Friendly place. Seems most people order food to go. You can sit and eat there though. Wasn't too far from our hotel so it was a close option. Wonton soup was not great so get egg drop. read more

Listen, I've had a no good craptastic week. I have an hour and a half until I'm able to get back in my house which is being renovated after becoming a hell hole after the recent flooding in Austin. So I needed to pass time and there were 3 options: 1) go to the gym 2) go do some yoga 3) stuff my stomach with Chinese food. So, here we are and I am unashamed. I decided to opt for the "complete dinner." Where for an additional 2.50, you get a choice of soup, an egg roll and pineapple chunks as dessert. And for my entree? Extra spicy general tso chicken with fried rice. It's Texas----it was roughly 68 degrees outside---which qualified as chilly for me. So I dug into the wonton soup first. The broth was pretty salty. Enough for me to know that about an hour later, I'd be chugging water. And the wontons didn't have too much flavor. But my Texas chill made the warmth of it, rather comforting. The egg roll was pretty lukewarm, and as egg rolls go---standard. When I ordered the General tso chicken extra spicy, the waiter, said: excellent order. That's a very good order. When he delivered it to me---he said: awesome order choice. I decided we were now friends. Now the entree is where it got good. REALLY well done. The fried rice wasn't too overwhelming but flavorful. And the chicken had a good crispy crunch, softness inside and sweet kick to it. Solid. Very solid. The chicken sauce had this sort of ruby red glow to it. Very pretty but I'm sure that doesn't bode to well on the health factor----but I mean, you're eating Chinese....so either commit or go home. Ok? Over all---the entree was a solid 4. So I'm going with that rating. I'd skip the appetizers, unless you get the crab puffs. Bc .... Those things are like finding gold in your mouth no matter where you order them. read more

Holy smokes! I've lived in the 'hood for a while and never tried this place - partly because NG House, over on Westgate, is so damn good; but mostly because I've been lazy and felt that corner looked a little shady. Well. I stand corrected, and very satisfied. They may have some entrees that are more standard or below par (I've only been this one time so far); but the spicy green beans are to die for and I liked the orange chicken - extra spicy, please - better than anywhere else I've been in town. I moved here from LA, so that's saying something! GF said the hot & sour soup was only slightly above average but I'm basing my opinion on the food I ate and my experience with staff and the room. It's definitely a dive. Don't get me wrong. And, situated between a very active AA group and a laundramat, the parking lot is busy busy. I wouldn't take a date there until well acquainted - although a girl who likes this kinda joint is probably my kinda girl! Regardless, it's got some true SoAu character and the food's good! I'll be back. Soon. read more

Finding good take out is always on my to-do list. Finding a place like First Wok makes me rip that list to shreds. The dining partner informed me that he'd never seen 'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion'. I firmly believe that this film is best enjoyed with either pizza or take out. A quick search of the area turned up First Wok and off we went. SUCCESS! He ordered the vegetable and bean curd, while I went with the sha cha chicken. We both ordered egg rolls. The sha cha chicken was pretty delicious, but a warning to those who buy into "hot and spicy" labels: hot and spicy this is not. The vegetable and bean curd had a more delicate flavor that took me a bit longer to appreciate, but it's certainly worth the investigation. They give pretty huge portions (there's lunch for tomorrow!), which is a huge help on the wallet. The egg rolls are pretty standard, but enjoyable all the same. This place is really everything I hoped to find in a take out place. So hurrah for First Wok! It's a winner. I promise. read more

