Full Key Restaurant Photos
FULL KEY RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
More like Full Key Restaurant
Recommended Reviews - Full Key Restaurant
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
This is a Zagat rated restaurant and don't let the looks of it fool you, but the food here is very good. I called in a to go order for Cantonese wontons, salted pepper three seafood treasure, beef chow ho fun, and some veggie egg rolls. After 30 min, I came in to get my order and it was ready. The dining room was pretty full so always a good sign. Definitely give this place a try, its worth a visit!
My boyfriend and I were in the area and wanted to eat locally. We were in the mood for Chinese and found this local spot on Yelp. There's a limited number of parking spots in front of this shopping center at an incline. It looks a little rough on the outside, but it's a stark and welcome contrast on the inside. We were seated promptly and quickly served. We ended up ordering the Beef, Schezuan Style and Eggplant with Chicken in hot garlic sauce. Both came with a good-sized portion of rice. The flavors were good although neither were spicy at all despite having one pepper on the menu. The service was good - periodic but not intruding nor lacking. It's not crave worthy where I will travel the distance, but I wouldn't mind coming back to try them again. The bathroom was okay although it could've been cleaned a bit better.
I had a wonderful lunch here with friends last weekend. The food came out quickly and the portions were massive. The tea for the table was very nice as well. They made sure we always had water by having a couple of carafes on the table. Service got slower as they got busier. It took nearly a half hour to get someone to our table to get the check. Parking isn't the easiest but I've heard there's a large lot behind the building. I parked in the garage across the street.
It is my first time coming here. We got the duck, char siu and beef chow fun. They are pretty good. I think it is about the same level as my fav Cantonese food East Pearl in Rockville. I will need to try other items next time to get a better comparison.
If you are a big fan of salty food, this is for you! I love salty food and dishes with a deep umami flavor; I can rarely find something that scratches the itch, but the food at Full Key does it for me. What I've Tried: - Roasted Duck: It feels like, in the past, the duck on its own carried more flavor and the sauce was more mild. Recently, the duck is more mild and the sauce carries a stronger flavor (salty). Overall, still good, but I definitely enjoyed it more in the past. - Salt & Pepper Pork Chop: SALTY, crispy! Overpowering on its own, but pairs perfectly with rice. I preferred the smaller pieces of pork, as the larger pieces felt too fatty for a single bit. - Orange Chicken: Good - unremarkable The service and decor are average! Nice, but nothing to write home about.
Came here per friends request/craving and it definitely didn't disappoint!! My friend was raving about this wonton noodle soup and I see why it was so good and perfect for the cold weather. Service was nice and place was small but cozy
This place is getting to be my favorite Chinese restaurant now after I found thier treasure. That is "Crispy roasted pork belly" I fell in love it very much as it's not easy to get a good one here. Thier crispy pork belly might be a little different style from my country (Thailand) - I think it might be Hong kong style - cooking by roast in the oven that make the skin part will be flat but is still crunchy and meat part inside is soft/tender, less fat. As for my country style - mainly cooking by deep-fried ; skin part looks like a rock bubble, it is crunchy as the same but texture inside might be more dry, lighter, airier crunch and more fat. Another difference is the spices &ingredients that they marinate the pork too. Anyway, I like both if they cook it nicely. ps. Service is always good, never have problem. The staffs always check and let you know right away way if the order is run out or not enough to make- that is nice. As well as thier website allows you to order online and pay later when you pick up at the restaurant.
If you are looking for authentic Chinese food in the area, this is the place! Food: 4/5 my grandma got shrimp and pork dumpling soup and I got wonton (shrimp only) noodle soup. The broth was steaming hot and the wontons and dumplings were huge, but the only reason I took 1 star away is that the broth could have a little more flavor. I added some soy sauce and chili oil that is on the table, and my grandma added black pepper to suit our own taste buds. I also prefer to have veggies in my wonton noodle soup, but there were only green onions in there. Service: 5/5 absolutely no issues, quick service and kind people, repeat orders back to ensure they got it right. Ambiance: soft music, clear glass on top of wooden tables and booths to seat 2 or 4, and 2 round tables with lazy susans for larger parties. 2 individual bathrooms that were clean, with urinals and toilets in each.
