King Tea — Restaurant in Brisbane City

OVERVIEW King Tea is a popular Chinese restaurant on Latrobe Terrace, opposite the Paddington Central Shopping Centre.

FOOD We opted for the early bird King's banquet deal for four people at $30 per head. This offer is only available before 6 pm between Tues-Thurs for groups of four. We arrived at 5:45 pm, and our friends made it just before 6 pm, allowing us to take advantage of the deal. Compared to the regular $60 per head price, $30 is a fair value.

The banquet offers a choice of starters and main courses, designed to be shared in a yum cha style. While the selection is not big, it caters to different preferences at the discounted price. For starters, we had spring rolls, beans, tofu, and a spring onion pancake. Our mains included an additional salt and pepper tofu dish, fried chicken, and stir-fried pepper beef, accompanied by a bowl of boiled rice.

The portion sizes were generous, and the food was fresh and nicely presented. However, some dishes fell short in terms of flavour. The fried chicken had a lot of batter and was quite spicy for a chicken dish. The tofu had too much barbecue sauce, masking its natural taste. On the other hand, the beef was tender, finely sliced, and served with fried onions, green vegetables, and crushed peanuts, which was enjoyable.

SERVICE The service at King Tea is exceptional. Upon arrival, the friendly maître d' greeted us warmly and allowed us to choose our seating. Apart from the maître d', two friendly and efficient waitresses attended to us.

Once our friends arrived, our orders were taken promptly. The drinks arrived first, followed by the starters and then the main courses. The service flowed smoothly without any delays, creating an enjoyable and hassle-free experience. The staff's professional attitude contributed to a relaxed evening.

ATMOSPHERE King Tea has a cool, casual, and relaxed ambience with low mood lighting and distressed brick walls in a red colour scheme. The wooden furniture, floors, Chinese-style shutters, and lanterns complete the oriental aesthetic. A bar counter with chairs at the front corner seems to cater to those waiting for their table.

The restaurant is clearly popular with the locals. We were the first guests to arrive but the place quickly filled up. By the time we left an hour and a half later, it was full. As more patrons arrived though, the noise level increased, making conversation challenging due to the lack of noise-absorbing materials in the wooden, glass, and stone interior.

COST For four banquet meals and a couple of drinks, we paid $157, which is a fair value considering the rising restaurant prices. However, a standard TsingTao lager bottle at $10 seemed steep. Unfortunately, such prices have become the norm in Australia due to hyperinflation and the government's excessive spending and money printing. but the banquet deal was too good to pass up. The hated "credit card surcharge" added another $2 to the bill, a practice that was unheard of a few years ago.

TOILETS The toilets are located at the back, with ample male and female cubicles. I found them clean and well-maintained.

PARKING There is limited street parking, so the best option is to head for the free car park at the Paddington Central Shopping Centre, where you can usually find a spot. It’s not the best car park though, with limited space to manoeuvre in and out, and tiny parking spots, but it is convenient, being just across the road from K.T.

SUMMARY Overall, we had a pleasant experience at King Tea, taking advantage of their $30 early bird banquet special. The food was served in generous portions, and it was fresh, and nicely presented, although a few dishes were underwhelming. The service was first-class, and the ambience was casual and inviting, albeit a bit noisy as the restaurant filled up. The toilets were clean and well-maintained, but parking can be challenging in the area, with the shopping centre car park across the road being the best option.

MEMO Consider paying in cash to avoid the hefty credit...

My recent visit to King Tea, a Chinese restaurant, left me with a rather underwhelming impression. While I had heard mixed reviews, I wanted to give it a fair chance and make my own judgment.

The Ambiance (2/5): The restaurant's ambiance was quite plain and unremarkable. The interior lacked any distinctive Chinese decour or character, making it feel like a typical fast-food joint rather than an authentic Chinese eatery. The lighting was harsh, and the seating felt cramped.

Service (3/5): The service was average at best. The staff were polite and took our orders promptly, but they seemed a bit disinterested and inattentive throughout the meal. Our requests for condiments and water refills were met with a noticeable delay.

The Cuisine (2/5): Unfortunately, the food was the weakest aspect of our dining experience. We ordered a variety of dishes, and none of them stood out. The flavours were rather bland, lacking the complexity and depth that are characteristic of Chinese cuisine. The portions were small for the price, leaving us feeling unsatisfied.

Signature Dishes (2/5): We tried the restaurant's "signature" dishes, but they didn't live up to the hype. The Dan Dan noodles was overly sweet and lacked the expected spicy kick, while the peking duck tasted ordinary and lacked the usual hoisin flavour.

Value for Money (2/5): Considering the quality of food and the dining experience, I found King Tea to be overpriced. The portions were small, and the taste did not justify the cost. There are far better options in town that offer more value for your money.

Conclusion:

In summary, King Tea left me disappointed with its lack luster ambiance, average service, and subpar Chinese cuisine. While it's possible that this restaurant might appeal to those seeking a quick, no-frills Chinese meal, it falls short in delivering an authentic or memorable dining experience. With numerous other Chinese dining options available, I would recommend exploring elsewhere for a more satisfying taste of...

I recently dined at King Tea Paddington and thoroughly enjoyed the quality of the food. The portions were substantial and the dishes were all very tasty.

However, my experience was significantly dampened by the lack of consideration for dietary restrictions. The banquet menu had no alternative options for someone with a seafood allergy, which was incredibly disappointing. When I inquired about substitutions, I was met with complete unwillingness to accommodate. After enquiring following the entree’s, we were instructed to simply remove the prawns and eat the salad served underneath. A suggestion in which is impossible without a subsequent allergic reaction. Given that seafood allergies are quite common, it was frustrating to see such inflexibility.

To make matters worse, the male supervisor’s attitude was shockingly unprofessional. Rather than handling the situation with understanding or even basic courtesy, he was dismissive, condescending, and blatantly rude. His unwillingness to engage in a respectful conversation about dietary needs was unacceptable, and his tone made it clear that customer service was not a priority. At the conclusion of the evening, we were surprised and disappointed to find that we were still being charged the full banquet price for this individual, even though they could only eat half of the set menu. This was only amended due to further discussion, and the supervisor reluctantly charged a discounted rate to the individuals meal.

While the food was excellent, the poor service and lack of accommodation left a bad impression. It’s a shame that such a talented kitchen is let down by indifferent and impolite management. I would hesitate to return unless significant improvements are made in how they handle...