps when you're hungry or in a hurry :) Price - Can't beat the price. I normally order to go also since I rarely come up here. Con: Service - you won't get great service here at all. Then again, you rarely do in Chinatown. So if you are visiting NYC, make sure to stop by here.
(4)Alina G.
I waited until I ate here twice to write a review, so here it goes! The experience was a decent one but the service left a bit to be desired. The first plate that our waiter brought out turned out to be another tables plate. We didn't realize this and started eating it anyway until suddenly the waiter came by, didn't say a word, and took it away. The second mishap of the service was at the end, they gave us another tables check. I wasn't in a hurry or a bad mood, so these things didn't bother me; I just laughed them off. But I could understand if some people would not be amused by these mistakes. Other than that, the food itself was delicious. I ordered the Hong Kong style scallion pancake, beef chow fun, a tsing tao beer, and a liquid cocaine shot. hong kong style scallion pancake ~ a great appetizer choice. it was only $2.80. Korean style scallion pancake is a fave of mine so I had to try this and it turned out really yummy. beef chow fun ~ $7. One of the best chow fun I've ever had. Delicious flat noodle and beef. For only $7, it was extremely filling. I couldn't even finish all of it, I was so full. The liquid cocaine shot is interesting. Jagermeister, 151, and cinnamon schnaps. I thought the name was funny so I got it, but the cinnamon threw me off a bit. After all of that, plus tip and tax, I paid only $20. Two dishes and two drinks!?! I'll take less than perfect service for that any day.
(4)Rachel C.
This has been a go-to place for a group of my friends for a year now, and it still has yet to disappoint. The fried squid is very good, as is the bok choy. I was also a fan of the vegetable dumplings, and my friends love their pork buns (I'm a pescetarian so I can't really vouch for that). The food is all insanely cheap for the portions given, so blowing money on drinks is less objectionable. The only thing that's less than great is the wait. We usually wind up waiting 15 to 20 minutes, which really isn't so bad, but I'm impatient. Some waiters also have a tendency to neglect tables, too, so service can be hit or miss. Regardless, we always have a good time when we're here, and I'm sure we'll keep coming back.
(4)Wilson M.
So disappointing. I used to like this place a lot, so I was looking forward to some decent Chinese food. We ordered take-out during lunch for the six of us. First, they got our order wrong and left off an item we asked for. Second, a chicken with green vegetables dish we got was so incredibly bland. I was thinking how a restaurant would even put a dish like this on the menu. For me, I had the General Tso's chicken, which is a spicy orange flavored dish. It was really dry with hardly any sauce. The only dish I liked was the congee w/ fermented duck egg.
(2)Little B.
Well, I WAS going to give this place a perfect rating, If it wasn't for the Cockroach show. If you get seated in the main elevated dining area ( the one without the plants on the ceiling) then you're in for a treat. HEAR YE HEAR YE! BRING OUT THE COCKROACHES. The food here is fantastic, don't get me wrong, I eat here at least 3 times a month. What irks me is that if you're sitting next to that gigantic illuminated waterfall painting, If you look closely you can see that between the painting and the lighted wall, there are about 2 dozen cockroaches (The German species you find in your kitchen - not the big scary waterbug kind). They're all dancing around the scenery, sometimes they have cute little toddler roaches following them, sometimes there's a couple wandering by the fake rocks making roach love and laying millions of baby eggs...ahhhh. How then is this comforting, you ask? Well,They're STUCK in there so you don't have to worry about one of them crawling out and onto your chow mein noodles, think of it as an exotic chinese aquarium. But I'm here to eat dammit! Not to watch Discovery LIFE: Cockroach Chronicles narrated by Oprah "Ultimate Pest" Winfrey. So I had to take away one star for showing me your lovable roaches, and I do hope this wall isn't connected to the kitchen otherwise that congee you're eating might have other "bugged out" ingredients besides century egg and fish maw. If I haven't upset you, here are the choice dishes: (1) HOUSE SPECIAL CHICKEN (2) SAMPAN CONGEE (3) PAN FRIED FLOUNDER (4) SNOW PEA LEAVES WITH GARLIC (5) MARTINI LYCHEE Hey, at least you're not at the Bangkok Hilton prison fattening up big ass roaches and eating them with your gruel, making crybaby Claire Danes faces at your inmates. A little cockroach won't hurt once in a while :)
(4)Ron C.
I've always been curious about this place. I remember watching an episode of Bizarre Foods. It was a special about food here in NYC. Andrew Zimmern went here with two of his friends. (I'm pretty sure it wasn't this one) Well they ordered some interesting dishes. One including the Frog Meat Congee, which I ordered. It was really good. A big bowl for only $4.95. Not bad at all. I was expecting, for the price a few small pieces of meat. There was actually good chunks of it. I'm adventurous when it comes to food. There is a lot more on the menu that I will be trying soon.
(4)Lisa L.
The first time I went, I had a pretty good experience. Sure, the waitstaff was kinda grumpy. But, I'm used to that sort of thing at Chinese restaurants that serve the kind of food I grew up with. That's the reason why I decided to go there. For the food nostalgia. For my second trip, I brought a friend. It was really busy just like last time. We ordered appetizers and entrees. The appetizers were good! I got a bowl of congee which was pretty much a meal in itself. However, they got our entrees wrong. We got something that was approximate but, my friend's dish ended up being something else that was twice as expensive and I had had mine sent back. Nonetheless, I would go back albeit during an off hour.
(4)Eric L.
Food is good. When "americans" go here, prices go much higher for same chinese food down the block at cheaper prices abnormally long wait, the chinese restaurant wait where they scream out numbers and people death stare to steal that slot if nobody claims it
(4)Lisa R.
I was feeling under the weather today and knew the only thing to make me better was a bowl of congee (aka chao to my Vietnamese peeps). It's my family's first line of defense for any ailment. After reviewing the menu with my bf, we decided on delivery. I had the combination congee and the small juicy dumplings. My bf wanted something full of veggies and chicken, but couldn't decide and went with House Special Fried Rice. The small juicy dumplings arrived with very little juice but still tasty. We happily shared those and they were the first to be gone from our dinner table. I'll give them a 2.5 stars. My bf's fried rice were pretty sad though. It came with mostly rice, a little bit of veggies and really not much else. This was pathetic and I give it 1.5 stars. As for the congee, it was delicious!! It came with a sprinkling of cilantro, scallions, ginger and was exactly what I was seeking. The soup temp was above warm and soothe my sore throat. Thanks, congee! I'm already feeling better! FYI: Placed the order before 6:30 pm on a week night and food arrived exactly 45 mins later.
(3)C J.
I was expecting sub-par or rude service having read a few reviews prior to attending my sister's birthday party...but I was REALLY surprised when the service matched the quality of their food- above average! =) This was my first time to Congee Village because I prefer to get my authentic chinese in Flushing or a select few restaurants in the heart of Chinatown but I'd definitely come here again. Reasons being: 1) my sister called a week in advance to make reservations for her bday for a group of 12. when half the group arrived, the hostess asked us if we wanted to be seated or if we wanted to hang out at the bar for drinks. then she showed us downstairs to a private room with a mini karaoke system, and a large table with red semi-velvet tablecloth. I felt like a VIP haha! bc any other place would've charged extra for a fancy private room 2) our waiter was very nice. he wasn't rude, sour, or lazy. he checked up on us every now and then to get us more water and tea. and he was patient when taking down our large order bc I took a while to figure out what to order so as to accommodate everyone's palette. he assisted with 2 bday cakes and getting additional plates and utensils too. 3) The food was yummy! I am extremely picky with my chinese food LOL so if a place messes up my favorite dishes I'm banning it forever. But I had no complaints about any of the dishes: jumbo shrimp w/walnut, peking style porkchops, pan fried flounder, house special chicken, black pepper beef on sizzling hot plate, baby bok choi, etc. The only thing that irked me at the end was when the Big Boss patrolled back and fourth to see if we were ready with the check aka. waiting for us to leave. I think he would've kicked us out if we stayed an extra 5 mins. After all we were there for 2 hours.
(4)Jen L.
Wow-wee ... that congee stuff is amazing! The sliced fish and preserved egg was the-best-congee I've ever had. Amazing soy chicken, great eggplant, bean curd and vegetable dish (tho the combo was a bit strange, it tasted just fine). Great portion sizes. I love great chinese at a great price - awesome!
(4)julian d.
here's a place i've brought my out-of-town visitors who want chinese food for years. julian's list: - call ahead for a reservation and BE 10 MINUTES EARLY - average service for chinatown - good prices - great food 5 stars for being best bang for the buck. this is a great place to bring your out-of-town visitors (friends & family).
(5)Denise C.
I came here to celebrate two friends' birthdays. The hostess directed me to the private room downstairs; to my surprise, our party occupied four of the seven tables. Initially, upon seeing such a large group, I figured dinner was either going to be amazing or a complete shitshow. Obviously, judging by my rating, it was the former and thankfully, not the latter. The most important thing about this entire evening was this: DRINKS ARE CHEAP. I am a diehard beer drinker and even I found myself sipping on $6 (!!!!) lychee martinis and some Ecto Cooler-like concoctions with Midori, vodka, and some other stuff I can't remember. Their cocktail list is fun and they also offer a decent selection of bubble tea and shakes for the non-drinkers. We had the advantage of sitting with Adam's friend who spoke fluent Chinese (I have no idea which kind) and ordered several different family-style dishes for each table: greens, house-special chicken (a whole crispy chicken, head and all), razor clams in black bean sauce, seafood medley with wasabi, large, fried chunks of tofu, and a shrimp, broccoli, and walnut dish in some sort of mayo-based sauce. All were brought out very quickly and were easily shared with the help of the table's lazy susan. The food was great: sauces were spicy, greens weren't soggy, and the razor clams weren't overcooked. The chicken was delightfully crispy. The entire feast cost around $20/person with tax and tip. Service was attentive, friendly, and fast. With the constant influx of drink orders, they still weren't overwhelmed, and everything was on point. Next time I'd like to come back and actually try the congee... as well as drink some more cheap-ass, tasty cocktails.
(5)Brian H.
Pretty decent, good for tourist
(3)John W.
It's always fun to go to a restaurant that breaks one or more of Robert Irvine's rules and still manages to be successful. This place has a GIGANTIC menu, with literally hundreds of choices, and the sheer scope of it all can be a little intimidating. That's where Yelp comes in handy, because you read a few reviews and automatically-BAM!-you know you want to try House Special Chicken, and something else. The HSC is every bit as good as advertised--juicy, garlicky, the meat falls off the bone like loose girls' underwear. So, the only decision we had to make was what else to have. This time out, we tried Peking-Style Pork Chops and Baby Shrimp Fried Rice. The pork chops are sweet like candy, severely addictive, and if they were in a plastic bag you'd totally eat all of them watching football. The fried rice is done exceptionally well--not greasy, and you can see nice chunks of egg in it (my litmus test for quality fried rice). Overall, a fantastic first impression that makes me want to come back with a large group, so I can sample more of that huge menu.
(4)Jenny C.
I put Congee Village in my "to try" list when I saw it featured in Andrew Zimmern's show. I am glad I did. I loved the congee here so much I could just fly to NYC for it. I think they probably have about 15-20 variety of congee here. We tried the frog meat (in AZ's show), pig blood, squid, and mixture of chicken, pork and duck. We also ordered the "baked seafood rice" in bamboo shell. It was heavenly. Just to clarify that the congee place featured in AZ's show was Congee Village Bowery on Bowery, which is the sister restaurant of the one on Allen.
(5)KB S.
DISCLAIMER: If you have a party of 3 or more, please CALL IN for a reservation and MAKE SURE your ENTIRE GROUP is there EARLY (before your actual reservation time). Heck, showing up 15-30 minutes early might make a huge difference in getting seats for your group. But be prepared to wait for over an hour, otherwise. There's really no guarantees you'll be seated, even with a reservation. But once you tell them your whole group has arrived, they'll make every effort to seat you, based on seat availability...because this place gets packed!! I'm talking about Asians, non-Asians and tourists all want to eat here for some reason on any given night. The front door waiting area is usually very crowded, so beware. This is really the only bad thing I found about this place. You have to be VERY PATIENT to get your seats, as the wait time is incredibly long if your whole group is not there. I learned the hard way. Anyway, onto the food. My large group of 11 ordered several dishes both family style (for all to share) and individual dishes for ourselves. I don't remember each item that we ordered but I can definitely recall having the house special chicken (whole size), 3 orders of the peking pork chop, 4-5 orders of various congee (rice porridge), 2 orders of the baked rice (one order of chicken/mushroom, the other was baked rice with two sausages), a tofu dish with seafood, 2 vegetable dishes (not sure what they were..one of them might've been the Chinese spinach with bean paste sauce), and a seafood chow fun. Every dish was good! This is hands down, one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Chinatown/Lower East Side area. If I were to nitpick, I'd say the house special chicken was a bit salty and dry. Although it did have a very tasty and crispy skin, I expected a bit more. Maybe if we had it on a different night, it would've been slightly better, but this kitchen was really busy and the waiters were running back and forth with orders all night. Overall, the food came out not long one after the other, the service was decent (wait staff understood both Cantonese and Mandarin), the decor was quite nice (we sat in the lower level, which was more private than the upstairs level) and there's a wine bar to get drinks while waiting. I would definitely love to come back, but with a smaller group, knowing that it's easier to seat.
(4)Maynard G.
Congee with frog and abalone. I think there was one tiny piece of abalone in it, maybe two. The frog was totally bland; and the congee...well, congee, big deal. I can make better congee in a few minutes with ingredients that cost a few cents. The waiters in fancy duds didn't seem very friendly either.
(2)Hoa T.
I freakin' love this place. If I could eat here everyday, I would. Came here again a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed almost everything I had. Seriously.. I stuffed myself. We had the tofu, house chicken, beef chow fun, peking pork, clams, congee, snow pea leaves, walnut shrimp. The only item I would not order again is the congee. Not because it was bad.. I'm just not a big congee/rice porridge kinda person. As far as the service goes, my food was brought out promptly and hot and that's all I really cared about.
(5)Leese H.
Congee is the golden key to my heart. It is my all-time favorite Asian comfort food, and all my friend knows that I'm a die-hard congee fanatic. I talk about it, I cook it, and I love to it eat it anytime, anyday. (And so I admit... I've been having it every morning even during this NYC heat wave!) With that said, I know what makes congee amazing and delicious. Every time I come back home to NYC, I go straight to Congee Village. This congee joint delivers the right kind of consistency, texture, and love into their rice porridge. It takes time and commitment to make it right! I've also traveled here during the crazy NYC blizzard this past February, and they're always open despite increment weather and holidays. That's straight up Chinese business right thur. Other dishes that I always like ordering are the typical, Cantonese seafood meals or appetizers. They're all good, so you won't be disappointed. Only problem I have is their dirty bathrooms- after all, it's Chinatown for ya.
(4)R Y.
Review for Chow Fun Noodles, House Special Chicken, Chow Mein Noodles, Fried Rice, General Zhio (Sho), Sesame Chicken, Tofu casserole and of course Congee... So, I am actually a regular here and above are basically what I normally order or had at the restaurant. When I have craving for some delicious chewy, wonderful flat rice noodles (Chow Fun), I come here. It's around 7/8 bucks and it's HUGE. House Special Chicken has this crisp skin and this delicious garlic/ sweet sauce that just compliments the moist chicken meat. The Friend Rice, simple, not too greasy, Sesame and General Zhio (Sho) is remarkably meaty and has the right amount of crisp and extra sauce you can eat with their rice (they give you white rice if you ask). Tofu casserole was a bit salty but warm and not too bad for the price. Congee, not such a big fan because they tend to be a little blend, but it's cheap and it makes good rain/ sick day food. So, I love these foods and you may wonder why in the world is my star only 3? Well... I would've given them 5 stars, honestly I would have, even just a few months ago... However, their food has changed! The portions got smaller, the noodles aren't the same type they used... the sauce also taste different. You may think, " You are just being fickle" or "How do you know the taste has changed?" Well, I found out that the Chef has changed. Their main chef is no longer working there. How may I know this? A guy I know that works in the food industry told me. Sad to say that their rating went down to 3 when it could have been 5 stars I wish the old Chef comes back :(.
(3)Ruoyi J.
I'm a fan because the food quality matched up the price. A place for decent chinese food without spending much. The Pan Fried Minced Pork& Minced Lotus Root was pretty good. Except traditionally the minced pork is supposedly stuffed in a piece of cut open lotus root and breaded and fried. But this was the first time I ever saw this dish in new york. I was happy with it. Congee was ok, tasted like what it needed to be. I just loved their big menu, a big survey of chinese food.
(4)Jenny D.
First, this place is HUGE!!! It's all fancy and lit up, waiters all dressed nicely, in Chinatown! That frightened me immediately. I came here in a group for my friend's birthday dinner and was not at all impressed. First off, we had a reservation at 8PM. We were seated at 8:35PM. That's totally unacceptable. Secondly, they hadn't even cleared the table by the time we got to our incredibly late table NOR did they ever give us napkins! Anyway. Let's break down the food-- Xiaolongbao: 1/5. The bottoms kept sticking to the wax paper (NEVER steam xiaolongbao on wax paper, wtf, that is such a n00by thing to do! Yes I said n00by, I really couldn't think of any better word.) The filling wasn't awful but the juice was gone. So sad. Congee: 3/5. We ordered snail&frog as well as chicken&mushroom. Snail and frog was pretty tasty, as was the chicken&mushroom. It was solid congee, but really nothing exceptional. For a place named "Congee Village" I was expecting something to really tingle my tastebuds. Oh well. Cashew chicken: 2.5/5. Average, chicken was diced so small my chopstick ability was severely undermined. Garlic saute ...chard?... I seriously have no idea what the English word for this vegetable is but it'd my favorite. 5/5. This was done exceptionally well. Not to greasy, young sprouts, and not too garlicy. Perfect. Stir-fried beef vermicelli: 3/5. This was surprisingly delicious! Good flavor. Beef was cooked well. Fried tofu & snowpeas: 3.5/5. The tofu was very tasty, nice and soft in the center and great fried texture (without too much grease) outside. Snowpeas were delicately cooked. Awesome. Small plain buns w/ sweet sauce: 1/5. Fluffy, enriched white buns. Small ones, but yummy. Nothing too special. Sweet sauce was like a weird custard not too good tasting gop.Not my thing. Soft noodles w/ vegetables: 4/5. This was really good, but I don't know what it was exactly. It needed a tad bit of salt but the noodles were this awesome texture--almost like nigiri but stretched out and soft and just really tasty. Just not my thing to wait so long for a so-so meal. There are so many better places in Chinatown.
(2)Christine K.
I ordered two of the pork & thousand year old egg congee for my husband and me. Yes it was good. But only one order came out....Luckily they messed up on the order because I hated the CHINESE DOUGHNUT....Could you make it more disgusting (Probably fried in the morning left sitting there to serve all day long) Maybe it was my bad in ordering, but I also tried to get the green onion pancake. Whenever I see it on the menu, I have to try it because it reminds me of my dad's signature dish (But no one makes it as good). I also ordered the much loved garlic and green pea sprouts dish but they told me they ran out of the vegetbales till evening. On my way out the door, I saw three tables eating and enjoying their green pea sprouts and vegetables. GRRRR..
(2)Vincent Y.
With each successive year and each successive addition, Congee Village takes another step away from its namesake. They are bigger and prettier but not better. On the last two occasions my wife and I ordered congee from the Village, it was flavorless and watery. I like to imagine the congee was so delicious that it was near sold out by the time my wife and I ordered. But if that were the case, the better course would have been to tell my wife and I that they were out. Instead of trying to stretch it out by watering it down. They remain very nice there and I will definitely wave hello as I pass by onto a heartier congee place.
(2)Stanley Y.
mild taste
(3)justin t.
More like a 3.5 or 3.75 but I cannot roll it up to four stars for some reason. This place is solid -- some great bang for your buck (it is Chinatown, afterall) and some scrumptious dishes. I'm here once a week basically. The good: -Crab dishes! (Truth: I did not eat crab before here) Get the crab & vermicelli -- spicy, oily, crabby goodness or get the salt and pepper crab (your choice of blue crabs or dungenous) This is my favorite dish here The OK: -The "famous" chicken. It wasn't too juicy and it was not all that tasty. -The shrimp paste pork ribs. These were just OK as well and did not blow me away. The not so good: -Weird Tiki theme -The wait time -- the hostess may give a 15 minute wait time, but many times it could be well over 45 minutes. -Many dishes over oily and over salty (the chicken and chinese sausage in a stone pot, for example) -Skip on anything that comes from the bar, including the virgin drinks.
(3)Jenny B.
I realize I'm biased - being from Orange County, Ca with all kinds of cheap and fabulous asian foods at my finger tips. I'll cut to the chase and just rate the food: Walnut shrimp - The worst dish on the table. It was served sub warm at best. I tasted like I was eating cocktail shrimp directly dipped in mayo. Yuck! Hot and Sour Soup - Pretty good, except served slightly warm. I like my soup piping hot with the steam in full view. I felt like it had just been microwaved, rather than scooped from a large pot. Fried bean curd - Small curd nuggets with an odd onion taste and even stranger soy, chili sauce for dipping. General Tsao Chicken - Best dish on the table. Chicken was tender and sauce was fabulous. Served very hot, just how I like it. Beef Chow Mein with Chinese Vegetables - 2nd best dish. Only complaint - the only gave us bok choy as a vegetable. Throw in some carrots, mushrooms, or broccoli will ya. Duck and Meatball Congee - I was too full to have any, but my fellow guy friends seemed to enjoy it. Actually, they just enjoyed the duck and meatballs and picked those out after a few scoops of Congee. I'll give Congee another chance in the future, but just not the very near future.
(2)christine h.
Look, I get it. Rude service, long waits, "fun" chintzy interior - it's all part of the deal. "The charm," I'm told. But seriously. When you make a reservation for a birthday party of 10, and are forced to wait in a cramped, un-air-conditioned bar for an hour before you're seated, and then treated with zero hospitality for the entirety of your meal - (which amounts to twice as much as you'd pay at Shanghai Cafe, Joe's Shanghai, or New Green Bo) - the charm doesn't feel so charming anymore. In fact it feels like a big, fat lie. On top of that - the food isn't even that good. There are some gems (I'll agree that the House Special Chicken is quite tasty). But there are more duds then not: the xiao long bao came in thick, sticky wrappers that instantly fell apart. The egglant tofu dish was oily, gelatinous, and oversalted. In fact most dishes were oily, gelatinous and oversalted. Guess that's another one of their "things"? In a city with as many dense, diverse Chinatowns as ours (Flushing and Sunset Park! Please go there if you haven't yet!) - why, why go to Congee Village? Before my last horrible experience, I might have said, "Because it's fun! Because of the atmosphere!" But after the nightmare I endured last weekend, I am pretty sure I will not be going back for more "charm" from this Congee Village. (That is, unless we're going to the 40 person karaoke room downstairs. That, I will make an exception for!)
(2)Melinda C.
This is a previous birthday spot and frequent "where I bring city visitors" spot. What does this mean? It means: - I love bringing people here. - It's authentic and delicious. - It handles big groups (largest we had was 28) and small (2-top) really well. - You can get a room and do karaoke (don't expect the latest songs). - The menu has the Cantonese and typical Chinatown greatest hits: crispy jumbo shrimp with mayo sauce and walnuts, peking style pork chops, snow pea shoots, soup dumplings, lobster with ginger and scallions, garlic and pepper crabs, shark's fin soup, beef chow fun, and of course pork and preserved egg congee. - Family style dining means you'll be stuffed, get some beers, and still manage to pay $15 or less a person. But let's manage your expectations a bit. Here are the not so pleasant things to expect: - Waiters and waitresses hollering back and forth - Your Chinese restaurant standards of tacky decor and less than stellar service - A wait on busy days, even if you have reservations - Slowish service on the soup dumplings Still, overall this is worth the trip down. ----but if you can't make it here.. check out their sister restaurant on Bowery which is a touch easier to get to and often a lil less crowded.
(4)Jinna W.
I love love LOVE Congee Village! Definitely the go-to place for great Cantonese food. I have been here quite a few times with both family and friends, and always ended up having a great time and eating absolutely delicious foods. THE MUST HAVES: 1) The House Special Chicken- If you are going to Congee Village, you have to get the House Special Chicken. It took me a while to find this absolute gem of a dish, and I have been addicted ever since. The skin of the chicken is juicy, crispy, crunchy, and oh-so-fragrant. But it doesn't end there, the flavor seeps through to even the whitest of the white meat, every bite is full of juicy flavorful goodness. The sauce is a bit salty, but perfect for dipping the white meat into, or to eat with some fried rice. DEFINITELY get this dish. Choose from either half a chicken, or a whole if you are feeling extra hungry. 2) The Sliced Pork and Preserved Egg Porridge The namesake congee of Congee is an amazing find for a cheap price. The $2.50 bowl could serve up to three people in the little bowls the restaurant provides. The congee itself is chock-full of flavor, seasoned with Chinese pepper and a special blend of spices. The pork is soft, never at all overcooked. The specks of real ginger add a spicy touch, making this a dish perfect for a cold, windy day. Other delectable dishes include the Small Juicy Bun in Shanghai style, Young Chow fried rice, and for other who prefer dishes on the blander side, the pan-fried bean curd with soy sauce. The bar is fully stocked, and prices are definitely reasonable. Seating is available for big parties of up to 15 or small tables for 2 or 4. For around $40, three of us overstuffed ourselves on all the amazing goodies of the Congee Village. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for an inexpensive but delicious dinner out.
(5)Lisa H.
High prices, small portions. What are they trying to do? Very disappointed. No longer have the feel of authentic Chinese food here anymore.
(2)Victor G.
I have been to this place on Allen before, but haven't been back for a while since moving to outer Queens so when the chance came up to drop by, my wife and I thought it would be great. It was nothing special this time around. It was cold so I figured the congee hit the spot. It was a bit watery and the fried crueller was old and nasty. Ordered soup buns and again, sub par to other restaurants in the area. I'm glad we didn't get anything more than congee and appetizers. Service was slow and in the end, I think we should have made the walk to Mott street and gone to Big Wong. Disappointed, but the upside was that it was really cheap, but so is Big Wong. Won't make the same mistake again.
(1)Rolando N.
First, the food is great.. the decor is a bit silly with the fake village ambience .. however, it also, makes it fun .. the reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 5 is because the service is terrible.. the host and greeter are great but the waiters and waitresses are just awful.. I've been there over 30x and the service is either bad or worse.... they are young and look/ act miserable.. Les miserables
(3)Diana B.
Huge place and menu.We went in mid-afternoon on hot summer day, and even then it was fairly filled with folks. I had a veg lotus root dish, and my friend had a chicken with cashews. Okay, but not special. Tasteless hot tea. Rice cost $1 extra, though prices were not high. Okay service. Probably won't return.
(3)Tim W.
You know when you are white and you go to an asian restaurant with someone else who is white and you forgot to invite your token asian friend and whish you would have because you keep craining your neck because you wan to see what is coming by because you want every dish..that is congee village...each dish that comes from the kitchen is as interesting as the next. Dont let the fact that the pictures are on the menu...ususally that screams TOURST to me...but i was actaully glad they had it since I was curious and like i said above was craining my neck to see all the yummie asian peeps and what they were ordering We had 2 kinds of congee, the jellyfish (yum...dont shy away from this despite the ingredients), and duck. Wow, both were great and nicely presented. I'm sure its a little "americanized" but it was SO nice. We also had shanghai buns which were gross, and we sent them back...so avoid them...go to shanghai delux in c-town for those. also got some snow pea leaves...excellent!! Overall a great solid well rounded experience. Great to take the less adventureous out of towners if you are playing host, plus a lot of really adventerous for those of you like me who want the scary stuff. Best advice is to go early before the church crowd. i was there sunday at noon just before the rush. by the time we left it was quite busy. Our bill for 2 congee, snow pea leaves tax and tix was 24$. Steal!! Excellent service and english speakers. Gave great recdommendations too!
(4)Angie C.
Fantastic. Super-special-awesome. So, I am going to gauge my reaction to a Congee Village dining experience based on my levels of hunger prior to stepping into this establishment. I was not hungry at all and I was actually complaining quite vigorously to my parents about dragging me here for their anniversary dinner. Turns out, this place is amazing. I became super voracious. My parents ordered seven different courses/entrees which I don't know the exact names of but I will try describing them so you can try also: Pan-fried Flounder: this took me by surprise and was my favorite dish. Perfectly crunch skin with perfectly cooked flounder meat. Completely surpassed my expectations. It reminded me of fish and chips with a Chinese twist to it. Jumbo Shrimp with Mayonnaise, Broccoli, Candied Walnuts: I usually don't like this dish. This was also the case at Congee Village. The shrimp did not taste fresh and I hate mayo. The candied walnuts were good though. Chinese Spinach(with this amazing sauce): Delicious. Probably completely stripped of nutrients because of the caloric-heavy sauce but still good. Fried Pork Chops(these were in little bite-sized pieces): Whoa. Did not expect such a punch of flavor. Also greasy. Deliciously greasy. Fried Squid/Calamari with green veggies(I forget what this is called but it has tiny pieces of squid and it's mixed in with scallions): This is a pretty standard dish for Chinese restaurants but this place makes it unique by having other pieces of seafood tucked in. I recommend this. I am totally drawing a blank on the other dishes but if I remember them, I will jot those down. I didn't really have high expectations for this place as I wasn't hungry but upon eating, I just found everything that I put into my mouth delicious. Yes, even that. I came here on a Wednesday evening at around 6 pm and the service was unbelievably quick. Like the quickest service I have ever seen in my short life. We ordered and not ten minutes later, two of our dishes arrived in pristine and sizzling platters. I noticed some negative reviews. Maybe I had a lucky run in with Congee Village, but I'll have to come again and see. Oh! And price wise, the total came to about $91 for seven dishes, which I thought was amazing.
(5)Hedge K.
really good congee for such a great deal too (most are under $5) the sliced pork with preserved egg was my favorite other things we tried were the: house special chicken bamboo rice baked with salted chicken singapore noodles seafood chow fun some seafood dish these were all good (except for the baked rice in bamboo- it had a funky smell from reused wood?), but nothing really stood out, the congee was definitely my favorite
(4)Julius B.
Got to get the special crab with garlic!
(5)yuna l.
Better than most Chinese restaurants! We usually order the special chicken or general sauce chicken, salt n pepper shrimps or pork, crispy beef noodles and duck congee, all pretty good ^^ Funny thing is there is an All Asians section on the first floor and the tourists and other non-Asians are usually seated in the basement...... LOLOLOL Free delivery!
(4)Lily T.
I am giddy with joy right now. My roommate and I had a craving for homemade comfort food and we had it bad. This morning, we took our Sunday trek down to the LES for an authentic Cantonese breakfast. On a 92 degrees, humid weekend, New Yorkers will tell you that that's love. They seated us in a corner table in the back room, which got us thinking that this was probably what people with leprosy felt like. On a more serious note, kudos to them for smart use of space. We ordered preserved duck egg & pork congee, Chinese donut, beef chow fun, and two other dishes to go (spare ribs with black bean and bitter melon with chicken) . When we received the check, we literally LAUGHED OUT LOUD. 4.5 dishes for under $20 (the half goes to the donut, which makes sense, no?) AND we got food for the rest of the week (if we eat it really, really slowly). We were fighting for the bill too; this IS a real Chinese restaurant. The only reason I have to be bitter is the fact that the Chinese restaurants in UWS by comparison are so inferior to Congee Village.
(5)Chris B.
Considering the place is called Congee Village, I was expecting to be blown away by the congee. Maybe my expectations were much too high because I surely wasn't. I'm a novice cook but I feel I could have made much better. My group ordered two big bowls of congee to share family style. It honestly felt like the congee soup all came from a massive pot and they just added the difference ingredients in afterwards. The essence of the ingredients could not fully be embraced by the congee when done this way. Considering I went during the winter, I feel like the warm congee should have been better loved my body but this was not the case. The rest of their menu was pretty good. Sadly, very disappointed just because of the congee though. Congee - 2.5 stars Rest of the menu - 3.75 stars
(3)Jared C.
Stepping inside is like entering a palace of gaudy decorations and lighting, all dedicated to the art and consumption of congee, the rice porridge so popular in China and many other Asian countries. It's actually best to enjoy congee for breakfast, starting the day with a hot, thick bowl served with whatever added ingredients are desired. That is a bit more difficult to do in New York City than in China, as there are only a handful of places to drop into. Congee Village is happy to serve you a bowl at any time day or night though. All but the few premium congee here ranges from $2.75 to $4.95, and with a small appetizer or two make more than enough for a meal. There is also a smaller location a couple streets away at 207 Bowery, but the Allen Street location seems more sufficient for groups and overall experience. Both locations have a full menu, so your visit is certainly not limited to just congee, but we always find that it is best to drag along at least a group of six to share everything with.
(3)John W.
The food wasn't bad for what I paid for but the service was absolutely lacking. The waiter was rude from the start. I placed the order for our food and we waited over 30 minutes to get the food. When I confronted the waiter about it, he had an attitude and told me that they were running behind with the unexpected volume of customers. The restaurant was not full. When the food finally arrived, it was cold. I didn't bring management's attention since they were all the same people. Bottom line go for the cheap food if you are wiling to put up with the terrible service.
(1)pink s.
Congee Village is an awesome place.. for white people. I go there often with my group of friends (who are extreme fans) so I am pretty well acquainted with this place. The decor is ridiculous and always amusing to me - bamboo theme littered with other random decorative objects - the "bar" area has modern lighting and seating, there are some Italian chef statuettes thrown about, etc. The other reviewers are right though - this place is huge with two floors of seating. Don't expect anything romantic though; it's full of loud groups of people. With that said, the food is pretty good and a great bargain if you get the rice or noodle platters. Hint: You can get items off of the lunch menu (which they will give you on paper) if you ask for it during dinner time for only a dollar extra. The service is also really fast (plenty of waiters around) though they have messed up orders for us (probably due to the number of customers they have). I mention it is great for white people because the food, though with decent variety, is pretty standard Chinese fare - at a slightly higher price. Nothing particularly special about it. This place is good only if you have to host a large party. (Don't forget to ask them to play their recorded Birthday song!)
(3)Duyhien N.
Congee Village is like a village. I mean it, you walk in and it's like a village. There is bamboo, there are plants. It's a whole different world in there. I feel like I'm in the jungles of Hong Kong, stalking my cantonese prey.....actually nevermind. I feel like I'm ordering good quality cantonese food sitting at a table with an extensive menu. I usually order the House Special Chicken half order. This dish is where it's at. The sauce is a garlic soy sauce that is sublime. The key to this chicken dish is the beautifully rendered chicken skin. It is crunchy and freakin tasty. I love this dish like it was my grandma (not in that way you sick perverts). We also order bowls of delicious congee and this truly is a congee village as they have 2 and a half pages of congee varieties. Another dish of veggies and you have your perfect meal. You thought West, East, and Greenwich Villages were the only villages in Manhattan? Think again.
(4)Emily R.
This place is real freakin' crazy. First, it's massive, and the host will lead you through like 100 rooms before sticking you in a teeny corner table in a room that only contains your table and 1 other, that a family is eating a giant bucket of snails at. House Special Chicken is all the rage, so I got a half order, and ... it's definitely legit? It's a half of chicken, bones, everything, with SO MUCH GARLIC, I was goin' nuts. The thing is..it's hard to find parts of the chicken that are actually edible. A lot of sinew, bones, skin...in a giant pile..in a salty brother. SO MUCH SALT. and I love salt. So when you got a good bite, it was good, but you really had to work for it and dig through a lot of scary stuff. My friend got the pork lo mein, which was pretty standard/good - massive portion, lots of bamboo shoots and spring onions. Service was really slow too.
(3)Robert C. Y.
I see a few negative reviews. That's unfortunate. What New Yorkers need to understand is that real Chinese food is a bit greasy, so don't expect Chelsea/Village style Anglicized Chinese food. The place was mobbed on Saturday, so be prepared to wait in a crowded waiting and bar area. The crowded condition could have been because of the Chinese New Year. The drinks are reasonable by NY standards. The hot and sour soup was a bit thick, but the flavor and the fact that it had pork in it like the old days made it a success for me. The house special chicken had crispy skin as thin as tissue paper and tons of garlic slices which, to my amazement were not lethally overwhelming. The minced pork with minced lotus root was delicious. Little patties of succulence. The pork fried rice was a bit different as it was really lightly fried, but it was good. The entire bill with a doggie bag for the next day's lunch for two came to $53.00. That was for two large entrées, fried rice, a spring roll, a generous portion of hot and sour soup, two big glasses of wine and two Tsing Tao beers. Not bad at all. All in all, Legend (reviewed elsewhere here) is considerably better, and anyone would love love love Legend's hot and sour soup, the best in the city, including Chinatown. It is NOT your typical Chinese restaurant. But Congee is loud and upbeat and fun with a totally different atmosphere. It is not trying to compete with middle America and the upper east side, it is just trying to be itself. And it does a pretty good job.
(4)Wilson D.
Trendy, touristy, small portions, however never fails to please. This place is great for big crowds. Their big round tables with lazy susans are always accommodating for my "family dinners" with some of my besties. The wait, if any is usually short. There is a heated waiting area (for those cold summer days) with a small bar to help time pass by. Their congee is delicious (hence the name of the restaurant), my favorite being the thousand year old egg with salted pork. All of there other food is satisfying. I get my usual shrimp with walnuts and mayo, sweet and sour pork, salt and pepper calamari, stir fried dao mu (i don't know the english translation, just order it in your broken Chinese they will understand). Their menu is full of typical Chinese dishes. The service has been pretty good, it's unlike other Chinese restaurants where they rush you out after paying the bill. There is not automatic gratuity for large parties.
(4)Geoffrey C.
Been going to HopKee and WoHop all these year, so disapointed to learn that I've been missing out on this gem in the East Village. We came here as a concession after Mission Chinese didn't have seats for us, and we were none the worse for wear. The place was packed with lots of families on a Saturday night. My wife and I ordered 3 dishes - the Beef chow fun, sauteed snow peas and garlic and seafood fried rice. The fried rice was bland, but the chow fun and sauteed snow peas I would come back for any day. Looking forward to trying more of the eccentric stuff the next time, including the fried rice steamed in a pumpkin (we wanted to order this, but we would have to wait an hour).
(4)James K.
I went by myself after a meeting in the area, and I asked the waiter to recommend a rice/noodle dish or a porridge dish, and he recommended the sliced beef chow fun noodles. The dish was standard, nothing special about it. It tasted good, but so does many other places in the Chinatown area. It was about $7.50, so not cheap but not expensive either. Before I ordered, I was flipping through the menu and saw many items I wanted to try in the seafood section (although they were not cheap). I think this is a place better to come with a bigger crowd so you could try a variety of dishes and split the costs. So I would like to return here sometime and try other things.
(2)hannah l.
5 stars for speedy lunch service and piping hot food. I ordered the scallion pancake and fried pork ribs which were AMAZING. I also was happy with my congee with thousand year old egg.
(5)Richard W.
The bottom line: come here with a bunch of people to experience tasty food at a reasonable price. For $19 I tried something like eight dishes with a group of 10 people. It was awesome. I went here as part of a meetup group and we ordered a bunch of awesome dishes: shrimp with walnuts, fried rice, casserole with lop cheong and frog, crispy soy sauce chicken, chow fun, spare ribs, pork chops, sweet and sour pork, flounder, choy sum, etc. There was A LOT of food. I am definitely coming back here to pig out again. My favorite was, of course, the shrimp with walnuts. They do it right: the shrimp is crispy and covered with batter a little bit and not completely and totally slathered in mayo. The walnuts are honeyed, but not too much. Of course, there is broccoli as well just so you can pretend that you're not destroying your body by eating this dish. I also really enjoyed the crispy soy sauce chicken (yan su ji sp?). My grandmother always used to buy this in bulk when I came over for dinner. I remember her constantly putting more food in my bowl and me always eating it much to the dismay of my cousins were already full and received dirty looks from my grandmother because they didn't "eat enough". Ah, memories. The other dishes were also very good, but these two stood out for me in particular. Come and enjoy! Also, let me know if you do.
(4)Tim D.
I don't come here for the best service but I don't expect to be scolded by the waiter (or possibly the manager) who looks like he's having a bad day for taking too long to order either. It makes me wonder why this place is always so crowded. Then I realized when we finished eating and the bill came out. The food was enough to feed a table of 8 and it wasn't half bad but the bill only came out to a little over $100. After tax and tip it was barely $19 a person. You can come here and eat like a king while working on a peasant's salary. lol. I do recommend the pork chops here and the bok choy. The fish head soup was also very good. Don't bother with the T-bone steak though. It was unevenly cooked and was a bit chewy. So if you're down to take some minor slack from one of the wait staff (other waiters seemed ok) and wanna get some pretty delicious and generous offerings of Chinese food I actually do recommend this place. It fills up fast on most nights so come early like around 6 ish or earlier to get a table for big parties. If you come later than that you can expect a wait.
(3)Eric D.
Great congee (usually get the chicken with mushroom - get this as an appetizer to share) and decent food. The prices have gone up over the years as have the number of white people going to this restaurant but still cheap; I'm fine with the white people too:). Good reliable Chinese food. 4 stars is deserved for the value.
(4)Shirley W.
My party reserved a table and was told to go to their other location because they didn't actually leave us one.
(1)Janek N.
Why only one star? Let me tell you. Not only did the waiter had to come back to us so we could give our order a second time... He also managed to forget half of it... meanwhile constantly offering us food we did not order. After one hour we decided to ask for the check which we did not see for 15 minutes. Worst service I've seen in NYC in 5 years... Thanks for nothing!
(1)Angel F.
Doesn't look like your ordinary Chinese restaurant. The decor is kind of Tiki-inspired. Some people think it looks cheesy, but I thought it was different and interesting especially the wide staircase leading to the upstairs dining area. Didn't get any congee since I was really hungry, but will next time. What I did get was the half of the house special chicken and beef chow fun. The chicken was moist and flavorful with slices of fried garlic. Huge portion and so satisfying with their fluffy white rice. Beef chow fun was good as well. No complaints. I liked the fact that the place was really spacious. It's nice not feeling crowded like some of the other Chinese restaurants that I have experienced.
(4)Christopher L.
I haven't been back to Congee Village in ages. I used to come here a lot when they first opened back in the days and they were awesome. I understand that today was Christmas Day but as most of us know, almost every Asian restaurant is open and know that it will be busy. Service on this day was horrible. Our waiters weren't "friendly" at all and we had to ask multiple times just to get another table setting. The waiter who did finally get us our place setting cursed in Cantonese while apologizing about the wait. I found this to be amusing but unprofessional at the same time. The head waiter was pretty rude and rushed us through our ordering process. Yes you want to flip tables quickly to profit more but customer satisfaction comes first. Doesn't hurt to smile a little too instead of looking like a pissed off prissy little... We ordered two different kinds of congee which did not impress as it used to. It seemed watered down and did the bowls that it's served in get smaller? Flavors were okay though. The full order for the specialty chicken was awesome. Moist and full of flavor so no complaints there. DO NOT get the xiao long baos(soup buns) as it's basically the frozen stuff you'll get from a Asian supermarket but a bit worse. No soup, small and no flavor. Didn't come with the dipping sauce also and by the time we got it, the soup buns were room temperature. So there's this thing called Shrimp Paste Pork Ribs which my mom swore was excellent that last time she had it. When it came, the "presentation" was lacking. It arrived on a plate with a large sheet of white wax paper which the ribs sat on. The ribs were pretty moist but there was no taste or flavor at all. Okay, to be fair there was a hint...a very small hint of garlic. The fried rice had like no flavor also. How the hell? Yeah, don't ask. I highly doubt I'll be coming back anytime soon unless things change. If the food was good, I can over look the service aspect. If everything was "MEH", it's not worth my trip from Queens nor the wait time to eat here.
(2)Kate R.
Good place for a big group dinner. Reasonably priced dishes, overall everything was tasty. The soup dumplings and the roast chicken were my favorites. I Also liked the sautéed baby bokchoy. It's boyb and the staff seemed a little snippy about opening a lot of bottles. They basically cut us off and refused to open the last one! Still a fun time!
(3)Karry L.
This is one of my favorite Cantonese restaurants. It's a must to-go place for family, grandparents' birthday dinner. The qualities of the food is much superior and it's more authentic, unlike typical chinese restaurants, I believel the chefs here actually put lots of thoughts into their cooking and they're constantly improving. Though the menu's been the same compare to other cantonese restaurants, Congee village definitely has more fresh ingredients and slightly more selections. I love any veggie dishes like chinese broccoli, water spinach, and any chinese greens. other main courses that i like included: stir-fry conch w tofu, grilled steak on hot plate, walnut shrimp, fish belly soup (you gotta have it w red vinegar), seafood casserole, oh and their seasonal specialty cold dungeon crab, it's soo well prepared that made me suspect whether there's a secret addictive ingredient in there! And of course, a dinner won't be completed without a fish, we usually order a fresh live fish and asked to cook 2 ways (steam fish and fish soup). It can be crowded on weekends but we usually go late so it wasn't a problem for us since they closed 1-2am. Its got multiple floors and private rooms in the basement for private dining. Over the years, although their prices went up and food portions became smaller, the foods are still pretty damn good!
(4)Charlie Z.
This place does have a great variety of dishes to chose from which is the good part. The bad part is that most of their dishes fall way below average. The peking pork chop which is fried pork chop in a delicious red sweet sauce. The sauce was amazing but the pork chops pieces were most fat. I hate the fat but I would still get this dish since I am sucker for it since I was a child. I also tried their lamb, the sauce again was good but the lamb it self was super stuff that it was hard to even chew on it. For a dish that cost about fifty dollars you would expect a lot more. The biggest mistake was when I ordered the "soup dumplings". I use quotations because these were so bad I can't live with myself to call them such things. I am pretty sure these were frozen dumplings that they must have heated up because the quality was so bad. I think they have cut back on quality since they have such a great reputation. However their congee is still great. I am not sure how you can screw it up in the first place though.
(3)Manny N.
Absolutely the restaurant where I received the worst service ever!!! Plenty of servers standing around NOT doing anything. We had to ask twice or thrice about our orders which did not arrive after 30 mins of wait. Very unhappy and unpleasant experience here. Food is so-so there are plenty of better restaurants in CTown so avoid going to this one if you are looking for Chinese food. The waiter even LOOKED at the tip we put on the bill in FRONT of us on our way out. Horrible.
(1)HP T.
Fried chicken Congee: meat + preserved egg
(4)Carla C.
This review is for their Chicken + Broccoli only. I used to work in the area, so I was craving Chinese for lunch. I heard good things about this place + decided to give it a try. I got the standard Chinese + Broccoli just to try out since it was my first time. I was super disappointed as, to me, it wasn't even mediocre. It actually had an interesting taste to it - not in a good way!
(1)Valerie L.
I'm taken aback by all the negative reviews! I've only been twice during lunch hours, but still, this place is amazing. Aside from the spotty service, I am so blown away by Congee Village. The restaurant itself is spacious, ideal for large parties but don't let that stop you from making a lone trek. Enjoy some piping hot congee in a pot for only $3.50-5. One pot is good for one or two, depending on how hungry you are, and you can't go wrong with the sliced fish varieties. One of the BEST dishes I've had in New York--I don't say this often--is the eggplant and chicken casserole at CV. It was even better than my grandma's home-cooked version. The expansive menu can be overwhelming but there is something for everyone. Some dishes take upwards of an hour to prepare (i.e. seafood rice in pumpkin bowl) so take that into consideration. Also, you have to order rice to go along with the entrees. This is some straight-up delicious food, my friends. Best case scenario: go with a large group of people with adventurous taste buds and sample as much as you can!
(5)Jamison F.
This is my go to spot in NYC Chinatown for lunch. My wife's friend's grandparents live a block away so when we visit them, this is where we go for lunch. Food is great, the congee rocks, the salty pork rib is awesome, the deep fried frog was addictive, and the snow pea tips with garlic is probably my favorite green veggie and they do it well. As for service, i've never had a problem with service, but I've only come here for lunch on the weekend while it wasn't too busy. It can get pricey if you get a little crazy with the menu. We spent around 200 for lunch 2 weeks ago. The Conch dish wasn't cheap but it was good!
(5)Ash A.
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(4)Andrew L.
Authentic Cantonese cuisine at it's best. Don't bother with anything that's not seafood, tofu or congee on the menu. This place specializes in crab, whole steamed fish, shell fish and congee. If you're unfamiliar with Chinese food, the menu is full of pictures of excellent dishes to try, and what is served at your table does look like the pictures in the menu.
(5)Renee S.
Perfect for a cold day. The congee was delicious, authentic and flavorful. True to it's ingredients. Service wasn't so great, but typical of what I would expect in Chinatown. Had the abalone & chicken congee, fish and duck egg congee and dried scallop congee. All were really good and tasted uniquely different. Not like regular congee w/ ingredients tossed in at the very end to mix. Would definitely come again!
(3)Eugene H.
Obviously you need to try to congee here. The thing that makes this place great is the numerous choices in the menu as well as good quality of food. The service here is pretty fast and you'd be amazed on how little your bill when you're done (for New York standards that is).
(5)Jessica C.
holy cow. it's like a little bit of the San Gabriel Valley (So-Cal speak) plopped down in Manhattan. As much as I love exploring the nooks and crannies of Chinatown or the LES for the perfect bowl of congee, I still manage to always turn back to the mothership of congee. $3.95 for Sampan (seafood mix) goodness, AND they take the plastic. I would give this place 6 stars if it were possible to do so!
(5)Kenndy H.
Best place to go to for authentic chinese food! It's a bit pricey compared to other chinese restaurants but the quality of the food is top notch. I would definitely recommend ordering the following: (Dishes are ordered to be shared) Preserved egg and pork congee Cold Dungeness crab Steam tofu w/ soy sauce Golden raisin fried rice Good place to hold family dinners
(4)Chuck P.
We were there for family dinner, and it wasn't busy at all. All the waiters seemed pretty occupied, they never came to our table and ask anything about the food. We had to remind them to bring things such as napkins and change the plates, remove the empty plates. At the end, one of the waiter were yelling at us for more tips. I mean they expect large tips for their terrible service? Nice try! 垃圾é¤é¦†æ¶å¿ƒæ»æˆ‘了ï¼
(1)Alexa C.
You know its a good Chinese restaurant when everyone inside is Chinese. The inside was so lovely and the outside really drew my attention. The fried rice was one of the best I've ever had. The staff was very nice and a pleasurable experience.
(4)Wendy Z.
It's a long wait if you decide to come here at night. I felt like I waited an eternity.. I like this place, they serve nice dishes at fair prices but I feel like if you're interested in individual portions you'll have a harder time finding something reasonably priced and of a fair portion. Most on it's menu is for family style in which you order many dishes and share with your friends and family. They also offer drinks if you want and you can order it and they'll bring it to you from the bar below. I found the drinks tasted good! I've never tried the congee here but my sister and friends said it tasted pretty good.
(4)Mr F G And Ms M S.
The food here is pretty good. If we have to review the food alone here, the rating would be 4 or even 5 stars. The reason why we only give 3 stars rating is because of the service. The waiter were polite but the service is really slow. We have to ask more than once whenever we need something. It was annoying when we were waiting for one of our dish & when we were almost finish, they told us that the dish that we ordered wasn't available. Why didn't they say this earlier? They didn't tell us anything until we asked them about what happened with the dish that we ordered earlier. We were here on a Thursday evening around 7 for dinner with our family, It was busy. The place is pretty big. You can definitely come here with a group. The portion were decent. All total, we spent about $40 here.