Been coming here for over the years and they are always nice and accomodating by staff through the years. However, today, as my Mom tries to maneuver her walker and wanted to change tables for easy access to the table, this server(male) was unpleasant in a way that it was an inconvenience for him to accomodate my Mom's handicap. There is no better way to describe him but he' s is just plain rude. But the food is good and the other staff, especially the female staff always treat us well. Maybe the next time we come back here, we'll just have to ask for someone else and not be served by this male server.
Service was pleasant. The pepper steak lunch special was delicious. The roasted duck was fresh and moist with a crispy skin and tons of flavor. The salt and pepper pork chops were just ok. A bit dry amd I didn't care for tne season they used.
First time back to this restaurant in maybe 1-2 years and omg this place IS SOOOO GOOD. We came here for a family lunch and ordered a bunch of items to share. We ordered 3 plates of beef and chicken fried rice and one plate of the following: beef chow foon, deep fried shrimp and scallops, general tso chicken. All together it was about $105 and split between 5 people it would come out to about $20pp which isn't bad. Food was so good - we cleared every single plate!!! My parents really really happy with the meal and every single thing we got. This is definitely some of the best Chinese in the DMV. Our server was so so nice she kept checking in on our table and even cracking jokes about we wanted yet another place of fried rice. The restaurant is an intimate dining room yet feels like there's plenty of room for guest. I love seeing a lot of families, group of friends, and people by themselves enjoying a cozy meal. I would highly recommend for sure. For parking there's spot out front with a fast turnaround due to the surrounding shops. There's also a parking lot directly behind the shopping center/restaurant specifically for it and has a walkway that connects the parking lot to the mini shopping center.
Our family of four had an amazing lunch here. We ordered the beef chow foon, half soy sauce chicken, and a roast pork noodle soup. The total was $50 pre-tip. Here's the breakdown. Portions = amazing. Our family did not finish everything and we were all stuffed. We came out of the restaurant looking like balloons primed to pop. My wife looked pregnant, again. Price = amazing. The chicken was $18, beef chow foon was $17 and the noodle soup was $12ish. Even if the portions weren't as loaded, the prices would still be considered good. Taste = amazing. My Cantonese wife says every trip to this restaurant feels like a trip back to Guangdong. She's been here for decades! It's only my second time here. The taste has been great so far! All three dishes had their own charm! Service = pretty good. The servers were attentive in refilling our empty tea pot and iced water. Overall, the lunch was superb! We couldn't finish the chow foon and chicken, and we'll definitely devour them during dinner! P.s. for those families with babies and toddlers -- go to Brookside garden in the morning, take the miniature train rides and carousel rides after the garden strolls; and finally, hit up Full Key for a late lunch when you're exhausted. You'll thank me!
Still and has been a pretty solid choice for Canto food in the DMV area. The place is always full of Asians, which is a good sign. Place is super tight. Pick the tables that you want if not they will maximize and stick you in some small Tetris maxed table in the back where it is hard to get out of. Got the black pepper beef casserole and salt pepper shrimp which is two of my faves. Their crispy pork belly is still some of the best in the area. This is one of the places that changed owners but kept its consistency.
