On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Mon., Wed-Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Loading...
beef in hot oil, chive dumplings, scallion pancakes, steamed buns, and the list goes on and on!
If you want great authentic Chinese dishes that don't have borderline-racist stereotypical names like Kung Pow, General Tso, etc try Frank Ma South.
From what I understand, there have been some recent changes in management that have led to the quality of the food going down. I certainly hope that this isn't true and I'll have to make another trip to this joint and update this review.
Finally got to try Frank Ma's new resto with a group of yelpers. Kit set up a price fixe menu and the food starting coming out...for quite a while.
Esther and I were looking forward to this because it seems that for the most part, when people review Frank Ma it is always the same dishes: Fish in hot oil, 3 cup chicken, soup dumplings, etc. We were anxious to see what else he had on his plate and if other dishes were 4 or 5 star worthy.
I would say I walked out thinking it was a mixed bag but still one of the better chinese restos in Atlanta.
We started out with some cold apps: chicken, fish and duck. My favorite out of that grouping was the duck which had great flavor, although cold meats are not my favorite. Everything was good, not great though. Next came the soup which was also pretty good because it didn't have an overwhelming flavor like some do...good, not great.
The order of food from that point on is a blur. Some of the highlights and lowlights:
Highlight: Frank Ma deservedly gets props for his pan fried dumplings. Light shells with ample filling, cooked to perfection. This is one of my Frank Ma favorites.
Lowlight: I am not thrilled with his soup dumplings like others are. There is an o.k. amount of soup inside, but they are pretty bland even with a little soy sauce over them.
Highlight: Scallion pancake, amply stuffed with goodies and fried to perfection.
Lowlight: Chinese Pizza. Huh? Well...uh. Yeah. No comment (from the NY Pizza Guy).
Highlight: Fish in hot oil. This is another of my Frank Ma favorites. Chunks of filet in a tasty oil although not very 'spicy' hot. I think the cilantro does it for me though. I even grabbed the leftovers of this dish and finished that off in no time the next day.
Lowlight: Some type of beef. Not sure what kind of beef, but I definitely had a beef with the beef because it was chewy and not worthy of taking up room on my plate.
Other quick hits:
I generally like the 3 cup chicken, but I wouldn't order it again. It does have great flavor, but quite Frankmaly (ohhhhh) it is just too difficult to eat with the small bones that are in it.
Pork belly with leeks is another Frank Ma favorite of mine. What can I say? Can you really go wrong with pork belly? I don't think so!
Tofu - I actually ate it. I hate tofu. But it wasn't all that bad actually. It went in my mouth and that is a feat in itself that may never be repeated from this day forward.
Snow pea shoots - yeeeaaahhhh man were these good. I could have ate the whole plate but didn't want to be a yelp glutton.
Finally, the shrimp. The shrimp was staring at me. I don't like my food staring at me. While others say to bite the head off and eat it to make it not stare at you, I choose to carefully place the staring head onto my plate and eat the rest. While I was not as bold as other by eating heads and tails, it was fried perfectly and very tasty. I did eat the legs though which was adventurous enough for this round eye.
I won't complain if someone wants to go back to Ma's, but my bookmark list is getting rather huge and it's time to start eating.
It was also great to meet a bunch of yelpers that I felt like I already knew through words and pics. Thanks for setting it up Kit!
I took a bunch of friends here. Having eaten at the old Frank Ma's up in Chamblee I wanted to share my great experience with my friends.
Frank and Amy were both there, and were very hospitable.
But as far as the food goes, I was pretty sorely disappointed. We ordered many of the same great dishes we enjoyed from Dinho... fish in hot oil, three cup chicken, and pork belly with sliced jalapeno. oh, wait, that is now pork belly with leeks (blah)
The dishes were just not the same, they skimped a lot on the meat from the old place for one. The sliced fish in hot oil was not as spicy as before. I really don't like leeks and miss the jalapenos from my pork belly dish. The three cup chicken was alright.
