HappyMonday: Tai Ping Koon Restaurant at Causeway Bay

I haven't really been disappointed at any restaurants in HK, but there is always a first for everything...

I went to this restaurant for lunch during a weekday. I heard about its long history and and how it's run by the same family for over 100 years. they must be doing something right, right??

When we arrived, the guy at the door wasn't too friendly, fine i can understand things get a little stressed out during a busy lunch time. whatever. i don't really care. after waiting for maybe 15 minutes, we got a table right near the door, eh. i normally don't mind since HK is so crowded, you are lucky that you have your own table.

our waiter was not very professional. He looked like he has never worked in a big restaurant and he doesn't really like to take orders or listen to his boss or clients. If we are paying the 10% tips required by the restaurant, I would expect them to be at least somewhat professional and courteous. This old dude was no where near courteous. he was a terrible listener b/c he got my order wrong. also when he brought out the soup and bread, he sort of just threw them out onto the table. Lunch sets are pretty expensive considering i could have had better food at regular diners like Tsui Wah (more on this on another post). At about $80 HKD per person for lunch, i would expect better service and food.

The cream of mushroom soup, was indeed one of the better cream of mushroom soup I have had. That was the highlight of the lunch. It's sad if the soup and bread are the highlights of your big meal.

The pork chop and one piece of broccoli was so terrible that it looked like something out of a can. it was poorly executed dish. the meat didn't taste fresh. the rice tasted like it was two days old, heated over and over in the microwave. everything about that dish just tasted terrible!!!

i wanted the regular classic beef with rice noodles (乾炒牛河/beef chow fun), not the kind with the swiss sauce, thanks for our LOVELY WAITER, he messed it up and brought out the rice noodles with swiss sauce. OK FINE, i thought i'll give it a try. honestly, it just tasted like a regular dish, i really feel like other regular diners can churn out better rice noodles than tai ping koon.

i haven't had a negative review on any restaurant since i got to HK, this is the first time. i was completely disappointed with the quality and service of Tai Ping Koon. I don't think I ever want to go there again. Normally I'd give places/people second chances, but this is not happening here. I don't know how this restaurant has lasted for so long. i am confident that i am not the only one that feels this way about their food quality, or rather lack of. i just hope tourists do not waste their time and money here. PLEASE GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!!