My family and I just had dinner here and it was probably one of the worst we have had in ages. The menu had looked ok and we thought we’d try an older more established-looking venue than one of the newer places in Darling Square or fancier places on main strip in Chinatown.
PROS: tea was ok and hot, pan fried dumplings ok - not the best, but passable, outdoor seating ensured more space
CONS: wontons tasted like they’d been bought frozen, left in deep freezer and forgotten about then dug out and tossed in the bland hot water with salt they called soup. Wontons left a mothballs aftertaste. Mapo tofu was extremely bland and tasted more like something I’d imagine you’d get out of a packet. No chilli heat at all and very gluggy. The seafood noodle dish had a strange brown sauce and hardly anything else in it - couldn’t see much seafood. Probably the worst dish was the so called “salt and pepper “ squid Which was cooked in old oil, resembled a failed attempt at homemade onion rings. On the dish was a strange greyish brown I thought was burnt batter and realised it wa sure salt and pepper - on the side???!!! Usually a good salt and power squid is not cut into rings and is cooked with chilli and salt/pepper tossed through with some shallots. This was absolutely disgusting and devoid of taste except for grease.
I really really regret not saying anything to the staff. We just wanted to get out of there fast and knew there would be problems with translation and just too tired.
I am of Chinese background, cook Chinese food and think I am not half bad, so when I go out and pay good money for Chinese food I hope it would be at least better than what I can make at homemade - definitely not worse!!
I don’t know why this restaurant got such good reviews- I think people may have confused it with Chinese Noodle Restaurant which is a few doors down right next to Menya. I confused the 2 and had planned to go to Chinese Moodle Restaurant - not House.
Do not waste your money here- got it he food court at Market City as that would be soooo much better and way cheaper.
In the end we went to Meet Fresh to get dessert to help us get rid of aftertaste!