Sai Kung's Seafood Street Farce

Posted by Northman (227 days ago)

My wife and I went to Sai Kung's Seafood Street to get some great fresh Seafood. We went to Tung Kee Seafood Restaurant and ordered the $388HK set meal for two. The menu clearly says 10% service fee. We were told, "No service Fee." We suspect they reused some of old food... Then our bill came... the tea, the snacks and the napkins were not included the $388 Set meal. They charged us as much as they could and it turns out to be more than the service charge would have been. You should always ask what's included and whats not otherwise you'll walk away looking and feeling like a chump.

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Posted by GreenValleys (227 days ago)

What made you suspect they were reusing old food?

Posted by Northman (227 days ago)

Half of the shrimp we ordered tasted and looked old and decimated. The food that was fresh was very fresh and good but the questionable food was just gross.

Posted by carmine (227 days ago)

regarding the hidden charges, that is very typical of HK Chinese resturants, and not just in Sai Kung. We always refuse the peanuts or other appetizers that they offer before the meal as they are usually 10-20 dollars. Interestingly, from my observations, the locals tend to accept this as part of the meal's cost. I personally hate this system of hidden charges

Posted by Riceman (227 days ago)

we tried Tung Kee once to see what the fuss was about but can say we won't be eating in there again. as Northman says the meal was 50% good and the other 50% down the sewer...decimated seafood is just not what you expect for the kind of prices being charged. we've eaten in a few of the smaller ones just past Tung Kee and have to say although the variety was not as big but at least the food was very good if not excellent.

Posted by cara (227 days ago)

if you go to sai kung, hung kee is the BEST!

the set meals use good parts of seafood for set meals and we've only had an ok meal there once. every other time it has been fantastic. my m-i-l is VERY picky about her food. she hasn't cooked since the mid-1980s and eats every meal in a hk restaurant.

Posted by GreenValleys (227 days ago)

Maybe it's time to make sure TK knows that what it is doing is unacceptable - some bad publicity or something like that. Be careful, though, because as far as I know a lot of the eating places there are owned/operated by some of HK's 'less desirables'.

Posted by IslandHopper (227 days ago)

"as far as I know a lot of the eating places there are owned/operated by some of HK's 'less desirables'."

Less desirables by whom? I mean that members of the same societies hold high positions in HK and also Beijing government has praised their patriotism, so perhaps it's just your prejudice....

Posted by jardine johnnie (226 days ago)

Isn't the point of going to seaside restaurants that you pick your own seafood, still flip-flopping in the watertank, and have it prepared in a resto ?

Oh, and in mainland China you typically do not get paper napkins at all. You are expected to buy a packet of tissues.

Posted by 6789 (226 days ago)

Beware that the "flipping and flopping" live fish you saw were just "actors". What they end up cooking can be another "frozen" or dead a long time ago, same category of fish.

It has often happened.

Posted by Mark Six (226 days ago)

I asked for some soy sauce to go with the meal at one of those waterfront restaurants. Got the bill and found each of us had been charged $20 for the tiny saucer of sauce. Didn't want to make a scene as I had guests and family with me, but I won't get caught like that again. Made me feel like a gullible gweilo. Live and learn.

Posted by Northman (226 days ago)

That's the worst part, you're caught and they know they can squeeze you. Either way you'll be the one that looks bad in the end. You're either the dumb one who trusted the restaurant and didn't ask before you ordered or you're the spoiled idiot causing a scene in righteous anger over $50 of frivolous charges and junk seafood. It's not even the amount of money. It's the feeling of being hustled when you walk away from your meal. Now I'm on a mission, alleviate world hunger and poverty, take care of orphans and widows and warn other about the Tung Kee Restaurant on Seafood Street...

Posted by flokhk (225 days ago)

I live in Sai Kung and believe me we have stopped patronizing these seafood restos for 4 yers now for the same reasons. They just rip people off. Now if I want to eat seafood I buy them and cook them myself. I just grill them, the best way to cook anyway. Not the greasy chinese way. Cheaper and definitely healthier. And by the way I don't have hidden charges at home, lol.

Posted by carmine (225 days ago)

Speaking of these hidden charges, Yung Kee in Central also does this, which really pisses me of for such a world class restauant. They charge something like $20 for a tiny plate of chili sauce..and stick you with the bill at the end of the meal. I agree with Northman's post in which its not even about the money..I would pay 10 times that in tips if the service is excellent. But this way of charging just makes me never wants to go back. After living for more then five years in Hong Kong, I find dining at home increasingly enjoyable.

Posted by 6789 (224 days ago)

I will challenge for that extra charge of a dish of sauce, and if more people challenge, it will send a message.

Hope this financial crisis will help make these restaurants learn a lesson that ripping people off don't generate goodwill.

Posted by cara (224 days ago)

in italy they charge "bread charge" (at least they used to)... here it's for tea/peanuts/sauce etc. that's the way it is. i have argued it in the past and may argue it in the future.

i guess my problem with it is that you don't know what these charges are going in, whereas, in italy, at least they posted it outside so you could decide if you were willing to pay it or not.

Posted by carmine (224 days ago)

Sorry I am going a bit of topic here to the original post, in some resturants you can refuse the peanuts/pickles. But in most cases, the waiters will give you a dirty look. I dont care how great the food is, I usually wont return and I think more customers should make a point of this and not quietly accept.

Posted by Philly Cheese (223 days ago)

Ate at Tung Kee Sunday. Our story - was given a "free" plate of chicken feet. We sent back the first time they gave to us as we did not order this. They came again and the Manager said it was complementary. The bill came and the chicken feet were on the list. Told them that we did not order and the mgr had offered to us for free. They then removed from bill. Moral - always check your bill. Also ordered a plate of sweet n sour pork - it came cold like they had cooked already and been rejected. Bamboo clams were also not very hot. I will not be going back to Tung Kee again.

