Ling Ling’s Chinese Restaurant was a weekly dinner choice for my husband and me a few years back when we lived in Buffalo, NY. It became our tradition to order Chinese food and spend Sunday evenings watching The Walking Dead together. At first, we chose Ling Ling’s due to its proximity to our townhome but, we ultimately fell in love with it!
Ling Ling’s is a Cantonese, Szechuan, Chinese restaurant it is an affordable take out place that is a great choice if you are looking for a quick bite to eat from fast service, kind workers and good food. Ling Ling’s also offers lunch specials and combinations.
The Atmosphere at Ling Lings
Their restaurant isn’t much to see. It is very small, only a few tables. Some red booths and others with chairs. The counter and kitchen is along the back wall. The woman working the counter will provide the menu and pencil. You then circle the items you wish to order and return the menu and pencil to her. The Food at Ling Ling’s
The dining room may not be much to eat in but the food is the real star. They have a huge menu that consists of lunch options, combinations, appetizers, specials and more.
Appetizers
There are several appetizer options on the menu. Steamed or fried dumplings happen to be one of my personal favorites. I typically order them steamed as they are allegedly healthier options but I have had them fried as well. Steamed, they are pork-filled and pillowy. Fried dumplings are also pork-filled but the outer surface has a crunchier texture. Both are served with a special soy sauce that seems to get spicer every time I order. In fact, the last time I had them the sauce was too spicy for my palate and I ended up not using it.
Soups
While Ling Ling’s does offer several types of soup, I have only ever tried the wonton soup. The wonton soup is well-flavored and the wontons are created delicately. I have always had a pleasant experience with their wonton soup, however, some have complained that they only receive 2 wontons when the standard for a pint is 4.
Chef specials
The options for full meals are very broad at Ling Lings. They span chow meins, I meins, chicken dishes, beef dishes, and even several seafood dishes. All of which are likely very good. I have had the pleasure (and displeasure in some cases) to try a few of these meals.
The orange-flavored chicken is usually very good. It usually comes well coated in the orange sauce as well as orange peels mixed into it. I personally did not enjoy the orange peel addition although it does support the “homemade” aspect of the restaurant. I haven’t ordered this dish in a long time as I am no longer drawn to sweeter, stickier dishes.
General Tso’s is another chicken dish covered in a sticky sauce. Though, it is one of the many that is considered to be spicy. I never found it spicy, but I was displeased with the way the chicken was often overcooked.
Sides
The sides I have tried have been quite good but standard for Americanized Chinese food. The steamed white rice is steamed well without being over or under steamed. I enjoy it a great deal, though it isn’t the healthiest form of rice. The fried rice is typical and contains peas, carrots, and other vegetables.
Other delicious sides include the egg rolls and spring rolls. Egg rolls are fried and stuffed with vegetables and pork. I always order egg rolls when I am ordering wonton soup. I just love using the soup for dipping! Spring rolls are one of my husband’s favorites and they are also stuffed with vegetables but they are not fried.
My final recommendation
If you are ever in Buffalo, NY I would certainly recommend Ling Ling’s for Chinese take out. They are small but mighty in flavor and personality. Their prices are comparable to other Chinese take out restaurants and they take pride in their food.
