Food at Anise alternates between OK and awful, and I hit it on an awful day. For lunch I ordered a simple kung po chicken dish. For some reason it was covered in a thick, sweet, brown tar-sauce. I guess I should be grateful that there wasn't very much chicken in it. I don't know what came over me but instead of sending it back I ate it and my tummy feels bad for doing it. This place needs a big food upgrade. read more

Order here every week for lunch. Food is always fresh and lunch specials are super affordable.

The food is horrible. Ordered takeout of cold noodles which tasted like chalk. How can you kill that dish? My wife ordered boneless ribs which after one she couldn't eat. I ordered garlic baby shrimp which had regular size foul tasting old shrimp. The only dish that was edible was the hot and sour soup. Delivery is quick. Ambiance in the restaurant is good. read more

One of the best "high end" Chinese restaurants in the Bronx. We highly recommend the Tangerine Beef and the South Pacific Prawns. Some folks on here apparently had a bad experience, but maybe they were having an off day. We have been eating there for a long time and it's always been really good. read more

My credit card was charged for the order!! So after not receiving order, calling to check on it and being hastily told it wasn't received and being hung up on-my card was still charged for the order. WHAT? Be careful! read more

The wonton soup was really salty and the dumplings looked old and didn't taste right. I ordered the food for delivery and the delivery driver was really rude. Never again! read more

This used to be my favorite restaurant but I don't know what has happened!!! I even gave it one more try since my last review. Never again! The food is salty, the Kung pao shrimp is mostly vegetables, little shrimp and even less peanuts. The whole menu has increased in price and decreased in quality. Last time I'll order from here. Sad. read more

The food was excellent. We had shrimp in lobster sauce, kung pao chicken and fried tofu. We go there once a month. I highly recommend this place. read more

We started our leadership meeting with a quick heath check, "What energy are you bringing to this meeting?" President, CFO, COO, CRO and CEO... all relentlessly HANGRY and that was the end of that meeting in exchange for a much needed lunch! In thirty minutes, three orders of chicken and broccoli in garlic sauce and two orders of scallion pancakes arrived and we were once a happy tribe. Answers like energized, focused, excited, and less to no hangry surfaced as we restarted our health check! We went on to write our 3 year plan, while shamelessly exchanging pet pics and one-upping each other on listing New York's best meeting spaces! Exciting times Convene, Soho House and Chatwal made the list! read more

Best Chinese food in Riverdale. When you order take out they give you good portions and the General Tso chicken always hits the spot! Good service and they always take care if you when you dine in. Must go!!! read more

Peanut sauces were too heavy and ribs dtyed out. Chef needs to worknon a few things.

We always liked Hunan Balcony in person. Their delivery, for whatever reason, sucked. Under the "new" management, they have improved the vibe, changed the menu and most definitely raised the prices. The dim sum menu was overpriced, but delicious - at least the two dishes we tried; Spicy chicken in hot chili sauce and pork dumplings in soy. That said, they were out of another dish we had wanted to try - pork soup dumplings. Odd for a Friday night, prime time. I ordered Hot & Sour soup - it never came. I had to ask multiple times for water and when our main dish, a simple cantonese Happy Family platter arrived, it was served with a tiny bowl of rice for 3 people. I asked for more rice and found later that I was charged for that. Shame on them! The dish itself was meh, at best. There was a single piece of lobster, overcooked and too tough to chew. The broccoli was good, but stalks were tough. The scallops and shrimp were passable and the steak pieces, plentiful and delicious. Overall, a disappointingly mediocre meal from a place we usually enjoy. In fact, I wouldn't be writing this if it weren't for the prices being so much higher and the added charge just to have an adequate amount of rice for the table. Raise your prices and you get no discounts for an off-night. They want my money and I want value for it! Plain and simple. read more

Very good food. Good service and quick delivery. Best Chinese food in Riverdale .! Excellent cold noodles

Do not order from here. The food made both my husband and I sick. The woman who took our order was extremely rude and they don't offer curbside pick up. read more

Good food and service. I've been going here for many years. Although I usurp take out, they you have a nice crowd in the evenings

Delicious Chinese restaurant!! I think they are under new ownership or remodeled the old Hunan Balcony, but it is great! My favorite part was the bowl of crunchy noodles! The egg roll was also really good and was a big size! I had chicken and broccoli for dinner and it was great! Staff was very friendly. Always on top of filling water glasses, giving more crunchy noodles, and fast service! Food came out fast but we were not rushed. Really happy with the meal I had here!! read more

Anise - crunchy noodles - Chinese Near Me - Bronx, New York

Favorite Chinese place in the Bronx. Used to be the old Hunan Palace and I was worried the quality of the food would not be as good, but it is just as delicious as always read more

