I'll put more effort into my review than the people who run First Wok put into serving quality food. Here goes: Simply awful. Despite the menu hyped description of a dish called the 'Seafood Treasure', the entree was nothing more than deep fried salt bombs that resembled pieces of stale shrimp and non-identifiable fried pieces of what is supposed to be scallops (I think...) Wifes Sesame Chicken, was no better and the soups are now served in tea cup size bowls at $3.00 per...What happened to soup being served in adult size soup bowls? Trust me when I tell you that restaurants are just sticking it to customers over and over again with shotty quality, poor service and lack of care in what's coming out of the kitchen...Not to mention, overpriced menu items and greedy service charges. First Wok is no exception. Grade: F read more

First Wok Chinese Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - West Windsor, New Jersey

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I have no problem with the food which is always well prepared however, I must take exception to the addition of a 3.9 percent "operations surcharge" and a 5 percent credit card surcharge. I should have anticipated the grift when my fortune cookie warned me that "the line between good fortune and schmuck is sometimes unclear." If this nickel and diming when dining is truly the future maybe it's time to reintroduce myself to my kitchen stove. Just raise your prices and stop the charade. My bill shouldn't look like the window sticker on a brand new Toyota. read more

Was looking for a Chinese restaurant in the area and usually there are such slim pickings. Came across this restaurant and was glad I did. Very friendly service. Got the egg drop wonton soup which I really liked, bone in spareribs were very good and shrimp and steamed veggies. May have found our new Chinese restaurant around here and will definitely come back! read more

It's time for my restaurant update of First Wok. I was here on a Friday evening with a group of 16. Well, guess what First Wok continues to be one of my favorite Chinese places in the area and my friends all agreed!! The food just never disappoints. Every single person in my party, loved the food. Not a single complaint! That's hard to do with 16 different discerning palettes. I've also been here for lunch countless number of times. The lunch specials come with your choice of soup and rice as well as a pot of Chinese tea. First Wok has always delivered tasty and flavorful dish. The food presentation was great and we enjoyed our dinner. First Wok will remain my local go to spot for a Chinese food whether it's a quick lunch, dinner to take out. read more

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Haven't been here in a while but glad the food is still delicious and consistent. Tried the roast pork and snow peas for the first time and it did not disappoint. One of our favorites, the beef and scallions is still amazing. Will be coming here more frequently! read more

First Wok Chinese Restaurant - Beef and Scallions - Chinese Near Me - West Windsor, New Jersey

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So excited to find this restaurant with authentic chinese dishes. The West Lake soup was delicious, I really love the cilantro flavor. The special veggie was Oong Choy (not sure what it's called in a English), also really delicious. Noodle dishes were solid. The only dish we were disappointed in was the Peking pork chop. This was not the authentic style with pork chops. This was made with prairie pieces and the sauce was too thick. However the taste was good, even though not totally authentic. Look forward to coming back to try other dishes. read more

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They use too much cheaper carrots and celery in their dishes. We ordered the lunch special Shrimp with Cashews and the regular Bean Curd with Vermicelli. The 3.9% Operating Fee that is included is calculated on Subtotal + Sales Tax. So, for us, $28.90 subtotal + $1.91 sales tax = $30.81. The Operating Fee was $1.20. Our final total was $32.01 If we had paid by cash, they take off 5% from that final total (5% x $32.01 = $1.60) making the Discounted Cash Total = $30.41 The previous reviewer Michael N. is incorrect about 3.9% + 5% fee. For someone paying by credit card, it is 3.9% fee. read more

Best Chinese restaurant around. The spicy crispy beef is incredible - I've yet to meet anyone who didnt love it.

