Really nice place, looked like it really needed a bit of help with customers though. Recommend to grab some (sub)authentic Chinese food here for cheap prices (10 crab rangoons for only $5?!)
I called my order in and it was hot and ready quick. I got the General Tso special and it was tasty. Thanks for an easy dinner Ling Ling Garden on Pine Tree!
As far as Chinese food in Ithaca, there aren’t any good choices, but being optimistic, I chose to visit Ling Ling Garden. That was a mistake! Tina was abrupt when speaking to customers. The food wasn’t good. Szechuan chicken was not spicy at all though it’s supposed to be. Instead of spicy red peppers there were small red pepper flakes in the sauce. Was like eating an entire green pepper with chicken, celery and green peas. I don’t count the two small chunks of mushroom. And the sauce tasted like diluted soy sauce not szechuan sauce.Basically, this place was no exception to the lack of decent Chinese restaurants in Ithaca!
Used to like this place, but recently the food has not been very good. Very disappointing.
As far as Chinese food in Ithaca, there aren’t any good choices, but being optimistic, I chose to visit Ling Ling Garden. That was a mistake! Tina was abrupt when speaking to customers. The food wasn’t good. Szechuan chicken was not spicy at all though it’s supposed to be. Instead of spicy red peppers there were small red pepper flakes in the sauce. Was like eating an entire green pepper with chicken, celery and green peas. I don’t count the two small chunks of mushroom. And the sauce tasted like diluted soy sauce not szechuan sauce.Basically, this place was no exception to the lack of decent Chinese restaurants in Ithaca!
Same experience as other reviewers. Summer 2021 what used to be our go to place has been terrible. Both downtown and here. New management? Idk but everything was terrible both times we went and we ordered five dinners each time. Nothing like 75$ worth of nasty food leftover in fridge. The dumpling joint in center Ithaca is only decent place I know of. Bummed Ling Ling fell apart so badly.
We used to always enjoy a ling ling meal. However as of late, the last two orders have been extremely disappointing. Chicken with fried rice is now fried rice where you need a microscope to find any chicken if there is any. I received the wrong sauce for my meal, A very spicy one I might add not sure if there’s a new chef or what the challenge is.What I found most disturbing, was when I called to let them know I was told that is not possible there was definitely more chicken than we had counted. Another words, accusing me of lying. When I brought that up I was laughed at snd told tobring it back so she could see it! Seriously???? Were they planning to count it themselves??We were hungry and already had driven there once, but to bring it back while the rest of the dinner got cold? Not once was there an apologyNot a one. Instead I was indirectly accused of being dishonest. I have been getting my Chinese food from there since 2011. They just lost a customer. Frankly I don’t think they even care. Hopefully this will help to make others think before doing business with unprofessional and discourteous places. There are plenty of others that would clearly welcome your business happily
Old faithful. Very reliable. Haven't explored the menu much, but they do the basics well.
We were exhausted from seeing the sights around the Ithaca area all day and didn't want to experience "combat parking" in the restaurants around the university as well as the crowds. We found Ling Ling Garden in the shopping center near our Best Western hotel. The dining room was not open during Covid but we were happy to have takeout. They were crazy busy with takeout orders when we arrived but we selected our food from the available menu and they said about 10 minutes. We just sat down outside when we were told our order was ready. I ordered the shrimp lo mein and my husband ordered chicken and broccoli and we added some egg rolls. Certainly not too complicated but our food was ready soooo fast and they were sooooo busy. The food was excellent. I have never eaten a whole dinner portion of shrimp lo mein before but I finished every bit. My husband loved his chicken and broccoli which was a generous portion. I can't speak for some of the more complicated dinner choices but for typical takeout Chinese this place was awesome and FAST.
BE CAREFUL: Was given the wrong order for take-out. That's fine, similar orders get mixed up, no problem. They even called just as we got home and realized it too. When we returned to get the correct order, they demanded the wrong one back. I was suspicious and when I asked why, it was made clear they were going to give it to the next customer.Once the food leaves the building, it cannot be reserved. It's a real shame to see bad business practice like this, especially during a pandemic. After many awkward moments of waiting while several ppl yelled thru the walls.. I got fed up and left. This is lose-lose business at its finest.