Ming's Cafe

A fulfilling 5 star Ming experience. It was the weekend, I'm being lazy, I wanted Chinese delivered, and in the end Ming's Cafe over-delivered.

It's been a while since I've had Chinese food, and for some reason I was craving fried rice or stir fry but didn't want to go get it. I started a search on Yelp for Chinese places in my neighborhood that deliver, and, much to my surprise, they weren't plentiful in the North Campus area. Ming's popped up, so I read the reviews and gave them a call. The guy said their delivery was running late, about 45 min to 1hr. Yikes! That's not feasible, I'm feeling inpatient, so I told him I would have to think about it and hung up.

After unsuccessfully trying to find something else at home to satisfy my craving, I soon called Ming's back to ask how their delivery was running now - - the guy said they were back on track, about 30-45 min estimate. Okay, let's do this.

I got the Jow's Chicken, Pad Thai, and a little Pork Fried Rice. I wanted some choices, plus I figured I could have some leftovers for the next day or work week if it keeps well. Now remember - the guy said 30-45 min, so I was expecting the worst case scenario. But you'll never believe it - I heard a knock on my door and it was the Ming's driver.......the time? 23 minutes!!! Now that's what I call a fast delivery!!!

After a generous tip I tried to dive into my entrees but was halted - by - you'll never guess - - the heat! That's right, the food was so hot I had to wait for it to cool down. Now when's the last time you can recall when you had food delivered that was piping hot - as if you were in their kitchen? Seriously, I couldn't even touch the fried rice for several minutes.

Everything tasted great, the Pad Thai was awesome, not too greasy, something I would get again. The Jow's Chicken has a nice gingery zing to it, and the Pork Fried Rice really topped off my Chinese craving. Ming's came through for me on a weekend night - - a reliable, fast, and tasty decision! For 23 bucks and change plus tip - - it was well worth it to me....my go-to for Chinese delivery!

The Good:
:: location. it's off the drag, which is good for people who live central (students, hyde park residents, etc)
:: outdoor seating. very good for people watching
:: fast service
:: friendly servers
:: egg drop soup
:: egg rolls (meat-based) were decent. the duck sauce we dipped them in was good
:: interior is nice

The Bad:
:: mosquitoes kept biting me outside. not that anyone could do much about that but it really didn't make for a very relaxing meal
:: your meals come in styrofoam containers. water came in a styrofoam cup. main dish came on a styrofoam plate. egg rolls came in paper little containers that you normally put french fries in. very bizarre. plus it's a fartload of waste going into a landfill unnecessarily.
:: the dish i had, the garlic shrimp, was not very good at all. the sauce was too oily and salty...blah. i didn't finish the meal. the green and red peppers were okay, but the mushroom was mush. the shrimp were too soft...your typical frozen fare.
:: the dish my boyfriend had, the curry shrimp, was not very good either. the zucchini was overcooked, and the shrimp was like mine---too soft and not very good.

The Ugly:
:: none.

Would I go back? Probably not. I might go back and give it a second chance, but it's not likely in the near future.

This place is OUT.

Cheap, fast, and yummy.

Last night in my blazing stupor, a couple friends and I decided to order delivery. We got the chicken eggrolls, combination fried rice, general tso's chicken, sesame chicken, and hunan beef. I've got to say, there is a reason why I stuffed my greedy fat self til I could take it no more!
--And because there was no more left :'(

The food is around a 7 on a Chinese food scale from 1 to 10. 1 being Magic Wok and 10 being actually being in China :) The eggrolls had a shell that was so thick that it was crispy on the outside, but had this delicious chewiness right beneath it. They had forgotten the sweet and sour sauce so I just used the General's sweet, sweet sauce...

I'm not a big fan of battered chicken dipped in a sweet sauce, but my friends were having a blast with the gustatory pleasures that were dancing in their mouth... and I mean DANCING. They loved it!

MmmMmm... the Hunan Beef, I just could not get enough of. It was so tender and it slid through my teeth at the first bite. I wonder what cut of meat they use? The hunan sauce itself had a salty/savory/umami taste that made me mix (little by little) in all the white rice! I'm so mad at myself!

The fried rice. Shrimp-Delicious. That is all I have to say.

So I get the Mings Wings, after reading how tasty they were.
I was simply unimpressed.
The rice was dry and bland... some of it even crispy (ewww!).
The chicken batter itself had a little flavor, but no so for the chicken itself.
The food didn't taste fresh at all.
I'll have to pass on a re-visit.

VEGETARIAN REVIEW:

Only a few veg options here and only 2 I think with any protein, which is why I ordered the General blah blah on the specials menu (it had bean curd). They were actually out of bean curd but let me order anyway and I was served, albeit very politely and promptly, a greasy flavorless proteinless plate that I had to doctor up with soy sauce and any other sauce I could acquire. An extra star for the fresh green veggies but minus a star b/c I was charged a buck for adding broccoli. When I politely asked for soft tofu in place of the missing bean curd (I rarely complain and wasn't upset per se but just needed a little protein), they were very helpful and attentive (added a star for the hospitality).

