It has been over 10 years since my original review and with changes in palate, experiences, and my relationship with food over the last decade, I wanted to come back to share that my thoughts about this restaurant have never changed. Dong Nguyen remains home to comfort Chinese/Vietnamese style cuisine. I still get the hainan chicken + pork chop rice combo. Staff still greet me with excitement and warmth. Minor noticeable differences: - The pork chop is no longer bone-in. I've notice in my last several visits that they've started to serve it deboned and cut up. Some inconsistencies in flavor and texture, but nothing significant. - Because of the pandemic, they had to close down the restaurant for some time. This led to a restructure that affected staff and the way the business operated. Once reopened, service was take-out only for a long time. When the business finally introduced dine-in service back to the public, most of the staff did not return. This definitely changed the ambience of the dining experience as the once hustle and bustle of customers/staff and steady sounds of the door chime are now far and few between. While it makes me a bit sad, I'd like to think all the changes in the last few years have shifted customers to adapt to phone orders and takeout and that the business is still flourishing. Please continue to support small businesses like this one. I would be heartbroken if this establishment were to ever close its doors in my lifetime. One other thing that surprisingly has not changed -- CASH ONLY! I'd also like to note that Dong Nguyen and Savoy have very different takes on their hainan chicken dishes and I've grown to like and appreciate them both. So if you are coming here expecting to have what is served at Savoy, don't. Each establishment has its own unique flair. Please disregard my original review, this is my public apology.
Ccy Y.
The Cornish hen and red rice was the most delicious dish. The Cornish hen was moist and the owner was really nice and helped me open the door with the baby stroller.
Eric L.
Great food. Must go if you're in the area. Wish the meat to rice ratio was better. Hainam chicken nice and juicy.
Huey N.
Service person is nice but the place is old and dirty(speciallly the bathroom). The food are not good here and think then beef are old.
Kieu Trinh
We got hainan chicken rice and it was very delicious, flavorful. Love this place!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yan W.
We ordered hainan chicken rice at Dong Nguyen for to-go many times. It used to be 4 stars quality but now downgraded to 3 stars for me. They didn't give us much chicken meat this time and it was under cooked. Their fried noodle dish was salty and the beef quality was not good. Price was good and portion not small but it was hit and miss. I hope that they will improve their specialty dish (hainan chicken rice) quality.
Kalanie T.
My recent visit has been disappointing. We ordered the hainam chicken rice. Not much meat in the chicken, one of the plate was very raw chicken, could see blood. I refused to eat and asked to switch, owner insisted it's cooked and refused for a refund or exchange, or anything. Being a nurse, I'm not about to eat salmonella. End up didn't eat it. The other plates also were a bit raw looking. That night I had food poisoning, the next day the whole family had diarrhea and vomiting. I'm traumatized for good. Never coming back. Poor customer service. The place smelled awful as we first sat down, like a sewer smell of some sort.
Karen L.
So I was curious because of the Yelp prices and the reviews, but the prices are out of date and in hindsight even according to this updated takeout menu, they overcharged us. Hainan chicken, like other reviews-- lots of rice, but not even a thigh worth of meat. Flavorful though. Beef stew was generous, and so was the cubed beef plate.
Mei Chi Siu
Real Hainan chicken with flavorful rice. One of "old school" hole-in-the-wall business for 30 years. The price is decent too. My parents have been stable patrons for many years. They also have a few traditional Chinese dishes too. Will definitely go back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hainan Style Chicken with Rice
Chef Avinash
It was part of the Hainan chicken with rice crawl. It was good. The side condiment was like Crack. It was the best
$14 cash for their Hainan chicken rice in 2023. it's decently good but it's too pricey for 8pcs (but really 6 due to bones) of chicken atop a huge bed of white rice and a container of sauce and soup.soup was decent but veggies in salty soup.at this price point, there's too many other options I'd go for that are more nutritious or better value.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Em Ily
So so so so so good! It's a hidden gem of the 626 and they deserve more hype. Been going since I was a kid and the food still taste the same so I love the consistency. I highly recommend trying their Hainanese chicken rice and/or their red rice with shaking beef or cornish hen. This spot is definitely a must if you are ever in the area.
Lesly B.
Best hainan chicken I've had! Their hainan chicken sauce is by far the best ive tried! Don't under estimate this small establishment, for it is definitely packing with flavor Customer service is great at some point I'd go here so much they knew my name upon calling placing my order, picking up, & dining in
Tara C
Been a long time customer here. Food is delicious and service is great. Best hainan chicken rice plate ever and their pork ribs combo is also great. The sauce that comes with it makes the plate. They also have delicious steak cubes with tomato paste rice. Comes with soup and free iced tea. Only thing a little disappointing lately is their chicken portion seem to have been reduced . Ordering an extra chicken thigh or strip of chicken would cost $3 more which I did but it didn’t look like I got a lot. I get more chicken at Church’s chicken for that price and I get at least 3 pieces of full chicken thighs and legs that I feel will fill me . I don’t see why a steamed or boiled chicken would cost so much more for so much less. Parking is plentiful. Restaurant is small and quaint. Service is friendly and fast. They always offer you extra soup when packing Togo or give you extra sauce.They’ve reopened indoor dining now as of 2/22/2023.
Vince L.
I know there are many options at this diner, but it's really known for Hainan chicken. It's been around for a long time. During my last visit, I don't think they do dine-in anymore. I ordered it to go instead. The chicken is tender and the sauces are good, but the chicken portion is smaller than before. Maybe it's a result of ingredient prices going up, but it left us still hungry. I ate the rest of the ginger sauce plain. We should've done three orders for two people.
