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Wong's Chopsticks

3.8 (123 reviews)
InexpensiveDim Sum
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Wong's Chopsticks Photos

Business Info

WONG'S CHOPSTICKS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Casual
Good for kids
Dogs allowed

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Pan fried pork pot sticker and combo rice wrap
Joey L.

Just to update, after eating here a few more times, I think this place is better than I originally thought. Chinese broccoli, lotus leaf wraps, and chicken feet have become my go-to dim sum dishes. Service is always nice and attentive, even when the place is packed to the brim. Compared to another place I tried in Omaha, Wong's blew them out of the water. Definitely recommend!

Chinese broccoli.
Lobster ..

Ahh, Johnston. I found myself there today so I had to go to Wong's Chopsticks and enjoy their awesome Sunday dim sum. It was only my second time, but everything was as just as enjoyable as the first visit. Yeah, it's in a little strip mall, but the cozy shop cranks out seriously delicious steamed bites. Arrived a little after noon and the place was pretty full. I think at least two tables had families parked at them, and I can' t blame them; dim sum is perfect for sharing (and fighting over) with your loved ones. We ditched the menus when the waitress came over and she gave us the dim sum ticket. After a couple of minutes we'd made our selections, ordered drinks, and waited. Then waited some more. And after that, we waited a wee bit more. Again; the place was hopping, so the delay was understandable. On top of that, I believe it's a only a husband and wife team running the show so their outstanding hustle and personal attention to the customers should be applauded. But what made the wait all the more tortuous (in my mind, at least) was seeing all the delicious food coming out of the kitchen, parading past us, to be delivered to other tables. One such dish (we asked the waitress the name) was the fried shrimp balls. I think it's an appetizer, but catching sight of two separate orders of those golden, ragged-edged crunchables, plied high on the plate, made us want to have a second chance at that menu. When our food finally came, it was only the shao mai and chicken feet at first, but we dug immediately. The shao mai was fantastic, of course, and we really should've just put in two orders because they were inhaled so fast. The chicken feet were...well, chicken feet. Wouldn't really describe them delectable, but the flavor was alright. You're not really going for meat when eating chicken feet (because there isn't any), and most people don't pursue them for their texture, so flavor is what you're left with. They were basically ordered for tradition's sake; we had a dim sum neophyte with us today, and this was his initiation. He passed. Barely. The rest of our initial order arrived and we made quick work of that as well. Shrimp and chive dumplings, har gow, and bbq pork bao were enjoyed by all. I think the "Special Shrimp Har Gow" had cilantro in it, which I can't praise enough. And I think the dumplings had broccoli in there too, which is crazy, but it absolutely worked. It was all great, but we didn't want to stop there so we got our dim sum ticket again and ticked off a few more selections. Because the place was clearing out, our food got to us much faster this time. The sticky rice was okay, and definitely lived up to its name once I Rubik's-cubed it out of its lotus leaf. The scallop and shrimp dumplings were delicate, piping hot, and delicious. I abstained from the broccoli due to price (11 bucks!), but my dining companions said it may have been the best dish of the entire meal. I'm a little skeptical of that, but I sampled a little of the sauce and admit it tasted pretty good. All told, it was another great trip to Wong's. I don't know if they're the only dim sum game in Des Moines since Heavenly Asian Cuisine & Lounge closed, but I'm pretty sure they're the best.

Salt and pepper shrimp

I ordered the salt and pepper shrimp and added on the "dinner special" which included 3 rangoons or 3 eggs rolls + soup + steamed rice or fried rice for a small upcharge. I enjoyed my meal and would definitely go back for the same thing or try something new. The staff were also friendly and attentive. P.S. I ate a few pieces of shrimp before I took the photo so it definitely comes with more shrimp than what is seen in the pic!

Our takeout Dim Sun spread
Vivian T.

I would definitely give more stars if the wait for Dim Sum wasn't soooo long. I've tried it five different times throughout my eight years being back and the wait time is just a little too long for me. BUT service otherwise is great. They are all nice and courteous. I know it's all homemade and it takes awhile but when they quote you a 45 minute pickup time for Dim Sum and you have to wait an additional 30 minutes after arriving to pick-up, it's just tiring. This is family-owned and ran, so same staff. The Dim Sum itself really is good for what we can get here. I recommend the Shrimp Rice Rolls and the Steamed Ribs. The Siu Mai isn't that bad and the Shrimp Haw Gow was good. Make sure you ask for chili oil to go with your meal! I also like the Beef Rice Noodles and the Oyster-sauced veggies. Their Salt and Pepper Shrimp is good as well on their regular menu. All-in-all, we would be back. Just might give them extra time for the Dim Sum prep so I don't have to wait so long when I get there.