All in all not awful but just not a place for us veggies. Especially considering this is the same building that was home to the most wonderful poet's plate at my beloved Little City *le sigh*...

Listen up, folks. A new bar has just been set for what a 5 star review should be, and it was set by Ming's. Holy moley! There is a part of me that wishes I had never rated anything as 5 stars before, so I could set this review apart.

Let me begin at the beginning. Last night, a friend of mine threw a couple's shower for my fiancee and I at Ming's. She contacted the owner, Fay (the awesomest man ever!), and told him what she was planning. HE OFFERED to cook something special for us. And, boy, did he! He cooked us his specialty, which isn't on the menu, but is was this steamed, fresh tilapia in a delicious soy and garlic sauce. So good!

He took care of us all night! He came out several times during the meal to make sure everything was perfect and ask if we needed anything. Then, when we were finished, he came out and had a beer with us. He's a wonderful man!

Also, one of the best parts about this restaurant is that it is BYOB! You can have a great meal AND keep costs down.

GO THERE!!!!!

When I was sick, I decided chinese delivery would make me feel better. I was right. I called Ming's to ask if they had a menu online somewhere-- and indeed they do. It would be nice if the top part of this could reflect that. It's mingscafe.spaces.live.com.

I ordered crab puffs, egg drop soup, and chicken lo mein. Of course I didn't eat it all at once, but it was all delicious. The soup was a wee bit salty, but not too bad. The delivery starts at 5:00... so I called on the dot and it was at my apartment by 5:30. $15 minimum on delivery orders.

I'd recommend it.

Ming's Cafe is right by campus and on my way home. I've gotten food there several times when on the way home, or on the way into the lab for some late-night work.

Is it absolutely dynamite? Nope, but it's not bad at all. I've met the owner and he's there working many of the times I've been in. I consider that a very good sign. The staff has always been pleasant (even though I have shoes older than most of them). I usually order General Yow's chicken, and it's not bad. Much less greasy than most and very edible. As I said, not the best, but it's adequately good and the serving size is perfect for me. Many times there has been an impressive array of motorcycles outside (the owner's and his friends).

I'm going to give this place 4 stars, not because the food is that great, but because they're working hard to make a success of the cafe, and I think they'll do it. It's a friendly and comfortable place, and the food has been better each time I stop there.

Mings Wings! I don't like chicken wings, but these come with pure crack in the fried batter. Very tasty.

DISCLAIMER: I'm friends with Fai Jow(pronounced Fay), the owner and proprietor of Mings Wings. He was a friend of a friend, I met him while he was opening Mings Cafe, and now I go so much we've become friends. So take or leave my review.

I was shocked to see even seasoned yelpers like Steven N, had a so so experience at Mings. I've been recommending it wholeheartedly since it opened.

We love the Roast Pork LoMein, the egg rolls, and Mings Wings. You can get the wings either as an appetizer or with fried rice.

Mings makes their own ginger sesame sauce, which I use to dip 100% of the things I get in. Their chili oil is also a homemade mix which I find to be the perfect heat.

Some of the most interesting things are not on the menu, but on a specials chalk board in the restaurant. Asparagus fried rice, spinach fried rice, Craw-fish Fried Rice (This I have not tried), and things with green beans. I have not tried the stuff with green beans yet, but I was there once when they were snapping a big tub of beans. Smelled wonderful.

I have always found everything to be very fresh, and non canned at Mings. I consider it the best Chinese in this central part of town.

I've never once eaten there, we always get take out, but I noticed Mings outdoor garden area was recently rated best patio garden in the Chronicles Best of Austin 2007.

Mings always has the cutest co-eds working the counter, but if you get to go, specify what sauces you want and make sure you get them.

I love Mings being on the drag, so close to the Showdown where I spend alot of time. I think I have eaten there about once a week since it opened.

I'll be interested to read further reviews.

No... No... No...

Honestly, no direspect Ming...but no means no. Stop forcing yourself onto Austin's already diluted Asian-food scene. This place is as Americanized as it gets. I mean I can get-down with the Americanized-Chinese food scene but this place makes me cry.

I sampled a few dishes here with my friend....the fried rice was lacking any flavor at all. I make better fried rice at home for about 20% of the price here. I mean how do you screw up fried rice?? My friend informed me that you had to add all this chili oil and special powder... if I wanted to make my own food, why am I paying this restaurant 6 bucks to create my own dish... that makes absolutely no sense. I ventured not very far and ordered the roasted pork lo mein. Decent, however the roasted pork was obviously old, tough, and dried out. The lo mein itself tasted fine except way way way too greasy. You know its greasy when your lips feel like you rubbed olive oil instead of chapstick.

The prices are fair but this place is whack. I dont know any self-respecting Asian who would roll up in this place. Save your money...the tacky "asian" decorations really is enough to scare me away.