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ABC Chinese Seafood Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Chinese Seafood, Chinese [Edit]
2705 54th Ave NSt Petersburg, FL 33714
(727) 522-1888
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Thu 5 pm - 12 am
Fri-Sun 5 pm - 1 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for ABC Chinese Seafood Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Similar to China Yuan but not quite as amazing." In 3 reviews -
"The Seafood with Braised Tofu in Spicy Sauce Hotpot ($13.95..." In 2 reviews -
"...Seafood & Tofu Casserole with black bean sauce which came..." In 4 reviews
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15 reviews in English
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Review from Jennifer Y.
Clinton, CT
10/23/2011
I live in CT and my parents live in Tampa, so when I get to go visit them, there is always a trip to ABC in the itinerary. I could literally eat there every night I'm in town. And what's so surprising is that I live so close to NYC, yet I can't find a restaurant that meets the caliber of authentic Chinese food here.
More about the restaurant. It is your authentic Chinese cuisine restaurant that has fresh seafood in tanks. You can see that your dinner is truly fresh. They have an array of seafood options from fresh shrimp, eel, lobster, and various kinds of fish that you can select to be prepared whichever way you wish.
Here are some of my favorites:
- Authentic Peking duck - comes with steamed buns that you use to eat the duck with along with some scallions and Hoisin sauce. The best I've had anywhere in the US.
- Tiger clams in black bean sauce.
- Eel and pork in a hot pot
- Fresh steamed fish in ginger sauce
- Pork intestines sauteed in hot pepper sauce
- Cold jelly fish appetizer
- Fresh snow pea pods sauteed in light garlic sauce
- Coconut milk balls (fried, sweet gooey balls)
Price is VERY reasonable considering you are getting some of the freshest seafood around. I haven't tried their Americanized Chinese dishes, but I know you will find that prices are very reasonable for these as well.
It's location is a bit obscure, so you could say this is definitely a hidden gem. It's located in a sketchy looking strip mall, in which you would believe that you're in the wrong place. Signage is not that great either, you have to try this place for some of the best food around. It won't disappoint! -
Review from Ed H.
Ben Lomond, CA
Good American Chinese food--better than many restaurants I've been to in China! I had the hot and sour seafood soup, Grouper in XO sauce and special house fried rice. The soup was the best hot and sour soup that I can remember having and the Grouper was tasty with lots of veggies and straw mushrooms...the fried rice was OK but nothing special. Portions were very large.
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Review from Hung D.
Largo, FL
7/20/2011
We heard about this place through a friend and was told it was delicious. It's a tiny hole in the wall place in the middle of nowhere on 54ave and 28th St. From the street, the only thing you can see is a yellow sign with Chinese characters. We assumed that was the right place and drove into the sketchy (and a little scary) plaza.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that they had Peking duck with steamed buns on the menu. This was the first place I've seen that offers that. Needless to say, I ordered it...and it was GOOD. I haven't had good authentic Chinese duck in a long time so I was very pleased with this place.
They also have fresh fish right out of their aquarium. There were about 10 large tilapias, eel, and crabs swimming around, ready to be taken out and killed. I felt a little bad when I ordered the fried tilapia with sweet and sour sauce. The poor fish was taken out of the fish bowl, into the fryer, and onto my plate in a matter of minutes. Though it was as fresh as can be, I couldn't really taste anything but the sweet and sour sauce. It's great if you don't like the taste of fish, but I couldn't appreciate it's freshnes.
I was a little annoyed that they charged us $1 for rice, but they gave us a free tapioca dessert that made up for it.
I would definitely come back to this little place next time I'm in the mood for some authentic chinese cuisine. I think it compares to Yummy House in Tampa, but just a tad more pricey. For those who are living in St Petersburg area, this place is definitely worth checking out! -
Review from Sum G.
St. Petersburg, FL
1/13/2012
Good authentic chinese food in Saint Pete. Kinda pricey but it's served family style. They also serve a delicious desert soup at the end of your meal.
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Review from Noel I.
St Petersburg, FL
9/15/2011
Unassuming store front hides a warm and welcoming hidden gem with delicious Chinese fare.
This is very authentic, fresh and fast Chinese seafood from many regions in China including Canton, where the owners originated. The server warmed up to us after we started ordering in Mandarin and it became a very nice dining experience.
The hot & sour seafood soup was peppery, savory and sour and we loved every drop. Bits of scrambled egg, fresh scallions, shrimp and tofu in a thick broth whet our appetites. We also tried the (#1) Seafood & Tofu Casserole with black bean sauce which came in a cast iron pot. Mixed seafood such as flounder, squid, scallops, and shrimp with braised fried tofu and vegetables in a spiced gravy was amazing over the hot white rice. We also order the mixed seafood pan-fried noodles with vegetables. The noodles were more like deep-fried egg noodles but covered in a similar mix of veggies and seafood as in the casserole but with a garlicky soy sauce gravy to soften the noodles. Oh, yum! The casserole was a little on the salty side but I expect that from a dish with fermented black beans. Everything was satisfying, authentic and pleasurable. Service was nice, at a Chinese-pace but we weren't going anywhere soon with our full bellies.