If you're from NYC, this place will suit you just fine. As we New Yorkers know, all the Chinese people who know how to cook migrated to NY. The ones who don't know how to cook seemed to migrate to other US cities. It's hard to believe, but nonetheless, it is true. It's very difficult to find da kine Chinese food anywhere in the US outside of the 5 boroughs. I would say this place is the closest thing to real down home NY Chinese food in Austin, however, it is a hole-in-the-wall so don't be looking for anything fancy. If it weren't for all the good reviews on Yelp I probably wouldn't have been brave enough to wander into this place but I'm so glad I did. (Thanks again, Yelp!) I knew it was going to be NY-style when the waiter brought the bowl of freshly fried wontons and duck sauce over to the table when we sat down. Winning! Hubby and I ordered the chicken with snow peas (in a light, garlicy sauce, with perfectly tender, succulent thin slices of white meat chicken), the combination fried rice (4 decent size, yummy shrimp, lots of chicken, beef and pork) and the moo shoo chicken (fabulous, comes with lots of pancakes, plum sauce, and you build them yourself). For $1.75 (I think) you can add soup (excellent hot and sour), eggroll (smallish compared to big NY eggrolls and not a lot of filling, but tasty nonetheless) and pineapple chunks for dessert. So far I can only vouch for the few things we ordered on our first visit. I can tell you that everything was sauced perfectly, and to me, that's what makes the meal. Anyone can dice up vegetables and stir fry them with meat. The sauce is what makes or breaks it. Most places in Austin over-sauce like crazy, so you can't even taste the meat or veggies anymore. They're just swimming in thick brown goo. Drives me nuts. This place seems to have the sauces exactly right. The place is super inexpensive so you can order a few dishes and bring a bunch back home for the next day. Definitely go in with your expectations in line about the ambiance (none) so you won't be disappointed. We'll definitely be back to try some other dishes. We're really excited to have a good Chinese place nearby. read more

Finally a decent Chinese place in South Austin where I don't have to drive all the way up to the North to get. I walked in and the place wasn't that full which was sad or it could have that we went in a wrong time...etc. The waiter was real attentive and gave us some fried wonton to snack on while we waited for our food. Meanwhile a little girl was playing those machines where you use a claw to get a stuff animal and she won it the very first time. The waiter was cheered on. The food was good. The broccoli was cooked perfectly, wasn't too soft nor too hard. No MSG in the food. Prices were good. Also it's in a decent location where you can do your laundry or your taxes in the same square. read more

This place is our local Chinese food and I'm happy we found it. We usually go pick up the food, as their delivery runs about 1 hour behind, but it's worth it. My wife usually orders Sweet and Sour Chicken or General Tso. Both are quiet delicious. I always steal some pieces. I usually order the Fried Dumplings, best in Austin, and their Combination Noodles. We have also tried their Mo Shu Pork which is amazing. Finally for New Year's they included chicken wings for free and now I'm obsessed with them. They are super crispy and tasty. They must marinate them with something. Whatever it is, I'll take it. read more

I live/work close by this area. This place always smells great. Really great. It kind of lures you in. I have tried the egg rolls and sweet and sour chicken. Very flavorful. My friend got a broccoli beef dish that she really liked. Overall, good prices, nice location, the family seems very cool, and it is worth a shot! Give it a chance when in this area (Stassney and 1st). read more

I am reading these peoples reviews and sit here scratching my head. as you can see its either a yay or nay for poor ol' First Wok. i have not eaten here in a while. but when i did i loved it. great price and good food. The only question i have is who is cookin' the food? a chinese man or mexican? and the fortune cookie sayings are blah blah, nothing really good about their sayings. (in bed) read more

This place is awesome for over 20 years I'm sure btw you don't have write a whole life story

3 words: Nom, Nom, Nom! Portions were just right and the food was a party in my tummy which I really don't say much. My new favorite Asian spot read more

First Wok - I had the Triple Crown, simply delicious! - Chinese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We started this Chinese on Friday night ritual once we moved to the south side, and this place never fails us. At the end of the work week, the LAST thing we want to do is muster the energy to cook a meal, or wait the standard hour or two for a table at any of the more popular eateries around town. We usually waltz in here later in the evening and there's always a booth open for us. All the staff members are fast and polite. They usually have one waiter working the entire place. But despite handling several tables at once, the waitstaff never falls short on refilling my iced tea glass or obliging my request for more hot mustard. I also enjoyed the complimentary fried wontons and sweet/sour sauce. Their menu features traditional chinese-american fare. But the standouts are the orange chicken- deep fried pieces of white and dark meat that are sauteed in orange peel and chili. We also like the tropical shrimp (if you are into deep fried seafood), as well as the hunan shrimp (rich, flavorful sauteed shrimp in black bean sauce). We tried most of the items on their "house special" menu and all are very good. The portions are HUGE, so we always order family style and take the rest home. The prices can't be beat either. For an order of wonton soup, two eggrolls, orange chicken, hunan shrimp, and two iced teas, we made it out of there for 24.50 (excluding the 6 dollar tip for outstanding service). First Wok also handles to-go orders too, and judging from the endless stacks of white takeout boxes near their register, I bet that's where they get most of their business. read more