(3)Rita L.
great place for groups! the wait could be long so just make a reservation before you go, call ahead and check how long you have to wait before actually getting there. I'd totally recommend this place for a cold night, you can warm up with their congee which are pretty good. I tried their crab porridge, abalone n frog congee, sauteed chinese veggie fried squid, pork chop peki - too sweet, preserved veggie, house special chicken, everything's average... I wouldn't say they're amazing but prices are reasonable and it's good for large groups so I'd come back again on a cold night if I'm with a bunch of friends.
(3)Doug H.
If you come with your Asian friend, the two of you will get a small table even if the place is not busy. However, if you come with a Caucasian friend, you will get a big table... feels weird... 粥之家
(1)Long K.
I mean who doesn't want to chow down on affordable congee on miserably cold days?? All while you're surrounded by decor that transports you into a jungle in Asia, but with delicious cheap bubbling congee and sizzling hot plates flying out of the kitchen. Salt and Pepper Squid - These Yelp reviews do not lie. A giant plate of just purely fried and perfectly seasoned squid. The best I've had. So addicting I came back back less than 1 week for another serving. Get it. Pork Peking Style - Literally a giant bowl of meat. Fried outside, tender inside, in some sweet tasting unknown sauce...get it. Still was cheaper than the squid above too. Congee - There's over a dozen varieties! I was hoping for different tastes between then but it's just the ingredients that change really with the same congee base. Found that out the hard way when I ordered the crab congee my second visit, which came with a large useless inedible shell. Nevertheless still cheap though. Fast efficient service. Did I mention the salt and pepper squid?
(4)Michal T.
I tend to order seafood or minced pork congee everywhere I go. The seafood congee has just the right amount of ginger to balance out the seafood flavor. House Special chicken is a must. Juicy on the inside and crispy and garlicky on the outside.
(5)Mountain T.
Food is all right. Service is really bad. One of the waiters I dealt with was rude and unhelpful. He was acting like he didn't want to work there or hate customers. So like other people say, expect rude service from them.
(1)Song C.
This is your typical old school Chinese restaurant with family style seating and menu. Huge portions, very reasonable prices, and tastes exactly the way I would expect it to be. There was only two of us so we couldn't order that much. We only ordered 2 dishes to be shared but other groups of 3 ordered 5-6 dishes. I was jealous. I love that they have pea shoot leaves - everyone who knows me knows that's my favorite thing to order when I'm at a Chinese restaurant or dim sum. The menu is broken down by appetizers, dim sum, chicken, pork, seafood, beef, and sweets - you know how this goes. I didn't get the congee but it looked good. I saw that there were a bunch of old asian people who dined here (that's a good sign). I would probably come back here if I am in the area.
(4)Pallavi P.
I came here for a friend's birthday with a huge group of people (roughly 15). They are tough on seating a group, especially if everyone is not there but once we got a critical mass (13ish) we ended up getting the table that we reserved. This place gets packed!! Even though it is pretty spacious, people come here in droves especially on a weekend. If you're in a group, reserve, get there early and be prepared to wait a bit. The good news is that they have a bar area in the front where you can grab a drink and post up while you wait for your straggling friends to arrive. Ok, enough about the logistics, what is the food like? AMAZINGGG! Of course it depends what you order but my group of 15ish got at least 12 dishes and a huge shareable bowl of congee and it not only filled us up but we were struggling to finish off the last morsels of food off the plate. Also - SUPER CHEAP. Huge group as mentioned above and I ended up spliting the bill and it came out to about $20. Come hungry and leave happy.
(4)Janice F.
Congee village is nothing new to tourists and certainly not a new favorite to natives in the area. Service is quick, food is absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere is cute. If you come, you must get the congee- it's called congee village for a reason. They all come super hot and ready to share so note it's a family friendly restaurant- just like any authentic Chinese restaurant! The veggies are also super hot and tasty. The steak was not that great, so I wouldn't recommend it. The crab was pretty good- very tasty. Chinese seafood is the way to do it right. If you're in the area- this is the place to go. Very good for big crowds, but one star off because the tables are too small if you're a small family like mine who orders a ton of dishes. Otherwise the prices are pretty good, just like the food!
(4)Cat C.
I am currently sitting at the restaurant after waiting 40 minutes after my reservation because they gave my table away. The service and disrespect is unbelievable.
(1)Ashti D.
The best congee...the cutest decor...and an unlimited amount of selections on the menu...we will definitely be back to enjoy this LES establishment.
(5)Debra E.
Stopped in because I needed to get dragged out and Chinese food is always a winner. Who doesn't love some MSG every once in a while? On top of that it showed Andrew Zimmern had dined before so I was aware we were in for some funky dishes. We sat pretty quickly but service as most of the others said was undesirable. Glad I wasn't in a rush. The inside was very large and it felt like you were walking into a treehouse. My girl friend and I shared bean curd ($9.95) egg drop soup ($4.95)five spice duck ($5.95 for 1/4)and pork buns ($4.95). The options were endless but I didn't see your typical roast duck, shrimp in lobster sauce. It was definitely one of the best egg drop soups I had, not from your typical Chinese takeout. The pork/soup buns were as expected in flavor but too much meat and little broth. To my surprise I really liked the bean curd with mixed vegetables. It basically tasted like tofu and I liked the sauce it was in. The duck was meh, not how I was used to it being prepared and very fatty and boney. My main issue was staff wise being aloof. Poorly organized, if you asked questions it wasn't looked upon and large gaps in time between checking in on you.
(3)Christopher F.
I really want to give a zero. Heard great things about this place in terms of their authentic Chinese food. We arrived around 2:00pm as the lunch crowd was leaving. We were seated promptly, with tea given immediately. Surprisingly, we waited for 45 minutes and the waiters just kept walking past us, they clearly knew we were not being attended to. When my wife finally said something the waiter just shrugged like he did not care. Needless to say we walked out. The only thing, I can think of is my wife is Asian, and I am from a European background, and our son is mixed. They did not even want to look at my son nor did they acknowledge him. I would hate to accuse someone of discrimination, but this was how we felt during the entire process here. I have never accused a restaurant of this and rarely give a one, but again for this restaurant, I wish I could give a minus rating.
(1)Joanne K.
I was really craving porridge and I found this place. I came here at 10:30 am right when it opened! It's not too crowded at this time. But it's definitely a great place to bring a large group. The service was quick and great about refilling our waters. My friend ordered the Duck congee and I ordered the vegetarian congee and both of ours had strong ginger taste to it, because of the fair amount of ginger pieces. I thought their XLB aka soup dumplings were alright. In order to tell if the XLB you are eating is excellent or not, is by the delicate folds at the top and the dumplings' ability to contain the soup within. The meat and the casing felt completely separate and soup would fall out. There's places in the city to get better XLB. But I shouldn't be too harsh because this place specializes in its congee. I don't think I tried the right things! I should probably come back and give it another go.
(3)Jenn N.
There are two Congee Villages, and this is the original one. College Village is a decent family style restaurant. Their food is great compared to many other restaurants around the area. Food is amazing, but it would be even more than amazing if the services are at least good. Services: (2 stars) Their services are like an ON & OFF button, meaning it can be a good experience or a horrible one. Too bad you can't pick when to turn on or off. I feel like they know for a fact that their food are good, so they don't have to try so hard on the services. Even calling in to make a reservation, they put you on hold for about 5-10 minutes before answer you. You can sense from their tone of voice that they're annoyed, or maybe I'm wrong because they did not sound friendly at all. Food: (4 stars) Recommendation: - West Lake Beef Soup - House Special Chicken - Blue Crab With Ginger And Scallion - Blue Crab With Garlic And Pepper - Chided Dungeness Crab - Sauteed Lobster With Butter & Cheese - Abalone And Chicken Porridge - Pan Fried Bean Curd with soy sauce
(3)Phil Z.
attentive service. solid congee but mostly low price average food.
(3)Bing R.
My favorite place for the best fried chicken without batter and with slices of garlic - that and their fried rice and pea shoot sautéed vegetable is perfect! I have been here several times but this still is my favorite combination and a must order for me! Easy to get to by F train or M15 local bus. No one else does this chicken in Chinatown.
(4)Alan L.
I enjoy a good bowl of hot congee like any other Chinese person. I have been wanting to try this place for quite some time and I got my chance. This is pretty big restaurant. I believe there are two floors to the restaurant. I like the way this place is designed. Plenty of tables if you want to do family style and plenty of tables where it can be only 2 people or 4 people. The menu is GIGANTIC!!! A lot of options to choose from. Many possibilities. We ordered the Abalone and Chicken Congee, the Sliced Fish with Lettuce Congee, Pan Fried Pork with Salted Fish, and Pan Fried Tofu with Soy Sauce. The Congee were excellant. They came out really hot in a little pots. Plenty of scallions and parsley to give it some fragrance. A considerable amount of abalone, chicken, and sliced fish. I think there was very little salt or MSG in it. I like it that way. All natural flavors. Definitely hit the spot. The Pan Fried Pork with Salted Fish were delicious. Pork was marinated really nice and it was not salty from the salted fish. Just enough salted fish flavor to infuse the pan fried pork. The Pan Fried Tofu with Soy Sauce was another great dish to try. A nice little crisp on the outside. A smooth and silky inside from the tofu. The soy sauce is a good compliment to the tofu. A very satisfying dinner. It didn't give me a food coma. The prices are very reasonable and affordable. Doesn't break the bank especially the congee. A great spot for dinner or lunch. I will be back for more later in the future.
(4)Avi G.
The atmosphere was great and the space available was amazing. As far as the food goes though I have to say Wo-Hop still takes the cake. We had their famous Congee which was a new dish for everyone at the table. A porridge like dish but definitely tasty. We also and the beef Chow Fon which was ok as well as the chicken chow me fon also pretty good. Definitely don't get the plate full of shrimp. not tasty and very small shrimp. Look if you have family in town and they are down to be squeezed tight into a small restaurant and have unbelievable food then go to Wo Hop. If you are looking for a nice setting and room to stretch the legs and a Lazy Susan ( great touch) then go to Congee Village.
(3)Susanna W.
The food is pretty good here if you're looking for Canto food. We came as a group of 8 and spent around $100 total after tip, which after many days of eating in the upper west side was a wonderful feeling. The restaurant itself is quite typical in what you'd expect in terms of decor, lots of light wood colors, smaller plants/trees, etc. The larger tables are set up family style with a spinning plate in the middle of the table. For food, definitely order some of the bamboo rice pots, they are kind of small so one is probably good for 2-3 people. Also definitely order the pork Peking style, super flavorful and satisfying. Food comes out whenever each dish is ready, so each dish will come out sporadically. Service is okay--someone will come to you if you need something, but we randomly only got waters for half the table and never got the rest, and sometimes they would forget to bring out more rice or something we asked for.
(4)Tyler L.
This place is quirky (understatement) and definitely a good spot for groups. My first observation was that there were a shit ton of Asians (I assume Chinese) in there - this I took as a positive sign. Second observation - this place is cheap, like really cheap. We had a group of nine and we ate until we were full and had two drinks each (roughly); total bill? ~$25/head. Yep, cheap. Third thought, this is no frills service. You literally have to force them to serve you. I don't think I saw a smile and our thank you's might as well have been in ancient greek as they did little to chisel the icy service. It oddly made the experience better. Fourth - the food was good and others in our group thought it was great. I think is was good. Definitely get what you are paying for (not paying a lot, not getting gourmet). Overall I am going to say that I would recommend this place to someone who wants a unique experience on the cheap. We had drinks at Grey Lady afterwards which brought us back to NYC prices quickly. My first two drinks there cost more than my dinner and two drinks at Congee. Also a fun spot for groups.
(3)Connie C.
The congee is generously portioned and comes in many varieties. However, the restaurant is best suited for a large group versus two or three people. I met up here with a friend and we both ordered bowls of congee - sliced fish with preserved egg, and chicken, pork, and duck - since we weren't that hungry. They seated us at a round table that we had to share with another group, which to me always makes for an awkward dining experience. The waiters kept forgetting which party ordered what, so we had to do some plate switching amongst ourselves. There was also a rowdy table next to us that made me regret not coming with more people. The congee itself is good, but just beware of the atmosphere that's pre-catered to larger dinner parties.
(4)Justine S.
This place is HUGE! There are three levels: a main, busy dining floor at the very top, a middle floor waiting area/small bar, and a downstairs which I haven't the slightest idea of what it leads to. There was about an hour wait as we came for dinner at 7:30PM on a Friday night. Once seated we ordered almost immediately the House special chicken, fried bean curd (tofu) in soy sauce, garlic sprouts, and pork & preserved egg congee. Out of all the dishes, surprisingly, the congee was my least favorite. I was disappointed because my expectations were way high given the name of the restaurant. In my opinion, it was just bland and lacked any flavor. I'm aware you pretty much have to dress it up with sauces, etc. but there is usually still some inherent good flavors in it! I did love the texture as it was very light and creamy(?), which was a new but pleasant aspect of the dish. The House special chicken was crispy, juicy, and so flavorful! We ordered half a chicken and it was the perfect portion for the three of us. The garlic sprouts were also delicious and heavy on the garlic (which is a plus in my book). We only ordered this as they were out of kang kong and I'm glad we did. The favorite part of the meal was the fried tofu. It was pan fried at the top and bottom, but the middle part remained super soft and the flavors were amazing. The service here was OK as they took forever to bring out our last dish and they refilled our water maybe once? And it was a different person every time. Granted it was a Friday night and they were extremely busy, but still. Another great thing about this place are the prices especially when comparing them against the huge portions. I will always be a fan of cheap eats!
(4)Kongjing C.
Friend held a wedding dinner party there I think the food mostly are Cantonese don't know if that is authentic or not since I'm not Cantonese. But were pretty decent and our people did enjoy it only thing was u probably would hear some "drunk" people shouting sometimes from the other rooms. overall. I think Its a pretty fine place to eat if you wanna try something Cantonese
(4)Monica T.
This place open late and offer you the simple asian comfort food! I stopped by last night, and ordered the sea cucumber dish, frog leg congee and some sauteed clams. They were delicious and comforting! Congee was very good and I don't know why i've never been here! Next time, i'd like to try their abalone and seafood dishes. Takes credit card with a minimum of $20.
(4)Vicky F.
The food is ok, I got the famous chicken dish that they have, it's more like deep fried with soy sauce and ginger in it, not as great as I thought it would be. There r many kinda of congee which tastes pretty good. And the Thai chicken feet is amazing, I would go back for that. The food is def worth the value, not expensive at all. However the servers are so out of their zone. They wonder around, play with their phones. We had to shout at them many times to actually ask them to take our order....
(3)Erica L.
Delicious foods to choose from. I love the boneless chicken feet with thai chili sauce! Its by far the best appetizer to choose from and I totally recommend it! Chicken congee is good too!
(4)Alice Z.
This place is great for groups and eating family styled. It's considered to be pretty cheap when sharing with your group. House Special Chicken: Ehh, it's pretty plain and dry. Pork Chops peking styled: The best thing ever. This is a long time favorite. Pork and Preserved Egg Congee: Pretty good. The pork was flavorful and the consistency of the congee is thinner than other restaurants. Chinese Broccoli with Garlic: As good as vegetables can get but very oily. Beef Chow Fun: Decent, oily, needs more beef Salt and Pepper Squid: Very crispy and chewy but overall very flavorful. Vegetable Fried Rice: Regular good ol' fried rice The service here is not the best. We made reservations but still ended up waiting about 45 minutes. When we first arrived, we were missing one person in our party and they didn't take us seriously until everyone was there. Lesson learned: It's best to make reservations but still be expected to wait a while. We asked for 6 bowls of white rice and it never came. At least we weren't charged for it. We had to ask for water multiple times before it came. Nothing here really stands out besides the pork chops but it's a cheap place to go with groups.
(3)Amanda D.
Three of my work colleagues and I came here after this place was recommended to us by another colleague who comes here all the time. This place is great for groups, especially for family style dining. What I also liked was the fact that although the restaurant was packed, it wasn't cramped like most restaurants in Chinatown. There are a lot of options on the menu, which is great because everyone can order something they like. We ordered the General Tso chicken, Sautéed bok choy with Garlic, Baby Shrimp Fried Rice, Singapore Style Mei Fun, Hot and Sour Soup, Scallion Pancakes, Dumplings, and Sautéed Short Rib in Sizzling Plate. I must admit that the food was very good for the most part. Service, on the other hand, was not so great. It took forever to get a waiter to take our initial order. We also had to ask for water multiple times before it came. Then he sort of just disappeared without a trace. At one point, we had to flag down another waiter to see if he knew where our waiter was. The only saving grace was the really good food that did come out fairly quickly. Prices were very reasonable, especially if dining in a big group. Oh, and drinks are inexpensive. We had about a dozen mai tais ad they were really cheap. When the bill finally arrived, we were told they weren't able to split the bill in 4 because they could only take one credit card. Really? Go for the cheap drinks and good food, but beware of the lackluster service.
(3)Matt L.
$10 for a plate of 干炒牛河 that feeds two? Sold. Also, nice atmosphere, free tea. Credit cards only on orders over $20.00
(4)Jenny M.
The food and atmosphere here is perfect. They serve authentic Chinese food. This may seem like every other Chinese restaurant but their food is much more flavorful and the service is quick. Speaking of service, many reviews state that the staff are not very pleasant but actually this is how it's suppose to be and that's how it is everywhere else, they're not purposely trying to offend anyone. It's like having BRF(B**** resting face) and it's as authentic as it gets.
(4)Jocelyn K.
Very popular and crowded like it's counterpart, Congee Bowery on Bowery Street. This place is very good for large groups, but it wouldn't be my first choice. The food wasn't amazing. In fact, it was very mediocre, but it is cheap and in large quantities. I came with a large group of friends for a going away party, so I was able to try an array of dishes. Of course coming to Congee Village we first had to order congee: Sampan Congee (è”ç£è‰‡ä»”ç²¥) - Supposedly one of the most popular congees in Hong Kong, but this was a big disappointment. I expected the dried squid to impart a lot of flavor to the congee but it was just lackluster. Very little peanuts or preserved eggs. In general flavorless and little ingredients makes it not worth ordering. *Side Note: If you want good Sampan Congee, I recommend going to Congee located on 98 Bowery. This is not the same place as Congee Bowery. Sliced Pork and Preserved Egg Congee (皮蛋瘦肉粥) - The standard congee and much better than than the Sampan Congee. If you don't know which one to order, this is a safe one. Other entrees we ordered: Garlic Pea Shoots (蒜蓉豆苗) - Easily the best dish we ordered. You might wonder what's so great about a plate of vegetables, but when Dou Miao is cooked right, you won't be able to get enough. The vegetables were fresh and crispy, not too oily, and perfectly seasoned. I could have easily eaten the whole plate by myself. Chinese Broccoli w/ Shrimp Paste - Also recommended. The Chinese broccoli was crunch and crisp. If you are not a fan of shrimp paste, I would avoid this dish though as it is very strong. Pan Fried Bean Curd w. Soy Sauce (豉油王生煎豆è…) - My second favorite dish next to the vegetables. I love tofu of any sort and I especially love the pan-fried ones. Best part is first biting the crispy shell and then getting into the soft tofu encased within. The simple soysauce based sauce is perfect for this dish. Rice Baked w. Chicken and Shiitake Mushroom (北è‡æ»‘雞燉飯) - An interesting dish that comes in a log-like container. The top consists of chicken, shiitake mushrooms, and other vegetables. All of that lays on a bed of rice soaked in all the juices from the chicken and mushrooms. The chicken and shiitake are average, but I recommend getting this because of the sauce soaked rice. Beef Chow Fun - Oily, lots of beef, lots of noodles. No complaints here. We also ordered two dishes, House Special Chicken (粥之家招牌蒜香雞) and Walnut Shrimp (æ ¸æ¡ƒè¦çƒ), which I did not try but others seemed to have enjoyed. For all the food we ordered, it came out to a total of only $15 per person. Chinatown cheapness at it's best.
(3)Ivan K.
Fell into this place for lunch after exiting the NYC Tenement Museum, which is next store. We had few expectations, but once we entered and saw all the other diners appeared to be Asian we were psyched. We were not disappointed. The service was pleasant and efficient. All the dishes we ordered was excellent, fresh, plentiful and very inexpensive. Will return again. BTW we kept seeing serving items what looked like logs being brought to other tables. Then, the seafood and baked rice we ordered was served in one and we understood what they were.
(4)Amanda M.
Happened upon this place by chance and thought i could get some authentic Chinese food but ended up waiting 20 minutes just for water and that's after we asked three times! The Fried Rice was great but didn't make up for the lack of service my party received. the staff just passed over our table many times and were incredibly inattentive. Would not recommend or return.
(1)Cat L.
Congee Village gets my vote because it's one of the rare Chinese restaurants in Chinatown that actually has a decent amount of seating. Expect no-nonsense attitudes from the workers and average prices for a sit-down Chinese restaurant, but also expect some really delicious foods on an overwhelmingly large menu. We ordered the House Special Chicken (801), Sliced Pork Preserved Egg Congee (402), Pork Chicken and Duck Congee (413), Fried Squid with Salted Pepper and Sauteed Ginger (S502, S507), Pan Fried Tofu (617)and Water Spinach (cong xin cai, not sure about the number). My favorite dish was the tofu - you absolutely HAVE to get it. I usually pass on tofu because it's too bland, but this tofu was juicy and perfectly seasoned. Everything was delicious, and it was the perfect amount of food for 4 Asian girls stuffing themselves full. The bill came out to about $80 after tax and tip. We tried the bubble tea as well, which was reasonably priced ($3) but nothing special. I thought the bubbles were a little bland, but it was also probably scooped out from leftovers because we came so late. We came on a Monday night and stayed well after we were done eating and even broke out a box of cupcakes we had gotten somewhere else for dessert. The workers never bothered us and even got us knifes and plates upon request so that we could enjoy our cupcakes. We didn't leave til around 11, and even then there were still some guests enjoying their meals.
(5)Caroline K.
I don't know. I don't think I'm cut out for Chinese food save for the "Westernized" takeout scene. Came here in a big group and wasn't impressed with any of the food selections. I took three bites of the congee they served and called it a night and started craving a big bowl of pho instead. Maybe it's just me.
(2)Lily L.
We arrived at 5 pm for new year's dinner. No wait and got seated right away. So far so good. After we ordered the place started to be noisy and the place was fully seated at 6 pm. We ordered 7 dishes, the first 3 came pretty fast, after that it was a waiting time that ended up in the last dish came when we were ready to leave the table. The food was good, I'm a regular since few years back and most of the dishes have not changed. The fish tummy soup was not the same and lacked of taste and ingredients. Will not order it again next time. Tofu with seafood was pretty good, I prefer non oily dishes and this was more of a soup/chowder/stew. Cold chicken feet in spicy sour was delicious as always. Congee taste about the same except from the different toppings we'd picked. Best comfort food and also nice in this cold NY weather. Steamed fish, delicious but so pricy. Probably because almost every table ordered fish for new year's celebration. Service was confusing. It all depends on who you flag down. The female waiter ignored or pretended not noticing us when we tried to get her attention. The male staff who presented our dishes or cleared the empty plates was much more attentive, which was soso but that's OK considered the busy evening and night ahead for them.
(3)Wilson L.
I like this place lots! Cheap, fast and delicious Chinese food. It's greasy all around but it's worth it. The beef chow fun is a staple. The congee is good but it is served soooo hot. The beef satay is a must try. My friend loved it. Overall a fun place to go to dine even if it's late. They have late hours for late crowds. One of the better Chinese restaurants in Chinatown.
(4)Steph Y.
Came here for the first time with a few friends on a Saturday night. Came around 5 PM and it wasn't busy - but as we were leaving, it got packed! So I highly suggest coming here earlier because there was a line. If you're going through my uploaded photos for this place.. you're probably wondering why did I come to Congee Village and not have any congee? Lol.. well normally I would but the only type I thought that would be worthwhile to get was the Century egg one but apparently that scares the sh*t out of anyone who isn't Asian, haha. So that was out of the question. Maybe next time. The ambiance here is great - the restaurant itself is very clean and the decor is beautiful. I love how it's not super cramped in here like most Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, its actually very spacious here. This place would be great for large parties. There was actually 2 large tables next to us that were partying it up shot after shot in wine glasses! So classy, I want to be like that when I get older! Shoot, they were almost twice my age and can drink more than me! Haha. The service sorta of blows here, servers are not attentive - but what do you expect from an Asian restaurant that's not Americanized? I'm just glad they don't give you an attitude and they didn't screw up our order which is always nice. Now onto the food.. - Roast Pork Fried Rice: this dish was SO dry, we didn't even finish it. Don't get it. - Beef Chow Fun: This was one of my favorite dish out of everything we ordered, but then when you think about it.. how hard can it be to mess this dish up? But then again, I can say the same for fried rice, lol. - General Tso's - I'm not a huge fan of General Tso's and it's usually a dish I never order so I'm indifferent. - Sauteed Short Rib with Brown sauce in Sizzling Hot Plate - Not that impressed.. it's like Korean BBQ except Korean Kalbi BBQ is way tastier. - Sauteed Jumbo Shrimp with Walnut and Broccoli in Mayonnaise - I always have to order this dish, especially if I'm eating Chinese food for dinner. It's one of my favorite dishes no matter where I go. The dish was good here - however, it definitely wasn't the best I've had. My friends that have been here before told me the shrimp used to be bigger. Not so much jumbo shrimp then? I thought it was on the smaller side but it was still pretty tasty. This place serves booze and all of us got drinks - the prices here were very reasonable. I got the Lychee Martini and enjoyed it. Want some beer? Try the Chinese beer! I was actually shocked at how cheap everything came out to be when we got the bill. There's not many places you can drink for cheap in NYC while stuffing your face with MSG!
(3)Jin C.
I was craving century egg congee one Saturday morning, and Congee Village immediately came to mind. Having only had delivery from here and never having had their famed congee, I was in for a surprise. Can Congee Village live up to its namesake? And boy, it did. I ordered a bunch of more exotic things like duck's blood and pig's intestines but none of them were as gimme-gimme-more as that humble, steaming bowl of century egg congee. The rice gruel was smooth and savory, and there was just the right amount of century egg in there. The pig's intestines and the sweet and sour pork were the next best things that I tried. I would caution against the duck's blood (bland), soup dumplings (overly thick skin and no soup at all, really), and the flat rice noodles (dense and gummy). Otherwise, just come here for a bowl of tummy-filling congee with all the evocation of home. Ahh.
(4)Sherra L.
I grew up always eating here with family and friends especially during the holidays or celebrating one's birthday! It's a great gathering to be at this restaurant because the Resturant is big, comfy, and great food choices! It just reminds me of home being here! Majority of the time at night, this place is packed! People are lining up outside the door! There's always a mix of different ethnicity groups that come here to eat which shows its that populated! It's amazing how this business grew so much more that it open up another one not too far from here! Every Time we come here, 9 out 10 times we order the same exact food! ( it's a Chinese thing) but nonetheless, it still tastes amazing! Definitely give this place a try!
(5)Pia V.
There's always a crowd here and a long wait for a table; also expect to share your table with other patrons. Once you are seated they are very quick to take your order so they can try to get you in and out as soon as they can. The place itself feels kinda large, but because they have such a following it can feel cramped. None-the-less they do a pretty good job with keeping the place clean. The food is great and very flavorful, we loved every single bite of everything we had; e.g. congee, chow fun, fried rice, etc. It is definitely on the pricier end as far as Chinese food goes, but the taste makes it worth it IMO.
(4)Linda S.
This place has a damn fine # of authentic, Cantonese-style dishes on the menu. If a banquet is what you're looking for, then a banquet you will get, as all these dishes are really made to share family-style with a large table. I highly recommend the: - Salt and pepper shrimp - Duck congee (requested no century egg) - Snow pea leaves - Pan fried tofu - House fried chicken - Dungeness crab ($44) The cost for the above was about $120 with everything included and was more than sufficient for our group of 5!
(4)Raquel O.
If you go to CONGEE village, get CONGEE. Do not get anything else. I made the mistake of ordering Chow Fun and it was no fun. Ha. Really, it was dripping in oil and I had one bite and couldn't finish it. For $5, you leave with a full tummy and a happy wallet. I love this place.
(4)Jerome T.
I have a love hate thing with these people-no racial. I've been going to both locations for forever and a day now. This one is slightly more rude then the Allen street location. Come here about 2/3 times a year. More at the other spot. PRO: The food. Minced pork and salted fish cake is instant foodboner! Rice with mushroom in "bamboo cylinder" was delicious. Congee is ALL good in the hood. Pork chop is bomb. Never had a seafood dish here I didn't like. It's clean and they have T.V's Full bar. Really great for huge parties. Bathroom was clean. What? That's important yo! CONS: The dumplings are really thick in dough and just meh in flavor. The 5 spice duck is garbage. Bad service. Most Chinese joints are kind of rude by nature, but this place is slightly a little worse then the average. If you can get over that, it might be worth it. They won't let you split cards. Came here with my friend and they wouldn't split two cards. WTF. No explanation, just wouldn't. Annoying level at that point was a 10. There you have it.
(3)Janice C.
Service is what you would expect. If you want great service, then you shouldn't be in Chinatown. The food was very good, except for the fried dough sticks. Those were cold and a bit too sweet for my taste. I feel that they made a huge batch and left it there, but they could have been at least warm... The congeee was very good, we ordered 3 diff types; preserved egg and chicken, abalone and chicken, and duck and meatball. I wish there was some sort of combo of preserved egg and duck, the duck one was deff more filling but I liked the traditional egg one. The abalone one had ginger and it was very refreshing! I would definitely recommend diff types depending on what you want at the moment. We also got a order of small juicy dumplings, and they were nice as well, although they were a bit sweet. I liked mine salty but it was still pretty good! The wait was about 25 mins, even though they said jt would be 15.., that is my only major complaint about service. Give this place a try! Especially when its snowing outside!
(4)Elvan Z.
I went here with my mother recently. We used to come here some years ago and had fond memories of the place. We were seated pretty much right away since it was a Wednesday afternoon. As most have said the place itself is huge and nicely furnished, and there is even a koi pond in the lobby underneath the stairs leading to the second level (which I was downright fascinated by as a kid). However, the restaurant does seem a little run down looking. Of course we ordered congee (vegetarian for me, scallop and white nut for mom) which was delicious. We also got the mushrooms with bean curd, which was really nicely seasoned and well cooked. Both were reasonably priced, especially the congee. Thr good parts aside, the staff was stiff and inattentive, and it got a little frustrating having to flag someone down for everything. At the bottom of my "healthy vegetarian congee" was --the horror!-- a piece of chicken. I'm not sure what they think vegetarian means but chicken is definitely not it.
(3)Xi L.
Worst and rudest service I have ever experienced of any restaurant, and when I go to a Chinese restaurant, I set the bar pretty low. We are shown to our seat and nobody comes by for over 15 minutes. Restaurant is barely at capacity, not overbooked or anything, just bad service. Next, we get 4 dishes but say we want it to be served at the same time. Waiter says no we cannot do that, we cant tell the chef to do that, impossible. I say what do you mean impossible, he can't start the dishes at different times so we can be served our dishes with our congee? Is it no longer normal to be served food together instead of one by one so I have to force feed myself a plate of vegetables and THEN I get chicken? Please. Anyways the only reason I asked was because last time I ordered these things it took 10 min to get congee, another 10 min to get eggplant and then 25 min to get peking pork chops. Unacceptable. What kind of dining experience is that? Anyways the attitude ticked me off. This time we get bok choy and chicken so I know these dishes are quick, and fortunately they did come quickly. Unfortunately the bok choy had 2 different hairs in it... Finally, for two people, apparently they only take one card for that. What the hell is going on? Is it no longer possible to split a check in half, are you serious? The service was atrocious and ended with more absurdity. You will lose a lot more money when I never come back to this place (than you would have for getting charged 2 transactions on credit cards).
(1)Bob K.
Not a strong 4, but a 4. This is the 2nd time I've been taken here by my girlfriend's best friend. He is a sales rep, so I imagine he takes out a lot of clients. This appears to be his go-to Chinese restauarant. Anyways, the last time I was out here in the winter, he took us out here b/c of the congee. It was delicious, I really enjoyed congee even though congee is typically the last thing I'd order at a Chinese restaurant. Some other things he ordered were fried chicken (great crispy skin), Chinese brocolli, some kind of lamb dish with tofu skin (very delicious), fried rice ("moooost excellent" as my Indian friends would say), and the rest were somewhat forgettable. Most forgettable was some kind of greyish/brown soup w/ absolutely no visible appeal and the taste was bland. Overall, I'd give the food about a weak 4. But for the most part, the food was always served hot and tasted good. Now for the downside: the service. I thought we got decent service because my gf's friend dines there a lot, but being the former waiter that I was in my youth, I could observe many table's patrons having to do weird gyrations to get any kind of service. The food service (actual food coming out) was pretty prompt, but the after service (extra water, napkins, more sauce, etc) requests seemed pretty slow. So if Congee Village management is reading this, my best advice is to train your servers to recognize that service should be end to end. And that the end is not when the entrees are served, but when the customer walks out the door. One thing I liked about this place was their policy not to sit parties until all diners arrived. We were sat very quickly in front of a packed waiting room because of this policy. Good policy for restaurants and I'm glad this place employs it.
(4)Donald S.
Dislike all of the tourists and nonlocals that frequent here now, hence causing the long waits. But they do have good, while not GREAT Chinese food. It's terrible how most non asians will order the most generic made-for-america type dish and rave about how awesome and authentic it is. I hope any future patron here will come with an asian friend that knows how to order true chinese dishes. With that said, the crispy garlic chicken is pretty popular here. Their sticky rice in steamed bamboo pots are also good. Lots of traditional Chinese dishes are good here, too many to name. Ironic that I've never had congee (asian ricen porridge) here. The portions are definitely on the smaller side compared to traditional Chinese restaurants. However if you're used to eating at lavishly expensive American restaurants, you and your dining party will surely eat like kings here for a fraction of the price.
(3)Ben W.
Best sick day remedy. Or just any day remedy really. The thing I love about Congee Village is that you can go with a small group of friends and grab a bite for $5 a piece or go all out banquet style and get $20 worth of food. Regardless, Congee Village serves it all and I've never left feeling unsatisfied. Their namesake is my favorite on the menu. Congee is a traditional Chinese dish made from rice and has a soupy starchy texture similar to porridge. Their list of add-ins is very long, including all types of meats, preserved veggies, thousand year egg, and more. My favorite is the pork, chicken, and duck. Their main course dishes I like include pan fried bean curd and roast duck. To be honest, I almost always go with congee because it's such a good deal and delicious, but I don't complain if the tables wants to go for larger family style fare. If you come on Saturday nights, be prepared for a wait. I also suggest this place if you're looking for a brunch alternative and don't want dim sum.
(5)Joanna N.
I used to come here all the time as a kid -- it's been open since the 90s! It was the closest chinese restaurant to home. We came mostly for family dinners and the occasional lunch if we wanted youtiao and congee of course. Haven't been back in about 9 years, since it was easier to eat chinese in Brooklyn when we moved to Staten Island. But, I'm back in the LES now and decided to give it a go again! We came here for my sister's birthday earlier in the month and also just dined here again tonight! My family pretty much orders the same dishes at whatever Chinese restaurant we go to -- a variation of the following -- shrimp with honey walnuts, clams in black bean sauce, a steamed fish of some kind, house special chicken, sauteed lobster, baked crabs with glutinous rice, lamb chops, sizzling beef, a seafood stir fry, and/or a noodle dish. We all agreed that Congee Village was just ok. Service was fine. However, their dishes are inconsistent! Our meal today was not nearly as great as it was for my sister's birthday. The portion sizes also changed! The lamb chops were tasteless this time, the shrimp was fried for too long and the noodles were super soggy. We much prefer East Harbor Seafood Palace or J.King Seafood Palace in Brooklyn where we've never had any issues. We'll probably come back if it's convenient but otherwise will be searching for a more consistent family style spot.
(3)Jane S.
My second visit to Congee Village did not live up to my expectation, so I must sadly drop the stars I had give earlier. My boyfriend and I came here for a weekday dinner. There was no wait and we were seated on the first floor (there are three levels) right away. The waiter gave us only one menu to share. We ordered the juicy buns (soup dumplings) and steamed rice rolls from the dim sum menu, and the duck, pork, chicken congee and the pumpkin fried rice. The waiter said the pumpkin dish would take 40 minutes to prepare. The congee and the rice rolls were served within the first 15 minutes. I expected the rice rolls to be like the ones you get from traditional dim sum restaurants stuffed with shrimp or beef, but the rice rolls from Congee Village were cut up into bite sizes and seasoned with soy sauce. It tasted pretty bland so I had to put a ton of pepper on top. The congee, on the other hand, was really salty and had a very strong ginger flavor. The soup dumplings were a huge disappointment - never order this from Congee Village! Not only was the skin really thick, but there was NO juice in the buns!! Some dumplings had ripped skins as well. The most anticipated pumpkin fried rice wasn't served until an hour later. And sadly the pumpkin was undercooked (it was still hard...) and not sweet either! I liked the fried rice, especially the parts where the rice was crispy. We only had 1/5 of this dish because it was served so late. I will probably have to microwave it to cook the pumpkin more!
(2)Ray L.
Do you want hair and nasty garbage in your take-out? Because coming here is how you get it. I found hair and garbage in my $40 conch. Called to complain and didn't even get an apology. Crappy service and mediocre food. Go elsewhere in Chinatown for better food, service, and cleanliness.
(1)Brian L.
Been here numerous times and people who really need to read a review just to decide if they want to come here should really punch themselves in the face. Everyone knows Manhattan's Chinatown is suffering from gentrification. These stupid yuppies from out of state moving in and driving up costs and rent. Chinatown as we know is shrinking, taken over by hippies and sheik restaurants that probably close up every month. You still have a number of good Chinese restaurants in the Mott, Grand, Elizabeth and Bayard areas, but Congee Village is pretty consistent when it comes to traditional Chinese food. If you're writing a bad review of this place because you ordered General Tso, sesame chicken, chicken with cashew nuts or some form of beef and broccoli, once again... Go uppercut your own face. Get the Jelly fish, sliced conch, Cantonese style lobster over a bed of noodles, cow intestines with pepper and onions, scallops with black bean sauce, or something of the like and you'll be straight.
(4)Romeo M.
Good but has "no dim sum" enough to be called dim sum place.
(4)Samuel L.
Sometimes there are long waits sometimes there are not. But food, always worth it! I got the Peking pork chop for lunch!
(5)Melissa C.
I've been going to Congee Village for the past 20 years with my family. We've tasted pretty much 80% of the menu by now. We keep returning because the food just doesn't disappoint. These are my go-to dishes-- 1- White noodles with XO sauce-- my ABSOLUTE favorite noodle dish i've ever eaten. it has bean sprouts, eggs, onions, scallions, and XO sauce which is a tad spicy. EXTREMELY flavorful. I could eat this EVERY DAY. 2- House special chicken-- every Chinese restaurant has this dish, but Congee Village does it really well. It's always a crispy chicken skin with tons of braised garlic and extremely tender/juicy chicken. YUM 3- Snails with XO sauce-- i guess my family really loves XO sauce. the sauce goes great with the snails. As for the actual congee, we always get the one with squid and beef. Super tasty and super cheap!!! There are private rooms that you can reserve on the 2nd level floor as well, that can fit 12-15 people. There's also a basement which I believe you can reserve that has about 6-8 tables. Always make a reservation--otherwise you might have to wait a reallllllllllllly long time. there's a tiny bar where you can wait at but it's not a full service bar. the bathroom is extremelyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy tiny and dirty, so i'd recommend not using the bathroom if you don't have to!
(5)Ruoqi Z.
We came because our love for different kind of congee but we will keep coming back because they actually have a really comprehensive selection of Cantonese style food. The tofu, crab and fried ribs are so on point. The bak-Choy is so good and fresh that I wouldn't mind coming here at least once a week. The congee is really good and I can't think of a place having more kinds of congee than this place in manhattan. Love it!
(4)Anne L.
This place is absolutely packed but the food is pretty good! I was craving lobster so my boyfriend took me there! We requested the lobster over the jasmine rice and it was so good! We also got the sizzling steak with green peppers. Both dishes were filling and amazing! It's a Chinese restaurant so portions were big of course so it was super filling! I would definitely come back for the food! The staff however was alright! The waiter was just okay. His service wasn't absolutely amazing or anything but the thing I really didn't like was when we got the bill, I paid with my card and she brought it back to me to sign and she literally stood in front of me holding her hand out waiting for me to finish my tip calculations and signature to hand back to her. It was like she thought I'd leave without paying and I certainly don't like to feel like a criminal of any sort. She was tapping her feet as well very impatiently because it was busy. I just thought that was very rude and unprofessional. But I think I would still give it another shot because I enjoyed my meal very much!
(3)Lindsey S.
Pros: solid food! :) Cons: chinatown service Must-get: house special chicken and fried squid So, get these two for sure; house special chicken and fried fresh squid!!!! The chicken here is amazing here. It's fried and cut into bite size pieces and smothered in soy sauce based liquid. The batter must be really thin because it looks like they didnt use any batter, which leaves that thin crispy skin on the outside and super moist inside! :) And the fried squid... omg... the squid inside is super tender and plump and the batter outside is salty and spicy! Goes so well with the neutral flavor of squid!!! :) As for the congee, I always get the one with the duck. Avoid the seafood congee. The seafood inside didn't wow me... kinda flavorless.
(4)Carmen G.
Brrrrrr.... cold winter night like tonight, felt like having some congee to warm my body up. Congee village is a good spot to go to if you're interested in decent food. Being the boss that I am, I did all the ordering. I picked the boy choy, sizzling chicken casserole and the sliced fish with cabbage congee. My favorite was the bok choy, it really hit the spot. Choy was crunchy, garlicky and a slight splash of soy sauce. So fresh and good. Each one is packed with salty goodness that keeps you wanting more. The sizzling chicken stir fried wit onions and mushrooms was ok. Nothing really to rave or highlight. The congee was tasty, although maybe I should have picked another flavor.
(3)Alex H.
I really like this place as they have specialty dishes like Wooden boxed Rice Casserole, Herb Preserved Cold Crabs, Salted Fish Meatloaf and of course Fried Sweet Potatoes. Congee comes in many varieties here and you'll be happy to know that you can customize. For those with large parties (12-24), you can also reserve a room with Karaoke equipment in it. Also there is a full bar and you can BYOB but at $10 Fee per bottle. My only complaint is that the portion is fairly small compared to other Chinese restaurants and this is certainly one of the pricier restaurants to go with it but the food is almost always good. Service can be a hit or miss but overall I recommend this restaurant for it's good quality and excellent variety. *It can be packed on weeknights/weekends so be sure to plan ahead.
(4)Elizabeth F.
I came here with my family for my sister's birthday. The food was good. The service was good; I think it's because there's no language barrier since my mom ordered in cantonese. We ordered 7 dishes: Garlic Da Mue, sweet and sour pork (MUST GET!), salt and pepper fish, steak (MUST GET!), duck, jumbo shrimp and broccoli with mayo (MUST GET!), and peking pork. By the way, they serve brown rice for those who wanna opt for something else other than white rice. The bill came out to be about $120. It's not bad. It's quite affordable for only 7 dishes. I would definitely come back here in the future. HOWEVER! I was aware that the servers ignored non-chinese speakers. So please be advised that you will have to flag down your servers if you don't speak chinese. Other than that, I highly recommend this place.
(4)Jason S.
this place shit. this place mad shit. this place is complete shit. this place is major shit. you wanna die? eat here. you want your order wrong? eat here. you want disgusting food? eat here. you want extra salty food? this is the place for you! this place is utter shit. if you wanna die faster, eat here, believe me.
(1)Ryan P.
Tasty food but very poor service. Asked for water and sodas and it took 10 minutes to get water and 20 minutes to get soda. Waiter then proceeds to tell us that he forgot. Our table is right next to the water and soda fridge. The waiter never bothered to serve us or seem like he was attentive. He decided to talk to the other waiters through our meal also forgetting our pork chop Peking style. I will never come back here. Also check the water photo I uploaded where they filled the water pitchers from the rinse sink and I ended up with black visible specs in my water.
(1)Cassie C.
Would like to come again
(4)Peng Z.
Service: Shitty. Congee Flavor: Horrible. As an Asian, I can tell you what is called real congee, and this place is definitely NOT.
(2)Jason H.
3.5 stars - good food, meh service. To be fair, it's a pretty legit and authentic Chinese restaurant in NYC, so the meh service is really to be expected. The rating is based on just the food alone - Chinese places just really don't do service well, and that's something that should be expected. But yes, the food is quite good. The pork and preserved egg congee is really good - one order it's enough for three of their little cup-sized bowls. We also had the beef and seafood congee, which was all right. We had tofu with seafood too. - pretty good. The best, though, was the house special chicken. Really great crispy skin and really flavorful (the sauce is a bit too salty, so watch out). Do try the hot sauce, it's pretty spicy, but has a great flavor (hard to find that in hot sauces eh?) All in all, the place has good food for pretty cheap.
(3)Laurie M.
I had no idea this restaurant would be so large, especially because it's in the LES where most places feel shoebox-sized. Turned out to be the perfect spot for our group of 8 on a Saturday night with no reservation. We arrived just before 10pm and were seated within 20 minutes. The food was good and satisfied the carnivores and vegetarians alike. No dish in particular stood out to me, as all were pretty good but nothing you haven't had before. The real stand out was the check - only $75 total for 8 full people! Don't expect much in the way of service. We tried to flag down our waiter for napkins (which are not automatically provided), but were completely ignored. When one of us got up to grab a few napkins behind the counter, we were instantly yelled at for taking too many.. meaning 11 total napkins for 8 people. A customer scolding for 3 measly napkins!
(4)Chris R.
Decent congee, dumplings were average and service was mediocre but would still ear here
(3)Stephany T.
The congee is good but the service is horrendous. It took us 5 minutes to even get menus. We had ordered 5 dishes but the last dish didn't come out until after we had finished. When we asked about it, the waiter raised his voice AT US - it was completely uncalled for. I normally don't have high expectations for service in Chinatown restaurants but this was hands down the worst. 2 stars tho cause that congee really hit the spot.
(2)Katrina L.
I love this place! I'm very picky about my Chinese food, and this place is awesome. It's legit family sized Chinese food that is known for their congee. I never was a fan of congee, but this place made me like it. Everything else is amazing and affordable as well. A few of my favorites: - Congee (just don't get the fish one because it has a lot of bones) - House special chicken (garlic, salted, crispy skin) - Soy sauce tofu (really soft and flavorful) - Snow pea leaf - Mixed vegetable delight
(5)mengzi w.
New York's Chinese food has pretty bad impression from us, usually low quality and unimaginative, only cheap stuff. Cognee village really changed that. First time in America there are so many creative dishes that we've not tasted before, and they are all delicious! We had the cold crab Chaozhou style, garlic chicken, lobster stuffed with sticky rice, especially impressed was the fish that was filleted first then put on with normal green onion and soy sauce, fresh, tastier, and slight crunchy texture since it is poured with boiling oil and then sauce and all. Definitely THE go-to place in New York.
(4)Yuqing L.
Food is great. Don't like the ambiance though.... too crowded and weird decoration style....
(4)Matthew F.
Chuck p sucks. No idea what he is talking about. He goes on and on and on about how he doesn't. But he sucks. Trust me. I've known him for years. This food is great. H, not so much.
(5)Jenny L.
This place is so popular, and it's all because for the food. The food taste very authentic and they offer a wide selection of items... Like the geoduck salami which my friend dare my to try but I chickened out. Next time! Funny thing is I never tried the congee in this place before, despite their name. But I'm sure it must be phenomenal just like the rest of their dishes is. The prices here isn't too expensive, which is another star for it's popularity. Came here on New Years Eve and ordered family style with friends, their cold plate platter for jelly fish is mouth watering full of jelly fish and cold cut beef. (They ran out of ham.) Their shrimp walnut dish was a little small in proportion compared to what I'm used to, but their crispy chicken was on point lip smacking good!
(4)Annette T.
If you're craving Chinese food, this is THE PLACE to get your fix! I came here with a few others while visiting New York and was recommended this place from a local police officer. We ordered many dishes (chow fun, Chinese broccoli, peking style pork, walnut shrimp with broccoli, lobster, and a few others). I didn't get a chance to try their infamous congee but if their other food was superb tasting, I can only imagine what the congee tastes like. Overall, the food and service was excellent. I'd highly recommend!
(5)Eric J.
2.5 stars, but I'll round up solely because of the food. I usually come to Congee Village for some good rice porridge. It might seem pretty simple to most people, but they actually execute it very well, and despite the plethora of restaurants and stands that serve it, it's legitimately better at Congee Village. The pork and preserved duck egg congee is just very rich and delicious, and perfect for a cold day. Not only that, but they also have a very extensive menu of other delicacies and menu items that remind me of my grandmother and mother's cooking. I very much enjoy their house special chicken, salt-baked fish fried rice, sauteed pea shoots, and the deep fried tofu stuffed with shrimp. These aren't your run-of-the-mill dishes, and they're actually kinda hard to find in Chinatown, especially GOOD versions of these dishes. That being said, avoid the soup dumplings here. There's barely any soup inside, and the soup dumpling skins are way too thick and doughy. With all that said about the good food, the service here is just the worst. So yeah, you've heard of those Chinese restaurants where they treat you better if you speak the language? Yeah, that definitely doesn't happen here. The waitstaff just kinda mills around and if you ask for anything that might require the slightest extra effort on their part, they seem to mutter to themselves and give a look of disgust. You might think that it might just depend on the actual waiter, but it's literally all of them, including the hostess. The waitstaff can disappear for what it seems like hours at a time. It just boggles my mind how they get away with this and how this can continue for so long. As you can see from other reviews, I'm definitely not the first person to complain about the service. I had fairly low expectations to begin with, and to fall far below those expectations is quite an accomplishment. I'm not even mad, just impressed. Actually, no, I'm pretty mad. Anyways, I do have to admit that the fact that they can get by with just the quality of their food is impressive. But still, c'mon son. I would come here for a casual lunch, or a meal where you're not at all pressed for time.
(3)Tony J.
We came with a party of nine and ordered the $400 meal for ten people. First of all, let me talk about the portions: the food is way too much for ten. The amount left over at the end of our meal couldn't have merely been due to the lack of one individual; it was probably enough to feed at least five people. So whenever they list a combo for a certain number of people, increase that number by 50% to have an idea of how many it actually feeds. Now, we're a bunch of 20-somethings; if there are children or seniors in the crowd, it may even feed twice the number of people than what's listed. The dining area has three levels; the ground floor, a basement, and then a sub-basement, where they have tables for large groups. We were in the sub-basement. I don't remember everything we ate since there were so many dishes, but I do recall all of it being delicious. We began with soy sauce tofu (which had a nice golden brown crust) and soup. Our mains were chow mein and fried rice. There was also crab, which was good but not the best I've had. The steamed fish was particularly good; by that time a lot of people were full, so I estimate I had about a third or half the fish myself. When the roast duck came around everyone was full, but I had a bite and it was quite tasty as well.
(4)Felix W.
Service was horrible. Was told there will be a $10 fee to hold ice cream cake. When i asked her why she said its cleaning fee... Waited a hour and half to be seated even though we had a reservation. After being seated we were rushed to order immediately. Also messed up our order
(1)Yanoh J.
Came here on New years for a delicious and surprisingly very affordable meal. We got so much food and drinks for under $100. I assume this is real authentic food.. The place is also huge. They were very accommodating as well, the place was packed and when we were initially seated we asked to be moved to another table and they moved us within five minutes. Definitely will be coming back,
(4)Nahian L.
Horrible service! The dam waiter took my chilli sauce and gave it to my neighboring guest! I want my dam sauce back! Decent congee.
(2)Reny Y.
