Zien Hong

I just have one piece of advice: sizzling triple. Everything I have had on this menu is top-notch, but the triple comes out sizzling for all to see and hear...and the taste: over the top. Super delicious, hot, fresh, affordable, and friendly. What else could you ask for?

Pros: Great, fresh, hot and original

Cons: parking can be tough, but not too bad

Posted 10/21/09

Parking may be hard to come by, but it's worth the effort.

I'm one of those picky people who never orders fried foods, because the oil always tastes bad to me. For that reason, I've always hated salt and pepper squid, and it's fishy cousins. I've never had it prepared well.

Here it is lovely, light, crispy, clean tasting, not overwhelmingly spicy, but as far from bland as you can get. The squid itself remained tender beneath it's crunchy exterior. I finally know what all the fuss is about. Wonderful, craveable dish. For that reason alone, I'll be back. Often.

I also had the Mongolian beef, and the scallops with sweet pea pods. The Mongolian beef had that soft texture that some Chinese restaurants have. But it was nice and tender. I'd much rather have soft than chewy stuff that you have to return to a discrete corner of your napkin. The flavor was very nice, much better than the gloppy sweet stuff of my childhood.

The scallops and pea pods could have had a bit less sauce, but it's a tiny quibble. The pea pods were lovely, all our veggies were fresh. Much care goes into this food. I enjoyed it all tremendously.

Some other reviews have said the food is a bit too salty. I don't know that it's so very salty that it takes away from the food any, but I wouldn't complain if it were a bit less salty either. They use such fresh ingredients, it would be nice to taste more of the fresh veggies a bit if it were not quite so heavily seasoned.

The dishes I ordered all had a wee bit of kick. For folks used to Americanized food, it may be a bit of a surprise, but it's really nice not to eat the same old Panda type food.

The best thing beyond the amazing food is the service. It's not cranky or cantankerous. After having a horrible, horrible day, I needed some cheering up. By the time I got my youngest kids to sleep and my oldest and I could head out, it was late.

They were friendly and gracious. I offered to get my food to go, but the hostess offered to seat us, and knowing I wanted a Vietnamese coffee, I decided to stay.

By the time we left, it was 10 minutes after closing. The hostess made us feel completely welcome, at the end of what had to be a long night for her.

This is probably the best service anywhere in Portland. I had a fantastic time. I left smiling. Aside from a great meal, it made my day better. What a gift.

Pros: Best salt and pepper squid I've ever had

Cons: Parking

Posted 09/14/09

This is my favorite Chinese food. I have never eaten in, so I can't comment on the service or atmosphere, but everytime I come in for to-go food everyone is very nice. My favorites are the salt & pepper shrimp, and the General Tso's chicken. Soooo tasty. The General Tso's is just the right amount of sweet, and nice and crispy. The pieces are a little too big, but no biggie. Highly recommend this place. And they're open pretty late which is a plus.

Pros: salt & pepper shrimp

Cons: street parking only

Posted 01/08/09

I was talked into going to this restaurant. There is no parking; it is on the busy street of NE Sandy St. Casual attire is fine. The House Rice was okay, nothing to rave about. The Lemon Spicy Fried Shrimp was the best. The Sizzling Vegetables with Seafood was ok it lack freshness of the vegetables I felt. The decorum was not inviting but the host/waitress/cashier was very confident in talking to us which I like very much.

Pros: customer service was great.

Cons: parking is horrible

Posted 12/26/08

I just recently found this place, and I'm glad I did! They're open til midnight every night, and have a huge menu with lots of veggie options. The general tsao's is to die for, and so is the salt and pepper shrimp or squid. Average prices, and I've only done take out, so I can't comment on the dining service, but they're always very friendly when I pick up my food. Parking can be scarce, as they are right on Sandy with no parking lot (that I'm aware of anyways).

Pros: salt and pepper shrimp, friendly, open late

Cons: parking trouble sometimes

Posted 05/29/08

Been going there for years and absolutely LOVE it! Everyone I take there stays a regular customer. Everything is always super fresh, especially the vegetables. I love spicy and they do it well, upon request. Favorites are definetly pepper-salted shrimp and crispy sesame shrimp. My favorite Portland restaurant.

