My family has been coming to this establishment for three decades, since its original location in Suffern. The ownership has changed but chef Michael has remained a constant in the kitchen. The menu and aesthetics are old school Cantonese, with neon lights and fish aquariums reminiscent of Chinese/HK banquet restaurants of yore. It always makes me a little sad to see the large grey fish that comes to you when beckoned and follows you with its intelligent eyes being confined to his little tank ...but I digress. Most of the menu consists of your typical Chinese-American takeout fare (of better than average quality), but the best and most interesting items on the menu - and what we mostly order - are found in the "Chef's Specialities" section in the back. We always have a feast here: spring roll, seafood winter melon soup, classic banquet dishes like PEKING DUCK (a must!! It's properly served thinly sliced for you to wrap in crepe with hoisin sauce and fixings), GRAND MARNIER SHRIMP, WHOLE CRISPY FISH, FISH w/ GINGER & SCALLION, CRISPY SHRIMP WITH WALNUTS, PEPPERY PRAWN or CALAMARI (comes w/ shrimp chips!), three musketeers (crispy shrimp, scallops and chicken in a garlic sauce, ringed with four crab rangoons), and BEEF CHOW FUN, are some of our favorite dishes in our regular rotation. There are a good amount of vegan/vegetarian options here as well so we often bring our vegetarian friends here. The unassuming and underrated GOLDEN SESAME BEAN CURD with its delicate crispy skin and tender soft tofu center is da bomb and one of my fave items (recommend dining in for this to ensure optimal hot fresh crispiness). We also love the sautéed string beans and eggplant. Chinese food is meant to be shared/served family style so it's very suitable to come with a large party and try a bit of everything. There's a private room and a couple of big round tables in back. Service is hit or miss, though everyone's quite pleasant, but frankly you don't come to a Chinese restaurant for its service, and a stony faced waiter in tuxedo vest is almost par for the course. A small bar is situated near the entrance and always seems to be seated with patrons. read more

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This place is a LOOK. If you told me with a straight face that the interior has been upgraded at any point since the Nixon administration, I flat out wouldn't believe you. And I'm willing to admit a huge chunk of my rating is based on the sheer kitsch value - I've never seen this many aquariums in one establishment that wasn't a pet store. Truly wild. Also? You will not have any type of cell phone service while dining here, which seems fitting given that you chose to eat in a literal time warp. I wouldn't expect technology to work in that situation either. I stopped here for a sit-down lunch yesterday afternoon, having gotten take-out a few times in the last 10 months or so. There are a TON of Chinese options in this area but this is definitely the best in terms of overall quality. Admittedly, most if not all of their competition is generic take-out establishments, but the price point is right on par with them and you're getting better flavors with food that looks and tastes like it's actually being made to order, more or less. I don't know what the target audience is for Ocean Empire, but based on the baffled gapes of the barflies at the bar by the entrance (yes, this place has a bar that you'll be stunned to learn has an aquarium next to it) and the senior citizens dotting the restaurant interior, it's not me. That said, I was shown to a table promptly and had solid service throughout. I ordered my tried and true, the Sweet and Sour Chicken entree ($13), though I had the option of the lunch special which was a few dollars less. I figured since I made the trek and was hanging out with a giant fish less than a foot from my head (see attached picture), I might as well go all the way with the experience. And I loved that the waiter DID redirect me to the lunch menu, just to make sure I wanted the more expensive option. A lot of places would quietly note the order and not offer a cheaper alternative. Good for them. The chicken was very good. I don't know that it's particularly hard to master this dish behind the scenes, but bare minimum I think you want to ensure that it's not overly deep fried where you're eating literal bites of fried skin. This was perfectly done and a generous portion (when is Chinese food not a generous portion?). The only quibble I had was with the sauce. It's more orange than red, which is interesting and I'm not sure what the significance is if any, but I thought it was on the watery side and difficult to apply to my accompanying rice, which was a LITTLE too al dente for me. But just a little. The menu (hilariously they just gave me the paper takeout menu to look at; totally fine and somehow seemed on brand) looks pretty legit beyond the standard takeout options so this is a very rare instance where I would actually come back and order something else. And like most Chinese food, it didn't take long for the food to arrive, so this is a very reasonable lunch hour-type destination if that's your jam. And a fun perk if you're in the market? There's a random party room in the back you can apparently reserve. Because of course there is. read more

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Ocean Empire is the last of a dying breed of old school Chinese restaurants that use to populate the area, more so in Bergen than Rockland. It is, I think, largely an unknown gem! We became regular customers several years ago after friends in Pomona held a dinner party here and it remains the only place that we go to for Chinese food outside of Fort Lee or Chinatown NYC. Our favorite dishes include sizzling steak, chow fun with vegetables and black bean sauce, pan fried pork dumplings and so many others. The vibe is a little dated but cozy with booths, tables and giant fish tanks, I find it charming like an old fashioned Cantonese place from the 80's. The food is quite authentic! The owners are so nice and accommodating. It even has a tiny bar area serving regulars. Give it a try before it gets swallowed up by a quickly changing Pomona! read more