Been there twice lately, used to come years more often ago, I can say this place has gone down the drain, I been there lunch and dinner recently both occasions I was disappointed, they used to be good, now food is mediocre, overpriced, seafood not fresh, service terrible, had to call them over just for place an order, no one change our plates, had to flag them down again for check, and the beef rib tips I order was still red! Fried octopus was disgusting, ate 2 piece I was done, I went to the restroom to take a leak, I was disgusted how unsanitary It was, didn't expect it at all, don't believe me check it out for yourself! would I come back? Don't know, but not anytime soon
(3)Annie P.
Poor customer service from management and staff here tonight. Our party of 5 came in around 730 pm and was informed the wait is about 30 mins. We were sat at 850 pm. Still hoping for good service knowing it's the typical weekend restaurant environment. We order a total of 6 dishes including soup. Soup came after 20 mins of ordering. Then came the sauteed garlic snow pea leaves and the stir fried vermicelli. The grilled sea bass arrived 15 mins after the previous 2 dishes. To realize as if we were served plate by plate. Awful. So darn awful. Our house special chicken dish usually comes first and yet after an hour and half it was no where to be seen except at a table next to us that was sat a whole hour after us. Yet when we asked the manager or any staff, they hurried to respond, but walking away. That there is extremely rude since our friends mother, an elderly, had asked. The manager that took our order was "AN". He as management, I assumed, since he was in a suit, kept on giving us the run arounds on our food. We even spoke to a lady manager on staff. She didn't show no concern or sincerity about the delay or how we were being treated. We left like about 955pm and just paid for what was served and leave because there was still no righteous explanation to how the food hadn't come. He did apologize but only after we asked for like the 10th time. I really had to write this review because it bothers me to know we are paying customers who waited patiently and were poorly treated. I hope that your establishment will realize sooner before your customers take the business elsewhere. It's sad that our friend's mom was hungry waiting for her favorite dish and didn't even get to have any. Extremely dissapointed with Congee Village's customer service. We hope no one else's family has to experience this. All we tried to do was have family dinner and support the business. .
(1)Sophie Y.
Really good congee (I have make the one with fish as my headshot)! Some other dishes and fast-food meals are also good. The environment is ok and service is good. This is the first restaurant I visited in NY, when I just arrived here no more than 4 days, living at the Bowery House just across the street... full of memory...
(4)Sorena W.
I don't normally write reviews, but this place is terrible. If I could give it no stars, I would. They got two of our orders wrong. The food is not that great, it's very salty. The service is the worst. It took them an extremely long time to bring out the wrong orders, only to make us wait even longer to get what we asked for. In fact, they did not even accommodate nor apologize to the other customers next to us when they complained about their food. They gave customers attitudes. The people who work here are so rude. Never coming back here and I do not recommend this place to anyone. You can find tons of places in Chinatown, but don't put this one on your list.
(1)Kenny C.
I have fond memories of this place because my parents used to take me out here when I came home from college via the Fung Wah bus (this probably dates me). Since then, Congee Village has gotten more and more popular, especially amongst out-of-towners and the foodie crowd. So expect a wait. Go early, grab a number from the hostess, and then plop down at the tiny bar inside. They have some beachy cocktails (most made with premade mixers) at reasonable prices and TVs with which to occupy yourself. Food can be cheap or expensive (depending on how/what you order). Not a fan of their Americanized dishes (like the sweet and sour chicken), but you should get the other family style dishes that reviewers mention over and over here (like the house special crispy chicken). The Thai-style clams (called Manilla style on the menu for some reason) were delicious. A bit on the spicy side, and full of veggies and hot broth for $12. Probably my favorite thing I had. The salt fried shrimp dish was okay, but not worth the price for how many individual shrimps we got. Veggies were pretty standard - nothing wrong with them. Taking off a star because we were a party of 5 and they gave us a table clearly meant for 4. My chair was lodged in between our table and a back railing, where if I breathed the wrong way, it'd be uncomfortable. But other than that, service was fast. Food was as good as I remember, and the bill was reasonable. Also, it's open late, which is also why it's a popular choice for drunk people and Chinese people coming back from casino trips.
(4)Canny F.
I assumed, based on the name, I was going to have the best congee ever. In hopes for a thick, creamy congee with rich flavor but instead it was a regular Chinese restaurant. Veggie congee - very watery with a few pieces of peas, corn and diced carrots which reminded of the mixed frozen vegetable bag. Tofu in brown sauce and various sautéed veggies - very, very oily. I titled the plate to drain the oil and washed it with tea. My stomach wasn't happy within an hour. Besides the food, the service was great.
(1)Jenny C.
A few years back, I would have said this is my favorite Chinese restaurant. I remember coming here when I was younger and just absolutely loving it. I haven't been here in close to 10 years and was super excited when it was chosen as the restaurant for our group get-together. Unfortunately, I left fairly disappointed. I came here with a group of friends (party of 12) and we rented out a private room downstairs. In order to get that room, we would have to spend over $400 in foods. We easily reached that amount even though we did not even order that much food nor anything that should be too expensive with the exception of probably the two lobsters. Everything we ordered was pretty much things I normally love to eat, so I should be over the moon right? I found everything to be pretty good, but not the best I've had and the taste definitely does not justify the cost. Even so, if a party is spending so much money in a private room you would think our waiter would visit every once in a while right? Nope. Service was non-existent. We had to hunt around for extra utensils ourselves and walk up the stairs to find someone constantly. At one point, the smell of reeking old garbage seeped into the room from a mysterious door in the back of the room. Gross! In my opinion, there are better Chinese restaurants out there. Congee Village is nothing but another restaurant that lives in the shadow of its former glory. P.S. I have never tried the congee here.
(2)Colleen W.
The food was okay (nothing EXTRAordinary), but the service was downright TERRIBLE (even coming from a softie)! First of all, they seated us in the worst possible place. We felt so claustrophobic tucked away in the corner of a little closet. We asked if we could move to the free table next to us and the waitress didn't even make eye contact with us to say no. Next, we waited about 10 minutes for them to come and take our orders.... then before we were done eating, the waiter attempted to take away our unfinished dishes not once but TWICE while we were still spooning food off the plates... we felt so rushed. After they RUSHED us, we waited another 10 minutes for our check to come. WTF. You don't take someone's food away before they finish eating and then make them wait for the check to come. We were seriously contemplating chewing and screwing. We were that pissed. On our way out, the waiters didn't even make eye contact with us... they just frowned and looked down with disgusted faces. I know NYC can make people cold-hearted and rough and that service is tough work, but GEEZ, I've never encountered such rude service in my life.
(2)Hallie C.
I was feeling under the weather so my hubs took me to this Congee Village. We ordered chicken & black mushroom congee, pork & aged egg congee& squid w salt & pepper. After ordering, we were served w a pot of tea to drink. When I flipped the cup to serve a cup to my hubs, I found two dark spots. So I just tried wiping them off. One came off but the other seemed as if it were dried there for good! We both tried taking the stain off ourselves but there was no point.... So I finally asked for a replacement to the waitress & a clean one came..... Both congees were superb. Perfectly seasoned n not greasy (I've had some very greasy n stinky congees before elsewhere)& I fell in love w their congees. It made me feel better. I loved it so much that my hubs ordered one more to go so I can have some more at home. The service was good, unlike the typical service u get at Chinese restaurants. They actually smile and were attentive. The reason why we've decided to give a four star was one, bc of the dirty cup & although the squid was yummy, they were very very very greasy...... It was so greasy u had to w them w hot peppers that came w it and or hot sauce to neutralise its greasiness in your mouth. I'd def go back when I want some congee!
(4)Lisa M.
Came here on a Sunday with two of my friends, one who is from Taiwan and one who is like me, non-Asian. I can see how the menu is quite a culture shock for some; bird's nest, sharkfin soup, congee etc. I feel like when my friend and I are the only non-Asian people in the restaurant, it must be closer to the real thing. When I'm at the more authentic restaurants, I always get the peaking style pork chops and they usually are pretty delicious. The reason why I gave it two stars is because I feel that we totally were given worse service because we were not all Asian. The waiters rarely came to our table and they forgot to put in all of our dishes. Meanwhile, full tables of 5+ people were coming in after us, getting their food before us and leaving while we were still waiting.
(2)Moon R.
Food is ok but service is garbage. I arrived alone at 11 pm on a Saturday night. The restaurant is half empty and they don't close until 2 am. The hostess asks the waiters if there were any seats available for one person. They said no, so they put me near the bar. I sit there waiting for 20 minutes but no sign of a waiter. I go find one and they said the bar area is closed, you need to sit upstairs. Really, then why did you seat me there in the first place? No answer. Perfect. To add insult to injury there were two waiters that actually walked down to the bar area to watch TV and not any one of them cared to tell me that that area is closed and there is no service. They in fact stared at me briefly and kept watching TV. I didn't realize they were waiters until later. Next, they clear a table, bring some tea, and I sit down. Another 10 minutes go by with no service and I try to make eye contact with a waiter. It is clear that no one wants to take my order. I look at the hapless couple near me listlessly gazing towards the kitchen area. Now, I am ravenous and very, very HANGRY (hungry-angry). I get up and walk out without a word. Advice to anyone thinking of coming here--the staff here only cares about the size of your party. If you're not in a group good luck trying to flag down service. While I like the food here and have been coming for years I've never been treated so dismissively; quality has definitely declined. If these people are too good for my money (and I eat enough for two), I'll be spending it somewhere else.
(1)Alice T.
Dined-in for Chinese new year with fiance, my sister and her husband. Subpar service probably would discourage me from dining in again. They were far more accommodating of groups that were all Chinese.
(3)Yayo V.
Was looking forward to eating here but due to its very incompetent and bad service I never got my food. I am more than familiar with how shotty service can be at resturaunts like these but usually that doesn't bother me. But when you make me wait 30+ minutes for my food then come tell me that due to a "computer error" the order was never put through to the kitchen!? Well that's just BULL. At least pretend you are sorry for being incompetent. Not snarky that I requested you to check how much longer my food was going to take.
(1)Tiffany L.
Standard Chinese restaurant with decent food for a decent price. It appears a lot of their business is takeout but on a late afternoon they had a few opens occupied. The service wasn't very good but I'm quite used to that when it comes to Chinese restaurants. Ordered the: Beef chow fun 3/5 Pork chop with tomato sauce over rice 4/5 Soup dumplings 3/5
(3)Alex W.
Solid place for some Chinese food. I had the rice stew which was very flavorful. The place was crowded and it smelled slightly foul. Portions healthy and prices affordable.
(3)Gabby G.
I've visited this restaurant several times and I must say I am disgusted with my service here. Upon arriving I was told there would be a 30 minute wait which is understandable for a table in the city. After about an hour of sitting and waiting I see a group of 4 come in (the same number of people in my party) and after waiting 10 minutes are seated at a table by the manager. After confronting the manager and staff they simply laughed and said sorry and that a table would be ready for us shortly. After another 10 minutes we are seated at a table with another family. Absolutely ridiculous! The service here is terrible and I will not be returning here again. This isn't the first time that something like this has happened either. Another time my family and I were here with a baby and asked for a high chair, to which they told us that none were available. Yet an Asian couple beside us asked for one and got one immediately. I'm not one to blame it on race and call the establishment racist but the staff here are definitely prejudice.
(2)Sarah E.
Honestly, I was excited about this place, really excited. I had seen some of the strange things on the menu, and immediately placed it on my list of restaurants to try. When I finally found a friend to try the weird fare, we headed there with high hopes. We placed a large 6 dish order, as the food was cheap enough and we wanted to allow room for a couple dishes we weren't sure about. Here's how it down: fired rice- this is just a staple for me, but it was SO dry. So dry I was forced to use a spoon to even pick it up. crab porridge- ugh. I love crab, but this had so much fish sauce I couldn't down more than two bites. Pork ribs- the only good thing we tried, although I must admit there hasn't been an asian pork rib I haven't liked. fried dumplings- the dough was really rubbery, even though it was cooked through. duck foot- also very dry, I have had good ducks foot, but this made me think of exaclty what it was I was eating. cow's heart- this wasn't cooked properly. I had done some research online, and from what I had read, this dish was inetable. I told the waiter who agreed with me and took it away. Tea- this was sitting on a table, one of my favorite things about visiting an older asian restaurant. It was good but certainly not a reason to go back. The servic was incredibly rude, and even sat down in the restaurant while we were eating at the tables surrounding us to have their own dinner, completely ignore us asking for the check before they had finished their own meal.
(1)Amelie N.
Very good food! We ordered many different dishes and they were all delicious. I recommend the chicken Tso!
(4)Dan B.
I love this place. Sure, the service is not great, but this just adds to the authenticity of the Chinese restaurant experience. The food is always delicious, especially the chicken porridge and the large steak platter.
(4)Leonard L.
Why does this place remind me of a cheesy tiki bar? Hahah who knows but they must be doing something right after being open for so many years. If you're coming here as a two seater then avoid the left side of the place. Seems they only had 1 table for two on that side and it's near the bathroom where there's a lot of foot traffic. BAC (ball and chain, lulzz) did the ordering on a menu which had a bazillion choices to choose from. We went for - Slice fish congee - bok choy - Chicken and mushroom cassarole Congee was on the lighter side when compared to other places (big wong) which gave diners the option of seasoning more with salt if they wanted. Decent sized fish slices as well. It filled about 4 rice bowls per order. Bok choy was your standard veggie and they made it with minced garlic. Chicken and mushroom came in a clay pot coated with what seemed to be oyster sauce. Edible but nothing memorable. Waiters and service were your standard chinatown-esque " i don't really give a shit about your or my job". It's what i expect when coming to these type of joints, no change in rating there. What bumped this from 3 to 2 stars was the fact they still serve shark fin on the menu. If you don't know about shark fin and how it's harvested, you betta ask somebody.
(2)Jeff L.
Great food, but racism is alive and well. Sat down and it took over 20 minutes and still no one even acknowledged us. I asked the waiter if he could take are order or should we just leave? The table of Chinese people behind us sat down 10 minutes after us and had menus and drinks and food within 5 minutes. They had 3 waiters attending to them. The owners of this place used to be my landlord and I busted them wide open in an overcharge case on my apartment. These are unscrupulous people. But damn the food is good. To recap, if you want to celebrate racism in America with some good seafood this s the place!
(1)Jenny S.
I STILL cannot believe how CHEAP our meal was here!!! ---pork w/ preserved egg congee: it's one of the most popular congees & at $3.50?! i'll take some of that plus it was pretty good! great for sharing w/ others if you want to try other things! --seafood noodle soup: wasn't the best soup i've had but ALL the seafood in it was really good, squid wasn't rubbery at all (as expected from most cheap chinese joints) & the shrimp was yummy too --free grapes after our meal PLUS the staff was really friendly & always smiling.. i find that rare at a chinese restaurant these days CASH ONLY
(4)Miao X.
4 star for food Congee is perfect for a winter lunch. Congee with minced pork and preserved egg is a must-try. It is served in a hot pot. Congee just melts in the mouth. It has a little bit salt which blend perfectly with the preserved egg and the pork. Steamed pork bun is good as well, but doesn't stand out as the congee. They serve pu er tea, which is not common in normal Chinese restaurant. 3 star for service Very very disappointed with the service. We sat for almost 10 min before served. Not until we finished the other dish that congee was served. I shouldn't call it served. The waiter simply put the burning pot at the edge of the table and left. We were staring at the pot, no plates and spoons, having no idea how to start. No one checked on us to see how everything goes the entire lunch. We had to wave for the bill. If you want people come back, please improve the service!
(3)Jennifer T.
We've gone here numerous times with family, it seems the quality of the food can really range depending on what dishes you order. First of all, be prepared for it to be crowded. The wait time isn't too bad, but the area is very drafty where you wait, so be prepared to bundle up on a chilly winter night. Actually the entire place was drafty as we got a table in the farthest back of the room, and it felt like a window was open it was so cold! Also note, you need your ENTIRE party there in order to be seated. I know this is often the case at many restaurants these days, but the first time I noticed a Chinese establishment that had the same requirement. We've tried so many dishes here, its hard to keep track. I think their fried tofu is a tried and true favorite of ours, as well the salt and pepper calamari; both are well-fried and seasoned without too much breading. We've also ordered various seafood dishes like scallops, clams, all were good, and the sea cucumber for those looking for more of an adventure. Their frog is also very tender and flavorful. Another popular dish among some is their intestines in the claypot, but not for the faint at heart. The food overall is good, but can be quite savory, and often times the tea they give you is really bad quality, making it hard to really keep enjoying the meal.
(3)Leslie C.
I love a good congee-- we shared the classic sliced pork and preserved egg congee which was a bit more gingery than I'm used to but still terrific; a very large portion for $4. Also shared the signature fried chicken (1/2 chicken, $11) which was fantastic, extra crispy skin and moist. a bit salty w the soy sauce seasoning, plus sauteed chinese greens w. garlic (we asked for garlic) $9 (which seemed a bit high) Came in around 2:15 pm on a thursday, seated immediately in the mezzanine area (only about 3 other tables were occupied but it filled in to about 1/2 full by the next 45 min, Chinese and caucasians. Tea and table setup was also immediate and food came within 5 minutes.... based on the other reviews I was expecting poor service but it was great actually, not trouble getting water, napkins, tea refill, check etc.; relatively friendly (on the chinese restaurant scale), clean dining area, and very good value...we had leftovers to take home. Chefs all came up to the dining area to eat at 3pm so that may also have sped up our service.
(5)Chun M.
I love coming to Congee for our reunion of old co-workers. Make a reservation to cut down on your wait time, the same day if you have to. There's always a crowd waiting outside, in the reception area and the bar. We were seated right away when I told them I had a reservation. We were led down into the bowels of the restaurant to a room 2 levels down that I'd never seen before. To say that the decor is eclectic is an understatement. Traditional lacquered wood with aluminum radial armed multi-colored rainbow light fixtures?!? Who picked these out? This must be the karaoke party room. The food was spot on as with previous visits. Our menu this time was simple with our usual favorites. Nothing exotic this time and reasonably priced family style dinner. Seafood & yellow chives soup (needs a flavor boost) Peking pork chops Walnut prawns House special garlic chicken (solid) Whole T-bone steak Flounder cooked 2 ways (so-so, should have gotten the pan fried) Stir fried pea pod leaves Yellow egg fried rice If you want to try more unusual fare, ask your waiter for suggestions of different types of seafood, shellfish, live fish and you'll really run up that bill!
(3)Laverne W.
I couldn't do the main dish Congee is known for... so I can't give any feedback on that. However, I can speak to everything else. I was part of a dinner party of 14; although reservation were made, we still waited 10-15 minutes for our table. We were escorted to large round family style table - good thing we like each other- sitting was elbow to elbow. Center of the table was a lazy-susan, with 2 teapots and menus. I ordered the rice, chicken and mushroom baked served in a bamboo case - pretty cool. Sorry no pics. It was just right in taste and serving portion. Someone order Congee's chicken - it was better than any other Chinese take-out joint I ever had. Service was fair for a close to closing reservation for a relatively large group. Congee is good for local dinning. It's not a destination.
(3)Cat Y.
Don't get me wrong I enjoy eating here from time to time, but having to wait 1hr when we had already made reservations is unprofessional, a lack of good management and shit organization at this restaurant. Do they not understand the concept of reservations? We were told there are two parties ahead of us and cannot guarantee how long it would take to seat our party of 7. Aren't we suppose to be seated immediately at our reserved time or at most a 10min wait for our table to be cleaned? ABSURD! HELLO WE MADE A RESERVATION! Why have the option of reservation if we still had to wait an hour or more?
(2)Priscilla T.
Clearly stating the obvious here but don't come here looking for friendly service. Do come here looking for a cheap-ass food bill that covers enough food for a small village. Ok, I'll temper that statement a bit: don't come here looking for friendly managers and front of house but the actual wait staff are efficient and helpful. Anyway, I brought a crew of 16 here and staked out one of the private rooms downstairs and brought our own music and portable speaker. Tasty food, dancing music, and good times. Other pluses: full bar available. And did I say cheap?
(3)Kimberly W.
FYI -- Their hours have changed on Saturday night to 1:00 am. Don't be fooled by the neon lights and oddly tiki-style decor. This is the best Chinese food in the city, IMO. Every trip to Congee Village is a belly-bursting treat. Don't miss the house special garlic chicken, the Peking pork chops, and the delicious silken tofu with steamed onions, celery, and sauce. YUM. I've been here, uh, can't even count how many times, and have yet to try the congee, but I've heard it's amazing. Bucket list.
(5)Cherie L.
Great atmosphere for large groups! Had eight to nine dishes and they were all really good. Will come again!! -Atmosphere: 6/10 (loud but nice seats) -Food: 7/10 -Customer service: 9/10 as long as you know Chinese -Prices: 10/10 how can you beat ~$13 for a group meetup?? Hope you enjoyed a charismatic review!
(4)Lisa Y.
So I came here on a whim and I thought it was just okay. I ordered short ribs, a veggie dish, and I think mee fun. (It was quite unmemorable). The bill came out to be about $45, and it was really just meh. The mee fun lacked flavor, the veggie was just okay, and the shortribs were the only thing that made it good. My codiner loved the short ribs, I thought they were a bit lacking in flavor. But maybe that's why she liked it. I came back last weekend with another set of friends. My friend had a case of the stomach bug, so she was jonseing for some Congee. Now here is why I gave them 4 stars. I never liked Congee as a kid. Like absolutely not, unless I was sick. I would opt to eat anything but congee. So I came here with my buddies, and they ordered 3 things of congee. 3 Flavor, 1000 year old egg, and also the white scallop. They were really nicely sized. $5 bowl would probably feed 2 people easily. There were 6 of us. I didn't get to try the white scallop, but I had a 1000 year old egg and the 3 flavor congee (ham, chicken, and duck). They were both really really really good. My friend who's never had 1000 year old egg actually really liked it. I thought of it more as an acquired taste. The service is meh. You have to hail down the servers to order or anything else. Make sure you check the plates and cups first because sometimes they come out dirty. But at least it's fast and no bull-poop. They are direct and they are swifty. I'd totally come back here again for some delicious congee! Everything else is a little over priced. But then again, I'm not very good at ordering Chinese food. Maybe I'll come back with my dad.
(4)Ingrid S.
I'm not sure how I feel about this place still. The last time I was here was about a year ago when 'someone' tried to convince me to go on a blind Grouper date. The three of us had cocktails and our groupers showed up late so we drank their complimentary drinks and I left without a care in the world. The drinks here are delicious and strong. This was my first time noshing here though and I had no idea what to order so I left that to Steph and my new found Yelp friends. We started with something that looked like Porridge. Actually, reading their menu now online, it was porridge. . . . It was salty and definitely not for me because my stomach is not agreeing with this today one bit. We also split an order of dumplings, fried squid, and some kind of meat dish. This is not too helpful. I'm pretty sure it was Beef Chow Fun. Much more helpful. But I took pictures and the fried squid was quite delicious. I also got lost in here. Which was kind of fun. For about ten to what felt like fifteen minutes after using the restroom I popped into various rooms, hallways, bombed in on someone's private karaoke party and unveiled secret hidden passageways. This place is huge and kind of fun. Not as exciting I imagine on a Monday night. But I was impressed with how long it took for me to make my way back to my table.
(4)Asi H.
this place is one of the only chines places that have frogs and "real chines food" away from Flashing. don't get the fried stuff, get the cooked stuff and it is wonderful i will go back there again
(5)Carlacjake N.
Love hate relationship. Love it on weekends. Don't bother on Monday - Wednesday. My mistake, took my family there on a Tuesday and food was not fresh. Go on the weekend and the food will be amazing. My "To Order" List Salt & Pepper Squid Salt & Pepper Pork Chop (peking sauce on the side) House Special Garlic chicken Snow pea leaves (veggie dish) Bean Curd with soy sauce Beef Panfried Noodle Beef Chow Fun Spicy Ma Po Tofu Ying Yang Fried Rice Singapore Chow Mei fun Clam with Black Bean Sauce Chinese Broccoli on Sizzling Platter Cons I'm a big seafood person, but I wouldn't recommend getting seafood here. Never get the Xiao Long Bao (Shang Hai soup buns) here, there's no soup in them...
(4)Yang C.
Had roast duck and meatball porridge, chicken&black mushroom porridge, lamb and dried bean curd in casserole, house special shrimp paste park rib. All delicious and exactly what I expect to have. Definitely one of my favorite restaurant in NY.
(5)Tre S.
Entrees were solid, but the service was sub-par and discovering after the meal that there would be no fortune cookie made this a spot I won't choose again. Besides, it's New York - why would anyone eat at the same place twice anyway??
(2)Glen P.
Great food but really bad service..the main course per person was served at different individual times not at all at once..staff wasnt pleasant and non catering to us..wanted to get more but was slapped with a bill before u can say anything ..not polite..rude...just to get rid of u.. kinda felt bias. when u want to enjoy a night out with family...still left a descent tip even though they didn't deserve wouldn't belittle my self and stoop to there level...
(2)William H.
CV has been around for ages. They also have a shop on Bowery, but the Allen St tastes better in my opinion. Most Yelpers can agree that this place is crowded, loud and a bit unkempt most of the time, but definitely has stood strong in the test of time. Pretty consistent experiences throughout the years and my only choice when craving congee and sides. Several dishes I usually always order (might not everyone's thing): Pork and preserved egg congee Thai-style chicken feet (boneless) Congee Village stir-fry (chives with fried squid, lotus strips, and some other small ingredients)
(3)Jenn S.
AWESOME AND CHEAP CONGEE!! and good xiao long bao tooo! would definitely come back. also great for groups!
(4)Diana S.
Despite the name of restaurant this place serves a lot more than just congee. The portion of the food were quite big. Food and service was nice. However some of the food was really salty but the flavor was fine. I didn't like how they would not seat me at a table since not all guest of the had arrived. If you come in a big group it's gonna be crowded. I had 14 people sitting at one table. Wasn't the most pleasant seating arrangement.
(4)Wilson C.
Great, authentic Cantonese food. Always my recommendation for anyone looking for a "nicer" Chinese place in the city. Plenty of big tables and family style serving makes it great for groups. The menu is huge and if you're not very adventurous I'm pretty sure you can still order sesame chicken or something lame like that.
(4)Chris L.
I came here with a couple of friends and my Boo Boo. There was a long wait for dinner. We waited near the bar and had a couple of fruity yet strong drinks and Heineken chasers. We waited almost an hour to be seated. I was interesting that there were many types of people dining here. From tourists, locals and haters like me, this place was packed. We ordered the salty fish chicken eggplant casserole, house special chicken, General tso pork chops, sauteed snow pea leaves, and walnut shrimp. It tasted alright just like any other decent Cantonese spot. Service was terrible. It took them over 10 minutes to come take our order after we were seated and tea came. We didn't get rice until 3/4 of our meal was over. But whenever we needed beers they arrived at the table just in time to pad the bill. Someone threw up by the stairs near the karaoke rooms and it was was not taken cared quickly enough. There are many other restaurant that serve the same quality food around the area. I would not make an extra effort to dine here anytime soon.
(3)Alex T.
I loved this place. The congee was delicious (as expected) and the atmosphere. I let the Asians that I was with order a bunch of stuff to share and they did me right as always. The whole fried chicken was my favorite. Really, really delicious stuff here.
(5)Adiba A.
Delicious Cantonese food! I'll go straight to the food: House special chicken: perfectly done. The skin was crispy but not burnt and the chicken meat was tender and juicy. Perfect with some hot rice and the snow peas with garlic (see below). Sesame chicken: so apparently you have to try the House Special Chicken at Congee Village but my personal favorite was the sesame chicken. It looks fiery red and tastes amazing! Some sweet and sour dishes can be a bit too overwhelming however the sweetness in this chicken was perfect - not too obvious and not too subtle either. And the broccoli it came with was really nicely done too - crunchy but not raw at the same time. Singaporean style noodles: My usual problem with Singaporean noodles is that the curry powder is a bit too strong for me - like you can almost taste the spice which I don't think is the purpose. But I thought they did a good job with this dish. Lot sof shrimp and veggies and you knew the curry spice was there somewhere but it remained elusive like it should. Snow pea leaves: This was a really nice surprise! I wasn't sure what to expect but I wanted some dish that ws straight up vegetables in the midst of all the meat and carb were indulging in. And this was perfect! Freshly cooked in garlic and salt (and maybe vinegar?) it was really nice mixing it with the sesame chicken, broccoli and the rice. Dumplings: Briefly, it they were very underwhelming. We ordered the vegetable steamed and panfried dumplings (shame that we don't eat pork). And the dumplings were minuscule! And did not taste that great either. Service was okay, a bit sluggish but the waiter was helpful while we were ordering. The seating was great and it's a good spacious space for family meals, especially if you have kids that need high-chairs. 4 stars because of the excellent entrees and the very reasonable price for great Cantonese food!
(4)John S.
One thing is for sure: this place is good for groups. My friend Alex has had his birthday here every single year for at least ten years now, and part of the reason is because they happily accommodates the loyal 20 or so of us who show up year after year after year. They find us a couple huge round tables next to each other, and soon the party is started and the lazy Susans are spinning. Another reason I'm sure Alex likes the place is its somewhat kitschy decor, particularly in the bar in front. There are fake trees, fake rivers, fake bridges--it is kind of cute. Fashion photographers should do shoots here. The bar menu matches the look at the place; order something with a name that ends in -tini and have a good time. The food's fine, like a better-than-average Chinatown place. The namesake congee is not really the kind of dish anyone wants to make a night out of in any venue, but the seafood variation is a little different and exciting. Another thing that makes this place good for groups is that they can met the needs of vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Even though I'm happy enough to find myself here once a year, I don't come more often, mostly because I'm not often in the neighborhood and it doesn't call for a special trip. But if you're nearby, Congee Village has its charms.
(3)Annie Y.
I had wanted to try this place for a while (who wouldn't with a name like Congee Village). Sadly I was very disappointed with both the food and the service. We ordered a xiao long bao, seafood congee, and regular congee WITHOUT cilantro for both because I have that genetic negative reaction to the herb. We asked our waiter after he took our order to double check that there would be no cilantro in our food and he haughtily told us that he's got it down. When the congee came...only one didn't have cilantro. They told us the kitchen messed up but we didn't send it back since one of us could eat it. So I basically picked the cilantro out. This place would make me nervous if I had an allergy and asked for things to be excluded from the dish... The flavor of the congee was pretty good especially for a cold afternoon. The xiao long bao on the other hand was disappointing because it didn't have enough juice AND the dough didn't taste like it had been steamed all the way through. Well, at least I've crossed off one place to try xiao long bao at. P.S. For those of you who don't know, xiao long bao = soup dumplings. :)
(1)Jason K.
Great Food, great price, great location. My friends and I went to this place after a night out in LES on a Friday night. We had a feast, and probably paid less than $15 each. The house special chicken was absolutely amazing. I definitely recommend this place to others.
(5)Amy C.
Finally had the chance to try this place. Hard to find a place that is mainly known for their Congee. The place was larger than I expected and the wait was about 20 minutes on a Saturday afternoon. (This was just for two people) We ordered the three meats- duck, pork, chicken congee, the house special chicken (half order- good size for 2-3), bok choy, and the clay baked rice with chicken and mushroom. The star of the entire meal would have to be the house special chicken- with the perfect amount of garlic and salt- one piece keeps you asking for more. The congee was pretty standard and the bok choy was probably overpriced. If I had to come back, I'd probably just get a to-go order of the house special chicken and a congee.
(3)Paul H.
Decor: 4/5 Service: 3.5/5 -I've been here twice though I barely recall my first visit. My second visit was with a party of 16. We were guided down the stairs into a private room with two round tables and a 32" TV that's setup to a karaoke machine. The interior decor was definitely not sparse. -The place almost appears to be a maze with different levels and stairs. -Fairly attentive though we were stranded without tea a few times -They did offer to cut our surprise birthday cake which was kind of the server Food: 3/5 -Our fellow HK friend ordered for the whole party therefore I'm unable to name all the dishes. -Fried Fresh Squid ($9.50) was a hot item and disappeared fast. Lightly battered shell with chewy squid on the inside. The amount of salted pepper was just right. -Sliced pork and preserved egg ($3.50) was, to my surprise, quite delicious and I'm quite critical when it comes to congee. -Pan Fried Minced Pork w. Salted Fish ($9.95) came as small patties. While this was good, it was also fairly oily. -Hot Sizzling w. Chinese Broccoli ($9.95) was also slightly on the oily site though the broccoli was great. -House Special Chicken($18) was delicious. I was expecting this to be oily but the breast meat was just right in terms of moisture and tenderness. I'll tell you that I was not disappointed with eat bite. I did however avoid the typical dishes like fried rice so I can not comment on that. Overall a positive experience and I'll definitely come back to try their other dishes. EDIT: -I came here a third time and the food was just overly greasy and salty. Also the service was slow. Minus one star.
(3)Madeline Z.
This was my first time having congee and I am officially a fan. A friend and I stumbled in here on a cold wet morning, and the chicken and black mushroom congee really hit the spot. We also shared the scallion pancakes and small steamed buns which were delicious. Most impressive was the service and the price. We were promptly seated and served, and for the quality, our meal was reasonably priced. Worth a return visit.
(4)Olga B.
Terrible food, horrific service. How is this place in existence and why do people wait in lines to come here...
(1)Nicole A.
Tofu, house special chicken, bamboo rice, bok choy all tasty. The skin on the xiao long bao (soup dumplings) was a little too thick for my taste, but filling was good.
(4)Promee A.
Great Chinese cuisine. It is definitely no your typical Chinese spot. Do not forget to have their congee/porridge because it is one of their very yummy signature dish.
(3)Anne Z.
The food is delicious. Following the recommendations provided by Yelp's friends, I ordered House Special Garlic Chicken, fried tofu in soy sause, and congee. They are all wonderful. But, don't expect more with their customer service.
(3)Jennifer C.
food was good! service.... meh. although there were many other tables in the place, we were seated at half of a table shared with 3 old Asian women with a toddler. not particularly an enjoyable meal... the grandma kept slapping the toddlers wrist and yelling at her when she refused to eat and it made for a really awkward meal. complimentary watermelon at the end though! idk, the seating arrangement kind of ruined my experience... and they took my bowl away before I was done eating. :/ oh well. the congee was good and very flavorful! we also ordered a garlic chicken and it was good too, especially with the congee! probably would come back again, just hope to get better service next time.
(4)Deb E.
Solid amazing & cheap. Def one to keep filed away esp for group dinners. Drinks were cheap & potent but not huge. The chicken dish came with the head - which became our mascot as we toured a bunch of LES bars. Noodle dishes & beef dishes were delish- our group of 8 hard drinking pals left with a bill of $35 each (3drinks each & lots of food) We were the only non Asian table in the place on a Saturday night- no one flinched when we got a little silly.
(5)Irene C.
As good as ever! Our family goes once a year when we're back in the old neighborhood. Salt and Pepper Squid, T-Bone, Walnut Shrimp, Eggplant Salted Fish Casserole and Two Ways Flounder are the standbys. Added Snow Pea Shoots and fried rice to their and yummy was for all!
(4)Fransisca M.
I'd say my experience was an okay. We came on a Saturday night, group of 8. They sat us down pretty quickly since the restaurant wasn't that crowded anyway (*hint hint*). Of course, we all ordered congee because that's the restaurant's name. And surprise surprise, the waiter boy didn't even remember which congee was which. Anyhow, I like trying out new things. To me, the Sampan porridge served in a porridge pot quite did the trick. Definitely not the best (how could a congee restaurant run out of you tiao?!?!?), but oh well.
(3)Jen J.
The food is good. It's your typical Chinese restaurant food. The place can get pretty noisy tho. I couldn't even hear my friend talk. But they do give a decent size portion for each dish. Overall a good Chinese place to try if you are in town.
(4)Dan S.
I used to like this place but lately it's gotten out of hand. If you're anyone other than Asian, prepare to be treated poorly. The servers want you gone as soon as you step through the door. About a year back the waitress called me a white devil in Chinese, a friend translated it for me, kind of funny but also very wrong. I visited again recently and before I was even done with my food they were starring me down. They clearly didn't want me there. I've seen them treat other westerners in the same way. If you're still curious about the food, it's okay. Certainly not the best I've had, not even close to be honest. The only reason I'd recommend this place is for belligerent pre-gaming.
(1)Kare C.
Bad service/attitude and food. Had high hopes due to reviews, but was disappointed the second we walked in the door. Bowls and plates were dirty and there was a layer of grime on all the condiments. Was sweeping the floor with people eating in the restaurant. Overbearing service, placed the order for us the second we mentioned a dish (we mentioned it because we had questions) and impatient to answer anything. Kept breathing down our neck when we were looking at menus. It felt like they wanted to get us out of there and we had not even sat down for 10 minutes yet, very uncomfortable. If food was better, I can prob put up w the service, but it was just ok. Congee was one of the better items ordered, but not very hot even though it came in a metal bowl? The seafood fried rice baked in pumpkin was the biggest rip off. There was not much taste and it seemed like they just fried the rice with some small shrimp and put it into a cooked pumpkin. Don't understand why it would take 40 minutes to prepare. I just wanted to get out of there towards the end of the meal. You can get much better food in Chinatown w bad service.
(2)Jay N.
We ordered using CTowndirect -- a takeout service for the jersey city area where they deliver food from various chinatown restaurants. The food that we ordered was quite good, considering it took an hour-long ride from manhattan into jersey city. we ordered: duck and meatball congee (excellent - would order again, despite some reviews saying it was "too fatty") beef chow fun with black been sauce (it was dryer than i would have expected; didn't have the gravy that i'm accustomed to having on this dish at other places) fried squid with salt and pepper (tasted good, but i think the quality was compromised by the deliverytime) house special chicken (good, and it came with some garlic/soy based dipping sauce) eggplant with vegetables and fried bean curd (also quite good, has a bit of sauce in it) Pricing was $43 for everything, but with the ctowndirect surcharges, came out to $55
(4)Tina L.
Food here is quick, cheap, and varied. Taste-wise isn't the best, but if you're craving congee, it's $3.50 for a piping hot stone pot full! Of course, we didn't stop there. Add the house special chicken, fried buns with condensed milk, and baked rice with chicken and mushroom. Bill came out to $27, tip included. I'm reminded of MC Escher when I'm at the staircase that goes in five directions.
(3)Ken C.
It is a decent Chinese food place, but the service wasn't that good. A little too crowd and lacking courtesy to other tables. A very tradition type of Chinese restaurant. You can enjoy the Chinese food, but also need to suffer the noise and service.
(3)Chen W.
Their service is TERRIBLE! We've waited conjee for an hr and ppl came later than us already had their conjee. The manager made up BS to ask us cancel the orders... We ended up only got 3 dishes out of 7 orders. No free desert, of course no tips. Terrible service...food is way too salty.. Well I only had three dishes so my feedback of food won't be that accurate...
(2)Ray U.
Found this place randomly walking around the neighborhood, dodging traffic spilling off off of the Williamsburg bridge into the Lower East Side. And what a nice surprise it was to walk into Congee Village. Immediately, the smell of deep fried steaming goodness hits your nostrils. The place is big and clean which is saying a lot for a Chinese restaurant around her. And this place is cavernous. The winding, multi-level restaurant is attached to a small bar, lounge area which was open for any interested day-drinkers. I sat right underneath the crooked branches of their Indoor tree. Yes, indoor tree. I didn't check to see if it was real or not, but it was impressive either way. I stuck with a basic beef congee. The price is very good for the huge bowl they bring out, enough to feed 2-3 people for about 6 bucks. The rice broth was flavorful, and its some of the better congee I've had in a while. I also ordered the 'special chicken' based on other reviews on this site. It did not disappoint. It's basically a deep-fried chicken -- with the skin crackling-crispy with a hint of sweetness and soy sauce. If I wasn't already full of Congee I would've ordered even more of it. The service isn't amazing, and they could probably learn to be a little more pleasant -- but this place was crowded and the food more than made up for it.
(4)Sandy C.
The Original Congee Village. A New York Staple. You know you're at a good Chinese restaurant when you see mainly Chinese people in the restaurant with trickles of cool Americans who are "in the know" and crave a authentic Chinese meal. Congee Village is huge. It's three levels with full bar, and tiny little hidden themed rooms. What to order: House Special Chicken - crispy skin, and tender succulent chicken Anything veggie Tofu and of course, Congee, a boiled rice porridge. "It's not where you go, it's what you order" -I'm still trying to figure out the best things on the menu, so please let me know what your favorites are. Come hungry, leave stuffed.
(4)Jeruen D.
Lonely Planet's Guide to Extreme Cuisine listed this restaurant as a place to get century eggs, in rice porridge (or congee). I decided it was worth exploring, so I took my sister and decided to eat exotic fare. We had cold jellyfish, razor clams in black bean sauce, Shanghai buns, and of course, pork and preserved egg congee. Four items, and more than enough to feed a hungry pair for dinner. The servings are made to share; most tables are equipped with lazy susans and indeed, most patrons are families. The great thing about this restaurant is that it is cheap: 4 entrees and a bottle of beer only cost us 39.00 USD plus tip. That's cheap for New York City. The only thing I do not like is the not-so-clean restrooms. The dining area might be bright and clean, but the restroom is a little sub-par.
(5)Anny Y.
For a party of two girls and light eater...we decided to go easy on a Thursday night meal. We were craving and ordered the infamous Dungess crab cold with spicy red chili sauce. The waiter prompted us if it was ok to order the $42 crab. We were splurging and definitely ok. Another light order was the abalone chicken with congee. We left feeling very satisfied and happy. Thanks Congee Village!
(5)Grace O.
I had my last dinner in New York City here, and there is no other place I would want to have it! The restaurant is very large, and the decor is pretty funny. It's like an asian treehouse? There is a large party room downstairs that has it's own bathroom, which is hugely convenient. If there is no party scheduled, regular diners can dine here. A few years ago, my family had a reunion and held it in the party room. I remember the food being delicious then, and it was sure as hell delicious this time around too. We had Honey Walnut Shrimp, Congee with Liver, Congee with Century Egg, Hokkien Fried Rice, Black Bean Clams, Garlic Pan-Fried String Beans, Squab...Everything was cooked to absolute perfection. I had no complaints about anything. Every entree was delicious...I'm going to go drool in a corner now, thinking of this meal...
(5)Cindy G.
The food was good -- but the service was TERRIBLE -- the servers look miserable at their jobs and are horrible.... First our server forgot one of our dish and did not bother to tell us until we asked. Next they kept saying it was coming but that was a lie. When we asked again he said (with an attitude)-- do you want me to just remove it? um no we would like you to give us our dish and if its late to TELL us --- antoehr server said they didnt have it initially, got it and are now just making it ....ok fine (thx for telling us???), then they bring us our dish......after we finish that one (which was our 4th dish by then) someone brought us our bill ....EVEN THOUGH WE HAD ONE MORE DISH.....which they didnt even realize......no apologies what so ever.....so we wait another 30 min for our last dish to come out. I honestly dont think i have ever been treated this badly service-wise at a restaurant......my bf was pretty close to punching the guy it was that ridiculous. We basically left a 2% tip.... The only reason this place gets 2 stars is becuase the food was very good. Great selection of congees -- we got the egg one. And their fried tofu dish was delicious. We also got the lobster,cooked in pretty standard way for asian lobster dish. but yeah -- TERRIBLE SERVICE.
(2)Stacey C.
Decor - 4 Service - 2 Presentation - 4 Taste - 4 Came here with a party of 13. Originally they wanted outlet party to spilt between two big tables, we said it wasn't necessary. The waiter came to our table as so as we sat down and asked us if we were were to place out order. Seriously?! We just sat down of course we aren't ready to order. Because we weren't ready at that moment, he then had an attitude with our table and was barely attentive to us. Extremely poor service!!! Even though the service was horrible the food was delicious. Dishes I recommend: House special chicken Shrimp walnut Eggplant and tofu casserole
(4)Gary L.
Not sure why I skipped this. Been coming to this place since it was a very small hole in the wall with shady late night mah-jong session in the basement. Always a favorite place to go to whenever with a big group of friends and family. Spent many special occasions and after-events dinner here. So much stuff to choose on the menu. My standards always include the century egg congee to start, squid, chicken, noodles... ends with the fried dough dipped in condensed milk.
(4)Clay K.
Stamp your passport - you've left the USA when you enter this place. With a traditional woodsy decor and spunky waitstaff, it feels like China. Food is traditional cantonese (no General Tso's Chicken here) with an emphasis on seafood. Fish is OVERPRICED - $75/pound. Everything else is just a tad expensive for what it is. We ordered (in order of favorites): House Special Chicken - My Favorite & Finished very quickly - RECOMMENDED Snow Pea Leaf w Garlic - Best Veggie, but slightly oily - finished quickly (because I ate a ton of it) - RECOMMENDED Filet of Beef Chinese Style Sizzling - A Winner, finished quickly - RECOMMENDED Fish - small size whole fish cost us $57 - light and fluffy (not fishy at all) served with the head (ours had some big fangs) - Very Good, but not worth $57 Fried Jumbo Shrimp with Salt and Pepper - Very good (finished quickly) Razor Clams - Tasty, but wasn't finished quickly Sweet Potato Cake (Dessert) - SKIP IT - it's very oily and not sweet Sauteed Chinese Vegetables - SKIP IT Beware: This place takes reservations but does not honor them. We had a 9PM reservation and did not get seated until 9:40PM. Since we knew this to be normal for Chinese establishments, it wasn't that big of a deal. Set your expectations low for reservation time of bigger parties (we had 7).
(3)Todd M.
Food was good. Service very slow. Not sure they welcome non locals. Convenient location in heart of Chinatown.
(2)Mare C.
3 stars for the food and 0 star for the lousy service. My family and I had dinner here past weekend. The waiters were real unprofessional, rude, and LAZY!!! They just stood around not doing crap. Lazy @ss people I'm surprised they're still employed. Their @ss should all be fired and let the real hard working people work. We ordered 4-5 dishes for 5 people. I politely asked for a fork 3 times for my brother's gf. The waiters never came back. Finally my mom said something hey we requested a fork 3 times. Really? The waiters still ignored us and were talking smack. "Oh they only ordered 5 dishes and they all came out. Gosh they asked for too much for only ordering 5 dishes." When I heard those remarks, I immediately confronted them where's my fork? Worse service ever!!! The patrons around us were also complaining that they were slow and took them forever to bring over the food and water when the restaurant wasn't even packed/busy. They're sooo retarded/slow/LAZY!! Honestly the food was pretty alright, but I refuse to go back. The service was real lousy. If knew, I rather go somewhere else. They were lucky that my mom tipped them 20% only because she was nice/generous and that my dad was waiter so we understand it's rough working in the restaurant. I think they have another branch/restaurant, go to that one instead probably better service. Again, LOUSY SERVICE EVER!!! If you want to get mistreated, then be my guest.
(2)Jade N.
I haven't been here for several years and it's fallen off my radar, but the other day I ended up at a restaurant that was fully booked and we defaulted to Congee Village since it was right across the street. Boy was I happy to get reacquainted with this place! We had to wait 20 minutes to get a table but I considered the long line including tons of Chinatown natives to be a signifier of quality authentic food. The decor was tacky beyond belief, with faux stone walls and jungle greens, but it all added charm and character to the place. We were seated in a tiny room and our table was pushed up against a corner. Kind of odd, but I could live with it. The menu offered such a variety of foods that we spent a good deal of time sifting through it. They have everything including delicacies (abalone/shark fin), odd eats (intestines), classics (sesame chicken), noodles, and of course congee! The prices were so low it was absurd. Both me and my friend ordered two items each and after eating as much as we could, packed the leftovers to go. The food was perfectly cooked. There's a fine balance between grease and flavor and Congee Village has it down. The crab congee which was only $4 included a whole crab inside. My soup dumplings were only $3.50. I could do without the smell of vinegar stinging my nostrils, but the food was so delicious it didn't even bother me for long. I am very glad that even with all its success, Congee Village has kept their low prices. I will be back for more!
(4)Larry L.
I really didn't think too much of Congee Village after my first trip here. I felt it was OK, but nothing to write home about. However, after coming back 2 more times I'm a believer. The Sampon Congee is really good. Good flavor and lots of stuff in the congee. It's funny, growing up I hated soggy rice so the idea of congee really didn't do it for me. However, now that I've opened up my mind a bit to foods that I rejected as a youngster, I'm a big fan. We also had the congee with the preserved egg and fish slices - that was OK, but not as good as the Sampon Congee. The ho fun (dry not wet) is also good and so is the garlic chicken. The skin was crisp and the chicken was moist. The chow mein was good also. This place is well worth the wait.
(4)Alice C.
One of the things I miss about being home with my family is the huge family-style Chinese dinners with a large variety of dishes. So coming here with 2 friends (including fellow Yelper Angela B.) was very nice as it was a bit reminiscent of that experience. We ordered beef congee, xiao long bao (steamed buns, an order comes w 6buns), snow peas w garlic in rice water, and pan-fried tofu. The beef congee was good, though it came with a smaller portion than I imagined (only filled 3 small bowls). The xiao long bao were also good, but not great. I'm always a fan of snow peas, but I think my favorite dish was the pan-fried tofu-- it had a nice very lightly fried texture on the outside while remaining soft on the inside. For these four dishes, the three of us ended up having to pay only ~$12.50 each including tax and tip. (Oh, we also got three bowls of rice though, which they charged us for. I haaaate when Chinese restaurants charge for rice, ugh.) While I didn't feel like the meal was super filling, it still left me very satisfied especially for that price. Oh, and interior is pretty nice and food gets served very quickly. A little difficult communicating with the waiters in my Chinglish, but we got all the right things we ordered so I guess it wasn't a fail. **Card minimum of $20
(4)Randy F.
Congee Village looks like Hainan Island. For those who haven't been to Hainan Island, Hainan Island is the Hawaii of China--- except for the Russian prostitutes of course. It looks like a villa resort that is off the beach ; the decor-- and downstairs at Congee Village are the private rooms. Lol. Anyhow, I've been coming here with my little Thai princess and all the time she's been telling me that this place is the best place for Congee. Me on the other hand, isn't really a big fan of Congee because I see Congee as food for the frail and Congee is like the Asian CREAM of OATS--- ahhh no bueno I hate cream of oats. Typically my Thai princess would get the pork with thousand year old egg Congee and I would get the beef Congee. We would then get something like XLB or a Beef chow fun but last time, we got the XLB. The XLB was all right, nothing special. It doesn't taste like the ones I've had in Shanghai or nan xiang XLB in flushing but hey this place is run by Cantonese people not shanghainese people so what do expect. The Fried half chicken drenched in garlic and the sizzling beef plate is really good here. The manila clams for some reason is a rarity here. Every time I come here, they keep telling me that they are sold out of it. Last time I came here ( April 2011), with 3 friends ( their white ) they wanted ribs. The waiters were very nonchalant and they brought out beef ribs. aha LOL.
(3)Audrey K.
I was at first skeptical of this "congee" restaurant but it was really good eats! Not to mention super cheap (like $35 for 5 people?! in nyc?!) I was game for most of the congees they offered, but couldn't take the duck dishes - which isn't much of a reflection on the restaurant, duck in general is too gamey for me ;( Overall, this place was a real treat and an experience. Going in, it wasn't very busy but WOW, as we were leaving the wait time was over 75 minutes, with people standing outside - it was ridiculously cold at the time, like painful cold. Wowies.
(3)Tina T.
If you're craving congee this is the place to go as it's definitely better and cleaner than other Chinese restaurants. Throw in some house special chicken and you're golden!
(3)Jerome Espinosa B.
you have to give it to them for risking to build a huge place that merely relies on the attraction of the words "congee village." came here on a weekday, after a thunderstorm, with my friend, and we had to wait for at least 15 minutes before being a table. & we even had to share the table with a family (who was waiting for their father to arrive, & who came much later)--it's actually nice to share a table with customers who speak a different language from what you could speak, at least, we can switch to our language w/o worrying if our neighbors understood what we said and meant. of course, we ordered congee----the presentation's grand (steaming hot, in nice looking bowls!), considering that this is basically porridge, i.e. food for those with ailments he he he! & we had their pork ribs fried w/shrimp paste---good enough, i just wish it tasted better, actually & much bigger serving sizes he he he. i forgot the other dish we had---oh, yea, it's dimsum (some kind of a dumpling with ground meat inside), which tasted great. all the others in the area where we're seated were asians (or probably asian-americans), which is a sign that this place ranks top among the locals & those who know where to get the best chinese food in town at the most affordable prices.
