Fook Mei

Fook Mei has established itself as one of Glasgow's most celebrated Asian dining destinations, representing the expansion of the famous Ho Lee Fook stall from the Barras into a full restaurant. The restaurant has been described as a spot worth visiting and revisiting, with reviewers consistently awarding it high ratings and praising its expertise in bringing the best flavours from different countries around east and southeast Asia.

The food at Fook Mei receives outstanding reviews, with dishes consistently described as excellent, amazing, next-level good, and incredible. The restaurant offers a similar menu to Ho Lee Fook, with lots of veggie options, providing variety for different dietary preferences. Specific dishes receive particular acclaim, with the prawn sando described as next-level good and incredible, though one reviewer noted they still narrowly prefer the pork sando from Holy Fook. The pancakes are described as another standout—fresh, fluffy, and so moreish that reviewers keep eating even after they're full. The restaurant's expertise in Asian flavours is evident in the quality and authenticity of the dishes.

Service at Fook Mei is consistently praised as fantastic, genuinely friendly, attentive, welcoming, and great. The staff receive positive feedback, and the food comes super quickly, demonstrating efficiency even during busy periods. The service adds a lot to the overall vibe and contributes significantly to positive dining experiences.

The restaurant's atmosphere and design receive positive feedback, with reviewers describing it as cosy and intimate but never cramped, with clever use of space that provides enough room to breathe. The restaurant features communal tables and counter seats along the sides and windows rather than individual tables, creating a social dining experience.

Value is consistently praised, with reviewers describing prices as very fairly priced, creating good value for the quality and experience offered.

The restaurant's popularity is evident from how busy it can get, with reviewers noting it can get busy and that getting there early definitely pays off. The restaurant uses a waitlist system, with typical waits of around 20 minutes, though weekend waits can be longer (up to 45 minutes). This popularity speaks to the restaurant's appeal and quality.

However, there have been some operational issues reported. One reviewer experienced a situation where after waiting 45 minutes, they were told the kitchen was closed because it had run out of ingredients, despite a couple being seated just seconds earlier without any warning. This was described as definitely not a good first impression and suggests that the restaurant may need to better manage ingredient inventory or communicate availability to waiting customers. Additionally, takeaway is not available, unlike the original Ho Lee Fook, which may be disappointing for some customers.

For visitors to Glasgow, Fook Mei has become a destination that many feel is essential to experience, particularly for those seeking authentic Asian flavours. The restaurant's ability to deliver excellent food, fantastic service, and very fair prices has earned it positive recommendations. However, guests should be aware that the restaurant can get very busy and may require joining a waitlist, and there's a possibility of ingredient shortages during peak times. The combination of quality food, excellent service, cosy atmosphere, and fair pricing makes it a standout establishment, though the restaurant would benefit from better inventory management and communication to ensure all guests have positive experiences.