Cha Lao Dim Sum — Restaurant in Johor

AC020 佛钵咕噜肉 Fried Sweet & Sour Pork RM15.00 鲜虾烧卖皇 Steamed Pork Dumpling with Prawn (Siew Mai) RM9.80 水晶虾饺皇 Steamed Prawn Crystal Dumpling (Har Gao) RM9.80

Service Tax 6% = RM2.08 Service Charge 10% = RM3.43

There are 3 Major Issues I have with this place:

Issue Number 1:

The Lobby Counter staff is a Young Chap, and he was Raising his Voice in an Unfriendly Tone and Loudly Barking out Names of Registered Customers to let them know they can go up to the Restaurant. I don't know why but the Irritated Tone of his Voice rubbed me the Wrong Way. I wished he at least Smiled and practiced some Proper Customer Service instead of loudly barking at Customers like the way he did.

Perhaps they could have a Electronic Number System that Beeps on Screen which Number can go up? Anything is better than rudely shouting at Customers like this.

Issue Number 2:

Because the Dim Sums need to be ordered from the Dim Sum Pushcart, you have to wait for it to be rolled to your Table. I recommend to sit near to where the Most Customers are seated is because I feel the PushCarts give Higher Priority by rolling to these Crowded Areas first. I remember seeing 4 Pushcarts available in this Whole Restaurant and all of them went there first.

I get it that they would prioritize rolling these Pushcarts to the area with the Most Customers, what I didn't like was when I tried to get the attention of one of the Pushcart, the guy just looked at me blankly and just rolled the Pushcart away even though I was like maybe only 5 Steps away from him!

When the Pushcart eventually came after 13 Mins, the guy didn't even smile and had a 死人臭脸 that looked like I was wasting his time rolling over to my Section.

It was a Very Frustrating Feeling to have the Pushcart guy look at me blankly and seemingly purposely wheeled it away even though I was so near to him! Even when I sought help to expedite, it still took another 13 Mins before a Pushcart eventually came to my Section.

And this was Early on a Weekday Morning where the Restaurant is not even 50% Crowded. Can you imagine how much longer I had to wait for the Pushcart were it to be a Busy Crowded Weekend?

Issue Number 3: 佛钵咕噜肉 Fried Sweet & Sour Pork Attempt to Cut Cost.

Although this Dish is highly raved in Google Maps, upon Closer Inspection, the 咕噜肉 themselves didn't actually have much meat in them and as you can see my Comparison Photo with another Eatery is More Batter than Meat. The Attempt to Cut Cost here is Quite Obvious and is not something I'd expect for a Atas Dim Sum Restaurant like this.

Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

I am Very Disappointed with their Overall Service and Workflow Process. In addition, I did not list this as an issue, but my Dim Sum Containers were even snatched away from me after eating without even bothering to politely ask if they could take it away. Sheesh!

This Restaurant may outwardly look like a Atas 酒楼, but the Service Level is anything but. They need to seriously look into better improving the Overall Customer Service Experience.

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Went there with a group of 5 adults and 4 children. Did not book in advance but was able to be assign a table within 5-7mins.

Food wise have to comment that the custard bun, Siew mai is not bad….the rest of the dim sum are average. Do note that this is a HK style type of dim sum and not local Malaysian type.

Particularly need to mention that the servicing by the staff that we encountered was not very good. Some examples are:

1. We were told that the steam items will come out in a while, we will need to al la carte order mainly fried items or those not on steam roller push cart. Ok fine. We ordered and waited for the steam trolley to arrive. When it arrive, we wave for the service staff to come over so that we can choose. The service staff acknowledge us and then walk away 1 time. The staff saw us again, acknowledge again and then turn a blind eye again. All these while, this steam trolley person ain’t serving any table. I could safely say “loitering” at the main floor. Staring in blank space and not coming forward to us?

Only when then 3rd time, one of us went up to him and ask him why he didn’t want to come to us, he say we didn’t order….the steam trolley is full of items, you didn’t serve any table, just jalan here jalan there…we want to select the items, you didn’t want to come, how we order?

2. We ordered a 2nd serving of custard buns. Yes it’s not bad the taste. When the custard buns arrive, it went to the wrong table. Fine, no problem…we signal to the person, that the 2 baskets of custard buns are ours…he wave to us ok, then walk back to kitchen direction. Maybe he wants to double confirm order, also fine. Then came back not to our table, but to the next 2 surrounding tables around us. Alamak, we already told you it’s ours…our surrounding table, 1 is going off, 1 just arrived and ordered, you went to them 1st time round, they say it’s not their. We keep telling you it’s ours, why you don’t just trust us and sw Kure order chit. Go 1 whole round earth then finally came and say it’s ours.

3. What is suppose to be the owner or maybe manager came to our table, we order a 明虾较, long story short…never came. No problem as well, we just highlight at the payment counter later.

All in all, the kind of service we got, we wish no one else encounter, they ain’t very busy at that moment in time. Food taste wise, I would say most are average per say except for those 2 items I mention.

Overall it’s a 2.5/5 score. Will not be starring this place for a...

2nd day in JB and was craving for decent air -conditioned restaurant that serves dim sum. My usual go to will be Canton-i but I found it to be overpriced and because its of its locality in City Square (nearer to entrance from CIQ), tends to be crowded.

Since I was at Holiday Plaza and I remember chancing upon this place when I was at KSL.. so why not give this a try. Googled before and read that it's not bad but pricing wise little steep.

Husband and I went in and it was a lobby looking like where a staff would walkie-talkie up to the staff on 2nd floor before we were invited up. We walked up and was ushered to our table that can sit 4 pax. Stools were the seats and don't expect those chairs with backrest.

Menu was on the table and it was printed double-sided. One side had food price that was in medium(RM 8.80) and big(RM 9.80) sizes.. The other side was for ala-carte orders that you can go through to the staff to take your order. Each portion of food on the plate/in basket is 3 pcs.

Price wise may be little on the high side but with the atmosphere(eating in comfort), quality and taste..wouldn't mind paying.

Not sure if the timing we went is less crowded as there were more staff than customers. Staff were attentive and kept walking around to check for empty plates/baskets to clear. May feel little stressed as if feeling they are rushing you to finish up (hahhaa).

Overall food is not so salty, filling(e.g. pork) is generous and tasty. What we ordered:

Har gao skin little thick, prawns fresh Siu mai quality of pork filling is decent Chicken feet bite sized and fleshy Carrot cake soft and fragrant,not salty Chilli Oil Dumpling taste more towards sour, little spicy. Skin thick, can give it a miss Egg tart if you like Portuguese egg tart, then it's this kind. If you prefer the traditional tart/pastry kind, then they don't have. I felt was too crispy the skin and quite sweet. Hakka pancake skin made of sweet glutinous rice with savoury filing. Not too bad to just have 1 piece to try. Have more, the sweet savoury taste may not be that palatable. Char siew bao (not in pic) not too bad, soft and moist. Char siu Chee Cheong Fun (not in pic) portion quite decent. Good for 3 to 4 pax to share. 2 of us with other dishes too much to eat Xiao Long Bao(not in pic) can give it a miss. Not as juicy as it should be Xiang Pian Tea (not in pic) nice!

Total damage: RM...