Food is average in my opinion but the service is outstanding and the the drinks from the bar are on point.

These folks are very nice, food is great and the staff very friendly. Try the Happy Family, yum! I have always just walked in. Groovy!!

first time trying and i got food poisoning , i would never go back or go to the bar for this reason.

I have loved coming here since childhood. Brought my family for dinner in the dining room this Saturday only to have us all witness the cook & owner/manager loudly verbally abusing the older female waitress to the point she was in tears. Shegave us phenomenal service even after having to go through such extreme humilition and we tipped her well. Your food and service is always wonderful- DO BETTER. read more

Delicious and authentic Very plentiful servings Waitress completely polite Price is good read more

A buddy and I stopped in here quickly for some Chinese food and a beer. I hope they fix their great neon sign. They should contact PDX Neon to connect them with the right people. This is their website. http://pdxneon.org/index.html read more

I literally have no idea how to rate this place. It has been a couple weeks since I was here and I still can't decide if it was dive-bar-terrible or dive-bar-charming, so I am going to go with 3-stars! (This review is for the bar and karaoke. I did not go in the restaurant or order food from their kitchen.) Strong drinks, but don't expect the bartender to do anything with more than two ingredients- vodka soda seemed to be the most complicated drink she'd agree to make. Here's a list of things that were either weird or awesome about The Wishing Well, depending on your preferences: -One bartender = slow service. -You have to bring your glass back to the bar for every drink because they "don't have enough cups". -The KJ is a badass, but will not allow anyone to use the F word (I got yelled at for saying it and thought they were going to kick me out). -There's a vending machine in the middle of the room, full of candy bars and cigarettes. -The TV was playing Law & Order SVU almost all night on a Saturday night. Nothing puts you in the mood to party like Detective Olivia Benson? Wishing Well, you are truly one of a kind. read more

The Wishing Well - SVU on the TV all nightttt - Chinese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

I won't go back. The food is awful and overpriced. The bartender was rude and bitchy

I wasn't expecting much, but it was was way better than I anticipated. Very reasonable prices, nice pours at $3.50, friendly bartender, fresh veggies. I love bars at old school Chinese restaurants. No pretence. Fast and friendly service, interesting clientele, nice prices. If you're in the area why not? Air conditioning if you're having heat stroke. Like now. Or feel like doing karaoke. Chow mein with crispy noodles! read more

Ok, so maybe I was a little overdressed as I often am. Too many sequins, too much sparkly jewelry, wearing a sport jacket, twas all a big clue to the eagle-eyed regulars that I was an outsider. But they were cool, and made the evening oh so interesting. It was a little surreal, kinda like stepping into a time machine and stepping out into 1985. The hair, the clothes, the music. Don't get me wrong, I was digging this and found this place to be totally rad. An American-Chinese karaoke bar. And I'll be damned if some of those folks couldn't belt out the hits like pros. Most of them were completely amazing. I especially enjoyed the performance of this big, burly man sing Aretha Franklin's "Natural Woman," for reals. What I found to be even more amazing was "Uncle Ray." He's a chipper fellow that enjoys dancing along with whomever happens to be singing. Now, that old chap has got some bad-ass dance moves that include some lecherous looking motions on the various poles they have around the dance floor. He was a sight to behold. Our bartender, Kat, she too had an eagle-eye, watching out for we ladies yet serving up a mighty fine drink. Right before the kitchen closed I ordered the broccoli beef which I am still working on. It's pretty good. I wouldn't hesitate to try something else off the menu next visit. I am so intrigued by this place, I can't wait to go back, maybe get drunk and sing something. 2016 - Review # 49 read more

Love this place, the wait staff as so good to us, been coming for years and love the consistency. Thanks you fir keeping one of my neighborhood restaurant still able to operate in this crazy upper middle class city.. read more

The Wishing Well - Placemat - Chinese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Come for the mai tais by Cat, that's it! Karaoke Friday and Saturday, if you can stand all the tweeters.