When you think about Chinese food restaurants they have the typical decor. They have an abundance of fish tanks which is cool. What makes me love this place is there food is not greasy AND they have an entirely vegetarian menu with mock meat. I have not had orange "chicken" is so long. Most places swap tofu out but they went an extra step and have mock meat bot beyond burger stuff like real mock meat! read more

Closed since 2 weeks ago.Dont know why Covid i guess.Was never a fan .Bar crowd was strange read more

This spot was one of my favorites for years for Chinese in Rockland. No doubt as other reviews have shown, it has slipped a bit. Service is friendly and always nice but the food was just not up to par on two recent visits. Missing some flavor, too much oil, etc. It's good, just not great anymore IMHO read more

Better than your average Chinese take out. The food is better quality, good portions.

No taste, no flavor, mushy vegetables . Only the soup was ok, out of 5 dishes. I will never try it again

Best Chinese restaurant in Rockland/Orange county. This is reminds me of highly rated NYC Chinatown restaurants. They serve great homemade dumplings, none of the frozen crap that are sent to all other takeout restaurants in the area. Fried rice is the real deal with all the vegetables not the fake yellow type. Love the old school interior and fish tanks. read more

Ocean Empire Restaurant - Front of restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Pomona, New York

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I hadn't been here for quite a long while as it's not very local for me. However I happened to be in Pomona last week and needed to have dinner. So my wife and I stopped in. This is an old school, sit down Chinese restaurant. They still do the vest and tie for waiters, and provide tea and water for all guests. That by itself is an unexpected pleasure these days. Then you get to the food. OMG! Everything we ordered was outstanding! Even something like the humble egg roll is taken to gourmet level! I had the pan fried noodles (a favorite of my mom, when she was alive) This comes with shrimp, chicken, beef, pork and veggies in a brown sauce. It is as heavenly as I remember it from years ago! My wife had the Moo Shoo pork which was also phenomenal! I can't wait to go back again! read more

I went there for lunch with my wife and ordered beef lomein, the meat was totally spoiled. Called the waiter and he agreed that the meat was spoiled and it smelled terrible. He spoke to the cook and that was it. No a word from the owner or other than the waiter. Never again would we eat here. read more

The service was great, and the ambiance was okay, they don't have combos and to me were a lil pricey. I tried there chicken wings but weren't all that tasty and the French fries, they were $7.50 and gave u a jumbo serving of the fries. They were ok read more

Since the closing of Jade Village in Chestnut Ridge, Ocean Empire has inherited the crown of the best Chinese FOOD in Rockland County, even though it might not be the best Chinese RESTAURANT in R.C. Confused? Here is my rundown, starting at the top: The food- Their food is just terrific. The eggrolls are not the downsized version you get at most local places, and they are stuffed with pork, not 99% cabbage like most other venues. Their boneless ribs are tasty and lean, not the reddish color fatty ones you get elsewhere. The sauces for the entrees are very flavorful, and we've yet to get a main dish we have been unhappy with. Portions are also generous. 5 stars! The service: Truly hit and miss. I've had decent waiters here, and also had some that felt that they were doing you a favor by doing their job. They are noted for disappearing for stretches of time. We have never left the restaurant saying "wow, that was great service". 3 1/2 stars. The decor and cleanliness: It is past the time that this restaurant needs to be updated. While the restaurant is certainly clean, the decor of 20+ years ago is still in place. I'll go out on a limb and wager the carpets have not been professionally cleaned in at least a decade. 3 stars. The bar area: Every time I go there are a group of no-mask barflies huddled together, hanging out. Obviously you can't drink with a mask, but the problem is that they are sitting a few feet away from the main desk where folks go for takeout and patrons pay the check. It's not a comfortable feeling. 2 stars. In MHO the most important factor in a restaurant is the food, so this all adds up to 4 stars. If you do takeout you eliminate almost all the negative stuff. In either case you will love your meal. read more

One of the worst Chinese restaurants I've been to. Have tried Ocean Empire three times and they have disappointed each time. Their chicken is very dry, most of their dishes swim in sauce and they very often get takeout orders wrong. Do not go. read more

Food didn't seem fresh... Drinks were not strong enough.... The place also looks dingy inside... I was not pleased...