(3)Rachel T.
Absolutely delicious chinese food! Came here one night with my boyfriend and we really fell in love with the place. The prices were also extremely reasonable. The ma po tofu was perfectly spiced (not underdone which tends to happen) and seasoned so nicely. The dumplings were juicy and filled with great meat. This would also be an excellent place to come with a group if people because the portions are huge!
(4)Galvin C.
Whenever I walk into this place I can't help but think of it as a sort of Asian TGIFriday's, mostly due to all the hokey shit on the walls. But that doesn't stop it from being delicious. Congee isn't for everyone, which is understandable, since it seems like the kind of dish originally invented purely by accident and then only actually eaten afterward due to optimism, or maybe shamed determination. But me, I grew up on this peasant gruel so I love the stuff. I'm American enough not to be willing to toss pig's blood or whatever in there, but pop in some salty chicken, pork or fish and I'm ready for a satisfying, vaguely disgusting-looking meal, all for basically pocket change. Similarly, the dim sum items are exactly what I want from dim sum items: delicious and cheap. In addition to the usual suspects, they also offer both "fried bread" and "fried dough," which sound like they should basically be the same thing, but aren't. Both are delicious if hilariously simplistic, though I can never remember which is which. It doesn't matter: they're each like a dollar so try them both.
(4)Rachel H.
There aren't that many places I'd wait two hours for, but this is one of them. I've been coming here for years for congee, fish, chicken, and all of the special Chinese foods I can't make by myself (read: all of them). The congee is served in cool clay pots and is delightfully seasoned and creamy in texture. As for the waiting, they have a bar area open to pass the time, meet up with friends, and hang out before you're ushered to your table. And the decor of the place is awesome and entertaining.
(5)Kristina M.
Lets say I've been here more than 5 times. I just never had the chance to write a review. No kidding with this wait issue. Its either a very long time or immediately - no grey area at all. My usual: Congee, of course. It must have preserved egg and chicken. The fried salt and pepper squid is also a must for me as it is MY dish in any Chinese restaurant. CV's squid tend to be very salty, but it works in conjunction with the congee. This is my order when I'm with my friends. If I'm feeling crazy and wanna blow some money or I'm with the fam, I'd opt for the dungeness crab (because I'm a seafood FIEND). Three different types of congee to feed my big family. Portions are semi-generous as I leave with less than 100% satisfaction. Probably like 85%. Decor is quite tacky. However, I LOVE the layout of the place. It may seem inconvenient at first, but if you look closely at the walls you can find hidden doors that the staff use for storage or whatever. I would LOVE to see that place empty and play some old fashioned HIDE and SEEK. But I digress. As far a the rice dishes, they're not spectacular. I *tried* to order some crispy fried chicken - because of their article in Time Out NY on their front window - but I think I ordered the wrong one. Either way - it was like any ol' fried chicken. Beef dishes are alright but it brings my friend to LA-LA land like he just hit that "White Castle crave" The pricing is doable. Not dirt cheap but affordable. Its why I sometimes run to Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery on Rivington for dessert ^_^.
(5)Theresa L.
Family style restaurant = bring a large crowd. Yes, it's not what is typically encouraged when dining in nyc, but there is so much good food that is meant to be shared. Any seafood based dish is excellent. Don't get the lo-mein, it tastes likes bland pad thai. I ate like a famished hippo (as did 13 others) and the bill was very reasonable.
(4)Paula C.
It was our fault for trying this place out during Saturday dinner service. Despite whatever you might think comes with that time (bad service, crowded lobby, long wait), this wasn't a terrible place. The food was awesome. It turns out the cheaper stuff we ordered was leaps and bounds better than some of the more expensive/delicacy stuff we also tried. The congee was great and made me want some arroz caldo right after. The pigeon was tasty, I'd definitely order that again. We ordered a bit too much food and I'm pretty sure they were making fun of us. Whatever, I was pretty satisfied with most of it (I'd skip the chicken feet and sliced tofu) and was surprised with the birds nest soup (is that supposed to be sweet/taste like crystallized ginger?) in that it was better than the shark fin's soup (seriously, nothing to write home about). Go there to try the food, don't expect too much customer service-wise.
(3)Micaela L.
Oh, Congee Village. What an institution! I've never actually eaten here, but I'm a fan of the super-cheap drinks in the bar area. How can you not love $3 glasses of wine, chairs fashioned out of tree stumps, moon chairs, blaring neon signs, and broken English? It's not nearly the best bar in the area, but it's a good stop if you need a dose of fabulous Chinese kitschiness. Judging from the crowds rushing through for congee at midnight, the food is pretty good, too.
(3)Billy C.
After visiting Congee Village a few times and trying a variety of their dishes, I want to give them 4 stars but after considering the only dish that I am really a fan of here is the Bean curd, Chicken and Salted Fish casserole I must be fair and give it a rating of "A-OK". Would I come back? Sure, but the other dishes I have tried here were really just "A-OK". What keeps me coming back is that Bean curd, Chicken, Salted Fish casserole. I have tried their congee and it is good but not great. Big Wong King's congee is also good in comparison. I think even the congee I make at home is slightly better, I'm just saying. I really think they offer too many dishes and don't specialize in any one or few particular dishes. Service is generally good and generally don't have a problem finding parking. The prices are also quite reasonable.
(3)kenny s.
It's A-okay here, but nothing to rave about (something I never understood). I've eaten here multiple times and when people are raving zealots of this place it only makes me more skeptical. Now, I don't need to drone on about what everyone else has said about food (it's good). But obviously, I would have given a higher mark if service had been better the past few visits. It would also help a lot if our soup hadn't arrived to our table ICE COLD. I repeat ICE COLD. The waiter plopped it down on our table and I stopped people from scooping into it when I noticed there wasn't a single bit of steam coming from it. The soup was COLD and why? With tons of restaurant experience at the table, we all agreed that the soups are made ahead and chilled (for HOW long? who knows). So there goes the whole "their soups are so awesome because its made fresh everyday". We asked them what was up with the soup only to catch some attitude. Seriously now? Cold soup and we get attitudes? Another thing that doesn't bode well is the fact that my party and I leave this restaurant EXTREMELY thirsty. Is it it salt? What is it that makes us so thirsty? I'm not going to speak my theory, I'll let the readers out there make an educated guess.
(2)Pui Ying S.
This place is super busy even at 10 PM. The congee is excellent and well priced. Negative - The scallion cakes were bland and soggy, they ran out of fried bread (for congee), and ran out of pumpkin rice bowl stuff. Our total tally for 5 people was 75 bucks not including tip so I think this is a bargain for an overall delicious experience. The menu is quite extensive, so even though some dishes were misses, I think there is plenty to try. I'll come back.
(3)Esteban S.
More than decent pork buns!
(3)Elizabeth C.
I still dream of their house chicken! The service is good and fast. The menu is a bit long but everything we ordered was delicious. Of course we had some congee, which was really flavorful. The house casserole and walnut shrimp were also great. I liked the decorations - they were cheesy, but the place was very clean and it was definitely interesting to look at. Just get there early on Saturday nights because we had a short wait before 7 but there was a huge crowd outside when we left at 8.
(5)Lorena F.
The whole chicken is good, a little bit too salty. The steamed dumplings were tasteless, but the pan fried minced pork was good. The restaurant was full of Chineses, so this must be a good sign and I should come back to give the restaurant a second chance.
(3)Jenn L.
Happy Chinese New Year! Or Lunar New Year if you want to get more PC about it. After 7 months of no good Chinese food, I finally stumbled to Congee Village on CNY eve. Even though it was packed, we decided to wait at the bar, downing a couple of Heinies in the process. Well... beer is relatively cheap here, so we bought a round of beer for another party that didn't have cash so that we could meet the $20 credit card minimum. Good karma all around! My friend and I got the congee with pork and preserved egg which is one of my favorite congee flavors of all time. It was the perfect consistency, so Congee Village definitely lives up to its namesake in that sense. We also got some of the pork soup buns, which seemed to be a hit or miss as far as whether or not there was even any soup inside. Lastly, we grabbed a plate of what was essentially beef and broccoli for my friend - and it was a hit with her! (Then again, she's only used to Chinese fast food / takeout.) My tummy was happy. And a good meal means that I'll have lots of good food in this coming year (or something to that effect). No qualms there. The bill came out to $20 for the two of us, which only made my friend enjoy it more. I can't wait to go back and get some beef chow fun and house chicken. I think I've re-awoken the Carb Zombie in me that craves congee.
(4)Ash S.
This place has good food but the service is horrible, disorganized and all over the place. And it's also kinda dirty.
(2)Master J.
Amazing congee. Excellent food. One of the cleaner restaurants in china town. Not so great service. People there are loud. That's china town for you.
(4)S C.
I got a chicken corn soup and a winter melon and scallop soup to go from here since I live nearby. The corn soup had huge amounts of... cornstarch.. in it (really, it was like halfway to cake frosting) but was eminently edible. The scallop & winter melon soup, though. When I opened it, I saw two pieces of what appeared to be a ... giant... curved... PIG'S FOOT CLAW with like, visible toenails and veins and... are you grossed out yet? i mean, really, i can't even speak of it. SO GROSS. the soup itself, though authentic (i.e. BITTER) tasting, contained numerous pieces of scrum and small bone chips, the kind that you would skim off the top of a stock. that, and images of a VEINED CLAW in my soup, made me get queasy. i mean, what kind of restaurant does that?? +1 for the house special chicken, snow pea leaves, shrimp & walnut dish that I've tried while dining here before, etc etc.
(2)Chris C.
For some reason, my friends love having their birthday dinner here. I guess it's convenient catering to large groups. Food is average for a Chinese restaurant.
(2)Humphrey B.
We were brought here by some friends who are from China, and let them order for us. Our expectations were high, and I must say that my wife and I were both bitterly disappointed. The food was bland, the service was bad, and the congee, which I had never tried before, tasted like oatmeal with some unidentified stuff thrown in. Getting a glass of water was a major accomplishment. The service stank, and language ability (our friends were native Chinese speakers) didn't help. Maybe sign language or smoke signals would have done some good. A man who looked like the owner walked by at one point. I motioned for him to help out, and he acted like I had a disease. Dehydration, maybe. I did like the chicken appetizer, which was so good that it tasted like duck. That's about it. Everything else was mediocre. I really don't understand the enthusiasm for this place in some of the reviews. There are hundreds of better Asian restaurants within a few blocks.
(1)Marcie L.
This is meant to serve more as a warning to future patrons rather than an insult to the restaurant. I called ahead on a Saturday to make reservations, and I was told that a party of two didn't need one. When we arrived later that evening, we were told it was a 10-15 minute wait. 40 minutes later, we still hadn't been seated. The place was packed, and the hostess did her best to keep those waiting for a seat happy and let us know she appreciated our patience. But when our table didn't manifest after a 40 minute wait, we left. So, if you're planning to grab a bite to eat at Congee Village on a Friday or Saturday night and don't have reservations (actually, even if you DO have reservations), have a back-up plan in case the wait is too long.
(3)Renee C.
Congee creates magic in my mouth! It literally makes me forget my name the minute I scoop that blissful white rice porridge into the tip of my tongue, I begin to build a bubble around my body blocking out any oxidative radicals and surrounding noises. Not that Congee has any antioxidant capablities but it really was not neccessary at that point. I do not go for over the counter meds or go see the Dr. when I feel a little under the weather until I make a pot of plain congee. It usually helps alleviate some of the symptoms and gives me the comfort I need. My all time favorite congee choice would be the thousand year egg and salted pork...I think this is the most Asian someone can get, it's really not something everyone can appreciate if you didn't grow up with FOBBY parents. This is late night Chinese (mostly Cantonese style) food at it's best....but I still don't have enough time to tell you how disappointed I've been with Chinese food in NYC! :( Growing up in Vancouver, the haven for Chinese food out of Asia, definitely spoiled my palate and since NYC is the haven for Food, I cannot believe there was not one restaurant that I was impressed with. I mean there is so much potential for greatness...how can this be? Even spending a couple days in flushing didn't help. My favorite dish here are the garlic pea sprout immersed in stock. I had the Singaporean fried vermicelli last night and I thought it was very good too. Everything you order is quite good in fact that I will say this is my go-to Cantonese restaurant.
(4)Zach L.
I've been touring a ton of Chinese restaurants both in and out of Manhattan, and have done my best to avoid Americanized restaurants. Most of the places I go are either in Flushing or in Chinatown, and most specialize in noodle soups, and thus I don't usually venture out of that space. But of the few restaurants I've been where I ate legit dishes that didn't consist of soup, this was at the very top of my list. I went with a group for the Chinese New Year -- it was completely packed and ridiculous in there. The only fault I give this restaurant, is that their reservation system is a little screwed up. The couldn't find us on their list -- under my friend's English name, Chinese name, or even the number of guests. You would think that a group of 15 would be pretty easy to find in their list...but we were definitely trumped by groups of 20-25+. We hung by the bar for about 30 minutes, drinking some pretty cheap drinks -- $6 vodka tonics, $5 lychee martinis, etc. Good deal for sure, and pretty tasty. The food, though, is where this place shines. We ordered about 15 dishes, ranging from pork intestine, long-neck clams, a prawn dish, veggies, etc. All were absolutely amazing, each tasted different from the next, and I'd say this was one of the best tasting restaurants I've been to in quite a while. Even better was the price. With the food and drinks, tax and tip...the total was $25 per person. Absolutely amazing for a HUGE feast. I will definitely return.
(5)Larisa T.
To the people who gave Congee Village 2 and 3 stars -- are you sure we ate at the same place? Service: There were 13 of us, including some kids. They found a giant table with a lazy Susan for us, and accommodated our annoying needs and wants. The food is so good!!! It's like real, flavorful, yummy authentic Chinese. We ordered: -- Garlic chicken. This was a whole chicken, sliced into pieces. It was so tender. I love the skin and fat, and there was plenty of that. The garlic flavor was subtle. --General Tso's chicken. One of the best I've had, and they didn't skimp on the veggies. The sauce was finger lickin good. --Vegetable dumplings and egg rolls...Omg. So good. They were fresh and full of veggies. And huge. --Beef chow fun. Mind blowing. --Chicken fried rice. The dish is HUGE. What can I really say about fried rice? --- Some other stuff, I forget. Everything is so good!!!! You can't lose. I can't remember when I was last this excited about a restaurant.
(5)Vic-Crys W.
Pros (quality) - Trust us. This place serves very, very authentic Cantonese Chinese dishes. The garlic chicken is one of their signature dishes and it's very good. The skin is perfectly crispy and the chicken is tender. You generally can't go wrong with their other dishes too. In this case, if the picture in the menu looks good, it's gonna be good, and all the pictures are delicious looking. You can even get the steak if you're desperately looking for a way out. Cons (services) - This place gets very packed on the weekend even though it's a big place with a high turnover rate. They don't take reservations so sometimes you have to wait a while, expect 40 minutes minimum on peak times. Parking is also a bit hard to find but it's Manhattan so that's to be expected. Comparable to: Congee Recommended: Garlic Chicken, rest of the menu.
(4)Art L.
When travelling to Congee Village, diners will discover that this restaurant is much more than congee. This location at the far reaches of Chinatown was the first Congee Village ever in New York opening in the mid-1990's. Through the years, the full frontal tropical theme hasn't changed, albeit with minor renovations now and then. Somehow I've always thought that the decor was more suited to a Malay, Thai or Vietnamese restaurant, but I digress. As its namesake, Congee Village serves decent quality congee of many types. It is served in stone pots and it's always very hot when arriving at your table. Alas, Congee Village serves much more congee. It offers a full Cantonese menu. I had the chance to sample a large list of menu items and here's my take. For those of you who are familiar with Cantonese cuisine, you'll see a lot of familiar dishes. 1) Ginger and Scallion Lobster: A bit disappointing. Not enough ginger, but still tasted good. Major weakness was the lack of deep frying which cause the lack of a thin coating to soak up the juices while stir-frying. 2) Whole Garlic Chicken: Easily the best dish I had. Chicken was deep fried with a thin skin separating cleanly from the meat. There was no fat in between, plus the tasty and plentiful fried garlic and mild soy gave this dish sumptuous aromatics. Highly recommended. 3) Seafood Bird's nest. Not so good. The bird's nest was made of noodles, not the traditional taro basket. That being said, all was not lost as the seafood inside the basket was plentiful and well prepared. 4) Fish soup: We ordered a live fish that was made into two dishes, a soup and a plate of its remnants mixed with shanghainese bok choy. This soup came out milky white and was absolutely delicious. Just the right amount of salt was added to draw forth the sweetness of the fish. 5) Salt Pepper Fried Frog: An excellent rendition of Salt Pepper Frog, which again is deep fried. Frog had its usual satisfying rubbery texture. 6) Fried Squab: Fried Squab was excellent. The skin separated nicely from the bone and was not overdone, which is a distinct possibility with squab, whose meat is not fatty. 7) Stir fried fish: This dish was fish slices stir fried with snap peas, celery and other veggies. Solid for a basic dish. 8) Snow pea leaves: Excellent with garlic sauce, although the snow pea leaves this time of year is lacking in size. 9) T-bone "steak kew": A bit overdone in my opinion, yet nicely sliced on a bed of green chives. 10) Seafood E-Fu Noodle: Tons of seafood on their E-fu noodles (the type of noodles that are deep fried and reconstituted as a soft noodle). Absolutely top notch. 11) Braised Goose Feet: An unusual dish served in a hot pot. Goose feet are much bigger than duck feet, but much easier to get off the bone. Braising sauce was more oyster saucy, than soy based, so it was alright. Not too salty. Finally, the service at Congee Village is attentive. We easily flagged down our waiter when we needed something. For wine drinkers, we brought our own bottle of wine and were not charged corkage! Thumbs up for Congee Village!
(3)M L.
in chinatown there are so many good places to eat, but congee village is consistently a place that my friends and i crave. the food here is as good as any place in chinatown. house special chicken is a must-try if you haven't been to congee village. lightly crisped chicken doused in soy sauce and garlic. so awesome. fried squid is also very well done. very little on the menu that they do poorly. have taken a number of friends there and they've never been disappointed.
(5)Chino P.
Arrived at 6:30 pm Tuesday July 30,2013 party of 2. We were seated rather quickly and the place filled up fast. Service was absolutely horrible as we had to wave down anyone who wasn't giggling and touchy feeling on the other all male staff. I mean we had to wave them down even to order. They sttod around lolly gagging and all the tables were at one point trying to get service. We ordered the Half House Special Fried Chicken and Yang Chow Fried Rice....Both arrived at the table room temperature and the peas in the fried rice were still thawing.... Even the managers were acting like it was an inconvenience for them to bring a fork or refill a tea pot.. Even the larger party of 8 or more had experienced poor service and when someone did say something they told the elderly lady " if you are done eating get out because we have customers waiting" and where do we make a big scene over a tip which you feel should be $5 more? BEWARE I HEARD A TABLE SAYING TO PAY CASH BECAUSE THEY TEND TO DOUBLE CHARGE AND ADD MORE TIP IF USING A CREDIT CARD I WON"T BE BACK
(1)Angelica K.
I come here for the salt and pepper squid and the lychee martinis. This is definitely the kind of place where you should come with a huge group -- the magic of the more people you have the more food you can get and the less per person you wind up paying. When I'm here on regular evenings, seating is fast and easy but on holidays (for example, Chinese New Year) this place is a MAD HOUSE with a terrible reservation system. In other words, make a reservation but you're still not bound to be seated even close to on time. However, once you're seated (holiday or non-holiday), the service is great and the food shows up super fast.
(4)Andrew S.
More like 3.5 but I will not take it up to 4 stars nevertheless. It has nice decor and good ambiance inside the restaurant. The staff was pretty friendly although not the best waiters for Chinese restaurants. The menu was extensive and might be bad or good based on how you see it. For me, when restaurants has too many things to offer, means they are a jack of all trades, king of none. We ordered a special cooked crab (I forgot what it was called) and it was really good, it was great and might be one of the best crab I have ever had in my life. We also had some sliced pork and thousand years egg congee. You need to eat the congee when it is warm since it became inedible when it reached the room temperature and I didn't finish it. I also think that the congee was too strong in the cilantro flavor, therefore it was offensive to my taste buds. We also ordered some hot plate bbq beef, it tasted alright. The specialty tofu with some sauce over it was pretty good, I liked it. It was really soft but for me it lacked flavor, tasted pretty bland for me. Basically the best thing was the crab, but everything else was alright. I wouldn't go back here again just for the crab.
(3)Leo F.
Best chinese in Chinatown!
(5)Tony U.
Pretty good juk here and for a decent price.
(4)Marc I.
This is the first time I even heard of congee. A medicinal rice stew of sorts. We had the chicken and mushroom. It was consitant and was tasty. I went to this place, which my sister picked out on Christmas day. It was packed with people, but we got there early enough to get a seat for four. We had her son, who was 4 and they were accomodating with the seating. We also had General Chaos chicken, beef with broccoli, shrimp with mixed veggies and some sort of pork pattie. All were tasty and done very well. This is not your usual American-Chinese place. The service was good but not the best but with the crowd and the time of year, i expected this. Definitely make a reservation during the weekend.
(3)Aka C.
I feel that as a food snob, and particularly Chinese food snob (b/c like most Chinese people we get the best food at HOME)... this place has impressed me as one of the best in Chinatown. The food is quite good (everything I have tried here is very good) and the important thing is that it's very clean, service is decent, and it doesn't discriminate against you if you were Chinese (it happens more than you'd expect :p). If I have friends who like Chinese food but can't stand the craziness of typical Chinese restaurants, this is a great place to take them. It gets crazy here as well, but never chaotic like in some Chinatown restaurants when they are jam packed. The only down side is that they get quite crowded so if you have a big party it's good to reserve a table in advance. I've never tried their dimsum, but their seafood (particularly the fish and squid) is great and their congee (duh) and rice cooked in bamboo container is excellent. Their razor clams are OMG good and they also have the great practice of giving dessert soup (in colder weather) or fruit (warmer months) for the table after dinner. I rarely give Chinese restaurants such high praise, but I do feel that Congee Village deserves it.
(4)Gerard P.
I went here as part of a large group straight after coming from Lolita Bar, which is a block or two away. Although I don't eat Chinese very often, I think I can make a reasonably sound judgment as to the merits of this restaurant after eating dinner there last night. There are a number of things I like about this place, including the relatively prompt service, creative seating arrangements-there aren't many restaurants that can improvise a seating chart for 11 different people on the fly-and the delicious food. At least, the food that I was served, which was Peking pork chop. That being said, there were also some very conspicuous downsides to the experience, including a rather shabby-looking men's restroom, somewhat cramped spacing, and waiters whose command of the English language leaves something to be desired. I was also slightly peeved by the fact that we were not able to request individual checks. Overall, I would give Congee a strong B- or B.
(3)Adam F.
My table and I ordered what appeared to be an endless amount of food for 5 people including a rare assortment of items from the Dim Sum section (actually, not rare at all: juicy buns, steamed dumplings, etc.). Also ordered a delicious plate of the General's chicken and of course, Sesame chicken (typical American orders in what it supposed to be an authentic Chinese restaurant). The total bill? $35 before tip. We were BAFFLED. Xie xie! Adam
(5)Lily T.
Great place! The food here is sooo fresh and delicious! Love their congee! they have really good chinese brocoli and steak! the steak is so tendered. And their casserole dishes are awesome as well. My personal favorite is the chinese eggplant with chicken and fish. But the dish does smell alittle, since the fish is dried and salted. All the dishes here are good and authentic with good price. And a plus is they have a full bar, and great cocktail menu with prices like 5 dollars for a long island ice tea. it doesn't get better than that! Definitely a loud place, on weekends, there's usally a short wait. I hosted a party here before, and the staffs were friendly and accomandating. Overall, a great place, will return over and over again!
(5)Tai K.
One of the best places you can eat in NYC for the price. Everything you eat is going to be quality!
(5)Jando S.
This mega sized Chinese restaurant on the heels of East Chinatown is great for groups, solid on prices, and serves a mean array of Cantonese style dishes that are authentic and delicious to boot. Its too bad the service wasn't the greatest during my times here, but sometimes its the environment and experience with friends that trumps the shortcomings of this place. For most people who are used to the dingy dives that make up the core of many Chinatown restaurants, expect to be surprised with a plethora of Chinese inspired decor, complete with bamboo and wooden crafted tables and private areas, mega sized wall decorations ranging from paintings, to fans, to traditional style art, and an ambiance with an Asian feel and a slight contemporary flair. When rounding up some friends and sitting at a table, prepare to feast as their portions are of decent sizes and the food is well prepared with style and good presentation. Surely its not entirely authentic, as there is your typical General Tso's and some whack dish with orange sauce in the menu, but the most creative stuff that is atypical, is probably the best bet for the tastes of the Chinese groups that swarm this place. Congee in the mornings, is great with my favorite being the simple pork + preserved egg or salted duck egg with a side of Chinese donut (Youtiao). Other major recommendations are their shark fin soup platters (spendy), steamed country style crab pot, the dual sausage rice pot, abalone slices with vegetable rim, and the steamed rock fish. Avoid the disasterous Dim Sum (unless on weekends) or that pathetic lobster with butter and cheese dish.
(4)Li C.
Yes, the Dim Sum menu is cheap..but so bland. I've had better fried rice..much better. The congee was awesome though! Maybe I ordered wrong. I'll give this place the benefit of the doubt.. 3 stars. for now.
(3)Liz M.
Three stars because this girl got something besides CONGEE. How do you mess up congee? Oh yes, let me count the ways.... too salty....but too bland? just add a 1000-year old egg or sou sauce. Yes, this place has its claim to fame from an almost fool-proof recipe.... Fried noodle dishes - just standard. Clams with black bean sauce - eh. Sizzling beef - eh Sauteed veggies (I've gotten 3 or 4 variations) - eh House special chicken - a bit better but nothing phenomenal in my book... Verdict - stick to the congee...
(3)Wing L.
This is one of the places I go back to again and again when my family and I want to eat out together. We love the quality of the food here. We are Cantonese and have been to a few Chinese Restaurants but this is one of the places we could always agree on going to. The menu is overwhelming. Lots of choices to choose from a 14 page menu. Yep, that right, 14 pages. Makes you feel like you're studying for a exam for Chinese food instead of looking at a menu. Seen a group of people come here and ordered fried rice and sesame chicken. You could get that at any corner takeout Chinese restaurant. For heaven sake, why even bother coming here if that is what you wanted to eat? Not that I'm saying there is anything wrong with sesame chicken... or fried rice.... I recommend these dishes at this place: Start off with assorted seafood with fish maw soup. Lobster with Butter and Cheese. Blue crab with garlic and pepper. Jumbo shrimp with walnut and broccoli. Manila clam with black been sauce. Pork chop Peking style. House special chicken (You must try this dish). Fillet of beef with Chinese broccoli Beef Sauteed in satay sauce in sizzling hot plate. For veggies, I recommend the Chinese green with garlic in broth or Snow bean leaf with garlic in rice broth. Not that I'm saying you should try these all at once...unless you really want to. There are many other dishes worth trying but these are among the ones I always end up go back to once in awhile. All the dishes are family style which is meant to be shared. These are big plates so it's not individualized dishes meant for only one person. You get to try more food this way. The small juicy bun in Shanghai style here is alright but not as good as some of the other places better known for serving them in Chinatown. They have less broth in them here so it's not as juicy. Be prepared for a wait here, especially towards the weekend. Call ahead to reserve a seat before you get here or you'll end up waiting a long time along with a crowd of other people trying to get a table. Luckily there is a full bar inside for those that need to pass the time waiting. Best of all, no matter how hard you try, it's tough to make the bill expensive for the amount, and quality of food you get. Unless of cause you actively only go after the most expensive dishes in the menu.
(4)A L.
I go to Congee Village with my brothers, sisters, and their families whenever I am visiting New York. And in a Chinese restaurant, a lot of people at a table means a good variety of dishes to order. After every meal I've had here, I leave sated. The food never fails to be satisfying. The "house special chicken" (in Chinese, garlic fragrant chicken: syun heung gai) is a must. The skin is crispy, and the meat is super tender and flavorful, especially the dark meat. My sister-in-law says that other restaurants in Chinatown have tried to replicate this dish, as have some in Flushing, but not one has come close. "Sauteed Jumbo Shrimp with Walnut and Broccoli" (hup toe ha kau) is something else we always order. When I tell people I like jumbo shrimp more than lobster, it's because of dishes like this one. The mayonnaise (a British influence in Hong Kong cooking?), in which the shrimp are tossed once cooked, is a nice touch. The textures of the shrimp, the walnut, and the broccoli somehow all go together. "Sliced Conch and Crispy Bean Curd Stuffed with Shrimp" (gum jyun law peen) is no ordinary tofu dish. The flavorfulness of the tofu's being both stuffed and deep fried, and the conch's being plain and delicate, seem to balance each other. I never really liked lotus root until I had "sauteed lotus root with special bean paste sauce" (nom yu chow ngau peen). As a boy, I always thought of lotus root as looking like little wagon wheels. Well, here they stir-fry the bland little wagon wheels in a great sauce and they turn out crispy. The "steamed minced pork with salted fish" (hom yu jing yook bang) is a comfort food from my childhood. It's essentially a steamed ground-pork pie spiked with salted-fish bits for flavor. The steaming can take a long time, so sometimes we will order instead the "pan fried minced pork with salted fish" (hom yu jeen yook bang), where you end up with small-burger-sized ground-pork pies that are fried. I prefer the steamed version, but fried food does taste better. The pan fried flounder (gone jeen lung lay) here is never a mistake to order, but nothing spectacular either. The kids and teenagers like the "beef chow mein with Chinese vegetables" (the noodles are skillfully pan fried to be crispy and crunchy -- something that is way too much trouble to do at home), even though it's not really a proper dish for dinner. Congee Village's "house special T-Bone Steak" (boon lau jeen see dick) is how a Chinese restaurant classically prepares a T-Bone. After the steak is grilled, the meat is taken off the bone, chopped up into chop-stick-friendly-sized pieces, and then reassembled on the bone to look like a T-Bone steak. The meat was perfectly tender. The "sauteed Chinese seasonal spinach with bean paste sauce" (fu yu tung choi) was properly stir fried so that it was done but still crispy. It's a good thing I looked in my tea cup before I filled it. There was some left-over rice stuck inside it -- likely an artifact of a too-full dishwasher. I tried scratching the rice off, but it wouldn't come off. My next tea cup had a dark smudge in it, which I was able to clean off with a moistened napkin. Yes, as good as the food is at Congee Village, it's still that sort of restaurant. The fact that this restaurant is outside of Chinatown has its advantages. The sidewalks around it aren't strewn with overflowing and smelly garbage bags -- the bane of Chinatown in summertime. And you can find parking.
(4)Eric W.
When I searched for the phrase 'food is love' on Yelp, Congee Village topped the list. Maybe this had to do with my GPS location, or maybe this was some sort of cryptic, mystical message. I don't believe that the food served here is made of love, or that it is deserving of the L word...but I do very much like this place. I've had several of the congees, all quite tasty. The sliced pork with preserved egg is dependable, and I'm also a liker of the beef with fish. Note that the congee is cheap - less than $5 cheap - and can serve two people. Sure, there are other places that serve congee well, and at a lower price. But Congee Village also offers other dishes, the dining space isn't egregiously ugly or spartan, and service is decent. Beyond the congee, I'm less enthused. There's nothing that's wrong per se, just nothing that's uber-likeable. Skip the xiao long bao, although their yangzhou fried rice is one of the better I've had in chinatown.
(4)Kriti S.
Despite having many Asian friends who love to take me to Asian restaurants in and around the city, I only visited Congee Village for the first time this past Saturday. Even as a vegetarian, I was impressed - loved the tofu pot and my Buddhist veggies - they tasted clean and flavorful without being covered in indeterminable sauces. The kicker of course was the feast my friends shared - our group ordered a dozen dishes, most of which made everyone blissfully happy. So yes, we dined, we feasted, we made merry - I recommend this place for a group as they have several rooms which give some semblance of privacy. Service and prices are a-ok too.
(4)Lucy X.
Went here by mistake thinking I put the address to my favorite congee place on Bowery (98 Bowery to be exact). I was surprised this was the one that received so many reviews instead of that one... but then I realized all the Americans here and understood why. I got what I would usually get at the other congee place, razor clams in black bean sauce, snails, shredded pork and preserved egg congee. In addition, we also ordered their House special chicken and snow pea leaves (per Yelp). All three of the familiar dishes were all not as good as the congee place on Bowery. The razor clams were rather cold, and not as flavorful. The congee wasn't as good either. The snails was probably the only dish that was comparable to the other place. As for the two new dishes I tried here, both were pretty good (as expected), especially the veggie dish which gave a nice balance between all the meaty dishes. Overall, I still favor the other place over this one because it seems that this one is more targeted towards Americans and tourists (explains its popularity on Yelp), while the other one is more known amongst the Chinese locals, which IMHO is always better, tehe.
(3)the y.
This place has become a reliable comfort zone for me, especially after alcohol binges. They're open till 3am, and there's nothing better to fix your drunken stupor than a nice bowl of congee or shark fin soup. Food is fresh, tasty, and made to order super-fast. Do try their house special chicken on your next visit. And the staff here appear to have received etiquette lessons since 2007.
(5)Boki H.
One of our favorite! Love it. Can't say more about its amazing food. You must try it by yourself! Don't go on Saturday night though, it'll be a long queue.
(5)Tony H.
Let me start by staying -- if you are absolutely clueless about chinese food -- consider staying away from this place. They were good a while back but this time around, I think they killed my taste buds and my wallet. We've ordered a total of 11 dishes and the bill came out to $162.17 feeding a group of six. After we were done, we were still hungry. Given the price of this meal, I was surprise how miniture the dishes were. Let me start with the Cons: 1) don't expect to get seated on time. You wont.... 2) White rice -- They managed to screw that up. Too much water? I dont know but I picked up a clumb of white starchy material and you cant see the grains. 3) My $21.95 shrimp special had 6 small shrimps plus lots of brocolli. I think they should call it Brocolli Special instead. That's $3.65 a shrimp and it is not even the large size 4) My $28.95 slice Conch had 4 slices of conch in it. Are you kidding me? While it was very colorful with all the fillers, I didn't expect 4 slices of conch so some of us did not even get a slice. In other restaurants, you get a lot more than that for the price. I had no idea they were shrinking all their dishes to this. 5) Fried Bread was offered at 6 for $1.95 and we were presented with 5 pieces. Not a signicant deal, but we asked and were told that we were wrong and it is now 5. 6) Everything else was VERY salty.... You may be wondering if I complain about this... You can try but I dont know what they will bring out next. Pros: 1) If you plan on losing weight and possibly your wallet, give this place a shot. If you are able to walk a few blocks away from this area and deep into chinatown, I am sure you can get a lot more food for the price that you will pay for. 2) The decor of the place was nice but it doesn't fill my stomach or my taste buds. 3) I really can't think of anything good aside from the location. If you need to meet near Allen street, then this will be a great place.... 4) The food dishes were very colorful and was loaded with fillers. That's about all I can say. My group of six will NEVER come back again.
(1)Mandy Z.
Congee Village lives up to delivering delicious food at a very reasonable (and dare I say it, cheap) prices. It offers its signature congees as well as other yummy chinese dishes. The decor is beautifully designed; I caught myself staring at the mosaics on the walls. Being Christmas, there were tons of families celebrating the holiday today which set a very nice festive mood for the restaurant. The congees were served in stone pots, which in my opinion should be the only way congee should be made! We also had the sliced beef chow fun, which was well prepared compared to other restaurants I've tried at. The pan fried minced pork with salted fish is another fantastic dish, probably best served as an appetizer. The only slight upset was the dim sum menu. But then again, this is a congee village. so why expect awesome siew mai when there is congee galore! Bottom Line: great comfort food. so go.
(4)Susan L.
I have a love and hate relationship with this place. I love it when this place is not so busy (early morning, early lunch, weekday dinner, late night snacks) and hate it when it is busy (Chinese new year/eve, peak lunch hour). When the place is busy, the food tends to be OK; and when its not so busy, the food is incredible. So why the inconsistency? Not sure, but I am guessing the kitchen is not as large as the seats available in the restaurant! With all of that being said, Congee Village is still my "go-to" Cantonese restaurant despite some of the off-days because its still better than other NYC Chinese restaurants. So, I continue to come back to this place for my fill of good Chinese food at inexpensive prices (especially, if you go in a group). A few of the absolute GREAT dishes here include: - Peking pork chops ($8.95) - probably the best Peking style pork chops I've found since moving from Los Angeles... very crispy, very sweet with the perfect tangy-ness to it. - Shredded Pork Chow Mein ($6.95) - have to love the mixture of crunch paired with the delicate balance of sauce to moisten the noodles; the sauce is incredible. For some reason, one serving of this is just not enough -- so be prepared to be over-stuffed. - The House Special Chicken made with garlic (yum!; $9.00 Half; $18 Whole) -- I believe everything has to do with this sauce. If you think about it, it doesn't seem like anything special about a chicken dish; however, its the House Special Chicken for a reason -- the skin is crispy (likely deep fried) and the chicken is tender/moist. The soy sauce and garlic heighten the flavoring of the chicken. - Sauteed Snow Pea Leaf w/ garlic (it looks like spinach, but with hollow stems; $11.95) - sometimes on the oily side, so request it will less oil; but I enjoy eating this over the Chinese broccoli because it has more flavor than broccoli - Fried Bread with Condensed Milk - think this is an odd combination? try it and see if you like it... -- Rice Baked with Chicken & Shitake Mushroom ($6.25) - this is reminiscent of the olden days when they served rice baked with chicken and shitake mushroom at dim sum (well, at least in CA and in Hong Kong). Its a very simple, but authentic Cantonese style dish, that I absolutely love to order. -- and of course, Rice Congee (aka Chinese porridge) is one of my favorites here. One of their food specialties is Congee (hence the name of the restaurant) and it comes with a choice of ingredients, including fish, pork, vegetable, roast duck, etc -- or plain. Probably the most common, and one of my favorites, is the Rice Congee with Sliced Pork & Preserved Egg ($2.95). Many people are thrown off by the egg, especially since they've never seen a black egg before. The blackness is from the preservation/fermentation process where the eggs are preserved in a mixture of clay, ash, salt, lime, and rice hulls for several weeks to several months that creates this coloration. The preserved egg has another name that you may be more familiar with -- The Thousand Year Old Egg, which also had a few minutes of fame on an episode of Fear Factor many years ago. I enjoy it, but perhaps its an acquired taste. :D There are a lot of great items on their extensive menu. My friends and I have also previously ordered the Jumbo Shrimp with Walnut & Broccoli (aka Shrimp and Walnuts in Mayonnaise; good, but high in calories! $14.95), Assorted Seafood with Fried Bean Curd (good, $13.95), Pan Fried Bean Curd with Soy Sauce (decent, $9.95), and much more. Some of the ones I was not a fan of include: - House Special T-Bone Steak - ($16.95) - At this price, why not pay slightly more for a better steak elsewhere? Just not worth it to order something like this at a Chinese restaurant. Or go get Steak Frites somewhere for less? - Rice Baked with Seafood in Whole Pumpkin ($12.95) - Concept is great, but it was very bland. As you can see, not many items that I've disliked here -- but I do admit, even some of my favorite dishes have been "ok" on occasion. So the lesson learned is to go when its not that busy, otherwise, it may be a hit and miss dining experience. One last thing -- this place has a bar -- so if you do find yourself waiting for friends, you can get some inexpensive cocktails/beers at the bar; or tapioca milk teas! Happy Eating!
(4)Deanna L.
I usually don't like walking into overhyped-catered-to-white-people-chinese food that you can only find non-asians in because it's been broadcasted in the nytimes, yelp etc. However, this place is authentic. MY friend and I tried: 1) congee with chicken and shitake mushrooms,3.5/5 2) do miao (I think it's snow peas with garlic?) 3/5 3) and the sizzling plate of chicken with black bean sauce. 4/5 It wasn't 5-star-out-of-the-world amazing. I really don't think you can find that in nyc honestly (try california, hk, taipei, shanghai or beijing). It reminds me comfort food that isn't too salty, and it hasn't been white-washed. I love that the congee had cilantro! Overall it was a good experience but I think I need to try the other dishes to be a better judge. There are a couple of dishes I would have loved to order if I was with more people. I'll come with a bigger crowd next time, and order the dishes that will REALLY tell me if they can cook. Expect an update.
(4)Aaron C.
Congee Village seems to love its reviews; they're plastered all over the windows. I was walking towards Chinatown when the flashy blue sign caught my eye. It was a cold day, and new as I am to the city, a bowl of hot congee would be perfect for bringing me back home. The decor--tacky. Chinese restaurants don't need to have fake bamboo. But it's not like I ever evaluate ethnic restaurants on decor. On a sidetrip to the bathroom, I realized how big the restaurant actually is. Besides the more casual dining room in the front, the back had much more seating. Even better, the basement had door after door leading to private banquet rooms. Ordering the abalone chicken congee and a scallion pancake, I didn't realize how starchy my meal was until I was halfway through the bowl. The congee came in clay pots, something I can appreciate for keeping rice porridge hot. The flavors were all there; the ginger, the scallions, the abalone, the chicken. They all greeted me like I haven't visited in years. Better yet, the congee is only like $4. Now that's how I really evaluate a Chinese restaurant!
(4)Jane K.
So...um...wow this is awkward. I was not impressed. Have to say after working up and appetite, craving Chinese food, sitting at their cool little tiki bar drinking Mai Tais and finally being seated...the food that arrived was underwhelming. We had to add soy sauce, salt and even spicy red chili sauce (yes, I used the sauce) to every flavorless greasy dish that we ordered. - Hot and sour soup - gelatinous from too much corn starch, I ate one bite and was so repulsed by the bland jelly texture - House Special Chicken - a whole deep fried chicken with a machete taken to it. There were layers of yellow fat everywhere and tiny bones you had to pick out of your mouth. So greasy, so hard to eat and so bland. - Duck and meatball congee - I never liked to eat my porridge and when it tastes like something out of the annals of a insane asylum cafeteria, i like it even less. - soup dumplings - the meat was too big, almost no soup and the skin of the dumpling was too thick - Shanghai noodles - saving grace of the meal. Thin eggs noodles fried in yellow curry with meat and veggies. Tasty, flavorful yum! Service was excellent, the waiter noticed we needed new plates and additional cutlery before we had to ask and everything came out quickly. The bill for this feast came to about $30...and we had an entire meal leftover in doggie bags. Great deal but it's definitely not the best Chinese I've had in the city.
(3)Sasha C.
this place is such a maze i am unsure how many floors they really have. they have minimum spending requirements when booking a private room, but i doubt they are that strict if you can sweet talk or if you holler at the manager in his native dialect LOL. either way, the food is always good here, the prices are a bit steeper than most restaurants in chinatown that do family style and the portions seem smaller. but to be honest, this chain is looked at as classier/trendier so i guess that's what you are paying for as well because you can clearly tell there is more decor /ambiance than your usual run of the mill family style canto restaurants in chinatown. this would be the place to impress your non asian friends for a good meal and good time! the best is to make a reservation becuase they do get packed!
(4)Iliana D.
Ok we just got home and I came straight to yelp. The food was soooo on point I had preserved egg congee n it was so creamy salty n hot it hit the spot. Then our fried squid arrived and o m Ggggg it was the best I ever had! The food was very cheap and very good! Authentic. I will be going back VERY SOON !! Oh and they are NOT CASH ONLY
(5)nyc c.
Finally New York is getting a little bit more like Fall season, which makes me want to curl up with a nice pot of congee and nestle with my dog. So definitely the first restaurant that came to mind is Congee Village situated in Chinatown and LES. If I want authentic great satisfying good home cooked congee otherwise know as rice porridge Congee Village is the place to go. The menu offers a huge selection of congee, from the exotic for example pork stomach to plain rice porridge; we got the Crab Porridge ($3.50) cooked with small blue crab. We found the whole crab that fit into a small cay pot; some of the main ingredients found in the congee were large chunks of ginger, green onion, and tiny slivers of dry scallops. Came sizzling hot all gooey and bubbling I couldn't wait for my first slurp, the taste was brilliant the rice soaked in all the crab flavor along the supple rice where large cuts of ginger, a great complement. The heat of the ginger just reinforced the crab essence. Rice in Bamboo Pot was a cute idea but failed us a bit. The dish Chicken and Black Mushroom Rice In Bamboo Pot ($6.95) was good, and the flavor was just right however I felt the rice was way over cooked. The last entre of the night was clam with special sauce in sizzling hot plate ($9.95), I was expecting a show but came with out the sizzle - sad. Nonetheless it was great had a hint of fermented black beans with some heat mixed with some green bell peppers, red bell peppers and onions. +++-The Lunch Specials are so cheap they range from $3.50-$4.95 can't beat that.
(3)W Z.
A friend of mine recommended the place but I wasn't too excited about having rice porridge for dinner, but I was drawn into the place with its colorful interior and bright lights and spacious seating when we walked by. We started with the chicken congee, moved on to the vegetable dim sums. Our waiter was honest enough to point out the entrees that were not worth the price and we ended up selecting cheaper and delicious picks - sauteed mixed vegetables, chicken with the black bean sauce in sizzling hot plate (sizzling alright!), and scallop with ginger and scallion. The meal was delicious! And they give you unlimited green tea :)
(4)JulieJuli A.
Julie/Julia So I surprise myself by giving out a 2 STAR to Congee Villa... A place that I frequent often. It's really diminishing returns for me at this spot. What was once a possible 4 STAR place has really lost it's flavor for me.... Maybe it was what we ordered??? or maybe I'm just tired of always waiting on line at this place no matter when I come, especially since i do know a few other spots close by that are just as good. So what was on the menu for this meal... Blue Crabs done cantonese style... Really nothing special and it was pretty pricey. Not enough of the salty stuffings that they usually make it with... And although it was a big crab it wasn't very meaty... Clams in Black Bean Sauce were ok as well. The dish got incredibly smalllllll... Chinese Veggies. I can't describe the name... ordered it in chinese but again.. just ok... Fried Dumplings... I know I know.. not very chinese of me to order this... not my idea and again nothing special... A Tsing Tao to complete the $80 meal for 2... pretty pricey for chinatown... I sometimes do get cravings to come here.... Congee is usually good. Or peking pork chops or a rice dish in the wooden containers... and it's nice to see the pictures in the menu... I'll probably still drop by here every now and then... but as soon as i see a line, I'm gonna bolt to the next spot...
(2)Myko L.
Congee, congee, congee! William L. introduced me to this little congee place with cheap, authentic, yummy food. We went overboard in ordering and ordered quite literally 1/2 the menu (HUGE MENU!).... but it was pretty worth it. The congee (duh!) was pretty good but not amazingly good. The decor is quite a sight....you'll just have to see it! =) One more star for that!
(4)Wayne K.
We went here for dinner after hearing some good recommendations. The decor is pretty interesting with bamboo and fake trees hanging on top on their main level. However, they also have a lower level and an upper level. Overall, the food was pretty good, although I wasn't a fan of everything. It was a bit fattening and some dishes seemed high in oil, but it was definitely tasty and service was pretty good. I would say excellent for a Chinese restaurant...:)
(4)Alex C.
for the price, you just can't beat this place in manhattan. hands down my favorite go to chinese food in the city. get the house special chicken, i'll keep you coming back again and again. yelp.com/biz_photos/rYw5… yelp.com/biz_photos/rYw5… and the snow pea leaves, they do it the best yelp.com/biz_photos/rYw5…
(5)Candy L.
yummyy :] i decided to come here with friends after reading a bunch of good reviews here on yelp. i like it a whole lot better than the other cantonese restaurants i usually go to for family gatherings. the dishes here are simply amazing. the prices were decent and the service was quick. we did not feel rushed at all - after we finished our food, we were able to sit there and chat for awhile...and they gave us the bill when we asked for it, which is a total plus considering how busy this place usually is. ill definitely come back here again...:]
(5)Sara S.
the house special chicken is DOPE. like extra moist and juicy, crispy skin, extra flavorful garlic-ness. at 9 bucks for a half chicky it's a great deal too. couldn't stop eating this and would gladly return and repeat. and repeat and repeat etc. sadly though everything else we tried was...not great. sizzling short rib came with a flavorful, somewhat spicy sauce, but the cut of meat was extra chewy and fatty. and like i love fatty but this was not phat fatty. veggie fried rice was some of the blandest shit i've ever tasted. also we had to try dat CONGEE...we got one with roast pork and a thousand year old egg. i actually didn't mind this dish, the congee was very comforting and almost tasted like a savory porridge, but it's not something i would crave unless i was sickly or had my jaw wired and couldn't eat solid food. the preserved duck egg was black and the consistency of jello with virtually no taste. COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! points for friendly service and some weird ass decorations, like 2 fat italian chef statues in the entrance (wha??) and lots of kooky lights outside.
(3)Abe H.
I like it.
(5)Bryce A.
Excellence authentic food! Order everything! ~no dessert though, go across the street for that!
(4)Juliette L.
Pretty great variety of food all deliciously inspired by the villages of canton. I love the congee.. I swear they add some special ingredient(s) because the base isn't thick like most Chinese restaurants. I also love their private karaoke rooms, although it can get pricey to book. This place is always a return for me.
(4)Lori Y.
It's all relative. Congee has great service for a Chinatown restaurant. Their food is consistently decent, but not great compared to some Chinatown restaurants. E.g., despite its namesake, other restaurants have better congee. The food is also pricier, obviously. But, this place is suitable if you want good Chinese food and don't want to venture into the heart of Chinatown. I avoid this place Friday and Saturday nights (except after 11pm) due to the large crowds. It's even crowded on many weekday nights. Crazy... Like some other reviewers, more and more, I've noticed this place attracts large crowds of yuppies/hipsters. Some of them get really drunk. E.g., 1 night 1 table spent $300+ on alcohol alone and some of girls were singing so loud we could hear them half-way across the 2nd-level room. $300 isn't a lot at a club but at Congee, that's a little insane. After a while, they just kept repeating the same songs. That kind of behavior wouldn't be acceptable at many restaurants. As we were leaving, 1 of the girls was leaning on the handrail above the fish pond looking like she was going to throw up. I really hoped she made it to the bathroom. Can you imagine cleaning puke out of a fish pond?
(3)Dave K.
I've gone to this restaurant a handful of times since they've been opened, and I have to say that their customer service has taken a nosedive in the last few years, getting worse with each visit. My friend took me and coworkers there for lunch, and was so embarrassed by their service. The hostess and wait staff was rude as we requested to be seated near the front of the restaurant. From what my friend told me, he was making snide remarks in Cantonese. When placing our orders, my Cantonese-speaking friend helped us translate what the waiter recommended, as his English wasn't that great. He and his coworkers made some condescending comments, which I could tell from their smirks and facial expressions. Although their tones pretty much conveyed what they were saying. Overall, we all agreed that the food was good, but they would never come back on account of the terrible service we had. Another time, I had gone with my Chinese friends for dinner and had worse service. The waitress kept trying to push us to place our orders, even though we were still waiting for people. Throughout the meal, we felt rushed. Some of us weren't even done with our rice and there were still food on the table, and the waitress came by to start clearing dishes and asked if we wanted dessert. Even though some of us were still eating! Then, as we were figuring out the bill, she kept hovering over us and watching us counting our money and grabbed it when we all put our money in. It was the first time that my friends, who are generally very friendly and amiable people, actually complained to the manager as we were leaving. If you really want to try out the food at Congee Village, as they do have a good selection of dishes, I would suggest visiting their other location on Bowery, about 2 blocks above Delancey. The service is better there. Just be prepared to wait a bit for your table on the weekends. Pros: Good Food!! Cons: Horrible Customer Serivce at the Original Location Solid 4 star.
