I usually skip Korean restaurants as my choices to eat are limited. However, I was recommended my…read morefellow Yelpie and her better half, that this was one of the must eat places in troy, ny. Sunday is my eat out day, and I picked up my aunt, drove to troy. Found d some street parking, went to the order kiosk and placed my order based on what I could eat and recommendations from the employee at the register. I chose, lunch combo with chicken and chicken teriyaki plate. May be, just the chicken was overcooked and a little fibery, besides that, it was very flavorful. I do have a couple more options to try, with me enjoying the food, definitely makes it an option for a revisit. If you live pork and beef, you definitely have more options. The restaurant was clean and well maintained.

We ordered the following for takeout at the bespoke bowl:…read moreKorean Fried Chicken Wings- Moist wings were still crispy even after transferring them home in the containers. Spam Musubi - The spam had a nice savory flavor slightly salty went well with the rice. The seaweed had a slight fishy taste that was pleasant with the dish. Bulgogi Kimchi Burrito with beef (2 Burritos) We might eat this there next time it was falling apart in the container the wax paper was sticking to it. The flavor was really good though. Slight amount of spice nice vegetable crunch tasty marinated beef. Side of french fries were kind of tasty nothing special. Nashville Hot Chicken Sando Combo came with two sandwiches we asked for 1 mild and one regular. The first chicken sandwich was a little dry it might've been the mild flavor, it was all right. The medium chicken sandwich had a little bit more spice than the mild same so so flavor a little dry also. Spicy Pork Bowl with SPICY MAYO. This had a nice flavor, a little bit sweet and a good amount of spice. The sauce was sweeter than I like. We wanted to try a nice variety since we had never been there and have been wanting to try the place for a while. All in all we found the food to be pretty good, not sure if we would order any of these items again though since we felt nothing knocked our socks off. We would like to try the poke bowl next. If you are ordering for pick up be careful about where you order it. Make sure you go to bespoke bowl's website. Important sidenote when ordering takeout here: We ended up going through what we thought was their website and it was some third-party site that was selling this restaurants food and we ended up paying between 12 and $15 more for our order. I showed it to the staff when I picked it up because I had looked at their menu in the store and saw the price difference. The staff seemed confused/surprised.

After a long day of this and that, we decided to treat ourselves to some Asian food. And since this…read moreplace was just down the street and had recently opened, it seemed like a good opportunity to try them out. We had a coupon in a book that was mailed to us, otherwise I never would have known this place existed. It took over a failed Subway restaurant (which was right around the corner from Mr. Subb), and I was surprised an Asian takeout place moved in because right around the corner (next to the Mr. Subb) was another Chinese take out place. Sure, this place has dine-in options. And it claims to be Asian Fusion. Anyway, we both ordered the same dish: General Tsos chicken. I had brown rice, and my wife had fried rice. The softspoken guy who answered the phone was friendly and told us our order would be ready in 10-15 minutes. For a Sunday night, they must have been slow. I got there with time to spare and watched him cook our food. The dining room is cute, though I would guess the fixtures were used as some were already torn and worn down. The chef's bar had nice blue lighting and features, and there was some fish out in the cooler wrapped up in plastic. I don't eat sushi so I cannot comment on whether this is the way sushi bars are, but it seemed interesting. Our food was served in Japanese style take-out containers. There were five individual compartments filled with the chicken/broccoli, the rice, the spring roll (or egg roll, depending on interpretation), some duck sauce, and packets of soy sauce. It traveled a lot better than those white cardboard boxes or round plastic containers. However, as my wife noted, they cost more too. I saved my containers to use for other projects. The food was step above regular takeout fare. I can't say if the recipes were better, if it were fresher, or if the travel containers helped it fare better. There was less sauce on it, which likely helped. Both rice types used Japanese short grain, which was fine by me but not what you normally get with Chinese takeout. Also, it wasn't spicy at all. And the portions were smaller than most, yet the prices were much higher than most. Two combo meals were $34.00 before tip. I know of places to go for really cheap, bad Chinese food (buffets), and places to go for really expensive, high-quality Chinese food. As for take-out, though, the lines blur a bit. I want to like this place, but I love the restaurant around the corner. I don't see how both can succeed. Since it is primarily a sushi restaurant, perhaps that is the niche they should focus on.

