K C Cafe & Takeaway — Restaurant in North Island

Went tonight with my partner, woman behind the counter extremely rude as always, almost impossible to hear anything behind the glass, she started yelling at my partner for no reason, once we received the order mine was perfectly fine but my partner's order was literally FAT, he ordered beef brisket and she gave my partner only fat, we thought it was wrong so called the waitress who said she couldn't do anything because were orders of the counter lady. She also complained on my partner for paying with cash, she was very angry because she "had to wash her hands" which is something obvious considering that she's constantly manipulating the counter machine plus cash and eftpos, she should at least wear gloves when she touches the meat or serve rice. This experience ruined our night, we worked hard all week so we could have a succulent Chinese meal at the end of the night but the lack of manners of this woman were outrageous. Once we finish i showed her the plate with fat to what she replied "that's how the beef comes", the thing is I'm a chef, and one of the basics of any cuisine is that we clean the meat before we cook it, it is almost impossible to have a whole portion of brisket without meat, it should at least have a piece of muscle. We truly believe she did this on purpose because we paid with cash. Anyway, definitely not going back, i gave them a few chances even after i received rotten veggies, saw a bunch of raw ducks literally on the floor, the woman touching money and meat without sanitisation, all of those things might be a mistake but the lack of manners, the rudeness and the bad service were too much. Also, don't drink water from the water station, they never change the lemons so it is more than likely growing...

KC Cafe! What a go-to spot, no wonder it’s a Wellington staple. KC was one of the first places I ever visited after moving here a couple of years ago, after seeing it on multiple lists and forums for some of the best spots to eat at in Wellington central. The atmosphere is much like that of any Chinese/SEA restaurant you’ll find in those respective locations, everything from the smells, the bustling kitchen, the small yet busy customer seating areas, to the menu with an abundance of items… It really does feel like you’ve been transported overseas as soon as you step into those narrow doors on Courtenay Place. Many of the negative reviews I’ve seen surrounding this place are in regards to the rude service at the hands of the woman taking the orders at the cash register — I just want to say, never have I experienced any kind of attitude, negative behaviour, or misconduct from this woman or anyone working at KC as a matter of fact. Perhaps many Kiwis are not used to the blunt nature of Asian-immigrant service workers, and that’s alright, but to publicly “bash”, if you will, a woman simply doing her job under the pressure and fast-paced nature that KC brings, is not alright. In terms of the food, I have yet to try that many options from their 100+ items presented, but what I have tried, I rate very highly. Their portion sizes are just the right amount or if anything, even more than enough at times (which makes for great leftovers). Their meals are fragrant, packed full of flavour, filling, and their menu is extremely diverse; so there’s something for even the most picky or indecisive eaters. I definitely recommend this spot to satisfy the cravings of anyone...

Have eaten at KC Cafe no less than 50 times over the past few years...

Food: 5/5 These guys make incredible Chinese food and that is the reason I keep going back. Everything cooked on gas with the kitchen in full view. Forget everything else below if all you care about is great food!

Menu: 4/5 Very extensive but is very challenging to navigate. Its surprising how few 'duds' I have come across, about the only thing I have not enjoyed are the noodles soups (don't use rice noodles).

Service: 3/5 They can be slow to take orders and language is a challenge at times. Meals generally arrive quickly but the process isn't very personable.

Dining in: 3/5 Most times a table is available however at peak times it can become very crowded. The cafe feels cluttered and its certainly dated but that is more of an observation than a criticism. What brings the rating down is that during the winter months the place is freezing cold. The doors are constantly open, there is not heating and it can be quite miserable if you don't get a table close to the kitchen.

Overall, the food is incredible and that is what matters the most. However, the cafe is let down a little by the dine-in experience which could certainly see some...