Wong Kei in City of London, Westminster

Service is very poor. Being brough to upstairs, the short lady with specs was impaient and rude. Ordered duck with plum sauce but came crispy duck. Take away box at 1GBP, and you have to DIY. If you are asian and cant speak Cantonese, dont speak mandarin. We made a mistake n conversed in mandarin, and was treated poorly.

An institution. Bring cash. Embrace being sat across from a stranger on the canteen tables. Order quickly. Bring your friends, bring your family. Sit on your own and look out at Wardour street. Been coming here since I was a kid and it’s one of the best things about living in this city.

Avoid this place. Staff are more polite to Caucasians than Asians and extremely rude otherwise. In fact they really are the rudest in Chinatown. Food isn’t great either. They also only accept cash. Certainly not keeping up with the modern times.

Decent Chinese meals, good atmosphere and fast service. Quite pricey for the food and cash only accepted

Minus the rude service and outdated decor, in all seriousness, this was a 5-star place many years ago. Large portions at fairly decent prices, especially for London, and fast, efficient service. Now, it's average at best. Prices have gone up like crazy, portions are noticeably smaller, service is not as fast or as efficient anymore (mainly due to staff shortages), and surprise surprise they've recently been caught with mice and cockroach infestations in their kitchen. Used to have good food, good portions and good value for money, now it's just good food. I would recommend checking out other Chinese restaurants in the area before dining here.

Cash only place! It's quite a challenge. No cash, No food.

He has a great attitude. If you want to be scolded, you can come here.

Hey...I'd still comeback to eat but mainly because of the price and the quick eat and go process. Don't expect service, it's overrated anyway...but if that's what you expect, go eat elsewhere. Food is just above mediocre, go in with lowish expectations and you won't be disappointed. Remember cash only and chinese tea is free, that alone is a partial win.

Horroroso...! No he conocido un restaurante donde te haga peor comida china. Quemada, seca, e insípida. Entramos sanos y al día siguiente todos con diarreas menos mi hermano que tuvo suerte y sólo vomitó. El trato normal para dirigirse a Orcos... Caro y no se puede pagar con tarjeta. Solo efectivo... Ahora decidir vosotros...! Saludos...

I visited on the recommendation of a tour guide, and although the service was unfriendly, I heard that it was delicious, so I went because I was curious about how bad it would really be. And I met 3 flying flies. I asked to change the plate. I didn't get an apology. The male server throws a bowl as if throwing a food plate. A version of Sweary Grandma without swearing. I'm a timid intp. I won’t do it twice.. Only cash is accepted.

I don't understand the positive notes. We were 6 people and we all agreed: the worst food (it seems generous to me to call it food) that they have ever served us. The worst noodles in the world, totally burned. And that was the only flavor that was recognized. Tasteless soup, plastic rice. Regrettable. Wasted money. Very expensive price. The biggest scam we have ever suffered.

Quick and easy eat in with efficient service with no service charge. My go to in Chinatown ( that is still open)

Super unpalatable! Totally ugh ghost man, people from the Tang Dynasty are really not easy to be fooled! The beef brisket is super bad and moldy, and the barbecued pork is so salty! You must order two portions of wine for two people, Overlord!

Cheap good food big portions 🍱 cant complain .

Went there regularly in the 90s and the staff atmosphere was always efficient/ aggressive, but added to the experience. Good food and inexpensive

The food has a unique flavour probably due to the mice and cockroaches in the kitchen added to the prevalence of msg in the food.Anyone thinking of eating here check online westminster health inspectors report and £42000 fine.

Ok yes the staff are really rude but it’s almost funny, gimmick like. I have to warn you though the fried noodles come out like raw spaghetti so don’t order. I let them know so they stuffed it back in the microwave, that made no difference at all.

Worst Restaurant Experience!!!!

