Pig Heaven

I saw Nancy’s Pig Heaven on the travel channel back in 2007 and I always wanted to try it, I was excited to see a hot spot in NYC. Fast forward 8 years I found myself in the upper east side, and behold, near Nancy’s pig heaven!
I ordered take out of which was two orders of ribs and a pork fried rice. It was 32 dollars. I assumed that since it was on television it was worth the price, being the best style of ribs in NYC.
Unfortunately, it was extremely disappointing. The ribs not only did not live up to the hype whatsoever, they were dry and boring. I was upset more at the fact I had come across it after all these years and it didn’t satisfy what I had in mind. The price for that experience? Ridiculous. My fiancé stated that maybe it was the takeout and suggested we stop by to eat in, but I was so disappointed that I never considered it.

The place is not authentic and a little pricey. We waited almost half an hour for three dishes. Found it on Unilocal b/​c it was four stars. But disappointed. won’t come again.

Let me start off by saying I love ribs!!! Any kind of ribs beef ribs, short ribs, baby back ribs, spare ribs, rib tips this may be my favorite food. An amateur foodie I love the experience of dining out. After hearing ALOT about this legendary establishment my husband and I decided to go on a Friday during lunch.
We arrived and were the only people in the restaurant (awesome! No wait) the hostess seated us at a table near the window. It was a nice day and we appreciated the natural light and view. We ordered the steamed dumplings for an appetizer and the spare ribs that are nationally known. My husband ordered Beef lo mein. The waitress was very attentive, and polite. The owner was all smiles and sat folding napkins to pass the time.
Our food cam out, first the steamed dumplings. It was ok nothing special it needed a little more seasoning and tasted bland to me. The ribs were ok and I can get better chinese style spare ribs closer to where I live. My husband enjoyed the beef lo mein and when I sampled it is was impressed the beef lo mein is excellent! Flavorful, perfectly cooked noodles tender cuts of marinated beef! This is some good stuff! If I could give a 5 for hospitality I would. The appetizers were average and even though I didn’t get an entrée the one my husband ordered was delightful and he enjoyed it. Overall it was a pleasant experience and I would stop by if I were in the neighborhood.

I took my now GF here a while back, so this is an overdue review. This place is best known for their ribs! It’s an interesting establishment, because they serve kind of authentic chinese food, but you don’t really get that vibe when you walk in.
Actually thinking back, what was I thinking taking someone out on a date for ribs? BOLD MOVE.
The ribs are good but I feel like it was a little pricey. My GF and I really wanted to try to Peking duck too, but it was super expensive.

Really nice staff. Very accommodating. Bbq ribs were really big. I preferred the bbq pork butt because it was easier to eat. Lo meins (chicken and beef) were really good. The pot stickers were amazing! The place is small and fills up fast. Call for a reservation. Food comes out really fast.

Meh — thats how i would describe this place. I usually trust my fellow Unilocalers, but this place was a huge miss. Irdered the spare ribs. They were overcooked and the sauce was okay. The dumplings were dry and oily. Service was good and staff were very friendly. Given the quality of food and price, i will not be coming back.

food: the pork ribs and the bbq pork bun. it’s sticky and it had the perfect glaze on top. the meat was tender, but not falling off bone soft. just enough to have some chew and resistance to the bite. the good stuff. the pork bun was alright. nothing like ribs themselves. ***4/​5
service: it seemed like a slow day. there were only tables open. my guy came by to fill my water so many times. it was a long day and i drank water like crazy. good people. ***4/​5
value: way overpriced in my opinion. yes the food was good. typical pricing for ribs go around that price, but for chinese food, it’s a bit much. ***2/​5

Had lunch at this nice room the other day. Ma Po bean curd was bland & dull. Spring roll
(fried) was good. Hot & sour soup was also unspiced & dull.
Nice staff & Nancy Lee as charming as ever.
This is strictly Chinese food for non​-Chi​nese​.It should be better but it’s not.

Food is great and Nancy is so nice. Definitely will come again later. Very near the Metropolitan Museum.

