Keeping the Flame Alive
Donny Wong’s follows the great tradition of UK and Australian style Chinese food.
Expectations. We’ve all got them. Even if we’re Perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious, all the fare at Donny Wong’s will please. And thanks to the expertise of its chefs, this new restaurant that doubles as a provider of out-of-house banquets, parties and celebrations is already becoming popular. You may well have enjoyed Chinese food in Thailand, but not many venues are as good as Donny Wong’s.
Donny Wong’s offers 4-star food at takeaway prices, and attracts a very varied clientele. But what unites guests is the love of the style of the food here. It’s Chinese, but of the kind popular in the UK and Australia. It’s not that often that you can find it in Asia. Mainland Chinese food is quite different, but Donny Wong’s sticks to what it knows and does best – the UK and Australian versions. The results have garnered rave reviews on TripAdvisor. Taking a closer look at Donny Wong’s, the first thing you realize is that its food is enjoyed all over the island; you don’t even need to come to the restaurant to eat it. A lot of people have food delivered to villas, hotel rooms – wherever on the island they’re staying, in fact. Short of putting their food on the next flight to Bangkok, Donny Wong’s will deliver it pretty much anywhere local – meaning any place at all on Samui that’s accessible by road. You can have your food delivered as takeaway via Hangover Samui (simply download the app of the same name to your smartphone). Other guests phone in their order and come and collect at the restaurant, which is located in Choeng Mon, on the road from Big Buddha to Chaweng.
The restaurant is very informal, with a small dining room and larger patio just outside. There’s no standing on ceremony, but you’ll need to book as it can get pretty packed here. Whether you eat in the restaurant or at home, sublime tastes are guaranteed.
There’s only one way to describe the menu – huge. With 126 dishes, there literally is something for everyone. Open from 1:00 pm daily, Donny Wong’s boasts many combinations, and serves an array of appetizers, chow mein and chop suey dishes, Hong Kong style sweet-and-sour dishes, as well as the popular curries, found in UK Chinese restaurants. You’ll also find short ribs, Mongolian-style lamb and Szechuan peppercorn and chilli dishes. There’s a lot more besides, and you’ll find all your favourites are well-represented.
Try the Sweet and Sour Donny’s Balls. Don’t let the name put you off, these are definitely favourites with guests. Balls of chicken, pork or prawns are covered in thick crispy batter and, you guessed it, served with sweet-and-sour sauce.
Donny Wong’s also wows with its Peking duck, which is currently a rarity on Samui. Opt for a half or whole duck, cooked Hong Kong style, then served up with Chinese pancakes and shredded cucumbers, scallions and hoisin sauce. If you’ve never tried it before, you’ll be won over and an instant convert to Chinese food. Don’t miss the short ribs, either, these are particularly tasty, and Donny Wong’s serves them up in six different ways.
A question that some guests are too polite to ask is, “Who exactly is Donny Wong? And will he be there at the restaurant?” But what you might not suspect is that Donny Wong is actually not one person but two. It’s a mix of the names of the two executive chefs, who between them have racked up some 25 years’ experience in four and five star Chinese restaurants.
The restaurant is managed by the same people who are behind Go Catering, which is just next door, and handles events of all kinds, notably weddings, birthday parties and corporate events. They offer turnkey solutions such as staging an entire wedding, and can handle not just the catering but everything from steaming a bridal dress to accommodating a hundred or more people in villas across the island, no matter how remote. This is a small, fast and efficient team that can do just about anything, with hundreds of people on their books who can provide precise services whenever and wherever needed. Impressive? Definitely. But back to Donny Wong’s. If you should you opt for a Chinese feast at your event, it can easily be staged at the venue of your choice with the help of Go Catering. Donny Wong’s opens daily from 1:00 pm until 10:00 pm. For orders and reservations you can book online via their website or Facebook page. If you suffer from any kind of food intolerance, allergy or dietary restriction, please let staff know at the time of ordering and they can confirm if your selections are suitable for you or not.
If you’re hankering after Chinese food the way it’s made back at home in the UK or Australia, then let yourself be spoiled by Donny Wong’s. Expect the best of homespun favourites served up by avid chefs in simple surrounds. These are treats to savour.
Dimitri Waring