Olace used to be good fun and amazi g food. I had not been there for 20yrs. The service was just okay. Food disappointing. The soft shell crab was so bad, soggy and no flavou, we send it back. The place was not clean, plastic plates. Very disappointing

Excellent as always. One of the few places in Soho that you can arrive with a large group 10+ people (without booking) and not have to queue to get a table. Ignore the decor, the food is freshly cooked to order and authentic. Important to note that it's CASH ONLY!

It’s been a while since I last ate at Wong Kei, but I won’t be coming back. I’ve just read in the news today that Wong Kei has been fined £42,000 fine after dead mice and cockroaches found in kitchen. During a routine inspection, council environmental health officers found evidence of mice droppings in the kitchen and storage areas, and mouldy food was found in the fridge. They also found sinks blocked by lettuce heads, grease dripping from cookers and mice droppings on the ground. At one point, inspectors witnessed cockroaches scuttling off after moving three chillers. The restaurant was issued a temporary closure notice in June last year. The court heard how this was the second temporary closure issued against the restaurant within six months.

Beware this place is “cash only.” There’s no label anywhere in the restaurant that it’s cash only and Google says the place takes cards and they definitely have a card machine that they may secretly let some people use, BUT they will probably send you hunting to get cash at an ATM machine. It’s fine if you want to be a cash only restaurant now, but please put signs on the menu and in front of the store.

One star is EXTREMELY generous! Five of us came in asked for water for the table while we read the menu. They brought two plastic cups of lukewarm water, when we asked for more water she pointed towards our two plastic cups. This was such an awful experience that it went way beyond bad and into comical. It was really satisfying to leave. A real sigh of relief.

Extremely disppointed. Sadly, this place has really fallen in standards since I last went a few years ago. For those who know, it used to be an absolute stalwart of classic Chinese cookery -reliably good food at an affordable price. We had the beef brisket noodle which was poor - meat was bland and tough - the soup a shadow of its former self more like dishwater than the aromatic flavourful broth I remember back in the day. My partner had the wonton noodle soup which tasted like the dumplings had supermarket sausage meat inside, the soup was dreadfully tasteless and loaded with salt. Maybe one of the unfortunate examples of a London establishment that has become the victim of its own success, owners too greedy or under pressure to cut costs or (I hope) more a case of a temporary drop in standards that will at some point recover. I wouldn't know though as I won't be back.

I had a terrible experience at Wong Kei. The service was abysmal right from the start—our server was rude and inattentive, making us feel unwelcome. The food was lackluster at best; everything we ordered lacked flavor and freshness. To make matters worse, they insisted that we purchase extra portions even though only 2 out of our 4-person group were actually eating. It felt incredibly greedy and unnecessary, just adding to the overall disappointment of the meal. I definitely won’t be returning, and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. Save your money and go elsewhere!

“The waitress has a bad attitude and is unfriendly. Even though we’re both Chinese, they are treating customers poorly. I don’t recommend this restaurant.

**Terrible Experience – Avoid at All Costs!** I had the absolute misfortune of visiting Wong Kei recently, and I can confidently say it was one of the worst dining experiences of my life. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel like an inconvenience rather than customers. The service was beyond awful—rude, dismissive, and downright hostile. It was like they went out of their way to be unhelpful and condescending. Asking a simple question about the menu felt like I had committed a crime. As for the food... I wish I hadn’t touched it. Everything we ordered was subpar at best, but that’s being generous. The food was clearly not fresh—flavors were off, portions were miserable, and some dishes had an unsettling sour smell. It was obvious they were serving old, spoiled ingredients. To make matters worse, one of my friends got seriously ill after eating here. We’re convinced it was from the chicken, which tasted like it had gone off. A night out turned into a nightmare thanks to Wong Kei. Avoid this place at all costs if you value your health and sanity. Horrible food, disgusting customer service, and potentially dangerous to eat at. How this place is still in business is beyond me. Never again. -

Cheap and cheerful with free tea

I didn't eat well, but my order arrived quickly.

A very scary restaurant that only accepts cash. It told me that this is London and only accepts pounds. It really treats the guests as ignorant people. Could it be that the amount paid to him by my bank card is not pounds? This tradition will only bully foreign tourists! Definitely won't go again!