I came here with my parents for the Beijing duck they have here. I have had it Beijing before and while it isn’t better, I was satisfied. I really liked the sauce that they provided and liked that they allowed us to make our own rolls with the duck, cucumber, and scallions. I do wish they would have sliced the scallions and has more cucumbers.
We also ordered another dish from the chef specials or something. It was basically orange chicken and tasted very Americanized. I was pretty disappointed bc I liked how the duck tasted very traditional.
The restaurant itself seemed to be tailored less for Asians even though the servers speak Chinese. When I visited, there was only one other asian party.
Overall, I’d give 4 stars for the duck and 3 stars for the Orange chicken.

This restaurant is simply magnificent. I always come whenever I’m on break or walking around NYC. Their chicken is stupendous and well cooked at the same time.
Place could use a little more light but hey, you always come here for good food. The place itself is very accesible. For some part of upper east side you to experience their special lunch menus.
Workers here are perfunctory. The owner knows her customers well. Me I’ve been only here 2 times and she already knows me well. Very friendly woman.

Best Chinese in the city. Nancy Lee is the sweetest, nicest and caring owner. Takes time to say hello to all her customers. Great staff as well. Food just as good. Love you Nancy!

For the area, it is pretty great Chinese food. The duck was as good as anything in Chinatown, and their roast pork was delicious as well.
The prices, reflect the area but so does the interior: very different from the chinatown vibe. Good wine selection and nice too. Went here with my girls for some wine and quality chinese. Very happy.

The best Chinese spot on the UES and all of Manhattan, Nancy Lee’s Pig Heaven is successful and wonderful in its new location. We have a real appreciation for Chinese food and especially pork and Nancy’s comes through every time, mostly because of the welcoming, lovely owner.
The specialty dish, the restaurant’s namesake, is a must order. The dish, «Pig Heaven,» is akin to a General Tso’s pork — pork is shredded, breaded, deep fried and covered in a delicious gravy. It’s sweet but that’s why your order it. At times, the pork can be a little tough but that chewyness is kind of fun in a twice cooked pork way.
The Szechuan wontons covered in peanut sauce are peanutty and delicious. Definitely order them if you’re getting dumplings. Know that this place is popular so you should call ahead or be prepared to wait. They have a great car and happening bar scene.
The reason we keep coming back is not the food, because we can order lo mein from anywhere. It’s really Nancy Lee, herself. She’s worth the trip.

We had a reservation so we were seated right away. It wasn’t too crowded and the staff was pretty attentive.
It was my first time here so my colleague ordered for all of us. We had some hot and sour soup, fried rice, some sort of pork wrap, stir fried vegetables and other dishes (I lost track). But I do remember the ribs. The ribs are to die for. I never lick my fingers but with that sauce I couldn’t resist the urge to. It was sticky and sweet and even though I was already stuffed I had more.
They gave you wet napkins to clean up. I definitely needed them because I had made a mess.
Overall five stars for the ribs. I would come back just for those. The other dishes weren’t too memorable

Nancy has been a friend for over 10 years and. I am so glad I was able to come back for her famous Chinese New Year Celebrations !!!
High quality meals every time we come old location and now in their new location !
You want high end Chinese food with great service — here is where it’s at !!!
Great delivery meals too !!!

I got Gen Taos Beef. Hot/​Sour Soup. Egg Rolls. Lo Mein. For $ 50, that had better been a great dish (at least one of them). It was not. Hot and Sour soup was not spicy, and a dark stock. This was not a real hot/​sour soup. Next, egg rolls. How do you mess those up? No taste. Soggy. Taos Beef… the $ 18 dish. Zero flavor. The beef was not that great tasting either. Rice… was equivalent of awful Uncle Bens rice. It may have been sitting there for a few days. I don’t knw. very disappointing. Unsure how this got such rave reviews. Maybe don’t order chinese here, and only their BBQ??? I would go elsewhere.