Best Chinese seafood on the peninsula.
NOTE FOR AMERICAN YELPERS: This place is SO authentic, from charging for rice to slower service or untimely serving of entrees. Yes we're in the US of A but you're going in for a slice of China, right? Restaurants all over China charge for rice, it's standard, get over it. In a rush? Call ahead or just enjoy your food coma as your server knows to attend to you and get your check. Entrees didn't come out all at once? That's an American standard, not universal. Platters come out when they're ready, that could be while you're still enjoying your appetizer or twenty minutes into your meal. Just go with the flow, ladies and gents. -
Review from Nat W.
2/3/2011
Everyone around me says it is such a good Chinese restaurant so I had to see with my own eyes.
We ordered the wanton soup, salt and pepper calamari, house fried rice and Beijing duck egg noodle. Everything we had was good and tasted fresh. I was not like crazy about their food like some people here on yelp. They were good but not sensational. The check was $50 without the tip for just two of us. I have to say that is kind of expensive for Chinese food. (We are not talking about a 5 star Chinese restaurant here).
Do not expect good service. On Sat night they only had 2 servers and the restaurant was almost full house. There was a huge line of people just to be seated and the phone kept ringing and ringing but not to be answered. Honestly, I like Yummy House and China Yuan in Tampa better. You get plenty of good food for $20 for two and definitely more affordable! But I'm sure I still will be back to ABC, because it is probably the best Chinese in St. Pete. -
Review from Michael Z.
St Petersburg, FL
10/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This hybrid Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant does not disappoint. The Peking Duck and Dungeness crab dishes were outstanding. The owner gets bonus points for handling my take-out request outside of his normal hours (his hours were not posted and I didn't realize his accommodation until I went to pick up my order.) Sorting through the plethora of frozen, deep fried, chinese take-out joints can be tedious, so finding a place like this is a welcome surprise.
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Review from Zad I.
Clearwater, FL
We are new to the area and so far our experience with restaurants around the area has not been that great yet, but slowly moving to a more positive direction.
This was our first seafood intake since moving to FL and my will I say this was a very exceptional experience. The location was not at all great and we were very close to not even going in, but we decided to anyway based on the recommendation of a co-worker. We got the fried noodles with seafood and clams with black bean sauce. It was by far the best Chinese seafood I've had.
The only reason why I rated this place 4 stars was because the wait times were very long and they only had 1 waiter, the other person there was the owner. Maybe they had someone call out, but for a Friday night a restaurant should be a little bit more prepared. Either ways, I would recommend this place to anyone looking to have a Asian Seafood Dining Experience. -
Review from Natalie F.
Schererville, IN
7/3/2011
New to area, and haven't found a place that met our Chinese food standards. Came across this by accident. Do not mistake the outside of the building, looks very ghetto, inside is better don't worry!! :) ordered beef and broccli, and chicken lo mein, I must say the portions were generous, and the food was OUTSTANDING!!! I will DEFINITELY be returning to ABC!!!
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Review from Clarence E.
Tampa, FL
4/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Consistently good authentic Chinese food with a wall of fresh (tank swimming) seafood. Used to consistently order our favorite seafood noodle dish and tofu hot pot, etc. But we're finding specials delectable and eating our way through the menu. The fish in the noodle dish is real fresh, and take it from a discerning fish eater. Kid friendly and our kids eat everything here. I wouldn't necessarily come here if you are looking for American-Chinese fast food like the usual gleaming sugar coated stuff. This is real authentic cooking that we drive 30 min to eat, kids in tow. Great food.
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Review from Coty S.
6/11/2009 7 photos
Located right off the 54th Ave North exit on 275, in a shady looking strip mall with tinted windows and right next to a tattoo parlor. You walk in and are greeted by a shiny new clean looking and bright environment. Most of the customers are seated at large round tables, Vietnamese families enjoying their family time together with some good seafood. The waitresses and managers speak Cantonese.
The menu is fairly extensive, so it was hard to choose because everything sounded great. The menu is in English, Chinese, and Vietnamese. There are large, well kept flowing tanks of fish, live shrimp, lobster, and crab on the back wall with the price per pound clearly posted and changed regularly. There is also a specials board upon entering.
We ordered the Char Siu Pork ($6.95) appetizer and it was about a pound of tender, moist meat floating in the drip pan sauce. The flavor was not what I am fond of (I like a lot of clove and five spice flavor), but everyone else really liked it. I am so spoiled by China Yuan with the honey roast pork.
