Back when I lived in New Orleans, I used to ride my bicycle by a very average neighborhood Chinese joint called August Moon. Although this place was acceptable for Chinese-American take-out, I began to notice empty gallon-sized cans discarded by the kitchen door on the side street. They were labeled "Black Bean Sauce," "Lobster Sauce," "Szechuan Sauce," and so on. This was pretty depressing, and revealing. I haven't driven behind the Mariemont shopping center where Magic Wok is located, but if I did so at the right time of day, I'd probably find the same tell-tale cans. But the sad thing is, Magic Wok is probably among the best of a mediocre Chinese-American lot on the east side of town. A few weeks back I started a Yelp Talk thread asking about where to get decent "Chinese-American" fare, not because I'd prefer it to the authentic stuff, but because the authentic stuff isn't available within a five-mile radius of our house. A couple of fellow Yelpers mentioned Magic Wok, so we checked it out. I'll give Magic Wok this: Their restaurant, if decorated in an almost comically stereotypical way, is clean and comfortable, and the food tastes relatively fresh, and it's reasonably priced. Hot and sour soup actually tasted somewhat "hot" and "sour," as opposed to neither, the latter of which is all too typical around here. The owner/server on duty at the time was as friendly and helpful as she could be. But the wife and I ordered two different chicken dishes, and the very processed-tasting sauces were virtuallly identical, except for one being more sugary. Or corn-syrupy. Anyway, by the standards of Chinese-American on the east side, Magic Wok is probably the way to go.
(3)
Abbey C.
These guys are great! The food is just what u would want and hits the spot! They are so friendly and the kitchen is open to view and really clean! This place is a winner! Love the beef and broccoli and crab Rangoon!
(5)
Troy S.
I've been here a few times thanks to groupon and restaurant.com promos (basically half off everytime, making the food very affordable). It's never crowded, so service is attentive and available at almost any time for more food or drinks. The food itself is above average for chinese, and the selection is quite good, far more than you would expect from a very stereotypical looking Chinese restaurant. The real gem here is, oddly enough, the bar. It's not a loud or exciting scene by any means, but if you're just looking to get tanked and have fun with a few friends, it's good to get your night started. The drinks are an awesome value and they are delicious ($5.50 for at least 2 1/2 shots of liquor in these things). All in all, this is a perfect place to grab dinner and pre-game for a night out, just be sure you have a sacrificial (oh sorry, i mean designated) driver, you will need one.
(4)
Janet F.
Bland - chicken broccoli Blah - pad Thai Spring roll and chkn chow mien - ok for kids
(1)
Jenni H.
Been here a time or two; it's not a place I would go out of my way to get to. What I found odd about our recent visit was that not only were we the only two people in the place when we go there, but we were the only two people in the place, the entire time. Not a single diner besides us! Which is weird for a Thursday @ 6pm. It's not like we were there at weird hours. The staff is very attentive and the drinks are strong. The place is clean. And like most every chinese joint, you get a lot of food. But there was nothing kick ass about the food. It was very average. What was disappointing was that on the spicy scale, my hubby ordered a 10. I wouldn't have touched that! However I was able to eat all his mushrooms and didn't feel a bit of heat. If I can eat it with no problem, that is NOT a 10! There menu is gigantic and quite pricey. You can usually find some decent coupons for this place.
(3)
Glenn C.
They recently remodeled the restaurant. They have Satellite TV tuned to a Chinese station with Chinese displayed since the sound is off. It's been open for many years. The food is decent but a little on the high side. Crab rangoon was excellent. Spare ribs were missing the sauce you get in most Chinese restaurants. Sesame Chicken was very good (large portion with broccoli for $11.95). The bourbon chicken was very good (a little pricey at $14.95). Our final dish Happy Family which consisted of beef, chicken, shrimp and imitation crab was OK at best and pricey at $15.95. Won Ton soup was average and my wife ordered a creamy seafood soup which she liked. Service was very good and staff was very friendly. Restaurant was pretty empty for a Saturday night. It is located in a half-empty strip mall in Mariemont. They have coupons in the Entertainment book and website.
