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Tommy's Wok
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Kevin L. said: "should be called dumpling king or with a chinese accent "dumpring kring". damn each time i come here it tastes better and better. any of the dumplings are good; chicken, pork, shrimp whatever dipped in the tasty sweet black vinegar…" read more »
131 reviews for Tommy's Wok
Review Highlights
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"The best Chinese food in Marin hands down." In 5 reviews -
"The hot and sour soup was absolutely TO DIE FOR, as well." In 7 reviews -
"Dishes like walnuts and prawns or crab and cheese puffs." In 3 reviews
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131 reviews in English
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Review from Toko M.
Sacramento, CA
In Chinatown (San Francisco), there are lots of dinky little hole-in-the-wall eating places. Some are upstairs, some are downstairs, and most of them have pathetic service, and often, the eating places aren't very clean... But I personally wanted to experience dining at a fancier Chinese restaurant, outside of the big city, without flashing lights, noise, and crowded streets.
So I ended up here, at "Tommy's Wok" in this quaint little town called Sausalito.
When I first heard the name "Tommy's Wok" I knew they weren't going to be authentic, and I thought the chances of this restaurant being halfway decent were even more unlikely. Boy, was I ever wrong. The name is totally deceiving!
--
As you walk in, you see a beautiful tropical fish tank filled with sea anemone, clown fish, and other tropical varieties in the large fish tank on your right, and a hostess/waiter standing on your left who will invite you in to take a seat.
The interior of the restaurant is also quite lovely. The decorative wooden chandeliers and slightly dimmed lighting both give this restaurant a nice comfortable atmosphere. Traditional Chinese artwork cover the walls. The presentation of their food is also quite nice. And the restrooms are clean!
Their food is Americanized Chinese food, with a fancy presentation given to it. Sure its greasy---but there's no MSG---and its quite delicious! Their house fried rice had some of the best flavor I ever tasted in a fried rice. And that's saying a lot. I ate way more of it than I originally wanted to. And I honestly have not felt that stuffed in a long time... Their food is really good, but it really sticks to the gut.
Our food didn't come out extremely fast, (so you may want to order one or two appetizers) but when it did come out, it was (delicious and plentiful and) well worth the weight.
In between the kitchen and dining area is a glass "wall" divider. Looking through the glass you are able to see chefs in the kitchen, busy at work. Although you can't clearly see which dishes they are making, its still a cool concept.
I also like how they have the hostess conveniently positioned near the entrance so that people are immediately welcomed-in and seated. The service here seemed attentive and friendly but it was obvious that not all the waiters speak perfect english, but that didn't bother me. I mean, I came here to eat, not conduct a lesson in english grammar.... And besides that, the waiters seemed attentive and polite. They even refilled my glass in a timely manner!! That's good enough for me.
It should be noted though, that the prices are a little expensive here. Dinner for two here may fetch upwards of $40 depending upon how much you order. You're paying for a nice atmosphere and fine dining. But alas, its somewhat to be expected. I mean, this isn't Chinatown.
I did notice though, that a few other yelpers seem to be less satisfied about their to-go orders. I didn't order my food to-go, so I can't speak in this regard, but they say that Tommy's Wok may give less food for to-go orders, or care less about quality, so you have been warned.
Overall, I personally have nothing bad to say about Tommy's Wok. I was quite impressed. And seeing that big tropical fish tank as you enter is a really nice touch, it really sets the mood for the level of fine dining that you are about to experience here. Its certainly something that I won't soon forget.
So if you want to experience delicious tasting Chinese food in a nice relaxed atmosphere without all of the noise, hustle and bustle, and tourists of Chinatown, then you should drive across the bridge and come to this nice restaurant in Sausalito. -
Review from Maria G.
San Francisco, CA
I live in San Francisco, which is no stranger to Chinese food, but many Chinese restaurants I've frequented are lit by blaring fluorescent lights and painted super white and the food has been just meh.
Then I happened upon Tommy's while in Sausalito, and nothing compares. I drive over the bridge just to go there. Yeah, it's kind of situated in a parking lot/strip mall, but the decor and ambiance inside is lovely, and they have a nice line of bamboo hedges outside that sort of sets a boundary.