This was my favorite Chinese restaurant growing up and whenever I visit central NJ, I make it a point to stop by. Located at the end of the McCaffreys plaza which has gone through so many changes over the past 20 years, this is one of the few places that has withstood the test of time. When I lived in the area I used to order take out every other week. Their broccoli & tofu and fried rice dishes always stood out to me. Occasionally I'd venture out and try some others but these were always my favorite. As you might expect that after so many years the management has changed. I used to know the old owners very well and they always were polite to greet me. I moved away when the new ownership took place but one women by the front desk does still recognize me. I do think the food quality has somewhat declined compared to the early 2000's under the old management. Main issue is that the dishes are way more oversauced than they used to be or need to be, which I'm never a fan of. However, I will say the fried rice is still as good as I remember it to be. Service is about what you'd expect for a local Chinese take-out shop, though the ambience is better than most competitors for what that is worth. I'll keep visiting whenever I'm in the area, it just holds too many memories for me. read more

The food is very good. We've been coming here for years. However, management seems to be piling on fees while simultaneously providing smaller portions. Recently, our check had an added "operation fee." This is in addition to passing credit card fees to customers. I can choose to pay cash to avoid that fee but don't see how I can avoid the operating fee. The restaurant is using smaller plates and bowls and it's clear the servings are s smaller. Somewhat disappointed but this seems the direction service businesses are moving. read more

Just bought take out. Been going to this business for years. I understand prices increasing but not decrease in quality. Years ago they had great egg rolls. Just got one. Both small and inedible. Worst egg roll I've had. read more

The chicken with broccoli lunch special should be a crime. It is boiled chicken with boiled broccoli and is so flavorless that it is inedible. I've never ordered chicken with broccoli before and NOT be given any sort of sauce. I thought that it was standard to put brown sauce on it to give it any form of flavor but I guess not. I also wasn't asked upon ordering if I wanted sauce, since it is apparently not standard. It was honestly some of the worst food that I've ever tried in years. Threw it all out. read more

First Wok Chinese Restaurant - Chicken and broccoli lunch special - Chinese Near Me - West Windsor, New Jersey

Order all the time and each time is great!! From the egg roll, spare ribs to the Chinese menu spinach and lamb. The soups are amazing also!

Nice restaurant. Nice service. I get the pad thai with chicken, always comes out good.

Chicken lettuce wraps, pork fried dumplings, egg drop soup, wonton soup were all very good. Twice cooked pork nice and spicy with peppers and tofu. Lo mein was good. Fried chicken in General Tso chicken was not crispy. Fried rice was not crispy. Poor waiter poured water on my shoulder - He was nice. read more

Service was fast, food was so so. I won't go here again. They do give you a lot of food for the price.

First Wok is currently one of a select few Chinese places that are still open. I ordered egg drop soup, General Tso Tofu, beef Chow Fun, and Szechuan-style double fried pork for pickup last night. It was done pretty quickly, and a great meal. I will say the General Tso Tofu got soggy really quickly, so maybe plan accordingly when ordering that for takeout. Five Stars for their resilience and I hope the best for them despite the outbreak. Also because the waitress called me a stylish lady Thanks for a great meal, First Wok! read more

First Wok Chinese Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - West Windsor, New Jersey

Got Takeout. Bottom line, this was the best Sweet & Sour Chicken I've ever had even in NYC. Also asked for side of Hot chili oil and it was excellent. First Wok has always been consistent and high quality but I can't say enough how much this meal was enjoyed. Thank You read more

I highly recommend First Wok, we travelled for 30 mins just to have their food. We always come back because of their excellent service, good atmosphere and staffs are very friendly. The food are excellent , we like fish so we usually order the steamed flounder with ginger and scallions yummy in our tummy , steamed fillet of sole,scallions pancakes shrimp with honey walnuts , vegetable lo mien, chicken Mai Fun and oh wow try their hot and sour soup , the taste and flavor is so good that i can have a big bowl. Sonya Ma who's the owner of the restaurant is very down to earth person. She greets her customers with enthusiasm and with a beautiful smile. The ambience is so inviting that you want to come at her restaurant for lunch and dinner for 7 days. Book your next party at First Wok , you won't regret it. read more

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Food tastes bland and take out menu was very different from the dine in menu which was very confusing. Waiter tried to take food plate away before I was even finished with eating. Apparently there was a change in management and we miss the quality food that was served years ago. It has steadily gone downhill. read more