Worst service ever received in Britain. Waitress was super rude. Not recommended.

The dry-fried beef river is delicious and served hot. If you treat people more kindly, you can get five stars.

I've been here for 30 years on & off and the food comparatively soaking, it is not the VFM it was known for. They DON'T break down the bill/check, which is always in Chinese characters. What's it show? Simply the total owed, that's all. Still represents for the area, overall, decent value for the area. Rude, dismissive staff as ever, is the norm here. I've been five times in the last two months but our friends, collectively we have decided to seek out a new regular Chinatown venue.

I came on a package tour, so I had no choice but to go because the travel agency took pictures of the restaurant... Unlike Korean Chinese restaurants, I personally enjoyed the Chinese food because it was not spicy. Next time, I plan to come on a personal trip and order a la carte dishes such as noodles.

No fuss no bullshit. Proper roast Cantonese style meats. Waiters r quick with it no time to waste. This is heritage

Authentic Hong Kong Cantonese food. Alll food we ordered tasted good

Staff are far too polite. I would go just to get put in my place by them, but now, customer service is bearable. I started going there more than 50 years ago. Become an institution. Upstairs Downstairs. Even walking along the beach in Spain, I saw someone wearing the T shirt. But a no frills, stop over lunch is right for me. In the middle of China town.

A Chinese eatery suitable for a quick meal. Take cash.

Was once famous for its bad service but now changed. Waiters are polite and patient. Decor is still in its 80s and comfortable. Went in around 9pm after a day of pub crawling with friends. Cheap and filling dishes. Average £9 a dish. Fast and efficient service. Not your 5 star but good enough. Great atmosphere with locals and tourists. Cash only September 2024 update. Dishes are smaller than before. But still under £8 for a rice and meat dish. Still over average for a quick no frills solo lunch or dinner. Or also with friends.

Best Beef ho Fun I've ever had!! Service is (famously) dire, but they get the job done and are speedy and straight to the point. Can't complain for the incredible food for relatively reasonable prices.

Service was really bad. The waiters are fast and efficient but can’t focus for a second on the customer and give them good energy and some charisma. Just felt very impatient and rushed. Food was ok. The spring rolls were weird and had very little filling. The Wuntun soup was nice. The duck was cold, which is quite normal but would be good to have an option to make it warm because it would’ve been much nicer.

I was surprised at how rude they were, and it was the most rude restaurant I've ever been to. The food was not tasty, and they didn't even give me change when I told them I would tip. I felt like I was robbed of my money.

The food was okay. They don't accept card.

To avoid, more than unpleasant staff Tasteless dishes Do not waste your time or money in this infamous establishment

Best value place for cooked meats of you wanna take out.

Food was good but service was bad 😂 Waiters and waitresses are impatient but they serve really quick. Our food arrived 5 mins after we ordered. Portion was super big. Had to bring home some because it was too much!

It was quite an impressive experience. The ambience has the charm of a Beijing university canteen, as I experienced it myself a long time ago. Simple food court atmosphere. But that wouldn't be so bad if the food was tasty. The Wun Tun Noodle Soup was really, really tasty. Can only be enjoyed “refined” with soy sauce. Oh man, I thought I would have read reviews beforehand. The waitresses radiate a distinct lack of enthusiasm and engage in a kind of minimal communication: “How many?”, “Cash only”,… You could ignore that too if the food was delicious. The highlight for us was the “cash only” instruction. So: don’t forget your cash! The price for three people without drinks is 35€. This is very cheap for London and as it turns out, ZUU is cheap. In summary: It was for nutrition!

Sadly not as famously rude as they used to be, but the Sweet and Sour chicken and Wonton Noodle Soup are still sublime. Plus unlimited Jasmine Tea! Leave the lid up for a refill One of the best restaurants in London for people watching, especially when you get sat on a table with randomers, you get every kind of person in here.