Not fancy but a pleasant and reliable neighborhood restaurant. Very nice people, tasty food and a welcome part of the area . We often swing by and pick up favorites like soup and dumplings on our way to family down the road. read more

Food and drinks were excellent. Sat at the bar and the staff and regular customers were really nice. The only complaint is that the place really needs a makeover. The rug in the entry is faded and old. Cobwebs everywhere. We had the boneless spare ribs and the portion was huge and delicious. Shared an order of beef chow fun, and it was one of the best I've ever tasted. Would definitely go back. read more

Food is delicious! Service is very friendly. And the ambiance is very nice. / Pu Pu Platter

40 years I've been going to this place. Had a real bad experience where I ordered mongolian beef (not on menu but Tom assured me they had it) What I got was beef and a couple of carrots. Not to worry, they'll correct it right? No. "that's how we make it" No apology, nothing. 40 years fellas, supported you throughout Covid, pass 10 Chinese places on my way to you guys. read more

This is one of the few sit down non buffet Chinese restaurants. It seems to be sadly missing the owner who passed recently. She was one of a kind and always made sure to stop at the table to thank you for coming. It was corny but I miss it a lot. The food is still excellent and the staff is very competent. The portions are good and everything is fresh,except maybe the canned pineapple at the end. lol. It would be a shame to lose this place so please give them a try. Plenty of parking and plenty of food read more

Being from California where Chinese food on every corner is delicious, it's been hard to find anything we like that's equivalent to back home. We have been in New York for over 5 years and today we can say we found Ocean Empire, 10 mins from our house, that is pretty spot on to back home. The nostalgia hit hard. We inhaled the food it was so good. Thank you Ocean Empire for bringing a piece of home for us. #ChineseFoodComa read more

I'm gonna be truly honest with you my review is rather biased BECAUSE I LOVE THE MAI THAI the food and service is always great I've celebrated everything from birthdays to anniversaries read more

The food is wonderful. My 1/2 part Chinese family love to come here from Brooklyn for the spare ribs and duck.

Have been going here for years. The most unusual part is that it has a full bar area with a TV that is always packed with loud old men and often times dogs. The food is still good but sadly the restaurant has not been the same since the owner died a few years back. Recently the restaurant has been very dirty and it never used to be that way. For New York I expect a bit better. read more

Great food and service. Our go to place for Chinese food. Fun atmosphere too especially on Fridays.

Fabulous food and even better service! Our waiter Riggy was outstanding and couldn't do enough for us. Thank you for a delicious and authentic Chinese meal read more

This place looks like something out of a David Lynch film. Amazing food and even more amazing ambiance. If you like Lynch and Chinese food, this place is for you. read more

Horrible - got food poisoning from this place. I lived in Pomona for nearly 5 years and tried this place once. It was Christmas Eve and my Wife and I had just come back from NYC (show, tree, etc). We ate dinner here - which was just average tasting. After eating, we were stuffed. 2 hours later... still felt stuffed. Fast forward to 4 AM Christmas morning and I am vomiting my brains out. I was sick as a dog all day Christmas and it was def from their food. I had not eaten anything except a bagel in the AM. read more

Ocean Empire so horny it will love you long time! This chinese food restaurant is one of the best ones in Rockland County. Somehow we always manage to seat at the same table every time we go. Its really uncanny. The food is delicious, served family style, and has large enough portions to feed a baby tiger. The staff are super friendly and their stories are hilarious. Its also a good place to get your drink on; Mai Tais are their chosen specialty drink. PuPu platter anyone? read more

I know it's a tough time because of COVID for restaurants but I absolutely must leave a warning for anyone eating at this place. I've never been super impressed with their food and there's a weird and seedy element to their bar area but a few weeks back my mom really wanted duck. I found out they had it so we ordered from there. I don't even remember what I had. When she went to reheat the food the next day it was crawling with worms of some kind! I'm dead serious. Just disgusting. I can't imagine what in the world their kitchen must look like for this to happen but I need to put this out there so people know. People around here seem to love this place but I truly cannot understand why. I guess because it's one of the few sit down Chinese places left but all the take out places around here have really good food so I have to tell people to avoid this place for sanitary reasons. I'm gagging just typing about this. You have been warned! I don't think they let you leave zero stars but that's what I would leave if I could. read more

We live in Florida, when in the New York area we never miss an opportunity to dine at this great restaurant. The food is delicious, what ever you order is great. The spare ribs are meaty and the best Chinese style I have eaten in my 70 years. The hostess Mrs Woo is a very special person and goes out of her way to make sure your meal is just right. You won't go wrong at Ocean Empire. read more

Good food, good service. Attitude sucks. Party of 4 for Chinese New Year. Halfway home thought I might have shorted our waiter on the charge slip. Returned and explained to the cashier that I wanted to see the charge slip to correct any error. She wouldn't even respond to me. I speak perfect Mandarin. She started yelling. I went to the kitchen myself and the waiter said no error. I am a regular customer but her yelling at me was a turnoff. Do not think I will return. Still can't understand the yelling. read more