Very kid friendly place. We ended up here after our initial UWS Chinese food stop told us they don’t have high chairs.
Glad we came.
The staff was so nice and attentive.
I know some complain that this isn’t real Chinese. If I wanted authentic I wouldn’t be here. This is Americanized and delicious in its own way. We have to appreciate these classic American Chinese restaurants. There are fewer and fewer as the years go on. This is vey different from take out Chinese which has become fast food. Here the food is treated with care and the staff is proud of their product.
First courses:
Ribs–
AMAZING. The meatiest, tastiest ribs I have ever had. Worth the trip to try.
Wonton Soup–
Good
Scallion Pancakes–
Crunchy, fluffy and perfect
Fried Meat Dumplings–
These aren’t the thick doughy ones you are used to. Very good.
Mains:
Szechuan Pork–
Very good
Peking Duck–
The duck was good. The skin was very crispy and the meat was moist. When you made a sandwich with the hoisin sauce it was very good. When eaten plain it was tasteless. Good not great.
Lo Mein–
Good but again not your typical Chinese lo Mein.
Pork fried rice–
Good but portion was too small.

After an autumn evening at the nearby Met to see the China Looking Glass exhibit, my husband and I – predictably — had a craving for Chinese food. A quick Unilocal search revealed the best Chinese ribs in the world at Pig Heaven, and how could I ignore a promise like that?
We were seated right away, and we ordered the ribs (of course), along with steamed shumai, chicken & broccoli with garlic sauce, and shrimp fried rice. The steamed dumplings were fantastic and a great start to the meal. Not much to be said about them other than that they were nicely done. The chicken & broccoli was a nice, light complement to our meal, and made us feel a little bit better about chowing down on pork ribs. I love that they give the sauce on the side, because I hate when my food is swimming in sauce! The shrimp fried rice mayyy have been a case of our eyes being larger than our stomachs, but it was still worth it! The rice was fluffy & delicious, and the shrimp was fresh.
But I know you’re not reading this review to find out about the rice at Pig Heaven. Let’s get to the important part — the ribs!
Sure enough, these were the best Chinese ribs I’ve ever had. They came out right after the shumai, before the rest of the food, and I imagine that’s what most people are looking for. They were huge, with lots of meat, and the sauce was so delicious! Tart, sweet, sticky, and perfect. I can see now why they named the place Pig Heaven — this is where the best pigs end up! I could have easily eaten the whole plate, had my husband not been there. I absolutely loved the ribs & I would definitely make the trip just to taste these ribs again.
Figures we would find a place like this after we leave the city, amirite? Sigh. At least we know where we’re eating the next time we visit the UES!

This is the best ribs in NYC. The dumplings are amazing and a must have steamed and the pork fried rice is outstanding. Delivery takeout or eat in you can’t go wrong with Pig Heaven.

Panda Express-​plus, maybe.
Finally made it to Pig Heaven’s new digs for the much-​ballyhooed BBQ ribs and butt. Great texture, funny color … and uninspiring flavor. Basically just sweet and salty.
Same went for the lo mein, which was saltier than its bike-​delivered Seamless competitors. A bright point was the three glass chicken, which at least offered some level of flavor complexity via garlic and mushrooms.
Overall, the difference between this and Mission Chinese Food (2015’s other reinvented Chinese fusion joint) is that one challenges its white patrons, while the other panders to them. Guess which is which.
Fitting that Jews greatly outnumbered Asians at this pork-​centered Chinese restaurant.

Great Sunday night dinner spot! Got the wonton soup which was fantastic and hot! Bae got the spring rolls which were very hot but eventually cooled down. Owner was very kind and seemed to know everyone who walked in– very comforting feel! Got the duck (large) and ribs (small) WAY too much food but wonderful leftovers. Will definitely return.

The food is overpriced and bland. The spare ribs were 90% fat and the shrimp in the lobster sauce (why it is called lobster sauce escapes rational reasoning) was undercooked and mushy meaning frozen prior and defrosted maybe a few times.
They rip you off with deceptive pricing. For example we ordered roast pork lo men which was clearly $ 11.95 on the menu but when we got the bill it was $ 12.95. When we questioned the waitress, she said Oh $ 11.95 is for «pork» lo men. $ 12.95 is for «roast» pork lo men! That does it. Never again to Pig Heaven. It was more like Pig Hell!

Get the ribs! They’re so, so, so, so, so good. I’ve been coming to Pig Heaven since they were at their old location on second avenue. I think this location is pretty nice. If I’m ordering takeout, I’ll usually call ahead or order on seamless beforehand since it can get pretty busy/​crowded in there.