The food is super tasty, not greasy, and you get white meat chicken in most dishes! I can't tell you the number of times I've been told "yes, white meat" and gotten the grossest most greasy and fatty dark meat. I guess it's white compared to beef, but yuk! The dog benefits from these meals bc I can only choke down so much of it.
Also, my daughter has come with me a few times and once things we've both noted is that the service is so friiendly and polite. Our servers and the bussers are super nice.
If you're tired of authentic low-to-mid-range San Francisco Chinese restaurants, and you want your white meat to be, well, white, and your food to be delicious (try the basil chicken, the paper-wrapped chicken, the lemon grass chicken, or hot and sour soup for sure) and served in a lovely atmosphere, it's worth the drive. There are some fine Chinese restaurants in the city, and some of the hole in the walls have excellent food, but Tommy's is my favorite wok. -
Review from Jessica C.
Mill Valley, CA
The food was good, but the service was lousy. It makes me a little crazy when servers have such a hard time understanding English.
I called the food in from work but said over the phone I was going to eat there. I just wanted them to start my order bc I didn't have much time. When we arrived at the restaurant, they brought us the food in to-go containers (which we should have just ate out of. We explained we were eating there. So she took the food back into the kitchen to plate it, but didn't bring it back for 20 minutes!! Then it was cold! Ugh, so frustrating.
I understand what I was asking for may have been confusing, especially w the language barrier but c'mon.. I wasn't asking too much. .. Besides that the food was good!! I'm definetly going to try it out again -
Review from Maria C.
Emeryville, CA
Mostly bland and not particularly fresh "Chinese" food. If this is the best Marin has to offer, as other reviewers claim, then Marin is in sad shape when it comes to Chinese restaurants. I think national chain PF Chang has far better food overall, and they're in nearby Corte Madera. Go there instead, or pop into SF for something worth having.
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Review from Chris M.
Granada Hills, CA
Food was very good and service was prompt. However, portion sizes extremely tiny. And prices are 15$ for a couple little pieces of orange chicken. So be prepared to pay alot, for a little !
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Review from Eric W.
I have been hearing rave reviews about this place for many years. I always assumed that this place was going to be something special and above most of the Chinese food offerings in Marin. Well, this place just does reach those levels.
I will say this, we ordered to take out so I cannot speak of the table service. Yet, it was a larger order of several apps, mains and side dishes. Couple of notes regarding the some of the food. The pot stickers were good, the egg rolls fair, the fried rice below fair, the Mongolian lamb lacked lamb but had plenty of Mongolian, the shrimp in a light garlic sauce was quite good and the cashiew chicken was really ordinary. I picked from the menu based on a regular's suggestions so I thought I was ordering some of the best off the menu. I am not really sure if that is true but we did have enough choices to give it a fair shake. Other points. The pricing is very fair but the portions are pretty small and the front desk staff is a bit curt. Again not a bad place at all but nothing special.
Will I be back. I doubt it. Tommy Wok is now Tommy Won't. -
Review from Dee d.
Houston, TX
Garlic noodles. Reason enough just to go. The potstickers are excellent and their dipping sauce is what I dream of. I love this place.
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Review from Suzanne L.
San Francisco, CA
When we made "The Big Move" from SF to Marin, one of the things we were most worried about was a lack of good Chinese food. Thankfully, there's Tommy's Wok! It's an unassuming little place in a nondescript strip mall on the north end of Sausalito. I didn't have high hopes when we first walked in..but yum!
The dishes we had were very fresh tasting, not too oily and included a lot of veggies (and not overcooked as so many Chinese places make it).
We especially like their hot and sour soup, veggie potstickers and pea shoots. We've also had several chicken dishes that were yummy, all served with heaps of veggies.
The only downfall is their brown rice. I'm not sure what's up with it but it's really off-putting.
The staff is friendly and I love being able to be a lookie-lou in to their kitchen through the glass wall. -
Review from Elizabeth M.
Oakland, CA
I do love me a lunch special, and Tommy's is alright. I think I need to just cave and order something fried which will probably make me increase this rating a star, but my conscience is trying to stay healthy so I've stuck with non-fried items.