I've eaten in this place since 2000. The food was good, the staff were friendly and responsive. Since it became "Anise" it has really gone downhill. Just had a delivery of Pan Fried Noodles- totally soggy, like the vegetables had been in water for days. The Hot and Sour Soup tasted weird. When I order dumplings and ask for extra sauce (there is never enough for 8 dumplings) they charge me for it. A new and cheap policy. Most of my favorite dishes have been taken off the lunch menu. For delivery, they sometimes leave things out. (Twice in a row I asked for some fresh mustard- it never came after they said OK.) Very brusque. I wish there were a better Chinese restaurant around. Any suggestions? read more

My apologies in advance for the following image but I needed to share this. We ordered my little ones favorite from Anise tonight and I am beyond disgusted and horrified by what we came across in our dinner and more disgusted that when I contacted the restaurant they had the nerve to say "oh but it happens". It was rice so it stood out, I can only image how many foods on the menu are prepared with the brown garlic sauce that such thing wouldn't be as noticeable. Please be very cautious and aware when ordering from anywhere but especially from here. read more

Anise - Vegetable Fried Rice - Chinese Near Me - Bronx, New York

The quality of the food here has gone way down. The hot and sour soup tastes like dishwater. The tofu special with vegetables is tasteless and the portion is quite meager for the price. I will stay away from now on unless something changes for the better. Not good anymore and quite a disappointment. read more

We've ordered from here many times as the food is good but today the person who did the delivery was the worst. I picked up the food at the door and had a cash tip in my hand. He was loudly talking on the phone and did not take the tip although it was given the same time the food was exchanged. (I guess he didn't want a tip?) 2 min later he rang the doorbell and came up to the door and said "cash tip." Bruh, you were too busy on the phone to notice the cash and THEN came back and ASKED for the cash tip?! Nah... read more

The food was pretty good when it was Hunan Balcony. I don't know what has happened to this restaurant. Maybe it's new management and/or kitchen staff. It used to be my quick, reliable go-to neighborhood place. Now I find the food inedible. I really don't know how they stay in business. read more

Once a month or so I give in to my craving for Chinese food and Anise has a Sliced Chicken with Baby Bok Choy dish I enjoy so when I indulge I order the lunch special portion along with a lunch special of Broccoli with Garlic Sauce (2 lunch specials easily = 3 meals). When I order lunch specials from the restaurant I ask that they put it in a rectangle container rather than the tiny round container they normally use and I've always been told "Oh, OK, I understand. No problem." Today when I ordered and asked for the rectangle container, the woman who I spoke with rudely said "It's the lunch special, that's the container. You don't like it, you can buy the rectangle one, they cost $1.50 each". I politely explained that I wasn't asking for a greater quantity of food, just a larger container and asked if this was a new policy since I've been ordering from them for years and it had never been an issue. The woman responded "You are a liar. We never do that. You are a liar". I was shocked but curbed my tongue and politely suggested that since she already had my information in their system, if she checked it she'd see that this has been my standing order and request for several years. Once again her response was rude - "You don't understand me? I already told you, you a liar. I don't need to check. You want rectangle, you pay $1.50 and I charge your credit card." I was so disgusted that I told her to cancel the order and she hung up the phone saying "We don't need your business." I fully support our local businesses but, when a local business tells me they don't need my business, I can assure you, that business will no longer be one I support. read more

We've been coming here for a while but always just got the "American " classics. This time I learned they have a special Szechuan menu that I heard the waiter call "Chinese style". For instance, if you ask for Szechuan dumplings and aren't chinese you get the doughy ones withbthe peanut sauce. But if you specify you want it from the Szechuan menu or Chinese style you get the thinner noodle dumplings with a spicy chili sauce (pictured). Then i got the Szechuan beef from the same menu. So if you go here and like spicy food. Ask for the Szechuan menu. Really glad we did read more

Anise - The Chinese style Szechuan dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Bronx, New York

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The food was absolutely terrible. The chicken was pink and tough. My wife spit out the scallion pancake and broccoli smelled terrible.

Food is OK, not great. No chopsticks available. I will stay away from the Lunch specials - food is not great, portions are small. Service was OK. With all the Chinese choices nearby, I don't think I'll come back. read more

This restaurant was not bad during the worst of the pandemic, but may have lost their cook. As others noted, there is no shortage of sugar in the food. Ribs taste like fatty cotton candy. Very little spice in any "spicy" dish. Spring rolls are probably made elsewhere, but sometimes cold. Their noodles with sesame sauce do not taste like sesame sauce, but something from the unknown. Same for their dumplings, which usually anywhere--no matter how tenth rate the restaurant is--are edible. These are not. Their "filet mignon" appears to be pounded chuck or worse. Add in high prices that do not jibe with any reality and have decided to no longer patronize. Considering the limited number of even halfway decent restaurants locally, this just adds another big hole in the restaurant scene. read more

If I could give this place NO STARS--- I would. Not only are they overpriced , the attitudes suck. The owner is a jerk to say the least. I work in this area for years , we always knew the service was horrible even before they changed the name but the food was at least descent , unfortunately we can't say that anymore. Being that it's right here , we ordered for the office and found bugs in the food. Last time we would ever eat from here. We contacted the health department. All around horrible ! Stay away. read more