I enjoyed Dinho (even post-Frank Ma) more than this, and will just continue going there.
Words used to catalog every agony and ecstasy of each experience. Soft-focus photos and extreme close-ups of breasts and legs dripping with juiciness. Website upon website dedicated to finding the newest and best of each and every encounter, some happening in dingy dens of inequity while others occurring in broad daylight for all to see. I am, of course, talking about food pR0n.
Yes, food hobbyists, fetishists, or just plain fatties salivate over every foodie find, flinging phrases of flattery fast and furious. I could deny my complicity in this, but, eating as I do, my words ring hollow. So now, instead of denying it, I take ownership of food pR0n. Gigs of pictures showing off barely legal (and by that I mean the health score) street food, reviews of high end call outs, depictions of men tossing salad and creaming pies. I claim it all now. And thus I present my latest entry to Yelphouse Forum:
I never believed these stories to be true until one day it happened to me. I'm just an ordinary guy living in a large Southern city with regular appetites. But one day, while I was cruising the web, I was invited to eat Chinese food at a place called Frank Ma's South. Frank Ma's work has pleasured me before, so I jumped at the chance, even if it's just possibly tasting his Wingnuts.
I arrived with my fiancée, a busty brunette in the 20s and found several people already there in the back room, eagerly waiting to get it on. We'd all agreed on a fixed price beforehand, so Frank and Amy Ma could focus on the goods. Some timid conversation took place at first while everyone got acquainted; the beer hadn't taken over yet. But then the food started coming.
The first dishes were cold; cold fish to get us warmed up. Bits of tofu, duck, apps to tease us into wanting more. Fish soup came next, which I lustfully lapped up. Soup dumplings, potstickers and scallion pancakes kept up the foreplay. But before I knew it, I looked up and entrees started coming and coming and COMING. Pork belly with leeks, three cup chicken, whole fried shrimps, fish in hot, hot oil. We stuffed it all into our mouths without abandon. More, Frank, oh give us MORE! So good! YES!
By the end of this orgy of food, we were all left spent and worn out. Even so, it was complete bliss. As satisfied as we were, I started planning my next trip there. Next time, though, I'll make sure to go with my fiancée and my friend, a gorgeous blond 20-something who goes to college at a nearby school.
I have driven by this dump of a strip mall more times than I can count but never ever stepped foot in here... ok, maybe if I was looking for a quick fix I would. But ever since Frank Ma took over this mutated incested thing called Chopsticks/Wingnuts, the only thing I was fixing to... was my empty stomach.
Walked in and there she was, the matriarch, Amy Ma smiling at Gastro as if I had just returned from my tour of duty... well, more like latrine duty. Hugs and kisses all around and before even sitting down, I asked if the XLB (soupy dumps) were available. She grimaced and said "No, not yet... but soon". My frown turned upside down when she said "Pork belly....". Mmmmm bacon! Everything on the menu sounded tasty but I had to go for my standbys since they just opened.
Pan fwied dumplings - These ain't your regular dumps... hot, crispy, delicate skin and flavorful filling. Now you're talking sista!!!
Pork belly with leeks - Better than before, sliced thinner, less fatty but a little bit heavy on the salt... eh, it's bacon and salt is required. Leeks were tender and gave it a nice balance. My belly was dying for another fix.
Eggplant with basil - Tasty tender eggplant logs infused with the flavor from the basil. A tad oily but shit, everyone needs to lube their chassis every once in awhile.
Fish fillets in hot oil - This was tastier than a bucket of Sea Monkeys. A dozen pieces of boneless sliced fillets swimming in a complex spicy oil accompanied with some baby shanghai bok choy. This may be too spicy for the regular roundeye but Gastro coulda used a little more heat. But delicious nonetheless and I would even sleep with the fishes for it.