My other experiences with restaurants in SaiKung are much better. The reputable restaurants will cut a bit of the tail off the fish that you order. When the fish is cooked and comes to your table, you can match the cut tail to the piece they give you to ensure you got what you ordered. Also, when picking seafood, get them to weigh it and give you price (estimate) so you know what you will end up paying.

Posted by MommyTo3 (223 days ago)

I assume this is not the same as Chuen Kee ...?! If so, this place is in the Michelin guide ... in that case maybe worth sending them this thread as well ... it obviously doesn't belong in there!

Posted by GeorgeC (223 days ago)

Sai Kung is a terrible place for fresh seafood - there is still widespread trade and consumption in species that are endangered or facing extinction.

Sai Kung had it's moment. It ended about 20 years ago.

Posted by mrsmith (222 days ago)

Here here GeorgeC.

Posted by deliran (222 days ago)

Agree with GeorgeC completely!

Posted by blessed (222 days ago)

It doesn't look bad to ask the waiters to take away the peanuts and pickles. In fact, it shows how 'local' you are. We do that all the time at a lot of the yum cha places around here. We're paying for the meal so we shouldn't walk away feeling done in or cheated about the whole thing.

Posted by aussieinla (222 days ago)

I don’t want to comment on the seafood in Sai Kung because I don’t go anymore. I moved my seafood eating to a restaurant on Lamma Island which we go to with friends about every two weeks. If any one wants the name and phone number I will happily give it to them.
A normally order for us would be Beer, Tea, Fresh OJ and water.
Squid, scallops, salt and pepper prawns, chili crab, mantas prawns, whole steamed fish and rice finished with cut oranges, pineapple and watermelon. This is normally about 300 per head but if there is only two of us it is about 400 each.
I think it's a good deal and I guess that is what matters.

Posted by woods99 (222 days ago)

Lotsa cheapskates around. What is Hong Kong coming to? For goodness sake, if you enjoy a good meal, with good service, who cares what the detail of the bill is?

If it's too much, don't go there again. But frankly, if you worry about $20 here or there, you might as well go to eat at McDonald's.

The waitstaff get the peanuts money incidentally, or so I have been told.

Posted by chatterbox (222 days ago)

Whilst less glamourous there are some great and reasonably priced seafood restaurants in Po Toi O in Clearwater Bay (turning right before the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club) where we have enjoyed great fresh fish.
We have been for dim sum many times in Tung Kee always fresh and reasonably priced. We went along for dinner the other week and were stung for $1000 per person for a very average meal. The waitress even recognised us and said hello. The staff started clearing up around us and eventually made us leave (at 11.30pm). The say rents are high in Sai Kung, but sadly I believe that they are just trying to get every last cent today and are not thinking about tomorrow - especially when tomorrow will see the destruction of the seafront (and thier business) if the Government continue to push through plans for a 4 lane highway that will run right along the waterfront. Imagine 'enjoying' seafood whilst looking at the ocean through the pilings of a 4 lane highway going overhead...
Oh and its purportedly the valet parking they say is controlled by the "less desirables" (where "less desirables" = Triad types)

Posted by billybats (222 days ago)

Woody: You must be a very popular patron in Tung Kee! The waiters are thanking you but probably laughing their heads off in the kitchen to find another gullable customer. Why dont I order a couple extra plates of peanuts on you next time I am there, you can support the livelyhood of the staff I am sure.

Posted by jardine johnnie (222 days ago)

It's probably just me but I find that 'fresh steamed fish' thing -on average- a fairly tasteless experience.

Posted by IslandHopper (222 days ago)

True Johnnie, it's just you.

Posted by carmine (222 days ago)

steamfish when done right is a piece of heaven on earth

Posted by SweetSue (221 days ago)

Must agree on the negative attitude of these extra restaurant charges, though for most Chinese restaurants here in HK that the way it is and most likely will always be, but,

To George C > "Sai Kung had it's moment. It ended about 20 years ago."

That's your opinion, like they say everyone has one, and hope you and the likes of you stay away.

Posted by HK'sUndesirables (220 days ago)

Here Here Sweet Sue

Posted by GeorgeC (220 days ago)

Sweet Sue, It was purely a reference to the type of seafood consumed. Sai Kung as a place is, of course, wonderful.

If you still think I'm being unreasonable, next time you're down by the waterfront, take a list of endangered fish with you and see how many you can spot. As for the quality of food, it's not that great. And the thought that this style of consumption may be contributing to the end of a species leaves a rather bad taste in my mouth.

Posted by jardine johnnie (220 days ago)

that's where taste typically occurs eh.

on a different subject: it has been noted that a lot of 'left over' expats have been moving to Sai Kung (because of the cheap rents). As used to be the case with Lamma, pre 1997. So, from that point of view, it's not the Sai Kung it used to be.

Posted by chatterbox (220 days ago)

I am not sure I like the inference of "left over". Sai Kung has always been populated by expats who have lived in Hong Kong for a long time, some grew up in the area.
I would suggest that those people who have moved to the area have done so, because they intend to remain in Hong Kong long term, want a great and affordable environment to live in and better transport access to town than may be achieved in outlying islands such as Lamma.
So I would suggest that Sai Kung is as it always has been expat wise and that what has changed is the emergence of chain stores such as 7/11 and starbucks (same company) that is changing the ambience of the village. How many 7/11 and Circle K's does one small village need?
More worryingly, what will cause catastrophic change to Sai Kung is the proposal for a 4 lane highway to run through it.

Posted by mamadavid (220 days ago)

Please, guys -- it's "hear, hear", not "here, here".

Posted by Riceman (220 days ago)

here, here mama well said ;)