Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
Chinese
Delivery
Take-out
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. Chinese food. Offers a separate menu for vegetarian and vegan dishes that is just as large as the regular meat-based menu. Open Mon 11:00am-10:30pm, Wed-Sat 11:00am-10:30pm, Sun 12:00pm-10:00pm.
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Last update on 06 Sep 2023 by thesarahbelle
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13 Reviews
First Review by thehorsemanshead
TheVeganPigeonXVX
Points +532
Huge veg(etari)an menu! - Edit
This place is a legendary staple for local vegans, and I’ll get takeout from here at least twice a month. I’ve pretty thoroughly explored their expansive vegetarian menu over the years and I don’t think I’ve ever disliked anything. My favorite appetizers and entrees change every year, but my current go-to as of writing this is the chicken, beef, and pork in garlic sauce. The pork-fried rice is also ridiculously good. Their General Tso’s with the May Wah chicken is sometimes a much-needed break from the tofu that all other Chinese places limit us to.
Read moreThat all being said, a recurring issue with Empire Wok is the inconsistent answers when it comes to distinguishing the vegan from the vegetarian items. I’ve asked a dozen or so times over the last decade and it is almost always different. Same goes for most others I’ve talked to about it. This isn’t just frustrating for puritanical ethical vegans like me, but potentially dangerous for those with allergies. A while back, I had the one owner go through the meatless menu and cross out anything that contained egg—this included the lo mein and egg rolls, of course (these are basically never vegan, anywhere), but also the sweet and sour chicken that I spent years eating after this same man told me it was vegan. Days after he marked my menu for me, I returned as a vegan family I knew was ordering the sweet and sour chicken and lo mein, because he’d told them it was vegan! Past a certain point, and having asked the same question in multiple different ways, it can’t be blamed on a language barrier or a misinformed employee.
The food is just too good, though, and you can’t find anything like it anywhere else in the 518, so I keep going and just stick to what I know. Hopefully what I’m eating is vegan?
Updated from previous review on 2023-07-27
Pros: Massive meatless menu, Good portions
Cons: Mislead about which veg items are vegan, Not at all a dine-in sorta place
Guest
creativegan
Points +948
Disappointed - Edit
I read all the reviews and was so excited to try Empire Wok. The vegan food was okay, but not as good as my local places that use mock duck and chicken. I also expected it to be a sit-down place. There’s one table for four shoved into a corner, and the four of us could barely squeeze in. The tabletop and chairs were dirty and sticky. The veg menu says it’s low calorie, but it was just as greasy as regular Chinese food, so I can’t see it being less caloric. I don’t doubt that previous reviewers have had fabulous meals to go. I just had a different experience.
Read morePros: Huge veg menu, Pleasant staff
Cons: Dirty sticky table & chairs, Food only okay
Guest
mtthwrn
Points +39
99 choices! - Edit
Empire Wok is one of a kind in Albany, consistently good over the 7 years I’ve been eating there. Counting the lunch specials, the separate vegetarian menu has 99 choices. Proteins include veggie chicken, beef, pork, spare rib, and shrimp. The menu suggests most, if not all, proteins are soy based.
Read moreGuest
simmshr1
Points +60
5 STARS - Edit
OH MY GOODNESS, Empire Wok is amazing. I second another reviewer below that they absolutely deserve 5 stars. There is no other Chinese restaurant in the Capital Region that has any vegan offerings besides your standard tofu dishes (at least that I'm aware of). It's incredible that they have an EXTENSIVE vegetarian menu. The vegan general tso chicken is SO DELICIOUS. I do not live close by, but my husband and I will use any errand we have within 20 minutes of Empire Wok as an excuse to go there. I can't believe it took me so long to find out about this place.
Read morePros: Crazy amount of vegan options, One of a kind in the area, Delicious food
Guest
JenniferKolnacki
Points +463
5 Stars For the Sesame Tofu - Edit
Delicious Sesame Tofu, Vegetable Chop Suey and Vegetarian Egg Rolls.
Read moreGuest
ChantelSchermerhorn
Points +23
This is actually a 5-star review - Edit
First off, this needs to be a 5-star review and Happy Cow's limitation of 5-star reviews strictly for fully vegan or fully vegetarian restaurants doesn't take into account absolute gems like this in the vegan desert of VERY upstate New York where weekly trips to the city aren't really feasible. The fact that this chinese place even THOUGHT to have a vegan menu in this area (YEARS before veganism became as popular as it is now) where no other chinese restaurants even have fully veg options other than tofu or avocado sushi should earn them four stars right off the bat. The fifth star is because their staff is the most friendly, accommodating, grateful group of people I've met in the industry. Every time we order from here we wind up with more than $100 in food that's meant to feed us for at least three days but we love it so much it's gone in less than two, whoops.
