35 Chinese Restaurant

Robert D.

Joined 5 months ago

Except for the over-the-top decor (e.g. 35 red lanterns, blue silk waiter-jackets) this restaurant was pleasingly Chinese. Big tables meant for ordering big communal dishes, waiters and hostess yelling orders in mandarin, no other white people, etc..

One tip, it's a bit hard to see the restaurant from the road, because it's in an otherwise anonymous building with a bank. The trick is to look at the building, you'll definitely see the red lanterns in the window if you go in the evening.

For appetizers I had the tendon. Was expecting slow-cooked tender soupy tendon but actually got ultra-thin sliced and very spicy tendon. Pretty tasty, but it kinda blew my spicy taste buds, cause nothing else actually tasted spicy after that.

Main course was the three-chilies szechuan-style lamb. It smelled very spicy and did indeed give me that pleasing scalp-sweating sensation. More importantly, the meat tasted good through the hot.

At that point some friends arrived. They ordered kung pao (a bit salty, but probably the best dish of what I had, for those who don't like heat), egg-drop soup (fine), and ribs (awesome, though as a Southerner I tend to like them slightly more tender than the Chinese ribs I've had).

I look forward to trying more dishes. I can definitely recommend the tendon and lamb for those looking for spice -- though they definitely could have been hotter.

Recommends

Tam H.

Joined 5 months ago

This place is amazing. The most authentic and best chinese restaurant in town

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niliss15

Joined 2 years ago

Delicious authentic Chinese food. Definitely does not deserve all the bad reviews given to it ...really liked the food and the service as well. Good ambiance and music. Not like other Chinese restaurants ..does serve really good authentic food....the chef graciously agreed to switch chicken for pork and the food turned out to be delicious...I did make a very good decision when we decided to try it out....Cheers !

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dennis96411

Joined 2 years ago

All Bad Ratings Are False!. For all of you rating this restaurant really low, you're on the wrong page for the wrong restaurant! The one you guys are referring to is located in Chapel Hill, this one is located in Cary, on the side of a bank. Ignore all the bad reviews, they are all written by people who obviously didn't look at the location of this restaurant before blabbering.

When I first came here with my family, we were greeted warmly and taken to our table. This is NOT a buffet restaurant, it is one of the most authentic Chinese restaurant located near us that you order from a menu.

The food is VERY authentic! I know because I'm Chinese, and I've lived in China for the first 9 years of my life, and I'm only 15, so I know what REAL Chinese food still tastes like. All the dishes we ordered came out quickly, and we ABSOLUTELY loved it!

All the spicy dishes are ACTUALLY "FOR REAL" spicy! Not your American weak sauce spicy, but off-the-charts spicy! Everything tastes soooooo good! We ordered a lot of dishes, and enjoyed every one of them. The service was very friendly, the atmosphere was absolutely gorgeous, with almost all red decor.

When we came here the second time, it was for a meet-up for my mom and her associates from work. There were 11 of us, and the waitress single handedly took all our orders, brought all the food out, gave us everything we asked for, and the whole time she was smiling and did not look angry one bit. Everyone loved the food, and they all plan on coming back again.

The prices are very fair for such authenticity, and I would not hesitate to come here again. If you are a real Chinese, you know what I'm talking about when you take a bite of the food prepared in this restaurant. If you're American, don't eat the Americanized "Chinese food" anymore, come here, and see for yourself what real Chinese food is all about!

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Jon Turner

Joined 3 years ago

Great Dining Experience. This was the tenth or so time of eating at 35 Chinese. As an American, I have found that authentic Chinese food is not popular amongst my circle of friends. Tonight a few of my more adventurous friends came with me and had the Tai Ann spicy fish and Kung ching spicy chicken.. The food was fabulous and a warm welcome was given at the door from the beautiful hostess. The waiter was engaging and curious to know if we could "stomach" real spicy food and was quick to fill up our water glasses. My friends loved this restaurant and have planned to return. The entire menu is loaded with delicious appetizers and great dishes. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking a fun atmosphere, great food and a warm reception from the employees.

Doesn't Recommend

Madamtess

Joined 3 years ago

Absolutely Horrendous & Unsanitary. I think although the food was disgusting, oily, weak, and stale, this review can be summed up as follows: Black water (literally black filth) in foyer fish tank housing the "food" fish available for purchase. When a member of our party questioned the very dead former member of the tank floating by one of the "food" fish and remarked on it, he was told that it wasn't a big deal since "cooking kills everything" that might be affecting the live fish. Incomprehensible and disgusting! I was forced to pick a rating star above although they deserve less than none!

Doesn't Recommend

HowieB

Joined 3 years ago

Never Again. This past Sat. evening my wife, daughter and I went to 35 for their chinese buffet. We were informed at the door that they no longer had a buffet. Ok, we had liked 35 in the past so ordering from the menu was no problem. We waited about 15 minutes for a table. They seated us at a table with metal fold up chairs next to a temporary divider separating us from a large Asian party. When I inquired about other empty tables and booths, I was told they were being held for reservations. It took about 15 minutes before the waitress took our order. 30 minutes later my order was served; 15 minutes later my wife and daughter were served even though we all ordered the same item. All this time it seemed every Asian family in Wake County was having a party there so we assumed the food must be top notch. The noise level was such that no conversation could be carried on at our table. I must say Asian families do not control there kids. They were running all over the place yelling; just totally out of control. The temporary divider beside us was partially knocked down on us twice. After all that the food was only so-so. Thank God I never have to eat at 35 again!

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JoesephMacKowiak

Joined 3 years ago

Indecent dining atmosphere. Last Saturday, me and my wife drove from Durham to try out the "most authentic Chinese food", or what it has proclaimed. After all, the food was extraordinary, the waitress served us with great attitude.

However, the atmosphere is not as quiet or relaxing as expected. The customers around us talked in really loud voices and were being really disrespectful to everyone else around them.

I know the restaurant cannot control that factor, but at least they could TURN DOWN the volume of the music so me and my wife don't have to shout across the table to make a conversation. It is already DIFFICULT to communicate even without the music.

I hope the restaurant would consider this little suggestion and satisfy more customer's dining experience.

Doesn't Recommend

StreetSmart

Joined 4 years ago

The customer is always wrong.. I ordered take-out - three dishes.

My husband brought home two, so i called to enquire about the third which i was told i didnt actually order??

Asked to speak to manager and discovered why the regular staff have such an 'edge'. Her 'teflon' approach stuck at least. She trained them well!

The outcome: $35 for soggy 'crispy fish' and some insipid chicken dish.

We wont EVER return. Hope they have a strong following or i expect to see the place shuttered pretty soon.

I offer one star purely because i have to.

Doesn't Recommend

davidtom2009

Joined 4 years ago

very rude manager and waitress. I liked this restaurant before and went there often. But after two very bad experiences, I totally gave it up. One time the waitress was very rude and food came up without well cooked and tasted very bad. Another time the female manager was extremely rude!!! I cannot believe how she could speak in that way, absolutely beyond my expectation. It seems this restaurant has earned a lot of money due to its good location (not to good food and service). It becomes disrespectful of each individual customer. It seems every customer owes something to them, and so it acts like a boss to every customer. I 120% dont recommend this restaurant if you want a basic respect as a customer.