Chicken feet, bar b que pork buns, har gow, and hot chili oil
Mary V.

I really enjoy Wong's Chopstick -- mostly for their customer service. This family is seriously a gem. I will continue to frequent Wong's purely for the services. That being said, today's review is focused on their dim sum. Des Moines is lacking in this space. After months without dim sum, My cravings got the best of me. I NEEDED my dim sum fixing. In comes Wong's Chopsticks to the rescue. Fair warning, if you've had dim sum before, lower your expectations. Here's what I had and my impression on each dish: Fried dumpling -- this item supposedly has pork and shrimp filling. It's mostly fried glutinous flour with very little filling. Sticky rice in lotus leaf -- mainly just rice, they have a few tiny pieces of Chinese sausage but missing mushrooms or any other meats... $2.50 for a Ball of flavored rice. That's awful Chicken feet -- flavor is decent but, the phalanges were cold. Definitely needed to be heated more. Not a big deal, I don't mind cold chicken feet. Bok choy -- perfectly flavored with garlic and ginger. Also, very large portion! Combo rice wrap -- too much rice noodle and no protein, not enough sauce Har gow -- good size and stuffed to the brim! Usually dim sum restaurants serve very small bar gow with little filling. Surprisingly Wong's did not skimp on the filling her. This is one of my favorite dim sum dishes. I'll stick to har gow at Wong's from now on. Sui mai -- large portions, arrived at our table a bit cool. Not an issue, it still tasted delicious. Porridge / congee -- The consistency and taste was perfect! I wish they'd give more century eggs and served the congee with youtiao. Overall, I'm happy to find dim sum locally. This will suffice until I make it to a nearby Chinatown!

Dim sum menu.
Dan T.

Dim sum at Wong's Chopsticks. I was first introduced to dim sum when I was stationed in Philadelphia and honestly I've only given it one shot in Des Moines... Years ago at a place called Kwong (something) down on Ingersoll. It was okay...but not the same. We all know the food scene is changing in the metro and with Chopsticks and Heavenly Asian offering dim sum (and a few recent posts about them) I thought it was about time to give one of them another shot. I hadn't been to Wong's since they were in Waukee. I used to eat there when I was getting my vehicle serviced at Shottenkirk. The Johnston location is a cozy space. About 12 tables that sit between four and six each. I was greeted right away, told to sit wherever I wanted, and was offered both the regular menu and the dim sum menu. I ordered the following: Hot tea. Pork dumpling Shao Mai. Scallop and shrimp dumpling. Pan fried pork pot stickers. Steamed barbecued pork buns. The hot tea was brought out right away. Then the dumplings, pot stickers, and pork buns. The Shao Mai came out a little later...hot with the steam still rising off of them. I kind of miss cart service still, but getting the items fresh out of the kitchen has it's advantages too. Everything was very good. The pork buns were a little bread heavy as someone else had mentioned, but you can't argue that they weren't cooked perfectly. The bread had a beautiful texture and the pork had a sweet flavor. All of the other items had ample filling and tasted very good. The texture of the steamed dumpling wrappers can take a little bit to get used to if all you know are the standard pot stickers that are steamed and then fried crispy on one side. Hang in there...you get used to it. Like with sushi the different sauces and chilies/hot oil are your friends. I feel the need to mention one thing. I had some cross contamination with a piece of my Shao Mai. There were chunks of shrimp in it as well as pork. Only in one of the four pieces that I noticed... I have no food allergies, but this isn't the same for everyone. If you have an allergy you may want to make that very clear to your server. I arrived around 1030 AM and left shortly before 1130 AM. At any given time there were only three or four tables seated. Mostly middle-aged and older people, but a few kids too. The location is at the North end of the strip mall and there's a handicapped ramp available a few doors down by the Jenny Craig center. My final bill came to $18.55 before tip. I'll definitely be going back to Wong's Chopsticks and I'm looking forward to trying out Heavenly Asian's dim sum soon too.

Orange chicken

First time at this location. You would miss it driving on merle hay but I recommend you stop by. PROs - nice atmosphere - large portion sizes - friendly service - good prices CONS - food took a bit to be served (only had one waiter) Will definitely stop by again!

Egg drop soup

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8 months ago

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9 months ago

Great food. Best curry chicken I've had in a while and the service is always the best.

