----- 19 jun, 2015 -----
authentic chinese food - but a vast variety of options for your entire family and friends! fast service, clean dining area, and hot, quick food.
it has been several months since our last visit here, but this time, my friends and i decided to have a quick bite to eat here. the atmosphere was very lively; golden phoenix was pretty busy with the vast amount of people going in and out for take-outs, and for those patrons eating in the dining area. the menu has a variety of chinese, vietnamese, and chinese-american influenced dishes, and has tons of options for the individual take-out pick up to a family of 10 sitting down and sharing hot pot together.
as for us? we ordered the young chow fried rice, shrimp and green onions with garlic butter sauce, and chicken with bamboo chutes. the food was hot and prepared within minutes. my only complaint with the meals was that for the price, they could have been bigger portions, but my company were pleased with the experience. in the past, the servers used to "not give us the time or day" but the servers were 'tag-teaming' all the tables, meaning, service was very attentive; our waters never ran dry, dirty and empty dishes were removed from the table, and they gave us our check when they knew we were satisfied with our meals. while i did mention that the portions could have been bigger, the price were relatively the same ($$) compared to many of the sit-down restaurants nearby.
overall, it was another fantastic experience. the food definitely leans more towards chinese-american influences, but still grasps its roots of authentic chinese (mandarin and cantonese) food in the end. golden phoenix is sure to satisfy many!
tip: if you are wanting to have a good meal in asian district, but are hesitant about diving straight into chinese food, there are many options for you to try. if you are adventurous like me, keep in mind a 'protein' and 'vegetable' that you like (ex. shrimp and garlic). scan the menu and find one of that combination (or close to it). if you are unsure about that, scan that protein section and choose one. take the plunge!
tip: if you are indecisive like me at times, look around you. do this especially if it is a busy lunch or evening. you will see some dishes on people's table (you can be a ninja about it - trust me, people will be entrapped by their food) and choose one like that. this is how my husband and i try new dishes sometimes - and it's great!
tip: if your meal comes with complimentary white rice, always bring it home. even if you don't eat your leftovers until 2 days later, that rice will be good up to 2-3 days and can be re-heated easily with your meal. just saying!
thanks for reading!
----- sept, 2014 -----
golden phoenix - great! just like before.. golden phoenix has really come a long way since the fire that burnt most of the building. when they re-opened, it was something that we were greatly anticipating, but were disappointed when we came back and the food was bland. well, we went a week ago and it's like before! it's delicious, and has everything for anyone - authentic chinese or not. definitely give it a try - i know we'll be coming back!
-----15 nov, 2011-----
exquisite authentic chinese food - must go!. my all-time favorite restaurant here in uptown okc. the restaurant is on the corner of a chinese grocery and on classen blvd. you may drive past it, and it may look like a small place, but when you go in, it's pretty large. don't expect toogreatof a service. but! the food is amazing! so much choices and all of it is really delicious. all-time favorite is the duck and house special fried rice. we've tried the calamari (they were okay, but in an authentic place, i like baby squids). mandarin ribs were good, but again, the duck! the duck is very delicious and everything is family-style (meaning big proportions when ordered and everyone shares this meal together), so bring a group of friends. afterwards, maybe go to cafe oasis for some boba drinks. you won't be disappointed! try it out!