Tools

Map

Yen Wor Village (West Seattle)

2300 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 932-1455
Website

Hours: Daily 3 pm-2 am
Categories: Bar, Restaurant

Restaurant Details


Bar Details

The Stranger's Reviews of Yen Wor Village

 
 

Average Rating:
  • 3.20000/5 Stars.
Reviews/Comments (11) RSS

Newest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a review of Yen Wor Village
11

Awful food and terrible service

I ate at this restaurant tonight and was compelled to immediately share my experience. This was my first time coming here as a few friends have had very bad experience here, but it had decent reviews and had been open a very long time, I thought I would give it a try. The service was very slow for a place with barely anyone in it. It took a while for our server to even take our order and she seemed very annoyed with even being there.

The menu had little to no descriptions so I decided to go with my failsafe dish, Sesame Chicken. At every Chinese restaurant I have gone to, Sesame Chicken is pretty much exactly like General Tso chicken, except covered in sesame seeds and not spicy. This is true for Asian Wok, Bamboo Garden, Chungees Eat N Drink and Hunan Wok, just to name a few. When we received this dish, it looked like fried chicken fingers with gravy on top of it. She called it Almond Chicken and when we said we ordered Sesame she said that it was Sesame and the only difference is that the Almond Chicken has almonds on top and the Sesame has sesame seeds. I figured that I must have just ordered wrong and decided to not be a pain and just eat it. The breading was tasteless and greasy, there was barely any chicken at all and the sauce was salty and flavorless. I am not the kind of person to order something, decide I do not like it and send it back. I decided that it was my mistake, I would still pay for it and I would not complain. When the server came over and heard that I did not want a box she asked me what was wrong. I told her that it was my fault, I was used to a different dish and that I didn't like it. She asked me what I didn't like about it and I nicely explained what I originally expected. She told me "well now you know what this dish is so you will know for next time." I did not expect for her to offer me something else or remove it from the bill, but if you ask someone why you didn't like it or what was wrong with it, you don't just tell them that now they know for next time. The old phrase, "if you don't have something nice to say don't say anything at all," well it works in the food service industry as well. If you don't want to offer me anything else, if you don't want to take it off the bill, or if you don't want my feedback, don't ask. I would have been absolutely fine with not eating this dish, not complaining, paying and leaving but the experience I had with the server made me decide that there will not be a next time.

Once I got home I decided to look up sesame chicken to see if it really was my mistake.

Wikipedia describes sesame chicken as the following:
Sesame chicken (also called Chinese sesame seed chicken) is a syncretic dish, commonly found in Chinese restaurants throughout the English-speaking world. The dish is similar to General Tso's chicken[1].

The dish involves chicken (usually thigh) pieces that are boned, battered, and deep-fried, then dressed with a translucent, reddish-brown, semi-thick, sauce made from corn starch, vinegar, wine or Sake, chicken broth, and sugar. The dish is typically topped with toasted sesame seeds, hence the name Sesame Chicken. Sesame chicken is generally served with white Chinese rice and steamed broccoli.

Googling Sesame Chicken also shows only pictures of the dish I was expecting as well as numerous recipes of the dish I was expecting.

Looking up Almond Chicken shows exactly what I received. This dish is not the exact same thing only substituting almonds with sesame seeds.

What Sesame Chicken should be:
http://i.imgur.com/O6e0e.gif

What I was given (Almond Chicken):
http://i.imgur.com/IUHJ9.jpg
More...
Posted by TheBadWolf on December 26, 2011 at 9:15 PM · Report
10

get the Grilled Cheese

get the Grilled Cheese - it comes with fries - you can ask for ranch - and it's only like 5 dollahs. I know, I know, but seriously, one of the best meals in the place.
Posted by Astrella on July 24, 2011 at 12:16 PM · Report
9
So personally I'm not a huge fan of the food. Some people enjoy it. It is pretty mainstream chinese food. There are several (not chinese) places close by that are excellent. (Eg. Mission)

HOWEVER, if you want to have fun this is by far the best dive bar karaoke place in the sound. (And I think I've visited most!) Just the right amount of intimacy vs space. Unpretentious. Good hosts. Real characters at the bar. Drinks are decently strong. Toni makes a AMF that is to die for. A trifle long to wait when things are busy since they only have one bartender even on Friday. (Why Wendy? Why?) It isn't a posh place and it may seem a little shadowy at first blush, but it is plenty safe.