Pros: Fresh, fast, inexpensive, homey atmosphere

Cons: parking, if any

Posted 04/13/08

My girlfiend and I moved up to PDX two years ago, and were shocked with the number of sub-par Chinese places in Portland, especially since my girlfriend's favorite food was Chinese. We were let down a lot at first with over a dozen attempts, and when all hope to find good Chinese seemed lost, we decided randomly to try this place. It was just what we were looking for. Delicious dishes, Verrrrry generious portions. Incredibly inexpensive for what you get. If, like us, you are having a hard time find 'your' kind of Chinese in PDX, give this place a shot.

Pros: taste, variety of dishes, portions, price.

Posted 01/29/08

We used to live around the corner from Zien Hong, and miss it sorely. The staff are so friendly, and the food is dependably delicious, unlike many other joints we could name! Our favorites are the curry noodles, chow mein noodles, kung pow combination, Mongolian beef, and General Tso's chicken. The decor leaves a lot to be desired, but it hardly matters when yummy food is in the offing.

Pros: value, great taste, kind staff

Cons: parking, ambiance

Posted 01/10/08

My Dad introduced this place to my siblings and I about ten years ago. He talked it up so much I was sure I'd be dissapointed, not the case. We have been coming back monthly ever since. I feel spoiled for good chinese/asian cuisine, no where else compares now. They are friendly, fast and the food is ALWAYS very good. We used to jokingly say we couldn't go wrong and shout out random numbers for choices on the menu, and we were always pleasantly suprised. It's a HUGE menu, they are fast and it's always what you expect it to be. I would take anyone here. Sure it's dark and not very visually stimulating, but if you're just looking for GOOD food, you can't miss at Zien Hong. Don't leave without trying the pepper fried shrimp, or sizzling happy family.

Pros: GREAT food, fast service, quick take-out

Cons: small, boring visually

Posted 12/18/07

Do not go here for pho!!! The pho soup I ordered came with only broth, a couple of slices of meat, a lot of noodles, and nothing else. It was an insult to the vietnamese national soup.

Pros: can't think of any

Cons: no parking and bad pho

Posted 12/12/07

i HAVE TRIED ALOT OF CHINESE IN THE 2 YEARS I HAVE LIVED HERE AND ALL ARE SO SALTY. this place is the best so far but there is a lack of freshness in its taste. Veg is over cooked you can tell they use alot of can stuff from the tinny taste in beef items

Pros: friendly staff, fast take out

Cons: parking tinny taste in beef items LACK of fresh favor!!!!!!!!!put the can opener away

Posted 03/24/07

We went here after reading the reviews, not wanting to go to a large restaurant like Legin or Wong's Seafood or eat americanized chinese food. It was a small place, nothing to rave about on its ambience. But, the service was surprisingly good - friendly servers who smile! The portions were plentiful and there is a lot to choose from. I especially like it when we get our own teapot and they were very attentive at refilling our water glasses. And they're open pretty late. The only con is finding street parking. We will definitely come back!

Pros: Delicious food, most dishes under $10

Cons: Parking

Posted 02/18/07

I was recommended this place by a coworker, who's worked in Asian restaurants for 20 years, she said it's the best. The dining room is small and unpretentious, service was quick and sufficient. Fried rice can be okay (if a little greasy and salty) and the won ton soup too (good clear broth, light, not to be mistaken for bland, sure the won tons are shriveled, but they're perfect). I tried the sizzling seafood platter, a little saucy for my taste and with imitation crabmeat, but ok. A good place if you're craving decent chinese food.

Posted 08/31/06

Although parking there is somewhat of a nightmare on a crowded night, the food is absolutely worth the trouble. A definite must-have is the salt and pepper fried squid, fried fish in sweet and sour sauce, and anything that sizzles when it gets to your table. And, for big groups, there is a large room in the back of the restaurant.

Pros: Inexpensive, Delicious food

Cons: Parking!!!

