Hong & Kong Restaurant & Lounge

When I was growing up there were a bunch of local Chinese Restaurants that today we would probably call Cantonese. Back in the day, however, we didn’t have Szechuan or Mandarin– much less Sushi or Asian Fusion– so they were just Chinese. As a kid, most of the time, we would get take-​out and pass the old paper boxes around at dinner. Sometimes, on special occasions, we got to eat in the restaurant surrounded by the tropical fish and the other wondrous décor. As a young adult I would go to the bar and listen to the bands, get the drinks with umbrellas, and, if I was lucky enough to have a date, get the «Pu Pu for Two.» As a working adult I was introduced to the world of the combination lunch plate, featuring the inevitable but ignored admonition, «No Substitutions.»
The Hong & Kong (the peculiar «&» used to be part of its charm) has been around a long time. It has seen better days. When you drive up the formerly gaudy sign now looks like it was recovered from a ship wreck. If you drive around the back to park you can see the tarps covering the seams on the roof, presumably because they don’t have the money to fix the roof. When you get inside the fish swim in water that is not exactly crystal clear. Your indifferent host will eventually escort you to a table. You will need the escort because they don’t spend big bucks lighting the place. I suggest that you avoid the bar. They had boxes stacked on the floor, I guess they couldn’t be bothered to take them to a storage room. The patrons had that drone-​like quality even at noon.
The food is indifferent. I can’t say it is bad any more than I can say that the restaurant is actually unclean. If you are willing to trade quality for nostalgia, you might give it a try. Otherwise stay away.

We had a lunchtime get together here for a coworker. The restaurant was pretty much deserted (okay, weekday, 11:45am), so we were hoping for a quick quiet meal. What we got was extremely slow service — as if the kitchen only had one cook working, and they could only do one meal at a time (there were 12 people. One person ordered just pork fried rice. It took 40 minutes for them to get that, even after 8 other people had gotten their entire dishes, some of which included pork fried rice).
The food was… highly variable. The scallion pancakes were exceptionally tasty. I ordered general gaus chicken with white rice. The dish arrived with brown fried rice, and as the waiter put it down, he apologized even before I said anything and came back 10 minutes later with a bowl of white rice.
Alas, the place had the feel of a 1970’s restaurant that never realized it wasn’t the 70’s anymore. No windows, piles of papers on the tables where someone had obviously been doing accounting work (Guys? It’s okay to use dining room tables for that — but right next to the entranceway?)
There are so many options for really good chinese food in the. This just isn’t one of them.

My favorite Chinese Restaurant of all time. Love the food. Love the décor. Love the atmosphere. Love that it is a full on dance club in the evening! You should eat here today and often… in bed

Our go to Chinese restaurant!
This has been our go to since moving to Chelmsford way back when.
Always delicious food and drinks and awesome service.
The décor is dated but that is what makes this place fun! It’s like a time warp.
Vinnie was our waiter back in the day and now makes awesome Mai Tais for us.
Definitely give this place a try!

The atmosphere is a little dark and you can tell that the establishment used to allow smoking because there is just a lingering smell — but the décor is cool. Drinks are great and the food is really good too! I love the general gau’s chicken!

We go here atleast once a month! Vinny is the best bartender period. Always takes care of us and we always go with a crew of people!

A trip to Chelmsford is not complete without going to Hong and Kong. Get a blue hawaiian and an app and you’re good to go. Food is greasy but it hits the spot. Love the waitstaff. Love the raucous drunk moms at the bar.

Exactly what you would expect from a typical American Chinese joint. Reliable to satisfy that greasy craving and indulge until you can’t move! Very standard Chinese food, the menu was very extensive with a variety of options.
The place was completely empty except for a few guys drinking in the bar area, we went around 3:00 in the afternoon. Service was alright but not as good as it should’ve been as the only diners at the time.

After reading about Hong and Kong in Jeff Bauman’s book we decided to go for, as another Unilocaler mentioned, «the experience». Our experience during the day was probably quite different than it is late night!
First impression: Dark. Honestly had a hard time reading the menu. Cool old school carved wall décor behind the bar with colored mood lighting. Bartender was attentive, but he seemed to be running dining room and lounge so he was in and out.
Decided to give Mongolian Beef a try and despite being a tad salty it was really flavorful. My husband got lo mein and crab rangoons and thought it was just okay. Mai tai was average, scorpion bowl came in a mai tai glass (minus 1 star for that!) and was so-​so.
Now we can say we tried it. The end.