Frank made his way out through the cute Fugu curtains to hob knob with the patrons... wait, fugu? Where am I? That was weird. I swear, this dude knows more people than I do. With great power comes great responsibilities... and mediocre gwub will not be tolerated is his motto. My sexy snarky gal pal brought a nice bot of vino since it was BYOB but the Ma's are on point with an opener and wine glasses. Tweak your budgets now because I guarantee you'll be coming back once or twice a week. Don't mind the small flies hovering around, they're just sprinkles or food fairies...
Xie Xie!
Burp Burp!
Yesterday, Jim sent me an email. "Hey, do you want to try Frank Ma South after work instead of Friday?" After having a crappy day at work, suddenly my outlook brightened. "Yes! See you at six."
After walking in and sitting down, Jim and I browse through the menu. Jim beams as he finds his favorite Frank Ma dish, fillet fish in hot oil. I ordered pan fried dumplings, scallion pancake, three cup chicken, and snow pea tips. Mrs. Ma comes over to our table "Scallion pancake and dumplings will take some time. It's OK?" Sure, fine with us.
The dumplings had perfect texture and taste. The scallion pancake was flaky and delicious. And really, we didn't wait long for them.
Snow pea tips were crisp and flavorful. The three cup chicken had layers of garlic, ginger and chili that will make your mouth sing. And happily, Jim was tearing into his fillet fish in hot oil with gusto.
Frank Ma came over and suggested next time we order boiled dumplings. Sure thing! I asked about the soup dumplings. He said a new oven was installed that day, and he hopes to start making them this weekend. Joy!
As we were taking our leftovers away Frank Ma called out "You'll see us again?" Yes, sir. We will. :)
No liquor license yet and they take cash, VISA and MasterCard.
Frank Ma South
Went last night to have a dinner at the new Frank Ma South yesterday. Rolling up to the place, I was a little surprised to see that it was empty. Shelli and I were the only ones there actually. We were greeted by Frank himself, and we all started talking. His plan was to have this place slowly open as he trained the staff here to perfect his dishes. What we tasted seemed to be on par with his plan.
On the table was a myriad of dishes. We ordered the following:
Scallion pancakes - Tasty as always... They even seemed to be tastier than I remembered from the Dinho location. Flaky enough while still remaining to be a solid consistency.
Pan fried dumplings - Great texture. Between the crispy bottom, and pork filling, it was a hit.
Shrimp over Snow Pea shoots - This was a first for me. The snow pea shoots were awesome. Nice and crisp to the bite, with a nice hint of bitterness to them. The shrimp was wonderfully cooked. Just great.
Steamed Vegetables - A nice mix of various vegetables, even some added on request. Perfect.
The only things that are lacking are the soup dumplings, which Frank told us would be coming in about a week. They are looking to perfect the recipe before unleashing them to the public. Also no beer, despite the Tsingtao branded fan that lined the wall in the back.
Overall a great experience, and I wouldn't have expected any less. I can't wait to go back to try all the other dishes, including Frank's highly recommended boiled dumplings.
Not good.
We went on a Saturday for lunch, had the pan fried dumplings, 3 cups chicken and kung pao shrimp. Spent a little over $40 and found the food to be very disappointing. The dumplings were ok but the kung pao shrimp was a thick, gooey, sticky mess and my sweet baboo took one look at my chicken and said "What the hell kind of chicken is that? Are you SURE that's chicken?" Even the rice tasted old. The hot tea was a joke---a crappy grocery store tea bag tossed in a kettle of water. I felt insulted and stunned, especially after reading all the rave reviews here on Yelp.
I would not recommend this place to anyone, except maybe my worst enemy.
If you build it, they will come....
We ventured to the much anticipated opening of Frank Ma South tonight. The new restaurant is located in the same shopping center as Rocky's Liquor Store near Emory, occupying both the old Wingnuts and Chopsticks. Pulling into the area made me both nostalgic and jealous. Why wasn't Frank Ma's that close when I was in college?
The restaurant is very clean and has limited seating, with about ten tables total between the two rooms. The place was nice and simple, although I scratch my head at the chairs with coffee mugs carved out in the back - I'm not sure what coffee cups have to do with Chinese food. Long-time Frank Ma fans filled the restaurant. The Ma's seemed to recognize almost all of their customers and greeted everyone warmly as usual. They are fantastic!
