Wok Express

Wow I can’t believe I never reviewed this place! There aren’t very many places in Cincinnati that have traditional Chinese food. This place has it. And I’m not talking about fancy dishes or street food, but right in between.
While other ‘real’ Chinese restaurants around the area cover the whole gambit of food, Wok Express keeps their focus on the middle portion and they do it right. This is the place you go to if you’re craving that meal that you can get for cheap, in a huge portion, at a little stand on the street at night market, and you’re sitting on a little plastic chair and a wobbly metal table.
The décor here is obviously much better than that though. Wok Express tricks you with their Americanized name, and while they do serve Americanized Chinese food, just like House of Sun, they’ve got a separate menu and that’s where the gold is.
I come here for the Beef Noodle soup only. I’m too satisfied with that to try anything else, and given that it’s $ 5 or $ 6, for a bowl of noodles big enough to feed two, why would I even bother?

I visited this place for a private party. As far as authentic Asian food goes, this place is right on point. Don’t come here and get your typical Americanized Chinese dishes. Instead opt for their pan-​fried fish. It’s crispy and flavorful. They’re fried rice is pretty good too though it’s a touch oily for my preference. They’re steamed watercress is mild and delicious… and the best thing there? Tempura squid. I bit into this thinking it was your typical tempura fries chicken. I was pleasantly surprised. The squid isn’t too rubbery and the fried shell is light with a hint of salt. My only regret is that this dish came out last… I was too full to stuff my face with the squid. :(

Terrible service, the woman servant’s attitude is awful. Food is indifferent. I really have no appetite at all here!!!

Yum, Yum, YUM! Unpretentious… inexpensive…YUM! Hurry and come on over!
Yes, these are the best words I can come up with for Wok Express’ Taiwanese style cuisine. After two days, I’m still reminiscing those flavors: homey, familiar, yet impossible to reproduce at home. We ordered quite a few dishes:
Mixed cold appetizer plate with pig ear slices;
Quarter cold duck with ginger and sauce;
Twice cooked pork belly slices, «Chinese» style;
Salt n pepper fried chicken wings, bite sized
Stir fry beef with jalapeño peppers;
Chitterlings with fish slices in flaming hot pot. (I thought I had written chitterlings out of my list long time ago, but I could not stop eating it!)
EVERY single dish was delicious and non-​gringoed. It has been quite a while since something has excited this tired palate of mine.
Wok Express has a very low key exterior and even lower key interior: worn tables and more worn booths. The owner’s service style is no-​nonsense: «are you ready to order… here are your food…» But who cares when the food is this good! I am already wanting to go back for more!

Wow, what great food. While the location and the dining room are a bit underwhelming, the food was excellent. I had the beef noodle soup, and will come back for more.
Summary: A hidden gem.

wok it out! wok in! haha, if i opened a chinese restaurant, i would SERIOUSLY consider those names.
i visited wok express with my audit team based on recommendations from several chinese auditors who previously stayed in cincinnati. don’t let external appearances fool you. the food is amazingly authentic. once you’ve been seated, immediately ask for the special chinese menu. when you do this, you’ve instantaenously removed all of the p.f. chang style americanized chinese food off your menu. the top dishes to get (especially since you get tired of american food in cincinnati) are: beef noodle soup, crispy tofu, fish in garlic sauce, chinese broccoli… you’ll be full and satisfied.