Really want to get this one out there. This place is horrible now !!!
I have been here over 30 plus times in my life and always considered Hong Kong to be hit or miss with many more hits.
This has to be new owners or something. First time in over a year since we where there last. Not one familiar face.
Table was gross and sticky. Should have left then. No bread, no tea, no fire…
And the food was horrible. Not one thing out of eight items was good. Leftovers always get brought home. Not these leftovers. They probably just reheated them for the next order. And how do you botch a Mai Tai ??? Nasty.
We went to the Jade East the next day to get the bad taste out of head.
So sad… Should just bulldozer it.

It’s time to call a spade a spade. Hong & Kong… your classic greasy townie Chinese establishment with strong drinks and average food. This is the place that you go when your 19 years old and have an expired license that doesn’t belong to you. Its a good place to get drunk and eat some shitty Chinese food!

It smells funny. They never brought us water, even though we all asked. Multiple people at the next table and at ours ordered white rice and got fried. The food was good when it got there.
The mu shi pork was tasty, as were the crab Rangoons. Drinks were STRONG, but odd-​tasting. If you’re looking for a place where you can mock the ‘60s décor, this is your jam.

It is what it is… and if you remember that you’ll love the trip down memory lane of what Chinese food was like back in the 60 – 70’s.
I do still love this place.

Terrible!!! Do yourself a favor and don’t go here. The food was dry and discusting. The waiter did not get my order correct. it was just a complete disaster and there were only 2 other people there

Don’t go for the food. Go for the drinks. They’re cheap, strong, and come in a wide variety.
Word to the wise: If you think that you’re fine after sharing a scorpion bowl, you’re already past the point of no return.

This is general Canto style eat-​in «American» Chinese food, but it was really good. Really, really good. I went to Chelmsford on business and was so impressed by the service, prices, and food quality I went back again.
We’re not talking Michelin rated food, but for what this place is, it’s a 5 of 5 stars. Food was quite inexpensive, flavorful, and abundant.
Thanks to auntie running the place for being more than accommodating. If and when I go back to the area I will definitely come back.

Word to the wise– do NOT go to Hong Kong if you want anything other than THE Hong Kong experience. The majority of the reviews here are spot on… but seem to be negative! My wife and I frequent the lounge specifically for the drunken bowling night crew dropping F-​Bombs, the African-​American patrons yelling way too loud and Vinny the Asian bartender, who is amusingly one of the biggest local sports fans, waving his arms at the game on the tv and ‘politely’ telling them how they could do it better.
You don’t go here for the Chinese food experience. You go for the HONG KONG experience. Take my advice– head here for dinner, sit down, hold on tight and enjoy!
Oh, and the General Gao kicks ass!

Gave it a second chance. bad move, again!
Gross!!the food is dry n tasteless. The lounge area was fun to watch drunken fool on the dance floor. The waiter seemed lost n confused. but nice.

I only go here when I crave for Chinatown food, but it really can’t compare. I usually get the piña colada (virgin = yum, alcohol = not so yum). For our appetizer we got the seafood soup (I make better seafood soup, seriously). My boyfriend usually get the fried calamari, while I get sizzling steak. The calamari is not sooo great, it doesnt really taste like it either. The steak is a bit below average, sometimes the beef has a slight rainbow color meaning the meat is old.
I’ve been here plenty of times, and I have never had amazing service. I brought my family here one time, and my mom said the waitress was VERY UNFRIENDLY. However, she was smiling at other customers maybe because they are frequent customers. Well, like I always say. they should treat everyone equally

So… there are a few highlights for eateries in Chelmsford, MA.
But Hong & Kong is not one of them.
I’ve been here 3 times total… twice with formal girlfriends and once recently b/​c my one buddy had to stop at the Chelmsford Post Office during our lunch hour, so we were pressed for time… and being Hong & Kong is right across the street… well, there we were.
My lunch special was General Tso’s Chicken… sided with a couple of wings, white rice and some broccoli.
The broccoli and wings were ok… rice is rice… and General Tso is still pissed off that people are wrecking his name. I don’t recall the former girlfriends being exactly wow’d by this place, either.
Lunch is pretty reasonably priced… and dinner is expensive. Head to Fung Shui in Chelmsford, which is just up Route 110 East about a mile.
Fung Shui isn’t cheap either, but the food and atmosphere are better.
The inside of this place is… wow, dunno how to describe it.
Unique.