I've been going to the Wishing Well for many years. The last several years have been disappointing, however, I would still continue to frequent the restaurant on occasion giving it just 1 more chance. Going into 2022 I vow not to ever return. The up keep of the establishment first of all, is outdated, very worn, the carpet looks like it's never been upgraded or cleaned, the kitchen area is wide open and almost never looks in sanitary condition with uncovered pots and pans filled with food covering the stove. Very sad. read more

Deeeelicious! Old school American Chinese food. Old school St. John's food. Order drinks from the bar next door and have dinner or get it to go. read more

Okay, so never in my life have I written a review for anything, but I was so shocked at my treatment by the morning bar tender and then doubly shocked by the even worse treatment when trying to deal with the situation after the fact. Admittedly, I am newish to St. Johns, meaning that I've lived here for about a year, but due to the shutdown didn't really explore the neighborhood. I'm Indian, Asia, and grew up in Oklahoma and I would not say I'm overly sensitive about behavior in local establishments regarding race and class, but have had my fair share of ordeals. When I walk into any place full of locals, the first thing I do is buy anyone elderly some drinks both out of genuine respect and because it is auspicious--and well, they deserve it man, they've survived this far and I'm trying hard enough to do the same. I did so when I walked into this place. Then I proceeded to put a card on tab, buy drinks, and sit down and play a slot. At which point I won like $400 and cashed it in, during which I put down $5 dollars for this bartender and then thought it was kinda rude for so little and added another $5. I was there about 2-3 hours and yeah the service was good. She asked me if I wanted another drink when I was dry. Is this truly exceptional behavior for a bartender... I don't know, you tell me? She gave me the bathroom key when I asked for it. When I exited the bathroom some patron asked for the key who I discovered wasn't actually a customer after the fact, so then I immediately went to the bartender and apologized for passing off the key to someone I thought was a patron. Then another elderly lady comes in, in a wheelchair (hell yeah I want your sympathy) struggling to get to the machines, and asks if I will switch with her because it is her favorite, which I gladly do. I proceed to win big again and she loses everything so I gave her $40 bucks and apparently she told the bartender what a nice guy, he gave me a random $40 bucks. That's when the bartender lost it for some reason and announced to all the patrons, in a very very racially sensitive area, a hyper-active cover bifurcated community with three gun stores in walking distance, in the bar that I give away money and don't give her anything. Now I was planning on tipping her very decent on my tab when I left, which I said and left without doing so. And before, she then said I have no idea what it is like living on minimum wage, which yes, I do. So I left. Later, not sure if she would be on shift, I came back in with a friend. She proceeded to say I cannot be in the store because I called her a "bitch", which I have never called any woman directly in my life, and wouldn't dare do so in public (fully admitting that yeah, I have called women bitches on occasion, which I am not at all happy about). Now, I want to contact the owner because I don't even know if I can go in this neighborhood walking distance establishment that friends and neighbors go to. Welcome to Portland. Welcome to St. Johns. Not welcome to the wishing well, apparently. Tried to make amends and was slapped in the face left right and center and center again. Expect no response. I forgot the most important detail and am amending this: the very sweet lady, Mary, who I gave the $40 bucks to said she had to leave the establishment and met me outside in tears to thank me for counting her in on my winning after we switched machines and that she couldn't believe how I was treated and had to exit because she was crying too much. Well holy-gee-goddamn-willekers, someone cares. I mean come on people, this is ridiculous. And you wishing well whoever runners caretakers well-wishers whatever... for shame. read more

We use to eat lunch all the time back in the day and it was always really nice. Now everytime I go there something happens to irritate me. First the shrimp taste like old grease. Once stood at bar for several minutes waiting for bartender to show up then a lady that was sitting by a lottery machine talking to a friend the whole time was the bartender(so she saw us standing there waiting but continued to talk with her friend). Went in today 5/5/2023 about 3ish. Ask bartender if she could make me a (alcohol) root beer float. Knowing there are several different ways I started to tell her which one I wanted but she interrupted me saying "I know how to make it". Well she didn't make the one I wanted. I asked her what she used and when I said that's was not how I wanted it she just said "That's how it's made". So now you make people's drink the way YOU want. When cashing in the $300.00 dollar lottery ticket I won playing the machines I normally would give a $20.00 dollar tip. She got nothing! read more

Place is discussing!!! The Chinese food is slop, it's what I imagine they give isis prisoners. You know if your idea of a good time is watching junkies, burnouts, and homeless people congregate this is the place. Only saving grace of this Chinese/american/bar/karaoke is strong drinks, I mean they got to be so you can forget about everything else happening in front of you. read more