Food abs service has improved markedly post Covid. There must be a new cook/ chef. Food quality and seasoning has gotten much better. Looks like someone has gotten the message that patrons vote with their legs. Bad food, they walk elsewhere. The Chinese menu ( you have to request it) has some wonderful dishes on it. It has English translation on the flip side. They will adjust the spice level, on request. We will keep going back. read more

Cockroach in food Literally. We have ordered from here for 15 years, but when I told them, they seemed indifferent as if they didn't even care read more

First Wok Chinese Restaurant - Cockroach in food - Chinese Near Me - West Windsor, New Jersey

My husband and I ordered takeout from here. I ordered chicken and string beans with garlic sauce, no MSG, and it was so bland. Not to mention when we placed our order inside, I happened to see a 'black shadow' scurry past me. I believe it was a mouse which is probably why they didn't have any dine in guests. Would not recommend. read more

Fresh food made well but very skimpy on wonton filling in the Wonton soup! Almost nothing there but the wonton noodle. Scant scallion also. Small portions like the rice. No refills on the crispy noodles, always have to ask. One fortune cookie each. No more orange slices either. Again food is fresh and made well, but do not look for anything extra. If you get it to go make sure you ask for the sauce packets. Minimal at best. Prices are up too! Four star rating for freshness and taste. Nothing for generosity. read more

I have been ordering here for years and have always had a wonderful meal at this restaurant! I can't even recommend anything because I love everything I have gotten. Pinapple fried rice, mixed veg, spring rolls, pad Thai, I could go on and on! Love this place! read more

I ordered some takeouts on Jan 5. The dishes were ok . But the meat in one dish, 夫妻肺片, is spoiled. I called the restaurant the next day but they were not willing to acknowledge or apologize for it. Instead, they claim other people ordered the same dish and nobody complained. i will never order anything or eat at this restaurant! read more

Chinese restaurant at Mcaffrey mall, West Windsor, NJ We were here Saturday lunch around 2pm and seated right away. However, had to wait a quite a while for waiter to come by and take our order. We ordered two lunch specials; pepper steak and double sauteed pork. The hot and sour soup and pepper steak was good. But my double sauteed pork was half of the portion of my hubby's pepper steak and was drenched with the sauce. read more

There is one dish in particular that I have at least 1-2 times a week. Being a meat eater, I surprise myself in telling you that it's the Bean Curd with Broccoli dish. It's simple, clean & DELICIOUS! It is prepared the same way every single time I order it - no variations, no experimentation. This dish is usually served for dinner only (the portion size is generous). You can order it for lunch, but they will tell you that it will be "dinner size" at the dinner price (which is around $8). Remember the Sex & The City episode where Miranda orders her usual Chinese take-out, and the woman on the other end laughs and says "I know you!". Well, that's exactly what it's like here, and that's fine by me. read more

Their bubble ice tea was decent. The restaurant was conveniently located near the grocery store McCaffrey. read more

Two years ago (before COVID) I would have given 5 stars easily. But since, their takeout portions are in containers which hold about 2/3 as much (we save containers, we know!). So where it was the perfect size meal, leaving you content but not overfull, now the portions are too small. But for dine-in it seems the same as always. Takeout customers should not get less for the same money than dine-in customers. Sorry. And yes, everything we order is done well, and otherwise they are the best local food. So if you want taste, but are not that hungry, get takeout. read more

Surprisingly pricey. We spent $48 for 3 people for lunch, ordering only Ma Po Tofu, Hot Spicy Fish Szechuan style, and Dry Pepper Chicken. All were quite delicious but superficially so; I tasted some MSG in the Ma Po tofu. The Dry Pepper Chicken was tasty though -- the breading was thankfully a light amount and the dark meat was flavorful and juicy. Our favorite was the spicy fish: there's a delicate lightness in the fish that is delicious and authentic. We recommend this dish. Overall, the ambiance felt like an odd attempt at classy, but hole-in-the-wall kind of restaurant, if that makes sense. In a few years it might lose its modern luster and decompose into a food-first-ambiance-second kind of Chinese restaurant. Nothing wrong with that, but I would recommend lowering prices to match this different dining experience. read more

