I wouldn't call the food here great but its doable. Mainly my rating comes from the service, atmosphere and pricing that Jackey brings to the table. I have never been here and had a bad time, and yes I have been here more times than I am proud of. Order simple and it shouldn't disappoint.
Reviewed by:
Debing S. on:
12/25/2012 2:13:00 AM
The food and the service have so much room to improve. Its name is related to Jackie Chan, but seriously, I dont think Jackie Chan would like to order or have food here.
Reviewed by:
stephen r. on:
12/4/2012 10:42:00 AM
BAD AWFUL TERRIBLE GREASEY service and management typical chinese Full Kee always big mistake to venture away from what I know is goood!! I think others know how to cook not them for instance the Salt & Spice seafood combo 18$ of !@#$%^&&**. goodbye Jackeys Cafe U SUCK
Reviewed by:
Caitlin H. on:
9/19/2012 10:26:00 AM
Is the food good? Eh. Not bad, not good just your typical Chinese takeout. Is it overpriced? Yeah a little. Did they follow my special instructions for my food? No, but that's not really a big deal to me at this particular moment.Am I eating Chinese food in my bed because I just had it delivered to me in LITERALLY 20 minutes by a sweet little Asian dude at 2AM on Monday? YES, SO I AM HAPPY.PS. All of you people looking for good Chinese in Chinatown, while this might not sound right, STOP LOOKING IN CHINATOWN. Actually, for what is IMO the best in DC, check out Sichuan Pavilion. However, they will not deliver food to you at 2AM!
Reviewed by:
Alice Y. on:
8/24/2012 3:48:00 PM
The portions are so tiny for about $7/entree.I ordered a mixed veggie lunch special and my plate was about 80% steamed rice and 20% veggies.My friend had congee with fish filet.. Which was 3 small pieces of fish swimming in congee flavored with perhaps a pound of MSG.So disappointing.
Reviewed by:
Matthew C. on:
8/6/2012 3:30:00 AM
Decent food, decent prices, no wait: overall a good meal but nothing amazing.The lemon chicken was tender but incredibly sweet--the lemon "sauce" was more like a lemon syrup. Still had a good flavor but was just too sweet for me.The breaded shrimp was served hot with a crispy outside and juicy inside (though a touch on the salty side).By far the best part of the meal was the sautéed spinach-like vegetable. It was sautéed with a little bit of garlic and shallots. My friend who speaks Mandarin (definitely helpful when going to an authentic Chinese restaurant) ordered it so I have no clue what it was. Most likely, you could get it by asking for the "sautéed vegetable that looks like spinach."The prices were slightly higher than what I'm used to (though that's understandable since I'm from Houston). All of the main dishes were around $10-15.If you're in a hurry, this place beats the long lines at many of the other Chinatown restaurants, but I wouldn't put it on any "top 10" lists.
Reviewed by:
Monika L. on:
7/11/2012 5:38:00 PM
So I came here because I was in the area and I had a 50% off scoutmob app. I wrongly thought that since I was in Chinatown, that coupon would go a long way.Jackey's lunch specials are good (~$4), but dinner they have standard Chinese American dishes that are usually around 8$ elsewhere...for $15! Oh well, at least I had a coupon.I do like authentic Chinese food, but I enjoy the Americanized stuff too. I knew that I was in a touristy area, and I was in DC, so I expected nothing fancy. I ordered Mongolian Beef...something I knew was basic and something they couldn't mess up. Sadly I was wrong.Each piece of beef took about 50 chews, my jaw would get tired from all the chewing, and it still wouldn't break down!I should've gotten something simpler, like orange chicken or something. =(
Reviewed by:
AccioSoyMilk .. on:
6/29/2012 11:30:00 AM
My review's a little different because this is my go-to place for delivery jook/congree. I have been occasionally sick with me really not wanting to go anywhere and not really having the patience/energy/will to cook rice for a pot of rice porridge. Besides, I like how restaurants do jook anyway.I've gotten delivery at weird times of the day (like 3 PM at the afternoon), knowing that it's not a rush hour time, typically, so I can get my food quickly. The congee comes in good sized containers, with me usually requesting plain, just green onions only. I guess it sucks because they only give enough green onions for one good serving, but I'll take it!It's hot when it arrives and the delivery guy said to me "Enjoy your meal" which is nice. I've also had the chicken roll and chicken on a stick from them. Neither of which I like, but whatever.So I can't say much for eating there or for the other items, really (although I guess based on what I've had and other reviews, I wouldn't hold out hope), but for my upset tummies and dying from flu times, I'll take it.