THIS PLACE WAS SO GOOD. Service was not ideal, and seating was less than ideal, but dang. This food. So glad I got to go here before I left NY!

Have been coming here since they were at their old 80^th street location and the food is great but the service isn’t always. I much prefer to order from them. To be honest I actually haven’t set foot in the new location because I can’t imagine the service there will be that different from the old one.
Food wise, the scallion pancakes never disappoint and the dumplings (both the pan fried and steamed — any kind — are always really good). I tend to get the chicken lo mein, which is great, as is the pork soong with lettuce, but it is a little spicy.
Personally I have never liked their fried rices, so I wouldn’t recommend any of those. Their dishes like General Tso’s chicken or beef with broccoli are much better!
Unfortunately, it does seem like the prices have gone up a lot, which is a bummer, because I don’t know that I’d say it’s worth it. Did I really just pay $ 46 for Chinese food for an appetizer and two entrees? Seems a bit unreasonable to me.

I got the shredded pork with barbecue sauce, and thought it was really interesting (and delicious) how they were able to give a Chinese twist to something so American. It was not at all what I expected, but that’s the whole point.

OK. So here’s the scoop. This place has been around a long time and I have not been there in years. People tell me only order the ribs. Feeling adventurous and yearning for some good old– fashioned Cantonese, I order the ribs, some steamed dumplings, fried rice and shrimps with lobster sauce. I had it delivered to my apartment. First off, they did not deliver any sauces for the order – no mustard, dipping sauce, soy sauce or duck sauce. The minute I saw the steamed meat dumplings I knew they would not be good. The dough was leaden and tough and the meat dry. The BBQ ribs were quite good and meaty. Again, no sauce! How they have the nerve to call the fried rice FRIED RICE is beyond comprehension. All it is is boiled white rice with some shredded pork thrown in with peas and scallions. It was limp and soggy and NOT FRIED. The shrimps in lobster sauce were decent. The shrimps were
large and juicy and the sauce pretty good, although not great. Back in the 70’s KING DRAGON on Third Avenue was the gold standard for shrimps in lobster sauce. All in all I would say GET THE BBQ RIBS only!

Consistent and quality! This place hasn’t changed in years and it’s for the better. Nancy and her team seem to have a ton of regulars that they have accumulated through the years.
The duck and chicken are a must! Seasoned to perfection and nice portion sizes. The only issue is that service is a bit slow at times.

Upper East Side prices, but everyone here is seriously so nice, which I appreciate. I’ve gotten takeout from here a couple times when I’ve craved General Tso’s chicken in which to drown my emotional woes – I don’t even eat pork, but I prefer getting food from here to Wok 88 even though I live closer to the latter, simply because the people are nicer. AIN’T THAT CRAZY. Anyhoo it’s standard Chinese fare and it’s real nice.

Awesome service and awesome food. Everything was delicious! I went with my husband and a friend, and we lucked out by arriving right before the last table open without reservations was left. The food was delicious, and all of the four dishes we split were generous. My favorite was the Orange Chicken and the Pecking Duck; they are a must! I’m definitely looking forward to the next time I’ll be dining there!