Mrs. Woo has fed me well for many years. I used to go to Woo's Hunan in Suffern at least weekly, but I moved away for many years. I came home for a visit and my family and I went to Ocean Empire where Mrs. Woo greeted us with enthusiasm and food as delicious as I remember it. The staff there are great, the restaurant is clean and the ambiance is comfortable and colorful (the fish tanks are beautiful). I'm sorry I can't eat here more often, but it's a long ride from California. read more

I love Chinese and Japanese food, and while there are plenty of Japanese and fusion restaurants popping up, hardly any Chinese restaurants are left- most are takeout. Ocean's Empire is the first one I've been to in years and I was not disappointed. The space itself is dark and a little dated, but who cares?? The food is delicious and the staff is friendly. There are fish tanks all around that serve as both scenery and noise buffers. The effect is casual, relaxing and intimate. They are quick to seat you and almost immediately bring a bowl of (really good) crispy noodles, with mustard and duck sauce, to your table. The menu is smaller than a typical takeout but the basics are there. The wonton soup is the best I've ever eaten- the wontons are so fresh and delicious! The noodles are delicately thin and the broth is light and nicely flavored. We've tried several entrees, all have been delicious. The food is well-prepared. Vegetables are always fresh and firm, sauces (brown, white, spicy) are all delicious and with just the right amount (food is never saturated, like takeouts). Meats and shrimp are always perfectly cooked and the portions generous-- easily enough for 2 meals. For those with food allergies: Special requests may not be handled accurately. Once, we ordered fried rice without peas and it came with peas. On a separate visit, we ordered General Tsao's chicken extra spicy but got extra crunchy instead. Both times, the waiter anxiously offered to replace it, but we let it go (it was a preference, not a necessity). In all honesty, I think this is due to the language barrier as opposed to carelessness, but thought it was worth a mention for those with bad allergies. read more

My family and I eat here often for two reasons: great food and great customer service! The egg drop soup, house special fried rice, fried chicken with garlic sauce on the side and the sesame shrimp are my all time faves! read more

Ocean Empire Restaurant - sesame shrimp - Chinese Near Me - Pomona, New York

We were here Saturday night with a group of friends and even though we arrived at the restaurant about half hour till closing the staff was super friendly and they didn't rush us during our meal. That said .. we went here based on Yelp reviews & trip advisor reviews and we were NOT disappointed. Sure the place is a little sterile and dated but the food was excellent, the staff was lovely, drinks were not watered down and prices were super reasonable. We live in Jersey so this is a little bit of a ride for us, but I would go back next time we are up in the area. Thumbs up. read more

dark and dirty! the food was nothing to rave about. one entree was hot while the other was cold. they need to spend some money and at least clean the carpets. if the dining room is dirty, what is the kitchen like??? no wonder we were the only ones in the dining room. read more

I've never eaten in the restaurant - only take-out. It's pretty good and they always throw in something on the house :) The inside of the restaurant is super dated and seems to attract a bunch of locals around the bar, so when I'm waiting for my takeout I get to hear their hysterical drunk conversations... but other than that, it's a great place. It's actually my 2nd favorite in the area, but my 1st is often closed on some holidays... Ocean Empire is ALWAYS OPEN. read more

Ocean Empire is inconsistent - they have excellent moo shu, and I've had really good shrimp with garlic sauce there, but my last 2 experiences at the restaurant really turned me off: One weekday afternoon, I went for lunch with my aunt, my brother, and my toddler son. All 3 of us adults ordered entrees (and a shared appetizer) and I asked if it would be possible to just get a side of steamed vegetables for my one-year-old son, since my entree was going to be a bit spicy for him. Given the fact that the rest of the table ordered entrees and that the restaurant was EMPTY aside from us, I was confident that such a request would be accommodated - I did plan to pay for the side order. Unfortunately, I was told that they couldn't do it and I had to order a full lunch entree for him. A few months later I went in for a quiet lunch by myself. I ordered an appetizer, an entree, and a glass of water. I immediately noticed a strong bleach odor from my water glass. It smelled as if it was never rinsed after being cleaned. I explained the problem and requested a new glass - and the new water had the exact same issue. It was undrinkable, which made the rest of my meal very unpleasant, as I like to drink while I eat. Bottom line is that the food can be very tasty, but I was irritated with the policy of not being able to order a side and I was a bit concerned about the bleach-y smelling glasses. read more

Better Chinese than your typical greasy spoon. Good about accommodating requests and special diets. Owners are really nice. Better Chinese than your typical greasy spoon. Good about accommodating requests and special diets. Owners are really nice. read more