Frank Fat’s

Amazing service from Luis and the green beans are to die for! Did I mention Luis was the best waiter ever?

Like a portal back to the late ‘80s (in all the good ways), the bar calls your name as you walk to your table. Frank Fat’s is quality food done well with no surprises. My girlfriend and I ordered a couple cocktails and three plates: general’s chicken, shrimp chow fun, and pork fried rice. Everything was delicious. With family-​style portions it was hard to stop eating, but another round of drinks finished the night – Fat’s Triple Mai Tai, how can you say no!

Happened to go on a tuesday for their 2 for $ 50 menu. I assumed it was going to be small portions but it was perfect. The potstickers are always tasty, the mongolian beef is always memorable and I never regret the Honey prawns. The fixed menu was great if you wanted to try several items and it worked out fantastic! Our server was sweet and the refills were filled promptly. Thank you for another great experience!

I have heard raving things about the pie, banana cream, that is served at Frank Fats. It made sac magazine’s top list. I had the opportunity to try a slice.
A pie plate sized portion of a pompadour wave of cream was place in front of my date and myself. With a thick section of layered banana slices sandwiched in between the cream and a thin bottom crust. It was well presented and looked fresh.
As you slice into the pie with your fork you get a good helping of the cream and some of the ripe bananas. The first bit being mostly cream, it is a thick layered cream with good flavor. The bananas are fresh and they taste ripe, they seemed a bit too cold when biting into them, seemed to chill the teeth. Might have been frozen or overly chilled. Cutting into the crust was a little more difficult task, they use a thin crispy crust that breaks apart easily. The thin layer of crust lacked that final piece of the pie. It was difficult to gather the whole crust flavor due to the crispy nature.
Overall it is a good slice, however being that it is a cream pie it is very sweet. If you enjoy sweet cream and bananas this would be a good bet, just be careful you may get more pie and less crust.

Food:
House special chow mein, walnut prawns, kung pao chicken.
Chow mein was tasty and delicious.
Walnut prawns were good, but I’ve had better.
Kung pao chicken tasted like they were reheated and prepared days ago.
Service:
Receptionist didn’t smile when she welcomed us and our server was rude.
Experience wasn’t what I expected from an upscale chinese restaurant.

What a cute spot. The outside of this restaurant is plain and simple but inside it is absolute stunning with beautiful décor and seating. Our waitress was probably one of the nicest people I have ever met. My guest and I came within an hour of closing and we never felt that we were a nuisance. For starters we shared a large order of egg drop soup (cheaper than two bowls thanks to a tip from our waitress). The soup was fantastic, but could have been a little less salty. For dinner we shared the chicken chow mein. Most of their dishes are large enough to share. I wasn’t blown away by the noodles but it was still a wonderful dining experience

Stopped by for dinner Saturday and my first visit to Frank Fat’s did not disappoint. We had a reservation, made simply through Open Table. We were seated immediately upon arrival in a booth in the back. The booths were very roomy and yet still provided a sense of privacy. We were in no rush and as we ordered our first cocktail, we told the waitress, Michelle, that we wouldn’t even be looking at the menu until we were ready to order our next cocktail. She was more than accommodating and quite pleasant. The drinks were a little weak but still good.
We ordered the famous and much recommended Honey Walnut Prawns, the bacon wrapped scallops, the immigrant’s beef and the gai lan. Everything was delicious, especially the honey walnut prawns. The sauce was light, not too sweet and just fabulous. The beef was nice and tender, the veggies still a little crisp and the scallops beautifully done. We passed on dessert and opted for another cocktail instead.
I would highly recommend this Sacramento staple. Great food, great service, and a wonderful overall experience.

