Review Poons - Footscray

Some of the best Chinese takeaway food I've had. Beef and Black Bean, lots of tender beef & fresh crispy veg light sauce not too salty or sweet. Mongolian Beef the same tender Beef, fresh veg, not overly sweet or spicy just well rounded flavours. Special fried rice, plenty of good size real pork, chicken and shrimp light fluffy rice not oily/greasy just damm good. Fast service, 10min from ordering my food was ready, hot and fresh. Reasonable prices with a good selection of the usual choices plus chefs Specials. My only complaint is its too far from home to eat here more often so can try more of the menu. Thanks guys, I'll be back....eventually!

Delicious! I ordered the chicken and corn soup and fried rice. It came 15 mins earlier than expected and was extremely tasty.

Had a lovely dinner with my colleagues at Poons - great food, service and fun! Definitely will be back.

Just ordered on Menulog, can’t believe we dint discover this gem in Footscray sooner the steak with black bean sauce was absolutely delicious. -1 as our hot and sour sour soup was really really sour. Will definitely try again and probably increase it to 5 stars

Poons is usually my go to for Chinese! Price and quality is always good. Tonight I ordered my food about 7 pm in person. I recieved my order at 830. No updates on time. No explanations. Not even an apology. Cute little girl maybe 10 years old brings it out and says you were waiting a long Time. It’s because there is so much food I asked her what time I ordered on their receipt and she wouldn’t show me A friggin hour and a half!!!! Missed the soccer final… Whole family angry at me for taking so long! Never again!!! Poons you are dead to me

Great local Chinese restaurant that we tried as someone said they do gluten free. They have a separate gluten free menu which you need to ask for. Good friendly service and really tasty food.

Amazing service, food was really good and brought out very quick. Power outage due outside sources turned into a candle light dinner and didn’t slow them down in the slightest

Poons is old school Aussie style Chinese that your mum and dad use to take you too and that's not a bad thing. The food is really nice. We have been meaning to visit for many years. The only reason I dropped a star is at this time they don't do EFTPOS.

A DISGUSTING place to eat <br/><br/>The restaurant also smells like a sewer<br/><br/>Published prices are cheaper than the actual bill<br/><br/>Food very bad so many nicer places to eat in Footscray

Poons is a fantastic local spot to enjoy family style Chinese. Always lovely service and good range of options. Being gluten intolerant and coeliac (partner) it’s great they have gluten awareness and a separate GF menu. We had the lemongrass chili beef (mild) and Shredded duck noodles. Both were a solid 3.5/5 and tasty. Portion sizing is slightly small so we also had a serve of GF chicken wings each. Definitely first pick in the area.

I have heard a lot about this place over the past 15 years , some people make this a regular place to eat with there family and friends . I thought I’d try it out the food was fresh and hot the taste was ok but it wasn’t to exciting . The service was lacking I probably won’t return .

I can’t rate Poons highly enough. They may lack the pizzaz of modern Asian restaurants but they do what they do very well. The food is always fresh, all the veg is hand cut and cooked to order. And if i order for delivery, it turns up in half the time quoted. Thanks Poons! I get healthy fresh food every time.

My all time favourite Chinese restaurant. <br/><br/>I’ve been coming here for over 25 years now. <br/><br/>Very friendly staff and great food.<br/><br/>Never had a bad meal here ever.<br/><br/>

Amazing food, good service and fast catering!!! The chicken fried rice was really warm when it came out and the quality of it was amazing, definitely recommend!

Cash only? Are you serious??<br/><br/>In this day and age? EFTPOS merchant fees have come way down lately yet Poons still doesn’t offer it? Absolutely ridiculous. <br/><br/>They even still have the ‘American Express’ branded bill trays - was this from a time when they did accept credit cards??<br/><br/>I’m aware there is an ATM on site which does make it easier - however I was charged a classic fee for using it of course. <br/><br/>So I have to pay an ATM fee because the merchant won’t pay a possible maximum $0.10 eftpos fee? Great. Thanks. <br/><br/>Good food though and the service was fast.