Dinner was pretty good. The menu had many of the old highlights... Three cup chicken, scallion pancake, pan fried pork dumplings etc. I did not see the Shanghai Soup dumplings, (sorry all of you XLB fans) although I could have accidentally missed it.
I enjoyed dinner - the dishes were beautifully cooked. My favorite dishes of the night were the San Bei Ji (three cup chicken - the best in Atlanta) and the Snow Pea Leave vegetables. We had a couple other dishes as well - pretty good but nothing really to comment on. Surprisingly, I was disappointed with the rice. It made us wonder if the restaurant somehow acquired the rice from Chopsticks, which stood in the location before. Though basic, it is one of the most important things I look for in a Chinese restaurant.
Rice put aside, I loved the Frank Ma's South and definitely recommend the restaurant. If you go, be sure to get there early. With few tables, I wouldn't be surprised if there will be a wait. The fortunate thing is that the food comes out fairly quickly. Also, I don't think word is completely out that it is open so go now! I will be back soon and will maybe update.
We were sorely disappointed last night, specifically those of us who had such an outstanding first experience. I think the rest of the group thought the food was just OK. We had a large group of 11 this time, and we decided to order a few winners from last time (scallion pancakes, pan-fried dumplings, 3-cup chicken), plus try a few new dishes that were highly recommended from fellow Yelpers (pork belly w/ leeks, spicy shredded bbq pork, stir fried shrimp w/ snow pea shoots).
First, get the chive dumplings, not the scallion pancakes. We ordered the scallion pancakes, and these were not the same as last time. Either they became renamed "chive dumplings" recently, or maybe we were just mistaken. I re-read some of the other older reviews and it sounds like others also mistakenly raved about the "scallion pancakes" when they were probably really chive dumplings based on the description. Anyway, the server was nice enough to switch the remaining orders to the chive dumplings. The scallion pancakes were bland, had very few scallions, and I'll never order them again. However, the chive dumplings were delicious as ever and still a personal favorite.
The 3-cup chicken is still very good, but even better this time b/c there was so much more chicken. (As one of my "referrals" said during a visit a while back, he thought there was more bone than chicken.) So glad to see they made some improvements to this dish. Love the sauce.
The pork belly with leeks ... disappointing! Especially after reading all the reviews RAVING about the dish. The pork was EXTREMELY salty and "smelled" funny, too. It was obvious the rest of the group didn't like it either b/c it was the only dish with food still left. Pork belly with the leeks together -- could've been a really good dish.
Spicy shredded bbq pork - very tasty but watch out, very spicy, too. Definitely recommend this one.
Shrimp with snow pea shoots - pretty good, esp. the snow pea shoots. Next time, I'd probably order just the stir-fried snow pea shoots. The greens were yummy.
Frank Ma's has good Chinese food but based on last night's experience and today's gas prices, maybe not worth the drive. At least for a little while.
Thank you Yelpers for telling us about Frank Ma's re-opening in the Briarcliff location. I was one… Read more »
Frank and Amy continue to keep me hooked. Their new digs are dangerously close to where we live, so I give up. I'm addicted.
Pan fried dumplings and scallion pancakes are as good as it gets. The dumplings are fat and full of pork, with crispy bottoms, and the pancakes have a nice density and are full of flavor.
The fish in hot oil is standard any time we go. Tender slices of white fish simmered in a peppery sauce, accented with crunchy baby bok choy. We also tried the salt and pepper squid. It was pretty tasty, but a tiny bit chewy (overcooked). No sweat, as we were still munching away.
Customer service is always kind and attentive. BYOB (and you might as well get it at the liquor store next door!).
I went with a friend for lunch at Frank Ma's. I really enjoyed Frank Ma's previous restaurant, the one in Chinatown, so i had some high hopes for this one. i also kept reading all the reviews about this place.