This is a cute new place that moved into the corner of Osborne and Albany Shaker. The menu has…read moreChinese, Japanese and Thai dishes but the interior and Chinese takeout presentation leads me to believe they're Japanese trained or more focused on that cuisine. Menu prices seemed high for Chinese, portion was small and they used sushi rice to make the fried rice. The egg roll filling was mushy but came in a crispy spring roll paper. On the positive everything was fresh and presented nicely. The duck sauce for the egg roll was homemade. The chef who took my order was soft spoken, polite and friendly. In the future I'd like to sit at the counter for omakase and see how good the chef is.

My wife and I came here on date night. SInce it was so hot outside we both decided to skip ramen…read moreand instead ordered regular entrees. I had the "Crispy chicken in sweet chili sauce" and my wife had the "Mango chicken" (which they accidently made as mango shrimp but quickly corrected). The presentation, as is the rest of the restaurant, is modern. Large white plates, rice in a separate bowl, and absolutely no garnishment on the plate. I enjoyed my chicken and it was sweet and lightly spicy. It had an nice flavor I couldn't place... perhaps their brand of chili sauce.... and the chicken was crispy. My wife's mango chicken was a let down. The mango pieces tasted okay (like canned mango), but the chicken had an unusual flavor/sauce that was a bit unpleasant. She said portions of her chicken were cold and also not crispy, which was also a bummer. The rice was good, and in fact better than some I get at more expensive restaurants. My wife also liked the miso soup that came with the meals. Service was very good. I counted at least 9 employees on a Wednesday night and at one point there were more staff than customers. Food was quick, they were friendly, and the place was clean. The music was a mix of everything but not too loud, which was appreciated. Their menu had lots of nice pictures, which was helpful. When the weather gets colder we will have to come back for the ramen and noodles.

This place is ABSOLUTELY amazing, I found this place last year and decided to go for my 23rd…read morebirthday it was so good, food is amazing very authentic, good quality, my favorite dishes are the Pork Belly Yaki soba noodles, the Pork Belly Fried Riced, the Pork Gyoza, and the TNT Roll. The service was good, very fast and efficient. If it does get really busy there is a wait but for me I definitely think it's worth the wait the food is delicious the people are so nice and kind. The decorations are very pretty love them a lot. It is now one of my favorite restaurants to go to so if you were ever out in Albany at Crossgates, I definitely recommend going here.

I'm out of superlatives for Hooked, but since it had been a while since we had been, I thought it…read morewise to update my review. This is a haute cuisine place that is masked by the casual dining atmosphere. Seriously: top notch chef, original recipes, a core dedication to quality seafood, paired with a fresh fish counter and some prepared food to go. We usually go for something special, but tonight I decided to get an old childhood standby, fried clams (the Boston Basket) and the fish burger sandwich. I did not expect either to be as transportive as they turned out to be. The fried clams were as delicately done as I've ever had: not crispy, but not too floppy, with excellent breading. And while I prefer my clams naked, we tried all three of the dipping sauces -- a remoulade, tartar sauce, and cocktail sauce. Now normally I loathe cocktail sauce and can take tartar sauce or leave it, so I figured we'd eat up the remoulade and ignore the other two. Still, I gave them little nibbles. Man! The cocktail sauce was like no other I've had, with a heavy hint of horseradish and a far fresher flavor than I've ever had. Then the tartar sauce -- genius! It had a delicate spicing, with capers providing a floral backdrop. That was only a preliminary, as the fish burger proved to be complex, with hints of multiple kinds of fish, and a fennel-based spicing. I ended up having that afterglow, as if I'd had a couple of cocktails and was sitting next to a fireplace, that is the hallmark of truly fine food at an advanced level. We also had the usual outstanding service, attentive without being pushy. I seriously think Hooked should consider splitting into two restaurants: one where the ambiance is upgraded to match the high caliber of the food, and another cheaper one that is strictly fast casual and takeout, and they'd more than double the business. There is a restaurant back where we come from in California, Turtle Bay, that did this with fine dining on one side and the quick, simple, and affordable food on the other side, with a big shared kitchen between them but with completely separate ambiances. That way I could come back more frequently, and still have the original Hooked for special occasions!