As soon as you walk in, the aroma, size, atmosphere, and aesthetics are spot-on. My wife said it reminded her of a local spot in Hong Kong. Service was top-notch--water was constantly refilled, and the staff checked on us regularly without ever being overbearing. The salt-and-pepper seafood trio was nicely cooked, flavorful, and had a great crunch. The pea shoots will be a re-order every time we come back. The beef chow fun had the aroma of wok hei, but unfortunately lacked flavor and was the only disappointing dish of the night. They were also out of roast pig. The kids loved the sweet-and-sour chicken. My son called them "fancy chicken nuggets." The sauce had a nice tang without being overly sweet, even though the kids barely touched it. Still on the hunt for a truly smoky beef chow fun, but Full Kee is now our go-to for Cantonese comfort food. read more
This is a Zagat rated restaurant and don't let the looks of it fool you, but the food here is very good. I called in a to go order for Cantonese wontons, salted pepper three seafood treasure, beef chow ho fun, and some veggie egg rolls. After 30 min, I came in to get my order and it was ready. The dining room was pretty full so always a good sign. Definitely give this place a try, its worth a visit! read more
My boyfriend and I were in the area and wanted to eat locally. We were in the mood for Chinese and found this local spot on Yelp. There's a limited number of parking spots in front of this shopping center at an incline. It looks a little rough on the outside, but it's a stark and welcome contrast on the inside. We were seated promptly and quickly served. We ended up ordering the Beef, Schezuan Style and Eggplant with Chicken in hot garlic sauce. Both came with a good-sized portion of rice. The flavors were good although neither were spicy at all despite having one pepper on the menu. The service was good - periodic but not intruding nor lacking. It's not crave worthy where I will travel the distance, but I wouldn't mind coming back to try them again. The bathroom was okay although it could've been cleaned a bit better. read more
I had a wonderful lunch here with friends last weekend. The food came out quickly and the portions were massive. The tea for the table was very nice as well. They made sure we always had water by having a couple of carafes on the table. Service got slower as they got busier. It took nearly a half hour to get someone to our table to get the check. Parking isn't the easiest but I've heard there's a large lot behind the building. I parked in the garage across the street. read more
4 months ago
It is my first time coming here. We got the duck, char siu and beef chow fun. They are pretty good. I think it is about the same level as my fav Cantonese food East Pearl in Rockville. I will need to try other items next time to get a better comparison. read more
10 months ago
If you are a big fan of salty food, this is for you! I love salty food and dishes with a deep umami flavor; I can rarely find something that scratches the itch, but the food at Full Key does it for me. What I've Tried: - Roasted Duck: It feels like, in the past, the duck on its own carried more flavor and the sauce was more mild. Recently, the duck is more mild and the sauce carries a stronger flavor (salty). Overall, still good, but I definitely enjoyed it more in the past. - Salt & Pepper Pork Chop: SALTY, crispy! Overpowering on its own, but pairs perfectly with rice. I preferred the smaller pieces of pork, as the larger pieces felt too fatty for a single bit. - Orange Chicken: Good - unremarkable The service and decor are average! Nice, but nothing to write home about. read more
10 months ago
Came here per friends request/craving and it definitely didn't disappoint!! My friend was raving about this wonton noodle soup and I see why it was so good and perfect for the cold weather. Service was nice and place was small but cozy read more
10 months ago
This place is getting to be my favorite Chinese restaurant now after I found thier treasure. That is "Crispy roasted pork belly" I fell in love it very much as it's not easy to get a good one here. Thier crispy pork belly might be a little different style from my country (Thailand) - I think it might be Hong kong style - cooking by roast in the oven that make the skin part will be flat but is still crunchy and meat part inside is soft/tender, less fat. As for my country style - mainly cooking by deep-fried ; skin part looks like a rock bubble, it is crunchy as the same but texture inside might be more dry, lighter, airier crunch and more fat. Another difference is the spices &ingredients that they marinate the pork too. Anyway, I like both if they cook it nicely. ps. Service is always good, never have problem. The staffs always check and let you know right away way if the order is run out or not enough to make- that is nice. As well as thier website allows you to order online and pay later when you pick up at the restaurant. read more