Well, we got the soup dumplings, the 3 cup chicken, and the fish in hot oil.
I actually thought for a little bit that the soup dumplings had freezer burn. I certainly hope not, but there was a slightly funny taste to them.
The 3 cup chicken had good flavor and sauce, but not enough meat on the chicken pieces. A lot of scraping around the bone and stuff. I thought that the 3 cup chicken at Dinho was better.
Finally, the fish in hot oil is exactly that. Fried fish pieces swimming in a large bowl of hot oil. It was good, but just lacked some oomph.
The restaurant was fairly empty, there was no music playing, there is only one bathroom for men and women. the prices were pretty high too. so i wasn't impressed at all. bummer.
I'd rather go to his former restaurant and pay $7 for a great buffet.
If you are a fan of "authentic" chinese, this is as good as it gets. It's low key canteen style and good for a casual week night when you want to throw on a pair of jeans and put those high heels away.
We tried the 3 Cups Chicken which was awesome and the Beef in Hot Oil which is a must. I loved the flavors -- i've only found this style of chinese in NYC and Chinatown in Boston so it was a great night for me. For appetizer, I liked the scallion pancakes but the chive dumpling was better.
I also love that we can take a bottle of wine in from the liquor store next door. I hear the Frank Ma no longer owns it but havent really been in a couple weeks so can't say if the quality is any different.
I want to give Frank Ma South five stars for its food. My wife would kill me if I did, however.
We arrived starving and were happy to feast on a scallion pancake ($2.50), a savory, glutenous rice-flour tart reminiscent of freshly baked mochi. One is big enough to share, but not so big I couldn't eat one right now if it were available.
With Frank's personal help, we selected three-cup chicken (having heard good things about it) and eggplant with basil (since the scent of fresh basil was noticeable even far from the kitchen).
WARNING: There are no "hot pepper" icons on the traditional Chinese menu. The three-cup chicken was searingly spicy. Because she was ravenous, my wife ate the three-cup chicken. Later that night, the three-cup chicken ate her. The bathroom carpet drip-drying on my balcony attests to the unpleasant ramifications of acid reflux.
The eggplant with basil was delicious, and if not for the absence of spiciness information on the menu, I'm sure I'd be giving Frank Ma South five stars.
With a pot of tea, our total before tip was $24.
One word: overrated.
I liken this place to a glorified Chin-Chin or Panda Express. No offense to Frank since he's a sweet man and Amy is equally wonderful but their cook is terrible. They need to find a better one.
Having good Chinese food this close to our apartment could be a real danger.
Last Friday I was stumped on what to cook, so The Boy and I drove all three minutes from home to Frank and Amy's new digs, instead. It's a little confusing what's going on with the old Chopstix/Wingnuts location, but whatever the details, the improvement is by orders of magnitude.
We ordered up a scallion pancake (to me, this was like some strange but tasty hybrid of a Korean seafood pancake and an Indian roti), some boiled pork dumplings (delicious filling, really well-made skins, but be warned... it's a lot of dumplings), and the pork belly with leeks. The pork belly was a repeat order; we'd had it before when Frank was at Dinho. Tasted a little different this time... smokier, almost? A slight hint of the same flavor you might find in BBQ pork buns, if that makes sense. Still excellent, but we need to work our way through the menu and try some other things if this is going to be part of our regular restaurant rotation.
So far, they're still BYOB, but with the package store next door, this didn't seem to be problem for our fellow customers.
Ditto to all the updates with the properly-lowered ratings. After coming here about 4 times total, I could see the downward spiral in regards to food quality. Never again. Sad.
I'm giving Frank Ma South a 3.5 for the food, and 0.5 for the fact that it's the first restaurant of… Read more »
Hit and miss. At the end of the meal, I was left with a resounding "meh." As a big fan of Dinho, I was looking forward to my dinner here but felt like they're still working out the kinks.