Don’t expect good service when you’re here, because they are really rude. Food wise - the fried rice & fried vegetables were pretty decent & authentic. But for the wanton soup….. it might be one of the worst things I’ve ate in my life. Roast duck was served cold & was tough.

VERY rude service. I've never left a bad review before, but this one deserved it.

Without doubt the worst Chinese food I've ever eaten. No flavour. They don't know what salt is. And the service are rude and appalling Go somewhere else

Tonight I went to London's Famous Bad Luck Shop with my friends. In fact, even if they didn't read the reviews, they would ignore them. The two Asian ladies upstairs were trying to catch up with the customers and were not polite and troublesome. If they weren't friends, they would really like to eat sweet and sour pork. After dinner, I really want to go out right away. If you don’t want to order a set meal or side dishes, I’d rather chat with you and don’t want to be left alone to greet you! Waste left a good kitchen and a gathering of chefs. And there are so many Chinese restaurants and tea restaurants in London for you to choose from. It really makes you wonder if they really don’t want to do it. What a pity! Rude and poorest service that I've never come across in any corner of the world. Once might be too much!

Maybe expectations are too high~ The food was ok, just not in the taste. But the attitude of the female service staff at the counter needs to be improved. Because of this counter staff, my good mood for traveling was slightly ruined~

Excellent food however they are 'cash only' tax evaders

Wong Kei is cheap with plenty of seating, but that’s about where the positives end. The food doesn’t resemble authentic Cantonese/Chinese cuisine at all. The fried rice is bland, the chashu lacks flavor and isn’t fatty, and the noodles have no wok hei (the charred, smoky flavor resulting from stir-frying foods over an open flame). They only take cash and don’t charge for service, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re after real Chinese food. It’s only worth it if you want to avoid lines elsewhere in Chinatown and aren’t concerned about authenticity.

The waitress at the counter has a bad attitude

DON'T COME! It is so bad The bbq pork is the worst I have ever eat in my entire life BLAND and not a real bbq pork The service is so bad either, a middle aged lady works in there asked me and my friend to get out because there are someone waiting for the table. I just finished my rice but I still have my drink....she is super rude I would be OK if the food is good with this kind of service But with bad food and bad service.... NO!

Very rude attitude and the worst Chinese/Hong Kong cuisine ever Staff members demanded us to leave even before we finished our meal and did not give notice that it is cash only before dining 燒味飯 charshiu was served with a strange sauce 鼻涕羨 not sweet soy sauce The meat was unappetising and dry Pity for all who had to endure the appalling service PLS DO NOT COME

As an asian, food are good Staff are nice (I forgot to bring cash and they allow me to go out to atm) a lil bit crowded tho

I don’t want to give it even a star! Bully outsiders and change money randomly!

I had a prawn dish and the prawns were quality, cleaned and a decent size. The depth of flavour wasn’t amazing but considering the price and location this was good value for money. We ordered 2 portions of rice and didn’t realise that they gave us a bowl worth 2 portions. This was fine for us but would’ve been nice to mention. There are plenty of signs indicating this but BRING CASH as this place does not take card. There is a cash point somewhere in Chinatown not too far from the establishment.

Singapore noodles is good! Veggie spring rolls not bad either and came with good sauce servie is not the best and cash only! Overall just for the vibes

The decoration is like my high school canteen. I guess its a old school decoration style. They served hot tea instead of water, which is also very traditional. The service is quite efficient. I love the beef and egg fried rice( Cannot remember the exact name). There are quite a lot of beef in it. The roasted duck is not fatty. Maybe the duck went to gym a lot. Good value for price.

Delicious food, nice service and amazing prices ;) I recommend it.

I first visited Wongkei while traveling to London in 2008. I visited again with my family this time because it was cheap and the quantity was plentiful. I am leaving this review to strongly not recommend it to people like me who want to revisit this place to reminisce about their past backpacking days. It's not the wongkei you know The prices are similar to other Chinese restaurants nearby, the taste is not good and the portions are very small. Nevertheless, the unfriendly staff and only accepting cash are the same as before. Strongly not recommended There is a reason why Google review scores are low. Don't waste time, don't waste money, don't come.