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

Most authentic Chinese food in the area hands down! If you haven't tried I highly recommend

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8 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

Can't find anything like this in DSM IA. They're a little hit or miss but food is always good amd sometimes it's great.

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

Dim sum is very good. Looks like the only one in the Des Moines area. Only served on Saturday and Sunday

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3 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

The food is delicious. The potstickers are so tasty, a must have. They are a small family business so please support local!

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10 years ago

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3 years ago

Sooooo good. Very nice staff. Great prices. Great food. Good size portions. Nice clean place.

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

Every time I go in I'm amazed with the customer service and quality of food. The portions size is great for the money.

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4 years ago

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7 years ago

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Wong's Chopsticks Reviews in Other Languages

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Szechuan House - 64. Kung Pao Chicken

Szechuan House

3.9(112 reviews)
25.1 mi
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This is my "go to" Chinese Restaurant in Ames. They do many things well such as hot pot,…read moredry-braised, noodle soups and cold and hot appetizers. My all-time favorite is a sour fish noodle soup with pickled mustard cabbage. Try the cold, ox organ appetizer! The service is friendly, but not great. Sel-help is required when ordering and boxing up leftover food. The ambiance is acceptable, but not outstanding. I go there for a quick lunch so my expectations for service are nominal. I go there because I like the food so much.

This was the first time here for my mom and I. Although they had signs up saying that due to being…read moreshort staffed, please order at the register, they must have been slow enough that a server did come to our table to take our order. We had several questions about the menu and she knew each item and was able to explain the ones we asked about. We were in a noodle mood and stuck with the basics. We started with an order of pork potstickers. They were pretty good and my mom really liked the dipping sauce they came with. It was good, but I prefer straight soy sauce - which the server brought us. We ordered Chicken Lo Mein, Pan-Fried Thick Rice Noodles with beef, and Pan-Fried Vermicelli with pork. Each dish had a good amount of meat which was great since each of the meats were the most tender pieces I have ever had from a Chinese/Tai/Asian place in Ames. Even the white meat chicken was so tender and not dry at all. Every piece of meat was so soft and flavorful! We cant' wait to go back and try some more adventurous dishes.

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3.8(51 reviews)
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My girlfriend and I wanted to try something new in the area and stumbled across Joy's from a quick…read moreGoogle search. We started off with the egg rolls and crab ragoons which were some of the best I have personally had. Ordered the sweet and sour chicken and a combination lo mien which we shared and ended up having leftovers the proportions were so hefty. For the amount of food you get, it was a very very reasonable price. For the mid-western taste buds, the lo mien had the perfect amount of spice to it to make it enjoyable while still getting a good kick. The sweet and sour chicken was okay, breaded chicken pieces with provided dipping sauce. Being a student at ISU, I will definitely be going back to Joy's with friends for some good Mongolian food.

Really wanted to love this place but it was just ok…read more Overall food was average but good Chinese in my opinion but the service was where it was more disappointing. Did an order ahead that said it would be ready in 30 min. Showed up 40 minutes later wasn't ready. They were decently busy so I was fine waiting longer. Then they forgot I was waiting for a pickup and tried to serve us in house. Seemed like very nice people just didn't have a good set up for when it's busier. Got our food after about an hour and 15 min after ordering. Other people were there for close to 2. pepper chicken was the best- rice that it came with was cooked perfectly. Wontons were decent. The spring roll was soggy and the gyoza was a little dry. The reviews kept showing a dumpling sauce that people used for the gyoza which I asked for but they didn't give me any and I think the sauce would've made it better

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Joy's Mongolian Grill - Orange Chicken

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Asian Cuisine

4.2(65 reviews)
4.7 mi
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Asian Cuisine has great food, period. My go-to spot for Chinese takeout in the metro!read more