The appetizers were good (as always): chive dumplings, soup dumplings, chive pancakes. A personal favorite, the pork belly with leeks, was just the same as ever: delicious.
But some of the recipes have noticeably changed. The three-cup chicken used to be slightly sweet and salty....now it's fire hot with red peppers. Very good, just different. The spicy garlic shrimp seemed a little heavier than usual (too much thickening of the sauce?). The salt and pepper squid was pretty bad...tasted burned and the consistency of rubber.
All in all, Frank and Amy were great hosts and I know he said in an interview he's still trying to get the cook up to his standards. We'll be back, hopefully when they've settled in a bit more.
Went there on a Wednesday night, and we had a nice experience. We really appreciated Frank's help on choosing menu items, and it is nice to have that type of attention from the owner of a restaurant. Our favorites were the chive dumpling and the pork belly with leeks - great smoky flavor. A word I'd use to describe the food overall was savory. Nice.
It is a little pricey, but many of the entrees are a pretty good size, so enough for two people to share. I'd definitely go there again.
So, I think I'm the last yelper to eat here but it was worth going and checking out, even if I'm a little behind the times. I honestly haven't had much good Chinese food in the ATL (I used to live a block from Brooklyn Chinatown, so call me spoiled). All in all, I like Frank Ma South and will definitely be going back to try more.
This was the last supper for my parents in Atlanta before going back home. It's great having them here but like fish, family and guests start to smell after 3 days, so this was the perfect send off.
We started with the soup dumplings. I have had better but they were good -- nice and flavorful and not too soggy. The ones I had in NYC were bigger and had more soup inside, like they pour soup in the dough and then steamed them. I did like them though even though they weren't what I was expecting.
After that, we got down to business and ordered the fish in hot oil (I had to do it), a spicy shredded bbq pork dish (this was my fave), stir fried shrimp (for the non-spicy lover in our group) and an order of the pea shoots (mmmmmm -- my favorite green ever).
The fish in hot oil was really good. I could just dump some rice in the broth alone without the fish and be really happy. I don't know what I was expecting, but this was more soupy than I thought it would be. The flavor was amazing and it wasn't too spicy so you could actually keep eating it without burning your lips off your face. The cilantro was perfect too (someone else said that in a previous review -- forgot who, but that was spot on).
The spicy bbq shredded pork (or whatever it was called -- it's the first item under the "pork" heading) was my personal favorite. It was thinly sliced pork stir fried with some thinly sliced hot peppers. It was SPICY and really really really good. I highly recommend this dish if you like spice. The flavor was perfect -- a little sweet and a lot spice.
The stir fried shrimp was really simple and really good. The shrimp were perfectly cooked (i.e., not overdone) and they were in a simple Chinese white sauce with baby bok choy (another one of my favorite vegetables). If you don't like spice, this was perfect.
The other item we ordered was the pea shoots (straight up, nothing else added). They were so good. I love these things and love that I can get them when I want them (I hope they are forever in season at Frank Ma South).
Frank was there, of course, and he's really funny and nice. The service was not too intrusive but if we had a question or needed something, they were right there. One thing to note, if you don't see something on the menu (like a spring roll), just ask. One of my dining partners wanted a spring roll and they got us one, but I think it came from Chopsticks. I didn't taste it but it looked a little greasy. Finally, you can bring your own, so bring it.
For those that have not heard - Frank and Amy Ma are no longer associated with this place. That would explain the sudden and dramatic drop off. See my previous review for more details about the decline. I ate here one more time since my last review - I don't think i'll make it a point to get back. It's a shame, as they had so much potential! RIP Frank Ma South
I swear I wrote a review for Frank Ma South a few months ago - but maybe not. In any event - the… Read more »
Deprived of sleep and already full from the half pint of haagen dazs ice cream I had after lunch, I stumbled into Frank Ma's at 5:15pm on a Monday. Naturally, I was the only person there.
I am not really a fan of the asian cuisine in general, but from all the buzz, I had to stop by, especially since it took me all of 2 minutes to get here after work.