(3)
Chris H.
We live in Fairfield, OH but I recently stumbled across Magic Wok while searching restaurant dot com and purchased a certificate and decided to check them out tonight. First impressions were good, we were greeted warmly at the door and the restaurant while looking small and assuming on the outside is quite nice on the inside. Menu looked promising, quite a selection although the prices are on the high side. My wife loves fried fish, so we went with the Thai Crispy Sea bass. We also ordered the Tofu Seafood Delight in Clay Pot and szechuan green beans. Took a while to get our food but we weren't in a hurry. We finally got our food and what a let down. Thai Cripy Sea Bass, $19.95, was similar to a bad version of sweet and sour chicken. We were expecting a lightly battered whole fish or filet of fish, stir fried in a sweet but spicy sauce. What we got though were small pieces of fish, a bit larger than fish sticks, heavily battered and in a really thick, goopy yellow sauce. The vegetables were lightly blanched and on the side, not even in the sauce (which was probably a good thing) The Tofu Seafood Delight was only slightly better. When I think clay pot and Chinese, I expect something flavorful and somewhat exotic. Tofu was described 'deep fried', but it was probably more like lightly pan fried and not much of it. Sauce was bland and for the $17.95 price there wasn't much there. The szechuan green beans were the star of the dinner, and at $9.95 they are expensive compared to other places. Good flavor, but not quite as good as say Uncle Yips. All in all, I cannot recommend this place. Adolfo N.'s review from 5/15/2011 describes "Gourmet Chinese" and "General Tso's Chicken" maybe that is gourmet in Mariemont, but I sure hope not. Place has great potential, staff is really nice, place is clean and well presented but their prices are extremely high (Mariemont factor?) and their food, well it sucks. Your mileage may vary.
(2)
Angela C.
This place has a ridiculously large menu, with a good mix of more authentic dishes and Americanized Asian food. I've only ordered for takeout and am intrigued by some of their new menu options, including some claypot dishes, and pho. We'll see. The pricing is okay, food tasted fine, though nothing to rave about. When it comes to Chinese food in the area, I either get excited about really delicious authentic cuisine or really cheap Americanized food, and I'm not sure Magic Wok falls in either category. However, for the occasional Chinese takeout fix, this will do the trick since it's nearby.
(3)
Helen V.
I rarely stop by any Chinese fast food since they all taste kind of same to me. I was hungry and in the area so I thought I gave Magic Wok a try. Well, it's not fast food but an actual restaurant. Since the greeter/waitress are Chinese, I thought it would be authentic..... I was disappointed because the food are simply Americanized. I had hot N sour soup (which is too sweet for my taste) and I ordered Singapore Noodles (Barely tasted the curry in it) I am sorry, I didn't feel any Magic at this place....
(2)
Eric B.
The food here is much better than the carryout Chinese joints in the hood. I got the combination chow mei fun which was piping hot and very flavorful. I had more than enough to last me two days. The prices seem a little high for less than gourmet Chinese food but it was better than most.
(3)
Adolfo N.
Ok, I've been eating here for a while, and It's time to fess up... I order the same 2 dishes over and over, so I have no idea what gourmet chinese food is. BUT, I am a fan of big gooey hunks of crispy chicken, and the Tso's and Sesame chicken are just that, so for that I am a fan. There's coupons all over the place, so grab one, it is a little pricey, but it comes with the neighborhood. It is my favorite take out spot out of the 3 in the area. I rarely see customers inside, but I usually avoid the lunch/dinner rushes. when I do sit in, the wait staff is very attentive.
(3)
Joe B.
Their food is by far of the highest quality. I preffer their food even though you pay a little more for the freshest food. Othee places crab rangoon tastes stagnent but these are great. And the general tso's chicken is fricken awesome.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Ben N.
