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Wa Jeal Reviews List
Wa Jeal
Wa Jeal Sichuan Chili House is a pioneering Asian restaurant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, serving authentic Sichuan food.
Wa Jeal is a new type of Chinese restaurant that you definitely don't want to miss.
See more Wa Jeal details
38 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Rating Breakdown 38 reviews
5 stars
(7)
4 stars
(18)
3 stars
(12)
2 stars
(1)
1 star
(0)
Food
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.6
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- neighborhood gem(17)
- fit for foodies(9)
- good for groups(4)
- kid-friendly(2)
- romantic(2)
- special occasion(2)
Wa Jeal Reviews List
Review 1 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Spicy Szechuan
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Chinese restaurants are rare and ones that bring the heat are even rarer. This heir to the closed Upper East Side branch of Wu Liang Ye delivers authentic chinese food and is surviving the business killing Second Avenue Subway. It compares favorably to other restaurants that dumb down the flavors and is the only choice on the Upper East Side for Sunday night chinese."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 2 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Authentic and excellent Szichuan fare."
Dined on 5/06/2013
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Review 3 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Upscale Chinese with unique
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Upscale Chinese with unique dishes."
Dined on 04/15/2013
2006
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 4 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Fine meal at Wa Jeal
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We were party of 6 and arrived early for our reservation and they were able to accommodate us right away. Our waitress was excellent and did not rush us. They offer extensive menu and offer many options for vegetarians and vegans who were part of our group. Quality of food was quite good and liked that you can choose your level of spiciness. We had nice bottle of Malbec which was reasonally priced. Ambiance is pleasant with white tablecloths and candles on tables, so not a fast food atmosphere. All in all worked perfect for us. Short walk from the Met Museum too."
Dined on 04/14/2013
2012
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Review 5 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Excellent food and service!
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Excellent food and service! Great for conversation."
Dined on 04/12/2013
2008
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 6 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
A nice, if fairly standard,
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"A nice, if fairly standard, Chinese restaurant. About half the items we ordered were really pretty good; the rest was fine - not at all bad, but nothing special. They were able to take a group of 5 of us w/o much warning, which was why we choose them. They filled up quickly as the evening wore on, and the people @ the tables around us all seemed to be having a good time. Prices are reasonable, given the food, etc."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2007
Special Features: good for groups
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Review 7 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Go for the noodles
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"great dan dan noodles. very good dumplings. good mains. will have to find better mains for a better overall meal."
Dined on 04/07/2013
2010
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 8 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Real Szechuan cooking is hard
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Real Szechuan cooking is hard to find, and this is a great source. Since it opened a few years ago, the decor and atmosphere have been improved to match the level of the food. The service continues to make dining at Wa Jeal a pleasure. If I lived in the neighborhood, Wa Jeal would be one of my staples."
Dined on 03/31/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 9 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Asian with a twist
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Visited this restaurant on a holiday. Very comfortable seating for a party of five. There were other groups of four or five dining while we were there. This was the first time I encountered coconut scallops. We tried and they were tasty. My son tried the pumpkin cake and enjoyed it as well. We also had the Grand Marnier shrimp and the Lamb stirfry. Both were offerings not typically found on an Asian menu and both were quite delish. Kids had tofu dish and a fried rice dish and enjoyed those as well. The menu had everything you expected to see plus many new takes on traditional dishes to entice you. Our server was patient and very enjoyable."
Dined on 03/31/2013
2011
Special Features: good for groups, kid-friendly
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Review 10 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Excellent, spicy Sichuan food
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Excellent, spicy Sichuan food at very reasonable prices. Dishes exceed the usual range and the staff is friendly."
Dined on 03/21/2013
2005
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Review 11 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Much better than the average
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Much better than the average neighborhood Chinese. Specializing in Szechuan/Hunan. Spicing is appropriate -- except for the sesame noodles, which are inedibly incendiary."
Dined on 03/14/2013
2011
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Review 12 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Hands down best Chinese food
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Hands down best Chinese food on the Upper East Side. Perhaps the entire city--who knew?!"
Dined on 03/16/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 13 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Superb Chinese cuisine prepared
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Superb Chinese cuisine prepared in very original and gourmet presentations. Sweet and pungent white meat chicken was delicately cooked and the sauce was tasty but not overly spicy. My tangerine beef was good, although the beef was well done and crunchy.
Our server was very friendly and attentive. The place is not large but has very "cozy" seating. We were there before the high dinner hour so we had plenty of space."
Dined on 03/13/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 14 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Some of the best Chinese food
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Some of the best Chinese food in the city! We've ordered happily many times, but eating In the restaurant, everything is properly hot, appropriately crispy, and even better than at home. Plus, with candlelight and a bar, it's great for a really nice meal. And you can actually hold a conversation. I'll be back!"
Dined on 03/01/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 15 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Best UES Chinese.
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Becoming one of my favorites. Had the Dan Dan, tofu & vegetables in white sauce, and Wah Bah with shrimp. Fantastic!"
Dined on 02/22/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 16 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
I have been searching for
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"I have been searching for a good chinese restaurant and have found it. All the dishes I had were either spicy as requested or very flavorful. It is not a cheap chinese restaurant but is well worth it"
Dined on 02/16/2013
2008
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Review 17 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
A GOOD FIND FOR CHINESE FOOD
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"This was a very nice and affordable Chinese restaurant outside of Chinatown. While very familiar with Manhattan. I can see this also being tourist friendly."
Dined on 02/07/2013
2009
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 18 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
They aim to please, and the
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"They aim to please, and the ambiance is lovely especially for a Chinese restaurant. The food is quite good. The cocktails, however, are small and overpriced."
Dined on 02/07/2013
2006
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Review 19 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
My partner and I frequent
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"My partner and I frequent this Chinese restaurant. With the hundreds of Chinese restaurants and take-out joints in the City, Wa Jeal is a cut above them all. The staff is friendly and we always experience a great meal with fresh ingredients when dining at Wa Jeal."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2004
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 20 for Wa Jeal
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
The white tablecloths and
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The white tablecloths and the candles make the place quite pretty. The servers are eager to please. The food is nicely prepared, and you aren't rushed."
Dined on 01/18/2013
2006
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Wa Jeal
Based on the average of (18) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
2 out of 2 recommend this product
Food
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.6
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate