Grand Strand Restaurants Review
Modest on the outside, scrumptious on the inside
Probably the best clue as to the quality of food at Myrtle Beach’s Ho Wah restaurant is that so many staffers from the many nearby hotels go there to both eat in and take out. That might seem to indicate that the food is good…which it is, but it also indicates that the prices are about as reasonable as one can expect, especially considering the size of portions and quality of the food itself.
The first thing you see when you enter the very modest looking building on South Kings Highway is the buffet, right in front of the door, but if you gaze upward you will see one of the most ornate ceilings in Myrtle Beach, giving the place a very oriental aura.
The buffet is the favorite with most diners, but those who have learned that the chefs also make special dishes rave about some of them. The Lemon Chicken is said to be one of the best ever made, the ala carte ordered egg rolls are huge, each of them are the size of a large dinner roll and they are stuffed with vegetables and whatever else might be requested.
One dish that seems to have gone out of style at many oriental restaurants is Egg Foo Young. At Ho Wash, it is fantastic. Each layer is separated by whatever stuffing is desired and the gravy to cover it all is perfect. The Egg Foo Young alone is enough for a full meal and it can be ordered as such.
When these dishes and other single entrees are ordered for take-out, the restaurant doesn’t skimp on all the little extras such as soy sauce, orange sauce, sweet and sour sauce, chopsticks and so on.
The regular egg rolls are on the buffet and there are also vegetable spring rolls, fried wonton, crab Rangoon, steamed or fried dumplings and beef Teriyaki, all on the appetizer side.
An old favorite at a serious oriental restaurant is the “Pu Pu Platter,” and Ho Wah serves it for two people. It comes with egg roll, chicken wings, chicken Teriyaki, fantail shrimp, spare ribs and fried wonton.
Speaking of ribs, the barbeque spare ribs can be ordered as an appetizer or a full meal.
Soup lovers will find all the oriental favorites…Wonton, egg drop, Hot & Sour, Chicken noodle or rice, and the house special soup.
Also available are various forms of Lo Mein and Chow Mein Fun.
What would an oriental restaurant be without fried rice? Ho Wah serves it with Pork or Chicken, or Beef or Vegetables. The seafood version comes with shrimp, and there’s a house special recipe.
The main entrees include all the best recipes one would find in a full service oriental restaurant. The pork dishes can be ordered with mixed vegetables, broccoli, mushrooms and snow peas, and there a specialty called twice cooked roast pork. On the poultry side, chicken comes with the same choices and there’s also Moo Goo Gain Pan and Chicken with garlic sauce, not to mention the lemon chicken and Szechuan Chicken.
The Beef also comes with the above mentioned sides and there’s Pepper Steak with onion, Beef Szechuan, Hunan Beef and Beef with Garlic Sauce.
Shrimp is the staple on the seafood side, but there are also large scallops and curry shrimp.
There are twelve chef’s specialties, including some of the traditional dishes such as Happy Family, Triple Delight, Seafood Delight and General Tso’s Chicken.
The true measure of the restaurant is also its ability to serve Peking Duck in a special pancake wrapped recipe, and it is the only item on the menu that costs over ten dollars.
Anyone on a diet is going to be tempted by everything, but Ho Wah also serves up two diet specials…one with steamed chicken or beef and vegetables and the other with steamed shrimp.
HO WAH CHINESE RESTAURANT
409 South Kings Highway
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 448-3321
Restaurant Type: Buffet, Casual, Family
Meals Served: Lunch, Dinner
Food Type: Chinese
Features: Alcohol Served, Catering, Child Friendly, Delivery, Full Menu, Group Discounts, Take Out, Vegetarian Options
Avg Cost: Under $10. Location: Central
