Mr Meng Chongqing Gourmet — Restaurant in Sydney

Awful service. In 2018, having to write your name down and tear off a slip of paper to get a table is a joke.

I sat in the ‘holding area’ for 30mins waiting for my number to be called, only to discover it had been (I heard nothing) and we had to take another number and wait even longer.

If my wife hadn’t been with me, I would have given the incompetent server a mouthful and walked away. But I’m writing this review instead.

Any decent restaurant knows having a meal is an experience, not just a place to get fed. The owners of this place need to buy a professional queuing system (like every Coles or Woolworths has at their deli counter) with printed tickets and a visual display so diners don’t have to put up with screaming staff. (Strangely the numbers were being yelled out after we were missed)

Until the dining experience is improved, this place doesn’t deserve patronage. Unfortunately, the lack of options here will ensure the poor service continues unabated.

I looked for a contact email to send this to the management, but no website or email is listed in the Google...

The flavor at Mr Meng Chongqing Gourmet is decent enough, capturing the essence of Chongqing's culinary scene to a satisfactory level. The intriguing backstory of this establishment stems from its celebrity owner, Meng Fei, who is well-known in China as the host of a popular Jiangsu Satellite TV dating show.

The restaurant benefits from the 'celebrity effect,' further amplified by Meng Fei's (孟非) connection to Guo Degang (郭德纲), a prominent figure in Chinese comedy, and Guo's ties to Australia. However, despite these interesting connections, it's essential to remember that at its core, the dish is based on noodles - a simple starch-based food. This inherent simplicity (一种科技成熟的且广泛被大众所接受的一维淀粉基可食用材料) places a natural ceiling on the culinary experience one can expect. It's a case of managing expectations and appreciating the dish for what it is, rather than what it might be associated with. Overall, it's a decent choice for those looking to explore...

(We had delivery, so not commenting on the eat-in experience). UPDATE BELOW

Yummy food. We had the Chongqing noodle, Dan Dan Noodle and fried rice stick for dessert.

Loved the flavour on the Chongqing noodle, but without adding meat, I thought the portion was a bit small/lacking. Like, it's just noodles with a bit of seasoning. I ended up eating half of my daughter's Dan Dan to fill up, hahaha.

Would be keen to try eating in person.

--- UPDATE I've upgraded to 5 stars after eating in person. It's restaurant quality food at food court prices, at a venue that's kinda in-between.

I had the Chongqing noodles again, and at $13, I can't complain. Located on the top floor of Market City, it's a quiet, calm eating experience.

Order at the counter. Quick service.

💳 Takes credit cards,...