Read moreYeah, it would be great if they were fully vegan. But then they'd close because there wouldn't be enough business for them, and then we'd lose them completely. They give me everything I've missed plus some, all while being super nice. They'd warrant a 7/5 if they had space for seating, if their delivery radius stretched to where I work, and if their food containers were plant-based. Full five stars, full stop.
Pros: excellent food, friendly staff, accomodating
Cons: small delivery radius, food containers aren
Guest
MarySchell
Points +98
Vegetarian/Vegan Paradise for sure - Edit
This is a purely to go restaurant, and it was AMAZING. They have a whole veggie section that they will make vegan when you order it. It was fantastic. I got the veggie sesame "chicken", a meal I haven't been able to eat in YEARS and it was so amazing. They market as a vegetarian's paradise, and it really is. Good prices, great food that doesn't taste like the typical greasy Chinese food. It was fresh and delicious. We also got the cashew tofu, and it was perfect. Great find!
Read morePros: Lots of optional vegan and vegetarian options
Cons: Be sure to say vegan for the prep
Guest
Reese
Points +58
I would eat here every week if I could! - Edit
The entire veg menu is allegedly vegan (I took them at their word)! I haven't had vegan Chinese food this good since I lived in DC! This is the best meal I've had in a very long time. I can't stop eating it! I got the orange beef (nice peppery taste and right level of sweetness), chicken on a stick appetizer (good but needs a sauce), and pork fried rice (don't love the pork buy otherwise it's good). Good portion sizes. Price is reasonable for excellent vegan food. I don't live in this area but if I did, I would eat here once a week!
Read morePros: Entire, extensive vegan menu, Excellent food
Guest
veganri
Points +566
Pretty Decent... - Edit
Regular Chinese restaurant with a separate veg. menu. Nothing fancy - typical strip mall take-out menu. We've found Empire Wok to be a bit salty - but that's expected. Used May Wah products.
Read moreCons: Meat
Guest
mikewalls
Points +120
great truly vegan Chinese - Edit
great food good service they know what vegan means and an excellent selection
Read morePros: a multitude of vegan options
Cons: take out only
Guest
baypuppy
Points +49
The Best! - Edit
I really enjoy coming here when I want some "junky" food. The veggies are always very fresh and cooked well and they have a lot of different veggie meats and dishes to pick from--a whole veg menu actually!
Read morePros: price, flavor, menu variety
Guest
veggivet
Points +175
Veggie Chinese without cross contamination - Edit
This is the only Chinese restaurant that I trust not to cross contaminate with meat/chicken/seafood. Their menu relies heavily on reproductions of standard Chinese dishes using faux or mock meats based on tofu, seitan, and wheat gluten. The spotlessly clean kitchen is divided into two sides to prevent the cross contamination that is ubiquitous in most restaurants that claim to be veg friendly. Prices are reasonable, service is quick and friendly, and the location is very convenient with parking never an issue. The only drawback is that this is pretty much take out only, as there are just a couple of small tables available to eat in, and the atmosphere for dining is non-existent.
Read morePros: No cross contamination, Reasonable prices, Efficient and friendly service
Cons: Poor atmosphere for eat in dining
Guest
thehorsemanshead
Points +13
An Asian Vegetarian Paradise - Edit
As they say on their all vegetarian menu, which is an interesting and extensive mirror of their regular menu, it is a paradise for those of us who want the guilty pleasure of eating delicious take out Chinese food but who don't eat meat or seafood. After years of eating vegetable moo shu and stir fried broccoli, I was delighted to find Empire Wok, after it was recommended by a local friend who grew up in China. If you are a purist and don't enjoy the taste of soy meat, then don't read on, but they do an incredible job using this to make things like Vege BBQ "Pork", the best "pork" fried rice ever, Vegetable Hot & Spicy "Beef" and many more on a huge menu. The spicing is delicious and the preparation (which you watch) is fast, clean and as healthy as wok preparation can be. They use a separate wok and utensils, which I very much appreciate. Although I live quite a distance away, I try to plan my trips to Delmar when I can pick up some delicious dishes from Empire Wok that me and my vegetarian daughter can enjoy. It looks like a little hole in the wall from the outside, but definitely worth trying. I have some Vegetable "Pork" Hunan Style with "Pork" fried rice in my fridge for later, yum!
Read morePros: good size portions, great selection, seperate cooking preparation
Cons: few eat in options, slightly pricey
Guest
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