Delightful Sacramento food spot since 1939. Frank Fats is a good Chinese food dining experience. The food is good quality and fresh. The staff is friendly and very attentive. The service was very good.
We enjoyed a table just last the bar and Gd potstickers, Yeng shew fried rice and Szechwan beef. All were good.
I recommend Frank Fats for a unique and historic Sacramento experience. Enjoy

Placed a to-​go order after the gym yesterday.
As I was heading to the restaurant, I called ahead to try and place a to-​go order. At first I was placed on hold for a few minutes and hung up; but when my boyfriend called, they instantly picked up after their machine greeting.
I had ordered:
egg noodle chow mein with chicken, no veggies (sang gai shee chow mein)
general chicken
honey walnut prawns
(they offered complimentary rice which can be enough for 2 people)
The egg noodle chow mein was good. Slightly plain in flavor (flavor very faint) but the chicken was tender and juicy.
The honey walnut prawns were delicious! In my home town, there was this chinese restaurant that had the best honey walnut prawns. I’m happy to say that Frank Fat’s ties in first as their prawns are lightly coated with their batter and the sauce doesn’t over power. I’ve tried Simon’s honey walnut prawns and they are just awful (too sweet and put too much sauce).
The upset however was their general’s chicken. My boyfriend likes salty foods, but the salt was soo strong that it forced your senses to spark and that’s not a good thing. It was so salty that I felt my tongue was on fire and feeling rough. He had added the sweet and sour sauce to try and tone down the saltiness, but sadly that didn’t help at all. He forced himself to finish the dish as he doesn’t like to waste food but man, I would have to stuff my face with rice to just one small piece of their general chicken. I’m not sure if that was a mistake on their part but my boyfriend is afraid to try their other meat dishes. Thankfully he was happy with the chow mein so he’s willing to give this place another go.
Total bill (3 entress and 1 complimentary steamed rice) equaled to $ 58 (including tax). This place is super expensive so if you want to try this place out, I recommend coming in for a date night or try their happy hour menu as they have deals on appetizers and drinks.
Side note: they have parking next to the restaurant, but you have to pay $ 5 and it doesn’t seem that they have bicycle parking either (best to either walk, taxi or über/​lyft)

My Husband and I enjoyed a beautiful meal on our 3^rd wedding Anniversary. We participated in the 2 for $ 50 promotion that did not disappoint! We had a very attentive server at table side, which was a fancy added touch! I appreciated the fusion of American/​Asian cuisine. The meal was tasty and the left overs were good late nite morsels. The Ambience was upscale and the food a solid 4. I am glad we tried them out, But the «WOW» factor that keeps you coming back was not there. I think it is a fun dining experience worth having in your lifetime.

Great food. Great cocktails. Great atmosphere. I eat here every time I’m in the area. Can’t get enough of the Honey Walnut Prawns! Everything else I’ve tried here has been tasty and well-​cooked too. Also, as weird as it sounds for a Chinese restaurant, the banana cream pie is as good as the hype. A slice is definitely big enough to share after a meal.

If you love NY Steak with some Chinese dishes. You must come here. The Head Chef Mike Lim is the best in the business. But make sure you order the boneless Peking Duck too this is also a must have.
Take it from a foodie!
Cheers

Does anyone dress up just a bit anymore for a nice dinner? OK… I have been guilty of this myself occasionally! Frank Fats is one of the oldest and coolest places to hang out in Sacramento. Whether you want to have their signature Mai Tai at the Bar, drinks and appetizers in the bar area or a full blown dinner in the back at a table or private booth… this is the place. Granted Fats is close to «Old Sacramento» a more touristy part of the town so many visitors are seeking food and comfort in their shorts and flip flops:-). Anyway, I am digressing from the true intent of this review… food/​service/​ambiance. Just coming thru the door into Fats one feels like you are entering into a dark, «noir», back alley world of Chinese intrigue of long ago Hong Kong, Shanghai or maybe San Francisco’s China Town. It is pretty cool and I love it. The host/​hostess is always friendly. You are shown to your table (or bar) and the fun begins. We have been to Fats so many times over the years. The service is stellar and one feels very special at all times. Waiters are all men and dressed in «tuxy» looking outfits which lends to the whole atmosphere of Chinese hospitality. After ordering… the delicious food comes streaming out on big platters for all the couples sharing in the home-​style dining.
Starter: Famous Chinese chicken salad… poached, shredded chicken breast with pickled cucumber, almonds, tomatoes, wonton crisps, and a house-​made sesame soy vinaigrette. perfect!
Then the fried rice is amazing. Bits of pork, shrimp, green onion.
Famous also for the honey shrimp which did not disappoint… lightly fried prawns glazed with honey sauce, walnuts, sesame seeds. It was sweet and crunchy (because they use honey to coat the shrimp… not mayonnaise like some Chinese restaurants which makes the shrimp soggy!).
And of course a meal is not complete without the steak and onions (NY steak smothered in sauteed onions and oyster sauce… A Frank Fat specialty). OMG… looks so good but alas, I am not a red meat person so more for the group to share:-).
The chicken and vegetables… another winner. More food than anyone can possibly eat. The great service continues through the meal… water glasses never empty, empty wine bottles taken away, new bottles on the way (hey…that rhymes)…Just a perfect evening all around.
But anyone who comes to Fats knows the grand finale is right around the corner… the homemade banana cream pie! Bite by bite which melts in your mouth. And they are not skimpy with the serving… ever. A true masterpiece.
What would we do without Frank Fats? I do not want to even contemplate that thought!
(and there really was a Frank Fat!).