The option to dine in has returned here at Asian Cuisine! It's actually been back a while now…read more.. I was just very happy to see it when it happened! The plexiglass wall that closed off the open kitchen during Covid has been removed. I've been here a couple of times since dine in reopened, but had still done take out anyway as my girlfriend lived not far away there in Grimes. She recently moved... We missed the food...and seeing Lily and Ken! So we decided to drive over and grab a table. When we walked in we were greeted right away. It had been a minute since we'd last been in. I was happy to see Lily working at the counter and Ken busy in the kitchen along with the rest of their staff! Seating is all low top tables and chairs. Mostly tables for four and two. Now instead of table service (like it was pre-Covid) it's more order and pay at the counter. Take a seat. The food is brought to you on disposable plates with plastic silverware. Drinks are cans or bottles. There are no napkins or condiments at the tables. Condiments like soy sauce and spicy mustard are served in packets. Sweet and sour still comes in a cup. Bus your own table into the trash receptacle when you are done. The food was as good as it ever was! We ordered an order of the crab rangoon. These seemed a little lighter on the filling than I remember them being in the past... They were served hot and fresh out of the fryer! I got the Yu Shang shrimp. Probably my favorite entree here and my go to. It was fantastic as always! I struggled eating it a little with my plastic fork... The tines kept bending on the firmer components of the dish. Heather ordered chicken fried rice and added shrimp (extra spicy). Another awesome dish! And I benefited from some leftovers she brought home... Lol I'll say that overall the food here is still top notch... Lily and Ken are two of my favorite owners in the metro! Couldn't ask for two better hosts... Take out business is still booming! While we dined in the stream of people picking up their orders, or coming in to place take out orders, was constant. But... The overall dine in experience has changed... We adapt to survive and we lost a lot of businesses during Covid... Some businesses that had been open for decades... Asian Cuisine adapted to a take out only model and made it through. Can I blame them for continuing to evolve while bringing the dine in option back? No I can't. In fact I want them to do WHATEVER it takes to keep their doors open...! I can even bring my own silverware... Lol I'm really not that picky and can grab something to eat anywhere. I see closure notices come through my feed almost weekly. Some are kind of a bummer, but they really don't impact me much even when it's a place I go to often. No real personal connection... It's different for me here. I'd probably cry like a little kid who just had one of their childhood beliefs shattered... I'm also not going to lie and say I don't miss things the way they were... I think as a rule a lot of us could say the same about many things today.

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Asian Cuisine - Open kitchen.  Dine in seating.  Post Covid.

Open kitchen. Dine in seating. Post Covid.

Asian Cuisine - Mongolian beef

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Asian Cuisine - Exterior signage.

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Exterior signage.

Shanghai Chinese Restaurant - Yu shiang shrimp and fried rice.

Shanghai Chinese Restaurant

4.3(137 reviews)
9.3 mi
•$$

Fantastic! My wife and I were passing through town, on our way to Wisconsin. We read the great…read moreyelp reviews and gave Shanghai a try. We were welcomed to a nice atmosphere, great service and nice people. The food was very good and offered in large portions. If we lived in the area, Shanghai would be one of our regular stops.

Shanghai has been a favorite of mine for years. They went through an ownership change here a while…read moreback... It's had an impact but it's still at the top of my list when I'm craving Chinese food. This weekend was my 54th birthday. My daughter is at camp, but I wanted to do something with my son. The place I wanted to try was China Chef however I didn't realize they had closed their dining room area. After driving from Clive to the South side we changed plans in the China Cheft parking lot and headed to Waukee. We were greeted and seated right away as we walked on and were seated at a booth. The place is starting to show it's age. The carpet...it needs replaced. But overall it's clean and if nothing else it's familiar. We were presented with menus and glasses of water. Staff checked on us regularly throughou the meal Since it was between 1100 AM and 200 PM we were eligible for the lunch special options. It's a smaller menu, but comes with an egg roll, crab rangoon, your choice of soup (egg drop or hot and sour), and the entree. My son ordered the orange chicken with egg drop soup with a soda. I ordered the Yu Shiang shrimp with hot and sour soup and stuck with only water. I LOVE Shanghai's crab rangoons. They're definitely more on the sweet side. I ordered another order of those. Love them! The house hot mustard. Be careful! It's easy to overdo and it will clear your sinuses like tear gas. But it's SO good...! The orange chicken was excellent as usual. The Yu Shiang shrimp... It's the first time I've ordered it there. The deep red of the sauce was a little off putting. I'm used to a spicy brown sauce. The sauce on the Yu Shiang shrimp... This is just a visual thing though. The sauce is spicy and it tastes good. But like they say...first you eat with your eyes and then with your mouth. I'd love to see this changed to a more traditional look. It just looks "off" as is. Great service and good food. And enjoyable birthday lunch...and we got to sit eating down in the restaurant. Lol Always a great option in my regular rotation! https://shanghaiwk.com/

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Shanghai Chinese Restaurant - Apps with the lunch special.

Apps with the lunch special.

Shanghai Chinese Restaurant - The best hot mustard in the metro!

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Wong's Chopsticks - dimsum - Updated May 2026

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