If you are looking for authentic Chinese food in the area, this is the place! Food: 4/5 my grandma got shrimp and pork dumpling soup and I got wonton (shrimp only) noodle soup. The broth was steaming hot and the wontons and dumplings were huge, but the only reason I took 1 star away is that the broth could have a little more flavor. I added some soy sauce and chili oil that is on the table, and my grandma added black pepper to suit our own taste buds. I also prefer to have veggies in my wonton noodle soup, but there were only green onions in there. Service: 5/5 absolutely no issues, quick service and kind people, repeat orders back to ensure they got it right. Ambiance: soft music, clear glass on top of wooden tables and booths to seat 2 or 4, and 2 round tables with lazy susans for larger parties. 2 individual bathrooms that were clean, with urinals and toilets in each. read more
2 months ago
Been coming here for over the years and they are always nice and accomodating by staff through the years. However, today, as my Mom tries to maneuver her walker and wanted to change tables for easy access to the table, this server(male) was unpleasant in a way that it was an inconvenience for him to accomodate my Mom's handicap. There is no better way to describe him but he' s is just plain rude. But the food is good and the other staff, especially the female staff always treat us well. Maybe the next time we come back here, we'll just have to ask for someone else and not be served by this male server. read more
7 months ago
Service was pleasant. The pepper steak lunch special was delicious. The roasted duck was fresh and moist with a crispy skin and tons of flavor. The salt and pepper pork chops were just ok. A bit dry amd I didn't care for tne season they used. read more
First time back to this restaurant in maybe 1-2 years and omg this place IS SOOOO GOOD. We came here for a family lunch and ordered a bunch of items to share. We ordered 3 plates of beef and chicken fried rice and one plate of the following: beef chow foon, deep fried shrimp and scallops, general tso chicken. All together it was about $105 and split between 5 people it would come out to about $20pp which isn't bad. Food was so good - we cleared every single plate!!! My parents really really happy with the meal and every single thing we got. This is definitely some of the best Chinese in the DMV. Our server was so so nice she kept checking in on our table and even cracking jokes about we wanted yet another place of fried rice. The restaurant is an intimate dining room yet feels like there's plenty of room for guest. I love seeing a lot of families, group of friends, and people by themselves enjoying a cozy meal. I would highly recommend for sure. For parking there's spot out front with a fast turnaround due to the surrounding shops. There's also a parking lot directly behind the shopping center/restaurant specifically for it and has a walkway that connects the parking lot to the mini shopping center. read more
Our family of four had an amazing lunch here. We ordered the beef chow foon, half soy sauce chicken, and a roast pork noodle soup. The total was $50 pre-tip. Here's the breakdown. Portions = amazing. Our family did not finish everything and we were all stuffed. We came out of the restaurant looking like balloons primed to pop. My wife looked pregnant, again. Price = amazing. The chicken was $18, beef chow foon was $17 and the noodle soup was $12ish. Even if the portions weren't as loaded, the prices would still be considered good. Taste = amazing. My Cantonese wife says every trip to this restaurant feels like a trip back to Guangdong. She's been here for decades! It's only my second time here. The taste has been great so far! All three dishes had their own charm! Service = pretty good. The servers were attentive in refilling our empty tea pot and iced water. Overall, the lunch was superb! We couldn't finish the chow foon and chicken, and we'll definitely devour them during dinner! P.s. for those families with babies and toddlers -- go to Brookside garden in the morning, take the miniature train rides and carousel rides after the garden strolls; and finally, hit up Full Key for a late lunch when you're exhausted. You'll thank me! read more
Still and has been a pretty solid choice for Canto food in the DMV area. The place is always full of Asians, which is a good sign. Place is super tight. Pick the tables that you want if not they will maximize and stick you in some small Tetris maxed table in the back where it is hard to get out of. Got the black pepper beef casserole and salt pepper shrimp which is two of my faves. Their crispy pork belly is still some of the best in the area. This is one of the places that changed owners but kept its consistency. read more
7 months ago
I have been searching for a traditional Cantonese style restaurant in Rockville area, Full Key restaurant truly stands out for its authenticity and attention to flavor. What makes my experience even better is the pricing. Despite a high-quality and generous portions, the menu remains very reasonable, making it an excellent choice for both casual dining and the family style meals. I appreciate the balanced seasoning and a focus on nitro test rather than heavy sources. I would definitely return for its food quality and value. read more
Authentic family-style Cantonese food in the DMV area serving up all the classic dishes. The service was prompt and the waiters speak English, Cantonese, and Mandarin! I recommend trying the BBQ meats. My favorite was the chicken - it was super flavorful, moist, and tender! The beef chow fun (乾炒牛河) had good wok hay and was well-seasoned. Can't go wrong with the sweet and sour pork either. Very crispy and moist pork! Only small nitpick - the gai lan was a little too crunchy/tough for my preference. read more