I just moved into the neighborhood, and after a long day of lugging boxes and setting things up I was starving. I turned to the Yelp App on my phone (like that shout out?) and saw that First Wok was the closest delivery option with a high rating. Not only that, they had a phone browser-friendly menu on their site and online ordering. I called anyway since I wanted to place a special order and the lady on the other end of the phone was happy to sub tofu for a chicken dish for me. It was early in the evening (4:40) when I called, but I was still surprised when the food turned up 20 minutes later. The driver was pleasant and took it in stride when my terrible dog raced past my legs and started licking his shoes. As for the food itself. Whoa. They have a $15 delivery minimum. For my $16 (plus generous tip for aforementioned shoe-licking) I got: - A generous portion of Hot & Sour Soup - Cashew Tofu - A big container of steamed rice - Enough Vegetable Lo-Mein to feed a small army - A bag of wonton chips - Various sauces, utensils, and a fortune cookie ("you will pass a difficult test that will make you happier.") The hot & sour soup was delicious, just the right level of spicy, and piping hot. The cashew tofu was AMAZING. The tofu was perfect (slightly tough exterior, soft on the inside, and hot), the sauce wasn't too salty, and they didn't skimp on the cashews like a lot of places seem to. The vegetable lo-mein was average, but hey. I'm pretty sure there's enough that I won't have to grocery shop for at least a week. I'm sure I'll be ordering from them again if I ever manage to polish off this lo-mein. read more

I can say honestly this is some of the best Chinese Food I have had in Austin. I can admit I drove by this place almost everyday and was unsure that I would ever eat there. It is a whole in the wall, but don't judge a book by it cover. I mainly go here to order To-Go food or I get delivery. Delivery is always fast(25-30minutes from ordering to the door) and it's always still hot and fresh. Prices are cheap and they have lunch specials M-Sat. And the staff is always really nice,friendly and very accommodating. read more

First Wok - Hot and Sour Soup (Lunch portion to go) - Chinese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My friend asked me if I wanted to go eat some Chinese food, I said sure let's go and see how the food is? To my surprise it was one of the best food I've ever eaten! The food at First Wok is awesome! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants great Chinese food! The food is always on time and the service is Awesome! read more

Good Asian food is sadly more difficult to find in South Austin than in North Austin. Not that we don't have some great places, but they're sparser on the ground for us than for our norteño brethren. First Wok is a happy exception, being one of the best of the restaurants in the Chinese Restaurant Belt along Stassney and William Cannon. I've been going to First Wok for what feels like my whole life. Out of their specialties menu, I've always liked their Lemon Chicken and Lover's Nest (beef + chicken in a special sauce). Out of the rest of their menu, I usually get either the jalapeño beef or the curry chicken. All of these things are between $8 and $10, which is at the high end for cheap Chinese food, but I feel like this is higher quality than most of the other places around here. Of course, they never make it spicy enough for me, but that's what sriracha is for.... The key is to go for lunch (11am - 3pm), when a bunch of their menu becomes between $6 and $7 for the meal and soup and an egg roll and fried rice. I wish they had more for dessert than just pineapple, but I really like pineapple so it's not a big deal. The waitstaff is pretty friendly too, which is a welcome change from a lot of other Asian places. Recommended. read more

For the very first time, Yelp has let me down. I have no idea where the 4 star rating has come from. This is a 2 at best. First of all, a lot of the regular things you see on a Chinese menu do not exist here, so the item that I specifically went for was out of the question. But that was ok. I like sweet and sour chicken so that's what I ordered. I get home and find out their idea of sweet and sour chicken is a few plain battered pieces of chicken in a box, and a separate small container of sauce. The fried rice I ordered appeared more as a risotto. Luckily it wasn't very expensive so I wasn't distraught when I tipped it all into the trash. Come on people of Austin. I had more faith in your reviews! read more

If you're in the S.1st area this is our goto Chinese restaurant. Everything here is really good and fairly priced.