Posted 04/07/06

Zein Hong may be easy to miss and hard to find a parking space for but its worth the trouble. When you enter you are seated promptly and your order is taken quickly. I have been going there after school since the second grade so ive gotten to really know the place. The food choices are excellent and the value is good for what you order. The Sweet and Sour shrimp and General Tso Chicken are a person favorite of fine

Pros: Good Soup, Great Value

Cons: Parking is bad, Bland Interior

Posted 01/02/06

On of my Asian friends and her mom take me around to their favorite Asian restaurants in PDX occasionally (IMA WhiteGurl!) and Zien Hong was one of those fav places...

I am pretty hooked on the Salt Peppered Squid (try ordering with the Vietnamese "Dipping Sauce" for a real treat!) and Chinese broccoli...I have never been dissapointed with any dish I've ordered there. While the atmosphere is not special...I'm always so damned impressed by the freshness of the dishes that I could give a flip about atmosphere.

Come here to enjoy a fantastic value....authentic, fresh-as-hell food for super-duper reasonable prices....bring all yer buds!

If you don't like their food you don't know doo-doo about authentic food.....

Posted 08/12/05

Zien Hong is the standard against which other restaurants are to be measured. The five knock-out punches delivered by Zien Hong are : 1. Delicious food 2. Large servings 3. Modest prices 4. Open till midnight seven days a week 5. Plenty of room for kids or large parties. I've seen chefs from other restaurants eating a late dinner here, and I've seen the Chief of Police chowing down here. House special #5, Crispy shrimp pepper-salted, is a totally dependable pleaser. I have dined at Zien Hong well over a hundred times over the last twenty years, and have never had a bogus meal.

Posted 07/19/05

the salt and pepper squid is the best in town.

Posted 05/22/05

I only had a few menu items, so I will need to go back to give a full review, but I want to comment specifically on the won ton soup. The broth is very watery and bland, and the dumplings were kinda shrivelled and not very plump looking. If it hadn't been a Monday, I would have skipped ZH completely and gon to Thien Hong up the street, which has far superior won ton. Another thing-Zien Hong's rice had a strange "plasticky" aroma. Eh. I will try the fried items another time, which others say are their specialty.

Pros: open late, inexpensive, quick service

Cons: bland broth, weird rice, not as good as TH

Posted 04/14/05

This is a great place if you like the following dishes:

*salt & pepper shrimp (loved the white/green onions that it comes with despite other viewers comments)
*garlic green beens with pork/beef/chicken
*asparagus with pork/beef chicken
*hot & sour soup
*General tso's chicken
*mongolian beef
*Chow fun noodles with pork/chicken/beef
*chicken in spicy garlic sauce
*bok choy with chicken

All of the above dishes are excellent. The decor is blah. It can be crowded but service is f*a*s*t, and they are open til midnight.

Pros: good value

Posted 04/08/04

The no shell crispy salt 'n pepper shrimp was very good, the accompanying onions and peppers were not. The walnut shrimp is probably the best in PDX. The garlic pea tips complement main entrees quite well. They also have Jack Fruit shakes, which is always a treat. Service was the usual with these types of restaurants: one visit to take the order, one to bring the food, one to bring the check, and one to collect - all without emotion.

Pros: shrimp, jack fruit shake

Cons: service

Posted 06/02/03

great food, always fresh veggies being prepared when you walk in (green beans being broken, etc) and always friendly staff. LOVE THE WONTON SOUP as well as the salt/pepper shrimp and garlic stringbeans!!! not usual that we stray from that combo when we eat there lately...reasonably priced and wonderful food...I LOVE IT!!

Pros: food, chairs/seating, feng shui

Cons: parking, artwork

Posted 01/18/03

Bars on the windows! Killer food all around. Love the salt-pepper items!

Pros: Inexpensive, Fast Service, Consistent

Cons: Parking, Small

Posted 11/21/02

I love this place... The food is always great and fresh. The Sauted green beans are to die for and the honey walnut shrimp is creamy and crunchy at the same time... truly a serious month treat. The price is right and they do have some nice wait staff. I would recommend a visit of your own, you won't be disappointed...

Pros: cheap eats

Cons: parking

Posted 10/05/02