Dong Dong Noodle Bar
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Wheelchair friendly.
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Visited recently as some of my friends have recently moved to the area so thought I'd try and see how it stacks-up compared to other noodle bars in Oxford. Thought overall it was good but not as good as some other Oxford establishments but I'm sure I will return to give it another go. It isn't so much a noodle bar in the strictest sense, but more of a modern chinese which is particularly trying to target a young clientele. They seem to have taken a full chinese menu and stripped it down to the perceived most popular and commonly ordered dishes. They do also offer soup noodles and a full list of accompaniments/starters. I went for a bottle of the Japanese grape juice which was more-ish in a slightly sickly way being a cross between Welch's American grape juice and some dubious Japanese sweets I once had. To start (in my feeble western ways I can't do accompaniments, only starters - try telling that to Wagamama staff!) I had a hot and sour soup with the emphasis firmly on the hot. Forget about any subtlty or flavour - this was chilli soup with chopped meat and veg. Fortunately I like chilli so this didn't deter me but clouded my palate for 15 mins afterwards. I also had some nice squid in a tempura-esque batter which was quite good but with another overdose of chilli, this time battling it out for supremacy with a veritable legion of chopped spring onion. Tasty yes, subtle no. For main I had a duck and pork ramen noodle soup - this was a mixed bag (or should that be bowl?) as the meat was of reasonable quality and quite tasty but the noodles were very disappointing as they were claggy and intent on staying stuck together in a ball of inpenetrable annoyance that both resistant to chop-stick and ladel. The broth was thin and bland whilst the veg was average though the cabbagey choi was good. Surprisingly the chef appeared to have run out of chilli for this dish - he probably used it all in my starters. To finish I had some very good toffee banana - you may be wondering if it's that difficult to get right. And the answer is it's not, but it's amazing how many poor versions I've had. The toffee in this case was crisp and firm whilst the banana was soft and hot. What more can you ask for? The service was friendly and attentive (though it was quite quiet) and the prices quite good. I will return with my friends to give it another go but I will definitely choose other dishes next time. Joe B, 23/10/08 DONG DONG is the best restaurant in the world!! I love it!! The staff are always friendly and always check if our food is ok. The portions are massive and not too expensive. I have had singapore noodles on several occasions, they are delicious! The food is quick and the drinks are nice. I really like the grape juice. We always give the person who serves us a tip because they are so friendly and helpfull. My family and I really love going to Dong Dong and are looking forward to coming to Headington again soon. See you there. j.c, 03/10/08 I usually frequent Dong Dong on a Tuesday with a group of associates. The food used to be affordable, but when they changed the menu earlier this year, the prices went up quite a bit. 1. The food's quality ranges from average to good. 2. Portion size is usually suitable for a hungry person without resorting to a starter. 3. Prawn Cracker portions very big! Well worth it. They are fried in clean (new) oil so they look perfect. 4. They can be a bit understaffed. Sometimes staff sit reading the newspaper and drinking tea instead of helping out during the busy periods. 5. At times the boiled rice does not seem very fresh. 6. Toilet rather grotty. All things considered, Dong Dong is the type of place to go for a casual meal. It is functional and appeased the hunger. The availability of seating is an advantage if you try to go with more than 4 people! Joseph Jones, 07/08/08 I love Dong Dong noodle. The food is of excellent quality and very reasonably priced. It's definitely one of the highlights of Headington, and my favourite Chinese restaurant in the area. Highly recommended. jcp, 03/07/08 My husband and I eat here regularly. The service is always efficient and friendly. The soup noodles are excellent, really good when you want something fresh and tasty.The portions are huge but that's great if you are hungry! Very good value for money too. CDW, 12/11/07 I have been to Dong Dong a few times. The overall service is always very good, all the staff are helpful and friendly. Whenever I had a special request, they have always tried their best to sort it out for me. I tried their Singapore noodles as well, it was lovely. I don't agree with the comment that the curry powder was clumped all around the noodles, as I have been to some other Chinese restaurants, even in Chinatown - they are all the same, so perhaps the Singapore noodles should be done like that. The food in Dong Dong is over the average among Oxford's noodle bars, and the service that I have received is always the best. Dona, 08/10/07 Dong Dong is to be avoided at all costs. I've been there twice now and both times were awful. The second time I ordered the Singapore noodles, which while meant to be spicy, surely aren't supposed to have curry powder clumped all over them, making them inedible. When a member of staff offered us a refund for that dish, her manager came over and told us that by not complaining immediately, we had gone against their policy and next time we should follow the rules. When we pointed out that no one had come to ask us how the food was, she persisted in telling us that we were to blame. Average if not worse food, and genuinely appalling service. 28/09/07 This probably will not get posted on your site but I cannot agree with the comments. I came to your restaurant two weeks ago and waited for a very long time for my meal. By the time my meal came, my daughter had nearly finished hers. When you go out for a meal together you expect to eat together, not have to wait fifteen minutes for your meal to come. 20/09/07 I agree with D.A. about Dong Dong being in compliance with the DDA and the rest of the reasons listed above. I've found it nearly impossible to get a good bowl of noodles anywhere in Oxford except at Dong Dong. Although the noodles are slightly salty for my taste, the noodles are one of the best dishes I've found in Oxford so far. And the staff is the most friendliest I've come across in Oxford as well. M., 28/08/07 Noodle bar is fantastic. Clean, friendly staff. Food is fresh, tasty and as stated in another review, the portions are very generous. Always fresh, the prawn curry is fab, all really tasty. Excellent white wine choice. Quick service and whatever you want they will endeavour to deliver. Fantastic restaurant and takeway, highly recommend. Give it a go. Bless, 21/06/07 Dong Dong is just fantastic. My partner and I eat there every fortnight or so because if it's great food. The service is wonderful, the staff are so friendly and the food is great. Look out for the mamasun at the back (or in the corner), she's always there looking over, making sure everything is running smoothly! Miss Georgie, 11/06/07 On our way to the Headington Theatre we needed somewhere to have a quick bite to eat and "Dong Dong" was in our path. The service was friendly and efficient and the food excellent. It all tasted very fresh, from the King prawn tempura to the Wonton noodle soup. The portions were huge and the prices very wallet-friendly. The decor is perhaps a tad bland and a bit cold but otherwise you could do a lot worse than this friendly little restaurant. A very pleasant surprise. Pamplemousse, 19/01/07 Dong Dong is a new restaurant and take away in Headington and it is the best Chinese by far in the area. My reasons: 1. First the restaurant is lovely and clean and not crowded or smelly, and it is disability friendly. 2. Absolutely HUGE portions. 3. It is cheap in price and not in ingredients. 4. Ultra fast service and excellent customer service, everyone is polite and efficient. 5. They are open throughout the afternoon! I strongly recommend and ask for the community support of the new restaurant. Its friendly prices and enormous portions policy are particularly popular with families and students. This restaurant is doing everything right and we ought to reward it. D.A., 11/01/07
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