Back when I lived in New Orleans, I used to ride my bicycle by a very average neighborhood Chinese joint called August Moon. Although this place was acceptable for Chinese-American take-out, I began to notice empty gallon-sized cans discarded by the kitchen door on the side street. They were labeled "Black Bean Sauce," "Lobster Sauce," "Szechuan Sauce," and so on. This was pretty depressing, and revealing. I haven't driven behind the Mariemont shopping center where Magic Wok is located, but if I did so at the right time of day, I'd probably find the same tell-tale cans. But the sad thing is, Magic Wok is probably among the best of a mediocre Chinese-American lot on the east side of town. A few weeks back I started a Yelp Talk thread asking about where to get decent "Chinese-American" fare, not because I'd prefer it to the authentic stuff, but because the authentic stuff isn't available within a five-mile radius of our house. A couple of fellow Yelpers mentioned Magic Wok, so we checked it out. I'll give Magic Wok this: Their restaurant, if decorated in an almost comically stereotypical way, is clean and comfortable, and the food tastes relatively fresh, and it's reasonably priced. Hot and sour soup actually tasted somewhat "hot" and "sour," as opposed to neither, the latter of which is all too typical around here. The owner/server on duty at the time was as friendly and helpful as she could be. But the wife and I ordered two different chicken dishes, and the very processed-tasting sauces were virtuallly identical, except for one being more sugary. Or corn-syrupy. Anyway, by the standards of Chinese-American on the east side, Magic Wok is probably the way to go.
(3)Abbey C.
These guys are great! The food is just what u would want and hits the spot! They are so friendly and the kitchen is open to view and really clean! This place is a winner! Love the beef and broccoli and crab Rangoon!
(5)Troy S.
I've been here a few times thanks to groupon and restaurant.com promos (basically half off everytime, making the food very affordable). It's never crowded, so service is attentive and available at almost any time for more food or drinks. The food itself is above average for chinese, and the selection is quite good, far more than you would expect from a very stereotypical looking Chinese restaurant. The real gem here is, oddly enough, the bar. It's not a loud or exciting scene by any means, but if you're just looking to get tanked and have fun with a few friends, it's good to get your night started. The drinks are an awesome value and they are delicious ($5.50 for at least 2 1/2 shots of liquor in these things). All in all, this is a perfect place to grab dinner and pre-game for a night out, just be sure you have a sacrificial (oh sorry, i mean designated) driver, you will need one.
(4)Janet F.
Bland - chicken broccoli Blah - pad Thai Spring roll and chkn chow mien - ok for kids
(1)Jenni H.
Been here a time or two; it's not a place I would go out of my way to get to. What I found odd about our recent visit was that not only were we the only two people in the place when we go there, but we were the only two people in the place, the entire time. Not a single diner besides us! Which is weird for a Thursday @ 6pm. It's not like we were there at weird hours. The staff is very attentive and the drinks are strong. The place is clean. And like most every chinese joint, you get a lot of food. But there was nothing kick ass about the food. It was very average. What was disappointing was that on the spicy scale, my hubby ordered a 10. I wouldn't have touched that! However I was able to eat all his mushrooms and didn't feel a bit of heat. If I can eat it with no problem, that is NOT a 10! There menu is gigantic and quite pricey. You can usually find some decent coupons for this place.
(3)Glenn C.
They recently remodeled the restaurant. They have Satellite TV tuned to a Chinese station with Chinese displayed since the sound is off. It's been open for many years. The food is decent but a little on the high side. Crab rangoon was excellent. Spare ribs were missing the sauce you get in most Chinese restaurants. Sesame Chicken was very good (large portion with broccoli for $11.95). The bourbon chicken was very good (a little pricey at $14.95). Our final dish Happy Family which consisted of beef, chicken, shrimp and imitation crab was OK at best and pricey at $15.95. Won Ton soup was average and my wife ordered a creamy seafood soup which she liked. Service was very good and staff was very friendly. Restaurant was pretty empty for a Saturday night. It is located in a half-empty strip mall in Mariemont. They have coupons in the Entertainment book and website.