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Been coming here for more than a decade, food is great as well as awesome staff. Will continue to go there as my driest choice for Chinese food read more

This is probably one of the most inauthentic Chinese Restaurants I have ever ordered from. My girlfriend ordered Shrimp Chow Mein. Chow Mein is a Chinese stir fried noodle...and what she got looked like cabbage stew. Looks absolutely revolting, and when we called to inquire about the dish, we were informed by the extraordinarily condescending staff that "Chow Mein doesn't mean noodle, chow Mein doesn't have noodles. If you wanted noodles, you have to say Lo Mein". If you're looking for an authentic Chinese cuisine, you're better off going to Chucky Cheese. read more

First Wok Chinese Restaurant - In this photo, you will see what this restaurant defines as "Chow Mein". My dog wouldn't go near it. - Chinese Near Me - West Windsor, New Jersey

My Family and I have been patronizing First Wok since it first opened several decades ago. I can honestly state that the current menu, food preparation and presentation are outstanding. Sonya and her staff do exceptionally well at making their customers feel welcomed and most importantly, having a well prepared and tasty dining experience. The current wait staff are the most efficient and attentive staff that any restaurant owner would want to employ. Any past negative comments may have been the opinion of that specific writer's ONE time experience and is most definitely NOT the norm at First Wok. Coming from a family of long time restaurateurs, operating this type of business is hard work and challenging. Having patrons leave a restaurant in a most positive light is First Woks highest priority. read more

The food is good, however, the prices are higher for what you get. We got scallion pancakes and for $5 you get 4 little slices. I'd likely go back, but if I am getting more for less somewhere else I'd probably choose that place. Again quality is just fine! I just found the pricing and portions were steeper. read more

We were very pleased with the First Wok. We were a group of 8, four couples with varied tastes, and the dishes we ordered were equally varied. Everyone was happy with what they ordered. Our waiter was very accommodating and helpful. The First Wok is one of the better Chinese restaurants in the area. read more

Spacious restaurant with a fish tank. Good curries (brown & red), decent pork fried rice, a freshly prepared steamed fish (cod) and solid general tso's. The 'pu pu' platter consists of egg rolls, beef skewers, dumplings and ribs. Wide variety on the menu including thai and regional Asian dishes (Taiwan). Friendly service where you would expect them to chop the head off of a duck at the table and sing Jingle Bells in falsetto r's. read more

Just back from dinner at First Wok. First dinner after years of lunches there. The atmosphere is more conducive to dinner, with comfortable booths, dim lighting, and black clad servers. Even the Sushi Bar in the corner works well. The dinner menu is quite expansive, with one sheet completely in Chinese for those seeking the secret authentic stuff. The owner spent time with us making suggestions and asking the kind of tastes we were looking for. She suggested we try a Sushi Roll, and I opted for the Spicy Salmon. She asked if I liked spicy beef or fish. I said, "yes." She wrote down Fish Fillet in Spicy Sauce. Something green? Try the Snow Pea Tips Sautéed in Garlic. Just back from Chengdu? I would like the Cold Thin Sliced Beef & Tendon in Chili Sauce. She was right across the board. Everything was good to very good, with the Sushi on the low end, and the Beef & Tendon, and the Snow Peas on the high. The Fish swam down the middle. With cuisine like this, I have become a fan. I may not go there for lunch often, but more dinners are a definite possibility. read more

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I'm not really sure why I keep coming here, because I don't live particularly closer to this place, but I think it's because there's no decent Chinese food in my area. Anyway, this place serves the typical Chinese fare. Every time, I have ended up getting the same thing: Steamed chicken and vegetables with the sauce on the side. It's perfectly fine and I'm pretty content. However, what makes First Wok send out is the great service. Also they give free pots of tea which is fabulous. read more

First Wok Chinese Restaurant - Chicken with broccoli lunch special. Sauce on the side. - Chinese Near Me - West Windsor, New Jersey

Excellent food - all fresh ingredients - but pricey. Polite service. Pretty surroundings.