The hot n sour soup is good. I'd order the seafood curry again but skip on the black bean prawns, cashew chicken, Singapore noodles.
Compared to other options in Sausalito/Mill Valley, it's reasonable for a lunch spot. -
Review from Boogie N.
Manhattan, NY
Being from NYC, I'm no stranger to good Chinese food, and I always like trying cultural cuisine wherever I travel to taste the differences first-hand. Well, we hit Tommy's twice (once during this past visit to SFO) and the food was and continues to be good -- fresh, creative, tasty and flavorful. And the service is attentive without being invasive, which is a definite plus.
The variety of items we tried included Tommy's Rice (fried rice, essentially), spring rolls, Snow Chicken (relatively mild chicken in a white sauce), Sweet and Sour Chicken, and Mongolian Beef. Everything I tried was tasty and a good choice.
I wouldn't get on a plane solely to return to Tommy's, but when I'm next in SFO I will certainly swing by here again -- it was really good eats and a definite worthwhile stop in our culinary tour. -
Review from Nicole S.
Belvedere Tiburon, CA
I know you are hungry. You want to know where to eat and clearly you have narrowed it down to Chinese and by some stroke of fate you have managed to look up Tommy's Wok. Well, the Gods are smiling on you. You are either an extremely lucky person or tonight is your lucky night or you have just researched your way to... a perfect Chinese food experience. Who am I? How should I know this? Well, I have lived in the Bay Area all my life, am a fan of Chinese in general, have eaten more than my share, and....I have been to China. Tommy's Wok is still freshest, most flavorful, more delicious.... and China could learn a few things. It is hands down the best Chinese food I have ever had. Anyone who says differently is either working for the competition, jealous, or just plain bitter that anything on earth could be this perfect. Granted, the view from the restaurant could be better (you look at a parking lot) so it may not be the most romantic, seductive locale...but Chinese restaurants are rarely known for their flare for romance. Go there to eat. Go there to feel like you are in a clean modern environment. Go there to be healthy. Go there to look at the tropical fish tank. Go there to be impressed. Fortune cookie says: Stop Googling other places and get in the car.
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Review from Gilbert R.
San Rafael, CA
went with a group of fellow workers. had a couple of appetizers and a few different items, beef, chicken and some spicy prawn dish. all good. everybody enjoyed. to me the place is a bit pricey for what i'm used to for a Chinese restaurant. but i'm cheap.
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Review from Mark B.
Sausalito, CA
Love this place. We get takeaway here and its our standard go to place. I'm not a big fan of Chinese food in general - its often oily if not done right. This place however gets it completely right - clean, fresh flavors made with really fresh ingredients - their beef special is superb - melt in the mouth.
After eating here more than 20 times now in the last 2 years with no let downs, they deserve 5 stars from me.
Outstanding! I just wish they delivered - but takeaway is fast and lucky for me we're about 15 minutes walking distance... -
Review from Carolyn W.
Anaheim, CA
This is probably the best Chinese food I have every had.
The sweet and sour soup was excellent. Had a lot of black pepper in it but still flavorful. The pea shot was sauted perfectly. Still some crunch. The chicken mou sho wraps were awesome. So yummy.
Wish they had this food down in So Cal. -
Review from Jess s.
My friend and I haven't seen each other in a while, so we decided to end a long week with some good old comfort food at king of thai. But there were detours all over the presidio, so one turn here and another there and what do you know.. Soon we were on the golden gate bridge!!
Since we has to pay toll anyways, we decided to just have dinner in salsalito. Originally, we wanted to have dinner next door at kitti's place, but they were closed by the time we got there. So instead we went into Tommy's Wok since it looked pretty happening.
This is definitely one of the fancier chinese restaurants, they have a glass window where you can see the kitchen. But honestly, you don't even see the cooks cooking your meal. The entire time I was there, I only saw the waitstaff eating behind the glass.
The menu wast too extensive and their prices were about the same as r&g lounge in sf ($16-$22). Given this I would've probably just given them 2 stars, but the fact that they offer alot of organic veggies bumped them up to 3 stars.
