For You Chinese Restaurant Nairobi: Menu & Review

22 August 2023| Nairobi Restaurant Reviews

Nestled in the heart of Lavington on Gitanga Road, For You restaurant has earned its spot as one of the best low-budget and high-value Chinese eateries in Nairobi.

📍Location

If you’re in search of a location suitable for groups or families, For You provides large platters that are shareable, along with a playground to keep the kids entertained.

Everything will be rated individually out of 5 stars; (pricing, food, ambiance, and service), and at the end we will do an average of it to get a final overall rating

A Summary of For You Chinese Restaurant:

Ambiance Score: ★★★☆☆(3)

Value Rating: ★★★★★(5)

Food Rating: ★★★★☆(4)

Service Score: ★★★☆☆(3)

Table of Contents

Pricing

Rating: ★★★★★(5)

Weekends especially Sunday afternoon, have this packed to the brim, it is all for good reason(s)

The food is decent, prices are super affordable and the portions are extra-generous, excessive to some point. The big portions make it a good place for a group eat out with coworkers, family, or friends

Most menu items range between Sh 300 to 1900 and average around Sh 700, so a budget of less than 1,500 bob per person will probably cover it including drinks. This is so affordable to the masses and thus explains why For You is packed

Menu & Dishes

Rating: ★★★★☆(4)

While the food is okay, I wouldn’t give them a 5-star here because I know what authentic Chinese food tastes like.

Rice is bland and noodles are just flat and underwhelming, most of the other items are good for my taste. Still, it is okay it tastes like Chinese so keep that in mind, I’m not complaining, I’m pointing out.

To slice them some slack, their food is affordably priced and by a margin, and the portions are ridiculously big, be sure to have leftovers.

Here is a summary of For You menu items;

Starters: Spring Rolls, Wings, Prawns, Baby Corn, Gravy, Dumplings, Fish Fingers, Fried Mushrooms, Fried Tofu, Potato Wedges, Fried Calamari, and Fried Veggies.

Specials: Bok Choy Veggie

Soup: Seafood, Chicken-noodle, and Chicken-mushroom

Beef: Chilli-honey, Beef-Oyster, Sizzler-beef, Beef with Cashew nuts, and Beef with Broccoli

Pork: Chili-honey, Sweet & Sour Pork, Sichun Pork, Sizzler Pork, and Pork Fuyoung

Vegetarian: Sizzler vegetables, Mapo-bean Curd, Garlic Broccoli, Garlic-bean Sprout, Vegetable Fuyoun, and more

Sea Food: Sweet and Sour Prawns, Sweet and Sour Fish, Steamed Crab, Chilli Garlic Prawns, Deep Fried Fish -whole fish, Deep Fried Fish -Fillet, Fish with Cashew Nuts, Garlic Squid, Ginger Crab, Lemon Prawns, and Prawn Fuyoung

Chicken: Chili Garlic Chicken, Chili Honey Chicken, Curry Chicken, Gao Bao Chicken, Lemon Chicken, Chicken with Oyster Sauce and more

Rice & Noodles: Vegetable Rice, Beef Rice, Vegetable Noodles, Cashew Nut Rice, Chicken Rice, Egg Rice, Fried Noodles with Beef, Fried Noodles with Chicken, Prawns Rice, Prawns Noodles, Plain Rice, Plain Noodles.

Sides & Drinks: Chips, Sauces, Water, and Sodas

Ambiance & Atmosphere

Rating: ★★★☆☆(3)

The interior ambiance is not the greatest, the tables are too close together and there is an element of suffocation. Lighting however is okay. Outside is an option if you prefer that, and is even better with the playground for kids that is equipped with several play equipment, and a dedicated adult that watches after the kids as they play, so that you can have peace of mind while dining.

Decor and furniture are just middle of the road. I don’t mind that. I have been to places with all fancy wall art and futuristic decor but the food is outright mediocre. I feel like as long as food is okay, modern decor is just nice to have. Unless you went out for Instagram photos.

Service

Rating: ★★★☆☆(3)

Service is not top-notch, it is just mid. I mean the place is crowded as stated 56 times before, So it is obvious that it will take a toll on the quality of service and attention you receive. You will have a better experience if you visit off-peak hours or mid-week days as Sundays are slow-paced.

While there are moments of excellence like; quick initial service, the wait time takes it away thanks to the continuous influx of hungry fellow customers.

The support staff’s dedication to ensuring comfortable dining is evident although they seem overworked and constantly on the run.

Booking and reservation services are poor, this is backed by numerous different reviews based on that, so if you are planning an event here, there are chances it might be ruined.

After your meals, there is a constant complimentary free dessert– ice cream to be specifically offered to everyone, on the house. I don’t remember the last time I got a freebie from a restaurant unless I go and pretend I’m a food critic.

It just doesn’t end with the ice cream, there are other small thoughtful gifts like key holders, small purses, and those kinds of things. I feel like this elevates the initially underwhelming service rating to a middle one.

Final Thoughts

Overall Rating: Rating: ★★★★☆(4)

With a personal average rating of 4, I would conclude that For You restaurant’s popularity is well-earned and truly deserved.

Despite the average ambiance and service, the restaurant goes above and beyond by offering kids a play area, and having generally good food with giant portions; making it one of the best bang-for-a-shilling restaurants.

All these factors are the reasons why it is a welcoming spot for family outings. And the occasional crowding during weekends, peak hours, and public holidays is a testament to For You’s reputation.

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