My family and I have been dining at Poons for many many years. As we have relocated we hadn't been in a good 18 months or so, but seeing it we were looking to celebrate a birthday we thought we'd visit. I was curious to check the menu and see if anything had changed so I had jumped on here, trip advisor and google reviews and was horrified to see what bad reviews had been left in recent times. So I thought they'd deserve a nice positive one until we had our worst experience there today and sadly we won't be trekking across to the west for this kind of experience again! <br/><br/>Yes, it's got the old fashioned decor inside and can be squishy, but it's all part of Poons. So we walked in today, there were 3 tables with people on them and not a staff member to be seen. Finally a few good minutes later an older lady pops out and seats us, I had not seen her before and thought perhaps it was now under new management which could explain the negative reviews. Anyway, we were given menus, and after 5 minutes knew what we wanted and waited a further 10 mins before calling her over to place our order to be to to wait and she'll be back which also felt like another 5 minutes probably as we were hungry. We order our meals and also order some water. The table after us also orders, orders the same entrees - soup and dim sims and get theirs first. At this point I realised they were served by the manager who has run Poons for years. This was disappointing. Then ours came out and the food was really tasty - short soup, shark fin soup, steamed dimmies and spring roll. Then our mains weren't too far behind well so we thought... so the table behind us get 2 sizzling plates and it was at this point I hear the couple discussing their dishes weren't the beef they ordered, then I knew they must've been ours. Finally they were taken off them and given to us and our dishes weren't sizzling and were cold as was our rice that was finally delivered a short time later. That poor couple must've ordered before we arrived as they were very disappointed as they were still waiting for food. We then realised we didn't get our water, after asking the manager she then asked if we ordered it and I said yes and she had the other team member fetch it immediately. The service between the two was a big shamozzle. I thought it was just a bad day for them. <br/><br/>Until... I went to pay and the manager said it was $97.50 but then realised our desserts were put as the wrong item ($9 instead of $12) and became $100.50 and I just made a comment that it must be a crazy day for them only to be told no it isn't, all it takes is one person to get confused and it has a domino affect. Not once did the manager apologise or say you know what it was a shit day or even say look let's forget about the $3. It's almost like it must now be the norm there. The chef and manager were friendly but they could've managed with another staff member with a 3/4 full restaurant. Food was nice and tasty and good value but not worth the drive for poor service.

Got my friend to pick up fried rice with chicken and vegetables for takeaway. Have been very happy with them for the last ten yuears. This time I found the food was a cold but well cooked nevertheless. Will give them benefit of the pressure they are sometimes under. Good people though.

we had poon's last night for dinner very reasonable price the food was really good only the steak with cashew nut was a bit blend not much flavours the rest was good .service  was really good as well.

I went to get sum poons buti thin they has sold oud but it was still grade cos gther wer buns witch wer gud cos they wer tasted lik the good buns and was al grate

Went here for lunch and had the $27 banquet. Although it specified sweet corn soup we were able to have either short or long soup if we wished. We enjoyed all of the dishes and the service was good as well.

Not a bad restaurant however there may be better options in the area. Service was fast however when the meals came out mine was chicken instead of beef, not a huge deal as the water was happy to fix it up. Overall the quality of the meal wasn't that great. The veggies seemed to be a packet of frozen vegetables thrown in a sauce, not overly fresh. Didn't have a whole heaps of flavour. Wasn't horrible however have definitely had much better. Was just a standard dish.

I had the curry chicken and it reminded of something that you would be served at a RSL club 20 years ago. It was very bland I can't recommend this place and I won't be going back.

Food wasn't terrible by any means but unfortunately it wasn't good either. The decor is dated and the atmosphere is dull. Staff are friendly but overall there a plenty of better Chinese restaurants in the area.

the best chinese restaurant amazing food lovely staff always around if you need something =) one very happy poons customer. i will continue going to this restaurant as i have been going to poons for a very long time since i was 17 and I'm now 29!!! I LOVE POONS !

Cheap good food. Service not so good. Good range of menu items, atmosphere is very loud. The scallop congee was incredibly good! Will go back

I really like this place. It serves all the old classics that were pitched at a time when plain rice was considered exotic. The chef billy is very friendly and talks a number of languages. Quick, economic and tasty. Try the steamed dimmies or roast pork

Poons is a bit of a Footscray institution on the main Barkly Street stretch, specializing on what I would call, ahem.. "Australian-Chinese" food. If you're looking for authentic Chinese regional cuisine such as Szechuan or Shandong cuisine, you might want to stay clear of it, but if you're looking for cheap, simple and uncomplicated Cantonese-style dishes, this'll probably be your cup of tea. My advice is to stay clear of the gluggy stir-fries that seem to be swimming with corn flour and MSG. Instead go for deep-fried dishes such as the crispy fried chicken on the bone with its wonderfully crisp golden skin and moist juice white meat underneath. Poons also does fantastic fried rice - I recommend the special fried rice with its smokey "wok-hei" (wok's breath), but most versions of fried rice seem to be equally good. Overall a bit of hit and miss, but if you order selectively, you're in for a treat.