We walked in on a Friday night and were met with every pair of eyes in the joint staring back at us. Not in a judgmental way mind you, just protective against who was entering their watering hole. The bartender was the sort of surly guy you'd hope to find behind the bar at this type of establishment. He was a man of few words and let the stiff drinks do the talking for him. I won't go to much into my whiskey ginger because at this type of place it's more about sheer quantity of booze in a single drink rather then quality. This shit will put hair on your chest. Coarse, black hair. The wall are gold but not in a way that is glamourous. It's the sort of gold that has lived through the 70s and thinks you can go eff yourself if you have a problem with it. The side walls are plastered with lottery winners of yore. Stained chairs against the machines suggest winning streak far too intense to have paused to use the facilities. They have yet to take the Smokeeter off the wall, still bitter with the liberals who took away their God given right to smoke inside. All of this was rounded out nicely by Karaoke night - which is Thursday and Friday. I put my song in, Dolly Parton, and to my delight was called a few songs later. I heard a man with no front teeth tell his friends that I was here last week and brought the house down. Although I appreciated the vote of confidence this was my first trip to this establishment, but he had one thing right. I did indeed bring the house down with my rendition of Jolean. A drunk women even came to dance with me. If you've got an itch to do some singing, this wishing well has your number. The Wishing Well could easily scrape a few coins off the bottom and make a wish or two on it's own behalf. A working sign out front? Some clean chairs? But why bother, we need places like this. With all the hip bars designed to the utmost degree it's nice to go some place who's sole concern is stiff drinks and no BS. The Wishing Well Restaurant - A dive bars, dive bar. read more

My friend, Ron, is about to have an, ahem, a common procedure which involves no solid food and only clear liquids for 24 hours beforehand. He thought a Chinese restaurant might be a good place for some clear chicken broth. Ron invited me along for lunch, and I was delighted to accompany him because I've been dying to come here because the place just speaks volumes to me. I remember buildings like this all over Portland from childhood and even up into the 1990s, but they are starting to disappear and that grieves me. On entering, a gentleman greeted us by telling us to sit across the room from him so that our waitress would have to work hard for her tip. It was evident he's a regular and well liked and this made things instantly comfortable. Our waitress was excellent and quite sweet. We had to explain to her about Ron's need for clear liquid soup. She thought we wanted her to boil up a chicken and serve the liquid from that. After some back and forth and lots of listening, we were all able to come to a consensus that it was really chicken bouillon he wanted just for the flavor. She brought him a pretty Chinese bowl full of bouillon and this made us all very happy. I'm not sure how happy Ron was to watch me eat solid food in the form of General Tso's Chicken, but it was really pretty tasty and hit the spot. The decor is definitely something else, but I liked it, all done in shades of gold, salmon, and cinnabar. Someone had put some thought into this and you have to give them points just for trying. I saw a bar in the corner and I see from other reviews the drinks are strong. It probably would be an adventure coming here to watch karaoke or something else and have a drink after a long week at work. Ron explained the finer points of "brocading," (painting technique) which is used throughout the ceiling of the restaurant, as he has been a contractor, so not only was lunch tasty but also educational. Perhaps Ron can take this off taxes as an educational AND medical expense?? Poor Ron. His stomach growled audibly the rest of the afternoon, and he's dreaming of his first meal after the procedure. I'm glad I don't have to have the procedure and sympathize with him, but on the other hand it got me in the door of The Wishing Well, and it was a trip worth taking. read more

Ready to take your affinity for dive bars to the next level? Then the Wishing Well might be the place for you. The drinks are cheap & STIFF. The food is intolerably greasy. There is a thick haze of cigarette smoke that almost obscures how filthy the place is. The skeazy patrons will make you question your safety. The last time I went my friend and I were dodging vomit puddles just outside of the doorway. When we turned the corner some rated X debauchery was going on in the bus shelter!! read more

This shows the great cross section that is St. John's. The bar itself is smoky and divy. I'd put it up against any of the seedy bars in Portland. The bar tender is rough and grouchy. Smoke filled air is filled with the sound of a the one person band....she's playing keyboards, she's playing guitar, and she's singing all at once. How does she do it? Karaoke but with someone who can actually carry a tune. Old people, young people....black...white...hispanic....all here getting their drink on. Then getting their dance on the small dance floor. It is QUITE the site to see. The highlight of the evening is when the guy and the girlfriend are arguing out the back door and the manager is threatening to call the police while i"m in the bathroom. For a second there I thought shots would ring out and this is where it would all end for me. Then back inside the girl is dancing it up with all sorts of other folks when for no reason a guy grabs her around the neck and throws her down....out of no where Portland Police are there...clearing up the mis-understanding.....and does the music stop? No way. It keeps going...people keep dancing and once the cops leave....everyone gets their drink back on. Cheap entertainment. read more

