Did somebody say Happy Hour? Chef Yu has at least 50 drinks and they're all totally cheap during Happy Hour. Combine that with a nice Chinese menu with a modern presentation, mood lighting, and being steps away from Penn Station and we've got ourselves a winner! If you've ever wanted to drink Sex on the Beach, but were too afraid to order it, now's your chance. It's worth it just to read the drink names on the menu and try everything on it. They might even have absinthe, but don't quote me on that. read more

SPICY DICED CHICKEN. i believe its #5 on the lunch special. thats all i've ever ordered from this place. love it. i wish more chinese restaurants would offer this. it comes with chicken and peppers and the peppers are actually spicy. this has got to be one of my favorite chinese dishes in new york. i work on 42nd and 6th and its a bit of a walk over here on my lunch break. but who cares, i take 2-3 hour lunches anyways. and i'm not afraid to say this cause my bosses are not on yelp....right? greatest bosses in the world btw. and yes i've heard of something called delivery but i'm very impatient and anxious when i'm hungry. true, walking over there and coming back probably takes more time but at least i'm in control of it. i hate it when things are out of my control. one of my many illogical traits. love me for who i am. i've never eaten here but the place has a great decor (which man in their right mind says 'great decor'?). its big and looks very fancy (again, fancy?). i mean it looks aiight, nahhh mean. there much better. 4 stars for the spicy diced chicken alone and the fancy schmancy decor. argghhh there i go again. read more

Omg. Please don't waist you hard working money at this restaurant, the servers were very rude and unfriendly. My sister and I couldn't wait to get out of there. Horrible service and the restrooms. oh my !!! ridiculously untidy. I'm NEVER returning to this place. 0 STARS!!! read more

This Sichuan-style Chinese restaurant, has outstanding decor, the best of any Chinese restaurant I've been to in New York City I think. For better or worse, however, the Sichuan-style Chinese food has clearly been catered to Western tongues. Dishes that are normally fiery infernos of delight and terror barely got a rise out of my jaded tongue. For authentic Sichuan, I would recommend either Sichuan Gourmet or one of the Grand Sichuans over this place, but I can readily imagine that many gourmands unaccustomed to authentic Sichuan food's numbing flavors would prefer this place. In order to try the best this restaurant has to offer, I recommend ordering off the chef's specials menu. read more

Maybe I don't get it, but why do people like this place. Aside from the $4 drink specials.. which are not that impressive. The food is just bad! I came here on two occasions and I will never come back. Bad food and kinda expensive I nicknamed this place Chef EW! read more

I loved this place! My dear friend Lily took me here and then I re-paid the favor for another friend of mine. The prices were great (average of $10 a plate and $3-$4 for happy hour drinks btw 4pm and 8pm) and the drinks were delicious! The food was pretty good, not AMAZING, but great for the price. The atmosphere was suprisingly upscale and the tables are nicely spaced apart. It's always great to not feel scrunched while you eat! =o) The only thing is, they don't serve frozen drinks. Their daiquiris are tasty but in the summer I need mine frozen! The wait staff was nice, but a little slow. read more

Great happy hour menu with even better food. Came here after work for drinks and appetizers with a friend and we both enjoyed would definitely come back. read more

Since gingers is closed down. I will defentley come back to chef yu. The happy hour drinks we're great. The food is good as well. The only down side is the service. It's a big place. You would think they would have more people working there. So out of 5 stars I give it a 4. I will defentley go back on a regular. And let my ginger house people know about this spot. read more

Chef Yu - Good times - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

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Came to Chef Yu today for the first time. I'd already decided to come in, but I was a little taken aback by the C grade. I'm not one to worry about a pending grade, but what the heck do you have to do to get a C?! Anyway, the lunch specials are all about $7.50. The most expensive one was $7.95. Each entree comes with rice, two mini egg rolls, and some sad-looking salad concoction. I can tell they prepare for lunch by cooking vast quantities -- I brought a magazine to read while I waited, but my food was at the table before I was done checking in! Food was solid. Nothing to write home about, but just what you need for $7 in the middle of the work day. I also had a hot tea that I don't think I had to pay for. I will definitely be back for lunch, and maybe even for happy hour! There is a $10 minimum on credit card transactions, so unless you want to order a drink and dessert, bring cash. read more

