Ling Ling Showcases the Best in Chinese Cuisine

The moment you walk into Ling Ling Riverwalk, it becomes evident this will be no ordinary Chinese cuisine dining experience. A breath of fresh air for those who want to move away from eating out of cartons, Ling Ling offers something for everyone.

Ling Ling is a sister restaurant to Milburn's Ling Ling, although the restaurants have different partners and managers. Its name comes from the Giant Panda the Chinese government gave as a gift to the United States following President Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972.

Now open for over seven years, Ling Ling is widely recognized as one of the best Chinese restaurants in the area. It earned three stars from both the Star Ledger and the Courier News, a positive review in the New York Times, and was voted Best Chinese Restaurant in Central New Jersey by the readers of New Jersey Monthly.

The reasons for its wide appeal are evident. Ling Ling does the staples of Chinese cuisine well, but its specials also offer something for the more adventurous eater. The Won Ton Soup and Honey Chicken were classics done well, even if there were no twists on such standard fare. The Chef's Selection Three Glasses Chicken showcases the chef's talent with vegetables. No soggy greens here—all the vegetables in this dish and the broccoli in the Honey Chicken were cooked to perfection, full of flavor and not remotely overdone, a rare find in many Chinese dishes.

The menu is expansive, and with wonderful selections on both the House Specialties and Chef's Selections menu, it's hard to go wrong. While anyone may easily find a favorite, Ling Ling mixes it up with different specials of the week, from appetizer to entrée, allowing for a different dining experience every time.

It's hard to imagine a waitstaff more attentive. From the tea that was immediately placed in front of us upon being seated, to the fact that our glasses never got below half full, not once did we find ourselves wondering where our server was. No sooner would we finish a dish than the dirty plate would disappear, to be replaced momentarily by the next course.

The atmosphere also sets Ling Ling apart. The menu is somewhat pricier than the average Chinese take-out place—entrees run $15-$25—but it is appropriate for the fine dining and quiet feel of the restaurant, with its elegant décor all the way to its monogrammed dishes.

The restaurant offers a take-out menu for a less expensive way to enjoy Ling Ling at home. It also features a lunch menu, from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. on weekdays, with dishes that run from $7-$10 and come with rice and soup or soda, for those looking to escape their business day.