Well I've had two different experiences here. The first time was extremely enjoyable even though I didn't order a drink. The bartender was extremely friendly and it looked like she wasn't shy when pouring out the booze for everyone around me. The second time, the bartender had a nasty attitude. You think he would be happy he was getting some more business in there. Instead he was a snarky older man that didn't seem to like that we included the establishment in our pub crawl. I mean hello...it's money. You should be happy about lots of extra money! Still haven't had any of the Chinese food. It looks delicious. Looks like good sized portions. However, it has an odd stench when you walk in. When the door is first open, the smell of old bar and Chinese food accosts you. It isn't always the friendliest of smells but you can quickly get used to it as you step into the lounge. Now the décor? I love that dark and dirty look that is filled with the sound of people playing video poker. It's also a great people watching place because of the mirrors all around. Yep, that's right, I people watch. Wishing Well, you have done me proud. I will still keep going back in hopes of finding that friendly bartender from the first go around. read more

The Wishing Well restaurant was this cute little hole in the wall, old-time restaurant that held lots of memories for my grandmother. She rated the restaurant a 4 star, she loves the bean sprout chow mein. However, the same dish had overpowered my plate all together, it was a bit soupy and spilled over into my side dishes. The egg foo young was very tasty! Had a hardy gravy and the egg was fluffy and flavorful. read more

The Wishing Well - Chinese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I've never been to the restaurant side of this place, only the dark, dirty dive bar side. The drinks are VERY stiff. How stiff you ask? I am typing this with one eye open and am having flashbacks of singing karaoke and dancing on the dance floor...two things that are completely out of character for me. The food is okay, the BBQ Pork being my favorite item that we had. The fried shrimp had too much batter for my liking and the sesame chicken is bland, and there were a few questionable bites. The service is good, but expect to go to the bar for your drinks. Our bartender was super sweet and kept her eye out for us ladies all evening. The locals crowd this place and make for a very entertaining evening and some excellent karaoke. All in all a super fun night. read more

This bar is where bar flies in St John's go to die. Everyone raised in and around NoPo knows that. They do have karaoke here nearly every night, which is hilarious. So the people-watching is prime. But seriously--smelly, divey, full of tweakers and poker players, questionable characters abound. Not without its weird charms, though. Go see for yourself. Our crew sneaks on in here every now and again for a post-shift drink. read more

My niece, baby son and I went here for lunch today. We had the longshoreman noodles and the broccoli beef. We actually enjoyed both dishes very much. I'm Chinese - so I think that carries some weight. The atmosphere is eh... but I don't care. It's probably not where I would recommend for a date or anything professional. I would definitely return and probably soon - I work nearby. read more

Love it or hate it, this place has character. Pros: Cheap drinks Strong drinks Neighborhood-y feel Live "music" on some weekend nights. Cons: That neighbor hood feel is poverty. It smells like poverty too. Building maintenance required. (somebody fix that leak in the roof, please!) read more

We have been going to the Wishing Well for over 40 years. We decided to go back tonight after not going there for over a year! Tonight was a very disappointing night. The food was luke warm, and the chow mein tasted like old refrigerator food. It was disgusting! The waitress was fabulous, she tried to get us some extra food but the cook refused! They must not be making the food fresh, it tasted like stale leftovers warmed up. It was the last time we will be back. read more

I kid you not; this place has not changed in appearance in a generation. Its your typical St. Johns Chinese hole in the wall. The portions are going to be large, the taste is good quality, the service is what you would expect from an older Chinese woman, and the price is about right for what you're paying. Hears the thing, the place has a character of its own and when I say character I'm talking about the smell, the dirty kitchen, the regulars, the scuzzy bar with the cool chick bar tender, and low lighting. When all is said and done, I will be coming back for seconds. Bit of advice though, much like the movie "gremlins "it gets a little creepy after dark so women beware! Mogwai read more