The steamed dim sims are amazing <br/>IMHO the best in Melbourne used to get them at Jimmy Wongs but gave these a try wow so glad I did, special fried rice good to

Poons yum yum. Omg come all way from eltham just for there food absolutly awsome food please open up over here you guys the best seating not best but flavour and dishes who cares where i sit as long as i eat well done

NEVER AGAIN. Just had the most disappointing experience with this restaurant. I've eaten here quite regularly for the past 5 or so years, the foods not great but not the worst. I just ordered take-away and they forgot our Pork. When we called to say they had forgotten the key part of Sweet & Sour pork dish they said it was definitely in the bag. No compensation, no offer to come pick up another one even though they have clearly made the mistake, why would I want to leave my house to go pick up more food after I was comfortable? <br/>The male I spoke to on the phone was rude and for that we will not be ordering from this restaurant in the future. There are far better restaurants in the area with exceptional customer service.

Banguets. For how many people

Mighty average. With the abundance of asian restaurants living at the other end of Barkly St, I thought I should give the Poon end of things a crack; but to my dismay they are letting the team down. My lunch was severely lacking the chicken I ordered in my curry chicken, it was super gloopy and had next to no flavour. It certainly represented a dumbed down chinese dish, perhaps the bland aussie market is what Poons is aiming for.

POONz forever. Poon's is rly cool especially if you love Chinese food. I love Footscray so much, it is really nice. <br/><br/>Poon's is the light at the end of the tunnel. Especially if you have been walking around a lot.<br/><br/>HOT TIP: If you stand across the road and close one eye and put your finger in front of the N in the POON'S sign, you'll have a laugh and a half.

Don't. Just don't.. After being in the area so long I thought it unfair to not give it a go, so I did. And boy, is it every bit as terrible as I'd heard. It's barely on par with Chicken Tonight style asian cooking. Probably revolutionary in the early 70s, but this place is just plain bad. Oil slick, msg and some of the worst food i've ever eaten at a restaurant. Food Court Chinese is fine dining by comparison. No hyperbole, just fact. It may have it's market with "Grandma Merle and Grandpa Walter" who like their lemon chicken the way they "used" to make it, but for those born in the last 45 years have had too much exposure to this cuisine to bother with this. With SO much good food within stones throw, it's not worth it. <br/><br/>I don't like leaving negative reviews, but feel this was necessary. You have been warned.

Omg yuck. Never tasted anything so bad!!!!!!!

Excellent. Went for a lunch special....lovely staff, clean restaurant, quality food at an affordable price...say no more

Quick service, friendly, cheap and tasty. A good Footscray meal!

Poon's is my idea of a great restaurant. Great food, great prices, great atmosphere.<br/><br/>Its an old school, cash only establishment, that is as Footscray as they come.<br/><br/>But the food is amazing - been there a few times & never disappointed. From the entree quail, to the duck or beef or chicken or seafood main meals, to the Chinese tea, and everything in between.<br/><br/>We have found that about $60-70 will cover 2 people having entree, mains, drinks & dessert.

Chips in Curry. Ok, perhaps you dont go to a chinese restaurant to eat Chicken Curry. But it was on the specials board and i felt like it. Shame i didnt eat much of it as it only had Chicken pieces and "Fried Potatoe Chip" WTF. All for $13.

A culinary institution in Footscray. I have been eating at Poons most of my 50 years. I have always adored their Beef & Tomatoes. The service is good and quick, and the food is always very appetising. I now live an hour from Footscray, but still make a regular visit for a very good Chinese meal.

My favourite Chinese.... Have eaten at Poon's and taken away many times and the food and service is always great. The Sizzling Steak and Combination Duck are particularly yummy. Will keep coming back.

Best restaurant in melb love the food wouldn't eat Chinese food at any other

Nice accommodating staff, decor is little rough round edges butt always had meal very good & good service never gotten my order wrong ,nice that they pay attention read back your to confirm it is correct

We keep coming back. Friendly and fast service, good meal size (including takeaway). We love the special fried rice with beef chow mein- yum!