Soooo Riverdale DOES NOT have good Chinese food. It just absolutely does NOT. Kingsbridge does but they won't deliver up this hill. It's almost a long time joke amongst us residents. This place gets 5 stars for being the best there is accessible for delivery in Riverdale and Fieldston. When it was Hunan Balcony before it was sub par but the new management is finally serving up some decent Chinese takeout. There is still much better Chinese food elsewhere - but this is as good as it will get - in Riverdale. read more

Good traditional Americanized Chinese Food. They've yet to disappoint! And the Lunch special (which ends at 430p) is an incredibly good deal. read more

Took my elderly not so mobile grandma here as she loves Chinese food! They were great ! Super patient and helpful with her. The food was delicious, serving size generous and they were not cheap with the shrimp! The waiter was great , even told me I was over ordering! ( what restaurants do that !? they typically let you order everything and take your money) They were very attentive, literally at my table the minute I needed something! And beyond sweet as the held the doors open and went out of their way to help as I was walking my grandma out. Taking her out isn't the easiest but it means a lot to me to spend time with her and get her out so Thank you so very much! I appreciated your service more then you will ever realize ! read more

Anise - One Happy Grandma! - Chinese Near Me - Bronx, New York

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I think this place was called something else?!? It is next to palace of japan on Johnson Ave. I have lived in the area for about 9 years and don't eat out much, but I was craving some Chinese food. It is nothing spectacular, just your standard Chinese food place, but the healthy options are nice. ie steamed veggies and proteins with sauce in side. read more

The food is ok but they always overcharge you and add money on the bill for take out. If they do this to every customer, that's hundreds of dollars a day. When you confront them, they always act like it was an honest mistake and give you the "so sorry" attitude. Funny how the "mistake" is NEVER in my favor-It happens every time i do take out. They been using this dishonest business practice since they were Hunan Balcony. It is stealing. I understand Covid affected a lot of restaurants BUT they have been doing a phenomenal take-out business since the outbreak. REALLY......Watch what they charge you. I'm sure it isn't right. read more

Big big surprise....Yelpers have NO IDEA what they are talking about or they have never eaten at a restaurant before and decided to give a restaurant a bad review. My wife and I do take out 5 days a week and eat out all the time. This place rocks. Everything we've had was extremely well prepared and fresh. The fried foods are juicy without being greasy which is often the case with Chinese take out. There is an extensive menus and everything I've tried from the duck, fried chicken wings, chicken with cashews, sesame beef, fried wontons, chicken chow mein and beef with broccoli was OUTSTANDING. As is often the case with restaurants that have bad reviews on Yelp, other sites have given this place great reviews. Yelp is filled with spoiled angry people who have no idea what they are talking about. Ignore the bad reviews. This place is great! Furthermore delivery is quick and the prices are fair. The only reason I didn't start ordering from this place two years ago is I was swayed by the unfair and inaccurate Yelp reviews. Shame on me for trusting the other reviewers on Yelp. My mistake. read more

Very fresh and clean Chinese food. The delivery was prompt and the chicken & broccoli was tasty!

This place originally came into town as Hunan Balcony 20 or so years ago to put the existing Chinese restaurant out of business. It was just about ok back then and didn't get much better over the years. But the owner knew how to take care of his customers, making reasonable substitutions when a customer had a dietary restriction. Recently the restaurant was taken over by new management who I have found to be rude and unaccommodating. They fixed up the room, but the food is still blah at best. And without the old owner's desire to satisfy customers, there's really no reason to go there. read more

Posting because the waiter was so rude it was funny. Seemed just like an Episode of Seinfeld . I joined my friend for dinner because cuz he was having a bad day. I ate beforehand, so I wasn't too hungry . But was planning on getting an appetizer. My friend was really hungry so he wanted to order first while I was thinking. I told the waiter I'll order in a little bit and she gave me a stare as if I was stealing from her. Paid it no mind. She came back and asked me to order. I said no thank you. She Got so mad. And was giving me dirty look all day. Especially when I grabbed a piece of food from my friends plate. I was honestly going to order something but she just so rude about it . I had to swap glasses with my friend for her to refill my glass. Then when both our glasses empty she made it a point to refill his and not mine. Then turned away paused . Then turned back and filled my glass half way. With another grin. We just laughed. I think it actually brightened my friends mood on the bad day he was having. It's not like I was taking an empty seat . The place was completely empty.... Anyway . Food was meh . read more

Anise improved the quality of its food for a hot minute under its new management. It's now gone back to its old standards...bad food and equally bad customer service. I've gone from a regular customer to a person who will never patronize this subpar Chinese restaurant again. read more

Wonderful staff, delicious food. Friday night's chef rocks and their steamed veg dumplings (tender and fresh) and scallion pancakes (flaky and delicate) are a fav - they've improved even! We are grateful to have access to this restaurant. read more

In Riverdale there are not many options to eat Chinese food. Hunan Balcony changed it's name almost a year ago. The owner is the same-but the name and restaurant name changed. The food is alright -not great but the service has an attitude. Over all it's a safe place to eat., read more