Very disappointed. The chicken dishes had very little chicken. Crab puffs had virtually no filling. Egg rolls were bad. Dumplings were not good either. Would not go back :( read more

As a Take Out Customer - I was highly impressed with my recent to go order from them. First off I loved that they extend their lunch special to Saturday afternoon - really helps us M-F workers. For a very decent price you'll get an above average portion of your entrée (I had a small portion of leftovers, so that's what's up), a soup, an eggroll, and an 'eh' portion of fried rice. (The rice portion is a minor thing considering that you will in fact be full after the meal.) The part that actually got me to write a review was that their food actually stayed hot by the time I got home - with a pitstop in between! (I live off William Cannon and 35). No lie, I burnt my tongue a little so that's saying something in terms of how hot and fresh their food is. I can't wait for my next visit to here. The place itself is a little underwhelming in decoration, but as long as the food is yummy I can't complain. read more

I got the Buddha's Delight, 2 veggie rolls, iced tea, and rice (because it costs extra.....) Everything was good until I opened my Buddha's Delight. It was nothing but steamed veggies swimming in a very mild sauce (half of which spilled all over my dress because they didn't close the container properly). Buddha's Delight is supposed to be a savory meal of vegetables and tofu marinated in a delicious broth. Where was my tofu? And even more so, where was the delicious? I was extremely disappointed. They obviously don't really think out the dishes with the little leaf next to them. Mine was extremely bland and just flat out dumb. Do they honestly think that's what vegetarians want to eat? I was actually mildly offended by how poorly planned the dish was. The Buddha would not have been delighted, and neither am I. read more

Finally, a consistently tasty cheap Chinese spot. When I first moved to Austin I tried out a few of the cheap places around South Austin and was consistently disappointed or, in some cases, horrified. I had resorted to stepping it up a price bracket when I was in a Chinese mood (hello Chinatown Mopac) until the girlfriend Yelped up this gem. Hot and sour soup hit the spot, orange beef was delicious (and was delicious again at midnight), and the orange chicken the lady ordered was just as choice. Always nice to have it nice and cripsy on the outside without the dried out texture you get at a lot of places. This is my spot, until I find a better. read more

This place might be small and not fancy at all but the food is somewhat authentic and awesome. The cooks seem to be an actual Chinese family and not Hispanics. Whether you get the food to go or dine in, the food is has always been great. They actually tried to fix the inside by upgrading their tables, chairs, and paintings. Anyways, here is what my husband and I have had: The egg drop soup: very good and tasty. Served with tasty wonton crisps on the side. Crab ragoo: comes with 10 of them and they are good; not the best, but they are tasty, creamy, and you can actually see the imitation crab meat. Egg rolls: not the best...we do not like them. The lovers nest: chef specialty; very authentic in flavor as far as Cantonese Chinese comes. One if my favorite dishes. Plenty of flavor and lightly sautéed with onions, carrots, and celery. Kung pao beef: husband says it is good; it comes with plenty of veggies and beef. The brown sauce is very flavorful. And veggies are perfectly cooked. Fried rice: very tasty. Overall, their portions are big, even for lunch and their prices are not bad at all. Food has always been good and flavorful. Waiters and working staff is always nice and polite. read more

Delicious food and extraordinary customer service means that this place gets the coveted 5 star status. 1. Food - I have tried the vast majority of the menu over the years but here passes a record of my faves. The Double Sauteed Pork is crunchy and flavorful with a healthy dose of spice. The Orange Flavored Beef/Chicken is another crunchy delight but this one leans more toward the sweet end of the spectrum. The Triple Crown is AWESOME, especially if you are having trouble making up your mind. Combination Fried Rice is a classic favorite and they give you a ton of it. I mean a massive mound- o-rice + chicken, beef, pork and shrimp. 2. Service - Very attentive. They make a point of conversing with you according to your level of social interaction. Example, I am often in a talkative mood however one afternoon I wanted an uninterrupted lunch in silence and they picked up on that. They are very perceptive and customer-centric. read more