My "Go-To" spot around the area for Chinese take-out. Good lunch specials and fried rice/noodle menu, under $10. It's going to be better than those janky-looking fast food Chinese food. The food here is on the oily side but it's a bit better than your average. I enjoy eating the pineapple fried rice or house special fried rice, which I'd recommend if you're ordering from the fried rice menu. It's funny how I haven't tried sitting down and eating here so I can't really say anything about the service but I do like and keep the containers from the take-outs and the clerks are relatively friendly when I pick-up. read more

I came in here to eat before watching Rent @ Nederlander Theater. I wanted to avoid tourists and being on budget, the $3.50 happy hour seals the deal. It was warm outside and I totally deviated from my usual libations and ordered a Mai Tai. I still am in shock that I ordered that while not on vacay in Hawaii, not only that, I ordered a second one. It wasn't authentic, tasted more like kool-aid and wasn't quite sure if there was booze but after downing the first in a quick manner and with an empty stomach, I can say that there is booze hidden in that drink. Yay! On to the food. So this is where the lack of stars come in. Everything was very greasy, too greasy for my taste but hey. . .everyone's really coming for the happy hour anyway. Order the shrimp dumplings and you'll be fine. The lo mein wasn't too bad, I could get that again. Ambience isn't too bad especially for the neighborhood. read more

OH how I miss thee Chef Yu. Lunch Specials were always awesome, happy hour was OK. Their minced chicken with lettuce is to die for. I love how everything is so cheap. I probably have tried all the lunch specials and every single one is very very good. Chicken and String Beans is definitely my favorite, ok fine everything is my favorite, yahuh they are just that good ;) read more

Chef yu and I go back. My first job in New York was around the corner and I frequented at least once a week. The service leaves a lot to be desired, but the prices & sexy lighting make up for it. Drink specials till 8 are great.. however drinks themselves not so much. Food is fresh, clean, delicious and served fast & hot! Also szechuan dumplings are like nothing Ive ever had... They are delicious. This is a great place to go for a nice dinner that won't break the bank! read more

Midtown West near Penn Station is a tough area to find a place where you can get decent takeout quickly. Food quality is average for Chinese food, but there aren't a lot of other options in the area. Props to them for very fast service and decent prices. I come here only for the lunch specials, which come with eggrolls, salad and your choice of rice. The salad is uninspiring, the eggrolls are tasty and the veggie fried rice (with edamame) is actually pretty good. Decor is pretty nice, actually on the upscale side for a Chinese restaurant. I imagine that the ambiance here is nice if you're looking for a sit-down meal. read more

I went here last night with a group of friends for a birthday dinner. The decor was really nice, probably the nicest I've ever seen for a Chinese restaurant. However, everything kind of went downhill from there. First, the place was relatively hard to find. My friends and I walked around for about a few minutes before finally arriving. Our drinks arrived fairly quickly, and we were lucky to catch the last few minutes of happy hour. The drinks weren't even that great. Then, we had to wait for practically half an hour before we could order. We had to wave down a waiter, but since there wasn't a person assigned to our table, it was very hard to get someone over. Plus, the person we had waved over was very rude and made us wait for a 'waiter.' After ordering, the food didn't even come in the right order. They handed us our rice, the main meal, and then the appetizers. And whenever we needed water, chopsticks, or something like it, it was so hard to get someone. After we finished the appetizers, the plates weren't cleared so everything was cramped. They took a while handing us the check and then we had to go up to the front to pay because no one would come to our table and check on us. Needless to say, we didn't leave much of a tip and the waiter actually asked us about it and stood there waiting for us to give in more. I definitely do not recommend this restaurant for dining in. My friends and I will not be coming back here mainly because of the service. I was disappointed because I was hoping something better. read more