A london institution for a reason (and no not for the service but if you come to Wong Kei expecting super attentive service the fault is with you not the restaurant). A lot of the menu is less than £10. I had roast duck noodle soup for £8.90 - no service charge and a pot of tea complimentary. The soup was delicious, lovely roast duck with a simple broth and perfect chewy noodles. Big pot of chilli oil on the side to add as you please. The portion was deceptively large and I left stuffed. I was in and out in about 20 minutes I reckon. I must say the vibe in the restaurant in the summe really reminded me of Hong Kong, eating delicious and affordable noodles served with tea on a hot day in a no-frills environment. The service is brisk but you should know that if you're coming here, its almost part of their brand/what they're known for. Definitely a Chinatown staple and somewhere I will always come back to. Remember cash only!!

A really nice traditional Chinese restaurant in the heart of Chinatown... There's lots of seating and staff so they handle the volume of people really well with good being served quickly... One thing to mention is that this place is strictly cash only so make sure you visit an ATM before going (lots around but lengthy queues)...

got a takeaway and was bland food tasted disgusting

Difference! Very bad! Worst! Super bad! Worse!

The customer service was absolutely abysmal and the food was overcooked. Waste of time and money, never again!

A certain waiter who looked like Carrie Lam had a very bad attitude. Once the sun is shining, it’s time to tan. He yelled and rolled his eyes, thinking that I was a waiter. The waiter argued with me and asked me whether I didn't understand Chinese. But to the local British people, they have nice eyebrows, good looks, a smile and a nice mouth. The food quality is mediocre and not even good. The barbecued pork has oyster sauce instead of soy sauce. Unless you want to take someone else's dick, I suggest you avoid Yimano Sincerely, all your waiters can try to regain their passion for the catering industry, not Western noodles (Particularly to Chinese), your service is 10,000 times better than Hong Kong and Australian beef 😂

Rude. If you wake up one day being nostalgic about your days in prison, please come here.

Still the best after all these years. First time visit was 1984

Food was bland. They only take cash and didn't mention that until handing us the bill. Update: When my family member left to take out cash a person in the staff angrily asked where he was as he was "taking to long"

Reasonable price but ####ing freak to say Cash only.

Everyone loves these rude sons of bizzatches

Unfortunately after having seafood noodles me and my friend spent two days being sick with food poisoning.

Disrespectful service with subpar Chinese food

Food is of the lowest quality and not to mention the extremely poor and unfriendly service staff.

Not made with love, not served with love - and tastes just like that. For your waiters and waitress if you serve do it with love and a smile on your face, talk slow and kind to your guests they pay your salary!!! If you can't handle work like this leave your job. Especially for the waitress which let the silverware fall down on the floor and just laid it back on the table- you are sooo disgusting 🤮 I am happy to say for sure: Never again!!!

rabbish food cash only want to avoid tax

Update 2nd May. It's still ok here, but you don't come here for the service. The prawn with garlic and chili dish I had was very measly in quantity and presentation, and not worth £16. Knocking a star off for that, as that was disappointing. I went here for lunch with a friend with some feeling of trepidation, but I need not have worried, as the Chinese food was very good. I don't need fancy restaurants or fancy service (and I've dined in Michelin-starred establishments); happier these days with an unpretentious, relaxed canteen-style vibe; no frills, as long as the food is good and tasty. Prices perhaps a bit on the high side though, given the nature of the offering, but I'd go back. Nice to have the tea on the table on arrival too.

There was quite a lot of food provided. The taste is moderate. Not very good but not bad Only cash accepted

Popped in here while staying nearby as had heard about a few particular dishes in a podcast. Went for the duck and jellyfish salad. Never had jellyfish before, or a cold dish in a Chinese for that matter, and it absolutely slapped. Serious portion and serious flavour. Shout out to the guy who passed me a note to tell me to watch out for pickpocketers behind me, gent!

My joint first choice of restaurant in the entire world.

been eating at wong kei over 40 years , been there recently its totally rubbish, I know it changed ownership few years ago , but these new owners need to buck up their ideas to bring back the customers , even downstairs has closed, their nick name is upstairs downstairs

The best sweet and sour chicken meal ever! I habe been visiting this restaurant for many decades and I always enjoyed it

Been coming here for 30 years and it's still the same. No frills. Decent cold meat on rice. Pot of chilli oil and tea. What more could you want? In and out in less than 20 minutes.

This restaurant not a lots of customers anymore. The waiter and waitress so so rude. If you ask something theme they will shout you. We are paying for the food of course we have right to ask like i need more tea. Instead to say sorry the waitress will shouting you. I prefer to buffer much better food rather than rude Wong k staff

The rudest restaurant in China town, take you life easy man. Can’t fault it the food quite good enough & reasonably priced.

‼ ️Cash only! Cash only! Cash only! ‼ ️ This store should completely ignore the reviews, right? ! But I hope that the next guests I see can refer to it before deciding whether to come. First of all, it is great that there is no service charge, and tea is also provided, which is really great! But the service doesn’t need to be so bad, right? The common problems of old restaurants in Chinatown are all here. There is no sense of service in the whole store. They are very impatient when helping customers order food. They have a bad attitude towards Asians. They even dig in and shake their feet when ordering. It is really eye-opening for me! What era has ended! In terms of food, the dry-fried beef river lacked the flavor of the wok, and the seasoning was just unsatisfactory. When I ate the beef, I thought it was pork liver, and the fishy smell was not removed... ❌Never come again!

For every good thing we experienced, there was something bad. The location is great, but we're packed in like sardines. Prices are cheap, but they only take cash. There is no service charge but the service is bad (waiter was rude when dealing with him, slow to take our order and slow to fill our Chinese tea and slow to bring back our change). The Chinese Tea is free but is served in cheap and small metal teapots that get cold fast and the waiters are slow to refill. The beef brisket noodle soup and wan tan noodle soup were very good, but the special fried rice was bad and the Malaysian fried hor fun noodles was horrible and made totally wrong. Overall, I think 2 stars is the best I can give it based my experience eating there on a Tuesday lunchtime.

Deserves way more than 3.6 stars. Best Chinese food I've ever had, and that's coming from someone who's had a lot of Chinese food in terms of dining-in and takeaway, I can confidently say Wong Kei is the best out of all of them, by a mile. The only bad reviews I see here are about the service. Yeah, they're rude, so what? It's what you come to expect, they have a reputation for it after all, and personally I don't even mind it. They just don't waste time with unnecessary pleasantries, they'll seat you, bring you tea, and ask for your order in a straightforward manner. It might take some getting used to, but it's all part of the experience. One bad point I must concede is that they only take cash, which can be annoying especially as I don't usually carry cash anymore, however, there's a cashpoint 2 minutes down the road from them which is easy to stop off and take out a tenner, you won't need much more as the prices are excellent! I would highly recommend the chicken chow mein, crispy BBQ pork belly on rice, and peking duck!

Food was average, service was pretty poor the staff didn't seem to want to be there.

Nice food and probably one of the cheapest around. Service is brash and space a bit basic. Cash only so bring change

Good food but very rude service

Good food at very affordable prices, service is quick and you get free tea! Hasn't changed much since the days of my parents eating here

Been going here for over 30yrs! The place, staff or food has not changed. Staff still very rude for no reason to customers, furnishings still the same but food is what I go for! Only the food! Sometimes its hot & miss though but still cheapest place in Chinatown.

Quick Service, generous portions, nice and tasty food and price is very reasonable for soho, it’s always busy here. Love my bincurd green veg with rice, fills me up nicely and you get jug of welcome green tea which very nice

Basic weekday evening hot meal, apparently has a reputation for rude service. You don’t believe it until you’re experiencing it and just wow especially if you’re dinning alone, it would have been better to maybe just disappear unless you’re brave, like me😅 Visited Dec 2019, Dec 2023