This is a solid option for Austin. I honestly didn't think there was any decent asian food in South Austin - guess I was wrong. How did I find out about this place? I had asked my friends to pick up some Chinese food on their way over - any chinese food. When they arrived, we ate - and it was hands down one of the best Chinese food places in Austin. I liked so much that we went the next weekend. There really isn't too much to say about this. Go eat. :) read more

First Wok has the fastest delivery in South Austin. I hang up the phone and 10-15 minutes later they're knocking on my door. The portions are very generous, so we always have leftovers for the next day. The jalapeno beef is wonderful. The meat is flavorful and the jalapeno slices are spicy and never over or under cooked. Their hot and sour soup is the best I've ever had. Egg rolls are crunchy and tasty, especially when dipped in the hot mustard they always thoughtfully include. The pork fried rice is great. My husband likes their wings. The only bad thing I've found is that the non-breaded chicken seems to be boiled, which leaves it kind of washed out and rubbery. Thumbs up from me. read more

I went to this place after taking my kiddo to the doctor and heading back home. This place is a little gem off Stasseny. I kept seeing the sign and telling myself one day I would check that place out. I stopped in for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. I usually have a rule that if the hot and sour soup is bad, then the restaurant starts going down hill after that. The hot and sour soup was very good. I got beef with garlic sauce and there was more than enough food on this plate for me to take some home. The veggies were crispy and not soggy, the beef was cooked to perfection. You owe it to yourself to check this place out around lunchtime. The food and service are all great. read more

My heart belongs to First Wok on Stassney. Shrimp & Chicken Fried rice is my favorite entree. I also love and adore their crab puffs. Super nice people behind the counter and great food. I know nothing of their wait staff - for some reason I only get take out. But they are very fast preparing take out. Last night I didn't even get to finish the Newsweek article on Mit Romney before my food came out. read more

If you want really good dirty Chinese food, this is it! I've been to this place dozens of times both for lunch and dinner. I have to compare this place to other Chinese joints not only in Austin but also anywhere else where I tried Chinese. 1st Wok is the best food and value. This is why I give it 5-stars. Both Hot/Sour and egg-drop soups are good. I've tried and/or shared various entries (both American Chinese and authentic Chinese) and all were good, especially for the price you pay. Sometimes, I bring my chinese FOB (fresh of the boat) from work and he always orders something off the menu after they chat in their language. This food is different from American Chinese that they have on the menu. But everything we've got from this place was good. I recommend this place whenever you have dirty chinese food itch! :) read more

First off, this place delivers. That's number one positive to me when I'm feeling blah or the weather is bad. Next, the menu is pretty extensive. We ordered crab puffs. There were so many in the order! Well worth the cheap price of $5.25. Next, General Tso's Chicken; nice, large portion for two, mildly spicy, fresh. Then, special pan fried noodles. This comes with chicken, beef, shrimp, and an assortment of veggies stir fried together. All yum. I would say, if you drive by the place it doesn't look like much, but given the price and the fact that delivery is offered I would order again. read more

I had given up on finding divey, cheap, movie-marathon Chinese in Austin. But I had a craving so I decided to try one last restaurant. And I only had to drive 4 miles through last night's monsoon to get there. It's good. It's wonton soup when you're sick good. And fried rice when you're too hungover to leave the couch good. 1st Wok is not reinventing the wheel here. They're just serving up good ole' Chinese takeout. They need to post their website and menu on Yelp. But other than that, keep on truckin 1st Wok. See you soon. read more

We were hoping that First Wok would be good based upon reviews, but we were dissatisfied. My husband said, "Well, at least my drink was good." Umm, it was a can of Dr Pepper!! We tried the Kung Pao Chicken and the Orange Chicken. The celery was almost raw in the Kung Pao and the chicken was stringy. The Orange Chicken had very little orange flavor and had no kick (spice) to it. The Hot and Sour Soup was decent. However, the egg rolls were not good due to the very thick wrapper and the semi-raw cabbage inside. My husband said that the Wonton Soup was very oily. He tasted it and decided not to eat it. To top it off it was quite dirty inside (food/crumbs all over the floor around and under the booths and tables). We won't go back. read more