Do you like Chinese BBQ Spare Ribs? How about Peking Duck?
Yes? Well then read below!
I’ve been a customer of Nancy’s for YEARS now. When I walk in, I am greeted by a hug and a kiss from Nancy herself. I don’t even bother to read the menu here anymore because it’s just two dishes that I come here for. The Spare Ribs and Peking Duck. So If you want to experience THE BEST SPARE RIBS and PEKING DUCK you’ve EVER HAD IN YOUR LIFE, Order these two dishes, you will not leave hungry and you will come back craving more. You will not disagree with my five star rating based on these two dishes alone.
The Spare Ribs are perfectly cooked and has this carmelized bark that is almost sweet like candy to the taste. They come piping hot, so let them sit for a second. Once they’re ready, get down and dirty. Don’t be scared. Get in there. Eat them ribs and tell me I’m wrong. Please do. I dare you to tell me where you can find a better Chinese Spare Rib in the world. You simply can’t. Order the small order, it will feed 2 – 4 people. These ribs are definitely big enough for 4 people to share, but if you have a larger party or are hungrier type, indulge primal rib cravings and go for the large. It’s worth it. But PLEASE, do save room for the real highlight in my opinion, Nancy’s Peking Duck.
Unlike other places to get Peking Duck, Nancy Lee’s does NOT carve the bird at the table for you, and I’m kind of happy about that. Why? Well, Ducks are kind of cute. And although I’m not a vegetarian or animal rights activists, I need not be reminded of a cute little duck while I’m eating it.
At Nancy’s, the Peking Duck comes pre-​rolled in a pancake crepes stuffed with green onion (scallion) as well as a cucumber. Hoisen and hot chili oil are on the side, and I highly recommend you dost the duck with some hot chili oil then accompany it with that sweet tangy hoisen sauce. It’s the perfect combination for the duck. They also give you the duck legs to eat. Now, I’ve had Peking Duck at the duck house, at Red Farm, Shun Lee’s Palace etc. and I have to say that Nancy’s Lee’s Peking Duck SMOKES them all out of the water. Perfectly tender and juicy duck meat, matched with that crispy fatty skin. It’s perfection and thinking about it is making me regret passing on that last duck roll the other night. It’s that good.
I have had the other Chinese food here as well, and in all honesty it is overpriced. That’s not to say they’re not good, but If you are looking to order other Chinese food dishes, save the money and order from the local takeout around the corner or where ever you order in from. When you come to Nancy Lee’s Pig Heaven, go ahead and order the Spare Ribs and Peking Duck. They are two of the BEST things to eat in New York City, I shit you not.
I know i only have a handful reviews as of now, but as in my other reviews, listen to me. I know my food spots and what to order where I go. You will not be disappointed. Have some faith and trust me.
:)

AKA Nancy Lee’s, this spot boasts more familiar, mainstream Chinese-​American fare than they should have to, given that the thing to come for is the BBQ pork ribs.
Huledet bday offer=
Celebrate your birthday month with a complimentary dessert
Print and present this email for a complimentary dessert to celebrate your birthday at Pig Heaven.
Dine-​in only.
Minimum purchase of $ 20 required.
Limit one per person.
Limit one per table.
Proof of birthday month may be required.

Hands down the best Chineese BBQ ribs I’ve ever had!
My daughter loved the Pork Buns.
Nice set up. Both intimate & casual
Not expensive, but not cheap

Good service, good atmosphere and ok/​good food.
We ordered Szechuan Dumpling, Fried Calamari, Pork Fried Rice, Jumbo Shrimp with Ginger&Scallions and BBQ Spare Ribs.
Szechuan Dumpling was good but not topical Szechuan source if you’re thinking the red spicy one. It was more peanut spicy source.
Fried Calamari, Pork Fried Rice and BBQ Spare Ribs were ok. Shrimp was good.
Overall it was ok/​good for us.

It’s not very often I go to a restaurant that serves Cantonese BBQ pork, chicken or duck outside of Chinatown or Brooklyn and there’s good reason for that. If this place serves those very foods like they do in Chinatown yet I can not get a boiled Chinese Spinach, Chinese Broccoli or even fried salt and pepper pork chops (all of which is standard and basic stuff) yet they have other foods from unknown parts of the world, then seriously, they should not even have the Cantonese stuff to begin with.
Their BBQ Pork is certainly nowhere near as good as the hype surrounding it. 5 ingredients including the supposed secret special ingredient. Well it certainly doesn’t make it better tasting or the chefs don’t know what they’re doing as mine was dried and tasteless. At least if its served, it should served with sweet soy sauce, not salty.
Other than that, service is not bad but its a dark and uncomfortablly lit atmosphere. The only reason why anyone would come for BBQ Pork is because the boss is giving you a free meal to write good reviews but that would mean that you are either desperately cheap and dont know what good Cantonese BBQ is or you are homeless.
All in all, an embarassment as it is a semi-​fake Cantonese restaurant that breaks all the rules just for the owner’s personal gain. Without the Cantonese style foods, this restaurant would’ve easily been out of business.