2 years ago
Think back to your days as a young naive filipino-chinese boy on a lazy sunny Saturday afternoon. Where does your parents bring such a kid? Especially one that has built an appetite of a lowly feudal lord in 10th century Europe! I'll tell you - a local Chinese restaurant bustling with the aunties and mothers straight from the motherland! Upon opening the door to this place, my gaze immediately locked onto that familiar hawker stall hanging roast duck and meats. I knew I was in for a hoot. Having the stature of a corn-fed American, I was immediately spotted and sat down in a comfortable and cushioned booth. No more than a minute, a waitress appeared - seemingly exacerbated at the notion I have not already made up my mind - she wandered away with disappointment in her eyes - this triggered a nostalgic memory of past and brought forth a thought that this very well have been a relative of mine. I brushed this thought aside. I scanned over the menu and found two things that have caught my eyes and many others that have reviewed this place - the beef brisket with noodles soup and of course, the roast duck. Let this be my digital footprint where I declare this place currently has the best duck my physical body has experienced (02/23/2025). The skin was exceedingly crispy - imparting an almost rice cracker crunch in a 2mm thick skin. The meat was delectably succulent to a point where I was almost tempted to eat the bones (whoa!) as to not miss a morsel of meat. Please do not get me started on the duck fat - I am almost shedding a tear thinking about it. You want it. I need it. I wanted to gate keep this location but this place deserves recognition. SO WHEN YOU DO COME HERE, order a half a duck to start, get a couple bowls of white rice, and just bask in this excellent and essentially perfected dish of roast duck. The beef brisket and noodle soup was also an amazing dish - albeit, a dish with a silent roar of savoriness. The flavor profile of this dish is propped up by the insane flavor foundation imparted from the beef broth. Saltiness, umami, and sweetness all blended together to formulate a divine brothy experience. The beef and tendon were spoon tender - a superb showcase of true patience and skill. The rice noodles were the cherry on top with their satisfying bite. All these components culminated into a a succinct and perfect dish for cold weather. All-in-all, I invite you - no - beg of you to try this restaurant out. They may not show be the best in customer service, but they dang well showcase their devotion and love in how they make their food. Get your keys, type their name up in the search bar, and buckle up for a trip to flavor town. read more
I have been eating here with my family for a LONG time. There has been a change in management in the past year and you can see the changes reflected in the renovations of the dining space and pricing increases. My family ordered the clams in black bean sauce, watercress in garlic sauce, salted deep fried shrimp, beef with black pepper casserole and wonton soup. Everything came out quick, hot, and tasty. The only thing that was on the bland side was the watercress. We had to add soy sauce to give it more flavor. I am satisfied to learn even under new management; the quality and taste remains delicious as I have remembered in the years past. This place remains our go to spot for my family and I for Canto Chinese comfort food! read more
3 months ago
I have eaten food that my grandson bought from this place and the roasted pork was delicious! My friend and I decided to have dinner here on the weekend since we were in the area. I ordered the roasted pork on rice with vegetables. My friend got the won ton soup. The server came out with a bright smile, she brought us some hot tea and the menu. She also bought us water which was a surprise because most other Chinese restaurant doesn't serve water unless we ask for it. The serving sizes were good so we had some to take home. Both dishes were delicious! The dining room is beautifully decorated and it was comfortable atmosphere. I would definitely return. read more
2 years ago
As soon as you enter the restaurant, you are greeted with a "how can I help you?" which is typical for a small Asian restaurant (straight to the point lol). But the decor was cozy and clean. After being seated with the menu, our server came back after about 2 minutes ready to take our order but we weren't ready yet. So it seems like their service is pretty quick. We ordered the Roast Pork over Rice and the Pork with Curry Sauce Chow Foon (not pictured). Both were tasty, full of flavor, and fresh. I prefer the Roast Pork over Rice which also came with a sweet soy sauce. The Chow Foon didn't have a curry sauce, but more of dry curry powder because it was more gritty than saucy. We were also served a pot of tea with our food. We ended our meal with a good ol' Fortune Cookie. Quick and easy, fast service, fresh and tasty food. Would go back! read more
2 years ago