I knew what I wanted without even checking the menu: scallion pancake and fish in hot oil. Ordering these items I sat back and waited for the show to start. The scallion pancake came out first. I wasn't sure what to expect, but basically this is some kind of shortening based biscut type flat bread with scallions. It was reasonably tasty, but not something I would normally eat, because of what was likely shortening. Next up was the fish in hot oil. Frank asked me if I wanted it spicy, and I said sure, what the hell. Fortunately, he took one look at my pale skin and was able to deduce my tolerance for the spice. It was just right - made my nose run, but not enough to get all over my food. Way to go Frank. The white fish pieces were good, and the bok choy went along nicely with the dish. The one let down was the rice. Very ordinary - think mediocre chinese take out. It could be much better to go along with the entree.
Being the only person in the restaurant, I must admit, I did feel a little strange. Not because of the 6 asians to one white guy ratio - I'm from Southern California so that part is perfectly natural. The strange part was being watched the entire time I was eating. I believe by Amy. I swear she was watching me like a hawk. with lasers. She basically leaned up against a wall and watched me eat my whole meal. Which made me self conscious about my chopstick technique, and just nervous in general. Kind of uncomfortable. BUT she was very attentive in getting me things, so it's not like she was watching me for no reason. But I just had to say it is kind of weird to be the only person in a restuarant and be watched so closely. Kind of like a parent watching and waiting to correct you - hand slap at any moment... Didn't manage to loose my appetite though.
Otherwise, Frank made sure everything was good and chatted briefly with me over the course of my meal. I did enjoy the food here, despite the bit of uncomfortableness. Would I recommend this place to friends? Sho nuff. Probably would enjoy things much more if I was eating pork. I am sure some of those items are quite tasty. If you're looking for some more authentic cuisine, and good food in general, definitely check this place out.
Frank Ma South/Chopstix/Wingnuts is inexpensive, but it is hit and miss with the menu.
Misses: Frank Ma must *not* be there because I ordered the Fish in Oil: it was mostly bland aside from the hot oil which was a source of heartburn well into the next day. Kung Pao Chicken was so salty no one at my table could tolerate it.
Hits: The Pan Fried Dumplings are can't stop eating them good. Go mid week when they seem to be freshest. The Hot Pepper Beef was szechuan spicy and tender and complemented with green chive and green pepper.
Servings are big. BYOB. Located in Chopstix/Wingnuts location on Briarcliff across from Whole Foods.
Had the pleasure of meeting Amy and Frank Ma, last Thursday, when Kit F. made arrangements for a prix fixe meal for our party of 12 Yelpers.
There were so many different dishes that kept coming to our table and it was a fun experience to try many dishes that I had never tried, nor would have ordered on my own.
A few of my favorites were the cold appetizer of fried fish. I don't remember the proper name of it, but it had a salty seasoning to it and it was quite delicious. Another was the Fish in Hot Oil, which was a pleasant surprise. It was quite delicious and I even went back for seconds, but I think my most favorite were the fried shrimp, or as Randy G. liked to call them, "Fried Mud Bugs". Some people wouldn't eat them, because they were cooked whole and still had the heads attached, which just meant more for me. I'm guessing that they had been brined and then deep fried, because they had good flavor throughout.
Overall, it was good, plentiful food, good company and wonderful service. I would highly recommend that those seeking more authentic Chinese cuisine try Frank Ma South.
So I went back again over the weekend with my Yelper in Crime, Addy C. Like she said, it wasn't so good the 2nd time around. Thumbs up to shrimp with snow pea shoots(my fav dish), chive dumplings, and pan fried dumplings. Thumbs down to the scallion pancakes(make sure you order chive dumplings), pork belly with leeks(too salty), and spicy shredded pork(very spicy). I'll come back if I'm in the area, but not make a special trip just to eat here.