Tonight I order the General Tso. I get Sweet and Sour Shitcken. Tons of breaded half cooked shitcken! The waitress is no where to be found. I ate only one piece, so I left. As I am getting in my vehicle. She runs out ,scribbles my lic plate and says she's calling the cops. WHAT!!! She says for dinning and dashing! WTF!!! I go inside demanding to see the manager. She was the authority. I told her you have to eat the meal to dine and dash. Call the police..... She then states..... Errrr..... I will let you go this time....... Like I can't leave without her blessing..... Errrrr. When I told her the owner will here about this. Since I eat here semi regular. Her retort was an angry venomous, "Get out your 86'd." My retort was... I was out, you forced me to come back in. To subject me to your verbal abuse! My god, I am so happy to be 86'd from this rat infested, hole in the wall, dive bar!!! Sianara .......how ever you spell that.!!! Don't eat here it has degenerated to lowest form of care. Just a give me your money and shut up business. When you have to lock your bathrooms who knows what is lurking in the Shadows!! read more

The bar is not my scene, but the restaurant is great. I have been coming here since I was about 6 years old (over 30 years ago), and if you know what to order (and you eat meat), you'll be back. Start off with the bbq pork. The best thing about it is the hot mustard. Unlike most Chinese restaurants in Portland, this is the real deal mustard. You will lose your nose hair and cry about it. The egg foo yung is teh awesome. Maybe I'm nostalgic for childhood flavors, but I can't get enough of it. I recommend getting one of the combination platters that also offers fried shrimp. Not only do you get a second go at the membrane-melting mustard, but the batter is always golden fried with large shrimp to boot. Now I won't tell you the chow mein is good, but I LOVE IT. It is greasy, served with the old school Chun King crunchy noodles, and plentiful. All in all, you get two meals for the price of one, quick service, and the art alone is worth the money. This is junky (not junkie) American Chinese food at its very best. read more

The food was luke-warm but there was plenty of it. It was not particularly tasty and I will not be returning.

Have to admit I enjoyed the nostalgic aspect of this place! It's a hole in hole in the wall. Dark, dingy and covered in MSG. It's what my 84 year old South Texas grandpa would consider good Chinese food. Vegetarians Beware! read more

We have been coming to the wishing well since I was a child my parents came here when they were young as well. Service is always exceptional food is wonderful. read more

The Wishing Well - Sweet n sour chicken egg Foo young fried rice and diced almond chicken. Was really good - Chinese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

went to the bar section for the 1st time to check out. karaoke seemed nice enough, but service got me sold on a 'hard no' if i was ever tempted to return read more

Beyond great service! I ordered almond chicken. It came... And boy was I surprised. It was a wet, gooey mess. Not like almond chicken I'd ever had before! My friend offered to trade. Here's was the same gooey stuff - Chow Mein maybe? All I know is I don't like it. No onions, celery or water chestnuts for me - PLEASE! I asked the lady if my order was correct... And then told her the problem before she left the table. She was very kind and asked what I'd like instead. She said she'd take off the almond chicken - which in my opinion is how a restaurant should run its practice. (Customer leaves happy.) When the bill came she hadn't charged for either meal, even though if ordered broccoli beef instead. Needless to say, she got a very nice tip that night!! And recently I figured out... She is also one of my neighbors! We will definitely be back! Ooh, and their drinks are stiff. ;) read more

I have been going here since I was young ! I also come back for the egg foo young ! Been up and down the west coast nothing compares. Good old johns place. Never let down.. Do of you want good food come on down to this gem. read more

The Wishing Well - Egg foo young and Fried rice !! The gravy !! - Chinese Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I'm giving WW a 5 Star rating based solely on the egg foo yung and sweet n sour shrimp. We have been coming here for 12 years and it never disappoints. Forget that Willie and Dolly played here back in the 70's, the EFY and SSS are the best. Hand maid from scratch, the EFY has amazing flavor, texture and a gravy that is so tasty. The sweet n sour sauce is tangy, loaded with onions, peppers and BBQ pork bits!!? Yes. Delish. Ambiance is very Twin Peaks and margaritas on the bar side have been akin to a shot of tequila with a splash of lime. I can't complain. read more

Eh. While not the worst restaurant I've ever been to, Wishing Well's Chinese food is overpriced and not particularly tasty. It has a few perks, though: open late and decent cliche Chinese diner ambiance. While my pan-fried noodles were never up to par, the tomato beef curry noodles were satisfying and made up several of my late-night dinner runs during exam season. Overall: best late-night food in St. Johns. During the day, take your business elsewhere. read more

So we have never ate at this place due to all the warnings to stay away from the food. However, they pour very heavy cocktails and it's an awesome dive bar type setting. Sometimes there's some sketchy individuals but I've never seen a problem occur of all the times we have been there. Greg the bartender is also great! Always treats us like family. read more