My family and I have been eating here for 30+ years and let me tell you, they were in desperate need of a renovation. Decided to dine-in tonight after I was told new management took over. The duck, bbq pork and black clams are an absolute must. It looks so much more clean, open and a bit modern. Would definitely come back. read more
5 months ago
10 months ago
10 months ago
This is my Go-To Cantonese restaurant in MoCo. Their roast meats, wonton HK style, chow fun, and pan fried noodles are always delicious. Seating are booths and a few larger round tables in the middle. The front parking lot can fill up but there's a big lot behind the shopping strip, you need to walk thru a short alley. Must be a reason that I have been coming here for over 25+ years. read more
10 months ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
7 months ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
Every childhood consists of scraps of memories sewn together in a cacophony of sounds. flavors. smells. A patchwork of single scenes that stitched together, form a larger history. Certain places hold nearly as much nostalgic power as the homes we grew up in. For me, Full Key is one of these places. Growing up, we went here an innumerable amount of times. It was always a reliably quick, tasty, affordable meal. Looking around at the modest sized seating area, I know my family has sat in each and every one of these seats. I can see us. Laughing, smiling, aging together through the years. The cracked green vinyl upholstery is as familiar and comforting to me as the lion king bed sheets I grew up with. My entire life my parents have loved the soy sauce chicken. The chicken is smoky and salty and the sauce is perfect, but for me it's too much work to pick apart the little bones. In some ways I think they enjoy working for the reward of umami sauced chicken. When I was little and we still had a family dog, when she aged and got ill sometimes my dad would spend some time in Thailand, then come home and take care of the dog while my mom, sister and I went to Thailand. So we all got to vacation back home with family but someone was always here with our beloved dog. During those stretches we knew he was getting a whole soy sauce chicken at least once a week from Full Key and eating it over a few days. That chicken sustained him through these bachelor life periods. As a child of the 90's, I got my first gameboy and lugged it around gamely everywhere I went. I remember playing Kirby with the sound off under the table, trying to inhale my enemies with my cavernous Kirby mouth while everyone around me similarly devoured pan fried noodles. I remember tearing through Harry Potter while leaning against the mirrored wall panel in the back corner booth. It was one of the first times I discovered the phenomenon of reading a book you can't put down. We were the generation that grew up with these characters. Now, the story has already been written, but back then the real magic was that we truly didn't know which way the story would unravel. I'd shovel in a bite of beef chow foon before returning to Hogsmeade and then sneak a spoonful of congee before returning back to see what Hermione was going on about. I've read the Chinese zodiac placemats hundreds of times. We always had a sort of family inside joke that how funny our family was split right down the middle. Me and my dad are oxen (reliable, stubborn, calm) while my mom and sister are both dragons (intelligent, independent, strong sense of justice). I always took umbrage with this though because how is it that everyone in my grade is also an oxen?? Because we certainly don't all carry the same traits even though we're (almost) all born in the same year? But to me, one of the most integral parts of the Full Key experience growing up was that after dinner, we would take the lucky numbers from our fortune cookies and step next door to try our luck with the lottery. We haven't won yet, but something about this little tradition to cap the night just felt so exciting. As I grew up, this was strictly a family restaurant in that - even when I was old enough to start going places to eat with friends alone, I would never dream of bringing them here. I only came here with family. I was embarrassed. It was too simple. Too Asian. Not trendy. Not cool. As I grappled with my Asian American identity, I would never bring a friend here when we could somewhere *very cool* like The Cheesecake Factory. But actually growing up is recognizing that blending in is the real farce, and embracing your personal culture and history is a true gift. This place has won numerous awards for "cheap eats" but it's so much more to me. It's warmth. It's comfort. It's home. Ps. It's all good, but always get the beef chow foon. read more
1 year ago
We love this place. You feel like you're eating at home. The service is excellent, and we've loved everything we've eaten. I personally recommend the wonton soup and the beef casserole, and the chicken curry. read more
Page 1 of 14
More info about Full Key Restaurant
Full Key Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Full Key Restaurant
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
26 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
2 years ago
10 years ago
6 years ago
1 year ago
6 years ago
15 years ago
15 years ago
7 years ago
11 years ago
14 years ago
11 years ago
16 years ago
8 years ago
13 years ago
10 years ago
13 years ago
11 years ago
13 years ago
12 years ago
15 years ago
