05/30/08

Best late night chinese food

by puddlestomper

I just recently found this place, and I'm glad I did! They're open til midnight every night, and have a huge menu with lots of veggie options. The general tsao's is to die for, and so is the salt and pepper shrimp or squid. Average prices, and I've only done take out, so I can't comment on the dining service, but they're always very friendly when I pick up my food. Parking can be scarce, as they are right on Sandy with no parking lot (that I'm aware of anyways).

• Pros: salt and pepper shrimp, friendly, open late
• Cons: parking trouble sometimes

10/22/09

Most delicious

by mrb65

I just have one piece of advice: sizzling triple. Everything I have had on this menu is top-notch, but the triple comes out sizzling for all to see and hear...and the taste: over the top. Super delicious, hot, fresh, affordable, and friendly. What else could you ask for?

• Pros: Great, fresh, hot and original
• Cons: parking can be tough, but not too bad

09/15/09

Incredibly gracious service

by w5phere

Parking may be hard to come by, but it's worth the effort.

I'm one of those picky people who never orders fried foods, because the oil always tastes bad to me. For that reason, I've always hated salt and pepper squid, and it's fishy cousins. I've never had it prepared well.

Here it is lovely, light, crispy, clean tasting, not overwhelmingly spicy, but as far from bland as you can get. The squid itself remained tender beneath it's crunchy exterior. I finally know what all the fuss is about. Wonderful, craveable dish. For that reason alone, I'll be back. Often.

I also had the Mongolian beef, and the scallops with sweet pea pods. The Mongolian beef had that soft texture that some Chinese restaurants have. But it was nice and tender. I'd much rather have soft than chewy stuff that you have to return to a discrete corner of your napkin. The flavor was very nice, much better than the gloppy sweet stuff of my childhood.

The scallops and pea pods could have had a bit less sauce, but it's a tiny quibble. The pea pods were lovely, all our veggies were fresh. Much care goes into this food. I enjoyed it all tremendously.

Some other reviews have said the food is a bit too salty. I don't know that it's so very salty that it takes away from the food any, but I wouldn't complain if it were a bit less salty either. They use such fresh ingredients, it would be nice to taste more of the fresh veggies a bit if it were not quite so heavily seasoned.

The dishes I ordered all had a wee bit of kick. For folks used to Americanized food, it may be a bit of a surprise, but it's really nice not to eat the same old Panda type food.

The best thing beyond the amazing food is the service. It's not cranky or cantankerous. After having a horrible, horrible day, I needed some cheering up. By the time I got my youngest kids to sleep and my oldest and I could head out, it was late.

They were friendly and gracious. I offered to get my food to go, but the hostess offered to seat us, and knowing I wanted a Vietnamese coffee, I decided to stay.

By the time we left, it was 10 minutes after closing. The hostess made us feel completely welcome, at the end of what had to be a long night for her.

This is probably the best service anywhere in Portland. I had a fantastic time. I left smiling. Aside from a great meal, it made my day better. What a gift.

• Pros: Best salt and pepper squid I've ever had
• Cons: Parking

01/09/09

favorite chinese take-out

by sosleepy

This is my favorite Chinese food. I have never eaten in, so I can't comment on the service or atmosphere, but everytime I come in for to-go food everyone is very nice. My favorites are the salt & pepper shrimp, and the General Tso's chicken. Soooo tasty. The General Tso's is just the right amount of sweet, and nice and crispy. The pieces are a little too big, but no biggie. Highly recommend this place. And they're open pretty late which is a plus.

• Pros: salt & pepper shrimp
• Cons: street parking only

12/27/08

Ok to check out for your self.

by evett726

I was talked into going to this restaurant. There is no parking; it is on the busy street of NE Sandy St. Casual attire is fine. The House Rice was okay, nothing to rave about. The Lemon Spicy Fried Shrimp was the best. The Sizzling Vegetables with Seafood was ok it lack freshness of the vegetables I felt. The decorum was not inviting but the host/waitress/cashier was very confident in talking to us which I like very much.

• Pros: customer service was great.
• Cons: parking is horrible

04/14/08

Best Ever!!

by Lizzy06

Been going there for years and absolutely LOVE it! Everyone I take there stays a regular customer. Everything is always super fresh, especially the vegetables. I love spicy and they do it well, upon request. Favorites are definetly pepper-salted shrimp and crispy sesame shrimp. My favorite Portland restaurant.

• Pros: Fresh, fast, inexpensive, homey atmosphere
• Cons: parking, if any

01/30/08

I've tried desperately to find good Chinese in PDX. I've finally found it here.

by Michael504

My girlfiend and I moved up to PDX two years ago, and were shocked with the number of sub-par Chinese places in Portland, especially since my girlfriend's favorite food was Chinese. We were let down a lot at first with over a dozen attempts, and when all hope to find good Chinese seemed lost, we decided randomly to try this place. It was just what we were looking for. Delicious dishes, Verrrrry generious portions. Incredibly inexpensive for what you get. If, like us, you are having a hard time find 'your' kind of Chinese in PDX, give this place a shot.

• Pros: taste, variety of dishes, portions, price.

01/11/08

True Comfort Food

by xantippe

We used to live around the corner from Zien Hong, and miss it sorely. The staff are so friendly, and the food is dependably delicious, unlike many other joints we could name! Our favorites are the curry noodles, chow mein noodles, kung pow combination, Mongolian beef, and General Tso's chicken. The decor leaves a lot to be desired, but it hardly matters when yummy food is in the offing.

• Pros: value, great taste, kind staff
• Cons: parking, ambiance

12/19/07

Never Fails to please

by ammydam1999

My Dad introduced this place to my siblings and I about ten years ago. He talked it up so much I was sure I'd be dissapointed, not the case. We have been coming back monthly ever since. I feel spoiled for good chinese/asian cuisine, no where else compares now. They are friendly, fast and the food is ALWAYS very good. We used to jokingly say we couldn't go wrong and shout out random numbers for choices on the menu, and we were always pleasantly suprised. It's a HUGE menu, they are fast and it's always what you expect it to be. I would take anyone here. Sure it's dark and not very visually stimulating, but if you're just looking for GOOD food, you can't miss at Zien Hong. Don't leave without trying the pepper fried shrimp, or sizzling happy family.

• Pros: GREAT food, fast service, quick take-out
• Cons: small, boring visually

12/13/07

Bad pho

by scity

Do not go here for pho!!! The pho soup I ordered came with only broth, a couple of slices of meat, a lot of noodles, and nothing else. It was an insult to the vietnamese national soup.

• Pros: can't think of any
• Cons: no parking and bad pho