Review: King’s Chinese Restaurant

(JUNE 2014 UPDATE: I have not been into King’s for at least a couple of years.)

I don’t remember how I stumbled upon King’s Chinese Restaurant. A lone Google review for it, I believe, amongst two.

When I first drove up to the place around 8:00 pm one evening with my significant other, we didn’t get out of the car. It didn’t look worth it. Second time, same story. The third time, it was just me and my daughter who loves Pei-Wei, which I think is equivalent to an Asian version of Taco Bell, and I didn’t think that King’s could be any worse. Five or six visits later it’s not any worse at all. No where near it.

In fact, I’m amazed at how clean and light their Chinese food is. I’m not going to go into menu descriptions because it’s pretty standard Chinese food. They offer items such as Broccoli Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Sesame Chicken, Lo Mein, Chow Mein, etc. All entrees are priced between $6.99 and $7.99 with half orders available for between $4.59 and $4.99. Everything tasted fresh, and well prepared.

I wanted to try as many things as I could from the Chinese menu since they are a Chinese restaurant. That’s their name – King’s Chinese Restaurant. It’s not King’s Chinese and Vietnamese Restaurant. If it was, I might have tried it sooner. And had I tried it sooner, I most certainly would have tried their pho ($6.25).

Their pho is a strong ‘best’ contender. The broth itself is delicious. The plate of basil and bean sprouts is, well – a plate of purple basil, limes, and bean sprouts. But the meats they put into the Pho Tai Nam Gau are not just the rare beef slices you typically get. There are three kinds of meat. Even though the menu description says Rice noodle soup with rare, tender beef slices trust me, there’s other meat in there. And it’s good and filling.

I’ve also tried the Fresh Spring Rolls. Those are great, too. Really big and made to order.

Ambience? Uh, heh… yeah. None. It’s small and bright with fluorescent lighting. A big TV is on for you to watch CNN. One of the owners’ children is usually sitting at one of the tables doing homework or playing video games on a laptop. He’s cute.

Service? Seriously, don’t go here expecting much. Just go for the pho. Maybe that could be their new advertising slogan. Just GO for the PHO. Of course, it’s pronounced “phuh” so that wouldn’t work. Unless you said “Just GUH for the PHO. Anyhow…

Next door – which I had never realized was an Asian market – is the Grant Stone Supermarket. They have amazing things for you to peruse and/or purchase if you dare. It’s a nice little weeknight cultural experience – dinner at King’s then a jaunt through the Grant Stone Supermarket. I always get Pocky – those shortbread sticks dipped in chocolate.

But, check out King’s Chinese Restaurant first and let me know what you think. It’s seriously worth it and they probably seriously need the business.

They’re open everyday until 9 pm, but close early on Sundays, I think.

King’s Chinese Restaurant
10 West Grant Road
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 829-7214
Google Map