Boyfriend and I were happily surprised by Chef Yu. The prices are very reasonable and the food is surprisingly satisfying. AND it is convenient located right near port authority! Cons: The seating is horribly ill-conceived. They need to rethink the long circular pillows that awkwardly dig into your back. The service is a tad slow and scattered. The food is also just slightly over-seasoned. Pros: The fried dumplings were juicy and perfectly fried. I could have ordered a second plate of these! The chicken and broccoli was delicious also; the sauce was thick and so full of flavor--yum! I'd probably order take out from Chef Yu, but doubt that I'd go out of my way to return. read more

Food is pretty good for the price. I'm mostly there with a friend enjoying their awesome happy hour deal daily until 8pm - wine & beer While I've been here for both lunch & dinner. Recos: appetizers: Shrimp Dumplings(wontons) Szechuan Style (peanut & soy sauce)TO DIE FOR! Chicken lettuce cup, scallion pancake Lunch/Dinner: beef with chinese broccoli, shredded pork with spicy green chili peppers, double cooked fresh bacon with green chili peppers, roast duck & wonton soup. Overall ambience & price make it a great for drinks, date night, or just plain dinner with friends. Delivery is also very quick read more

Food is not TOO good. Ordered take out here on a sunday night. Spent about 60 bucks so ordered a good variety of food. Ox tail and tripe in chili sauce - interesting take. Not as numbing spicy as most other places and the beef they use is interesting (in a good way). It looks slightly roasted and though the flavor isn't as authentic as it should taste, it's attempt at being a bit different was well received by me. Beef with snow peas, bamboo and mushroom - way too much snow peas, not enough of everything else. Double cooked bacon - Again...way too much cabbage...not enough hui guo rou.... Sauteed spinach with garlic - Could use a pinch more salt, but this is supposed to be the healthy part of the meal and given the simplicity of this dish...it's kind of hard to mess up. Shrimp wontons in spicy sauce - ok..most people are raving about this...I cannot stand the peanut sauce they use on this. I can taste the spicy sauce....but it is almost immediately overwhelmed by the ridiculously sweet peanut sauce....not a fan. Roast pork- there was nothing special about this but given the lack of meat in other dishes along with the sweet wontons....I ate this with my rice and spinach. I'll order somewhere else next time :/ read more

This place USED TO BE great. Not sure what happened. Came here for a Bday dinner, took forever just to get someone to take our drink orders. For my entree I had the beef steak, shrimp & scallops. Nothing in the "description" indicated that the entire meal is heavily breaded & deep fried. I could barely tell the difference between the beef, shrimp & scallops since everything just tasted like crunchy saucy thick deep fried breading. HIGHLY disappointed. This place has definitely gone downhill. Update: I spoke with the manager & he was kind enough to give the whole table red been ice-cream on the house. That was nice of him. read more

Really quick service! Got a ton of food during my break and couldn't be happier. Great during lunch special paid around $8 for all of this! We'll definitely be coming back read more

Chef Yu - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

PLEASE do NOT waste your time, especially if you are visiting New York (as many people in this neighborhood are) and want something edible. I was amazed that the tourists, clearly not having tried even mediocre Chinese food, actually thought this food was decent. Sadly, it is not, and the service may be worse than the food. I go to a Chinese restaurant and expect the waiter to take your order, deliver your food, and deliver your check. Nothing more. If you see them often, something fishy is going on. At Chef Yu's they could not even manage that. Not only did I have to beg to have them take my order, the food was worse than fast food Panda Express and the waiter was very rude about not bringing the check and counting the money at the table as quickly as he could before we left. Apparently they have a good happy hour special. But don't waste your time ordering food. read more