It has been over 10 years since my original review and with changes in palate, experiences, and my relationship with food over the last decade, I wanted to come back to share that my thoughts about this restaurant have never changed. Dong Nguyen remains home to comfort Chinese/Vietnamese style cuisine. I still get the hainan chicken + pork chop rice combo. Staff still greet me with excitement and warmth. Minor noticeable differences: - The pork chop is no longer bone-in. I've notice in my last several visits that they've started to serve it deboned and cut up. Some inconsistencies in flavor and texture, but nothing significant. - Because of the pandemic, they had to close down the restaurant for some time. This led to a restructure that affected staff and the way the business operated. Once reopened, service was take-out only for a long time. When the business finally introduced dine-in service back to the public, most of the staff did not return. This definitely changed the ambience of the dining experience as the once hustle and bustle of customers/staff and steady sounds of the door chime are now far and few between. While it makes me a bit sad, I'd like to think all the changes in the last few years have shifted customers to adapt to phone orders and takeout and that the business is still flourishing. Please continue to support small businesses like this one. I would be heartbroken if this establishment were to ever close its doors in my lifetime. One other thing that surprisingly has not changed -- CASH ONLY! I'd also like to note that Dong Nguyen and Savoy have very different takes on their hainan chicken dishes and I've grown to like and appreciate them both. So if you are coming here expecting to have what is served at Savoy, don't. Each establishment has its own unique flair. Please disregard my original review, this is my public apology.
The Cornish hen and red rice was the most delicious dish. The Cornish hen was moist and the owner was really nice and helped me open the door with the baby stroller.
Great food. Must go if you're in the area. Wish the meat to rice ratio was better. Hainam chicken nice and juicy.
Service person is nice but the place is old and dirty(speciallly the bathroom). The food are not good here and think then beef are old.
We got hainan chicken rice and it was very delicious, flavorful. Love this place!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We ordered hainan chicken rice at Dong Nguyen for to-go many times. It used to be 4 stars quality but now downgraded to 3 stars for me. They didn't give us much chicken meat this time and it was under cooked. Their fried noodle dish was salty and the beef quality was not good. Price was good and portion not small but it was hit and miss. I hope that they will improve their specialty dish (hainan chicken rice) quality.
My recent visit has been disappointing. We ordered the hainam chicken rice. Not much meat in the chicken, one of the plate was very raw chicken, could see blood. I refused to eat and asked to switch, owner insisted it's cooked and refused for a refund or exchange, or anything. Being a nurse, I'm not about to eat salmonella. End up didn't eat it. The other plates also were a bit raw looking. That night I had food poisoning, the next day the whole family had diarrhea and vomiting. I'm traumatized for good. Never coming back. Poor customer service. The place smelled awful as we first sat down, like a sewer smell of some sort.
So I was curious because of the Yelp prices and the reviews, but the prices are out of date and in hindsight even according to this updated takeout menu, they overcharged us. Hainan chicken, like other reviews-- lots of rice, but not even a thigh worth of meat. Flavorful though. Beef stew was generous, and so was the cubed beef plate.
Real Hainan chicken with flavorful rice. One of "old school" hole-in-the-wall business for 30 years. The price is decent too. My parents have been stable patrons for many years. They also have a few traditional Chinese dishes too. Will definitely go back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hainan Style Chicken with Rice
It was part of the Hainan chicken with rice crawl. It was good. The side condiment was like Crack. It was the best
Restaurantji Recommends
$14 cash for their Hainan chicken rice in 2023. it's decently good but it's too pricey for 8pcs (but really 6 due to bones) of chicken atop a huge bed of white rice and a container of sauce and soup.soup was decent but veggies in salty soup.at this price point, there's too many other options I'd go for that are more nutritious or better value.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
So so so so so good! It's a hidden gem of the 626 and they deserve more hype. Been going since I was a kid and the food still taste the same so I love the consistency. I highly recommend trying their Hainanese chicken rice and/or their red rice with shaking beef or cornish hen. This spot is definitely a must if you are ever in the area.
Best hainan chicken I've had! Their hainan chicken sauce is by far the best ive tried! Don't under estimate this small establishment, for it is definitely packing with flavor Customer service is great at some point I'd go here so much they knew my name upon calling placing my order, picking up, & dining in
Been a long time customer here. Food is delicious and service is great. Best hainan chicken rice plate ever and their pork ribs combo is also great. The sauce that comes with it makes the plate. They also have delicious steak cubes with tomato paste rice. Comes with soup and free iced tea. Only thing a little disappointing lately is their chicken portion seem to have been reduced . Ordering an extra chicken thigh or strip of chicken would cost $3 more which I did but it didn’t look like I got a lot. I get more chicken at Church’s chicken for that price and I get at least 3 pieces of full chicken thighs and legs that I feel will fill me . I don’t see why a steamed or boiled chicken would cost so much more for so much less. Parking is plentiful. Restaurant is small and quaint. Service is friendly and fast. They always offer you extra soup when packing Togo or give you extra sauce.They’ve reopened indoor dining now as of 2/22/2023.
I know there are many options at this diner, but it's really known for Hainan chicken. It's been around for a long time. During my last visit, I don't think they do dine-in anymore. I ordered it to go instead. The chicken is tender and the sauces are good, but the chicken portion is smaller than before. Maybe it's a result of ingredient prices going up, but it left us still hungry. I ate the rest of the ginger sauce plain. We should've done three orders for two people.