(3)Chris H.
We live in Fairfield, OH but I recently stumbled across Magic Wok while searching restaurant dot com and purchased a certificate and decided to check them out tonight. First impressions were good, we were greeted warmly at the door and the restaurant while looking small and assuming on the outside is quite nice on the inside. Menu looked promising, quite a selection although the prices are on the high side. My wife loves fried fish, so we went with the Thai Crispy Sea bass. We also ordered the Tofu Seafood Delight in Clay Pot and szechuan green beans. Took a while to get our food but we weren't in a hurry. We finally got our food and what a let down. Thai Cripy Sea Bass, $19.95, was similar to a bad version of sweet and sour chicken. We were expecting a lightly battered whole fish or filet of fish, stir fried in a sweet but spicy sauce. What we got though were small pieces of fish, a bit larger than fish sticks, heavily battered and in a really thick, goopy yellow sauce. The vegetables were lightly blanched and on the side, not even in the sauce (which was probably a good thing) The Tofu Seafood Delight was only slightly better. When I think clay pot and Chinese, I expect something flavorful and somewhat exotic. Tofu was described 'deep fried', but it was probably more like lightly pan fried and not much of it. Sauce was bland and for the $17.95 price there wasn't much there. The szechuan green beans were the star of the dinner, and at $9.95 they are expensive compared to other places. Good flavor, but not quite as good as say Uncle Yips. All in all, I cannot recommend this place. Adolfo N.'s review from 5/15/2011 describes "Gourmet Chinese" and "General Tso's Chicken" maybe that is gourmet in Mariemont, but I sure hope not. Place has great potential, staff is really nice, place is clean and well presented but their prices are extremely high (Mariemont factor?) and their food, well it sucks. Your mileage may vary.
(2)Angela C.
This place has a ridiculously large menu, with a good mix of more authentic dishes and Americanized Asian food. I've only ordered for takeout and am intrigued by some of their new menu options, including some claypot dishes, and pho. We'll see. The pricing is okay, food tasted fine, though nothing to rave about. When it comes to Chinese food in the area, I either get excited about really delicious authentic cuisine or really cheap Americanized food, and I'm not sure Magic Wok falls in either category. However, for the occasional Chinese takeout fix, this will do the trick since it's nearby.
(3)Helen V.
I rarely stop by any Chinese fast food since they all taste kind of same to me. I was hungry and in the area so I thought I gave Magic Wok a try. Well, it's not fast food but an actual restaurant. Since the greeter/waitress are Chinese, I thought it would be authentic..... I was disappointed because the food are simply Americanized. I had hot N sour soup (which is too sweet for my taste) and I ordered Singapore Noodles (Barely tasted the curry in it) I am sorry, I didn't feel any Magic at this place....
(2)Eric B.
The food here is much better than the carryout Chinese joints in the hood. I got the combination chow mei fun which was piping hot and very flavorful. I had more than enough to last me two days. The prices seem a little high for less than gourmet Chinese food but it was better than most.
(3)Adolfo N.
Ok, I've been eating here for a while, and It's time to fess up... I order the same 2 dishes over and over, so I have no idea what gourmet chinese food is. BUT, I am a fan of big gooey hunks of crispy chicken, and the Tso's and Sesame chicken are just that, so for that I am a fan. There's coupons all over the place, so grab one, it is a little pricey, but it comes with the neighborhood. It is my favorite take out spot out of the 3 in the area. I rarely see customers inside, but I usually avoid the lunch/dinner rushes. when I do sit in, the wait staff is very attentive.
(3)Joe B.
Their food is by far of the highest quality. I preffer their food even though you pay a little more for the freshest food. Othee places crab rangoon tastes stagnent but these are great. And the general tso's chicken is fricken awesome.
(5)