$4- Happy Hour. Plenty of drinks to choose from. But wait! The drinks are not EVEN that STRONG. We asked for them to add some more liquor to our drinks and the guy said "No we will get in trouble [in a Rush Hour Jackie Chan voice] ---FOR REAL though. House Special Fried Rice- WIN. The Service was A-OKAY. They have like 5 waiters come to around table each time. Why not have 1 main waiter. there was a lot of confusion as well. But overall-the place is decent-relaxing-dark. With a table of 10 people. drunk people. it got loud and fun of course. but hey we just enjoying the moment. Mai Tai- Good drink. God-Mother.- Cool & interesting. Bay-Breeze- WEAK Long Island- Just a bit weak. Planters Punch- Good with an extra shot. read more

The crispy beef was amazing! I really enjoyed the won ton soup as well. Very comfortable and clean atmosphere... 4/5 stars only because service was slow even with very little customers inside and we had to try hard to get our servers attention for drinks and tab. read more

I loved their Ginger's location and visited Chef Yu on the recommendation of one of the waitresses when Gingers closed...service was ok not great but what tipped the scales for me was the way they were profiling customers. The establishment closes at 11...at 930 they turned away 2 black couples telling them the kitchen was closed. Then seated a white family of 7. I saw/heard this all from my window seat near the door. 20 mins later another black couple comes in to be turned away and immediately after, a white couple was seated. I was extremely turned off by this and ventured to ask the manager why this was done; to which I received a disgusting attitude and half assed non sensical explanation. I will never be patronizing this business again. read more

The drinks are pretty damn good here. Food is tasty and abundant. The service, however, sucks. Sucks badly. read more

Food's great...with awesome lunch specials. IT'S VERY BUSY during the day and delivery can be a long wait... it's other plus is its size. it's a big restaurant and very roomy so good to go with groups of people. They also have good drink specials in the evening, so it can be a good place to go after work. read more

This establishment makes the best Dumplings Szechuan Style I ever had. Listed below are some dishes I would recommend to those who appreciate a little spice on their life: - Shrimp Dumplings Szechuan Style - Pork Dumplings Szechuan Style - Spicy Diced Chicken - Pineapple Fried Rice w. Cashew Nut 请享用。 read more

This place is a nice setting but service is absolutely terrible. Waited 20 minutes for a glass of water. 1 spring roll took 25 minutes to be served. Food also took a while and they only had a total of 9 tables that were occupied in the restaurant (5 tables were just couples and the rest had 4-6 people), my table had 6 of us. This is ridiculous! The servers were taking care of the tables with couples much faster than our table even though we came before them ALL!! Also, their Bloody Mary mix was definitely expired, stay away from drinking Bloody Mary drinks in here. Spring rolls were also over-fried. Sesame chicken was good and broccoli was fresh too but that's the only positive things I can say about this place. Never Again... read more

The service was brusque and rather iffy. The food was mall food court quality. Thankfully lunch was cheap. While the food and service was sub-par, the decor was top-notch. Shame you could have better food at any dive chinese takeout. read more

I work in Midtown and often crave Chinese food for lunch. This place was recommended to me by a coworker. So once the hunger hit, i went on to the website and ordered lunch: General Tao's chicken lunch special with fried rice and a side of dumplings fried veggie dumplings for around 14.00 (I really wanted a side and it did not come with one (or so the site said). Fine. When I got to Chef Yu, the lunch was ready. I noticed that the bag seemed heavier than I expected. Whatever. When I got back to my office, I looked in the bag and found TWO tubberware containers, a rice container, a small salad, and 2 spring baby rolls. A LOT of food for 14.00. The General Tao's wasn't too spicy (i'd probably order it spicier next time). Some pieces were crispier than others. But the chicken tasted good. The rice was really good too. It had some extra seasoning and a good amount of veggies. The spring rolls were crispy. And the salad was your basic iceberg lettuce with a spicy ducksauce based dressing. The biggest surprise was the dumplings. They kind of looked like pierogi. They were well seared and crispy on one side, which is my favorite. The veggies inside were yummy. In the end, the chicken was good and the dumplings were a nice surprise. I am glad it came with a salad and the spring rolls. Next time I would probably forgo the dumplings since it came with spring rolls. But the 14.00 price will end up being two meals so I am content. read more

