Heng Wing: What A Spectacular Return. I'm back in! And here's why.
As many of us know, there was an ownership turnover a few years back. Like many others in these reviews, I was not impressed at the time.
Subsequently, I had stayed away from Heng Wing for quite some time but finally decided to give it another shot, just to see if those eggrolls I remembered were truly gone forever. To my astonishment, everything is spectacular once again.
Our family had been regulars here since the 1980s. So we're very familiar with what it was, in order to compare it to what it is now. Frankly, this is about as close as you're going to get to the old-style Cantonese cuisine that so many of us have grown to love.
As soon as we sat down, we were immediately served a pot of tea. When we ordered for the table, we chose our traditional Dinner for Four, which included:
* Wonton Soup or Egg Drop Soup,
* Assorted appetizers such as Egg Rolls, Bar-B-Q Ribs, and Cantonese Fried Shrimp.
Of course, I had to be the "wrench in the spokes" and ordered a Hot & Sour Soup, which wasn't part of the dinner. However, the waitress kindly allowed the substitution. Something not typically done. Which I greatly appreciated. On that note, the Hot & Sour Soup was outstanding: packed with ingredients, full of flavor, and absolutely top-tier.
When the appetizers arrived, I finally got to enjoy the egg rolls I'd been craving for so long. It's hard to find egg rolls like these anymore: old-school, crispy, crunchy on the outside, and HOT, chewy, and stuffed with deliciousness on the inside. While the taste was just slightly different from what I remember, it was still 95% of what I was expecting.
The barbecued ribs were equally delightful. So incredibly tender and flavorful that I'll definitely return for more.
And the mustard. Oh, that mustard! It was so hot, it must have been freshly made that morning. The vapors shot up my nose and paralyzed my brain for a moment, making my eyes flutter like I had just been punched in the nose. It was fantastic!
The main course for the Dinner for Four included:
* Beef Kow: Incredibly tender, velveted beef in a rich, savory brown gravy with bok choy.
* Sweet & Sour Pork: Swimming in a glossy, sweet sauce with pineapple and green peppers.
* Shrimp with Lobster Sauce: My favorite. A savory, rich brown sauce with black beans, featuring delicious, plump shrimp that had a satisfying snap.
* Chicken with Broccoli: Tender slices of chicken breast and perfectly cooked broccoli that was vibrant green and crisp, all in a light white sauce.
* Roast Pork Fried Rice: Moist, not dry, with pork strips, scallions, and vegetables like carrots and bean sprouts. Simply the best fried rice I've had in such a long time.
Everything was absolutely mouthwatering, flavorful, and flawless. We finished the meal with the traditional fortune cookies and almond cookies, which provided a nostalgic end to the meal.
The portions were enormous. With the four of us, we Barely made a dent in it it, so of course we took everything home. The leftovers turned into another dinner for four the next day. And I even got another serving or two after that! In all, we enjoyed nearly 10 meals from that Dinner for Four.
So, Yes. As with everywhere I go, Prices have increased (inflation ), but they more than make up for it with the quantity and quality of the food.
We were seated immediately for lunch, and the wait staff was incredibly accommodating and friendly. Everything was served timely, piping hot, and with clean, cutlery and a full assortment condiments.
Conclusion: I'm so happy we decided to go back. Just when I had written this off as another beloved restaurant lost to time, Heng Wing has come back and completely redeemed itself for me. The food was fantastic, the service was excellent, and it brought back so many great memories. I couldn't be happier.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars. There wasn't a single thing we were unhappy with. read more