Well, the oysters were fantastic, and that's why I made the 35 mile trip. I hate city traffic!!!…read more I also had the calamari with peppers, also good. Not like rubber bands, tender. Now the downfall, the chicken sandwich. I did notice other plates coming to tables looking like the fryer temp. is too hot, or cook time was too long. Some fish fry that came out looked quite dark as did my chicken, as you can see! A slight burnt taste was evident. It had good flavor under that burn, and the chicken was close to not being juicy, almost dry. The place is clean, and if not for the location, I would sit at the bar and have the raw bar! Something very important to me that hit me the instant I stepped through the door, if you're looking for a great shot of A/C on a hot day, not here!!! Barely got comfortable from the almost 90 degree day on a bike, and then worked up a return of sweating as the place filled up.

The person manning the counter was very helpful and fun to work with. They helped me build a…read morebeautiful, colorful and delicious bowl that was a pleasure to devour. The inside of the restaurant appeared neat and tidy. The prep counter was also very clean and tidy. I had no worries of cross contamination because it looked like the staff takes care to not be sloppy. I am very satisfied with my food and in-store experience. I will definitely be back!

I ordered online for quick pick up. I was able to find easy street parking. The place is open and…read moreclean. I had the 3 protein bowl and love the customization. Very large portion and fresh!

Totally blown away by this restaurant. The service was casual but attentive, the staff dressed…read morecasually and the vibe very laid back but everything was on point. The menu is varied and offers something for everyone. I absolutely loved our first meal here and it was just appetizers. I can't wait to come back and try the Ruben and lobster bisque. We are planning to return here several times during our next few weeks in Albany. The parking is challenging as the back lot shares with at least 3 other restaurants but it is well worth the effort

My partner treated me to lunch at Ale & Oyster. While I was excited to come, my expectations for…read morethe resto were not entirely met: -Our server ignored us for at least half an hour. We couldn't easily flag someone down to take our orders. -Our waters tasted like fish water :( -I ordered a house salad with added shrimp, but I only got 3 pieces of shrimp. It didn't feel like it was worth my money. Not sure if I would return again.

The family came here for a special occasion on a Thursday night. Despite no reservations, we were…read moreseated quickly. The interior is very dark, perhaps "intimate", with tall booth walls. In the background on the TV was the Food Network. Our waitress was very polite and gave us time to order. I started with the Szechuan dumplings which turned out to be steamed dumplings in a spicy peanut saucy. They were very soft, almost to the point of mushy, and the meatball inside was chewy. I had never heard of them before and really enjoyed them, though I didn't find them spicy. My wife disagreed on that point, and didn't care for them. For my son, we ordered "chicken fingers". They were larger pieces of battered deep fried chicken (think sweet and sour chicken) and cooked so long as to be hard and greasy. He didn't want to eat them, and after one bit I completely agreed. They were terrible. Very little meat, very hard coating, very oily. Yuck. We threw nearly all of it away. My wife ordered sushi, and during the ordering process there was some confusion as to what fish came with it and whether there was an upcharge or not. She ended up with a standard sushi order and didn't enjoy it all that much. It might have been sitting around a bit too long. I ordered the General Tso chicken and was very disappointed. There was lots of chicken and it wasn't fried as hard as the chicken fingers, but I didn't like the sauce. It was loaded with minced ginger, shallots, and garlic which gave it a much different taste than anywhere else I have had this dish. As I looked at it more, it hit me... I have bought this bottled sauce before from the supermarket. I think it is "Iron Kitchen" brand, and I used to have some in my fridge (when I bought it, I discovered it didn't taste good either so it sat in my fridge for ages). Yangs didn't make their sauce from scratch, and it was gloopy and thick. he picture of this dish on the online menu doesn't match what you get. Do they always use this sauce? I dunno, but it was one of the worst versions I have ever eaten. After dropping off our food, the waitress disappeared and was clearly busy with other tables. She never checked on us to see how we were doing, and it took a while for someone else to refill our drinks. They did a tremendous amount of takeout while we were there. All in all, it was a very disappointing meal. We won't be back.