The Soy Sauce Chow Mein ($8.95) was delicious and had the perfect chive and garlic flavor. The only veggies added to this tasty dish were thin sliced onion and green onion, which made the dish very versatile. It tasted great with bites of pork and the seafood we were eating. The Seafood with Braised Tofu in Spicy Sauce Hotpot ($13.95) was an amazing mix of many flavors that all complimented on another. There are fresh scallops, fillets of flounder, plump snappy shrimp, tender squid, and puffy pieces of tofu. The tofu absorbed the spicy black bean wine sauce and had a great consistency, and so did the big pieces of dried mushroom caps and thin sliced button mushrooms. The spiciness came from dried chilies as well as thin sliced rings of jalapeño peppers. It all came out in a sizzling clay pot and stayed steaming hot through the entire dinner. Definitely worth the money for all of the delicious seafood included and even enough for two to share.
You are given a complimentary dessert that changes daily. Today it was my favorite honeydew and cantaloupe; diced into small cubes in a coconut milk and tapioca soup.
I will definitely be coming back soon for the seafood. There were many XO sauce options and all of the seafood we tasted was very fresh. It would also be fun to come with a large group of people to try many different dishes at once and compare and spend time with friends and family. Note that they are open very late at night.
I have read a couple reviews about this place on private blogs or Chowhound, but they are not accurate. One said that they have a case of hanging BBQ meats like China Yuan in Tampa does, they do not. Another said that they have the Chinese version of JaJang Myun, but they do not. Either way I was very pleased with the closer location to where I live and the quality of the food consumed.Listed in: Best of Saint Petersburg, FL
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Review from Felipe G.
Largo, FL
I had read many good reviews of ABC Chinese Seafood on the ChowHound message boards and was eager to try it myself. It was consistently mentioned as the Pinellas County equivalent of Yummy House and China Yuan over in Tampa so this also spiked my interest.
This past weekend I finally got a chance to go check it out and I was not disappointed. We started with the salt and pepper calamari and it was maybe a tad bit overcooked but the taste of the fried squid and pepper/scallions/onions was really great. I found myself even eating the accompaniment after the main squid pieces were gone. For an entree I had the hot pot Seafood with Braised Tofu in a Spicy Sauce which was recommended by Coty review. It was a very large portion and was really bursting with seafood. The scallops were large and probably the best part, but the squid and fish pieces were very good as well . The sauce actually had a bit of a spicy kick too it thanks to the fresh cut jalapeno slices and seeds. It wasn't overly spicy and I like really hot foods, but it was nice to have a menu item that is listed as spicy actually taste that way, usually I am disappointed in that department. The sauce was black bean based and really went well with the seafood, not overpowering the flavors and the tofu was firm and slightly fried instead of the silken soft tofu you find in so many chinese dishes.
The menu at ABC is rather extensive and definitely favors seafood. They have a large selection of live fish, crabs, shrimp, lobsters which can be ordered for the labeled market prices and prepared a variety of ways. With the fish tanks clearly displayed in the dining room there is no question as to the freshness of the food being prepared.
There is also a good selection of tofu and vegetable based dishes and a vegetarian could probably pick from 7-8 dishes (or make slight changes to omit meat).
Overall I look forward to coming back, when it isn't quite so hot there as there is a good looking soup section of the menu, with the soups coming prepared for groups of 4.
For the really adventurous eater looking for some truly authentic Chinese cuisine there are some interesting menu choices available: jelly fish head, beef tendon, pork chitterlings, preserved duck wings, shark fin soups, and lots of frog based dishes.
Overall a great choice for authentic Chinese that is bound to be different (and tastier) than most of the NY style takeout people are accustomed to. -
Review from CYNTHIA C.
Alexandria, VA
11/25/2010
As authentic as it gets. This Chinese restaurant is fantastic! I wish I had ordered the duck because everyone's looked soooooo good. I got the salt & pepper pork chop. Unfortunately it wasn't very flavorful. The other dishes .... beef with mushroom and seafood soup were very good. Reasonable prices, no frills restaurant.
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Review from Cathy S.
Saint Pete Beach, FL
6/11/2010
Similar to China Yuan but not quite as amazing. It's still pretty damn good- excellent veggies, no MSG, and nice prices. It's not perfect- I compare everything to Clearwater's Peking Palace of the '80s- but it's not a hardship to eat here, either.
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Review from Foodie L.
Bethesda, MD
11/13/2009
This restaurant serves up great authentic Chinese food. Well, if you want to be specific, it is really good Cantonese style Chinese food. We had wonton soup, watercress with garlic wine sauce, and deep fried squid with scallions. It brought me back to when I was a kid eating this at Chinese restaurants, while on vacations. My parents would take my siblings and I to all the Chinatowns in the different cities in search of awesome Chinese food. The Cantonese style was always my favorite. It mostly consist of seafood and vegetable dishes. For those of you who love meat or if you're a vegetarian, they also have plenty for you to pick from the menu.
One of the big reason everything taste so good because the foods are very fresh. They have fish tanks where you can actually pick the fish, crab, or lobster to order!
If you are looking for really good authentic Cantonese style Chinese food, this is the place for you. Enjoy!
