So soon after my first review, I really feel the need to revisit this.
But I want to be very clear about the topics I’m addressing.

Mongolian BBQ – 4
Heat Lamp buffet – 2
Standard menu – 3
Chinese menu – 4
Bar/Happy Hour – turning that bad boy all the way to 11!!!!

Happy Hour is M-F, 4-7 pm. The special is half price appetizers. No deals on the drinks, but they are roughly $7.50 per serving, which is a good price.

The Zombie came in a cool Fu Manchu mug.

The Chi Chi came in frozen coconut mugs, that were still cold nearly an hour later.

The Scorpion Bowl aka Parents Liquor Cabinet (costs $15, serves 2+) comes AFLAME, and with crazy long straws.

Photos of the first three drinks are below.

Mai Tai was big and delicious.

King Kong Bundy (sp?) was dangerous.

I don’t believe there is any other bar in town that serves up these tiki-style cocktails with the kitsch style.

With my little group, we were able to sample nearly every appetizer on the menu. I’ll go through the whole list.

* Chinese Chicken Salad – did not try

* Fried Wontons (10 pork, or 8 cream cheese) – ordered both. Simple, fun to share, lots of dipping sauce provided.

* Egg Rolls (4) – appeared vegetarian. Standard. Let these cool down before eating.

* Paper Wrapped Chicken (4) – actually foiled wrapped. Stuck to foil. Meh.

* Fried Shrimp (4) – good.

* Bar-B-Q Spareribs (4) – yummy and filling.

* Bar-B-Q Pork – did not try

* Fried Dumplings {Pot Stickers} (6) – SKIP! But filling.

* Sa-Tay Beef Sticks (6) – winner.

* Chinese Country Style Chicken Wings (6) – good!

* Assorted Appetizer {2 pieces each of: Egg Roll, Paper Wrapped Chicken, BBQ Sparerib, and Beef Stick} (8) – winner! Came in a kitschy platter with a mini hibachi flame to heat things up.

* Fried Shrimp Balls (4) – has potential. Some of ours were too salty.

* Salt & Pepper Sauteed Mushrooms – yummy! Great to share.

(Pictured: appetizer platter, shrimp balls and s&p mushrooms)

* Bon Bon Ji Chicken – WINNER! Shredded chicken in a citrus peanut sauce with greens. Can take a while to prepare, and worth the wait.

* Swa-Ni Pork – WINNER! Thin-sliced pork in spicy garlic sauce.

Now, don’t expect the party to fall in your lap. You need to bring your own. Ming Dynasty is not the place of beautiful people, unless it’s Goleta’s own special brand of beautiful people, which is folks in costco clothing and a mullet or two. And that’s part of its charms.
Also, the bar only has two scorpion bowls, so you gotta share and play nice with others.

We had a blast. LOVED the happy hours. We will be back.

Past entry.

Ming Dynasty
290 Storke Rd, Suite G
Goleta, CA 93117
www.mingdynastygoleta.com