Hong Kong Chef in St Albans

Placed a order on just eat after a hour pasted from. When it was meant to turn up i called them appartly they've already come out but no missed calls on my phone when we get are food it was awful I would say the worse I have ever had.

St Albans has a severe lack of Chinese restaurants, and I saw Hong Kong Chef advertised as a restaurant and takeaway, so gave it a try. It is located in a parade of shops on a fairly busy road, with limited on road parking, and some parking on the side roads. On approaching, it did not feel me with great enthusiasm, the exterior is very dated, and could do with a good clean and fresh paint. When I entered, I was asked what I wanted to order, clearly assuming I wanted takeaway, when I explained that I wanted to eat in, she looked slight surprised and pointed to the seats 6 table, as the other two smaller tables were covered in paperwork and coats...they clearly don’t have much demand for eat in, The decoration is old, shabby but clean. The table was covered in plastic sheet, which looked clean... understand, we are talking really basic here, there are no frills. You order from the takeaway menu, and you get exactly the same food as a takeaway order, just served in a plate. Don’t expect presentation, you will be disappointed. Service, well they took my order and left me while they cooked other people takeaway orders, my starter was delivered, and they were off to cook more takeaway, eventually they noticed I’d finished my starter, collected the dishes and went and cooked more takeaway, eventually serving my main course, and off to cook more takeaway. But, I came to eat. So how was the food? good portions, well cooked, good flavours and textures. Would I eat in again...never. Would I use it for takeaway...yes.

Food delivered over an hour late but to be honest would not have been worth waiting for even if it had been bang on time.

Had a takeaway from here, was first impressed at quick delivery. Had chicken and pineapple and special chow mein, both of which had lovely cooked vegetables and succulent meat , but both let done by runny and favourless sauces. Would try again to check if this comes the same , but disappointed with the favours

Singapore noodles had good amounts of chicken and shrimp, and were properly spicy. Chicken chow Mei was simple: bean sprouts, noodles & chicken, eaten enthusiastically by a young fussy eater. We had crispy shredded beef, which was very standard, chewy gluey & sweet (not my favourite anyway). “Thai” green curry was not much like this dish from elsewhere, but the sauce was light and the vegetables tender and gently cooked, with a high quality tofu. For a local Chinese, lots of fresh ingredients and clean flavours. Will definitely return.

Iv tried many different restaurants asa find good one they pack up and leave. Out others I have to say this is the tastiest and def cheapest. Satay sauce is soooooooooo yummy!and the curry esp certain nights different chefs, portions are good, delivery always fast, they very nice people in there, free prawn crackers over certain amountdoes make good savings,its def cheapest that I have found and worth it., Theyno quibbles, if I had to change anything it wouldbe less salt please esp in the crispy seaweed and ERM maybe change the colouring in the satay sauce And please don't be closed on days decide really want meal from you as means have go without boo! Or pay up to £10more for less tasty curry&less food and chunky satay sauce

I have driven past this Chinese restaurant and takeaway for some time now, always being put off by its location - in a parade of shops on a very busy road, and the parking problems that come with it. However, having been told by a friend that the food is very good and very reasonably priced, the wife and I popped in one evening. First impressions were of a dated, basic, no frills restaurant that could do with having a good make over. The receptionist was very pleasant but could speak hardly any English, the waiter, again very pleasant, could speak English put was dressed like he had just come from a skate park. There appeared to be about six people working there, all of whom seemed to take it in turn to come out into the restaurant area, speak in loudly in Chinese to no one in particular and then walk off..... However, the food made up for everything. We ordered chicken chow mein, sweet and sour chicken balls, boiled rice and chicken in orange sauce, plus two drinks, and it came to about £20 for the two of us - it was delicious, and the portions very generous. If you don't mind the somewhat dated surroundings, and the wandering staff, give it a try, I'm glad we did. They also appear to do a very good trade in take-aways.

We'd heard that the restaurant had a new chef and that it was good. Great advice! We ordered a takeaway which was all tasty. The best news was that no dish, even king prawns, is much than a fiver so the bill for four was modest. We'll be back!