Reviewed by:
Mike S. on:
6/16/2012 8:47:00 PM
The worst Chinese food I've had in Chinatown, which says it all given the other options. As others have mentioned the food is bland, overly greasy, and overpriced. Tried the salt & pepper seafood dish, which was all salt and no pepper, tough seafood, and given the price tag lacked much seafood. The shrimp fried rice was average, but that's not saying much.The boba tea was awful, the service was a bit off, which left the hot and sour soup as the only decent item we tried.I'd recommend trying New Big Wong or Full Kee instead.
Reviewed by:
Amy C. on:
6/1/2012 3:30:00 PM
I can't remember how many times I've walked right past this place just to write it off as another Americanized Chinese restaurant in DC's bootleg Chinatown. I felt some relief when I walked in and saw a table full of Chinese people.The service is a little slow but the staff is friendly. The food is authentic but slightly overpriced. Yes, there are some Americanized Chinese food items in the menu, but if you know Chinese food--you know what to avoid and what to order.
Reviewed by:
Joel B. on:
5/24/2012 5:41:00 AM
I am writing this as a service to you, fellow Yelpers. Avoid this place.I feel sick from having eaten there. Literally. Let's break it downFood is terribly bland (even when asked for extra spicey) and extremely greasy. Now, I know what you are thinking -- it's Chinese! Yes, I knew what I was signing up for.. but not for this!The Hunan chicken literally just tasted like chicken flavored grease, minus the flavor. Eating here is an ongoing adventure in unpleasantness. I can't warn you all away enough! Look at my other reviews, I am generous with my stars but this place.. beyond the pale. I ended up spending about $25 + 5 tip for really awful food (just for me -- this is not "cheap" Chinese).Here is a hint : no one else is eating here. Just my party. It is a prime location at a prime time and no one is eating here! Run away!!TL:DR as another Yelper said, really low on the quality scale, high on the price scale (for Chinese food).
Reviewed by:
Daniel B. on:
5/10/2012 10:44:00 AM
I'm really surprised at all the negative reviews! I have gone twice and got the same thing both times -- so maybe I was just lucky to pick a good item. Crab rangoon is decent, and the sweet and sour chicken is delicious! Food comes out fast and the people are nice. Someone mentioned they already add a gratuity, which I haven't noticed. But I haven't really looked at the receipt for it's possible. Small place, but so good!
Reviewed by:
Vivian H. on:
4/12/2012 12:11:00 AM
OK I had heard DC Chinatown wasn't good but I felt I had to try it out just to know for myself. We ordered a tofu dish, the salt & pepper squid, and a noodle dish... what I tried was on the low end of Chinese food on quality and on the high end for price. For example, the squid was overly doughy and not fried enough. Noodle-to-topping ratio was off so most of it was dry noodles at the end. And they cleared my friend's beer before she was done with it!
Reviewed by:
M H. on:
3/17/2012 2:15:00 PM
Just plain horrible.- The service was terrible - We told waitress to give us another minute to look over the menu. She came back in about 30 seconds.- Food portion sizes are SO SMALL!!!!-Food was way overpriced. $11.00+ for mongolian beef = 5 slices of thin beef surrounded by a heaping of nothing but green onions. BLEH. I had to take most of them out and mix them with my noodles.-General Tso's chicken was among the worst I ever had. There was no breading! The sauce was too watery. I was grateful for the 2 pieces of tiny broccoli-The lo mein was dry and cold. gross.One of the older ladies who worked there (maybe manager?) hovered around us and inspected our receipts as we were filling in the tip. RUDE, AWKWARD and WEIRD!!Did I mention how small the portion sizes are and how ridiculously overpriced everything is?AVOID! It was a very disappointing end to what was a perfect day.