This place is da bomb! I went here with fellow yelper Addy C. (shout out to Addy!!) and we both… Read more »
The price/quality ratio would normally be valued at 4/5 stars, but the very notion of real Chinese food this far away from Chinatown, Buford, and Duluth demands an extra star. So yeah, it's sort of pricy, but it's damn tasty, it's authentic, and it's convenient.
Okay so I am new to the Frank Ma experience. I have read a lot about him and his excellent former restaurants, but have never had a chance to go to them while he was at the helm. I went to Frank Ma South yesterday in the very interesting location on Briarcliff across from the Whole Foods. The inside is very clean though boring with chairs that apparently came from a closed down coffe shop. But anyways who cares about decor with delicious food. Again, I don't eat Pork or Beef so my choices are always limited which is sad when everyone recommends lots of piggy dishes. My friend and I ordered a couple scallion pancakes that were oh, so yummy. They had a great consistency with the flaky outside yet still solid inside. We had an order of the stir fried snow pea shoots. Those were very good, with great texture since the stalks were slight crunchy and the leaves were very limp. Be forewarned that it is a large order. For our main course we ordered the three cup chicken and the yu-shiang (sp) shrimp. So I have never had 3 cup chicken and had seen all the recommendations for it. Let me say that it was a suprise when out came small bits of cut-up chicken wings with the bones in. I wasn't really sure how to eat it but dug in anyways. The sauce was delicious but it was hard to get meat off some of the bones. The sauce is very fragrant with garlic in it. It is sweet and spicy too. Don't order this dish on a first datE. LOL The Yu-Shiang shrimp was great as well. The shrimp tasted super fresh and it was in a great sour sauce with bamboo shoots and mushrooms. It almost tasted like a typical hot and sour soup with out the actual soup liquid. Very good anyhow. I would defintley order it again. I was very impressed with the fresh ingredients and the hospitality of the Ma's. I will defintely go back again. and next time I will try the fish in oil as suggested in another review.
Just went back and got another order of the yu-shiang shrimp. That stuff is good! I also got some seafood soup ( I think) Not worth the money: it had shrimp, bland, chewy scallops, and fish in it.
this place is so good!
i had the steamed pork buns and i can't remember how to spell it, so please forgive me, yu shaing(?) shrimp. the pork was nicely seasoned and the steamed buns, well, i just love the doughy texture. the shrimp was in a moderately spiced brown sauce with what i believe to be bamboo shoots and celery, but, what do i know, i just eat this stuff.
i highly recommend trying this place if you haven't, i had a fun time all by myself and watching handball on the flatscreen tv.
This place is really amazing, and definitely worth the drive. Frank is a great help and will be there helping and advising on what to order from their massive menu. We always leave completely satisfied, and always have a great time.
It's kinda confusing when you first go in there - it's a wing place (wingnuts), a run-of-the-mill chinese joint (chopstix) and low and behold Frank Ma is chillin up in the spot. I guess Frank is getting in with his peoples over there since his falling out with Dinho. So I've been to the new joint a couple times already. The first time I was a lil' disapointed... It seemed that Frank didn't show his new chefs the ways of the ninja yet... some of the regular favs wasn't quite up to snuff... But the second time I went up in there with a group of peeps and everything seemed good old Frank.
When you go in there make sure you ask for the Frank Ma menu. I believe Frank still upholds his BYOB policy (awesome) and there is a package store next door. I am a seafood lover and let me tell you, the Fish in Hot Oil is Jammin'. The Kung Pow Shrimp and the Kung Pow Fish is excellent. I also like the braised snow peas tips and the bokchoy. The 3 Cups chicken seems to be very popular, and so is the Pork Belly w/ Jalapeno. If you love good Chinese food and a you haven't gone up there to see frank, you're sleepin' on life.
Marietta, GA
Category: Chinese
Atlanta, GA
Category: Chinese
Atlanta, GA
Category: Chinese
Atlanta, GA
Category: Chinese
Neighborhood: Buckhead
Category: Chinese
Scattered among all the gems, there are plenty of…
Rough ranking of Chinese eats reviewed so far.…