I stopped in for a late lunch with a craving for sushi. I had never been to Yang's before, but I…read morewas familiar with several of the other spots in the strip mall and decided to give it a try. The dine-in area was empty during my visit, but the restaurant was clearly busy with takeout orders--people were regularly coming in to place or pick up food. Having the dining room to myself, I found the staff to be very attentive and quick to take my order. I chose the sashimi lunch special, which came with miso soup, a house salad, and hot tea. I also added an order of edamame. The edamame was freshly steamed and served in the bamboo basket it was cooked in. It was hot, lightly salted, and a perfect way to start the meal. The salad was a simple iceberg mix with dressing. Unfortunately, the dressing didn't have much flavor, so it felt a bit underwhelming. The miso soup was standard--hot, with small pieces of tofu, and just what I expected. The sashimi was nicely sliced, though I found it a bit lacking in flavor on its own. I added soy sauce and wasabi, which helped enhance the experience. I did appreciate the attention to detail with the octopus sashimi--each slice was separated by a thin piece of lemon, which added a subtle citrus note that worked well.

I went for a solo weekday lunch and got to pick my own seat on their patio. I went with the maki…read morelunch which is choice of 2 rolls from the list and soup or salad. I got the salad, Miami roll and Hawaiian roll made with tuna. I also got salmon sashimi which comes with 3 pieces. It came out quickly and my waitress was pleasant. My 1 qualm is the rolls were a little sloppy; they fell apart as soon as I picked them up and the rice was sloppy and not tight. The fish was fresh and tasty but yeah the rolls couldn't been tighter. I will return.

Lobster Fried Rice! You have to have it...its my go to in Albany. Tasty. Great portion and big…read morepieces of

Nice Asian restaurant with the hibachi option or table option to eat. We sat at a table for dinner…read morethis time, but heard the chefs yelling a lot at the hibachi tables as they cooked. They also do the birthday singing with a portable round drum. Kind of corny but the people liked it. Menu was large with a lot to offer. I ordered off the hibachi menu and was surprised at the amount of food they out on the plate. Taste was good for what we ate. I have four stars as the tables and chairs were a little worn and probably should be replaced. Waitress kept coming around and grabbing our plates as we finished, found it to be a little annoying as they would take the plates just as we finished them. At one point we told them to stop and leave us alone.

My grandson's graduation party centered around Sake doing a home hibachi preparation of the meal…read morein a large tent on their front lawn. Five stars does not cover how great the food and performance Chef were. After the Chef set up the hibachi, the fun began! First he fried eggs for the Fried Rice. After he prepared the fried rice, he went to each table serving the steaming rice. Next he prepared a nice medley of vegetables. He served these as well. Before preparing the chicken, steak and shrimp, he entertained. He sang a little, smiled a lot, and used a toy pump gun to shoot Saki into the mouths of willing guests. It was well done and well received! Then he cooks the proteins. The large shrimp and steak were my favorites. Chef circulates offering the signature Japanese steakhouse condiment: Yum Yum Sauce known for its great flavor. Chef refills the pump gun with water and entertains young guests. We were clapping and cheering. He paid special attention to the guest of honor, the grad. (My grandson) very nice! Then Chef gives us a fire display and some juggling tricks. More laughing and cheering. Chef passed out take home containers if needed. Without me asking, Chef gave me the Yum Yum Sauce to take home. Lots of compliments to hosts on the quality of the food. The cost per person is substantial BUT worth every dollar. In fact, my SIL gave Chef a generous extra TIP to thank him. Check out a few photos to get a feel for the experience.

Solid ramen. Nailed the spiciness. Who knew mall food could be so good! I'd definitely come back.read more

This ramen is actually delicious. For me it just looks OK but I was surprised that it is really…read moregood. I love the mild spiciness and tastiness of the soup plus the pork is very tasty and tender. It is inside the mall so the place is easily accessible when you are in the mall. It looks clean and have a lot of choices. I have to try their poke next time and their boba looks good too! The service is not that bad either.