Love the frank fats anniversary dinner. Comes with Chinese chicken salad, franks style New York steak, honey walnut prawns, chicken and vegetable stir fry, young shew fried rice and their famous banana cream pie! Served family style and plenty of food. We also had won ton soup that was the best I’ve ever had! Salad dressing great, steak a little overlooked for my likening so suggest medium rare if you want more red. Walnut prawns, rice and veggies all cooked perfect. Banana cream pie not as good as previous visits, not as sweet and creamy but crust delicious! Overall very good meal!

Food review:
Banana cream pie: This is something Frank Fat’s is known for, and let me tell you that it is worth the hype. The crust is buttery and flaky, the fresh banana is the shining star of the dish, and the very generous whipped cream layer is light and fluffy, but not overwhelming.
Brandy chicken: Good, but not great unless you like the flavor of brandy on your meat. I don’t.
Honey walnut prawns: Much better than the brandy chicken.
Vegetarian chow fun: The table favorite. We ordered a second plate. The wide noodles are well flavored but not too greasy, and the vegetables are plentiful. My favorite ingredient was the mushroom.
Gai Lan: This steamed Chinese vegetable was cooked perfectly, so that it was tender but not limp. I wish they had just a little more oyster sauce on it, but if you’re looking for a healthy option in a Chinese restaurant, this is an ideal thing to order.
Spring rolls: I’m not a fan of Chinese spring rolls (probably because in my head I’m imagining the fresh spring rolls found in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine and get disappointed when I get served something that looks more like an egg roll), but I’ve had worse Chinese spring rolls in other places.
Green beans: Better flavor than the Gai Lan, but also has more grease. Excellent cooking technique; it still has a little snap, but is not undercooked.
Misc:
I had my last lunch with my ex-​boss and co-​workers at Frank Fat’s. Kind of an appropriate sendoff location, given that both my old job and the restaurant both have ties to Sacramento politics. Apparently a former Speaker of the State Assembly used to hang out at Frank Fat’s all the time and would come up with ideas and deals in the back room of the restaurant, where the booths allow a modicum of privacy.
The front two rooms are more open, with a bar and smaller tables in the first room, and more tables for larger parties in the second room.
It’s got an old school feel, and apparently is still favored by some of the older politicos. A nice slice (pun intended) of Sacramento history.

I decided to come here with my co-​worker for lunch on a Tuesday around 11:30 a.m. It was my idea to come because I had a pretty decent experience at the Frank Fat’s in Roseville and so wanted to also check out the Sacramento location.
I really don’t like dimly lit restaurants since I find it hard to see in them, so was not happy to see that the lighting in this restaurant is darker than what I prefer it to be. They were pretty much empty when we arrived and we were promptly seated in a booth towards the back.
Our service was good, which was pretty much the highlight of the meal, since the food was both kind of expensive and nothing to recommend to others. I ended up ordering the Ma Po Tofu and had to still pay for rice separately. It tasted fine, but again, nothing that stood out as remarkable. I didn’t have the banana cream pie this time, even though I remember liking it at the Roseville location.
I would come back with co-​workers if they wanted to go, but I won’t be the one recommending to go again.