Karaoke is supposed to start at 9. All depends on whether the game is still on, who the host is, etc. On a Friday you better be there by 8:30 if you want a table. The booth by the DJ is reserved for me and my gal. ;-) You are welcome to stop by and sit with us as long as you have showered that day and want to have fun. Other nights I'd say things start to warm up more like 9:45...
Posted by Lahbert on July 30, 2009 at 11:34 AM · Report
8
I've ordered a number of times from Yen Wor - not because they serve good food (far from it), but because they're the only Chinese delivery I'm aware of in my area of West Seattle. I have now waited for two hours to get the sweet and sour sauce for the pork we ordered. I'm giving up after talking with them twice over the phone. I should have gone to Safeway and saved myself $30 - the food is of the same quality, anyway.
Posted by RobC on May 19, 2009 at 9:29 PM · Report
7
Ok,
For starters, Yen Wor is NOT on or even walking distance to Alki....someone needs to actually go there (over the bridge to West Seattle) and see what neighborhood you're in....can't trust a review when they don't even know where the place is....clearly they haven't actually been IN the restaurant
Posted by Wilson on April 6, 2009 at 7:20 PM · Report
6 Comment Pulled
5 Comment Pulled
4 Comment Pulled
3

a great neighborhood joint

the food is nothing special, but it tastes good, especially after downing a few drinks. the bar is dark and smoky and very inviting. anyone can feel at home there. i've seen this bar very full and wild on weekend nights, with everyone having a great time. a truly democratic place.
Posted by brian on March 18, 2008 at 11:53 AM · Report
2

An anachronism in all its glory

The food is allright, although after a few different dinners now things tend to taste sort of the same. The highlight, though, is the bar tucked into the back speakeasy style. The drinks are strong, unpretentious, and cheap. The karaoke is always entertaining and I'll presume to say that the bartender isn't an aspiring actress or rock star. Do I dare say this is the way Seattle used to be.
Posted by Azilla on February 20, 2008 at 3:38 PM · Report
1

Totally addicting

Good ol' Americanized Chinese food. Mmmmmm, comfort food. A regular staple. I haven't dined in yet, but plan to as to witness the awesomely bad singing in the bar. Can't wait. :)
Posted by Nay on May 24, 2007 at 1:22 AM · Report

Add a review


Click the stars.

Optional

Yen Wor Village
Nearby and Recommended

Elliott Bay Brewery (Bar, Restaurant)
West Seattle 4720 California Ave SW    phone (206) 932-8695
  • 4.00000/5 Stars.
(based on 6 reader reviews)
Buddha Ruksa (Restaurant)
West Seattle 3520 SW Genesee Street    phone (206) 937-7676
  • 4.50000/5 Stars.
(based on 4 reader reviews)
Mission (Bar, Restaurant)
West Seattle 2325 California Ave SW    phone (206) 937-8220
  • 3.71000/5 Stars.
(based on 7 reader reviews)
Talarico's Pizzeria & Lounge (Bar, Restaurant)
West Seattle 4718 California Ave SW    phone (206) 937-3463
  • 3.00000/5 Stars.
(based on 17 reader reviews)
West 5 (Bar, Restaurant)
West Seattle 4539 California Ave SW    phone (206) 935-1966
  • 4.14000/5 Stars.
(based on 14 reader reviews)
Guadalajara (Restaurant)
West Seattle 9214 45th Ave SW    phone (206) 935-8595
  • 4.50000/5 Stars.
(based on 2 reader reviews)

Are we missing something?

Need to correct our info about Yen Wor Village?

!Add or Edit
Location

The Stranger Suggests

Critics' Best Bets
Music Arts & Food