We decided on getting the duck with 4 lotus buns and braised tofu with veggies. The duck was pretty fatty and some of the pieces were either 1) hairy or 2) wasn't edible. I think out of the 8 pieces we were given. Only about 4 pieces were edible.
The braised tofu was pretty good, they crab mushrooms in it ( which is my favorite)! Overall I don't think their food is worth the $30 for two dishes. But If you're looking for a nice place to have a date, then perhaps this is the place. But if you want good tasting Chinese food, you should just drive 10 mins over to sf and go to r&g lounge instead. -
Review from g s.
San Jose, CA
Food is good and nice selection of vegetarian dishes. Small, nice and quaint place.
only complaint was the sizzling rice soup was lukewarm other wise all the dishes we had were good: duck, eggplant, and moshi pork. -
Review from LH D.
Mill Valley, CA
Great lunch, even better for dinner and of course try to come in a group so you can enjoy a lot of their great dishes!
Cha siu bao- pork buns
Salt Pepper prawns
Tommy's Prawns
Excellent mu shu!
Snow white chicken ( old school Moo goo gai pan!) for something simple
Lemon Chicken for my hub and kids
Seafood dishes but not the salmon( I just don't think salmon belongs in a Chinese meal)
The tarot chicken and prawns is amazing!
All the soups
Pea sprouts
Bok Choy and Shitake
Ahh this is making me hungry! Ha Ha Ha! -
Review from Sara K.
Marin, CA
My family has been coming here for YEARS and it's always been delicious and fresh. Let me just say that I'm not a huge fan of Chinese food, but I will happily eat at Tommy's!
Favorite dishes:
-Spicy Basil Chicken
-Kung Pao Chicken
-Singapore Noodles
-Szechuan Eggplant
They're also constantly adding new menu items and enhancing the interior decor! Glad to see Tommy's thriving in the Southern Marin community! -
Review from Kurt C.
Mill Valley, CA
I had brought a friend here to hopefully have some traditional Chinese food only to be very disappointed in the quality of eats. I had ordered the Won Ton soup with noodles and vegetables,only to receive two bean sprouts to qualify as my vegetable. The noodles also where not cooked because they were clump together , and six Won Tons did not qualify as a meal. I would reluctantly recommend this place, not unless you have a large wallet.
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Review from Gregg E.
Sausalito, CA
To go orders are much to small.
Its a burn. -
Review from Nana T.
Pomona, CA
The owner of Munchies recommended this place...and i am so glad he did! I had THE best pan-fried noodles everrrr.
The place is very cute and modern...not your everyday traditional Chinese restaurant. The kitchen is also visible to the public, which i thought was a nice touch.
I ordered the Szechuan noodles (Hong-Kong style). Apparently i was the first customer to ask for Hong Kong style Szechuan noodles? Anyway, they accommodated my request...and it turned out great! Next time i am in Sausalito, i will be sure to swing by. -
Review from Hello K.
Fremont, CA
I came here tonight with my roommate for dinner. The restaurant was packed but no problem getting a table.
We had the vegetable chow fun and the chicken mo shu (yup mo shu, not mu shu!). The mo shu was good, the waitress mentioned they use all breast meat and the dish was flavorful and satisfying. My roommate also enjoyed her chow fun.
Prices here were reasonable (high for Chinese food but its Marin you know?). Most meat entrees were $12+ but portions were just right for sharing or for one.
Service here was also fast. I wouldn't mind returning but wouldn't mind trying other Chinese places in the area first. -
Review from Kane D.
Pacifica, CA
The sign on the building says "exhibition wok cooking" which led me to think the place would be like Benihana, but with woks. Turns out that is not the case at all. The exhibition part was the cooks behind a big glass partition at the front. A bit of a disappointment, but not something I am going to knock them down for in the rating.
As for the food... I call this type the Americanized Chinese food. Dishes like walnuts and prawns or crab and cheese puffs. Nothing unusual or weird (like chicken feet and the like).
That said, the food was great. Their house fried rice had some of the best flavor I have had in a fried rice. The duck dish and the tamarind special were both really well done with great flavor and well cooked scallops.
Will definitely come back. -
Review from Meghan P.
I think that Tommy has a nice, fresh, organic, fragrant Wok ;) ! My roommate who is a chef insists that Tommy has some of the best Chinese food in the area and, after tonight, I agree!
We did take-out and got won ton soup (best I've ever had!), crab rangoons (excellent and lots of crab), and basil chicken with vegetables (yummy!).
I'm sure we'll order Tommy's again and I'm particularly excited for more of his soup!Listed in: Somewhere Over the Rainbox…
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Review from Ryan G.
San Francisco, CA
For a change of venue, and some delicious, fresh Chinese food head over the bridge to Sausalito. Met the rents here for dinner to play catch up and how are you doing. Quick drive from S.F. to Tommy Wok's, one of the better Chinese eateries in Marin and restaurants over all. Located further down on Bridgeway, almost towards the free way. Parking is not a worry since you are away from the the tourist trap down town. Plus there is no good food down that away.
Food here does not fit one type of Chinese specialty like Hunan or Szechuan (at least what a friend hinted towards). Everything here is fresh. Mango Chicken can be considered their signature dish, and they use organic, tasty mangoes. Not some bland canned ones. Start with a soup, either the Won Ton soup with big bits of shrimp, or the Seafood soup. Followed by Mongolian Lamb (this dish can be hot if you choose to eat all the peppers), Mango Chicken and Duck Lettuce Wraps.
Service is quick and friendly. Tea and water glass is never left unattended. And colorful bendy straws are served with sodas. I got stuck with the pink one.
On weekday nights Tommy Wok's is quiet because the take out is flowing. On weekends and Christmas Eve (last time I was there) be prepared to wait. Not a lot of sitting room, but it is worth it. Just watch the fish float around in the salt water tank and project Mango Chicken in your mind. -
Review from Danielle S.
San Francisco, CA
It's gotten bad. I've turned into Miranda from Sex and the City (sidenote: If I was to become anyone from Sex and the City I'd morph Carrie's closet and Samantha's character, dangerous). I've called my chinese food take out place one too many times. They don't even ask who it is anymore. I'm stored in their frequent caller list, and the owner just says, "So the regular Danielle?" before I've even asked if they're ready to take my order.
Have I become that predicable? Have I turned into that person that doesn't stray from whats known and safe into uncharted teritories? You're damn right, honey! Why would you ever mess with perfection. As they say, don't fix it if it ain't broke.
My steamed veggie spinach wrap potstickers are fantastic. Light and flavorful, they're not greasy. No MSG, just veggies and a wonderful light slightly chewy wrap on the outside. I can still see what they made them with. There's no mystery, I know it's a carrot, and a mushroom and such.
I order the singapore rice noodles, with no chicken or shrimp (I'm a vegetarian) and add soft tofu. It's killer. The light curry style sauce is perfect with a little hot mustard here and there sprinkled on the tofu and my chopsticks dig longingly into my dish until it's gone. My dishes and togo containers are always a barren sight when I'm around. No need to wash them as I've licked 'em clean.
My friends love the hong kong style noodles, just a little greasy, just like you want it. Another set love the imperial chicken wrap lettuce cups. She still talks about how good they were from time to time.
I like that I can finally eat chinese food, and not feel guilty. I am going to the gym afterwards anyway, but at least I don't have to tack on another forty-five minutes like I've eaten indian food or thai.
The owner is polite and friendly, but it does take a minute to get cool with the rest of the staff. They're like a gang, once you're in you're in. I guess you just have to pass some initiations. Can you really drink that hot mustard in one gulp? I can I say you. I can.
It's all a lie. I just really go there for the killer fish tank. But the simple minded are amused by the smallest things. -
Review from Steve B.
Sausalito, CA
Kane D has it right, Americanized Chinese food. good enough, but could have used some more flavor. however for the value it's a great place to go for lunch or dinner.
I'll be back when I'm in the mood for chinese. -
Review from chum L.
I use to work accross the street at the Bridgeview complex. That being said, there is not much to eat in this area, but Tommy's was my favorite! I no longer work in the area, but if given the chance I'll drop by to order the Kung Pao Chicken.