(4)helen k.
umm... no. i was really excited to check out this place because of all the great reviews. this is the first time that yelp has ever let me down! i was seriously writing this review in my head while i was eating b/c i was so annoyed.. where to start.. 1. the food. i would say the food was about 2 stars. it wasn't great by any means. ordered the pork fried rice, abalone & chicken congee, fried squid, duck, and the short ribs. my fried rice was good thanks to siracha, congee was ok, squid was decent, duck was prob the best dish b/c it was very flavorful, and the short ribs were just a complete disappointment. i couldn't even hold the damn ribs b/c the plate was just too hot but i was too hungry and impatient to wait. the meat was so chewy that i had a hard time even getting it off the bone. i mean seriously.. how are u supposed to eat this? pry it off with your chopsticks? i was making a mess! 2. service.. yes i understand it's busy and a popular restaurant but must all 5 dishes come out 10-15 min apart from each other? the rice came out first and we had pretty much finished it by the time the other entrees came out. i want to eat everything (or most) together!! is that so much to ask for? 3. nasty ass condiments. seriously i had to think twice about using the soy sauce because the bottle was so crusty and dirty. every single one of the condiments on the table were in terrible condition. how hard is it to wipe it down?? 4. this isn't the restaurants fault but we just got really unlucky by being seated next to an obnoxious dinner party. half loud ass girls and half loud ass gay guys. i swear they all sounded like they were fighting because they were so loud. i'm korean. we don't talk when we eat. i want some peace and quiet. i do not want to hear a guy yelling about how he didn't get his rice over and over for 5 minutes. my head hurt by the time i left the restaurant b/c i was so annoyed! never going back here again unless i have to for a bday party.. maybe i'll eat some pizza before i go so i don't have to touch the food -_-
(1)Ye P.
One of the most authentic southern Chinese food. Great price value! Must try the frozen crab. Order the Americanized stuff if you want to be disappointed.
(5)Craig Z.
New York institution. Services was suprisingly courteous on last visit. Congee is fantastic and so cheap. Seafood dishes are good too.
(4)The R.
I was here for the first time & it was a good first impression. I had - - Fried Frog in Salted Garlic & Pepper - Boneless Chicken Feet in Thai Sauce - Pork Chops Peking Style - Mimosa The food tasted GREAT. The service was just aiiight. I recommend it, though.
(4)Terren J.
This place is so far the best Chinese restaurant I've been to in the city. It's the closest to good LA Chinese food restaurants out of the places I've encountered. I was craving salt & pepper pork chop and even though it wasn't on the regular dinner menu, they still made it. =) The staff actually speaks Mandarin, as opposed to only Cantonese, so it was easy to order, even with my Chinglish. They were nice too. This place is going to be my go-to for authentic Chinese food.
(4)May L.
Summary: Delicious food for large groups at a reasonable price. Below is what they are known for/good at, and it's 4 stars. Flat Screen TV's abound. You can watch the game here in peace. (No honey... I was just craving Chinese food....) Intro Commentary: I went to Congee Village to fill out my Crustaceans Celebrations list. Despite the deceiving name, this is what "my peeps" actually go here for. I like a good congee, and if you're craving it, this place is solid in all things Congee. But seriously folks... it's for breakfast. I guess if I was in HK or China and saw a restaurant called "Cereal and Oatmeal" I might also think that it made sense for dinner; and then be a bit disappointed. Atmosphere: The decor is weird. Props, though as I realized, if a restaurant dares to choose to be a "Village" and really owns it, leaning all the way in with random pools, bamboo trim for stairs, an odd array of Christmas-esque lighting, then, I say... I get "The Village" concept. It's not Village like East or West "Village", with its urban, NYU Bobcat coolness. It's more like Santa's Village, if Santa moved his elves to China - to be closer to where the toys are made sort thing. Total props to you, CV. It's weird, but I am feeling it. There are three levels of restaurant. I prefer the top one for lighting, but the lower levels are fairly clean. The Crowd. Casual chill. Dress up if you want or wear whatever. No one appears to be caring. And let's face it, you couldn't possibly wear something louder than the decor.The people are a mix of races, ages, citizenships, etc. CV is great for large tables, though you may want to make a reservation on weekend nights. We had a group of 6 mixed, international stomachs with three friends joining for drinks. 20 minutes for seating, but no problem for people to join. They just don't care. The Service: Great. It's Chinese though. If you want the waiter's attention, make eye contact and say "Seen-Song" means sir. They will change your plates for crustaceans as often as you like. If you need more crackers for the crustaceans, just let them know. Water? fork? speak up and they will hook you up, no problem. The Food & Drink: As with all Chinese Restaurants, there is a trick. It's all in what you order. I use to think Chinese menus were long because they wanted to make sure to list everything you could want to purchase. Now, I think it's an inside ethnic joke or secret masonic-esque handshake. A little cruel to play with the taste buds that way, but here's the secret to CV for my fellow Yelpers: Wines: Around $30-40 per bottle. Non-Vintage listed, but oddly a descent list that includes: Sancerre, New Zealand Sav Blancs, a few Italian and French wines with the seasons being such that it's impossible to mess up. Example, the Mouton Cadet, was an $8 bourdeaux at Astor Wines, but a great restaurant price of $25. Food: Order this list minus the ones indicated as a pass. - Dungeon Crab with Garlic & Pepper - Classic Cantonese preparation. Good execution. $35 - Lobster Ginger Scallion - Descent, but not so remarkable I would choose it over the other two crab. $25 - Chilled Dungeon Crab Chao Style - Awesome. Chao... I like you're chilled style. It's all about the dipping sauce. - Clams with Black Bean Sauce - A pass. Very average execution. Pan Fried Minced Pork with Salted Fish - Good, but not as attractive as the picture. A pass. - Salted Fish, Eggplant and Chicken in Casserole - Good. - Sauted Snow Pea Leaves in Garlic - I've had better, but this wasn't bad. - Sauted Bok Choy in Garlic - Ditto - Pan Fried Bean Curd with Soy Sauce - Delicious. I was glad people were distracted by the crab. I ate my fill... - Fillet of Beef Sizzling Hot Plate Chinese Style - Nice. This is always slightly a slightly fattier cut of beef than non-Chinese may be use to.
(4)Vanessa O.
Finally came here after years of wondering what was inside. this place is interesting to go to for the atmosphere alone. I felt like we were transported to Hong Kong or something. tons of rooms with crazy and tacky design, with separate rooms for private parties. we ordered the house chicken which was good, but I am not so keen on eating off the bone, but that is how it is done with real chinese food. also, i am probably one of the last people to try congee, but we ordered the one everyone said to order. we got the preserved egg and pork which was fine. it was darn cheap though! i just think i am not really a congee person. we ordered another beef dish which was fine. there are plenty of safe bets if you are not too adventurous, so I am sure I will be back here again. i hope to bring a group of people here just because the environment is that weird. in a good way of course!
(3)Misha T.
Ah congee, my eternal comfort food. My mom basically gabe it to me every time I was sick so I sort of associate it with that. Anyways their congee is pretty good. I was sad they didn't have salty fish and peanut. I had the dried scallop and white nut this time and will probably go for the frog next. We also ordered baked rice and seafood which tasted amaaaazing. The texture of the rice was perfect and it was seasoned just right. Our side of greens was the standard garlic and snow peas which they were able to pull of just fine
(4)Julie L.
Their crispy chicken is sooo yummmmmmy. I'm definitely getting that again the next time I'm back in NY!
(4)David C.
Mexicans have menudo for their hangover cures. Matzo ball soup is the traditional jewish penicillin. For me, it's all about call it what you want, congee, rice porridge or jook...it's all the same to me! If your in the LES, you MUST come here to enjoy the perfect chinese remedy that takes care of that hangover or nagging cold. I ordered a delicious bowl of hot congee with pork and preserved egg (the classic) and one order of juicy buns. And the best thing is that the congee is only $2.50! Oh Congee Village, I've missed you so much, with your tacky decor, your long menu of hundreds of items and your late hours open til 3am! Every time I'm back in NYC I promise that I will always come visit you!
(5)Angela C.
Oh, yum. Thinking about the zesty and tender salted pepper squid makes my mouth water. Huge menu with lots of good Chinese dishes. As an Asian American now stuck in the Midwest with a dearth of good Chinese food, this place hit the spot. The food is great with tons of authentic dishes, and the bamboo decor makes you feel a little like you are sitting in a hut in the tropics. All good. This probably would be a 5 except for the service, which was a little slow (it took us almost the entire meal to get glasses of water!).
(4)Jie S.
I went there for a early lunch with my old friend and her family. I was first impressed with their decoration. Congee Village looks like a village with all bamboo chairs, wood wall, wood fence, and a little bridge. We were seated right away. My friend's family have been here many times so they did most of ordering: sliced port and preserved egg porridge, scallop and kinkgo seed porridge, garlic egg plant casserole, a whole roasted chicken, and stir fried vegetables I just added Razor clams with black bean sauce. I always loved congee which is my go-to comfy food and could be easily made at home. The rice in porridge was cooked long enough so those had a melting in the month taste. The meat, scallops, egg, and Kinkgo seeds were added at the right time so they were cooked right and mingled with the rice well. Those were slightly on the salty side for me. Otherwise those would be perfect. The garlic eggplant casserole was also cooked right but on the salty side. The roasted chicken was her husband favorite. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender enough with the right seasoning. I loved the razor clams which was fresh and delicious. I kind of hoped they had a bigger portion since I ate most of it and there was not enough for my friend. I would say the service was typical China town service. It didn't do any of our favor as her 2 year old threw and broke one tea cup on the floor. And parking was definitely an issue for this location as well.
(4)Marissa P.
I have had much better Cantonese food. Plus, better service. At many Chinese restaurants, the waitstaff generally isn't the greatest, but this place takes the cake for overall rudeness. They couldn't be less attentive if they tried. You ask for water and receive a snarl back -- finally the water comes 15 minutes later. You may have to ask for it twice. The food is bland. I have to add the red spicy chili sauce to everything. Plus, food always arrives way too hot. So hot it will burn your mouth. Go elsewhere for Cantonese food in NYC. There are tons of way better options at the same cost!!!
(2)lin h.
Place is clean and inviting. It's no Hop Kee on Mott, but is definitely above average and not expensive. Had the salt pepper squid, peking pork chop, and their famous (fried/rotisserie?) chicken. Also the corn chowder soup. Chicken corn chowder is pretty good (but not as good as Mai Lai Wah in Philly). Salt pepper squid is average (again, Mai Lai wah has the best i've had). The peking pork chop was also average. Go to Hop Kee on Mott if you want the best peking pork chop the world (literally, i've had it in many places in china and its not as good Hop Kee's). Little disappointed that it wasn't crispy. Now, the chicken, well....as amazing as chicken can get, if you like salty foods. Delicious and I would order it over and over again. I have to go back and try some of their short rib dishes.
(3)Ally W.
Change is not always good. The biggest difference is the portion of food. Gone are the days of ordering 4 dishes to feed 7 people to the brim... now, you need to order 7 dishes to feed 7 people. The quality of the food has also slipped. We ordered pork chops, but instead got small bite size pieces of pork fat. The salt-and-pepper calamari was a bit rubbery. But the congee.... still the best in town. Overall, our group enjoyed the meal and the price was still a good deal. We will return again.
(3)Mich L.
Unlike other asian restaurants who base their names off of stereotypical things like: dragons! woks! lanterns! red! slizzards! Congee Village's name actually makes sense. It's a restaurant that serves lots of congee and the decor inside is that of a crazy bamboo village. Or at least that's my interpretation of the unique decor anyways. The place was pretty crowded when we went in the morning so business seems to be good here. The wait wasn't too bad though, probably under 20 minutes. PROS: + Colored menus with lots of pictures. We all know that colored menus full of adequate English translations, pictures and captions make life way better. + So many friggin' dish choices! I'm pretty sure there's something for everyone here so carnivores and herbivores can temporarily coexist for a meal. + I love seafood. All I want to do is eat cantonese LOBSTER and CRAB all day. Om nom nom. + I was pretty sure Geoduck was a duck pokemon until I saw it on the menu under seafood and found out it was a type of clam. New knowledge is pro! D:'s: 1. Service isn't the greatest. Our waiter mistakenly gave us an extra bowl of congee that we didn't order and stubbornly insisted we ordered it. The manager took our order the remainder of the meal LOL. Luckily, he was cool. 2. I expected a little more from the congee. I think Andrew Zimmern came here once for the frog congee, which we also ordered. It wad decent but as someone who has grown up eating congee, I didn't find it amazing. The frog was a little bony but had good flavor within itself. Thanks to my boyfriend's family for taking me. It was a nice experience!
(4)Eunice T.
This is a really big place just for congee so its a good thing they serve a lot more than congee. I went on weekday during that awkward time of day nobody really eats--late lunch (after 2PM) early dinner (before 6PM) so the place was quite empty. It was a plus for the community that nobody was there since my body was riddled with a deathly illness resulting in excessive coughing & sneezing & a general feeling of "WTF is wrong with my body?" THUS my venture out for congee--& congee village did not disappoint. They have a lot of options. I just got the standard preserved egg & pork but it definitely tasted above standard. The best congee I've ever had--sorry Grandma. It's served in a stone bowl that I assume was hung over an open fire bc it actually comes out bubbling. So warm & soothing for my destroyed throat. My friend got the duck, chicken, & pork congee---the manly & meaty congee. The menu is large. I peeped @ their private dinner rooms for large groups & family dinner, super Asian furniture & everything. Reminds me of my mom's house. A definite return whether feeling 100% or under the weather.
(5)Dave H.
"Congee will fuck you up." Uttered by a friend in jest, the recuperative powers of congee on famished folk can't be denied. Who would have thought chicken congee could be so good? The rest of our lunch's lineup - greens, chow fun, and tofu (delightfully warm and flavorful) - was tasty and a madly inexpensive lunch: $7/head, after tip and tax. Luckily, Congee Village wasn't crowded - thanks to my friend's planning, we secured an upstairs table. This venue is well-lit, spacious, and multi-level, perfect for parties (they have karaoke too). Definitely check out their lounge and bar area. Highly recommended.
(5)Josephine L.
Impressive Cantonese lunchtime congee fare. The house special chicken (of garlic chip beauty in the Yelp pictures) is truly a marvel to be savored. Succulent, juicy, garlicky with crisp skin and a delicious soy-sauce blend accompaniment, this is the kind of thing to pig out on with dining companions. Their soup dumplings were not bad considering it's a Cantonese place, but they were a tad too small and didn't have enough soup. The duck and meat ball congee was fantastic. They serve all their congees straight from the pot so you know it's fresh and piping hot. As with most Cantonese dishes, they layer on the Chinese parsley/scallions so if you're not a fan (like me), be sure to scoop those out first. The congee was thick and comforting and the meat balls were great. Not enough duck pieces, in my opinion, but the flavor was definitely there. Kitschy jungle-esque decor but the AC was turned on nice and strong so I'm not complaining.
(4)Sarah G.
Why is it so hot in here?? And if it is that hot why are your water glasses so small and why did it take so long to get our beer? They were in bottles.... But this restaurant is huge. It goes on for days inside. And their menu is just as big, so if you don't like being overwhelmed then this isn't the place for you. They also have shark fin soup on their menu which I know is a dish common in authentic chinese and cantonese food, but they literally take the fins from sharks and through the rest away to make that dish so I just think it is sad when people offer that dish... That aside, their beef chow fun noodles are AWESOME. The black bean sauce on them is perfect and those noodles were just perfect. I could have eaten a whole order of that if we had nothing else on the table easily. We also got their peking pork ribs and those were pretty good as well, but not as good as the pork sizzling platter. But the beef chow fun still definitely won. They also serve dim sum items pretty much all day but their pork buns were not juicy enough inside at all--too much bread. Their dumplings were okay but really I should have just stuck with that beef chow fun as an entree for myself. For 5 people eating with a beer each totaling to around $45 that is pretty awesome though, especially for NYC.
(3)Jessica K.
This place is great for large groups. Ive gone to congee multiple time with anywhere from 3 to 20 people. The staff is efficient and prompt. My friends and I always order several dishes to share, usually, rice, vegetable, 1 or 2 meat dishes and a seafood dish. Just some of my favorites: salted fish fried rice, razor clams sizzling plate, fried squid. They have an extensive menu so im sure youll find something you'll like. As for the price- I have never had to pay more than $12-13 bllls split including 18-20% tip. And we order a lot of food. It can get really noisy when its busy.
(4)Ian C.
This is widely known as one of the better Cantonese restaurants in the city. Its good, but service is horrible. I guess that's to be expected in a place like this. You never go for ambiance or service, just good food at a pretty reasonable price. The steamed fish is one of the pricier things you can get on the menu but if you are with a big group its great. The pea shoot leaves and congee (preserved egg and pork) are all good. The only thing that I don't really order on the menu is the fried stuff. The salt and pepper shrimp has a huge doughy coating, not good. Other then that, a great place to eat for a leisurely Sunday dinner.
(4)Michael L.
"A-Ok, " 3-stars good. When this place first opened up, I had an urge just to dislike this place even without trying it. Perhaps it was the cheaply themed storefront, or because it was located at the very edge of Chinatown and not deserving full Chinatown status, I don't really know. My first time to patron this spot, I was very surprised that they offered more than just congee. My party booked up four banquet tables and ate decent Cantonese fine dining dishes. They even had abalone dishes. Oh yes, they have congee too. I was shocked and enlighten. I've been open to dining here ever since. The decor is still cheap, and free street parking is nearly non-existent without a healthy cardio walk. Service is okay, nothing fantastic. Most servers know enough English to get our order through, and it helps that I can speak broken Cantonese. The prices are fair and comparable to other Chinatown equivalents. This place is okay.
(3)P C.
The decor is fun and kitschy, with christmas lights, some bamboo decor. The prices here are very reasonable. Try the Pan Fried Minced Pork with salted fish. Smells heavenly and you get 8 small patties to salivate in. The sauteed bok choy with garlic is a winner as well and you won't smell like garlic afterwards either, and if you do it is worth it. Try some of the clay pot rice dishes as well They also have interesting things like frog legs, which I have never eaten before. Listen you can;t go wrong with trying new things especially when they will not leave a hole in your pocket.
(4)Kenny L.
I must have strayed from my Chinese roots. Congee or Jook is Chinese breakfast food, it is also food for cold weather and is a cure all like chicken soup is. I rarely eat Jook anymore. Mainly because in Oakland we have great options with Korean food and the Tofu stews are perfect for cold weather. In fact, last winter I probably spent three out of five workweek lunches at Korean restaurants. But also I think the Jook in Oakland's Chinatown has the consistency of instant oatmeal. I hate oatmeal. Oatmeal this Jook ain't. It was thick, flavorful and filled with stuff. The Sampan Jook was missing shrimp but also had duck. The duck fat that rendered in with the stuff made it even better. Best yet, it was served piping hot. This was perfect food for me to adjust from a temperate California autumn to a chillier East Coast autumn. I doubt I needed help with the adjustment, everywhere I went, it seems that acceptable room temperature was around 80 degrees (while room temperature is 68-70 degrees in California) and I was sweating profusely whenever indoors.
(4)Dat N.
You can not go to a place called congee village and not get congee. That said, congee is amazing and a super cheap eat - especially when you're sick and get it to go! Yes the special chicken is amazing, the do miao (snow pea) is amazing , fried rice is good but also P107 - pan fried minced pork with salty fish!! Dont be a retard and get cocktails here - these guys dont know which end of the bottle is up.
(4)Kevin J.
This is now my go to Chinese restaurant when I'm in manhattan. One of the best places I have every eaten for Chinese food. The lamb was just amazing and so was the pork. The restaurant might be small but the taste is something that can't be beat. If you're close by I highly recommend you go.
(5)Eugene K.
While sitting at the bar for a good 40 minutes, at least 70% of the patrons, including guys, ordered the lychees martinis. I couldn't help. I had to try one. Man card. "Maker's on rocks please." Didn't help that my pinky was up. Their fried rice here is pretty killer. They use freakin' jasmine rice. WHO DOES THAT?????? Love it. Oh, and pray pray pray you don't get the dungeon room. Basically, it's a small corner in the back end of the restaurant on the left. You walk down 2 steps and you see 3 small tables. Tiny. 2 of the tables has seating for 2 only, while both patrons stare at the wall. Sucks. When we got seated there, AGAIN, the gf says, "Oh no, we're stuck in the dungeon again." The girl at the table next to us was like looking around and told her bf "Yea, this is like a dungeon." I did appreciate how the bf tried to man up and complain to the waiters only to find out it would be like a 45 min. wait. Don't worry bro, we all tried. For some reason, the food comes out QUICK. You order 5 dishes, they bang them out 1 by 1 in like 10 minutes. It's awesome if you're starving but not if you order 5 dishes sitting in the dungeon. Damn, I sound like I'm complaining. But I'm not. Cheap drinks, huge portions, fast service... and the dungeon.
(4)Angie C.
I come here probably once a month as it is my go-to chinese restaurant when family and/or friends don't know where to eat. Of course, I always order the duck congee and it is an inexpensive and tasty appetizer for 2 (or 1) in place of the house soup. Don't expect great service here as it is Chinatown but do expect your food to arrive quickly. Try not to get the rice dish that comes in a bamboo vessel as I find it always lacks flavor no matter which version you order. The tofu casseroles are always a hit with my group as are any of the noodle dishes. They do party rooms downstairs but there is a minimum. The wait gets pretty long if you come here for a weekend dinner (up to an hour), but other than that you should be seated relatively quickly. Although there is a bar, try not to order alcoholic drinks here that isn't Tsingtao beer--my coworkers once ordered a vodka tonic and a glass of merlot, but they weren't very good. Overall, highly recommended for authentic chinese/cantonese fare!
(4)Matt E.
3.5 stars... Congee Village has a great spacious tropical themed location with a very clean atmosphere. The service is definitely lacking in every way. For example when I went with a group of four, he forgot one dish, gave us a dish we didn't order, and water glasses sat empty for most of the time. Congee for those not familiar is a savory rice porridge, very similar in consistency to oatmeal (and coincidentally is traditionally a breakfast meal). I enjoyed the congee here but have never had it before so I can't say how good it is compared to anything. Moving on, the salt and pepper shrimp were deep fried with a thick greasy battery which gave way to rubbery seafood barely recognizable as shrimp. The sautéed pea greens with garlic were tasty, though I'm sure the butter/oil has totally most health benefits to eating these greens. Their house special chicken ($18.00 for a whole) is delicious though I can't stand how it's served. They cut the chicken up to small pieces that make no sense and just throw them haphazardly into a mound on a plate. You pretty much have to eat this with your hands to get the meat off of all the inedible parts of the chicken. The chicken itself is flavorful, tender, and has the most delicate crispy skin I've ever had. Space aside, I think you can get better Chinese food elsewhere and even though the chicken stood out, there are other places to get awesome chicken in the city.
(3)Alexa C.
Come for the kitsch and the congee. First, the bad: The Steamed Vegetable Dumplings were the worst I've EVER had. I love dumplings and opted to try them despite seeing the warnings here when I pre-visit yelped. They're horrible (soggy wrapping encasing a dry spinach mixture) and not worth the $2! The sauteed vegetables (tried the broccoli rabe and mixed veg) were swimming in oil, voiding any freshness and killing my stomach for a good 24 hours after. And the overwhelming MSG factor really detracts from the overall food quality. The upside: The Vegetarian Congee - carrots, celery and ginkgo nuts lace sweetness into the thick bland porridge, delivering comfort in a piping hot bowl. It definitely could have used more veg, but I liked it overall. The sprawling, cheesy interior is a creative place for friends to gather to celebrate an occasion (lots of bdays when I was there). The staff will tuck you into a room, largely ignore you but then treat you to a plate of fresh fruit (honeydew, grapes and lychee) with a lit candle. Maybe go once or get the veg congee take-out but don't expect to be blown away by the food.
(2)Elizabeth L.
I liked this place. Kinda like the Shopsin's of Chinese food in terms of the menu (though not THAT overwhelming). There's a lot of choices, the portions are reasonable, the prices are a little higher than Chinatown...but the atmosphere is nice and there are plenty of tables. The congee portions were HUGE! Very tasty, and perfect for sharing. Also got the salted fish with tofu dish, one of my childhood favorites. Wasn't as salty as I like it, but I was happy it was on the menu.
(4)Jo K.
Congee village has yummy congee. My favorite is the thousand year old egg and pork congee. They also have dungeness crab, my favorite, but it's pretty salty some days. Everything else is average for a Chinese restaurant.
(3)Sui B.
The upstairs looks a lot better than downstairs so try to get seated in the former if possible. The soup dumplings all ripped apart when we tried to pry it off the paper. The pan-fried tofu was so good though~ The congee was okay, from souther China, so it is more fancy that I would prefer.
(3)Maggie L.
Super yummy!! The portion size is huge, great to have a friend share with you. You can pig out with the food here. Went with a group of friends, didn't expect the portion of to so big so we end up making the guys finish our food. Food is freshly made, nice and hot, but be careful of not to rush or else you with burn yourself. Very clean location, nice and orderly. Staffs are really nice and polite, and gives great recommendations and explanation about the food to help you decide on what to pick.
(5)Watson L.
I come here all the time, they do a splendid job on the razor clams and the beef dishes. Their congee is top notch, you must have the fried dough with it. Don't order generic chinese take out food fyi gwei lo.
(5)Jia J.
I do believe that I shouted, "HOLY SHIT" when I walked through these doors. After downing some horrendous "pizza" just blocks away (separate review, Rocket Joe's), this was like walking into an oasis of health presented in the for of good, hot food served in maximally kitschy approximations of Asian nature scenes.The structure of this place was like a parody of a fiction movie misrepresenting Asian culture and aesthetics. And yet...it was all too real. Amid fishtanks, bamboo stalks, bubbling noises from unseen indoor brooks, UV lighting, and probably images of pandas, a sharp looking staff greeted us with half contemptuous, half solicitous expressions. We were seated immediately in a nice nook in a slightly elevated area. Even at the random hour of almost 11 p.m., there were all kinds of people dining here, but mostly Asian, and of those, mostly Chinese. Hot Jasmine tea was at our disposal as we pored over the menu. Luckily, the fact that I was still kind of full and wanted to cleanse myself more than gorge myself helped me make a decision pretty fast. I knew that the fresh squid congee ($3.50) had to be mine. My friend got the beef chow fun. Both dishes were pretty honkin' huge, though next to the sprawling landscape of my companion's chow fun, my congee looked like a tiny snow covered lake with bergs of scored white squid rising up here and there. For some terrible reason, all I could bear to eat off my friend's plate were a few good sprouts. However, the fresh snap and flavor that even these stray sprouts delivered indicated a superior version of a hackneyed dish. As for my congee...it was just what I needed. Hot, thick, wholesome, and chock full of tender squid that was indeed fresh. Had I not spoiled the full extent of my appetite with lesser food, I would have tried to try them all! It's intensely comforting to know that there IS a way to get a whole pot of good congee late night for less money than a craphouse slice of pizza or probably even a bag of expired Combos and a dusty deli soft drink in this neighborhood. Good to know if stuck in foul weather or an inebriated state on the fringes of Chinatown.
(4)Hetty W.
Great place for consistent chinese food! The house specialty--congee--delivers with flavor and texture and it's served piping hot! They have these yummy rolls made out of rice noodle (chang fun) that they sautee with chives and pork that's really delicious as well. The food is a little greasy, but what Chinese food place isnt? Tastes just like home.
(4)Kim T.
This places was great! We had a little bit of a wait but it was Friday at prime dinnertime. Prices were great, the bill for 5 people only came to $86. We got friend calamari which had a very light batter coating, seafood stir fried noodles, mayonaise shrimp, a sizzling chicken dish, but the real star was the house special chicken--roasted chicken in a soy sauce. Will definitely be going again.
(5)Kyri K.
This place was great. They have different "party" rooms or whatever those things were. First time having congee so I couldn't compare it to anything, but I enjoyed it. Very modestly priced. Service was a little slow, but its all good. I also loved their decor. Kept saying that I felt like I was in a "village" - get it? Scallion pancakes are always good too. Wanted to try the fried bread with the congee but they said they were out. Oh well.
(4)Dust B.
To be fair we've come here quite a lot, and their food is quite tasty. If you are going to eat here I recommend the Beef Satay, the bean curd in sauce, and the congee. So why only 2 stars? Well for one we always seem to be tucked into the most claustrophobic space, bumping at the knees. Yesterday they literally put us in the corner where I was staring at, well, the corner. I felt like I was being punished. The table is so small that I knock over 3 things and when our congee came, there was barely any space for the waitress to put the bowls down. Anyway, we ate our congee, which was tasty and perfect for a chilly January afternoon. Then as my boyfriend was just about to eat his last spoonful, he discovers a baby roach or some miscellaneous type of bug, waterlogged, bloated and floating belly-up in his congee. When we told the waiter, he asked us what we wanted. Umm to show you that there is an INSECT IN OUR FOOD. Then he got his manager who inspected the bug and asked what we wanted again. We said that we just wanted to inform them that there was a bug in our congee. Then he asked if we wanted a replacement. Are you out your mind? Are you high??? Oh yes, more congee from the batch we just found a bug in perhaps. Then he said, "OK, cancel. We cancel." As if there was anything to cancel. We ate the congee. It's not like you can cancel our digestive process. Finally another manager came out and apologized and told us it was on the house. We didn't want to freak anyone else out so we just tipped the waitress (after all it wasn't her fault) and left. It breaks my heart because this was one of our favorite places and now we don't think we could bring ourselves to eat there again. I'm not saying this to ruin them because they really do serve delicious food but I do want to say that you should examine your food before ingestion unless you want to get some real EXOTIC, New York cuisine.
(2)Vincent V.
Never actually ate here but made people order from them. Good food for when you are sick or lazy. The food is home style and authentic. There's some nasty stuff on the menu if that's your thing. They deliver which give them high marks in my book.
(3)David W.
So I'm really not sure what the hype behind this place is. It's good, but definitely not a memorable Chinese restaurant in Chinatown (except for the fact it's not some dump that looks like it's never been mopped). The scallion pancakes? Not good at all...was there even any scallion in there or just fried dough? The soup dumplings...why in the world would you put them on paper instead of lettuce leaves, the moment you pick them up the skin will break. The black bean sizzling chicken and seafood rice were good enough to keep this place from dropping all the way down into 2 star territory; but even then, our sizzling chicken had more onions than meat it seemed like. The congee was good, but how hard is that? Maybe that's just what you need to stick to here, but it sounds like the quality has gone down a lot. I'm putting this place at 2.5 stars, bumping up to 3 since it is probably the cleanest restaurant in Chinatown and they have a cool decor.
(3)Carson Y.
The food is legit. They haven't sacrificed quality over quantity. I know it's always busy and the wait is long, but there's a reason for that. If you look around you'll see Chinese mom and pops eating around you. That just means your eating at the right place and it's not on the Chinatown washed out list. Must Try: Sauteed Jumbo Shrimp with Walnut and Broccoli Pork Chop Peking Style House Special Chicken Beef Chow Fun
(4)Brenda S.
We were there the last Friday and if you show up after 7, you have to wait. Food Recommended: Congee!! No doubt, the congee is delicious. I ordered the fish and preserved egg congee while my friend ordered abalone congee. Not recommended: House special chicken. I guess Cantonese people would prefer it but I prefer heavy sauce dishes, so it's not the one I would like to try. Service Fast and polite. One thing I am not very comfortable with is the traffic along our table. So many people talked and laughed while walking past our table. I am afraid they will bring bacteria to my dishes. :) Environment: Spacious. A lot space for family dinner, bar, even rooms. Generally, this is not the restaurant I will go back since there are so many other congee places, but I don't have a major complaint.
(4)Ashley L.
Boyfriend's family are regulars/VIP here so my rating on service might be bias...but overall I find the staff to be fast and get whatever you need done. Food is served family style and most dishes are legit. I've gotten take-out too and they're pretty fast. Drinks are VERY WELL PRICED ($5-8 cocktails...most are $6)!! If you don't want to come for food, come for the drinks!
(4)Chris M.
Probably the best restaurant in Chinatown (imo). We came here for one of my best friend's going away parties last night. We had about twenty people and so this review will include all the family style dishes. We started with the congee with shredded pork and thousand year egg. Perfect way to gain some appetite for the rest of the feast. After the congee, the rest of the food came out. and it did not stop. Whole roasted/fried chicken - very good. The skin was crispy and the white meat was juicy. Sweet fried pork chops - very good. The pork was juicy on the inside. Salty fried pork chops - good. Extremely salty but I guess that's expected given the name. Razer clams - very good. These clams are not easy to cook. The meat was tender and it fell right off the shell. Fried flounder - the entire fish is deep fried so the skin is creepy and the meat is tender. Very flavorful. Veggies - very good. And much needed with all the meats and seafood. Steak - a tbone steak perfectly cooked. The meat looked like it was medium well but was still extremely tender. This dish was devoured. I was about to pick up the bone picck the meat off that. Mayo Shrimp with broccoli and walnuts - the signature Asian dish. Not a lot of mayo which was great. The broccoli was perfectly cooked and the walnuts still crispy. The shrimp was not overlooked and delicious. Wet fried rice - I think this dish is called the fj rice? no idea. But it is seafood fried rice topped with a wet sauce. Best fries rice ever because the sauce makes it moist. Ended the feast with some red bean soup. Can't leave a Chinatown restaurant without the red bean soup. Hapoy eating, suckers.
(4)Katrina L.
There was a long line out the door so get here early to get a number then walk around Chinatown. Our waiter was incredibly funny and nice. The jouk (congee) is really inexpensive considering it was a seafood type of restaurant. The cold crab was delicious, must try! $38-42ish per crab. Well worth it as it tasted delicious! It was my first time having chilled crab but so good! Entrees are so so. It's not your typical Cantonese flavors though so don't come here expecting Hong Kong style flavors. A little dirty and the restrooms are so tiny you have to move side ways to get in and out. They also had karaoke downstairs which was kinda random. Well definitely come back!
(3)Patricia C.
I prefer going to this Congee Village versus the newer branch located on Bowery Street. The atmosphere feels a lot better! But anyway, I suggest ordering from the rice CONGEE aka rice porridge section if it is your first time dining at Congee Village because congee is what they are known for. Besides for congee, most of their family style Chinese dishes are very delicious, such as the Shrimp with walnuts/broccoli, Pork Chop Peking Style, House Special Chicken, and Sauteed Chinese Seasonal Spinach. If you want to find a place to celebrate special occasions, then this will definitely be the right place since there are rooms available for parties over 15! Side Note: There is a cocktail bar for those who like to drink!
(4)Xiao Y.
Went to Congee Village last night with 3 other friends. I'm not going to say this is the best restaurant, but this is the place you want to go to if you want a low-key, chill time with friends kind of meal. Menu offers a lot of variety and the prices were very reasonable given the alternatives around the area. We weren't very hungry so we only ordered: Perserved duck egg w/ shredded pork Congee (2) Garlic stir-fried snow pea leaves Pork chop Peking style The congee was pretty good, full bodied and not too watery. A good congee is made with some sort of pork broth as the base but without the oil often associated with a pork broth. The congee was well balanced with just enough preserved duck egg and pork. I would have been fine just ordering a bowl of the congee and eating only that. One order of congee is enough for 3 people to each get a little bowl. The garlic stir-fried snow pea leaves was good - greasy, garlic wasn't too overpowering, and most importantly - the snow pea leaves were tender and not overcooked! This is dish isn't too hard to make, but it can definitely be screwed up. This is probably one of my favorite veggie dishes to get at Chinese restaurants so I've had plenty to judge from. The pork chop Peking style was a first for me - but it has probably made my list of things to order consistently. Think of it as thinly pounded pork chops deepfried and then tossed with the Chinese bbq sauce/honey. I wish I had gotten more pork but most of what I had was batter, the pork pieces that I did get were very tender and the outside was a little crispy which made the entire experience better. Like I said, I don't think there's much to wow at, but this place is consistent, good, and can accommodate groups well. Some people like to experiment every now and then, but I feel like everyone has a few staple stores they go to when they want a guaranteed good meal below a certain price and this place might be it for me. I wouldn't hesitate to go back to this place again.
(4)Bianca E.
I had zero reason to think the food here would be good, but was in the LES craving Chinese. Congee Village is truly mediocre (at best) and cheap, in every sense. We ordered: Scallion Pancakes Shrimp Fried Rice Shanghai Style Juicy Buns Hot Plate Sautéed Short Rib We were seated on the first floor and there didn't seem to be any airconditioning. Perhaps that put us off the food, but the only thing we finished were the scallion pancakes. Decor-wise it's a little nicer than your average Chinatown restaurant, but really it's Party City does Imperial China. The service was very laissez-faire (read: more or less non-existent).
(2)Danny P.
[3.5 stars] Formerly the home of post-hockey scrimmage dinner for people with large appetites, this is the perfect place to take a large group especially if you're willing to make some choices you normally wouldn't make. We found the scallops in spicy pepper sauce and the 'my fun' to be particularly good, though none of us ordered the house special chicken. The scallion pancakes were awesome, and though lotus root isn't my favorite, the vegetarians in the group loved it. The most amazing thing? With six people ordering an entree (we thought about getting five thinking that'd be enough, but were feeling hungry) our total only came to $72 with tax. That's insane! Couple of things to note: service is a little slow and they will bring your food out as it's ready. If you're ordering appetizers, order them first and then give it some time before ordering your entrees.
(3)Miguel S.
Dined here a few times over the past several years & the positives easily outweigh the negatives. The menu is ridiculously huge, but a bit short on beer options. Stick to the standards (General Tso's, Sesame Chicken, etc.) & you'll do very, very well with the food quality. Dig further into the atypical & it gets more spotty. Service is decent. Though I do OK with it, I've noticed some people struggle a bit over language barriers with the wait staff (e.g. "asparagus" does not = "spare ribs"). Overall, a solidly reliable option near Bowery Ballroom & the other night spots in the area.
(4)Derek C.
The atmosphere isn't the best, and the wait is long most of the time, but the food isn't too bad.
(4)Tsz-Cheong C.
Congee is always delicious and service is OK, nothing to write home about. The Singapore Mei fun, Seafood casserole, and pan fried beef with Chinese broccoli are overly too sweet for my taste. I mean don't get me wrong. The place is known for it's Congee and that is what they are good at. The other dishes are mediocre at best. So if you want great Congee, this is the place, if you want great tasty Cantonese food, try the other joints around Chinatown. Another thing that bothered me and made me hysterical laughing, 1st the temperature of the food in the seafood casserole dish was inconsistent throughout the dish. The fried tofu and broccoli were barely warm and the scallops were hot. When you rush the quality of the product suffers. secondly, they had this server who brought out the food he sounded just like "froggy" from "The little rascals" It was hysterical when he announced the dish as it approached our table in a grumpy monotone voice, complete with a sneer and stare down, priceless!
(3)Kristi G.
Oh congee village, how I love you... even the cheesy happy birthday song! Definitely a good place for large groups - the decor is all over the place, and pretty tacky, but somehow it's fitting. Also if you're looking for an intimate, quite evening, this is not the place for you. The service is also not the best, and you get charged for each bowl of rice. It's kind of an outcry to get charged for rice at a Chinese restaurant - but I also get pissy when I don't get complimentary chips & salsa at Mexican restaurants, or bread at Italian joints. My favorite dishes are the veg congee (add thousand year old egg), sweet potato pancakes, morning glory, and lotus root! Lots of other great options! When my parents visit NY, I'm definitely bringing them here!
(4)Sandy C.
I've been here a few times. It's always been for someone's birthday so we always come with a large group. It's good for Chinese food and it's cheap. I'm not sure why it's so crowded and why people are so drawn to this place because the quality of food is not the freshest nor the best tasting. We waited between 30-45 mins for our tables because somehow our reservation for the private room got lost. While we were waiting in the lobby, I noticed the decor was oddly mismatched. What's up with the light fixtures and matching neon lite stools? That totally doesn't mesh with traditional hand carved Chinese wood and water fountains. So Tacky! Some dishes we ordered: Razor clams - Not sure why everyone gets this every time, I'd rather eat regular clams. This overly sized long clam kind of freaks me out. Pan Fried Tofu - This was actually the most flavorful thing we had (I know, Tofu..flavorful!) T-Bone Steak - Do not order this, it didn't taste good at all and the steak tasted freezer burned. House special Snow pea shoots - It's only special because they put salted egg yolk, egg whites (egg drop soup style), and 100 yr old preserved duck egg in here. The presentation itself looks gross but it tasted ok. Salt & Pepper Squid - Good Sliced flounder with stir fried veges - Good Chives with octopus - Good Chicken & black mushroom casserole with rice - Nice presentation and pretty good House Special Chicken - Decent What worries me is how the food come out so fast, especially since all the tables are full and it's so busy? And why is it so dirt cheap? Total for 20 people came out to be $27 p/p. For all that food we ordered (I'm sure I'm forgetting some dishes). We didn't find anything in our food but the dishes just kept coming out one after another. As Yu-Ching mentioned, there is something going on behind the scenes and I'm almost afraid to find out. I'm all for cheap fast classic Chinese food, but it doesn't taste all that great. I still think High Pearl in Elmhurst is the best place to go.
(2)John K.
Food was delicious but honestly can't beat monterey park/san gabriel chinese food IMO. If you are craving chinese, this place is spot on and guaranteed to satiate your hunger. We ordered so much food that I'm not going to even begin to list them, but everything was pretty good so just order whatever your craving and I'm sure you wont be dissapointed. But again, chinese food in so-cal is better (in my opinion) haha
(4)Sylvia C.
I've been here so many times but this place never disappoints. The food is really good and cheap. We went there last night. There were seven of us and we ordered eight dishes with drinks and it was only $16 including tip. Crazy right? The only downside is that you have to wait, even when you reserve. We waited 40 minutes but the food comes out pretty fast so once you sit down you're pretty much set.
(4)Sarah B.
Stumbled upon this place while in search of a place to stumble upon. Totally worth the 40 minute or so wait for a table. The constant flow of patrons was a big clue we had found a true gem. The interior was very cool. Large tables for big groups. Yet another clue we found a fabulous restaurant. My sis and I had never tried congee, so of course, that was part of our order. The crab congee...wow...crabtastic. The dishes are served family style so we ordered a few entrees...a chicken dish and beef satay. Delicious. The beef dish was very spicy, so it was fabulous. When in chinatown, check this place out. You won't be disappointed and you also won't break the bank when the bill comes.
(5)Selena L.
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who lived in a dungeon. She was kept there by the evil stepmother named Unemployment, a cruel witch who wouldn't give the princess enough money to dine out in the manner to which she was accustomed. Our beautiful princess was very sad about this. One day, she managed to escape the dungeon and found herself a freelance job. This made the princess very happy, and it placated the mean old evil stepmother who was too busy forcing her other children to go to boring required seminars at 9am to bother harassing her. Soon after the princess escaped from the dungeon, she met a man named S who had written her on a not-free dating website. He was nice and funny and seemingly handsome, although he did bear a great resemblance to one "Marky Mark" (former of the Funky Bunch). They made plans to get dinner, but before they could meet, he had to cancel, for he was being sequestered for a reality show. The princess was disappointed, but she understood, and carried on with her life. A few months later, S wrote her to say that he'd been released from his prior obligation and would she like to meet him for dinner? The princess readily agreed, and they met up at a bar in NoLIta for a few drinks. Well, the princess did, for S admitted he was on a mood stabilizing drug. Afterwards, the princess and S walked over to Congee Village, where they tucked into some fine standard Cantonese cuisine, including salt & pepper snails (periwinkles), roast squab and tofu casserole. They ate and talked, and ate and talked some more, but as the princess ate and talked, she realized she wasn't particularly attracted to this man. His arms were like pythons, and the princess didn't care for snakes. Outside, S asked if he could see her again, and the princess didn't reply when he kissed her on the mouth. Instead, she hailed a cab and went home, ignoring his subsequent texts and messages over the next few days. A few months later, the reality show starring S aired, and little did the princess know she had sidestepped a real landmine. She watched footage of him picking fights with other contestants and she cringed as he bawled about his personal life which often spilled into the challenges. The princess was so traumatized that she was never able to look at a cinnamon candy again without thinking of S. Boys and girls, the moral of this story is if you are a prince or a princess, you're going to have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your mate. Sometimes, you will have to kiss pigs and snakes too. In the meantime, you're better off kissing frog legs at a Chinese restaurant because at least those won't humiliate you later down the line.
(3)Thomas F.
Delicious Chinese food! Reasonable prices. Good variety of choices.
(5)Cindy X.
Really good mayo shrimp with walnuts. Although it only have 9 pieces and its 15.95. Shrimp was crunchy and nicely coated with honey mayo. The shrimp didn't taste bland like the other places. This place didn't taste like it had baking soda in it. If you understand what I mean. It's that weird taste you get when eating mayo shrimp. The broccoli from the shrimp wasn't hard and even lightly salted unlike other Chinese restaurant where they have uncooked hard broccoli. I also had the salted fish, slice chicken, and tofu casserole. The casserole had a lot of flavor to it. It goes really well with white rice. It had lettuce, mushrooms, fish fillet, slice chicken and fried tofu. We order 3 white rice to go and the bill came out to be 33$ with tax for 3 people. We were so full and we still have leftovers.
(4)Jimmy C.
Congee Village is a tasty delight when it comes to Chinese Family Style Cuisine. Big Party of Friends + Chinese Style Eatery + Congee Village = Success!! FOOD: I came with my gf and family and being my first time they ordered some of the staples for me to try and they were DELICIOUS! We ordered Seafood Hot Pot, the famous House Special Chicken, 1000 Year Old Egg + Chicken Congee, and Seafood Pan Fried Noodles! Everything was tasty, brought out hot and sizzling, and made to order. The only thing I feel that is a little sad is they probably use MSG, however it is easily overlooked to how awesome everything tastes. I would recommend the House Special Chicken and Pan Fried Noodles for any first timers! They are staple Chinese style dishes and Congee Village makes them as good as anyone else. SERVICE: Above average and quick and efficient. ATMOSPHERE: Large, Meandering and reminds one of a jungle with the wallpaper/decor. I hear that the place is very large and deep. Its very deceiving from the outside in that it looks small but that is not the case at all. Provides a very family style and warm atmosphere. Great for large groups of friends or family! When we came we sat by the door and the table next to us was the staff cleaning and cutting veggies. The restaurant gives a really homie and cultural background of what an Asian Family style restaurant is all about...fellowship, being together and making everything work together. SUMMARY: Great place for having family style food and eating staple traditional Chinese cuisine. I definitely will be back and be bringing lots of friends and family!
(5)hugo z.
Great food!! This is a must for great Chinese food!! Been coming here for years but my first review on this place because i kept wanting more of the food i had recently here. Was here for a family dinner, huge family dinner.LOL Alot of food but the boneless yes boneless chicken feet in thai sauce was the BEST I`ve had OMG cant say enough about it!! All the dishes we had was top notch i have to say, from soup to fish everything was excellent! Our party of 13 cleared up a total of 11 courses and 1 soup! Best dinner i had in awhile, even my oldman (great chef in his prime days) gave his approval!! Enjoy everybody!!
(5)Daniel Z.
First things first, I used to love congee village. Now, things are a bit different. The food is still decent, the sizzling hot pepper steak is good. Their food is good, the portions are decently sized. However, the service is horrible. I've gone there twice in the past month and both times I had horrible waiters. They look at the tip and frown if you tip too little and all I can say is, most chinese restaurants of that caliber give you ice in a glass with soda, they gave me a straight up soda. When the waiter took our order, he seemed like he was in a rush to go somewhere and almost frowned when I told him what I wanted. Do not reccomend if you want good service, if you want decent food, go here.
(2)Jonathan C.
I've been here at least four times. It was just ok the first time, but every time I've come back the food just seems to be getting better and better. Food aside, this place is serious, serious bang for the buck. You should definitely come with a group and be prepared to eat family style. Everything we ordered on my last trip was superb. I'm blanking a bit on the exact English names of the dishes, but we ordered congee, some type of glazed pork chops, a whole fish, sauteed greens with garlic, dungeness crab, and a fried tofu dish. The pork chops were right on. At first glance it sort of looks like your typical Chinese takeout, but it's not. It's mostly meat here with a little batter (not the other way around) and there is no heavy, sugary and goopy sauce that you find in the chinese takeout version. The dungeness crab is massive. Even with five people, we almost couldn't finish it. I'm not sure what sauce they use to cook the crab in, but it was so good I was putting it on my rice. The fried tofu was actually fried in the kitchen, rather than packaged fried tofu (as you would find at the grocery store) that's simply heated. We could taste the difference and definitely appreciated the extra effort they made. All in all, we had a great meal. Even though their restaurant is huge, they get very crowded during dinner time. Expect at least a 30 minute wait.
(5)Gunnar W.
I have been eyeing Congee Village down for months. In fact, we went all the way to New York just to try it. I had my mind made up: I was going to get the Turtle Soup and the Frog and Abalone Congee. When he finally came over to ask us what we wanted, I said Turtle soup. He didn't know what turtle meant! He was "all out". Then i asked for the market price of the Geoduck. He proclaimed 'duck, 16.95 for whole!' He seemed confused. Then he took our orders and left. about 20 minutes pass and the Buns, Dumplings, Congee and Satay come out. We ask for a drink menu. He brings the menu but never follows up on what we wanted. We then signal him to bring us a lychee martini and a regular martini. He comes back AFTER our whole meal with the drinks. He places them at the extreme end of the table so we had to get up and grab them. What happens next was the deal breaker: we are finishing up, and then the waiter goes over to the bar area upstairs and hocks a lugie right into the garbage. The whole room could see and hear it. DISGUSTING! Great meal, but service was so bad that we didn't even tip him.
(1)Ally Z.
Delicious cold dungeness crab here. Extremely meaty and very sweet. It will satisfy and crab cravings. Other good dishes: Pea shoots, clams in a Thai broth. The salt and pepper squid was a disappointment- outside had mushy fried breading and inside had mushy squid. The drinks were yummy and reasonably priced- mango and yogurt drink $3; lychee ice drink $2 (and lots of lychees). And if you're into fruity martinis, most are $5.
(4)Thomas A.
I went here over the weekend for a friends get together/ belated bday celebration. The place is pretty big. We got our own private room which came with a big circular table, a small table, some chairs/couches and a tv that is hooked up to a karaoke machine. The service is pretty good. They came around replenishing our waters and beers. They even helped us to work the karaoke machine. Food wise, we ordered a set of dishes since we had like 20 ppl. It came with various dishes and the food was pretty good. The set came with apps, meats, soup, rice/noodles, fruit, etc. There really wasn't anything that I didn't like. Although one friend mentioned that the watermelon at the end tasted like sweaty hands. It was a bit odd that they served the rice and noodles at the end...before the dessert, but i guess they did that so you don't get full from that and instead get full on the real food. In the end, we spent $45 per person which i think is really cheap since the set was $20 per person plus we bought lots of beer and the birthday boy didn't pay. Caveat - there seems to be no a/c near the bar, but the private room had A/C. It was controlled nicely. The rest of the menu looks good and the congee looks very cheap. I definitely want to come back and try it out.
(3)Compulsive e.
Such an overrated place... Food doesn't taste authentic at all. Even worse is the service. If you're not white nor a Cantonese speaker, don't expect to get any respect here. They have no time for you. So sick of these gangster-looking HongKongese treating other Asians like crap. Will never go back.
(1)Angela W.
My overall experience at Congee Village was good. I am originally from Texas, and I've had some fair share of good Chinese food before. But this place did kind of make me feel like I'm at home. The chinese food was authentic, it made me feel like I'm in Asia. The walnut shrimp was probably my favorite dish. I don't really remember what else we ordered, but all I know is I had a good meal.
(4)Jean L.
[ATMOSPHERE] This place is much larger inside than I expected and pretty traditionally decorated for a Chinese establishment. I came here looking for some shelter from a pretty windy rainy night. [FOOD] I ready awesome reviews about the congee and had to have some. To be honest, it fulfilled my craving but not as good as grandma makes. [BEVERAGE] I had a pot of tea to go with my comfort food. [SERVICE] My waiter seemed to not notice my existence. Considering it was past midnight and there were very few people there on a Wednesday, I would have expected a little bit more attention. [PRICE] My salted chicken congee was $4.45. Considering I could only finish half of it, my meal was pretty cheap.
(3)Yann P.
This is still one of my fav places in Chinatown. When I pass buy I do take out on their rice noodles nd anything is good, but if u order late the congee might have other stuff you might not of expected, I think one time they head pork intestine maybe the mix up my congee, buy the fav if pea leaf and the razor clams. Just remember if u get there flyer 6 pm you may be out of luck with the razor clams. The drinks are not to cost,y but if you want bubble tea go around the orner instead
(4)Abbey C.
We came here last night only because we were craving pork congee, and when we went to Big Wong King, they told us that they were out of the roast pork and the duck. Whaaaat? How does that even happen? Anyway... headed over to Congee Village and joined the throngs of people waiting for a table. "how long is the wait?" "10 minutes". 40 minutes later it became clear that this was the standard response, no matter how long the wait would really be. Everyone that went up to the hostess was told "10 minutes". We finally get seated in a room that looks like part tiki hut, part ewok tree house, and part long john silver restaurant meets princess castle in the 1980's (yes, it's a bizarre description... go see for yourself and tell me I'm wrong). Cleanliness.... not happening here. From the very dirty floor, to the sticky salt and pepper shakers, to the disgusting bathroom. Cleaning is not happening here. Not in the least. Food... not great. We ordered Pork Congee, Pan Fried Dumplings, Soup Dumplings, and steamed pork buns. I've had much better everywhere else. The pork in the congee is in tiny shredded pieces, and was bland. Fried dumplings were tough, and didn't come with the usual soy/ginger/garlic dipping sauce. Soup dumplings had a good flavor, but no soup in the dumplings. Steamed pork buns... just alright. Service... We actually had decent service with a nice waiter. Overall, there was nothing to get excited about here. I will be heading back to Big Wong for my congee, Excellent Dumpling for my fried dumplings and pork buns, and Joe's Shanghai for my soup dumplings.
(1)Phoenix F.
Rats, rats, rats..that's what is here and what I felt as a rat (not a mouse) traipsed about the dining room here on Friday night. Not a single employee blinked twice, and their grade 'A' was not removed from the window in shame. I have reported to 311, vomited all my insides out, and had nightmares about the incident in honor of his viewing. Can't say enough bad things about unclean ethnic restaurants in this city.
(1)Sonia C.
Very solid Cantonese restaurant. The wait here is pretty long but worth it as the food here is better than any other Chinese restaurant I've tried in Manhattan. Stuff we tried: - crispy chicken: It was alright, but the skin wasn't super crispy and the meat wasn't super hot. - salt & pepper squid: SUPER crispy, ultra-fried, delicious. - congee: their namesake dish didn't disappoint - good consistency and flavour. - sizzling black pepper beef short ribs: one of the best dishes of the night. Not spicy, but piping hot and tasty. - garlic snow pea shoots (dou miao): rather ordinary, hard to mess up this one - black bean clams: really savory with very plump and clean (no sand!) clams. - frog & mushroom rice steamed in bamboo container: I'm pretty sure the bamboo thing is just for show, as the rice wasn't very fragrant, but it was still pretty good. - red-braised (hongshao) tofu: Eh, don't get this. They serve it atop a very aggressive sterno which easily burns the tofu and the thick gloopy sauce it comes in. Service is pretty standard for a Chinese restaurant, which means you can get a waiter's attention about once every five tries. The MSG in the food kept me reaching for water 5 hours later. Still, I would come again.
(4)Victoria T.
This is my go to congee place when the weather is cold or I am feeling sick. I am from Texas so this cold weather really gets to me. I need my congee fix so I go here. I normally get the minced pork congee (i think thats what it is called). It is very yummy in my opinion. It is off the menu so I ask them to make it for me. I'm not really into the weird stuff like thousand year old egg. My boyfriend loves that stuff though so his go to dish is the fish congee adds preserved egg. He once got the frog legs and if I remember correctly he wasn't a big fan of it. Down fall about this place is there is always a wait. It is a pretty big place just with lots of customers. I've been here 3 times now and every time I've had to wait for a table but the wait is never long. Max 10 mins. I really wish they had pickled cucumbers and fried long doughnut thing (don't know what it is called in english) to eat with my congee. It would make me feel like I'm back in Texas eating congee my mom made. So, sometimes I just order togo so I can eat it at home with these other side dishes that are MUST HAVES for congee.
(4)Thuy V.
I remember coming here when it first opened some 3 years ago and while I was still living in NY. The food was great and the place was quiet, all family style. No problem finding a table. Everyone I brought here raved about the food. 3 years later, I've moved to LA and returned for some Chinatown chow and wow...the food is just as great but the place is now so crowded. If you have a huge crowd and it's Sat night, expect to wait 1/2-1 hr. If you're looking for a table for 1 or 2, there's usually no wait time. The food is so good, so you can go wrong.
(5)Marc R.
I was brought here by my cousin's family. They said it was a destination place and they eat there all the time. I eat a good amount of Chinese, but often it's take out. I guess the tacky decor is standard issue and really is to be expected. In that respect, they deliver, strongly. The service was mediocre, not a lot of speed nor personality. The food was all tasty. We had a lot of different dishes and all of them were good. I won't rush here again, but I would eat here again. If I could give it 2.5 stars I would be more accurate. I guess I'm in the minority since so many people have given this place rave reviews. I'm a pain in the ass and I'm hard to please so...
(3)R Y J.
The whole chicken is really a WHOLE chicken! You get the head on your plate, too! My friend was terrified and we had to keep the head on someone else's plate. The chicken was good, though. But that's about it. And the wait was horrendous. And the hostess had no idea what she was doing. Why in the world would you tell me we only have to wait 20 minutes when I see that there are a million people waiting? 40 minutes later I asked her when we were getting called, and she said "soon." I went in another 20 minutes later and she finally got us seated. She looked like she wanted to cry the whole time.
(3)Rob R.
The rule seems to be: don't go on a Fri or weekend. This time had a better overall experience on a weeknight. Same feelings about the food which was good, but nothing great (duck blood, beef satay, and crispy chicken were the mains).
(3)Jordan S.
I came here with Chinh, Sally, and their mutual friend. I hadn't had congee in a few years, and had never really been a fan. To that point, I had only had really thin consistencies of congee, and thus likened it to bad porridge. Well, thank you three for convincing me to come here. The congee is affordable, at around $5, and it is delicious. I ordered the roast duck and roast pork congee, which came with a good deal more meat than I was expecting. Sweet. I like that they leave individual condiments for each person in your party, allowing me to white pepper the bejesus out of my congee. We also shared a few family style dishes, most of which were good, but all of which took a relative backseat to the congee. As at any good Chinese restaurant, the tea was refilled quickly and was of decent quality. Also typical of better Chinese restaurants, there was a crowd of boisterous families and a harried vibe about the waiters. The decor is a little silly, but that's really not what you're coming here for. Apparently, good congee also takes a village.
(4)Winifred X.
This is actually my second time here, I totally forgot to review it the last time I was here.. Given that I am not that familiar with the Chinatown area, I have to say that the 3 tier deck layout is unique and very interesting, the decor is the most interesting thing here. . -- food: I ordered a serving of Sampan congee, and it's EXCELLENT, this is probably the best congee I had in NYC so far, not watery, not bland, and plenty of stuff inside the special clay pot.. $4.50(?) I think I will try their other congee in the future. --- however, I do recall that the dishes we ordered my first time eating here was so-so.. -- other ppl on my table ordered various other Chinese dishes, they look fine to me..
(4)Martin C.
This is not a nice place to go if your white we were seated for over 15 minutes and never offered service so we got up and left, seems they are prejudiced and only serve Chinese........ :-(
(1)Hank C.
Well, I'm going to have to downgrade this Village, because of the 1. hair in my congee, and 2. the food getting ever the more oily. I'm not sure why, but they're not getting better at controlling quality, and so I'm sadly going to have to take them down a notch as I've discovered other, better, congee places.
(2)victoria v.
Ignorance is bliss? I am ignorant. Not blissful. Don't know what is so hot 'bout this place except it was open at, ah 2am. I loved the salty crispy fried pepper squid thing that Ting ordered. The soup dumplings? Eh. Not soupy. General Tso's chicken? Not bad, but I could have endured a bit more flavor! My seafood chow fun (shit, is that what I ate?....see how ignorant? It's the one with flat rice noodles, right?...) It was edible. Needing to add soy sauce...that's not a good sign, is it? ah well. Glad I didn't go home at 2am starving. :D
(3)D Z.
Consistently authentic chinese. My favorites - snails, congee (pork blood, frog), clams with black bean sauce, house chicken, jumbo shrimp with walnuts and broccoli (it's called something else at most restaurants), dungeness crab, assorted seafood casserole, hot and sour soup This location is better than bowery.
(5)Carrie L.
BIG BIG fan of this place. The first time I came here was in March 2011 ..when my sister took me here. I am a huge fan of congee so my expectations are pretty high, but this place lived up to all of it. We had the seafood porridge and the abalone chicken porridge, as well as the steamed buns (it comes with condensed milk) which was all amazing. I think one of the key things that make their congee so great is that they add this sort of dried vegetables in it. It gives it a kick (sort of a sweetish taste) that I don't usually get. Fast forward 8 months later and I came back with the rest of the family. The porridge and steamed buns were just as good as I remembered, but this time we tried more dishes. In addition to our original porridge + bun, we ordered the yang chow fried rice, steamed fish, and some greens. The fish was great - really fresh and tasty but the rice and greens was so so. The rice lacked taste and was a bit hard. The greens seemed kind of old and wilted. Overall, I will continue coming to this place each time I visit New York, but I think the quality/taste of the food depends on what you order..though I do believe a majority of their food will be a hit with me.
(4)Tam N.
I love Congee Village. It's one of those unique chinese food experiences that you can get in NYC. The atmosphere is like stepping into a remote chinese "village" with all the laquered wood etc. And the strange food items (duck tongue, jellyfish etc) to standard regular chinese food (Orange chicken, Lobster etc) offer a good variety of different textures and tastes for any palate. I highly reccomend the roast chicken. Their roast chicken is the best chicken you will have anywhere. Perfectly cooked, moist and the skin is crispy. Their congees are top notch as well. Not everything is great as the menu is really large and it's hard to have quality on everything when there is too many dishes to create, but there are a lot of gems on the menu. It will take many trips to try everything. The restaurant is very popular and expect a bit of a wait if you don't have reservations
(4)Paul G.
I went here around midnight with 8 other friends. Waiters refused to take our orders. There was 6 waiters standing around talking. Only 4 other tables with people. We had to get up and walk out after 15 minutes. Never again.
(1)Lauren L.
Was I drunk? Yes. Was it about 1 in the morning? Of course. Did I eat an insane amount of delicious Chinese food (ordered by my lovely Chinese friend) for about $25 and eat everything on my plate? Yes. Not sure I'd have the most pleasant of experiences since the staff wasn't the friendliest, but with food like that, I sooooo don't care.
(5)Lou C.
Clams with Black Bean Sauce is amazing, when I get the craving I must have it !! Everything I have tried I liked too, sometimes you have to wait, but have a beer and enjoy the chatter
(4)Heather S.
I'm not sure what was was going on the night I went to Congee Village, but I was not happy. I went with a group of coworkers (the majority were Chinese) and we got a table for 10 and ordered family style. Us non-Chinese left the ordering up to the ones who knew better and waited patiently for our feast to arrive. The appetizers (soup, calamari, clams) came out relatively quick and were quite good. After that it all went down hill. No refills on our beverages, no utensils. The main courses came out in ridiculous distances of each other we waited 15 minutes after finishing our steak for the pork dish and then 25 minutes after the pork dish for the last main course to be served, the chicken. We were pretty sure they butchered one fresh for us and our suspicions were later confirmed when they told us the wait was due to the fact that they ran out of chicken. Hmmm... Mostly we just felt absolutely ignored by the staff at Congee Village. Honestly, it was more of a 2.5 star experience, but service is such a big factor for me that I had to round down and not up this time around. I'm sure we'll back for another group dinner and I hope when we are Congee Village is able to flip this review into a 4 star one.
(2)Jason P.
3.5 stars is exactly where I would rate them. I like that they've made an effort to decorate the place, which is rare for the Chinese places I'm used to visiting. There's a jungle-meets-a-junk (the ship, not the other thing) sort of feel to this joint. I ordered the house special chicken and the walnut shrimp. Both were pretty good, not spectacular though. I'm quite nit-picky when it comes to Chinese food. The chicken was a little salty and the shrimp was a little blah blah blah... It doesn't really matter. The point is this-- you should come to this restaurant if you're in the area. And you're hungry. Or with a group of friends. It will be affordable; everyone will be sated. Make witty comments about the decorum, the service, and the patrons. Fin.
(3)Neil P.
Where else can 4 people eat like kings for $60? Soup Dumplings, Fried Silverfish, Pork Salted Fish Cakes, Chow Fun, Snow Pea Leaves, Congee (Dried Scallop and White Nut), and Peking Pork Chops. Roll me on out of here.. I'm full and done!
(5)Angel C.
Cheap, great for groups, came on a Tuesday night which = no crowds, fast service. Our party took 2 adjacent tables and had about 10 plates each out within 10 minutes of ordering. Excuse the lack of accuracy and cultural nuances, but we got a wonderful plate of sauteed spinach, pan fried flat noodles, yellow fried rice (w/ peas and carrots), the mushroom Congee - yum! - veggie and pork dumplings, calamari, duck, and much more. I understand the negative reviews, but I stand by my v positive experience! Time your arrival and recognize what you are paying for when considering quality and experience.
(5)Linda C.
The congee, smooth, hot, and watery, hovers to my table with a pleasing alacrity. I doubt I could finish announcing the Gettysburg address between ordering and getting my meal, while sipping the complimentary black tea. The $3-5 congee portion is big enough to sate even the moderately gluttonous among us, but the Michael Phelps may need to order a few extra servings. The best part - you'll never get bored, as there are dozens of flavors to dally with. The peaceful village with fake plants, air conditioning, woody furniture, beautiful art, and attentive wait staff, sells much more than rice porridge. In fact, the menu is as thick as a Dr. Seuss book (and I like my menus thick). Try the bitter melon soup or one of the many edible marine animals. No matter the menu item, it seems that they're mostly better at cooking than I am, and fortunately for me, only two blocks away. Overall, low latency, decent portions, affordable pricing, and large selection make Congee Village a great place to bring a desperate date or a herd of friends.
(5)JP B.
Many reviewers are saying this place has slipped a little recently. Realizing I hadn't been to this former favorite in years I figured I'd have to make a trip back. And while I don't think I can let my five star review of this restaurant from three years ago stand, I still consider them a very solid four for the following reasons: Congee: Theirs is still superb, and I remain a fan of the sliced fish and lettuce version. Value: You can go nuts with the seafood and blow the bill sky high if you want to, but dinner here can still be just over the $10 per person mark, if you're smart about how you order. It's all on you how far you want to go. Menu - Plenty of good choices for the adventurous eater. I wouldn't advise coming here with a fussy eater, because there's way too much fun they could ruin. The quality of the food varies from OK to superb; most of the OK stuff being the less adventurous menu items. Decor - Love it or hate it; I love it. There are flaws, of course. The wok dishes are a bit oily and salty, reminding me of the Cantonese joints I first fell in love with decades ago. This is a heavy (and out of fashion) style. It works well in dishes like the house special chicken and the greens (baby bok choy or snow pea greens), less well on dishes like beef chow fun, which was simply too oily tonight. Then again, I wouldn't even have ordered that if it hadn't been for two less-than-adventurous teenage girls in our dining party. Service is fine, although I've heard some complain. My experience has always been that servers are efficient and helpful. They don't come off as friendly because they don't smile much, nor make small talk, but so what? I'm not coming to a Cantonese restaurant looking to make new BFF's among the waitstaff. I come for good food at an almost embarrassing value. So in letting a former five star review slip to four I really can't tell whether Congee Village has actually slipped a little or I've become a more sophisticated diner. Maybe it's a little of both. I'll have the chance to find out, because I will be back. My wife is crazy over the congee, and I'm crazy over both the value and adventurousness of the menu. I think we're both right.
(4)Betsey L.
when i want chinese food...i go to congee village. and i'm chinese. (not some non-asian person who equates good chinese food to a darn good general tso's chicken and beef lo mein) the congee is good, contains a good heaping of ginger (good for your health so just eat it). cold giant crab. good. crispy peking style pork chops. good. razor clams w/ blk bean spicy sauce. good. house special chicken. omg so good....if you really like garlic and aren't on a first date, get this. skin is crispy and it is drenched in garlic. bring after dinner mints. they accommodate large parties pretty well too....i've had rsvps for groups over 15 a few times. OH and the LYCHEE martini is strong and only $5. cheap place to pregame if you like lychee martinis.
(4)Jackie K.
My first Congee Village experience was for a friend's birthday party. We first went to a little bar on Spring St., then tried like hell to find a place that could accommodate about 9 people (on a Friday night, around 8pm). We wandered down to CV and I immediately thought we were doomed by the number of people standing outside. Just by luck, they had a table open upstairs. We enjoyed the Chinese beer, sucked down the porridge, languished on the Singapore mei fun and munched on the sweet potato pancakes. I love this place--I love the tiki decor, the fact that they sing happy birthday in English and then Chinese, and bring out a huge Western-looking white sheet cake for the lucky person of honor. The menu has so much variety and everything I had that night was awesome. I recently went again. Another huge line outside, but just myself and my husband. We were seated immediately once we caught the host's attention, which took a few minutes because of the clamoring of our fellow diners waiting to be seated. My husband got the General Tso's and I got the Singapore mei fun again. The Tso's was seriously out of this world. Best I've ever had. I don't often get any food that is heavily breaded b/c often chewy pieces of meat lurk beneath the sweet spicy sauce and doughy exterior. Two things I noticed right away: the sauce was nice and spicy, but almost a little like a barbecue with its sweetness (this was all good to me) and then the batter on the chicken was the crunchiest I'd ever had. And finally, I ended up sharing a lot of that dish because the meat was perfectly white, every bite. That was a first for me and Chinese food. I'm not really that lily white, but I don't know--the wiggly stuff under the breading kinds creeps me out. I'm just tell you that this is particularly good stuff. The mei fun was just ok--not as spicy as I like it. Frankly, Lili's makes better mei fun because they add a lot of curry, which I love. But it was still quite good. We got the sweet potato pancakes as an appetizer/dessert and these were unfortunately slithering in oil, which I was kind of disappointed by, but the pancake dough itself was delightful. So I guess I was more frustrated that I couldn't eat many of the pancakes because I was kind of nervous the abundance of oil would lead to killer indigestion. Thankfully, that wasn't an issue. So once again, another good meal at Congee. Yes, the portions are truly massive and you will have food for days. And ridiculously cheap for the quantity and quality. A fine (though often raucous) dining experience
(5)Matter Eater Lad I.
We came in here wholly by chance. I'd spent the whole afternoon zig-zagging up and down the city road, and I had to drop into Lolita's (Allen & Broome) where, dazed, I imbibed a cup of white wine and felt my head reel. I had to eat something. We went straight round the corner and there was Congee Village. It looked like Prehistoric Pets when I went inside - without the creepy yellow pythons and the children tormenting the various fish and reptiles in the rockpool. Otherwise the decor was a perfect match and also the air of a slaughterhouse pervades both places. Other Yelpers have commented on all the duck-blood variations. Sixty-eight bucks for shark's fin soup? It really is like going into Prehistoric Pets and eating the animals. I was starving and so we ordered too much. You have to know this about Congee Village; the servings are massive. We had the pork dumplings and pork buns for starters plus a pork egg and green mustard soup. I best liked the little fragments of egg yolk (hard-boiled) floating about like small nuggets of fool's gold. ETERNAL COMPANION had the General Tso's Chicken while I took the Peking pork chops. By the time the chops came I was all but full up and we sheepishly asked for the rest to go. The doggy-bag was a horse-bag the size of a five-year-old boy. That's a good thing and excellent value, only we're on diets and so I shouldn't have gone for all these spicy glucose baked meats for the funeral. I shoulda had the ... let me think... black bean sauce and chicken. Yeah. H401.
(3)Ben H.
came here for dinner today. We had the seafood and abalone congee, steam pork dumplings, fried chicked chinese brocolli and chow mein. Nothing special but still very good. Service was excellent and prices were fair. about $48 for 3 people
(3)Douglas H.
Their food are really good, especially the sauna shrimp.
(5)Taishi T.
I would give this place 3 stars if it wasn't for the horrible blatantly racists service towards us non-Chinese clientele." "The food - fabulous, the service - well if you are not Chinese, don't come here. They treat you like an alien from another world. And I have been around many places in the world that are usually homogeneous, and this place is probably the most blatantly racist place on the planet. But, the problem is that the food is great - soy sauce chow mein - fantastic - the congee is decent - the fried squid (a level of standards indicator) succulent and just right salty - and the pork belly hotpot - amazing. I have entered into this Chinese sanctum way too many times for my own good thinking that it will be better next time, with all kinds of people that look Asian. Well, unfortunately every time we have been treated like injured but irrelevant by-standards of a train wreck. I hurt my neck, but my triage level is not sufficient for even a glance. I would recommend calling in and getting take out, and put on a Jackie Chan mask for good measure. Excellent food, horrible service for us non-Chinese population.
(2)Barry W.
Alright I went here the other day and the place has dropped considerably. I use to love this place, but something happened, I don't know maybe this place got too big. But I had the special fish, which was supposed to be steamed right out the tank. But it was clearly a day old as the meat was just chewy and had a soggy texture. The congee meanwhile wasn't all that good. I had the garlic watercress and the fried rice. The bill came out to around $65 - the fish, which was M.P was $30. This place used to be so much better a few year sback, I'm never coming here to eat. HOWEVER, you want a place to drank, this place is where to go. The bar is open til 2:30 in the morn- a great place to pre-party. You want a beer? $4. Martini? $4. Jon Walker Black label on the rocks? $4. Ask for the grass hopper. Tastes like mint ice cream, but gets you F*$%ed up after a few or so.
(2)Anthony C.
This is one of the regular places I do go to in Chinatown where I know I can get consistent food for dinner. Yes, I know, it is actually in LES but who's counting. Funnily enough, I don't order the congee anymore. I used to think it was on point but one time I went they screwed it up and I've never ordered it since. I'm sure it's still ok; I'm just a congee connoisseur! I do like their garlic chicken which is juicy with crispy skin and oh so garlicky. It's probably my favorite dish there, and I could eat it all myself if need be. Love it!
(4)H K.
i don't know what happened to this place. the food quality has reached pitifully low levels. it used to be a pretty good joint, but the past three times i went, all the dishes that we ordered were awful. greasy, tasteless, sloppy, and cheap. the only edible thing was the chinese broccoli.
(1)Noah W.
Great food, a different take on your classic chinese dishes you might found in the neighborhood restaurant. Cheap and huge portions. Some of the more out there dishes I've only otherwise seen in China too. The place is ugly, in the way a Chinese restaurant on a low budget trying to fit in to a Las Vegas hotel would look. But it's charming in that way -- kind of.
(4)Worksindumbo L.
Absolutely wonderful. Everything was so fresh and flavorful! We had a party of seven people, and were seated immediately, served immediately, and no one had a heart attack when the bill came. The congee was great, the drinks (mai tais) were delicious (and surprisingly potent), and the greens were cooked perfectly. I will definitely go back.
(5)Ray C.
I've been coming here for many many years ever since it opened. I remember the days before the expansion when it just had left dining room, sitting in the now storage closet nook. Was a very good and cheap date. Nowadays it's become too "touristy" and trying too hard to be hip for my taste. The biggest gripe i have though is the portion sizes. They are ridiculously small. The value factor has really gone down the drain. And.... why would anyone serve Chinese food on wax paper in a basket?? I'm not talking about just fried foods either. As for the food, it's really hit or miss. I definitely recommend going for lunch on a weekday. You'll get much better food and service. For dinner, there are much better options, like Pings. It may be more expensive but the portion sizes more then make up for it. Plus the food is just better there.
(2)Aaron K.
The menu spans the entire spectrum of food you could possible want to eat. From the morally questionable (bird's nest soup, shark fin soup) to the standards (General Tso's) and then back to the just plain questionable (Young Pigeon). I would highly doubt that there's a person of any ethnicity or upbringing that couldn't find something on this tome of a menu to eat here. and surprisingly, given the amount of items- the food is quite good. As we went family style, I'll recap as many dishes as I can remember for you. Rice Porridge Soup- delightful consistency, but surprisingly strong notes of cilantro General Tso's Chicken - the standard is done well here. the less adventurous will be pleased. Tofu and Mushrooms - very flavorful tofu, tender mushrooms Fried Scallops in Spicy Sauce - surprisingly good, looks exactly like general tso's - so be wary. Fried Rice - a little heavy on the egg, but done well Fried Sweet Pea Greens - surprisingly tender We also had another soup that was basically chicken and mushrooms in broth- and it was good also. The Tea - it keeps flowing! I guess I'm forgetting a couple because it was a few days ago - but anyway, it's a very nicely decorated place with an expansive menu and good food.
(4)ruta k.
Let me tell you who dined with last saturday night. A rat, big fat rat!! It was running around restaurant like no tomorrow. So suit it for yourself. The place is just overrated.
(1)Anita C.
The tiki-bar decor was fun and funky although my friend and I were seated in an undecorated side room that might have been designed to be a closet. Our table was about the size of a nightstand, but to his credit, the host did tell us he had a "small" table available and asked if we wanted to wait for another one. We were hungry. The congee was very nice, and I like how it was served in a clay pot. We had chicken and mushroom, but next time I might try something more adventurous, like pig stomach or duck tongue. The house special chicken was good very good, although the sizzling platter of some kind of rib meat was just OK. I think this place is especially nice in the winter since the congee is so hot and warming. Might not pick this place in the summertime though.
(4)Jean M.
This has to be the BEST congee I've had since I moved to NYC. And this is coming from an Asian, so do take it as a huge complement. A group of our friends had a birthday dinner here and we all loved it! The food was remarkable and so is the price!
(5)See M.
I think I have found my new favorite regular Chinese restaurant to eat at. We came here for dinner at 6:30pm on a Sunday night and still had to wait. I hear it's busy throughout the day on the weekends. Ended up getting seated after about 15 minutes and boy was it worth the wait. The menu was extensive and the food was tasty. We had some congee, sweat pea vegetables, sizzing short ribs and chicken. Full, happy and satisfied!
(4)B ..
I would totally celebrate my bday here..they play a funky karaoke version of "Happy Birthday" over loud speakers that most def cause the bday star to turn bright tomato red!
(3)Ting S.
Well, 5+ stars for my mindblowing stellar first visit here for lunch, a disastrous 2- stars for the second visit, an early 5:30 dinner. Huge menu, very cantonese style food with a couple Americanized dishes thrown in. Good congee, great authentic sampling of dishes that you don't normally see. The portions were more than generous for lunch, and came out quickly, piping hot. The second visit, the portions were skimpy, came out staggered 15-20 min. after one another, and arrived barely room temp. Asked 3 servers for white rice before asking a manager who promptly delivered. We ordered 3 dishes, and didn't see the last one until 50min after ordering. Not only that, it was my favorite $15 vegetable dish, and arrived with RAW egg on top (supposed to be cooked) After pointing it out to a server, it was sent back, and upon returning the dish to our table, I took my first bite and tasted......wet paper. EEeeeeeeew! The manager explained that it was probably from the paper tag that each cook places along the side of each dish, and it probably fell into the food, then got cooked in when the dish got sent back. I found it a bit strange that he said this tagging system was primarily because of the flux of Caucasian customers who dine there, and it was his way of keeping tabs on his 5 cooks for accountability reasons. Also, he mentioned he was having issues with his staff, and admitted they needed to fall in line. Perhaps he was thinking of the one server who scolded me for asking for rice, suggesting that I wait until all the food arrived on the table before asking for it. Or it could be the other server who kept getting distracted from taking our order by his cell phone ringing to the tune of "When the Saints Go Marching In". Needless to say, the veggie dish got taken off the bill by the apologetic manger, and after the torturous hour and a half we were there, and the lingering taste of paper in my mouth, we couldn't stomach the thought of packing leftovers to go. Was it more of a cardinal sin that we wasted food by not taking leftovers, that I had bits of paper stuck in my molars, or that our salt and pepper fried squid dish had the batter and old grease of cheap onion rings? Then the tune of that damn cell phone interrupted any and all further thoughts..... Now, almost 24 hours later: "oh when the saints, go marching in...."
(3)Christie D.
$3.50 for crab congee?!?! where am I? It was the good kind of crab too, with a plentiful amount of eggs and inards. yuuumm. Seriously the food was gooooooooddd. The house special chicken is not only moist, but the soy sauce and garlic flavor is in every inch of the meat, right through to the bone. how'd they do that? Its a pain in the ass waiting for a table though, especially if you are hungry, so come early and eat some congee with me!
(5)Laura A.
Fantastic. I ordered delivery and it was absolutely perfect. I got the pan-friend tofu and snowpea leaves with garlic. They are spicing experts when it comes to the vegetarian stuff. My boyfriend had the hot and sour soup and declared after the first bite that he could tell the whole meal would be great. He was right. I'm telling you, this meal MADE MY DAY. Yummy perfection.
(5)Devin A.
I grew up in north Jersey. I loved Chinese takeout, a lot. Fried rice, Lo Mein, sesame chicken, that stuff. There was this cheap chinese restaurant that I loved every time I got to go there... Which wasn't often, because for whatever reason, nobody was interested in going with me often. Since I've been in the city, I have not had one experience with Chinese food that has been even nearly as good as what I used to get in Jersey. This place, however, is right on mark. Lot's of strange things on the menu, as is to be expected when strolling through chinatown. I will still never opt to order the boneless chicken feet. But I had awesome sesame chicken, and awesome fried rice. IT was so good, I wanted to cry.. It's not hard to miss if you're around there. It's the tackiest thing in the world. Super cheap dinners too. Love it!!
(5)Poonam S.
Great congee (if you're a gruel fan def go for it, my favorite is the Minced Beef). Other highlights include the Hot and Sour Soup, the Braised bean curd with veggies, and salt and pepper anything. Delivery is quick, though it seems more expensive than in-restaurant eating for some reason. Good solid Chinese on the LES/eastern Chinatown edge.
(4)Peter K.
The food here is really good and it's closer than Chinatown proper. The congee is very flavorful. The pork chops are amazing. I love the bamboo rice dishes. I would eat here all the time if they delivered to 30th st. Great place to come with a large group of friends as they have the space. I would only come with friends who don't have dietary restrictions though as their menu is quite extensive and some of the better dishes require you to be a little indiscriminate in your diet. In other words, just come with a big group of Chinese friends and you will be good to go.
(4)Nick L.
5 star food. 1 star service. But this is a Chinese restaurant so that's par for the course. House special chicken. Wow. How do you even make that? It almost tastes like Peking duck which is super yummy. Congee. Excellent. Salted chicken accompanied by a second one of liver and pork. The scallion/cilantro/ginger blend is perfect. It's piping hot in a clay pot. Can't ask for more, except more in the bowl! Very reasonable prices so all in all worth a visit whenever you can!!! In fact, so good we went 2 days running!
(5)M S.
Really solid restaurant in its category. Food is always spot on. Don't order the usual suspects that you might at some regular Chinatown place. Go for good, stick to your bones Canto fare like chicken cooked with shiitake in a box, rice with crab cooked in squash, dreamy creamy congee with fish or chicken, or if you are feeling fancy feast on the Long Island sound deep water dungeness (meatiest crab I've ever had!) I've always had attentive service. I smile, say thank you and leave a good tip. Friendliness begets friendliness. Also I'd do a bit of research before writing off waiters. In Asia waiters and help staff don't act like your servants. Just ask them for what you need and be nice. They'll always help out. I love the people here and the food is so good. Great for groups!
(4)Safa R.
A place rightfully named. The pork chicken and duck congee is my personal favorite. Very cheap chinese food in NY. And it is a Michelin recommended restaurant.
(5)Jiayu D.
Authentic that's it.
(5)Tiffany M.
Hands down our favorite Chinese place in the city. I've been around 3-4 times with my large family and just as a couple. Every time we go, I try to order something new and every time I am pleasantly surprised and stuffed full. Service is like all Chinese restaurants. Have to Get: Usual Chinese Dishes - Sautéed Snow Pea Leaves, Salt and Pepper Shrimp, Fish Mao Soup, RIce Baked Dish, House Special Chicken Downside: None!
(5)Serena L.
Went there Sunday night at 10:45pm before Memorial Day wknd and surprisingly pretty busy. Their house special chicken is always good and their congee doesn't have any MSG which is a plus. Salt baked calamari, fu yu tong choy and tai ping mai fun were all deeelish as well. Service is seriously lacking though - rude as heck and they complained when we asked for leftovers to be packed up. Plus they snatched my $20 when i asked for change (to tip them bastids no less!) probably won't be back for awhile...
(3)David N.
BEWARE. If I could give it no stars I would. the guy at the front desk was rude when I asked for a table inside. the staff were cleaning vegetables right next to me. OVERATED FOOD. Much better options elsewhere.
(1)Ershad Z.
The food here is pretty good the place is clean for a china town restaurant :) the down side is that the place is always crowded, you may have to wait an hour or so to be seated.. Specially if there is a holiday..
(3)Diane Z.
The quality has definitely gone down. Everything is just oily, and they serve food on pieces of paper to absorb the oil. I guess they've accepted the oily food and are not even trying to hide it. It's also very inconsistent. We ordered one dish, and realized we didn't have enough of it, so we ordered another, and it tasted saltier and made me regret getting more. The presentation of the food overall is poor. The taste doesn't redeem it much either. Nothing can really make up for the shitty service and the sticky feeling of the furniture and utensils.
(1)Bruce T.
This was a fun experience. It is a huge place for NYC and not what you would expect. The have large tables and serve things family style. It seems very authentic and great for groups. It reminded me of Tony Chengs in Washington DC's Chinatown. We did have some issues with ordering in English, but that is what made it an adventure :) It has a HUGE menu with pictures and some very unusual dishes that I was not familiar with and would love to try. We had a sea bass dish (just ok), a beef dish with bok choy (excellent), a shrimp dish with sweet onions (this was the best and the shrimp where VERY fresh) and a large pot of Hot and Sour soup. Its on the edge of Chinatown and definitively worth the trip. I want to go back and experience more.
(3)Cynthia L.
MMmmm congee. It's breakfast or similar to soup to Asians. When I try to make congee, it comes out too thick or too thin. Congee Village has mastered the congee to perfection and its extremely cheap. I highly recommend the preserved duck egg and pork congee. That's the congee my parents always ordered for me growing up and I'm not particular to any other type although there are dozens to choose from. Make sure to ask for a side of peanuts and if you go in the am, they might have the fried cruller. Other dishes are typical for Chinatown and like other restaurants, service is kinda sucky.
(5)Danny P.
The food from Congee Village looks good on these yelps pictures. It is making me crave this place as I write this review. I've tried their congee soups, wonton noodle soup, pancakes, tofu dishes, and various fried noodle dishes. All of them were pretty good. This place has authentic Chinese food banging with flavor. Congee village specializes in congee and they have a whole page of different congees to choose from. Congee soup is only good and useful when you are sick. Try it when you're sick, it'll help you feel better! But when you're healthy, I think that their other dishes are better than congee soup, especially something pan fried. It really doesn't matter what you order here, every dish is authentic and flavorful, not a let down at all!
(4)Xi Z.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the city! have been here a couple times and never disappointed. Dishes are inexpensive and well made. Especially love that they have a wide variety of congee choices. Decor is pretty as well.
(4)Noah G.
An extra star because we came for dinner at midnight. They're open until 2am! We weren't drunk so I write with credible, coherent taste buds. We ordered congee-- mine had chicken and mushroom. By itself the soup is thick, savory and extremely satisfying when it's cold and rainy outside. I did have to add a few drops of soy sauce and some chilis to add some needed kick to it, but this is a personal preference. The soup was $5-- a great value and the service was fast. This place isn't for everyone though. The decor is Chinese tacky and ugly, and there is a complete lack of ambiance. Might be a good drunk option, come to think of it. They had some soups with frog legs and random animals' livers. Great for the adventurous appetite! Can't speak for the rest of the expansive menu, but the congee was good...
(4)Julia L.
This is the most awful place in Chinatown, and I'm not just saying that because I hold contempt for Chinese people, despite being Chinese myself. My family and I have been frequenting this restaurant close to 8 years now. However, after three horrible experiences, we've decided that this place is the most horrendous and disgusting restaurant in Chinatown. Don't be fooled by its overly Asian decor, resembling a cross between a tacky karaoke place and an old village in China. The first strike happened years ago. Perhaps our second outing to this restaurant, when I was still in an itchy Catholic elementary school uniform. We had ordered congee (of course) and in the midst of eating, my father discovered a whole cockroach in his bowl. Despite the profuse apologies by the manager and staff and discount on our meal, it didn't erase the fact that there was an INSECT in our FOOD. I don't understand why we came back a second time, but this time, there was another cockroach but in our tea. After this, we stopped holding our family dinners here. Surprisingly, the Bowery street location is a little better. And, I'll blame my third time purchasing food from this establishment on momentarily lapse of judgment and the summer heat. I had ordered a chicken and cashew rice dish, taken it back to my job to eat, and found a bug in the complementary soup that comes with the order. Right, so if all three of my strike outs with Congee Village don't turn you off, you might have a chance with winning Fear Factor. Or you enjoy some extra protein in your meal, free of charge.
(1)yinjie l.
i will give it six stars if there is one. I seriously suspect all those ppl who gave less than 4 stars are not Chinese or cannot appreciate authentic Chinese food. For someone who grows up in China, i think the food here is as good as you can get in China. A couple of "must-try"s if you are first timer to this restaurant: 1. house special chicken 2. braised fried fish head in casserole (if you are brave enough, please please give it a try) 3. any congee dish 4. pan fried bean curd with soy sauce - heavenly; silk tofu with crispy skin and tons of flavor!!! 5. pan fried minced pork with lotus root - very homey dish
(5)Will T.
My regular chinese brunch spot. What to order + ratings: Under Congee Section: -Sliced Pork and Preserved Egg (4.5/5) -Sampan (4/5) Under Dim Sum section: -Rice Roll with XO Sauce (4.5/5) -Scallion Pancake (4/5) -Deep fried Dough (4/5), goes well with congee -Rice Rolls (4/5) -Small Juicy Buns (2/5), it's terribleeeee! Downside: -Cash only -they tend to sit you in the weirdest places (i.e. in the back room, under the stairs, etc). I tend to request a different seat.
(4)Judy C.
Always solid food... We usually order: Peking Pork Chops Pan Fried-Steamed tofu Steamed fish Garlic Chicken Clams w/ Black Bean Sauce But service is kind of stinky... literally. I often get a whiff of BO from a couple of the waiters there. Sometimes makes it hard enjoy the meal. But overall their food is the only reason we come back. Definitely not the weird decor.
(3)Joi B.
This place is SO cheap, so over-the-top, so delicious and SO perfect, it kills me. For years, I had walked past its garishly lit facade thinking I had to go inside one day because surely here I could get a big dish of Chinese food AND an umbrella drink, alas the huge groups of people standing outside were a little off-putting (and truly, sometimes you ARE going to have to wait, but it's worth it). First time I went was at an off time in the winter and it wasn't yet crowded (I think it was about 5pm). That bowl of vegetarian congee warmed my body and soul that day (and for 4 dollars, it's a huge portion). Imagine my joy when I saw that not only do they have drinks decked with umbrellas, but they are dirt cheap (6 bucks for a pina colada? HELL YEAH!). I passed on this visit, vowing to get my girly drink fix on in more appropriately warm weather and chose the $5 glass of wine instead which was just fine. Have I mentioned yet how much I love this place?? Fast forward to the last week of June and I was back with my girlfriends who had pinas and shellfish on the brain. We were crammed into a tiny table that couldn't fit all of our order, but no matter, it's all part of the charm. This time I was extra hungry and wanted a side portion of veggies (mmmm sauteed lotus root for 6.95 and it was a HUGE portion) along with the congee. My friends were happy with their dishes (the unidentifiable-by the waiter-cheese on the lobster was a weird way to serve it but it wasn't gross or anything). The blue crab dish was plentiful and according to my friend, satisfactory. We left stuffed to the gills, and had two rounds of drinks, and the bill was shockingly cheap. Decor is kind of dingy Polynesian style (yes, there is a waterfall and lit up fish tanks and palm is ever present). The odor of fish is not all that appetizing and it could be a bit less bright in there. Then again, I can't imagine the place without that ick factor, so that's not exactly a criticism.
(4)Havar E.
pretty good Chinese food. A bit too Americanized for my taste but still a fun spot to hang out at
(3)Jenny C.
I've been here countless number of times, and never really been disappointed by this place. They have traditional Chinese dishes like albalone and they also cater to the increasingly gentrified LES crowd with americanized staples such as General Tso and Orange chicken. The congee is great too, comes in little clay pots. One of the best things about this place is the layout and design of each room. You never know if you're going to be in the classic red and gold banquet-style room, downstairs in a private room, or the bamboo room. Be prepared to wait though if you're going on a weekend with a large group.
(4)Amy L.
How to order a cheap, delicious, and satisfying meal for two or three: 2-3 congees (pork with preserved eggs is my favorite) ~$3.5 each 1 scallion pancake ~$3 You do the math!
(5)Trisha W.
My all time favorite chinese restaurant. Over 20 Congee to choose from (rice porage), Salty fish fried rice, bitter melon, soul food for chinese people. Great service, really quick, seating can be hard on a Friday or Saturday night because it is very popular. was on the travel channel for bizzar foods, they have all types of seafood, lobster big size is only 20 bux!! whoa! and they also have PEA SHOOTS aka sauteed pea sprouts, it's there under vegetables. Beer is 2.75 a bottle tsing tao or heinaken anything!! you can bring your own boos, no service charge. Great for parties, group dinners, everything is soooo delicious. If you live in the area, they'll deliver. Insider tip, make reservations for parties over 4 people on a friday or saturday. If the Allen St location is packed, try the bowary location just around the corner, slightly slower service, but they'll seat you asap. Anything you are craving that's not on the menu, describe it to the waiter and he will have the chef make it! :) feeling adventerous? Try the snails, frog leg rice bamboo box, chicken and mushroom rice bamboo box, mmmmm sooo good!!!
(5)Chu Z.
It's just a fancy version of Chinese take-out. Food quality: decent but definitely have been adjusted to suit American customers (too much sauce and covered the fresh flavor of food itself). Congee: quite good but not the best. As a local Chinese I won't choose to dine here on a regular basis.
(2)Nona C.
The wait is annoying but the food is great and that's what matters! The establishment itself is built in a maze-like pattern with multiple stairs leading you to floors and half-floors of tables where you can feast on your traditional family-sized portions. I'd come back in a heart beat!
(4)Shelley V.
After reading the variety of reviews, good to bad on Yelp, we headed over to Congee Village to sample one of my favorite comfort foods, congee. They offer a wide variety from your standard fare like chicken and shitake mushrooms, lobster, seafood etc to the plain not-so-hot sounding like pigs blood or intestines. Yeah, I decided to go with lobster. A very decent sized bowl for a cheap price. Flavorful and great consistency. We also ordered sauteed scallops, pretty good except for a small hair found by M and some potstickers with pork. The decor was definitely kooky and the service okay to spotty at best. Would I come back? Well if I had a congee craving, quite possibly!!
(3)Max C.
The food was tasty. The interior decoration was like stepping into a bamboo forest slash Caribbean bar. The service was so so depending if the night was busy or not. I would recommend this place as a business outing for dinner.
(3)Jing Jing T.
Love love love their congeeeeeeeee,we ordered lobster congee that night., taste gr8,all of us love it!!!!
(4)Kristen W.
Stick to the congee and the shanghai shao long bao's... they're really really good! Everything else is just generic Chinese food unfortunately...
(3)Andrew C.
Came for a birthday dinner. Great time! It gets packed during dinner. I'm fairly certain there's good business at lunch time too. I love the bar! It's somewhat small, but the decor is nice and ;) you get the occasional cuties here and there. The restaurant overall is nice too. Service is good. They know their know food and recommendations. Quick and speedy. Friendly. My group caused a "mess" with the cake and such, and I'm sure we've most likely pissed them off, but they bit their tongue and acted professionally about it. Very pleased. The food is pretty GOOD, but not over the top. It's very good Chinese food that's all. I don't remember the dishes, but there were too many! :/ UNFORTUNATELY, I was too stupid to not have ordered some CONGEE. Fail, but I think the rest is still pretty good. I'm aware I'm using "good" often, but that's the only word I can describe the place with. Price is "somewhat" pricey, but it's not over the top. It's still pretty cheap. You'll walk out eating alright I guess. The area the restaurant though..Personally, I feel safer with a car/group of people. I mean, everything looks a little dirty here and there in the streets. Makes me wonder if I'd get robbed going from the train station to the place. I would recommend this to others yes. I'm not sure about if they take reservations, but small groups and big groups are accommodated. Not sure about bring a date here, but I guess if you're to the point of already dating, this would be pretty good.
(4)Jennifer S.
My boyfriend thought he didn't like congee until we ate here. The congee is amazing and inexpensive. Seafood is also very good, I have had the conch. This is definetly not a Chinese American restaurant, so if you want something less exotic I would suggest going to a take out place and paying half the price. One of my less adventurous friends ordered stemed vegetables, which was just kind of meh. I like the ambiance and the food is great, but the B rating I saw on the window kind of freaked me out a little ... I am not taking a star off for that because the Squid and Ginger Congee was just so gooooood.
(4)Ling L.
You know a Chinese restaurant is good when you see a lot of Chinese folk eating there. Like many other Chinese restaurants in NYC, they try to overwhelm you with the extensive menu they plop down on your table. There must have been at least 100 dishes to choose from, but my eyes immediately zoomed in on the congee and dim sum section. I never had a craving for congee while living at home with the parents, but once I had been weaned from the Chinese food I had been brought up on to journey forth into my first summer living alone in the city, I began to miss the traditional home comforts. True, congee is usually served during the cold winter days, but there's nothing wrong with some good congee in the summertime. The dim sum we ordered was quickly whisked out from the kitchen, and we snacked on xiao long bao and scallion pancakes as we waited for our congee. Pork & preserved egg is definitely recommended, as is the crab. (Though for some reason we felt like they mixed the order up and put other seafood into the congee besides crab). Only qualm about our meal was that our waiter forgot to pick up the sad lonely glass of lychee martini that I had ordered. Oh yeah, try to eat here on the weekdays, because weekends generally mean a much longer wait to endure before being seated.
(4)Daph L.
This is one of the few Chinese restaurants in NY that I would bring my parents to. It's not much to look at but the food is pretty authentic Cantonese and service feels Chinese as well meaning it's spotty unless they think you're going to spend a lot of money or make a lot of noise. I've been here a few times and the wait is generally no wait or long (over 30 min) as a few other reviewers have noted. They don't have a really organized way of looking for those who are waiting so a few times I've missed my table as a result of not standing right next to the podium where the hostess is doing her thing. I go for the congee and comfort foods like stir fries, noodles and . I wouldn't get anything too fancy here although I see bigger families ordering the more expensive seafood dishes. I love that the congee comes still bubbling from a little personal sized pot. Just like mom would make when I was sick. My friend swears by their Peking pork chops- she says they taste like pork doughnuts. I wouldn't quite go that far but I would order it again. The dim sum is OK but FYI it is Shanghainese dim sum, not Cantonese so definitely not their forte. The prices are on the higher side for Chinatown but really quite inexpensive if you come with a group and stick with the more moderately priced dishes. I once came with a group of non-Chinese friends who told me that our dinner at Congee Village was less than the drink (singular) that they had earlier at a fancy bar not too far away. My recommendation is to stick with their specialty and come here on a cold day for belly warming congee.
(4)Yudi E.
This is not a good restaurant. It is dirty. The food is not of good quality. The service is bad. They do not speak English.
(1)Rico R.
The place looks nice. We only ordered 2 items - a congee and beef nooodles. It took 15 minutes for them to bring our congee. It was not bad, but not good enough to wait that long for. I get better congee in China town within a few minutes. It took another 15 minutes for the noodles to arrive and it was a huge dissapointment. Greasy and tasteless. This was our first time here and the last.
(1)J.J. M.
This place had some of the best Chinese food I've had in a long time. The dishes were bursting with flavor, and I figured it's NOT because there's MSG (otherwise, my cousin would've complained about her allergies). The prices were fair. The atmosphere was great. You can have a small group of two and not feel out of place, or a group of 10 and not crowd the space. The service was also excellent. I'm taking my brothers here the next time I visit NYC. Beware: My cousin tells me we were very lucky there wasn't a line to get a table. Apparently, during dinner time the wait line extends out to the street.
(4)Noor S.
If your a large group that needs a restaurant in the LES that accepts reservations at short notice - this is it!! You'll get a nice big table with super cheap (but slightly terrible tasting) booze. Definitely do not go near the cocktails b/c they use very low grade booze, but hey- you also pay very low prices for it. The only bad thing about the meal was that my friend found a metal nail in her food. They were very apologetic about it though and gave us a free round of beer.
(4)Johnny G.
Great food, great lychee martini, fun setting. Congee village is a well rounded, exciting Cantonese experience. I tried (and loved) the Deep Fried Frog, Razor Clams, Sauteed Scallops in Back Pepper, Sea Cucumber and Goose Web, Small Juicy Bun in Shanghai Style, House Special Chicken, and of course the famous Congee. Every dish was equally amazing; however, if I had to pick top two it would be Deep Fried Frog and Razor Clams. Next visit I hope to test my comfort zone and try Nature's Bird Nest and Geoduck Clam Shashimi. I highly recommend Congee Village for places to bring out-of-towners. For more Monday Night Dinner Club - NYC reviews, checkout: themndc.com/mndc-picks
(4)Bo K.
Congee Village always hits the spot! When in need of some comforting Congee on a rainy day, no better place to head than CV. Lots of variations to choose from, just pick your favorite and in a couple minutes, steaming hot bowl of Chinese comfort food. House special chicken is pretty awesome and they make a mean pork chop. Downside, the tea was kind of off today and they always seem to be trimming vegetables in the front dining room when I go.
(4)Stephan H.
It's like going to an amusement park! The red bean dessert soup is a nice surprise. Dinner: Scallion Pancake In Hong Kong Style (dry); Snow Pea Leaves With Garlic In Rice Broth (very good, fresh and not too greasy); Fillet Of Beef Chinese Style In Sizzling Hot Plate (an oddly medicinal flavor).
(2)H A.
Go to Queens.
(3)Ken W.
there are only a few things I like here, but they are executed very well, and I stick to them. They are: the congee, the house special chicken, the jellyfish, and razor clams in broth. I get that, pay very little, and leave very happy. The congee is crazy cheap and delicious, can't go wrong with century eggs, rice, pepper, and lots and lots of water. Mmm. Congee.
(4)Lee J.
