The Monkey King Restaurant Review

Hey y’all Happy New Year! We’re starting the New Year with something new, a resy review! And a GOOD one at that. The Monkey King.

My closest friends surprised me with an incredible trip to New York for my 30th birthday, and to make the celebration even more special, we enjoyed a fantastic birthday dinner at The Monkey King in the Bushwick area. If you know me then you KNOW I love Asian cuisine.

Some of you may or may not know, I used to call Brooklyn home before my move to Houston, making this trip incredibly significant for me. It was my first solo trip since becoming a mom, and my first return to the Big Apple in over four years. My friends, knowing how much I missed it, collectively organized and flew me out. My heart overflowed with gratitude. If you follow me on Instagram, you’d know we had SO much fun.

Alright, let’s get into this restaurant review. That is why you all are here.. right, right!

What’s The Monkey King?

It’s not just a restaurant; it’s a celebration of Asian culture. This Asian fusion gem was crafted as a heartfelt nod to cherished family traditions, creating a dining experience that blends flavors, stories, and love.

A friend of a friend recommended us to come here and I’m so glad we did. The experience was amazing. The food, so good!. Aesthetic, music, drinks…. 10’s across the board.

When we first arrived we were a little confused on where the entrance was but soon figured it out as they have a patio area that hid the restaurant initially. I know the patio will be so good for summer!

Upon entering we were greeted by the host who directed us at the bar, while we waited for the previous group to finish. Shortly after ordering, they sat us in the cutest nook of the restaurant.

Here’s What We Ordered at The Monkey King

• Málagarita 8/10: their version of a spicy Margarita. It was a refreshing choice.
  
• Pan-fried Chicken Dumplings 8/10: The pan-fried chicken dumplings delivered a delightful combination of flavors and the perfect starter.
  
• Fried Shrimp Toast 9/10: The Coconut curry sauce made it a 9.7/10: This is one of the dishes they’re known for. A savory twist reminiscent of French toast sticks, enhanced by a velvety coconut sauce that elevated the dish.
  
• Black Pepper Beef 7/10: This was pretty good. Tender beef paired with stir fried veggies in a savory sauce.
  
• Beef Chow Fun (forgot to mention in the video) 6/10: to know me is to know, I love a good noodle dish and I was pretty underwhelmed with this dish. It had so much potential, but just didn’t do it for me.
  
• Xo Crab Fried Rice 9/10: Another incredible dish. I’m a huge fried rice fan, and this crab fried rice was so flavorful. Make sure to get the seafood sauce with it for an extra boost of flavor.
  
• Wok-fried Green Beans & Tofu 9/10: I don’t even like tofu, but I will get this every time I go. The green beans still had a nice crunch and the tofu was well-seasoned and cooked very well. It reminded me of meat. Overall this was a nice and refreshing twist to classic green beans I’m used to.
  
• Peking Duck Bao Buns 10/10: This was my absolute favorite. It was the first time I had bao buns and I was thoroughly impressed. From the soft buns to the flavorful and tender duck. The fresh veggies paired alongside the buns, added such a nice freshness to the overall dish.

I know it seems like we ordered a lot but I feel we didn’t even touch the surface of all they have to order! I will definitely be coming back to try the other dishes i didn’t get.

How Much Was It? $$-$$$

The cost of food was pretty reasonable between $6-$30.

Things to keep in mind

• Make a reservation– The Monkey King is reservation only. So if you want to visit, make sure to call ahead or make a reservation with Resy here.
• Reservations become available, 2 weeks in advance.
• Dining limits–
  • Parties of 2 – 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Parties of 3 – 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Parties of 4 or more – 2 hours
• Bring an appetite– I say this with emphasis, because the menu alone will have you wanting to try EVERYTHING on it. We left stuffed but not in a heavy way. Very full and satisfied.

How To Get To The Monkey King?

I personally would recommend taking Rideshare like Uber or Lyft.

However you can also take public transportation. Public bus lines going through Bushwick: B13, B26, B52, B54, B57 and B60.

Location: 1329 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237

It’s a Asian Cuisine Lovers Dream

If you’re a fan of Asian cuisine, The Monkey King is an absolute must-try! What makes it truly special is its diverse approach—drawing inspiration from all parts of Asia and seamlessly fusing them into a culinary masterpiece. From tantalizing flavors to innovative combinations, every dish at The Monkey King is a delightful journey through the rich tapestry of Asian culinary traditions.

Their goal– “is to evoke a sense of nostalgia for our guests, of having eaten something familiar but, at the same time – different.” – The Monkey King

Things to do in the area

After dinner we headed to a R&B night at Lot 45 for R&B night. There are a lot of bars in the area that would make for a great night! Here’s a few additional recommendations:

• Dromedary: 24 hr doughnut shop next door that is also a speakeasy.
• The Commodore

All in all, I highly recommend The Monkey King for your next girl’s night or date night. I will definitely be returning the next time i visit NYC.

Looking for Asian Inspired Recipes To Make At Home?

Beef Udon
Shrimp Pad Kee Mao
Thai Beef Salad
Easy Weeknight Red Curry Beef & Green Beans
Sushi At Home: Spicy Shrimp Roll

If you plan on trying The Monkey King, please let me know your thoughts. I hope you love it as much as we did. xoxo!