Hakkalicious — Restaurant in Brampton

My first time here was a couple weeks ago for my birthday dinner date and the food was really good. We ordered soup, hakka veggie noodles, and Manchurian chicken dry. My husband and I had so much food left over that it was enough for another meal. We took the leftovers home and our kids couldn’t stop talking about it after they tried it. We were all so pleased, that we decided to order takeout this past weekend.

We got the same dishes as before (Hakka veg noodles and Manchurian chicken dry) plus a couple more that our kids wanted to try (Shanghai noodles and sesame beef). The beef was really tough and sweet. It’s as if it was on the verge of going bad and the pieces were bits and bobs congealed together in a lump. The noodle dishes were ok but didn’t have the smokey flavour like last time. The Manchurian chicken was ok, but not nearly as good as the time we ate it in the restaurant.

Another thing is that the quantity of food was significantly less than what was served in the restaurant. Takeout costs the same (and it’s not cheap!), but for some reason, they were very stingy with it. I knew the bag felt light when I picked it up and, in hindsight, I should have checked what was actually in there while I was still at the restaurant, but I didn’t want to be THAT person. You can see in the pics that the containers aren’t filled.

I honestly don’t know what happened but I have questions. Is there a new chef in the kitchen or do they have separate chefs for dine-in and takeout? Does the quality and quantity depend on who’s managing the kitchen? Does it depend on the day of the week? I don’t have the answers and I won’t lose sleep over it because I’ve been around restaurants long enough to know they can’t slack off to the point where people notice such a huge difference.

TLDR: I’m disappointed and feel cheated with this takeout experience. I was sincerely hoping we found our go-to place for Hakka, but unfortunately we’re back to searching...

Review of "Hakkalicious"

Ambiance: "Hakkalicious" impresses with its clean, tidy, and visually appealing atmosphere. The decor offers numerous photo opportunities, perfect for those who enjoy capturing their dining experiences. The ambiance is enhanced by live music, which begins around 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. (though it might vary by day). The singer during our visit was fantastic, providing engaging entertainment during the meal. However, it's advisable to choose a seat further from the speaker to avoid the loud bass, which can be overwhelming and cause discomfort.

Service: The staff at "Hakkalicious" are attentive and contribute to a pleasant dining experience. They efficiently manage the slightly smoky atmosphere from the open kitchen, ensuring that the dining area remains comfortable and inviting. The overall layout of the restaurant is well thought out, making it a great place for families as well.

Food: The food at "Hakkalicious" is both tasty and plentiful. The portion sizes are generous, ensuring that you leave satisfied. The dishes are well-prepared and flavorful, offering great value for the price compared to other similar locations. The menu variety caters to different tastes, making it an enjoyable experience for all diners.

Seating: The only notable drawback is the bench seating, which is a bit too upright and can cause back pain after a while. Despite this minor inconvenience, the seating arrangement does allow you to enjoy your meal comfortably enough.

Conclusion: "Hakkalicious" offers a wonderful dining experience with its clean environment, beautiful decor, and engaging live music. While the upright seating could be improved, the excellent food, reasonable prices, and overall enjoyable atmosphere make it a great place to relax, enjoy a meal, and take in the lively entertainment. Highly recommended for both families and individuals looking for a...

First time visiting this specific chain of Hakkalicious. Never driven past it but we were in town and were craving Hakka food. Went on a Saturday night and the place was packed which is usually a good sign. Of course each person’s perspective is different.

One star is being docked off because we had to wait at least 15 minutes by the front entrance and despite the wait staff not being too busy at small intervals, no one approached us. Finally the manager I believe on duty approached us and apologized for the delay. He took us to the table after cleaning it up.

Breakdown:

Food: 8.5/10 We ordered the Singapore noodles, chilli mushroom dry, veg pakoras and fried rice. All were vegetarian and we requested for mild spice to which they met our expectations. Normally at Indian / Hakka restaurants when we ask for mild, they end up tossing a bunch of chilis and then it’s unfavourable.

Portions were great surprisingly and yes we had to take a doggy bag with us but finished it the next day.

No grease, no oil. Not too heavy on the spices. I took off 1.5 because the chilli mushroom was a little saltier than expected.

Ambience: 10/10. The added touch of the live singer was nice but the selection of songs was mediocre at best and the dude could have done slightly better.

I can’t comment on the washrooms as I didn’t go, but was told they were clean.

Noise level: 8/10 We could still converse despite the amount of crowd.

Service: 8/10

The waitresses came on time to take our order and informed us at times that we should be expecting the food in x number of minutes. They’d come often to check up on us to make sure things were great. We didn’t have to ask for much which was great. Didn’t even have to wait for the bill either.

Overall this place is definitely worth...