Jordan N.
Yelp
While the address states Guadalupe, it's really hard to spot this restaurant because of two things: 1) the signage hasn't been change yet - it still says 3 Woks and 2) The frontage faces a parking lot between two building, meaning you're not gonna be able to spot this place just by driving on Guadalupe. Keep this in mind!
Upon entering, I was surprised by how stark utilitarian the interior is. No decoration, no color, nothing at all. Even the menu is absent, as they only have it on the television screen near the front door to show, besides a small black board with daily specials.
I ordered a typical Chinese dish of eggplant with minced pork (C12, $10.99) - knowing it's not really Szechuan but also knowing that it's still authentically Chinese (in contrast with Chinese-American). And the dish was skillfully executed, with fresh tasting eggplants and delicious seasoned ground pork with sauce. Only thing that I didn't exactly enjoy much was the sticky white rice - it tasted too plain and uninspired. But good as a sopping tool to eat the sauces left in the plate.
While eating, a young chef came out and looked at me and smiled, wondering if I had liked the dish. I nodded with my mouth full and, after swallowing, had the guts to ask him what his favorite thing on the menu was. The lady at the front end, who had just moved to Austin from China two days ago, interpreted for me since, unknown to me before, the chef only speaks Mandarin. He thought carefully, looking over the menu, and then pointed out the dry fried fish filet (D2, $16.99) and said he could make it less spicy for me if I wanted to (there were two pepper marks next to the listing). I most likely will be ordering this next time I go.
I think the owners are the same as the previous 3 Woks, but I wouldn't know since it's my first time visiting the establishment. The reasoning I stated this is because after the first chef went to the kitchen, I spotted exactly two more chefs, both older. And quizzingly, I looked at the front end lady, and she said they were all chefs, and that they had three. Enough for three woks, apparently.
NOTE: the prices are a bit high for your usual lunch, but the reasoning for this is because, as stated by the name "China's Family Restaurant", the servings are in family portions. Unless if you're able to eat one dish all by yourself (and not be sick of eating a lot of one thing), you should come back with friends to share more than one dishes. There are no personal sized dishes here.
FOOD: Excellent quality, authentic
PRICE: Reasonable for the portions
SERVICE: New lady was attentive and kept the place clean
ATMOSPHERE: Utilitarian, bare-boned