So I'm back and what better way to kick-start then with a review of one of least favorite cuisines! One of my friends wanted to do a hotpot dinner so I decided to join cause I figured what better way to be more Chinese than to eat hotpot in Richmond. She decided on Sun Tung Kee which should not be confused for Sabo which apparently goes by the same name also. The main difference being Sabo is AYCE while this place is a la carte. It's especially important that this issue be cleared up immediately because for some people, a la carte isn't their thing. The parking lot itself is crappy when busy (which aren't?) but otherwise, check for ample street parking.
This is the inside and it looks pretty clean. You've got the steam fans in the middle of the table and the boss lady greeting customers and making sure all the servers are doing their jobs diligently. I pretty much agreed to whatever everyone ordered and asked that they not tell me so that I would try everything and not worry about what it was. They have a variety of soup bases starting around $7 and we decided on the satay duo soup which was clear soup on one side and satay soup on the other. I can say right now that I didn't taste any differences but that's because i probably doused out any tastes by using the sesame sauce.
So I can't recall everything that was ordered since this was a while ago but here goes: Inside the white icing bag are the fish paste noodles ($10) which you squeeze out like cake icing which was surprisingly good since i hate fish balls. From the waiter, we learned the proper method for squeezing is to imitate the upward stroke actions of your arms as if you were running.... Anyway, in the background, I think you have beef slices ($10), in front are the golden mushrooms ($6.50), the lamb slices ($9) and the fish slices ($14) in the background. I liked the meat but not so much the fish slices or mushrooms.
Here are the assorted meatballs C ($15) and what I think is another view of the beef slices. As for the meatballs, I only ate the shrimp and beef but can't recall the others. I just didn't try the fishballs cause I already know they are gross.
I can't really recall what these dishes were other than the shrimp dumplings ($8) up at the top and the chicken wings ($9). I must say right now that steamed and boiled chicken wings is extremely nasty and I hate the elasticity of the skin. Chicken should only be fried, roasted or baked - otherwise, it's just gross.
Here we have what I think is beef again, fresh oysters ($12) and ostrich meat ($16). The ostrich meat was actually quite tasty and more tender than I though it would be.So overall, I was pretty stuffed but I did find it quite pricey at$27/person. The dishes themselves didn't seem that expensive but I guess everything just adds up. I must say that the portions appear quite generous but then again, I have no other places to compare it to. As for the restaurant itself, I didn't hate it but I can't say that I'd be aching to return... not just to this restaurant but to any hotpot restaurant in general. I think the appeal of cooking your own raw food and mixing it altogether in a broth with a whole bunch of other raw stuff is gross and still is.
One thing though is that the service was extremely good! You know you're getting great service when the girls are cooking the food for you and placing it on your plate so I can't complain about that. By the way, in order for that to happen, you'd have to go with a really nice girls.
Rating: 6/10 - my first hotpot restaurant experience could have been worse and I honestly wasn't expecting much. The fact that I didn't get food poisoning also helps too. Oh yeah, if the food is cooked thoroughly and served to you by girls, well... that helps too =)
Sun Tung Kee Hot Pot Restaurant
1060-8580 Alexandra Road
Richmond BC V6X 4B3
604-207-0386