For Enthusiasts of Suburban Australian-Chinese Cuisine. The cuisine at Poon's lacks an authentic Chinese taste. However, if you are fond of Chinese cuisine that has been catered to Australian tastes, this may be a restaurant you may want to consider visiting. Examples of this on the menu is Singapore Noodles, Dim Sims, Fried Wontons, Fried Ice Cream and so forth. The restaurant even has an Australian menu that offers chips, steak and the like. Also, it had no chopsticks! <br/><br/>The food did well in reflecting typical yet tasty Australian Chinese flavours. However, like most Australian Chinese cuisine, the food was not healthy in context to the amount of oil or sugar it contained. Over and above, the vegetables and prawns seem to have come from packaged frozen foodstuff. Overall, as a quick-service restaurant, the food was tasty, but is more suited to a takeaway than dine-in experience.<br/><br/>Aesthetically, the restaurant is reflective of stereotypical, old Chinese restaurants found in many Australian country towns and outer city working class suburbs. However, despite having an outdated, somewhat nostalgic look and feel, the restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for families. <br/><br/>The meals are quite cheap and of a generous size, especially being so close to the Melbourne CBD. Similarly, the drinks are cheap too. The service was reasonable, as staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating, but were slow as the restaurant was full at the time. Also, the restaurant also felt cramped too. <br/><br/>The restaurant seems popular with Western suburb locals and families. It is not a restaurant that would appeal to those seeking an authentic Asian taste or experience. However, when compared to other Asian restaurants in Footscray, the restaurant appears inferior, but redeems itself with that ordinary, Australian-Chinese taste we've all come to love.

Reliable and friendly. We have been eating at Poons forever, good wholesome food, friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle.

FOOTSCRAY INSTITUTION. We do love Poons! We eat at Poons about once a fortnight, and have never had any dodgy food. Last night we had the Rendang Curry with Roti bread and rice, very yummy and tasty. Also their springs rolls and dim sims are excellent we always have one of each. Other reviewers talking about bland food must be ordering the wrong things, we often have the Hong Kong Pork Chop which has a bit of chilli also the sizzling pepper beef is always tasty too.Their prices are reasonable and portions a good size.

Still good. I've been a customer of poons for many years and have enjoyed every visit. Food and service is always good. Happy customer

Telltale signs this is LEGIT chinese. 1. The whole menu was in English only.<br/>2. Cutlery available was spoon and fork only.<br/>3. Your crew is the only group of diners of Asian descent in this Chinese restaurant.<br/><br/>Pro-tip; if you observe these 3 signs within any 'chinese/asian' restaurant, run. Run very quickly.

I love eating a little poon

It suggested to me what Chinese restaurants would have been in the 70's - non authentic and bland. The food wasn't terrible, but for the area expected more.

I was lacking inspiration so I ordered the Poon's chicken special. I'm fairly certain that this had never been ordered before and I imagine a minor freak out in the kitchen ensued. The dish I ended up with was 2 little pieces of dry chicken on the bone and some frozen vegetables in that strange clear, tasteless, saliva-like sauce that you often get with cheap chinese. Felt totally ripped off that I paid for what could never, by anyone, be described as a nice meal. I wont be back.

Fast service, attentive waitress, cheap meals. Will dine again. Thank you mr Poon

The whole family needed a quick visit to the toilet the following day . Wont be eating there again

MSG-ross. Ordered a delivery of chicken satay sticks, sweet and sour chicken, beef and black bean and special fried rice. Sweet and sour sauce tasted like cheap tomato sauce with pineapple chunks. Every dish, except the rice, had a truck load of MSG in it. Not that I mind a bit of MSG, but this was way over the top. You could smell the msg before opening the containers... won't be eating here again.

Felt Sick.. We chose to eat here based on the reviews here. Upon arrival, apart from the waitresses, there wasn't a single sight of an Asian. Where this restaurant triumphs in customer service, it fails to impress with the food. We ordered a variety of dishes and they all tasted quite mediocre. The honey chicken precisely made me feel sick by the very end of the meal. It lacked adequate flavour and so it didn't blend well with the texture. The biggest low of the restaurant was the fried wonton. It was basically Doritos with the most miniscule portion of shrimp I've ever seen in the center. I can only give the restaurant props for the spicy chicken, which wasn't really spicy at all. But it was the best tasting dish. Though everything was at a pretty good price, the crab claws were priced at $5 per claw.<br/><br/>At the very end of the meal, they prepared us with warm/wet towels which was nice of them. Overall, I don't really see myself coming here again. But great service. It was fast.

Popular with Europeans. This place is very popular with European/Australian customers.

Poons. Friendly staff, fast service, good chinese takeaway, all the usual stuff with plenty of flavour. cheap too.

We get takeaway from Poons all the time, and it's fast, tasty and easy. Ate in for the first time tonight. The service was great but my choice of dishes not do good. Back to my standards next time!

Great people and authentic food...

Poon’s stands as something of a last outpost for those who hold fast to this uniquely indigenous form of Chinese cuisine. And even if it’s not to everyone’s taste, they do what they do pretty well, as evidenced by their continual success.