I went to Frank Fat’s on the Mother of all days for restaurants, Mother’s Day, and this place failed miserably. The hostess and the waitress were very nice and the floor manager was attentive and appeared to be putting out fires all night.
ATMOSPHERE:
Outdated, dark, cold A/​C caused the food to get cold too fast.
APP:
Salt & Pepper Calamari: This app was very oily, tasteless, and a bit under-​cooked. The jalapenos had not flavor or spice at all and the 4 dipping sauces were not good (regular ketchup was the best sauce).
DRINKS:
I ordered a Blue Lagoon that was supposed to be, well, blue. The waitress brought me a drink that looked more like a Long Island. Before I could take my first sip the floor manager came over and told me they ran out of blue curacao so they had to substitute with something else (I forgot the name). I took the first sip and just could not do it. I sent it back for a Lemon Twist instead. This drink was just as bad, I could tell it was cheap liquor with a piece of lemon rind in it and some sugar on the rim. I could not taste the triple sec. I asked for a side of cranberry juice, mixed it with the Lemon Twist and just took one for the team.
Wife ordered an Asian Pear; not sure what it is supposed to taste like, but I could tell it was not made correctly. Just seemed like something was missing. For each drink being $ 10 I expected better.
Kid ordered a Shirley Temple that looked like tap water with a few drops of red food coloring in it. I asked her a few times if she was drinking water or soda. She said soda, but I did not see any carbonation at all.
The rest of my party arrived and ordered soda as I warned about the bad bar drinks. There sodas were flat. Two guys at the table next to me were sat and ordered 2 Manhattans; they had to send them back. Remakes were better, but still not right. So obviously the bar and bartender had issues.
FOOD:
Overpriced, under-​portioned, underwhelming, out dated. The entire time I wished I was at Golden Dragon on Broadway instead. Everything is a-​la-​carte and expensive. $ 17 for orange chicken and $ 16 for chow mien. This might feed 2 hungry adults; 3 is stretching it. Another table next to me also had small portions; they finished their food very fast then broke out a deck of cards and started bustin’ spades. All of the other guest in the room we were sitting in (the second room next to the bar) appeared to be unsatisfied.
DESSERT:
I had the famous Banana Cream Pie. It was OK, but nothing to write home about.
Overall giving 2 stars because the hostess, server, and the guys checking water were very good; hell even the floor manager kept her composure while trying to steer a sinking ship and make everyone happy. She did not charge for the drink or app and offered re-​makes.

3 words: Fancy chinese food.
The food here is cooked just like at any other Chinese food: fried and oily. I’m guessing and sure hope that the grade of meat is higher here hence the price. Prices are double of a typical Chinese restaurant but the ambience and service is WAY better.
I ordered the Szechuan eggplant. I didn’t expect it to be fried but it was still really good. Crispy and flavorful.
The mango chicken was good and not something I’ve had before. There are mango slices and it tastes like spicy dried mango.
I wasn’t up for dessert so I didn’t order any but it seems like the pie here is really popular. Almost every table was ordering one.

Had a fantastic meal there tonight. The best maitai drink from Ngoc the wonderful bartender.
Our dinner was awesome too. Our waiter was Mike the bartenders husband, he was super, food EXCELLANT.
From the hot and sour soup to the brandied chicken and the pork fried rice.
Not to forget the out of this world pot stickers for an appetizer.
Then to top it off we got to share a piece of there famous banana cream pie, complimentary.
We well return next year for our Annual fabulous dinner at Frank Fats.

3.1415 National Pie Day. and what better way to celebrate than with the BEST Banana Cream Pie in Sacramento!
I still haven’t had a chance to eat at Frank Fat’s and I don’t remember when/​how I came across their Banana Cream Pie, but the moment it crossed my lips it has been my go to Banana Cream Pie place. They sell it YEAR ROUND. Most bakeries have it on their seasonal menu — so Thank you Frank Fat’s!
The crust is crusty, the bananas are plentiful and packed through out the banana pudding, and most importantly the whipped cream is packed on thick! All for $ 22! Pretty good deal!