Reviewed by:
Christopher S. on:
2/5/2012 3:17:00 PM
12/3/11 3:51AMPan-fried Meat Dumpling ($5.95)West Lake Style Beef Soup for 2 (6.95)Beef Chow Foon (11.95)After stopping by two birthday parties in DC, my inebriated sophisticate and I got the beer munchies so we decided to hit up Chi-town before heading home...1. The beef chow fun was on point.2. West Lake Style Beef Soup was excellent.3. The pan-fried dumplings left my taste buds in a pococurante mood; good thing they were the first dish to arrive.To people who read this, I will definitely return and repeat visits...
Reviewed by:
Deanna L. on:
1/25/2012 4:27:00 PM
The food was horrible! My taro drink was so watered down, I asked my waitress if she could fix it and she denied me! What kind of service is that! Never coming here again!!! & The place is so small only fits about 30 people in there.
Reviewed by:
David G. on:
1/15/2012 11:43:00 AM
SLUUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDDDDGGGGGGGEEEEE. If you want the worst heart burn and indigestion you have ever had in your life you should eat here. I have never experience heart burn or anything like it from eating food. It got so bad I Web MD diagnosed myself with an ulcer. Turns out tums did the trick, food didn't lack flavor. It all tasted good just make sure you have some tums because a high MSG count would not surprise me one bit.
Reviewed by:
dcbars on:
2011-10-12
I love Jackey's smile
Reviewed by:
kevin on:
2011-10-06
jackey wants me
Reviewed by:
aznpimp327 on:
2011-08-18
This is the best place to eat amazingly cook Chinese food I LOVE JACKEY CAFE
Reviewed by:
cell_maker on:
2011-07-06
Awesome place to eat DUCK.
Reviewed by:
criolima on:
2010-09-03
Crio is the oldest costomer
Reviewed by:
xiaohai7571 on:
2010-09-03
simon is so hot
Reviewed by:
rich on:
2010-09-01
No he isn't
Reviewed by:
Seidell03 on:
2010-08-30
Nate is sooooo hot
Reviewed by:
Lakopov on:
2010-08-16
Best Chinese Food I EVER Had
Reviewed by:
Lakopov on:
2010-08-16
Best Chinese Food I EVER Had
Reviewed by:
Hottie on:
2010-08-16
Love the food
Reviewed by:
Hottie on:
2010-08-16
Love the food
Reviewed by:
shaggyjohn on:
2010-08-15
Food is out of this world! Service can't be beat!
Reviewed by:
Sun_dendrite on:
2010-08-11
Jacket cafe has the best Chinese food in dc!
Reviewed by:
yek78max on:
2010-08-05
WOW! Truly the freshest ingredients!!(and you taste it in the food) This cozy,family run restaurant has given me my first taste of real, authentic chinese cooking and Im hooked!!!!
Joe K.
Reviewed by:
Richdoe on:
2010-07-31
Great food Jackey, Pete, and Simmon are awesome
Reviewed by:
nicksriverside on:
2010-07-28
Jackie is the best! Great food and great people...
Reviewed by:
damian.torguson on:
2010-07-27
Best salt pepper scallopps
Reviewed by:
Jeff on:
2010-07-24
Love the place and people that works there!
Reviewed by:
Jeff on:
2010-07-24
Love the place and people that works there!
Reviewed by:
Michael.casey968 on:
2010-07-24
Best Chinese food in the city
Reviewed by:
Love this place so much!!!!!!! on:
2010-07-23
It's the best place I ever been!!! Love it!!!
Reviewed by:
mumuksha909 on:
2010-07-21
A great place to come into and relax. The food is amazing and the people are awesome!!!
Reviewed by:
mumuksha909 on:
2010-07-21
A great place to come into and relax. The food is amazing and the people are awesome!!!
AVG:(5.0)
