Hualien Tai Ping Hsiang BBQ 花蓮太平香 — Restaurant in Markham

I come to this place often as a regular customer. Probably is the best and most authentic Taiwanese bento place you‘ll find in the GTA. You can choose a main meat dish (i.e. Popcorn chicken, braised fish, fried pork chop, etc.) Then you can choose 3 sides from a whole variety of veggies that are placed on the counter. Usually there are 10 or more options to choose from. Food is of good taste and consistency. Prices are also very reasonable.

The only reason I am giving a 3/5 star is because in many instances I find that the customer service and attitude of the ladies behind the counter terribly lacking. Except for the owner and her daughter who are quite nice, the other ladies seriously have attitude problems. Perhaps they are nicer to non-Asians based on the reviews here, but for Asians who don‘t follow protocol they quickly lose patience and raise their voices and hardly smile. It makes you feel like they are doing you a favour for serving you.

One time I was lined up behind an elderly Chinese man who had a hearing impairment. When asked what he wanted, he couldn't hear and was unable to respond. Rather than being compassionate and helpful, the lady behind the counter just continued to raise her voice indignantly and in the end just served him something randomly. The elderly man was speechless, but just went along without arguing. Probably wasn't what he wanted. It was a very terrible experience for those standing there watching.

I really hope the owners of this place can do something to improve their customer service. Taiwan is known for its politeness, world class customer service, and respect for people. For now, I don‘t think the staff there really...

0/5 rating if I would. How do I put this? It was all wonderful when the original owner started the business in the 90s. The food was truly delicious. The owner was indeed from Hua-Lien Taiwan. However, the food went south after the business was sold to a different management several years after, probably around 2005 and I told myself I will never go back again, but once for a while I still go back and check it out. It’s probably just to give them another chance. The experience has gotten worse and worse. Today I visited the restaurant again and I can’t stand it any longer and decide to write this review. I won’t give this restaurant another chance ever again from now on! Period. The chicken is not fresh, especially the chicken legs, by the smell of it! The sausage is hard as rocks. The marinated egg is salty to a point that can’t be swallowed at all! Most of the food is salty. We got to drink lots of water after all. I am not sure why the rating is still good, despite of the negative experience encountered over the decades. Truly hope the current management would reflect and improve...

Absolutely shameful portions. The portions were never generous in this place even 5+ years ago, but at least passable. Now? Prices have raised like 3+ times every single year and portions have shrunk to barely half. They are so stingy with portions that no normal guy will feel full after eating here - you literally need to buy two boxes. It’s not even enough food for most ladies.

What I found funny and pathetic was the response given by the owner was “they’re trying different takeout boxes” - seriously? Do they think we’re all idiots or something and can’t tell portions are absolutely tiny now?

As for the taste - it’s your average food court level food. I’ve never been a fan of this place to start with, but the taste is even worse than before the pandemic.

I seriously have no idea why people eat here. Service is absolutely terrible, extremely impatient and rude servers, raising prices literally every other month, while reducing portions with every...