Posted by
Northman
17 yrs 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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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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Agree with GeorgeC completely!
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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.
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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.
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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)
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steamfish when done right is a piece of heaven on earth
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Please, guys -- it's "hear, hear", not "here, here".
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here, here mama well said ;)
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Try Seafood Island in Po Toi O (Clearwater Bay/Sai Kung area). Much better food at cheaper price than Sai Kung, which is too touristy and overpriced.
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Have you heard of the Gweilo tax in some restaurants. I was invited for a dimsum lunch mid week by a local supplier in ABerdeen and the meal for 5 cost 210 HKD ALL in. No one had drinks but we did drink Chinese tea.
So the following week I decided to visit there with my wife for a lunch mid week . We probably looked like tourists dressed in casuals and shorts. We ordered 2 dishes that were about 120 HKD on the menu. Our bill was 280. They had charged us 90 HKD for CHINESE TEA which we never ordered and then about 60 for a coke and 7 up.
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edor
16 yrs ago
amazing how this thread started 489 days ago!
with regards to the topic...i can clearly relate with those who have been ripped off, but have sufficient understanding to those few who stand for their favorites...
different people, different cases...
but statistically speaking, based from the posts here...nay sayers are up 9 to 1...
so there goes......
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I was in Cheung Chau Island in a group of 8 for the last weekend. There are heaps of seafood restaurants along the waterfront. The restaurant we randomly picked for dinner offered a $438 set menu of 10 dishes (for 6-8 ppl), total bill less than $500 after counting in soft drinks and beers. I am not picky with food but heard no complaint from the rest of my friends. Though the problem is those airconed indoor seatings are very limited and eating outdoor I had been sweltering all my body throughout the meal in this hot weather.
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