Let me start by saying I have frequented this restaurant for over 15 years. We always loved it because the food was fresh, there was plenty of it. And the prices were reasonable. I got super hungry for their shrimp toast, so despite the fact that I have not frequented many restaurants during Covid I stopped by about 4:30 in the afternoon. First thing I noticed was only two cars in front of the place. It's always been packed . I walk in the door I'm the only one there except for three people two of which are stuffing to go bags with Fortune cookies. There is absolutely no smell of cooking food. Red flag number one. Ordered their appetizer platter. The woman went behind the wall and was back almost immediately with my food. Red flag number two Their food always smells so good that you wanna pull the car over and eat. No smell. Red flag number three. Open up the containers at home and the food is ice cold. Do I pay attention to red flag number four, obviously not because I've been sick for two days. I will never return. Really a shame because I loved their food. Eat at your own risk read more

For many, many years I avoided this place like the plague. It's in a run-down strip center at Stassney and S. 1st and is pretty unappealing from the outside. However, if you can eventually build up the courage to order a meal from this place (like I did), I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. In general, I think the chinese food is pretty good. It's probably nothing you'll write home about, but of the half-dozen or so items I've tried, they've all tasted pretty good and most dishes come in at under $10 and the portions are huge too. The only real issue I have against First Wok is consistency. Some days something might come out a bit too salty or other times it might be a bit sweet. Overall, I'm still a fan, though, and if you're looking for a good Chinese restaurant in the South to South Central area, this place is worth a try. read more

Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum!!! Did I mention YUM ?! This place is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants. They have never disappointed me in the years I've been going here. They have really good sesame chicken well to me it's the BEST sesame chicken I have tried. Beef and broccoli is delish as well. Their fried rice is my second favorite here, Wantons are to die for mmm mmm mmm good. Yes it's pretty cheap priced compared to gourmet Chinese( No not panda express), But who complains about cheap good food? read more

Super small restaurant but really nice employees so that earns them major points in my book! The neighborhood is kind of sketchy and the street decor isn't exactly screaming "come inside for great Chinese food." A friend & yelper said she liked the place a lot, so I figured why not give it a try? :) The egg drop soup was great. Egg roll was eh, a little mushy. Chicken with broccoli was ok. The broccoli was cooked PERFECTLY and the sauce they used was awesome. The chicken wasn't what I was expecting though. It wasn't bad but it certainly wasn't great. I will definitely go back and give them another shot, but next time, I think I'll try a different dish.. possibly, the beef with broccoli?!?!?! Seriously, the broccoli was cooked perfectly. ;) read more

My husband used to say there was no good Chinese food in Austin. Then looking on Yelp I found this place and was shocked at the high reviews! I had passed it a million times and thought it was another mediocre hole-in-the-wall Chinese food joint. We've been ordering from here for 5 years and it is very consistent, the delivery drivers are awesome and the staff is great. I also love that they serve those crispy noodles as an appetizer both in the restaurant and in the take out. No one does that anymore. We love First Wok. read more

Delicious food, excellent customer service, big portions and reasonable prices. I came here to try the orange chicken, based on the reviews and it was simply amazing. It was nice and crisp outside, flavorful throughout. Next time I'll try the orange beef :) I'm not an expert, but I am from San Francisco and we do have great Chinese food, and this place would give any of them a run for their money. Don't let the modest exterior fool you this is a must-try in Austin. read more

Always good. we usually order and pick up and eat at home. It's a great go to for a last minute dinner when we don't want to cook.

We went there for Friday dinner. It was filled with customers more than I expected. I ordered a hunan shrimp with fried rice. The shrimp was thoroughly cooked and had good flavor. I liked the way they presented the dish. The service was good and they were courteous and joked when one of our party spilt water on the table. I would definitely go again to First Wok again. read more