There are some seriously out-there things on the menu here, which is exactly why I like it so much. One of my favorite things to do when I am eating here is to survey the dishes being served to the tables around me, particularly if the party at the table is a large Asian family. I've seen the craziest things, food-wise, by paying attention. Go weird with your order and look at what's around you. It also tickles me that every section and room of the restaurant is decorated differently. I'm sure someone else must have mentioned that, but just in case. I love this place also because it's a place every New Yorker goes, no matter what economic bracket they're in or lifestyle they lead. I know for a fact that a high-powered, extremely influential magazine holds certain of its dinner events here every couple months. But it's also a place where a huge group of my broke artist friends can all enjoy a delicious full meal and a beer together after an opening. And this place has definitely saved my drunk self at least once with a warm pot of congee with its late late hours on the weekends.
(4)Dwain R.
My wife, who is Cantonese, and I always end up going back for the Chicken. I'm a fan. Not perfect, but some of the items on the menu are great.
(4)Alex Y.
I was lucky enough to have a well informed New Yorker introduce me to this place early on in my time here in NYC. The first thing that clued me into Congee's legitimacy is it's ground pork with salty fish dish. Look, I can't spell it's Chinese name but I can inhale this dish faster than you can say "Engrish." My Grandmother used to make this for me when I was a little girl, and this version makes me feel like donning pigtails again. It's definitely not for the faint-of-heart, but it's a great gateway Chinese food. Before you know it you'll be slurping down a plate of jellyfish, which is also a fabulous dish at Congee Village. I had my last birthday party here, and though I wasn't able to grab a private karaoke room (they book up wellll in advance), they seated 12 of us comfortably in the main dining room. Here's a little secret: $5 martinis. If you want to get drunk on your birthday without breaking the bank, this place is a great start.
(5)Janelle T.
This crap of a place deserves one star and this very thing ruined it for me: there was a pubic hair in my tea. the hair was curly and was 2 inches long. I was so disgusted. I asked for a spoon and fork 5 times but they never gave it to me. The waiter who was serving us spit on my face and the girl in the entrance was a complete idiot. The wait was just way too long. I can't believe how disgusting this place is. It deserves to be shut down by the health department. So for anyone planning to go, watch out for pubic hairs in your food.
(1)L A.
This is the best Chinese delivery food I've had. now its my go-to chinese delivery when im missing home! the congee is good but I love their rice rolls with beef ribs. NOM NOM. we ordered 4 dishes and it was approx. $30
(4)Mike G.
a big WOW. highlights were fried calamari, peking pork chops, sweet&sour pork, braised sea cucumber, garlic-sauteed snow pea shoots, prawns with broccoli&walnuts, shrimp-chicken hong kong noodles, manila clams in black bean sauce, salted shrimp-chicken fried rice. plus i may have missed a couple more dishes. sooo much, sooo good and sooo cheap! i didn't eat this all by myself, silly.
(4)Julianne L.
Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to try the congee, but I did try a bunch of different dinner entrees. The food was good and the prices were great. I think we ended up spending like $70 (6-7 dishes INCLUDING lobster) for 6 people. The lobster was fantastic, sauteed in a ginger/scallion sauce. There was a sizzling pork dish that was great as well. Tender and well marinated. Yum! The beef chow fun and sweet and sour spareribs were standard and hit the spot. If you're looking for some authentic Chinese food, Congee Village will not disappoint. Try to make a reservation or come early as this place gets CROWDED. We came here around 6pm and there was no wait, but by the time we finished (around 7pm) there was a looooong wait.
(4)Jeannie Y.
There are few things I love more than Congee Village. Where to start? When you walk in, you'll either be pleasantly surprised at how fancy it is compared to most eateries in China Town, or you'll be fascinated by how not fancy it is compared to the standard East Village fare. There's a weird theme going on for decor, but if you'll suspend your judgment, just head right and up the stairs to the main seating area. The service is...typical (not great), though since we've always come for lunch, we've never had to wait. Ice water seems to be as precious as diamonds for how often it's given out. But again, stay with me here. The fried squid with salted pepper is to die for - a Chinese version of calamari, tossed with jalapeno slices (which are only minimally spicy) is tender, juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. The sauteed snow pea leaves with garlic is an amazing portion (i.e. large) that is so delicious that the BF who rarely likes anything green will consume the entire thing alone. Eating the congee with pork and preserved egg is like wrapping myself in warm blanket and falling asleep next to the fire - AWESOME. And the house special chicken (half portion is PLENTY) - well, the BF will eat that everyday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And the price at the end of this meal? $30 for two people to eat until comatose. PROS: - Fried Squid with Salted Pepper - House Special Chicken - Congee with Sliced Pork and Preserved Egg - Sauteed Snow Pea Leaves with Garlic CONS: - Not a fancy date place (but your date might forgive it in light of the INCREDIBLE food)
(5)Cecilia Z.
Although I've been to this Congee Village location a few times in the last 2 years, it never really appealed to me until recently. I visited on Chinese New Year evening for dinner, as expected, the place was packed. Good thing I only dined with the bf, so the wait for our party of 2 wasn't too bad... around 20 minutes or so. Even though I am Chinese and have eaten my share of Chinese food growing up, Chinese cuisine is definitely not one of my favorites. I think my general disliking for some regional Chinese cuisines only grew after moving to NYC... I find most restaurants in chinatown here to be either greasy, dirty, unauthentic, bland or just overall unappealing. I guess I can be somewhat of a snob when it comes to Chinese food since I grew up in the SGV. However, Congee Village has managed to prove me wrong. I ordered a mixed seafood (with some black bean sauce) on a sizzling plate, vermicelli & squash casserole, healthy vegetarian congee while bf ordered the soup dumplings. Everything tasted great except for the soup dumplings, which were dry and somewhat cold as if they had been sitting out for too long. Can't say I didn't advise him to not order soup dumplings here... this is why any non-Chinese should listen to the Chinese. I loved that the generously portioned seafood dish came out sizzling hot, with large scallops, shrimps and calamari all nicely tender. The sauce really added some robustness only found in Cantonese cuisine. The casserole dish played a nice contrast, more reflective of Shanghainese cuisine using an abundance of squash and dried shrimp and mushrooms to add subtle umami flavors. The vegetarian congee was also good, not too rich but still beautifully creamy and warm on a cold winter night. While Congee Village still doesn't come close to the many restaurants in my hometown of LA, it is a good bet for anyone looking for affordable and tasty Cantonese food in a clean environment in this city.
(4)Kimmie S.
I came here for my birthday last night and was SO disappointed. We had passed this place a million times and knew that one day we would love to go here. After realizing that we were going to a bar nearby, this seemed like a great place as I love Chinese food. I wish that we had gone somewhere else after the fiasco. First off, know that if you're in a large group, you stand a better chance of being seated prior to parties of two. Once we got upstairs we saw that there were more tables for groups as opposed to "intimate groups". But I'm getting ahead of myself. We waited for an hour at the bar. It was a little annoying as I was hungry but my boyfriend and I planned what we would eat and the drinks were decent (pretty cheap). For all intensive purposes this restaurant is merely a large Chinese place that you would order from for takeout; however, if you eat there you can have this park like setting. We arrived at 8:30 and were seated at 9:30 after watching large groups leave and being replaced by equally large groups. When we sat down, food did come out quickly; however, everything was either underseasoned or just underwhelming! I LOVE Singapore Mei Fun and order this everywhere and this was the worse. I had to have hot sauce to make it "decent". My boyfriend ordered the fried intestines and also the snails and was unhappy. I encouraged him to eat my food so that he would become full (and I hate sharing). The only thing that tasted amazing - the Cognac and honey drinks. I was so unimpressed and will not be back! The other upside, it's not an expensive place and it's quite lively. I guess I just don't get why people like it - but then again it could have been an off night?
(1)Dan S.
Went here for lunch on Xmas day. My first experience with congee -- we got the pork and preserved egg congee based on numerous recommendations, and I thought it was great. My wife and kids, not so much. Also got the house special chicken on several Yelp recommends, and was not disappointed there either - great flavor, but watch out for those shards of bone! A few other dishes were decent - sliced tofu & veggies, chow mein & veggies, etc. The service though was pretty terrible. We were pretty much ignored the entire time while the wait staff hurried past our table to take care of everybody else. After looking around, we realized that we were literally the only non-Asian folks in the place. Then recalled seeing other negative reviews about preferential treatment, and it all made sense. Oh well. After flagging down various wait staff at different times, they eventually took care of what we needed. At least go for the congee for sure - cheap and yummy.
(3)Ashley Z.
It is a very good restaurant. You can find lots of similar restaurants in Hongkong. This restaurant provides delicious food, and the price is also very reasonable. I think I will go there again!
(5)Rebecca C.
If you're not quite in the mood for takeout and you're over the Asian Fusion scene then have your next meal at Congee Village. It hits the spot, it brings people together, and it doesn't break the bank. This is some great Cantonese-style cooking right here, in a neighborhood that's getting gentrified, I'm glad Congee stands strong on Allen Street. Get the noodles, seafood, and wok-seared anything.
(4)Jamie S.
I love this place for a cheap filling meal with tons of options. I love the over the top decor here and am intrigued at the karaoke parties they host in rooms downstairs. We were seated at a tiny table in the little room in the back. The menu is huge and the prices are low low low. They also have a decent drink menu with cheap drinks and an even cheaper happy hour at the bar. I usually go for the mushroom and chicken congee here, but my friend does not care for mushrooms and we went for the high roller chicken with abalone instead. The congee was huge and satisfying as usual, a fair substitute for chicken soup if feeling under the weather. We also ordered a squid dish with cashews and onions that we gobbled down quickly.
(4)Diana L.
I don't normally give 5 stars to restaurants bc i usually haven't had ALL the comparisons but for a Chinese restaurant in NYC, and speaking as a Chinese gal, i believe this is as good as it gets. The food is consistently spot on. If you're wondering what to order at this place and i hope you have a lot of people, here are some must -haves: Pork Fried Rice Fish in two tastes CONGEE House Chicken Sizzling Short Rib Bok Choy Please don't bother with crap like General Tso's or Seseame beef which you could have got from your neighborhood flee bag. This is as authentic as it gets next to HK. Enjoy. Only one time has this place disappointed so eat on, friends. Eat on.
(5)JR W.
Happy Chinese New Year! This is a non-congee, dinner review. bottomline: A good deal. Just order the pictures. :) notes: -$10 dishes. - long waits on wkends/holidays (i.e. from now until 2/14) and reservations are loosely followed. don't yell at the hostess bc it's not her fault. it's just how chinese restaurants operate. following the manager around the split levels to honor your reservation doesn't seem to work either... - Good flavor, a little on the salty side. - Cantonese style (hint: sugar in every dish) - The dungeness crab appetizer is served cold, pretty good start. - Most dishes were good, except the peking style pork. Don't get Beijing style food at a Cantonese restaurant if you can tell the difference. Otherwise, eat on!
(4)Jeff D.
The outside looks like it belongs on the vegas strip, and the inside looks like Rainforest Cafe. The irony is that the kitchen here serves up some of the most authentic Chinese food available that close to Chinatown. The menu is extensive, and after you get through 7 pages of things you don't know how to pronounce or didn't realize you could eat, you'll find youself in familiar 'chicken', 'beef', & 'seafood' territory. I can't speak for the 7 pages of authentic chinese food that I'd never touch, but the classic american standards (beef w/ broccoli, sesame chicken, dumplings, etc.) are really the best I've had. Huge portions make the dishes very affordable - and once you get over the flashy lighting and fake palm trees outside, you'll be able to understand why there's a long line out the door that snakes around Delancey every night.
(5)Anna B.
I had a quick, late lunch here. The place is a maze of kitch and staircases but overall, I liked the effect. Lunch at 3:30 on a Friday afternoon was me, alone, eavesdropping on a 5 top business meeting/lunch discussing publishing, (namely printing books) I felt sorry for them. And a couple of large groups of Asian friends chatting and chomping away. I over ordered, Fried dumplings, Hot and Sour Soup, Steamed pork buns and juicy pork dumplings. Hot & Sour Soup very good. Fried dumplings too greasy. Juicy dumplings good. I couldn't eat the pork buns at the table. From the prices on the menu, I had thought that I spent around $20.00, and felt really wasteful when I couldn't finish half of what I ordered. When the bill came, it was $10.85. What a bargain. I asked for the pork buns to be wrapped for takeout, and I headed off looking for a nail salon - carrying a really pretty purple and green plastic bag. Hours later, as I was chomping away on the pork buns, they were ok very filling - a lot of dough, surrounding a pork meatball. I'd go back again for dinner and drinks - I have been searching NYC for something like Peking on Fresh Pond in Cambridge, and so far, Congee has come the closest. I miss my Boston Chinese food and Mai Tais.
(3)Serena l.
This place is great for large groups and off hours. (Either an early or late night dinner. Or during the weekday.) And for eating family style. Try the razor clams. Have their congee to go. (I like the pork with egg.) I'm not so sure about the racist claims made below; I've had non-Chinese friends go and are treated very well and very poorly. (It's across the board, if they're going to be rude, it isn't because of your race.) The food is also inconsistent. (Don't try to go there for Lunar New Year's Eve dinner -- bad idea. It's too busy to get any service. And, they forget to account for the rush and we ended up with smaller sized orders, long waits, no service, and poor quality dishes.) But, I keep going back. They're convenient after happy hour for some congee. Or to bring a large group of friends to (as they're able to accommodate a large table). And, if it's your birthday, you will be greeted!
(3)Parka P.
I love love love this place. I went there for the first time a few months ago and there isn't a bad thing i can say about the place. The food is super inexpensive and incredibly delicious. I wish i could try almost everythign on the menu. This place is defnitely family style so to get maximum enjoyment, go with a bunch of people!
(5)Sam C.
Loved this place! This place is probably on the more well-decorated end of Chinatown restaurants, and it's got a great atmosphere. The selection of food is big, and the portions are huge, not to mention that they taste fantastic. We went with a huge group, everyone was so full, and each person paid only around $11. You usually can't expect that price unless it's in smaller restaurants or joints, but you can at Congee Village. Great for bringing family and friends to have some great food.
(5)Chhayrithy C.
Great food and very economical. I recommend the Beef Chow Fun, Salt and Pepper Squid and of course the Congee!
(4)Ryan K.
This 5-star review is pretty limited in scope. You gotta understand: 1) I wasn't drunk BUT 2) I was STARVING. I hadn't eaten in 14 hours at the end of a very long day. My friend lives nearby in LES so suggested Congee Village since it was past midnight. So our party of 3 went, ordered some simple stuff (the house special chicken is amazing), a simple stir-fry pea shoot dish (dou miao), and a beef/scallion chow foon. Nothing special about the dishes, but they were blindingly fast, the service is efficient and professional and catching the end of the Lakers game and having sportscenter following was a huge plus. Exactly what I want in a late-night Chinese place. Fast tasty junk food with a flat-screen TV.
(5)jamie N.
I probably eat here once a week because it's cheap and close to my apt. Their delivery is fast. I'm a carnivore, so I only switch between 3 dishes here in order of rating: salt and pepper pork chops (crispy and juicy), house special chicken (good sauce with thin slices of garlic), and general's chicken (okay for delivery, but better dining in). Their chicken and corn soup is also good. Keep in mind their delivery is usually $5 bucks and under for lunch (weekends included), but dinner jumps up to $8-10.
(4)Lindsay M.
Oh Congee Village... now that I've found you, how am I justified eating cheap* Chinese food in a sit down anywhere else? Went there on a Tuesday night and there was absolutely no wait- we had many tables to choose from. The service was not exactly friendly but it wasn't bad either, so I can't complain there (We weren't really expecting fine dining attention. When the waitress ignored us, it actually added to the experience). We got the chicken and shittake mushroom congee, chicken and shittake baked rice, beef and black bean sauce chow fun, steamed dumplings shanghai style, some other thing, a beer and a juice. $31. Believe it. If you go with people and split some dishes, it's a really great bang for your buck. You shouldn't spend over $10 unless you drink to0, in which case it'll be like $15. AND the food was great, portions were great, atmosphere was great. Big tables for big groups. The menu was very huge and you know a place is legit if the majority of the clientele there are from the food's origin country (in this case, China). Will be back soon for sure. *I know cheap usually also implies bad on some level, but I would say Congee Village is quality in taste, just inexpensive. We didn't order the healthiest dishes, and they were pretty sauteed, but well done and enjoyable.
(5)Samir G.
the food is great but this place is a complete waste of time. I've ordered out from here many times and have loved everything I've ordered. portions are large, quality is high and prices are reasonable. so why the 2 stars? I decided to venture to the restaurant for a dine in meal for the first time. I called first and was told it would be a 15-20 min wait. great. I put my name down and was there 15min later. i ask the hostess for timing and she says: 15-20 min. hmm... ok. Long story short, an hour and 15min later we were still no seated. I was standing right next to the hostess as she was taking walk in reservations and she spit out the same standard line to EVERY group: "15-20 min". i complained to the hostess and she said her boss instructed her to say that to everyone. ridiculous. They need to set expectations better. I've spoken to many friends since then and heard similar stories from everyone. Lesson learned. i will only order out from this place. It's not worth the hassle and poor service of trying to dine in.
(2)Atif Q.
Went for a late night dinner with my wife, sister-in-law and parents as part of a larger party. We were directed to the basement, two flights downstairs to two large round tables. We were all given menus and picked out our dishes and then engaged in conversation with our table mates. After ~15 minutes I looked behind me to other table and noticed that all their menus were gone. ME: Um, hey guys, did they take your order? THEM: Yeah, like 5 minutes ago...didn't they take yours? ME: Not yet....um, excuse me, waiter person, can you please take our order too? Verbal Exchange with Waiter: ME: Table mates order separately. We'd like Chicken Fried Rice, Beef Chow Mein, Filet of Beef Sizzling Hot Plate and for the fourth item, can you please recommend a no-salt dish? WAITER: No Sauce? ME: No, no SALT. WAITER: No sauce in any dish? ME: No, no Salt-tah in only final dish? WAITER: Any dish you want, we can give no sauce. ME: No, wait...nevermind. Please give me beef and broccoli with no SAUCE. WAITER: OK Food comes. All dishes have SALT and SAUCE. No serving spoons provided in dishes. ME: Can we have some spoons for the food? WAITER (with an exasperated look): You want Spoons? ME: Yes. Please? US: Excuse me...this tofu dish has pork in it. We've ordered this from you before with no Pork. WAITER: YOU need to tell us that you are Vegetarian when you order. You did not tell us so you got what you ordered. Order is fixed but bill comes with both dishes on it. Tablemate: Do you mind removing wrong order from our bill. WAITER: No. He walks away from our table. Tablemate: Can we speak to the manager please? WAITER: Points to waiter serving next table...in the basement...she is the manager. Back and forth...back and forth. "Manager" says to remove wrong dish from money owed. Beef with broccoli was good. Chicken fried rice, beef chow mein & filet of beef were just o.k. Would've given three stars if we could've had a better experience. Would've given four stars if more of the food was better.
(2)Cindy L.
LOOOOVEEEE their soy sauce tofu! I've just discovered that they have this on the menu today. I could probably just eat that with rice alllll dayyyyy (haha). I also like their steam frogs, it comes with dates and some other good stuff. They have really good seafood-- the crabs, lobster, conch and scallops are deeee-lish. Not to mention they have really awesome bamboo rice! If your family is a fan of seafood, definitely bring them! We had a party of 5 and we didn't have to wait at all, not sure about everyone else but it was definitely packed! I can understand some of the reviews complaining about the wait time, hopefully you'll be seated as quickly as I was!
(4)Jurgen J.
I'm a sucker for these kinds of chinese place. Authentic and delicious. All the food that i ordered are cooked perfectly and tasted amazingly well. I had the clams with pea pods. The clams are sauteed perfectly, the dish came with a thin light sauce. The peking style pork chop is one of my favorite cantonese dishes. And the ones that Congee village have is tender, juicy and flavorful. I also had the lamb stew. It was also good. This is one of the authentic chinese places that manages to serve great traditional chinese food. This is a rare find in manhattan.
(5)Jack N.
Good portions, delicious authentic Chinese foods, Interesting dish designs I been here more than a few times, the decor is interesting, even though if its not my taste. It has yellow bamboo kind of feel, the same kind of design that I seen in Nyonya. Although this restaurant is several times bigger than most Chinese restaurants (that are not dim sum restaurants) with multiple floors, the layout is strange and the numerous staircases make you feel like you're lost in an artwork by Escher. We sat down in an area with a huge mural of the Asian mountains. But the hanging lights in front of the mural were too low and distracted from the view of the mural. As for the food, we had: Abalone and chicken Congee - Delicious, but I wish they serve the abalone as a whole instead of chopped pieces (the same gripe that I have with most New England Clam Chowders not serving whole clams). But pluses for the tenderness of the chicken in the Congee. The portion is bigger than what you expect (shareable for 2 ppl, as long as you order other dishes). Eggplant & bean curd plus veggies - I eat anything, and if its prepared differently, I will try things again even if I didn't like the way they were prepared the first time. Eggplants fall under that category, and this dish is a must have. The eggplants were cut lengthwise and had a hint of a plantain flavor in them. I don't even recall having eggplant taste like that, but I love it! The dish comes out hot but they keep it hot by having it raised above their specially designed Sterno. There is also bamboo in there, which is a softer crunchy veggie, which I'm not sure if it fits everyone's taste, but its only plant, so don't freak out over it (There are so many other things Asians eat that would freak out some ppl). I personally liked it a lot. The bean curd and lettuce was the only thing lacking in this dish as bean curd crumbled after overheating on the Sterno flame when you fry to pick them up w/ chopsticks. Lettuce is not a favorite for Chinese style cooking as there are so many other delicious veggies in the arsenal of any Chinese chef. Clams in spicy Thai broth - I liked it, but I prefer the black bean sauce much more. The spice is really mild, but that is to be expected in a Chinese restaurant (the same dish in a Thai restaurant would probably have me in tears) They don't get the traffic as other restaurants because they are off Chinatown. This location is actually a lot closer from the F train (Delancey St stop) then the B, D train (Grand St stop), yet, on the night I went, I mainly saw Asians in the restaurant. I, and I'm sure my friends would come here more often if it was closer to the heart of Chinatown.
(4)Jon S.
If this were an actual village I would rape and pillage it every day. I have a thing for jook, aka congee, aka chinese porrige, aka hot steaming bowl of love. I went here on a recommendation by awesome ex-New Yorker Rachelle R. and ordered the preserved egg and pork congee. It was like $2.95 so I thought it would be small, so I also got some har gow dim sum and these scallion pancake thingies. That'll fill me up. I could order more if I wanted to. Ho ho ho. Silly American. As I ladeled my steaming hot porrige of century egg love from the big iron pot they bring you, I realized I had ordered way too much. I could've had lunch for $2.95. Instead I induced food comatose for 8 bucks and change. Not bad at all. And EVERYthing was good, really good.
(4)Catherine W.
I felt the portions were a bit small, but it was definitely inexpensive. I've definitely had better congee and shanghai dumplings elsewhere. I felt like you were paying for "dressed up" decor and presentation.
(2)Sarah C.
Let me start out by sayin that Congee Village's eponymous dish is without a doubt delicious, not to mention a total bargain. In fact, it was a very reasonably priced meal, with a beer, a kumquat "mojito," two orders of congee, half a duck, tax and tip all coming to about $32 or so. If that's not affordable Manhattan dining, I don't know what is. Despite all the positives, this is ultimately one of those 3.5 star places, and I'm afraid I'm going to have to round down. I know that Chinatown's poor service is infamous, but I felt that Congee Village's was particularly bad. We were ignored for long periods at a time, we waited 15 minutes for a menu, water refills were non-existent, and we were never asked if we wanted a second alcoholic beverage. Combined with the fun but ultimately tacky decor, I'm bumping Congee Village down to three stars. Service issues aside, I still feel comfortable recommending Congee Village on the merits of the food alone. The congee was a real treat, and it felt like a big old reward for being adventuresome with my food: I was afraid and expecting the consistency to be gooier and thicker, but it was actually very light and easy to eat. We split two kinds, crab, and one with pork and I think beef and duck. Both were delicious, the meat one being slightly more so. The crab one had a whole crab it it, which Boyfriend found impressive, but I thought was too potentially messy and inconvenient. I was ill-prepared to deal with a scalding hot crab shell covered in rice porridge, and was annoyed that my dinner was becoming so labor intensive. In the chef's defense, we ended up deciding that the shell appeared to be mostly for show, and that the crab meat had been already mixed into the congree, but I'm still not entirely sure. The duck was duck, which means that it tasted great, (when does duck NOT?), but had an annoying number of bones. I wasn't particularly impressed with this particular plate of duck, as it was a very simple and straightforward preparation. Obviously, it's not the house specialty, so its lack of memorability doesn't bother me too much. As for my drink, for $5 I couldn't resist, and I wasn't disappointed. It was tasty and kumquat-y, if not particularly strong, and I enjoyed it, even if it was light years away from any mojito I've ever had. What it comes down to is this: I'd totally recommend that you come here for the cheap congee and the cheap drinks. It was a nice dinner with Boyfriend, but the place really seems ideal for large groups. I'd definitely consider this for a big dinner with friends, and so should you.
(3)Will C.
Congee dirt late in the night. If you want to have good congee late at night this is the place to be. You will stumble into it after a fun night in the lower east side. Oh yeah Chinese place accepting credit cards!!! WOW. Too bad you need to order a lot so that you can met the minimum. I love the duck egg congee. My friends got the roasted duck in congee. which was flavorful. This place can fit a lot of people and they serve the food quick. The bad thing about this place too many stairs all over the place =)
(4)jay b.
zero stars - part 1 of 2 worst nightmare dining experience, ever. ever!!! my uncle's in town helping me recover from an illness, tonight was his last night in nyc. i wanted to take him out to dinner to thank him for taking time out of his life to help me, so i asked him what he wanted for dinner. when he said chinese, i thought of this place - my friend took my mom and i here last winter, and it was fun and the food was good. tonight was like the twilight zone. i don't know what the f##k was going on, but there was no help to be found, whatsoever. long ass wait (they said "10 - 15 minutes" and it was more than double that) to be seated on these rinky dink uncomfortable ass stools in the bar area (fyi: bar + rinky dink, wobbly as fuck stools + nyc = high potential for a lawsuit, people - get your shit together). we survived being perched precariously only to be seated, half an hour and 2 crappy drinks later (i had a "fuzzy mango" that promised mango juice and "vodka" - there was hardly any alcohol in the tiny glass, and the mango was some sort of nasa space program tang powder crap). my uncle got the honey lemonade, which, okay - he said it was good. (can you tell i'm pissed? but i'm still gona try to be as fair as possible) - only to be seated, half and hour later, in these horrible chairs that instantly start to make my lower back hurt. (they're, like, "lean-back" chairs - not dining chairs. i'm sorry to be picky, and i swear i'm not usually picky about stuff, nor whiny, but these chairs sucked). (i did spot a straight-backed chair and asked the waiter guy next to it if i could swap mine? he nodded and i did it myself, he didn't even ask if he could help - not that i expected it or anything, but it would've been nice..) ok, so we're seated with menus. yay! we're looking around in anticipation, trying to see what's on people's plates to order "off the menu" and get something great. it wasn't meant to be. after another 15 minutes of sitting there getting indifferent looks from the servers, (and wondering where the hell ours was..) we finally are approached and asked if we're ready to order. we asked 3 questions, got super snooty / short answers, (the last one being from my uncle - what should i order if i've never been here before / what's popular / what do most people seem to like? - the answer was "the chicken special".) so this is what we got: the chicken special (half chicken) chicken and bitter melon sauteed broccoli 2 bowls of rice 1 spring roll steamed bun the spring roll came first, it was good and crunchy, usual. the sauces had to be requested, and took forever to flag down someone / have them bring them. then came the dumplings / steamed buns - they were great and flavorful, albeit tiny (but, for $3.95 they were fine). again we had to wait and ask the waiter for the little spoons and plates that go with them as well as the dipping sauce. my uncle's chicken came next, by itself, with no rice or sign of my dishes (the bitter melon dish or the sauteed broccoli). no soy sauce on the table, nothing really on the table except a whole bunch of empty dishes and my uncle's chicken which, he funnily pointed out, had no breast - "they stole my breast meat!" he exclaimed later on the drive home, when we were still incredulous over the whole fiasco). basically, they served him this "half chicken" which was mostly bones and chicken parts - and absolutely NO breast meat, whatsoever! they probably use the breast meat on other dishes, like my chicken and bitter melon - what a rip off!!!) my uncle was nearly done with his chicken, and had eaten it with no rice, no soy sauce, no stopping by of the waiter to see if we needed anything, and me still sitting there sipping on some lame ass "tea" - (it was just hot water, seriously - hardly any tea in there that i could see or taste or anything..) i finally flagged down the waiter and asked him to bring over the manager, and when the manager came, suddenly the waiter and like 2 more were all hovering around the table, like eavesdropping, to see what i was going to say - SO uncomfortable and awkward!!! i just told the manager that, look - my uncle has eaten his dinner, and mine hadn't even arrived! i told him that we hadn't gotten our rice or anything like that. the manager was a total chode and just kept making excuses like "well, we're really busy" and then blamed US for not SPECIFYING to the waiter that we wanted our rice WITH our food (come ON!!!) and that we wanted our dinners to come at the same time (COME ON!!!!!!!!) what the fuck!!!??!! i kept my voice calm and was very nicely trying to explain how problematic this was, and how we would appreciate a discount on our meal - (my uncle's plate was literally empty at this point - he was done, hadn't gotten his rice, and i hadn't even gotten my meal yet), and the manager said he would give us a discount and go check on the rest of my order.
(1)Donna Z.
Lunch on Sunday here is a whole different ballpark. The beef chow mein only faintly resembles what is served in the evenings. The waiters are out on the floor prepping veggies. We ordered rice this time and found it be more like congree...it was cooked with way too much water!
(3)Rachel H.
congee village is a strange and wondrous place. it's run illogically, and the layout is just begging to be optimized. (honestly, who needs a room with 12 giant banquet tables?) if you happen to go on a saturday evening, with only a party of 2, you should prepare yourself to wait a looooong time. my buddy and i kept getting passed up so parties of 6+ could be seated at one of the many giant round tables you'll find at congee village. they definitely love the big parties there. should you decide to wait the 45 or so minutes (the hostess told us it would be 15-20...nice estimating), you'll probably be seated in the cacophonous upstairs dining room. it's loud, but friendly. the service is very prompt. the menu is fairly intimidating. it's like a diner menu, and just goes on and on. this is an issue because how are you to know what's going to be awesome or not. the soup dumplings we had were amazing, the pan fried dumplings were not. my friend got rice baked with chicken and mushrooms (R301), which was yummy, but my rice baked with salted fish (R302) was a nightmare. You'd have to be some sort of lingual ninja to remove the fish bones, which are both numerous and pointy. it's not a good sign when your meal causes you to yelp in pain. still, the good food trumped the bad. and i've been here for birthday parties, too, and the staff is very accommodating. the place really is an odd and fun experience.
(3)A C.
very quickly: solid recommendation One of the better Chinese places, spoiled only by the wait. Food is delicious but most are not very subtle. That said, you can get decent stir-fry, and surprisingly good seafood (giant crab, well worth the 28 dollars, and fried-anything) along with the eponymous congee, which is flavorful without being salty. Menu is large, so you can find something for even the pickiest eater Good for groups (party rooms require a minimum) so bring some friend and try more dishes. You can still pick out a decent and cheap meal for 2 but miss out on the variety. Clean for a chinese place, decor is quirky, bright and fun. Definitely confirm your spot on the queue if you show up on a busy night, if only to remind the host you're there. Feel free to drop some dollars for a cocktail, they make them stroooong!
(4)GarGuPi L.
Came here for a Saturday lunch. The resturant wasn't crowded, but the waitstaff wasn't very attentive. I literally had to wave my hand in the air to get their attention, even though they were just standing around. The congee was alright. It had a "mixed" of meat. Smaller portion than you could've gotten in other restaurants in Chinatown. The steamed rice roll was decent. A bit expensive, but at least it was freshly made, but they only provided soy sauce, whereas in other places, they also provide the yummy sweet sauce and sesame seeds as well (the HK style kind). I wasn't very adventurous with the menu, so I'm sure there are some specialty dishes that are great. But in all, that's how I feel for now. I would go back though, but not for dinner since I heard it's very crowded.
(3)Vanessa T.
My friends and I initially came here for a birthday dinner but all the banquet tables were filled so we decided we'd just do our own thing. At the recommendation of other yelpers, we ordered the House Special Chicken, fried tofu, some veggies and a bowl of Preserved Egg Congee to share. I honestly don't care for chicken since it's bland and most of the time dry but I have to say the House Special Chicken is one of my favorite ways to eat it. The meat was tender and the outside skin was crispy. The soy sauce that came with it wasn't overly salty either. The congee was also a winner being under $5 for a huge clay pot. Although this is a bit out of the way for me, I'd stop by any day to get some good Chinese comfort food.
(4)Cindy C.
After eating out all weekend (after moving to the big city) my friend and i decided to eat something "lighter" so we went for congee. As a group of 3, we ordered 2 bowls of congee and a vegetable. Congee was definitely authentic, and it was still bubbling when it arrived at our table. deliciousness! The only problem i have with this place is the service. Instead of waiting for our own table, we opted to share a big table with another group of 3, which, i'm totally accustomed to, since i'm from Hong Kong and this happens all the time. What SHOULDN'T happen is that orders shouldnt be messed up, and the wait staff should be informed of the situation, so they dont look confused and set the food right in the MIDDLE of the table, letting the patrons figure it out on our own. So despite the good congee, I'm lowering it to 3 stars, because really, any authentic chinese, espectially cantonese restaurant would know better about this sharing table concept and execute it way better
(3)Virginia Y.
Obviously come here for the congee of course. The hot and sour soup's not bad either. Seafood's always fresh and cooked perfectly. One of the best places to dine in Chinatown. Inexpensive, friendly waiters, fast service. What's there to not love?
(4)David C.
i come here all the time even though you can get something similar and half the price elsewhere. over price Chinese foods but good
(4)rene P.
We had the veggie dumplings which were good. The spring roll was ok. My hubby ordered the beef and broccoli which he enjoyed but I didn't like. The chicken fried rice was the best thing I ate. I ordered a fuzzy navel which was ok nothing special. Don't expect fancy service here. I had to ask for utensils. The waiter brought us dirty forks w rice in them. There is no orderly system in delivering the food. My hubby's sticky buns came after we ate. you have to call the waiters to get there attention to take your order. also not the cleanest place.
(2)A C.
I give this place 2 thumbs down. Went there yesterday. I always came here with all my friends and family but this time was a let down. Service was terrible. No utensils were provided for our congee which is watery rice. The food were all salty. I will never come here again and neither should anyone else. I would put no stars if I can.
(1)elise h.
Congee Village is one of my tried and true Lower East Side places and I've always loved the food here. True, there is way too much neon, bamboo, water falls, lights, rocks, fish and other silliness going on with the decor, but it's always good for a laugh. And if you can stand to dine in such ostentatious tackiness, you will find that the food is yummy and cheap. I'm a fan of their crunchy salt and pepper squid, their huge $3 bowls of congee, their sauteed ginger scallops, their garlic Chinese greens . . . in general they do seafood and vegetables really well, the meat and vegetables always taste fresh and the portions are huge! So you can share them with like, 2 other people and that's how your bill stays low. I've had a couple of hilarious Congee Village moments. One year, a friend had a birthday dinner there, and without even asking, they put us in one of the private karaoke rooms downstairs. At first we were like "Okay, whatever!" (having shown up way too sober to appreciate this auspicious turn of events) but after eating and knocking back quite a few drinks from the fully stocked bar, we turned the karaoke machine on and had one of the rowdiest, silliest, longest nights out ever. We stayed on so long that we started ordering whole bottles of stuff from the bar and a second round of food, and the waiters just kept on coming, never complaining and always accommodating and prompt. They are really good with large parties because they're quick and organized. We really appreciated their patience and graciousness that night because our wild bunch really gave them a lot of work to do! Last night, after spending hours putting together IKEA furniture, we were hungry and ordered some Congee Village over the phone. After a half hour, our food arrived, and my roommate looked in the bag and said, "Uh, there's half a pineapple in here." I was like, what?! I had ordered some kind of seafood and pineapple dish, but had failed to realize that there wasn't just pineapple in the dish . . . the whole entree was nestled in half a hollowed-out pineapple, leaves and all! So we ate the seafood right out of the pineapple, and of course, it was delicately flavored and delicious, with some nice cuts of squid, shrimp and scallops thrown in. Go to Congee Village if you want decent, quick and inexpensive Chinese food at mostly any hour of the day. They will take care of you and trust me, it is not like any other place in New York!
(4)Justin G.
I feel I can't really give this place the stamp until I try the congee, but here's the prelim: We had a group of twenty looking for food and drink after a show at the New Museum on a Saturday night. Right, how is that going to work? After a couple unsuccessful attempts we landed here after waiting less than ten min. for a table. Props for that. Not everyone ordered food but we did share most of what we had. I was not terrible impressed with anything we had. Three of us ordered tofu dishes, some fried, with different ingredients. None of the three had much flavor. The shrimp lo mein tasted unlike any lo mein I'd had before - not in a memorable way. Someone ordered a hot pot wrapped with foil filled with different meats, which had better flavor but wasn't exactly amazing. As for drinks we ordered the standard Tsingtao beers and a few of us split a bottle of Kendall Jackson. At the end we may have been a bit overcharged for the total bill, and the manager? was kind of scowling at us each time he brought out an order, but for getting a table relatively quickly with that big a group, can't really complain. Would go back to try the congee in a more low-key grouping - otherwise no impetus to return.
(3)Nicole F.
Just not as great as we wanted it to be. Though the food was good (some of it exceptional), the ambiance festive, and the table service fine (especially for a large group), our experience getting seated for our reservation (made weeks in advance) left a mar on the experience. The good: Once seated, the staff was very patient and pretty attentive for a large party (18). The food came quickly and was noted all around as being very tasty and satisfying. Of note, the house special chicken and Manila clams in black bean sauce. The bad: Knowing we had a large party on a Saturday night, we made reservations weeks in advance. Unfortunately, when we arrived for our reservation, the host told us that they didn't have our table because another large party had been seated there at 6:00pm. He told us that there was nothing he could do for us, as he didn't have control over who gets seated. If the host has no control over this, I'm just not sure who does. After some strategic reasoning, they managed to seat us at three nearby tables (not so great for conversations, but at least we were able to eat). The other thing that kind of put a damper on the evening was that, as we were waiting for the resolution, we were in the bar area having some beers. Unfortunately, a funky meat-market smell had enveloped the whole bar area. I suppose it was wafting up from the kitchen, but it wasn't the best appetizer. The food came quickly, it was affordable, and everyone had a decent time. Overall, it was fine, but just not great for a large party on a busy night.
(2)Tina C.
Allen Street/Delancey Street is the original location where the cooking is close to authentic Chinese as you can get. They have numerous flavors of congee. They open late at night also.
(4)Sharon T.
I love the look of this restaurant. When you enter, it looks so modern and "clubbish", but when you go in more, it's like a typical oriental Chinese restaurant. The food is great here - I definitely recommend the Winter Melon soup here. I haven't been here in a while but I know the food was real good and not expensive.
(4)michelle k.
oh congee congee village. it's my go to chinese when i want something warm, quick and comforting. whenever i eat @ CV, i eat till i feel like i don't need food for the next 2 days it doesn't ever put a hole in my wallet. that's always a plus in my book. honestly, i always go with my canto speaking friends so they always order the right stuff but it always includes congee and alot of seafood..can't remember all but the crab, lobster & black bean clams are delish!
(4)Stefi C.
Ah, reminds me of good old home cooked Chinese comfort food. The pork and preserved egg jook (rice porridge/congee) came bubbling hot and one order filled 5 bowls. 5!!! For less than $4! Cannot wrap my head around this. If it weren't so far from my place, I'd be getting it for dinner every night (ay, unpaid internship+nyc=financial disaster). The House Special Chicken was good and we had chinese spinach in garlic sauce as well. I'll give them an A-/B+...the spinach wasn't cut so everytime we tried to get some we'd end up grabbing huge clumps that were hard to eat. All in all, a great place for some authentic Chinese food. wooowooo
(4)Erika G.
I briefly read a yelp review about Congee Village before heading out to LES tonight to meet with a friend for dinner. We were on the corner of Allen and Essex and we were craving some Chinese food. He pointed excitedly at the Chinese sign and we ran over to discover that it was CV! Nice coincidence. We waited for a few minutes while they cleaned off a table. The restaurant space is small but I'm sure they have a banquet room or something in the back because it sounded like a party was going on. The decor is.. interesting. They have a mural of tropical waters with hills in the background.. I don't know, it reminds me of SE Asia. And the ceiling has (fake, I'm assuming?) vines stretched over it. It's all very tacky Asian decor, right down to the bamboo chairs. I loved it, honestly. The food is CHEAP. Dude, we ordered so much. I was afraid that the congee would be pricey but the prices were as cheap as $4 and as expensive as $8!!! We shared a bowl of the crab congee ($4). It was alright.. the crab was halved and we were too lazy to really pick the meat out. That was probably a poor choice on our part. We had the fried fresh squid with salty pepper ($10) and it was SO SO SO good. It's good by itself but even better with rice. We also ordered the chicken with garlic sauce ($9), which was very flavorful but could have had more pieces of chicken, pan fried dumplings ($2) and mini pork buns ($4). Everything was very good. CV has such an extensive menu. The seafood section spans several pages! PAGES! And everything is SO reasonably priced. The dim sum section is ridiculously cheap; prices range from $1 to $4!!!!! Damn, son! Oh, and just because it's cheap, it doesn't mean that you're getting what you pay for. The quality of the food is great. Okay, the crab in the congee was so-so but everything else was excellent. Our bill came out to roughly $35 for a SHITLOAD of food, you guys! And we finished it all because we were heifers! And it was worth it!
(4)Laur T.
Apres a ballet at the Met and prior to partying the night away, we decided to do a light dinner @ Congee village so here we came for some delicious congee. We got another friend to meet up with us here so that we could head out together after dinner but somehow due to a miscommunication, she ended up heading to the Congee branch in C-town instead of the one here. So after a couple of cab rides, she finally arrived. I'd say this decor here although kitschy, is slightly better than what I would have expected. As usual, I had a little communication issue with the wait staff here. Fortunately my friend is fluent in Cantonese and it worked wonders. While I had the liver and lean meat congee straight off the menu, my friend was able to order the most amazing "yin yang" fish dish that I believe was an off-menu dish. How do people just know dishes off the top of their heads? ok this was what is was: Half the fish slices were sauteed and were soft and delicious. My fav! and the other half was fried. Nice combi. We might have ordered an appetizer in addition to the above. I was stuffed apres dinner and bailed out on post-dinner party and drinks. We got a cab, dropped my friends off in the East Village and then I proceeded home. Stuffed in a happy, satisfied kind of way. PS: I forgot to mention the congee I had. It was OK... a little below expectations but I really like the menu here and wouldn't mind checking out some of their other dishes. The truth is I have been meaning to come back but the thing with NYC is there are just too many options and I haven't had the chance to. I'm putting this on my calendar... you should too.
(4)Eric M.
This place is not bad if you're looking for something different in terms of Chinese food or ambiance. As many other of the reviews noted, the quality in terms food and service is all over the place depending on when you go and what you order. Some dishes I would rate as very good (salt and pepper calamari) , and others pretty bad (most of the beef dishes are very fatty and don't seem to have a lot of taste). The service is typical for a NYC Chinatown restaurant that is busy = not great but that's the way it is. There is almost always a wait, but the lines have always gone fast for us whenever we go there. Oh and of course, as for the congee, it IS very good, so if that's what you're in the mood for you probably won't be disappointed.
(3)Michael H.
I ate here with some friends and the food was great; some of the Best Chinese I have eaten in my life. It is best to go at night as the day chefs are nowhere as good as the night staff. If you live or visit NYC you must eat here. Update: August 24, 2013 Came her last night and they took 20 minutes to put me in a small out of the way room with a tiny table. Waited about 15 minutes and no waiter came to bring us water or anything. There was a couple in the room that informed us that they also received horrible service. My Friend and left before being subjected to more embarrassment.
(1)Mags L.
i love love love congee (or as my people call it chao). this place does it up right. not only was the congee on point, so was the garlic crab, all the squid dishes and everything else we ate. my brother made reservations and we had no problems getting our table for 7. the place was bumpin'. i don't care if service may feel abrasive (though i didn't really catch that vibe, just busy). the food is good. that's all i really care about.
(4)Jake A.
If Oliver Twist's gruel tasted this good, then someone should have told the ginger cunt to shut up and stop complaining. This wacky-looking porridge is a tasty treat and cheap as hell. Don't taste it right away though because it will burn you quicker than the hottest albino dragon's fire. Duck with mushrooms was a great choice as was the pork style. Pleasant surprise considering how spastic the interior of the place is.
(4)Christopher S.
All around a good experience. Just expect a long wait for a table, but worth it. Good food. Well priced.
(4)Brandice H.
Open at 2am = Plus Edible food= plus Very expensive and overdone - MINUS MINUS MINUS Not too impressed
(3)Alexis L.
The only thing I really like there is the congee. Light and tasty as I expect it to be. The rest of the menu is less appealing to me. But then I'm not a chinese cuisine connoisseur.
(3)Nina C.
I used to hate this place, mainly because I hate waiting. Anything that involves waiting or a line drives me insane. You even have to wait when you make a reservation! Why bother then? Like I said, I hate waiting. But then one day, I ordered this and it changed my mind: Roast Duck and Meatball Congee! It's sooooooo yummy. It doesn't really have any duck in there and there's maybe three small meatballs (total - they're freakin cut in half!), but I love the rich, hearty flavor of this congee. So much so that I always order an extra whenever I come here so that I can have it the next day. I even turned my entire family on to this congee. This is very nearly our go-to place whenever there is a celebratory family dinner (now usurped by another place, but we still come here, just less often...). Birthday? Congee Village! Mother's Day? Congee Village! Friday? Congee Village! Anyhoo, one day I insisted that we get this. My family poo-poo'd it and said that I was wasting my money on congee. I argued that we're in CONGEE Village, we should at least try a congee! It comes, they try, they like and the rest as they say IS MINE! hahahah I hate sharing my congee! hahahah So, besides that congee, our family standards are the Crispy Stuffed Bean Curd, the Chilled Dungeness Crab, the House Special Chicken (lots of fresh garlic in this), the House T-bone Steak, the lamb chops, Steamed Live Fish and the Pan-fried Minced Pork with Lotus Root. My Dad loves the rice baked in the pumpkin! The Peking Pork Chops here are decent as well. So, I'd highly recommend. One star off for the wait as it is perpetually crowded on the weekends and at prime dinner time. Go early and you'll have no problems!
(4)Megan C.
Meh. Not a big fan of this place, and I probably would have never even gone here based on most of the reviews, except it was a friends bday and for whatever reason she really wanted to go here. I really wanted to like this place from looking at the menu, it is very extensive with some very interesting options. And as the 4 of us walked in we couldn't help but feel a little excited thinking this place MUST be good as we are the only non Asians practically in the whole place... and the place is huge. We had 8:30 reservations but spent an hour at the tiki bar area having drinks before our table was available, no big deal but we were starving and I am pretty sure they actually forgot about us at some point until we had to remind them we were still waiting. This is fine if you are a walk in, but we had a reservation? Anyway, onto the dinner. Pretty sure our waiter either hated us or was disgusted by us as he basically yelled at us once because we weren't ready to order and then rolled his eyes at us when we asked several questions about the menu. We all started with dim sum, one steamed vegetable dumpling, one pork fried dumpling, and two steamed buns. All were really underwhelming and the ratio of filling to dumpling/bun was really bad. I had to cut away most of the dumpling as there was WAY too much, my pork dumplings had the most flavor of them all, but still were just so-so. One of us had sesame chicken (best of the bunch), myself and another had the shrimp with walnuts and broccoli which could have been the stars, they were prepared beautifully but really lacked any flavor, lastly my friend had a crab dish and this by far the worst, minuscule crabs with hardly any meat in them at all. We all gave her some of our meals so she could actually have something substantial for dinner. In fairness the portions are large and the fried rice was decent, but can you really mess up fried rice?? It was a fairly cheap dinner for 4 with apps, meals, and drinks but not worth the sub par food and poor service to ever come back.
(3)Steeeeeeeve H.
Hello friends. This is absolutely, positively, irrefutably, my newest craze. I love Congee Village so much that I am going to take it behind the middle school and get it pregnant. I enjoy Congee Village so much that I will drive on Super+ $4.15 / gal gas just to reach this delectable venue -- A million times over. Oh yes, it's that good. When ordering, be adventurous with the congee. You made it this far, you might as well order something you never tried before. Their congee selection is quite good. I highly recommend the sliced pork (or fish) and preserved egg congee and also the crab congee. As for meat, I would order the pan fried minced pork with salted fish and the peking pork chop. They are overwhelmingly unhealthy, but who cares? It's delicious. Lastly, don't forget to try their frog casserole and sauteed snow peas leaf for veggies. A tip for any first timers -- do not take The Table in the back. Yes, I have deemed it "The Table." Awkwardly located near the entrance to the bamboo backroom, The Table comfortably sits two Smurfs or possibly half an adult. Yes you will be offered The Table everytime in lieu of waiting, but unless you are eating alone (which I can totally see myself doing), expect to have your partner sit on your lap while you two engage in an intimate conversation alongside 3 Chinatown families. I believe this may take away a bit from the dining experience. That's just me though...
(4)L O.
3 words that summarize why I shall never set foot in this establishment again: SHARK FIN SOUP. Need I say more? Not ok.
(1)Stephen K.
Order family style. You can't go wrong. Make sure you get the porridge, so good!
(5)Gloria K.
I love this place! I am Chinese, grew up and still live in Flushing, studied abroad in Hong Kong, been to many asian countries and eat Chinese food all the time so when it comes to Chinese food, I've eaten it all! Everything I've ever ordered at Congee Village has been good. The congee is great, fried frog legs, house special t-bone steak, veggies, fish, clams, pork chop peking style are wonderful as well. I never had any complaints about this place (and i'm a pretty nit picky person) "Their fried flounder is dope!" - my boyfriend ... lol one of my favorite chinese restaurants and places to eat in chinatown!
(5)Tong G.
First time in New York City in a long time. Where do I end up? Congee Village! My friend and I werent sure what to expect. But when I googled this place on Yelp New York and it had 92 reviews with 4 star rating. We had to try it out. I mean, can 92 people be wrong? Let me start off by saying, the service here isnt the best. But if you just want good ole fashion Congee. This is the place to be. Its a rather large menu for a place that distinguishes itself with the name Congee village. It fools you! There's only one page listing their congee items and its on the last page I might add. Anyway, the prices seem rather reasonable. $4 for congee? Not bad at all. Everything else was about avg prices for Chinatown. We were expecting rather small bowls for the price. We didnt know what to expect, so we ordered a main dish and sauteed chinese spinach. It was a lot of food. So well worth your buck here. The server seemed rather busy to pay us much attention and he could have used a bar of soap. Sorry, that was a bit mean. Good food, good prices. I would come again.
(4)Anonymou S.
One of the best Chinese restaurants in NYC. The quality and authenticity of the dishes are high, I never get that feeling that they're trying to pull one over on me like at other places. You know, that suspicion that the restaurant is trying to see how much money they can get out of you for the least amount of effort. I've never had a bad dish here, my favorites though are the house chicken, hot sizzling plate of Chinese broccoli, seafood chow mein, the baked rice with Chinese sausage... who am I kidding, it's all delicious. On par with the gold standard restaurants in Southern California. P.S. - Regarding the complaints of cleanliness... everyone realizes this is New York City, right? One of the oldest cities in the country? The most populated? The dirtiest?? I love a clean kitchen but it's also the last thing I expect in this city. Until NYC's health dept. adopts a grade system like California, no one should be shocked about certain conditions. As long as I don't get sick, bring on the grub.
