Tasty Congee & Noodle Wonton Shop

SHOP 119 – L1 PHASE I – NEW TOWN PLAZA – SHATIN

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“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien

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March 16, 2020

Last week, my friend (Joshua Lau) and I (Natte Chan) went to New Town Plaza in search of a restaurant that would bewilder our expectations and change our entire perspective on the culinary world, but instead of finding a revolutionary eatery, we found a run-of-the-mill noodle shop sandwiched between a much larger and more prominent pizza parlour and a New York inspired steak house. I hadn’t known it then, but Tasty Congee and Noodle Wantun Shop offers something that neither could ever produce. Something that is beyond the simplistic notion of food for fuel. 

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As we approached the counter and awaited our table, I couldn’t help it but notice the well thought out interior of the restaurant. Each Chinese symbol was meticulously etched out on pieces of wood and metal and were complimented by the light fixtures shining down on them. It wasn’t long until our table was ready and part of me speculates that it was because of the Covid-19 which drove many patrons away from Tasty Congee. When we sat down at our table, I realized just how unique Tasty Congee was compared to its more traditional counterparts. Rather than fitting as many tables as possible into the restaurant, Tasty Congee was quite literally a breath of fresh air as not only did it have an open back design, which created a comfortable and more laid-back ambience, it also had open space in between tables which added to the overarching theme of the restaurant. What was also noticeable was the sunlight illuminating from the 8 foot tall windows which stretched across the side of the restaurant, giving adequate natural lighting as well as a relaxing sensation. 

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Looking at the menu, I was impressed at the variety of choices ranging from noodles with selections of dumplings, and wontons, to steamed fish based with soy sauce. What was also impressive was that the price level was in the 60-80 dollar price range for most dishes considering that we were in New Town Plaza, where nearly all dishes in every other restaurant was in the 100-140 dollar price range. I should also note that like many other Chinese style restaurants, there is an unlimited supply of tea for customers to enjoy at a flat price ($8/per person), kind of like a drink buffet but only for tea. Seeing as how the name of the restaurant was Tasty Congee & Noodle Wantun Shop, I chose to get some noodles with specialty wontons (small $45, large $55) along with the barbecue pork buns ($38), a staple in Chinese cuisine. When ordering, service wasn’t the best as it took a while for the staff to take our order as they were understaffed at the time, but once they came to the table, the order was taken efficiently and without much of a hassle. 

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Noodles with Specialty Wontons (small $45, large $55)

It wasn’t long until the noodles with special wontons arrived. First impressions of the noodles were that despite the fact they were the large sized option, the serving size was still quite small. That said, there was an impressive noodle to wonton ratio that didn’t make the dish feel too one-sided. The first bite of the noodles, which some say is the most important bite, was very neutral. The noodles were substantially firmer than others like that of ramen or rice noodles, but the firmness gave it an unmistakable texture that sets it apart from others. The taste was somewhat overwhelming as there wasn’t an explosion of flavor, rather subtle hints of green onions and pepper. This is not a bad thing as overwhelming noodles like ramen can hinder many as they think that it is too strong. Rather than engulfing the tastebuds of their customers, Tasty Congee decides to lean customers into a neutral and inoffensive taste. What truly sets Tasty Congee’s noodles with special wontons apart from other wonton noodles is their specialty wontons. If you were dissatisfied with the lack of flavor in the noodles, the wontons will not disappoint as each bite is packed full of juicy shrimp doused with garlic and seasoning. Truly a worthy contender for the most complete noodle dishes I have ever had. 

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Barbecue Pork Buns ($38)

Midway through eating our noodles with specialty wontons, our barbecue pork buns arrived. Although quite small for barbecue pork buns, the buns at Tasty Congee were filled with the most spectacular barbecue pork I have ever had. Most barbecue pork buns have a bland, one-tone flavor profile which consists of a sweet almost honey like tang accompanied by the umami sensation of the pork. Not that this flavor profile isn’t good, it just isn’t that unique. On the flip side, Tasty Congee’s barbecue pork buns offer a variety of different sensations which start at the sweet almost honey like tang range and then abruptly transitions to a smokey even woodsy type of taste. I would even go so far as to say that it reminds me of Cognac in its smokey and acidic nature. Tasty Congee’s barbecue pork buns are in a completely different echelon relative to their standard counterparts, and for that, they receive my seal of approval. Midway through eating our noodles with specialty wontons, our barbecue pork buns arrived. Although quite small for barbecue pork buns, the buns at Tasty Congee were filled with the most spectacular barbecue pork I have ever had. Most barbecue pork buns have a bland, one-tone flavor profile which consists of a sweet almost honey like tang accompanied by the umami sensation of the pork. Not that this flavor profile isn’t good, it just isn’t that unique. On the flip side, Tasty Congee’s barbecue pork buns offer a variety of different sensations which start at the sweet almost honey like tang range and then abruptly transitions to a smokey even woodsy type of taste. I would even go so far as to say that it reminds me of Cognac in its smokey and acidic nature. Tasty Congee’s barbecue pork buns are in a completely different echelon relative to their standard counterparts, and for that, they receive my seal of approval. 

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Tasty Congee and Noodle Wantun Shop, though not the most creative name, sets itself apart from its competition by offering something that is difficult to encapsulate in a regular restaurant review as it not only offers some of the most complete dishes in Chinese cuisine at astronomically low prices, but also contains certain aspects that go far beyond the one dimensional tier of taste or presentation. What Tasty Congee and Noodle Wantun Shop offers is something that simply cannot be ignored and is a restaurant that I will be visiting again very soon. 

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Atmosphere: 4/5

Taste: 5/5

Price: 4/5

Overall: 13/15

Verdict: Must Eat

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Peer Comments: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rnToDlQ1F8q-0kK7QZbLyMg__O2JeLzDYODvoCTP-jU/edit