I don't really like KP Chicken, but for what ever reason I love their's. It's made with chicken breast, which I don't usually care for much, but it's pounded down so each bite is buttery soft. The KP sauce is delicious and it comes with a side of rice pancakes.
O gawd, my mouth is watering... I wish they delivered to the East Bay.
BTW, they have a small outdoor eating area that is dog friendly! -
Review from Cornelius S.
San Francisco, CA
OK, call me a vulgarian with no sense of ethnic authenticity because I love the food here.
I've always ordered take-out (on the way back to SF off 101 South, Marin City/Saus exit) so I can't say anything about service other than that the staff has always been friendly when taking orders. The vegetables chow fun is righteous as is the chicken in black bean sauce.
Quality ingredients. -
Review from Uncle Fishbits Aeneas X.
Belvedere Tiburon, CA
Got it to go.
I can only say... MEH.
Those noodles they gave with the beef broccoli also has only one thing that can be said about them...
FUNKEEEEEee.
what were those? -
Review from jill j.
Mill Valley, CA
In the City or the South Bay, I usually won't dine in a Chinese restaurant where there are NO Asian diners. Therefore, I was suspect about Tommy's Wok. But this is Marin, so I went with it. And that's exactly what Tommy's is ... clean, fresh, healthy Marin-style Chinese.
My dinner date (thanks, M) declared the chicken salad "very clean", which is his way of saying "bland and tasteless". Dousing it in dressing did help, but it still seemed like it needed a little "kick" somehow ... some more flavorful vegetables, some marinade on the chicken, some spices.
However, the fish special and Szechuan eggplant did not disappoint. Sauces were tasty but not overpowering. The orange roughy special included mushrooms and broccoli and had LOTS of whole cloves of garlic - at least one in every bite, but we treated them like bay leaves and pushed them to the side, and it was all good. Mu-shu also looked very good, and the next table (obvious regulars) raved about it. I'll try that next time. -
Review from Jennifer P.
San Francisco, CA
Three friends and I went here on a whim when using Yelp on the go to find a nearby place with outdoor seating. The food was pretty good. The service was average. The waiter had some serious B.O. and I was the lucky one to get stood next to all the time. If you are gonna be doing a job that requires you to be up close and personal with people, probably a good idea to wash up beforehand...
The one strange thing we noticed is that the food comes with a side of rice, which we knew about, but then it also had a side of noodles...rather odd and not that tasty, would have rather had veggies. -
Review from Hannah Q.
Denver, CO
We ate a disturbingly large amount of food at Tommy's Wok recently - a regular pan-regional feast of Chinese yum.
It was all fantastic and the service was great - fast, friendly, courteous.
Bonus points for the fact that our waiter was really concerned about whether or not our daughter should be in a highchair yet - he was pretty certain she shouldn't and I had to convince him she'd been in the exact same type of high chair many times. I really dig that he had her best interest at heart, even if he was a little off in knowing what she's accustomed to and capable of.
Also, the wait staff, while bringing out plate after plate after plate for our 4 1/2 top (4 adults, 1 pee wee) were great about keeping a wide swath clear around the clutching paws of the little one who was eager to grab whatever was laid down within a 16-inch radius of her at the table.
Finally, thanks, waitstaff, for not giving us the evil eye as my daughter blithely tossed Cheerio after Cheerio onto the floor like it was a sport going out of style.
It's true - this isn't China-town / Clement street style "authentic" Chinese food, but that's how I like my Chinese food - predictable! It's pretty much been my experience with all regional foods (Mexican, Indian, Thai, Italian, American, French) that "authentic" is not as appealing to my palate. It usually lacks something in spice or creaminess or sauce because it hasn't been infused with the inventiveness of another culture's taste preferences, which broadens the appeal of the food.
Like I said, there were 4.5 of us, all with varying foods that we like, and we all walked away (or were rolled, as was the case for the ".5") very satisfied.
Will definitely be back...
Be warned... if you don't like children, probably best to go there after 7 pm on a weekend night - the little ones dominated the tables at the early hour we were there (6:00). -
Review from Jeff E.