(5)Yvonne Y.
If you like congee, this place has a great variety (20+) served steaming hot in individual clay pots. It's creamy, thick but not too thick and costs roughly $4 only. I had the sweet fried dough with it which was cold but edible. If I return, I'd consider trying other small plates (pot stickers, chives pancakes, etc) with the congee. Great decor which out of town guests would appreciate.
(4)Deborah H.
I must be the only one who likes Congee Bowery better than the original! The one time I've been here, the wait was much longer, the zha ji gai (fried house special chicken) wasn't as crisp (squirting the lemon juice over it didn't make the SIZZLE), and the service wasn't as friendly. And though the two restaurants are very close to each other, Congee Bowery's more accessible for me. Still, it's delicious. But Congee Bowery's still the better in my eyes.
(4)seriously J.
Great Price! Taste Good! Been coming here for 10 plus years. This place never disappoints. This is the best chinese food in chinatown ever. We usually get the chicken with garlics, cold crab, fish maw soup, and any veggie dish sauteed with garlic. For a group of 3 or 4, $$ is around 60$ to 80$ and you leave feeling pretty damn good. I've spent more on food for only 2 people and felt ripped off. This is definitely not one of those place that leaves you feeling empty wallet and empty stomach.
(5)Kathryn G.
Went for lunch. ASK for the lunch menu - they don't offer it up. Good thing I had my NYC pal with me. I had the short ribs, but I wished for something different. They were not bad, but other stuff looked better. Would definitely go back.
(4)Tiffany H.
Best pork and preserved egg congee ever. And cheap!! What a great meal that reminds me of home. I wish there's something like close to this at home! Definitely a must.
(5)Wilson C.
I walked in this place and was very impressed with the design. How often to you see a "pretty litto pond with fishies" under the stairs. The place fits the food's style pretty good too. Simple and not classy, things made of bamboo or wood. Sadly I judged this book by its cover and was very disappointed. My gf and I got the salted fish with diced chicken baked in a bamboo and frog congee, creme brulee (me eating the main course and my gf having dessert). The salted fish with diced chicken in bamboo had no trace of bamboo at all, it tasted like the ones I can get in Brooklyn(rip off). The frog congee.........cilantro and ginger covered the taste of the whole congee, a trace of it being burnt as well. The quality of the food was mediocre and left me unsatisfied. The worst part for me is the dessert made my gf unsatisfied too (so much for a nice date). Walked down a couple of blocks from the restaurant and my gf is still complaining about the creme brulee being bought and not made. 2.5-stars for mediocre service,food and a nice cover to lure customers. Not worth the hype.
(2)Jill S.
I found out that congee is a rice porridge; this restaurant offers a full page of choices with their menu. I got the plain congee which, with some chili oil, was wonderful. Also a dish with corn and toasted pine nuts. This was a wonderful find and surprisingly inexpensive for lunch. Interesting and reasonably priced cocktails, too. I had a Makara, with passion fruit vodka, passion fruit liquor, and simple syrup. Fabulous and only six dollars!
(5)Jennifer W.
If you don't go here at night you are LIVING THE WRONG LIFE. There are dynamic stools in front, very 60s, a Koi tank, and the waiters look like they're all the stars of Flower Drum Song, really urban and natty. I get the Seafood Congee, which is just $5 and as others are inexplicably rattled by the idea of seafood porridge one seldom has to share. The shrimp with walnuts and cream sauce is outstanding comfort food, I ignore the broccoli. Its fresh, I just don't want to live forever.
(5)Nader T.
Either of the Congee restaurants (this or the one on Bowery, which has a little more atmosphere) are OK in my book, and the destination of choice for non-dim sum Cantonese food in Manhattan. You can't go wrong with black mushroom and chicken congee--pile on the ginger, green onion, and white pepper; salt-and-pepper squid; frog's legs; soy-sauce chow mein--ask for some red vinegar and chili sauce to go with this; the list could go on. And on. And on. Nothing to write home about by L.A. standards, but it sure as hell beat the places my buddies were scouting out for Chinese food in Manhattan!
(4)Kristina C.
NY Food Inspection Score: 2 Stars (out of 5). Yikes, that's a rough score.... Oh well! This was an awesome spot when we were hung over. Congee, veggies, and tea hit the spot. They have other dishes that looked really tasty but my weak stomach couldn't handle it at the time... Will come again even if their score is really lame.
(5)Millhouse R.
I don't like congee much so I ordered shrimp rice rolls and pork stomach with x.o. sauce. It's pretty good stuff. The shrimp rice rolls are made with dry shrimp mixed into rice noodle dough and steamed. Very subtle taste and very delicious. The pork stomach comes with fresh and naturally sweet snow peas. Also very good. What really surprised me was the plain white rice. It's not gooey and has a nice nutty flavor. Serrvice is to par as well. My only complaint is you have a lot of customers doing the "Where you at?" nonsense on their cells.
(4)Wendy S.
We went for a late lunch on Saturday. The food was incredible, but the service was slow. I would happily go again. The food is worth the slowness, as long as you are not in a hurry. The menu goes from average price for the more standard dishes to very expensive for some of the fancier ones. The menu is very extensive. They have everything from orange chicken to shark fin soup.
(5)Yu-Ching L.
I'm about to put Congee Village on blast. The food is so very delicious if you don't know what happens behind the scenes. I won't go into specifics but there is not enough Purrell in this world for this place.
(2)Jeff C.
BEST congee. Main dish portion sizes are BIG. Ordered the crab meat shanghai buns, peking pork chops, piping hot whole crab congee, beef chow fun w/ black bean sauce, minced pork buns. Shanghai buns were not as good as Joe's. Pork chops were nice and crisp but a tad on the fatty side. Congee was bubbling and tastes very authentic, with tiny slivers of ginger and bits of crunchy radish. Beef chow fun was greasy, just the way it should be. Minced pork buns were just the way my friend's mom makes it. Split amongst 3 ppl, it came out to $11/each with a fat tip. Must try the crispy garlic chicken next time! Decor: casual, everything is polyurethaned wood Note: Notoriously packed on weekends, so be forewarned!
(4)Bleep S.
Congee might be something that if you did not grow up eating it ,you might not think it is so ooo-la la. I think if it was very cold out, this could be a satisfying comfort food. I had vegetable congee and some very oily onion pancakes. It was not bad but I feel like if I never had these items again...it would be ok.
(3)Barney L.
I have spent much time in China and my wife lived there for 12 years. So yes, with some authority, I can say that this is probably the best Cantonese place in Manhattan Chinatown (Flushing, Queens and Brooklyn are other subjects to discuss!). And they have some quite original dishes that you might not find elsewhere. Try the Pan Fried Bean Curd with Soy Sauce (not what it sounds like) or the Steamed Minced Pork with Salted Fish. Don't try obviously Sichuan or Hunan dishes. These guys are from Hong Kong (or maybe Guangdong Province). They can't find Sichuan on a map. (Although one non-Cantonese dish they do fairly well is the Small Juicy Bun in Shanghai Style.") And the Peking Pork Chop (actually a Cantonese dish) is superb. The congees are divine. And try the "Rice in Bamboos Pot" dishes and the casseroles. And don't pay attention to the aesthetics. Most people know that the best Chinese food is not found in quiet, beautiful ambiances.
(5)tiffanie n.
I keep hearing about this place so decided to try it and I LOVE it. It's very spacious here, decoration is nice and staff is pretty friendly. Food is delicious and cheap!! I got about 10 dishes and can't really recall what they were but I was satisfied with all of them. It's also good to have big parties here.
(4)John T.
Congee, the ultimate comfort food. Curing colds, thousands of years before chicken soup. The original potluck. Low in fat, high in nutrients, cheap, filling and TASTY! I love congee, so a restaurant devoted to congee sounds like it would be right up my alley. The atmosphere seems fun and cheery, but young (like high school young). The food is great, and the prices are good. What is a deal breaker for me though is the absolutely horrible service. Long wait for a table, long wait for the food, if you have any questions, there are only a few people there that can speak english (and take orders), the others are servers. Maybe if I wasn't hungry and I was there with a large group, this would be fun. For 2 hungry people in a rush -disaster.
(3)Titus P.
All around decent, nothing to write home about Chinese place with horrible service and decent food and prices.
(3)Sarah T.
I went here last night for a large birthday dinner and had an amazing amazing time. This place is not your normal General Tsao's Chicken place. There was literally an entire section of the menu reserved for intestines. Baked fish intestine and rice. Pork intestine with broccoli. etc.. You get the idea. But there are some delicious and relatively safe things on the menu as well (try the baked rice! delicious) that filled the bellies of many a whities. To boot, I don't know how much we drank while we were there, but let's just say there were many rounds of shots. In the end, the dinner all told (including tip, tax, and covering the cost of the birthday girl's dinner) was just $40/person. (I thought we had easily drunk $40 in alcohol alone!) A great deal indeed, and a great place to get 10+ ppl together for a great fun dinner. The last thing I'll mention is how quickly the food comes out. We literally sat down, ordered, and before we could look up from our tea cups, the first round of dishes were coming out.
(4)S Y.
The service made me feel like I was in China (rush rush rush! I don't care what you want) but the food reminded me I was in America. The House Special Chicken was authentically chopped in the Chinese way (yeea, suck on the bones and spit it out on your plate!) but the vegetable dumplings were awful, the xiaolongbao was stuck to the paper (what a waste of the juices, the best part), the Yangzhou fried rice was incredibly unimpressive with frozen shrimp and frozen veggies, and the garlic snowpeas were just...salty garlic snowpeas.
(2)T L.
It used to be a 5-star but the quality of the food is no way near what it used to be when it first opened. I had their number on speed-dial because it used to be so yummy and convenient. At las--all good things must come to an end. Below is a list of dishes that I still love and will always get from this place...I can pass on everything else. Their signature house chicken. I have no idea what they put into it or how they make it but it is CRACK. Very salty and very flavorful. Do not eat this on your first date unless ya'll have super-strength breathe mints. (I love roasted garlic and this dish has a ton). If you love garlic, you will do well in Italy and S.Korea. The congee hands down is awesome. It is nice, thick, flavorful and inexpensive! Try the classic- Thousand Year Old Egg and Beef Congee. My go-to congee whenever I am sick. Another favorite is the fish and lettuce congee. A very light congee for the summer. Don't get squimish but the frog-legs are also quite tasty. Expensive though. The fried tofu dish is so-so. The jellyfish dish is also so-so, spicy if you like spicy....in general- i think everything else is just so-so. The service--I'm happy they get me my food. Contact is minimal which I am happy with. If the place gets really busy which it often does, bring some snacks. Getting food can feel like forever. The rice is horrible. Not fluffy enough, kinda raw--I can make better rice than that.
(2)Katie C.
Definitely a place I could take my family to. The food reminds me of home and the Chinese restaurants there. That's a big deal to me. Ever since moving to New York, I have yet found a place to satisfy the full on Chinese Dinner I crave for from time to time. Whenever I go back home (San Jose, CA) I make it a MUST to have an authentic Chinese dinner out with my family. Congee Village has brought those authentic flavors across the country for me and has become my new favorite Chinese restaurant in the city. Let just start off by saying this place is complicated to get to. I live close enough where I can just take the bus, but subway wise it would be difficult. Definitely worth the trip though! The restaurant it decorate beautifully. You truly get the Chinese feel of the place. There is a room separated for the bar where you can order food as well. There is a waiting place with man seats when the place gets packed which is usually is. The restaurant is two stories and VERY huge. I love this place, the appearance is simply fantastic. For the food. Boy does everything look delicious. Seriously, you can't order ANYTHING wrong here. The favorite dish I love to order is the sauteed scallops with black pepper. The flavor is just so good. You cannot resist eating more and more. It's a MUST try. You have no idea... And I HATE shell fish but this dish makes me LOVE the scallops. The food is truly good if it makes you love what you hate. The veggies I usually order is the snow peas leaves with garlic. The best veggie plate you can order. It's flavored to perfection and has no oil or grease! So good. It was my first order a tofu dish and really you can't go wrong with tofu. We ordered the pan fried tofu with soy sauce (tofu=bean curd) and it was very very very satisfying. YUM. Definitely prefer pan fried than deep fried. Of course, since the place is named Congee, we ordered the sliced pork with preserved egg. It was okay, not the best porridge I ever had, but it was just mediocre. It's odd that the place is named Congee, but it's not the best dish on the menu... Anyway, the last thing we ordered was the salted fish and chicken fried rice. It was PERFECTION. Great flavor and so addicting! The overall experience was great. They service was okay. Not fantastic. They give complementary peanuts and red bean soup for dessert. The red bean soup was pretty good. Maybe because I haven't had it for awhile, but I ate it and liked it. I recommend this place to everyone who LOVES Chinese food, because this is definitely the place to go. Always packed with Chinese families wanting the real stuff and also attracts the American families wanting to explore the true flavors of Chinese food. YUM
(4)Edwin T.
Definitely one of the best place you can pick for family style Chinese food. The food is very good and the service is really reliable. If you are interested in trying more traditional Chinese food you have a lot of options to choose from and if you not wiling to try something exotic they definitely have more of the main street type of Chinese food.
(4)Lolo M.
I live in Astoria now, and unfortunately there is no congee place or really good Asian restaurants in the area... unless I venture out to Elmhurst or Flushing. While living in the Lower East Side, Congee Village was my staple take-out place. One advice: I would stick to their varieties of congees and hot plates... ummm not so sure about the dimsum items.
(4)David K.
Congee Village is easily one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the city. While there is usually a wait(i've personally never waited more than 30 minutes), what do you really expect from a popular restaurant in the city? My only real gripe is the service which is mediocre at best. Portions are fair, the food comes out quickly, and almost everything I've tried is tasty. You can't really go wrong with any of the congee, the dim sum is a nice addition(i LOVE fried dough), and the house special chicken is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. lol. yea. Based on food alone, I would've definetly given Congee Village 5 stars. Whether it's seafood, vegetable, or meat you can't go wrong here.
(4)B T.
The food was mediocre and the service was awful. I would have rated 1 star if it wasn't for the house chicken special. The chicken was moist and juicy, and the garlic slices were flavorful. The rest of the food was oily (e.g. sweet and sour pork), and the vegetables in the spicy chicken dish were spoiled. The grand marnier prawns and bass filet were better than the other dishes, but I've had better. The waiters were rude and unfriendly. For example, they started clearing the table while we were seated, reaching over us to grab our plates, to signal it was time for us to leave. The space was good for large groups and a little quieter than other Chinese restaurants (until the obnoxious frat boy group came in).
(2)Ray R.
been here with group of friends... good food... reasonable prices... nice setup... not bad for date spot (grab a nice drink while waiting for ur table) its a mix between families, dates, and group of friends gathering for dinner... parking in the area is pretty easy to find i believe...
(4)Brian K.
I saw a woman say, "oh the pork chops!" and hop up and down excitedly last night when Congee Village was mentioned. If you know what to order here (fortunately someone did,) the food is very good and very cheap. And now whenever someone mentions Congee Village, I too will hop up and down and say, "oh, the pork chops!"
(4)andres S.
Horrible. Would rate it with negative stars if I could. Came here for lunch with a friend who was visiting from out of the city. The place was pretty empty yet all the waiters were too busy gossiping and doing nothing to seat us. Five minutes after we finally decided to seat ourselves, we got our menu's thrown on our table by a waiter who did not even bother to acknowledge or greet us. Although we were ready to place our order, we had to call around three different waiters until one of them finally decided to take it. He stood there and stared at us in a disgusting way, we asked question about some of the dishes and he gave replies like "its chicken" with much unneeded attitude. After a while of waiting we finally got our dishes almost thrown on our table by the same skinny waiter with disgustingly long nails. But all was good, we are not the type to make a scene over silly things. The food was, ok. SLIGHTLY better than your average Chinese take out, but most definitely not worth its price. The poor service would have been forgiven if, the place had been crowed. But it was not. It was only us and another table there, and more than 6 waiters doing NOTHING but talking to each other . After almost 30 minutes of waiting and asking, we finally got our check. And of course thanks to the HORRIBLE service, we did not bother to leave a tip. But what really made me write this was what happened next. As we were walking out, the waiter ran up to us and yelled "WHY NO TIP?", I replied, "because of the horrible service". Not only did he raise his voice at a COSTUMER, but he also decided to argue with us about the whole tip issue. Not once did he, or ANY of the other waiters check on our table, yet its so remarkably FUNNY how quickly he came to us because we did not leave a tip. All the employees stood there and did nothing, they let the waiter insult and raise his voice at paying costumers (not that we didn't tell him off and gave him a piece of our minds, but stil...) Due to anger, I forgot to take the names of the waiters involved in this. But I am most definitely returning tomorrow to report them to their manager (I'm sure the same waiters will be there and even so I doubt he cares since I am sure he was one of the ones watching). The other table there seemed to have experience the exact same issues we did, not sure if they left a tip or not but they did not get any attention at all. This place is not worth it. Food is overpriced for its quality, and not to mention the DISGUSTING costumer service and rude waiters. If I am ever here again, it will be only to prove how disgusting the people working in this place are.
(1)Daphne H.
Came here a few more times with my gf and I LOVE THIS PLACE! Good old cantonese dishes with congee is awesome post workout food. I loved their ground meat patties with salted fish & the steamed soy sauce tofu (I finished the plate all by myself... :D) SO GOOD!
(5)Eric O.
Better than your average Chinese Restaurant. Seems like it would be better for large groups. All in all I'd go there again.
(4)Bruce S.
I haven't been here for years, but I have fond memories. Not of the service, of course. As others have noted, the service is rude and horrible which would usually be enough to turn my wife off forever. But the house special chicken calmed her right down. For chicken like this we can brave a few nasty waiters.
(4)Linda T.
i *heart* congee. like, a lot a lot a lot. it's probably one of my favorite comfort foods in the universe. and what i like just as much as i like congee is spending only $6 on breakfast / brunch. the congee is available in 15+ varieties and comes to the table still bubbling. portions are just right to fill you up and for an extra $1 you can get an order of 'you tiao' ... the fried dough sticks that taste amazing when dipped and covered in congee. yum yum yum. the only thing i don't like about the congee is that i always burn the roof of my mouth eating it because i'm not patient enough to wait for it to cool down (because it's soooooo good.) but i won't dock any stars because really, that's my own fault. :P
(5)I went with the pork, chicken and duck congee, with a couple of pieces of you tiao (a savory fried doughnut stick) to dip into it. The congee was flavored well with ginger, spring onions and cilantro sprinkled throughout. It was the perfect meal - cheap, tasty and comforting. No idea why I am paying for this, which is basically just leftover rice boiled with stock, but it is so freaking delicious and cheap I don't even care.
(4)John W.
Chinese Cuisine, specialty is Congee I don't like congee, I do admit. I rarely eat it at a restaurant and even when my mom cooks it. So why did I review this place? Because there is other foods here other than congee. My dad took me here a while back and he liked the congee here. I ordered the rice in bamboo pot with the chinese sausage. At that time, it was the first time I had ever tried it and it was pretty good. The rice was very flavorful and it wasn't dry, moist and tasted great. It's not that hard of a dish to make, but as long as it tastes good, my stomach is happy!
(4)Jennifer S.
3 stars is an average - the food was easily five stars, the service was only one or two stars. We had juicy buns, steamed pork buns, beef with wide noodles, and pork fried rice. The buns were delicious and the beef with wide noodles was one of the best dishes I've ever had at an Asian restaurant! However, the service was awful: we were never asked for drink orders, the wrong food was brought to us and the waitress argued until she realized it actually was scallops instead of beef, no one ever checked on us after the food came, and the waitress just walked off instead of answering a question I asked about if we could exit through a different door than we came in. Though those noodles were amazing, I won't return - there are too many other restaurants with great food AND great service.
(3)Lawrence L.
This is the go-to place when there's a big hungry group looking for a cheap dinner in a place that can accomodate more than 8 people without making a big deal of it. If it's someone's birthday, don't forget to have them put "Happy Bersday" on the speakers.
(4)Alexis M.
The great thing with Congee Village is that they can accommodate big groups very easily. We were a party of 7 that became a party of 9 that ended up a party of 11 halfway through the meal and, as we had ordered the family meal the only extra expenses were for drinks. We were sitting in a circular booth with a big lazy susan in the middle. It made it a little more difficult to interact with the people sitting on the other side but it was really convenient. The cocktails are cheap & potent but be aware of the quality of the vodka.... The food was nice but not exceptional. However there is little to complain about for the price. There was chicken (with the head), fish, clam & tofu soup, sea cucumber, cold noodles, lo mein, spring rolls, shrimp rolled in some type of mayo and more... The service was great with very attentive waiters. Overall it was a great experience but I am not sure I would go there on a date. It seems more appropriate for birthdays and parties in my opinion.
(4)M F.
Love this place. its such a steal for the price! The congee is great! The other dishes are great! I LOVE the crab there. A mess to eat, but both styles are great. I can't believe how long we end up staying when we order the crab, but hoowee it's worth it. The two downers are that the downstairs area and in general has a smell, not rotting food or anything, just not a smell that should not be in a restaurant. The other thing is that there is a tremendous wait when you go at the wrong time. But since its such a good deal, those things I can overlook. I'm not a huge chinese food fan either, and I recommend it.
(4)Yinna W.
Congee my love. I can eat one order of sliced pork and preserved egg congee (the classic), and one order of juicy buns everyday and be happy forever. And the best thing is that the congee is only $2.50! Try to get seated on the right side of the restaurant, on the upper level, and eat your congee while listening to the waitstaff sing Happy Birfday every 15 minutes. If all else fails, just get take-out, its just as good.
(5)Fab R.
Good for groups. Always reliable, but never amazing.
(3)Sasa S.
pretty good. go early, as it gets packed around 7 or so. yummy soy sauce fried egg noodles. good cantonese home cooking. not just congee. have yet to try the congee. but pretty typical cantonese restaurant, when you are done, they expect you to leave. but definitely will go back next time i am in the city and around that area and wanting some home cooking cantonese cuisine.
(4)Anna L.
Decent Cantonese-style food, not a big fan of congee (what they are known for, but every dish had lots of shredded ginger which I cannot pick out) but it made up for it with Chilean sea bass (topped with some kind of soy-based sauce), tofu dishes and garlic sprouts. This restaurant is not the conventional Chinese place, more for the adventurous eater.
(3)John W.
It was one of my friends birthday and he decided that he wanted some good Chinese food, we decided to hit up Congee Village. When we got there it was packed silly full of people so we assumed that the place must be pretty good to have so much business . . . That assumption was pretty darn stupid. After we were all seated, they asked us to move to another table for some odd reason even though it was the same size and all. Our seats were in the lower level near the sink area, and I kept getting hit with drops of water at random. At first I thought it was the waiters flicking cups to dry them but later on I realized the stupid ceiling was dripping water on me which was annoying as hell. That basically ruined the evening, water continuously hitting me on the back every so often. Another thing was the service . . . the waiter was rude and annoying as heck. We had 10 or so people with us and she only gave us about 2 or 3 minutes to review the menu. She kept rushing us and trying to get us to order more. Seeing as how they serve the dishes family style, we ordered 8 dishes for 10 people which we thought was adequate. But unfortunately that was not to the waiters liking and she kept badgering us and telling us it would be too little for so many people. She didn't leave us alone until we ordered 3 additional dishes which was rather annoying. Aside from being rude and rather impolite, the staff is also quite incompetent. One of them served us a dish that we did not even order. When we notified them of the mistake, they just said uh ok oh well and we ended up getting charged for it. My friend who likes to eat fish decided to order a fish dish. Boy was that a mistake. The price tag on a steamed / cooked fish was 44$. We would have been happy to pay it if only it was any good. The fish was poorly done and did not taste good at all. I could have prepared a better fish than that and it was definitely not worth the 44$. I assume it was a fish that was already dead and frozen cause it definitely did not taste fresh. The food in general was ok at best, nothing spectacular or amazing about it. Definitely have had far better at other restaurants at lower price. Everyone else in our group agreed, that this would be the last time we'd ever come to Congee Village to dine.
(2)Kenny T.
I've come here many a Sunday morning for some great post-hangover food. Their congee is really flavorful and I always get the sliced beef and fish congee ($3.95!). Their small juicy buns (xiao long bau) aren't the best - the bau could be thinner and there doesn't ever seem to be that much soup inside - but solid.
(5)Marcus S.
I'm so glad I found this place and their house special chicken. Love the over the top decor which reminded me of some of the restaurants I went to in Shunde, China last year. Also got the razor clams in black bean sauce and was impressed. This just became my favorite Chinese restaurant in NYC.
(5)Caroline S.
Every meal is super delicious at Congee Village and the best time to go is definitely when it's freezing outside...in the dead of winter. I love the congee with fish and ginger, as well as the more taste-acquired thousand year egg with ginger congee. It always comes piping hot (the only way to eat it) in a clay bowl with a thick soup spoon. They also serve some surprisingly delicious noodle dishes and dim sum. The only downside to the restaurant is space- if you have a large group, or heaven forbid, a baby with you, it won't be an easy feat to get seated comfortably. I say it's worth the hassle! Look for those tacky twinkle lights and faux bamboo fence to fulfill your next congee dream.
(5)Dorothy P.
I'm so glad i made a stop here on my recent visit to NYC. Fellow yelpers were right on this one. great authentic chinese food! and at a great price. I just wished the hot pots were the traditional kind instead of coming out w/ flames underneath them. I think i was gettin a lil' high off the fumes.
(4)Lisa F.
Sensitive stomachs eat at your own risk. While this place serves up tasty Cantonese style chinese food, the kitchen is slightly heavy-handed with the oil. Certain dishes contain MSG, but you can request it additive-free. Those that don't want congee can try the consistently good garlic baked chicken with its crispy skin and tasty meat. In fact, any you can't go wrong with the garlic or chicken dishes here. Just remember to bring the Tums. The portions are pretty big, and there is usuallly a wait thanks to the relatively low prices. Don't take it personal if the hosts seem abrupt. The restaurant runs at full capacity for the dinner rush. Congee Village is a place that's better suited for large friends and family gatherings rather than an intimate first date. (Trust me, she will not be impressed by the fake trees in an "outdoor" setting.)
(3)Amy N.
The food is tasty. They have extensive menu choices. I like the Golden Egg Fried Rice & their congees. I could have give them 4 stars, but their food was too salty. Next time If I do go again, I will ask them not to put so much salt in the food.
(3)Sherilyn T.
this has got to be one of my favorite chinese restaurants in nyc. instead of a fancy overpriced fine dining restaurant, i hosted my graduation dinner here and everyone seemed extremely pleased...even my parents, and older asian ppl are the toughest critics when it comes to eating out...esp at asian restaurants. the portions are decent, the prices are very reasonable...and the food...in the words of the annoying rachel ray, "YUM-O!" the congee is flavorful (try the sliced fish w/preserved eggs). get an order of the pan fried tofu to go with it...compliments it well. the steamed shanghai dumplings here aren't nearly as tasty as joe's shanghai, but eh whatevers...at least you don't have to wait like 5 hours...although, there usually is a wait here if you come friday/saturday evenings....but it's never ridiculously long. i *heart* congee village.
(5)Heather C.
I don't see what everyone else is seeing. The place smelled like garbage and spoiled fish and the service was the worst. The food was mediocre, but we happened to notice a waiter blowing his nose in his sleeve. Ew. I will never ever go back there.
(1)Muriel L.
I love you Congee Village, and not just because you kept the booze going for my friends and I for the past five years. Actually, my first experiences with Congee Village were with family. You'll find that the fine line between family dining and Friday-Saturday night sloshing about with friends is often blurred in this establishment. Growing up, my mother and I would trek out to Manhattan from Queens to meet up with extended family in Chinatown for weekly dinners. Although I don't think I've ever actually ordered congee from Congee Village, my family's enjoyed a whole slew of dishes from roast duck, chicken, steamed fish, steamed clams, shark fin soup, etc. No complaints from a generally opinionated gathering! So it's a surprise then that a couple of years later during my first year at college, new friends insisted it was THE place to go (a weird mix of tradition, novelty, and cheap drinks). How strange to roll in with your pack of 20 something friends, and find small children running around by the bar... or maybe not that strange at all because that used to be me. Regardless, those feelings were quickly reconciled, and Congee Village has been the perfect go-to spot for friends of mine for the last couple of years. In place of my family's elaborate dishes however, friends and I would order plates of noodles or fried rice to share. If we went family style, we'd negotiate stir fried beef with roasted bell peppers, snow pea leaves (the best Chinese vegetable dish--you have my word on it!), and a couple of bowls of rice to pass around. Warms my heart to see friends doing the same thing I would do around the dinner table growing up. Perks include a small bar with only one bartender who mixes drinks with a 9-1 liquor to mixings ratio. If the plan was to get you so inebriated, you'll order greasy platter after platter for your table, then they've succeeded. I also know that Congee Village staff are used to birthday celebrations taking place at the restaurant, and one thing I like to do is to track down a waiter on my way to the bathroom to humiliate/celebrate my one-year-older friends. Just ask the waiter to "play the birthday song" and in about 10-20 minutes, a barrage of children's voices will penetrate the usual chorus of diner noises, children singing Happy Birthday in Mandarin. Bringing your own cake should be okay, and I'm sure the wait staff would be more than happy to store it in the fridge for you until dinner is over if you ask nicely. Beware of long waits on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Take a number and wait in the bar for 30-45 minutes. Sometimes if you come with a smaller party, you might get seated at a large table with another party. I understand that a lot of folks who aren't used to this setup would grumble about this arrangement, but it really isn't that big of a deal (it's pretty common in Chinese restaurants that I've been to). Come with a good party of people, and you won't even notice these small inconveniences.
(5)Robin S.
This place was exceptional! I don't eat congee, but I am a big lover of Chinese. We ordered some of their sizzling dishes, in both beef and chicken. The food was tender and spicy, just the way we like it. We're definitely not afraid of hot. If you are a wimp at heart, better not order hot dishes in this place. The vegetable dishes were less impressive but certainly good. I also enjoyed the soup dumplings which are an all time favorite for me. The decor is a bit cheesy, but interesting to look at. The staff was efficient and courteous. I can't wait to go there again. Oh, and the prices were great.
(5)Noah N.
know what? I think these cats have so much real chinese business (like families, business groups, and couples) that they don't like my white ass and deliberately ignore me and seat chinese folks before me. but again, I'm not hating, because of what? the taste. easy, get the eggplant, the chinese broccoli, juicy pork buns shangai style, mixed vegetable, mushrooms with bean curd, what ever, it's gonna break your mouth off. although I haven't tried the frogs or snails or gizzards or guts or eyeballs or tripe or Royal Emperor's Sharks Fin Swallows Nest Goose Liver Pimp Stew for 10
(5)jozilla w.
somehow or another I got convinced to go to both congee villages at some point, and I had almost the exact same thing at both. and white boys brought me to each location, so I was skeptical both times. but I can say it was fairly decent...like, if push came to shove I might even take my parents there!
(4)Loretta C.
As much as I hate to endorse "tourist" Chinese spots (by tourist in this case i mean people visiting from around the world but also people from non-Chinese parts of NYC. Everyone and their moms knows about this place), Congee Village has some good eats. I'd probably go more often, but I it really isn't so spectacular that it's worh a 30+ min. wait. The food could be worthy of four stars, but the crowds, wait time and sub-par service (due to the crowds) bring it down to 3. I'm a hater. As for the rudeness, believe me -- they can be rude to their Chiense clientele as well. I wouldn't take it personally.
(3)Yeni H.
came here for my graduation dinner with a group of 11 people. tried their congee the first time i came but had forgotten how it tasted like but anyways, randomly ordered a mix of vege, meat and fish dishes and they were all good cantonese style food i had since i was young. food were served up fast and still hot.
(4)Dan S.
Great food, great value, great atmosphere! The jumbo shrimp with walnuts was awesome, and the congee was excellent as well! $55 for 4 entrees, congee, and dumplings ... that value can NOT be beat in NYC!
(4)Tam N.
After a series of phone calls, e-mails, and text messages, 4 friends and 13 friends-of-friends arranged to meet up at Congee Village on a Sunday at noon. Based on Camilla C's words of wisdom, we were working the Daylight Savings Time angle, hoping to roll in at a less frenetic hour. And it worked. Business didn't pick up until 1:30 PM (Or maybe 12:30 had people not been confused by the time?). Reservations were honored, but we didn't challenge their ability to do so. Interior design-wise, CV looks like a split-level Tiki bar. Kitsch-factor did not bode well for the food. But I was wrong, hooray! Solid 5-stars: * Squid Congee with Ginger Sauce At CV, congees (rice porridge) are served bubbling hot in a claypot. Squid was a touch overdone, but the ginger, flecks of cilantro, and sprinklings of chive made this rice porridge an instant favorite among the 4 I tried. * Pork and Preserved Egg Congee Presumably a 5-star; it was decimated by the time the lazy-susan stopped the pot in front of me. (Ah, popular opinion can't be wrong.) * Razor Clams with Black Bean Sauce Tender, bouncy clams with an amazing black bean sauce. Tastes made-to-order; not too sweet, gummy, or oily. Note: if your friends fear the phallic, this dish may not be for you. * House Special Chicken Deep-fried skin and juicy flesh. Generously topped with pan-seared garlic and soy sauce. Note: "whole" chickens come with heads. (Oh hells yeah! Horrify and/or impress!) * Fried Salt and Pepper Squid Perfectly battered and fried, just the right amount of crunch and bounce. Seasoned with a touch of the 5-spice, along with garlic, scallions, and jalapenos. 4-stars: * Pea Sprouts Sauteed with Garlic Solid. A nice intermission from the Parade of Meat. * Sticky Rice Baked with Chicken & Black Mushrooms (baked in a bamboo trunk) Decent flavor, but I wished for a less smushy treatment of the sticky rice. (If I get over this preference, I might next try the version that comes with 2! 2 Flavors of Chinese Sausage!) 3-stars (well-executed but bland): * Seafood Congee Opted for this one as the Fish Congee is said to be riddled with bones. * Salted Chicken Congee * Eggplant with Bean Curd * Healthy Vegetarian Congee The name pretty much spells it out for you. No stars (i.e., I wouldn't eat this even if it were free): * All of the dim sum, soup dumplings, and fried/steamed breads. The skins were too thick, the fillings too bland. Fried breads were on the verge of petrifaction. (Shanghai breakfast -- not their specialty.) Total bill for our table of 12: $16/person (incl. tax + tip) Brunch: food: 4 value: 5 service: 3.5 ambience: 3.5 craveability: 5
(5)camilla c.
Congee can easily get 4 stars for its food... esp their abalone congee (probably the best congee I've ever had), crab dishes, and sauteed veggies. BUT, the ridiculous wait at this place (they don't understand the concept of reservations here since they don't seem to do much to honor them... it's like that Seinfeld episode when Jerry is at the rental car counter: "you know how to TAKE reservations, but you don't know how to HOLD the reservations."), zero customer service (1 in 10 chance they'll pay any attention to you), combined with the chaotic, noisy, hectic vibe (at its worse when they sing happy birthday in Chinese and turn up the mic on the whole damn place) makes for a pretty shitty dining experience. We had a reservation for 10 ppl on a Saturday night (lesson learned: avoid this place at all costs during the wknds) for 8pm. I knew it was a bad sign when a lady told her group of people, "one MORE hour 'til we get our table". There were hungry families, little kids, etc. all over the place... all of them growing agitated by the minute, as the hostess gave no indications whatsoever of when anybody can expect to get seated. True story: I once witnessed a pregnant woman at Congee that lost it with the hostess, "They lie... it's more than a 20 minute wait!... I've been here for over 45 minutes and I'm pregnant and I'm fuckin' hungry!!!" (another lesson learned: don't bring pregnant ppl here). So, after waiting for over an hour for our table (with still 2 other parties ahead of us!?!), our group finally gave up hope and had to leave. As we were leaving, they said, "thank you"... to which I responded, "thanks for nothing. and don't bother next time pretending to take reservations." It's amazing that people keep coming here when the waits are this ridiculous... I've eaten here several times and as much as I do enjoy the food, I probably will only go back here during off-peak hours or for delivery. It's pretty sad that places like this that don't really give a shit about their customers still can thrive and profit of us.
(2)Michelle Q.
CV really does make good, soul-satisfying, congee. They have an extensive menu specializing in seafood, but nothing was out of this world to have me coming back like a fiend. My dad prefers many other places over CV for family dinners. Only if I was in the neighborhood I'd stop by for take out (not saying their service is bad).
(3)Jennifer Y.
If you're in the mood for Chinese in a lively atmosphere look no further then Congee Village. A mammoth space, esp great for large parties, the drinks are very reasonable, food is good and prices are decently low without making you suspect of the food. Staff is decent with quick turnaround and the whole place is deceivingly large. Authentic Chinese food that gives you a real b@ng for your buck. They're ready for you. Are you ready for them?
(4)David X.
Not as big a fan of this place as the other Congee place on Bowery. The fried cruller here was much much worse, it could've just been taken out of the fridge for all I know, and the porridge had way too much ginger in it for me.
(2)Celicia C.
If I want authentic, stick to your ribcage, incredibly satisfying Chinese village-style food, this is where I go. It is actually one of my boyfriend's and my favorite places to have a major meal. True Chinese come here and I have numerous friends whose families eat here on a regular basis for their main family dinner on Sunday nights. NOTE: This NOT the place to get your Chinese American beef and broccoli/general gau's chicken! What we usually get here is the amazing spicy special house fried crab (consisting of blue crabs tossed in a baby shrimp and hot pepper stir fry); cold dungeoness crab (the meat is so succulent and tasty, and it comes with an amazing sauce to dip in!), sliced beef with bitter melon (this isn't even on the menu, you have to ask for it) because it has the most amazing what my boyfriend calls "wok-hei" - i.e. "wok fire" that he says reminds him of how food is cooked in China when the wok is extra hot and fiery; fried pigeon; the black bean razor clams, all of the different vegetable dishes (pea pod stems, and all of the different water vegetables), the soft fried tofu drenched in a scallion sauce in a bucket...and of course all of the different congees (jook) that are all so incredibly yummy. We love the frog legs one - it really does taste like chicken! I had forgotten that we had ordered it once and I had exclaimed how tender the chicken was. My boyfriend burst out laughing and said "Baby, you're eating frog!" And it's only fitting that in Cantonese the word for frog is "field chicken" =P Dessert will usually include some kind of red bean soup which comes with if you get a decently sized meal. We usually walk away with a ton of leftovers since the portions are all fairly large. Drinks are good too - I love the longan/lychee baing (longan or lychee in ice) and the watermelon drink. Really refreshing and delish! And the alcoholic drinks are cheap and potent too, if that's your thing (around $4.00). I love the lychee martinis here. Congee Village never disappoints! Has an interesting decor though...you truly feel like you're in some kind of village. You can't miss the bright lights outside! Also check out the one on Spring and Bowery, which is their new location called Congee Bowery. Much cleaner, slightly (only a tad) more expensive but the service is top notch.
(5)Theresa X.
2 words, lobster & pork fried rice, DONE.
(4)Bing S.
humongous menu. the congee is fantastic. the drinks cheap and good. the ambience and festive. the decor is extravagantly eclectic (sometimes in a weird way). lots of asian people. don't be deceived by the inexpensive prices, the portions are ridonkulous, which is bigger than ridiculous. i love the tokyo island drink. this is a new york must.
(4)Layla C.
this place is alot of fun and the food is great - especially for family style sharing amongst friends. nice loud atmosphere in which to shout obscenities at your friends across your giant table (which appears to be in captain's quarters on a boat). but the service is friggin' abysmal. prepare to get side-eyed by your waitress if you order another drink, and to be judged if you don't finish your rice. it literally took 30 minutes for two glasses of wine. and they brought one. and then didnt bring the second out for another 15 minutes. the chicken, black mushroom and rice dish comes in a log. and other things come in boats and shit. it was a nice celebration for chinese new year, but just be warned that the service is piss poor.
(3)Kristina W.
I went to Congee Village with high expectations of finding the best congee ever... I did not find it. I tried the fish and lettuce congee which was OK. Very gingery, a bit fishy, and I kept finding fish bones in it. It also wasn't as thick as I like it. The best congee that I've had can be found at Victoria Seafood in HK or South Sea Seafood Village in SF. I also tried the Gai Lan which was good... a bit salty but fairly tender and pretty good flavor. Lastly, I tried the fried man tao. It was pretty good but the best ones are the ones that can be peeled while you're eating them, however, these ones could not. Overall, the service was very good, the food was good (I'm looking forward to going back and trying more dishes), and you can't beat the price.
(4)Huba G.
this is a great place to get some authentic chinese food. plan on eating family style to get the most out of the experience by trying a bunch of different dishes. i had some absolutely delicious veggies, nicely crispy fried pork, and fried flounder. i can't wait to go back and try some of the other items they have to offer. make sure you go with some chinese friends and follow their advice. worked out great for me.
(4)Glee M.
It's been our "go-to" place for years, we're regulars. Went there on a Saturday night, party of 3 @ 7:00PM and was PROMISED that there would only be a 20 minute wait. Sat at the bar with a bunch of teens, who were drinking heavily and were not asked for their ID. @ 7:30 we inquired about our table, we were told very, very soon. Took my daughter to the ladies room - gross, absolutely horrible. It smelled and there was mold all over the sink. I've never had to use the rest room while there so this was an eye-opener. At 8PM, we inquired again and were given an aisle table for 2 and were told they would bring an extra chair (for 3ppl)! We said it wasn't going to work and that it was dangerous to be squished in with a child and hot food going by. The host said, then you have to wait...We were regulars!! Never again...and now that I think about it, I don't think they would pass a health inspection. Sorry grandma - we're gonna have to find you a new restaurant.
(1)jjj z.
Excellent all around. The food (several dishes shared family style) were all excellent. The establishment is big for NY, especially Chinatown.
(5)Scott S.
Probably my favorite chinese restaurant in Chinatown. The restaurant is interestingly decorated. I've seen a big wooden horse, tree trunks carved into seats, cool looking seats with Eagles sculpted into the backs and even an Italian pizza maker man statue. The dining room when you first walk has a bit of a jungle village type vibe to it. Upstairs dining room is more traditional Chinese banquet style. There are also private rooms (for parties I suppose) downstairs. But it's the food that keeps me coming back. Some of the best Salt and Pepper Squid that I've ever had. Also the Pork Chop and noodle dishes like Singapore Chow Mei Fun are tasty. It's relatively cheap too! I've never saddled up at it, but I hear the bar has some pretty cheap and strong cocktails as well.
(5)mary s.
the draw at this place is the congee. helllooo! it's called congee village! i had to learn the hard way... when you go to adeli, order a sandwich, not some fancy shmancy dish that they hardly make and that will turn out pretty bad. so, it follows that when you go to congee village, you should order, well, CONGEE. there's a whole history to congees in asian culture, and many of them are used for medicinal purposes. I really enjoyed the congee that i had, and the variety of different asian vegetables that were inside, indluding differnt types of button and shitake mushrooms, and a soft, wonderful nutty thing that i took to be a ginko nut. true, the decor was a little 'vegas on acid' but it was extrememly reasonably priced and i definitely want to make a trip back here, specifically for the congee.
(4)Aly W.
After the YELP party last night at Fontana's, me and my very trashed friends decided some greasy carbs were in order...and we found an awesome random Chinese restaurant. SO inexpensive - three of us ate for under $20, and great food. Try the steamed chicken and black mushrooms...and omg, free peanuts on the table!
(4)carmen n.
march 21, 2008. the kind of new york chill where you cant feel your lips and you dont know if snot is dripping down or not and your hands are frozen. the last chill before spring is PIERCING in mahattan. my friends and i had just finished the limited edition controversial "Bodies exhibit" at seaport. While starving for some hot food, we had refused to eat pho cuz the flanks, tendons, n tripe wud remind us of the disturbing exhibit. 20 minutes later...our hungry stomachs led us under the brooklyn bridge n into chinatown. friends bf wanted congee instead..so we kept walking until a taxi finally stopped for us. Enter in congee village, a very decorative chinese restaraunt...the kind that looks like it cud be in a RUSH HOUR movie. table wait took us 2 minutes, so we went to the bar. i had a lychee drink. they put coconut extract in it, rather than in sf whereas they only put ice cubes. their gin du gwat (sweet/sour spareribs) was excellent. enough sweet/sour taste, and the spareribs were cripsy. mustard greens with garlic sauce was flavorful, clams in black bean sauce had a little spicy kick to it. and salted fish meat patty was like the kind your chinese grandma makes at home. only except they at congee village they roll the meat patties liek hamburgers n grill them. everything was excellent. the kind of chinese food that leaves you in a good food coma. it was a perfect ending in getting rid of that end of winter chill.
(5)Cassandra P.
This place makes me so happy, I can't quite explain it. The drinks are super cheap, which makes the whole suspending your disbelief and imagining you're in a forest thing a lot easier. Don't get me wrong, the decor is supposed to look like some feudal village of mystery, but some cheapy mixed specialty cocktails can't hurt. The selection on the menu is intense and absurd...offering everything from shark's fin, to sea cucumber, to birds nest, to, yes, congee. If you can't find anything you like on the menu, you should just go back to wherever it is that you came from (the menu reads like War and Peace). My favorite dish is, of course, the vegetarian congee, and the assorted mushroom dish (the more expensive one) you will get a sizzling family sized portion of delicious mushrooms, some of which you've never seen before to fill your belly. They have a small but satisfying dim sum menu if you're absolutely starved and can't wait a minute more for the food to come out. This place is really only fun when you're drunk with a ton of people. It's great for large groups and birthdays, and needs to be checked out at least once, if you want to say you've really lived in New York.
(4)toasterstrudel k.
wow, I must have ordered the wrong thing! I really had my hopes up based on all of the rave reviews, but I really found the food terrible! I ordered chicken and brocolli, fried rice, veggie dumplings and an egg roll - yes, all for me...i'm hungry! So, first thing that threw me off was teh price, $23 for the lunch special, normally they throw in an egg roll and rice with the chicken & brocolli price, but they didnt do that here. The egg roll was the greasiest, most fried thing i've ever eaten, i cant get the grease off my fingers, to some that might be good, but I dont like grease. chicken & broccoli was ok, low on the sauce when I asked for extra, broccoli was good, veggie dumplings disgusting, didnt even finish one - sauce was nasty too. then i saw i recieved like 2 lbs of rice, what the hell am I going to do with 2 lbs of rice - this is the small?? it's pretty good, the only thing i liked, but in 30 mins it'll be worthless and I certianly am not even making a dent in it. Normally i feel it necessary to try a place 2x before giving it a bad rating, but I will not be going back. it also took almost 45 mins for delivery and I'm only 5 blocks away. I'll have to continue on my mission to find the best chinese food in nyc!
(1)Anthro Food E.
just the congee alone is filling...if rice porridge aint yo thang, then you can order other appetizing dishes like chinese broccoli, soup dumplings, or any other item on the menu for that matter...
(4)Dee W.
Of all the Chinese places that we ate at in New York, I think that Congee Village was my favorite. It's sorta BYOB - $10 per bottle - so we brought a bottle of vodka and wine. They brought us limes, tonic water, and ice for our vodka - great service! There were only six of us but we ordered two bowls of the congee with preserved egg, salt and pepper porkchops, Chinese broccoli, shrimp with almonds, beef chow mein, clams, and some chicken dish - the food was just fantastic. Service was friendly and quick. ALL of that food plus all of our alcohol for six ppl came out to $20 plus tip and tax. How great is that??
(5)Sabrina L.
Had a great time here with a big group of friends around Holiday season. We ordered the scallion pancakes which were perfect and juicy buns to start, all perfect. We ordered probably 6 different entrees for the table, huge family style portions and everyone was happily stuffed at the end of dinner. As far as congee we had the chicken and 1000 yr old duck which everyone enjoyed. The best thing is I think the bill came out to about 80 bucks for the whole group..amazing!
(5)Tony C.
Affordable and tasty Chinese food, opens late, with a fully stocked bar. I have yet to be disappointed in their offerings. Lines out-the-door with locals, on weekdays. Enough said.
(5)Tina C.
Terrific place to have a super cheap warm meal. Imagine: clam congee for $3.50!
(3)A Z.
"Yes, Chinatown's summit..." You can find great food in chinatown, Of course, your gonna find alot of the same things, but a handful of places that do theirs, much better... But when you crave chinese food, done chinese style, this is where you wanna go. If you dont know what to order, go by what you see. Just remember chinese food done like this is hard to find, and thats what i really go for...
(5)Broke-Ass Stuart S.
If a cheesy antique dealer teamed up with an Asian schoolgirl to design a moderately priced Chinese food restaurant in Disneyland, that place would look like Congee Village. You can't fucking resist now can you? What if I told you that they have oddly themed karaoke rooms that you can rent out with a group of friends? Yeah, it really is that sweet. The karaoke rooms vary in price by your group's size and the day of the week, but the good part is that you're not actually renting the room, you just have to meet a food & drink minimum. All I've gotta say is that this place just inspires shenanigans, so it's fun to see how much they will put up with before you get 86'd.
(5)Brenda M.
Good chinese food!! Especially if you are a vegetarian as they have a good variety of vegetables and yummy yummy tofu. Had two dishes with excellent tofu! Seafood is also very good. The sizzling beef dish was a little too chewy for my taste. Although their specialty is congee, I however am not a fan of their congee. It is a little too bland for me but supposedly thats Hong Kong style. I like my congee with more flavor. But they have a good selection for those that like the congee here. Everything else I would say has great flavor. Also has very cheap drinks (martinis, beer, boba, fresh squeezed orange juice-my favorite) so its a great place for dinner and a drink. Complimentary tea throughout the meal and watermelon for dessert are also much appreciated :D
(4)Wing L.
I been wanting to give this place a 5 star review but don't know what it is, but lately the food seem a little different. 1 year or 2 back, I would have definitely given this place 5 Stars. Despite that, the food is still good. The only thing I hate is waiting on line for this place. Some night, this place is way too crowded and the wait is too long. But if you want some good Chinese food, this is the place to visit.
(4)Xue T.
Love the atmosphere here. Whenever my friends run out of ideas to eat in Chinatown, this is our backup, never fails. There is a bar near the front entrance, drinks are mediocre running from around $4 to $6. Quick service, enjoyable food, great decor. Food is always fresh. Not too pricey. They have many types of congees that are pretty tasty, not too much msg either.
(4)Vinh L.
Very good Chinese restaurant in NYC. To me, there are not too many in the city. Having eaten in San Francisco, there is no comparison. But this place shines. Get the congee w/ various options available. I like the pork and egg congee. Get some veggies, spinach, Chinese broccoli or the Snow-pea leaves. and also some favorites of walnut shrimp, Peking duck or BBQ pork (char siu).
(4)Letitia W.
I didn't go for the congee but now that I've thought about it, I probably should have. I went in with friends and ordered out of their regular menu (everything except congee). The food was okay. Nothing very exciting. It's a pretty typical restaurant. We ordered Chow Fun and I wasn't very impressed. I've definitely had better. The Bitter Melon was good if you've acquired the taste for them. I know it told me over 20 years to appreciate them. The Lobster was good. We had ours prepared with ginger and scallions (the only way I really like them). The prices were decent too. Nothing too overpriced. Again, I didn't think this place was very exciting. Could have been better.
(3)Sabrina V.
Been here many times. I love the congee here! I'm actually having a craving right now thinking about the amazing congee they serve. Yeah I grew up thinking congee is like gruel, but here the flavor and viscosity of the congee are great! I also love that the "twin bread" things can be ordered with the congee. They have such a variety and you can see most of the choices by looking at the menu that is full of pics. I love menus with pictures. It really helps people figure out what to order. Besides congee, all the other food was relatively good too. Overall, great place for Chinese food for a good price and very spacious. The only down point is service. It can be slow and once had a lady that was rude...
(4)