So the last time my family and I went to Chef Yu to get our favorite duck soup they messed it up. We had to send the soup back twice. So I go again today and they say they can't give me the leg. After discussing it, they come back and say we don't do that because people have complained. That's bs. They then say oh they have to charge 2 dollars more for the leg even though they claim people complained about the amount of meat on the leg. I won't be going to back to Chef Yu. They suck. read more

I found this place (thanks to yelp!) about a year and a half ago. My coworkers and I were going out after work, Chinese was the food of choice, and one of them wanted to be near Penn so she could spend more time with us and less time getting to the NJ train on time. We went, we loved, and since that day, Chef Yu's has been our midtown restaurant for any occasion (far outstripping our previous favorite, Ollie's). Their happy hour is fantastic, and the food is about as good as you'll find in the area, at a price that will leave you enough money to see a movie after. I do admit, the service does put the 'ef yu in Chef Yu, but I'm not afraid to flag waiters down for water, so it doesn't bother me much. Also, the one time I got takeout, the mango chicken was more peppers than chicken and was oilier than I'd ever had it in the actual restaurant, so I do recommend a sit-and-stay. If you want real Chinese food, go to Chinatown. If you're in midtown and have a hankering for Chinese, go here. read more

I ordered two lunch specials at 11:43 am. I was called to my lobby for a food delivery at 11:57 am. Even if the food wasn't good, I'd probably come back. Good food and lots of it for about $7 each. Enough said. read more

This is my family's favorite Chinese food restaurant. They drive 40 minutes from Rockland County into the city just to eat the food here. The giant cantonese wonton soup with pork can serve an army! It has everything you want in a soup - wontons, pork, bok choy, beans sprouts! Chef Yu also has the best, crispiest sesame chicken i've ever had. If you're coming here make sure to try the roast pork appetizer, cantonese soup, dumplings, cold noodles with sesame, sesame chicken, & friend rice! read more

Chef Yu - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

This place is really tasty. It's off Times Square. They have good happy hour for only 5$ and a very long selection. The taste of the food is really good and in really good quantity. We had pork dumplings, fried rice w pineapple chicken, cashews and beef. We also had beef and broccoli. 2 cokes and 2 drinks from the happy hour menu and ended up paying 50$ not bad for New York dinners that we had all through out the week. read more

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I had the spicy basil chicken, which was disgusting! I don't know what kind of meat that was, but it definitely wasn't chicken. I told the waitress that I didn't want it, she still charged me full price for the meal. Not going back there ever! read more

I am consistently recommending hotel guests to go to Chef Yu for great Chinese food. I have never been, so I wanted to check it out for myself. Upon sitting at my table with my guest, We ordered our lunch around 1:20pm and we were the only couple sitting on that row (Nobody was next to us). We then ordered a simple lunch, and noticed two (2) separate families arriving to the right and left of us. To my surprise, the two families who arrived after we did, received their food first, and were finished before we even got our lunch! 25 minutes later, I finally received my plate. The next problem was that my guest did not receive their plate till 10 minutes after mine, so I had to sit and wait for my guest's food to arrive while my food got cold. Since I have manners, I could not just eat by myself. After the long wait, and viewing everyone around us eating, especially since we arrived first, I was expecting an apology or some sort of explanations as to why we had to wait so long for food. We did not hear from the waitress at all until she gave us the check. I most certainly will not recommend this place anymore. Sincerely, Steven read more

Best pan fried potstickers I've had in a long time! They were a perfect blend of ingredients and the perfect crispy-ness. Also had the beef & broccoli which was great as well. Take out was very easy to order & pickup. Inside looked very nice. read more

If Ginger's is overcrowded, Chef Yu might be a good place to try. I went here for the wrap party of the National Asian American Theater Festival a few years ago. It's just a couple of blocks down and on 8th instead of 7th. They should try to increase their DOH grade, as they only got a B. Seems like everyone else has gotten up to speed on theirs. read more

Food Is amazing second time going. It is worth what you spend and the customer service was great. They accommodated for me and my baby. Definitely recommend for families to come here and enjoy their food !! read more