Mill Valley, CA
This is definitely the best Chinese food in Marin. The food is always super fresh. The staff is very friendly and attentive.
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Review from Rayna A.
San Francisco, CA
This place is a dream. I've been going for years and it just keeps getting better. Yeah, the prices keep going up, but so does the quality. They actually use free-range white meat - that's hot! I really try not to eat chinese anywhere else, because I just don't get that quality food! The dining setting is ok - not great - but they deliver or you can do take out pretty quickly.
Love it here and wish they would start a chain already!Listed in: Marin Moments
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Review from Georgia M.
Mill Valley, CA
Stopped in on a whim after a long day putting together desks and chairs for my work's new office. Expected it to be average Chinese food but cheaper than Feng Nian or Young Can Wok.
We were pleasantly surprised on the food. In particular, the Sizzling Rice Soup (a favorite of mine since childhood) was absolutely delicious. We also had egg rolls and mu shu pork, which was also great. We had the house fried rice, which had perfect shrimp in it (a very light breading gave it some crispness without it being outright deep fried), but was otherwise nondescript.
My main Chinese restaurant growing up was Jasmine down in the south bay (Los Gatos), and while much of their food has gone mediocre, they make some of the best fried rice I've ever had in anywhere. The rice itself is incredibly flavorful. Such was not the case at Tommy's; the rice was bland, mouthfuls flavored by whether you picked up some egg, bbq pork, shrimp, or chicken in it.
But that was our biggest complaint on the food. The dishes were more expensive than expected-- probably only a dollar cheaper than Feng Nian across the street, but we haven't eaten there yet, so I don't know which of the two I'd recommend!
All in all it was a very tasty, satisfying meal, and the bill wasn't huge, although it definitely wasn't cheap. (Where, oh WHERE is my ~$8-10 a dish decent Chinese food?! Do I really have to go to the city for it?) The service, however, was excellent-- we were a bit before any likely dinner rush (~5:45pm), and my water glass never got to half empty before it was filled again. -
Review from Jamie D.
The best Chinese food in Marin hands down! Yes, it's pricey, but you get quality & service. I can't believe I didn't rate my favorite Chinese restaurant sooner.
Whenever I break down & eat some place else out of convenience (proximity), I am always disappointed.
They use super fresh, organic ingredients, so if you're craving greasy msg-laden food, this isn't your restaurant. If you want the best of the best in all categories (NOODLE = Hong Kong style chow mein, SOUP = Wah Wonton, General's Chicken = POULTRY, Sizzling BEEF... there isn't anything on the menu that needs improvement), GO!
The owner is female. (Yay girls!) The cool aquarium in the entrance keeps my eyes entertained while waiting for take-out or I can always watch the cooks prepare my meal through the full-length kitchen window. The beautiful orchids are always real & the bathroom is never dirty here.
Whenever I've got out-of-town guests, they beg for a dinner from Tommy's Wok saying that no place does it like Tommy's. They're right. -
Review from Rachael W.
Tracy, CA
I went here with my husband and his sister as there were good reviews on yelp and hey, it's Chinese food and it sounded perfect!
We won't be going here again. The food was mediocre at best, and WAY too expensive. I'm ok paying more for high quality food - this was not it.
On top of it, our waitress was not the sharpest tool in the shed. She couldn't get our orders straight and honestly just seemed like a dumb blonde disguised as Chinese. Really horrid service. -
Review from Arthur C.
San Francisco, CA
My favorite Chinese food restaurant in Marin!
Special recommendations:
Sizzling black pepper beef
Mu-shu pork.
For beer fanciers, they serve Lagunitas IPA -- good choice! -
Review from Rahul P.
San Francisco, CA
I went to this place for a lunch with a few friends as we were looking for a restaurant with outdoor seating. The staff is very courteous and the waiter who took our order was very knowledgable about the items on the menu. I guess he was the chef too.
The spicy basil tofu with brown rice and a side of salad was cooked to order as I requested fried tofu instead of soft. Byte salad was yummy and I felt like ordering another side. I guess I was very hungry. The entree was delicious and I finished mine within 5 minutes or so without making much conversation with my friends.
I would definitely dine here again!
