Mr Sheng BBQ & Music Bar — Restaurant in Temple City

Heads up, if you are sensitive to smoke from them allowing their own customers and staff to smoke, then don’t even consider coming here. I was a few blocks away and I could already smell the smoke. From the start, I already had a bad feeling of this place. We were very poorly greeted and not once did anyone check up on us, we had to beg for their attention. They didn’t say bye to us when we left, and the waiters were just extremely rude like they didn’t want to be there. I’m still in shock how badly i got scammed tonight, i received skewers this small and overpaid by so much. It was burnt and had so much fat. Their edamame and peanuts were sour and clearly old. We had to get a refund for those, never had that happen to me before. Their music is obnoxiously loud and don’t come here if you stare sensitive to lights flashing in your eyes and music so loud you have to scream to talk to your friends. Customer service is less than mediocre. Waiters kept ignoring us, paid $100+ for two people yet we are not even half full. They automatically added 25% tips which is really obnoxious because I don’t get why we can’t add that ourselves. My stomach is hurting immediately after consuming their food which is clearly a sign of food poisoning. Their potato’s were absolutely burnt and it was black, barely edible. The seasoning was unevenly distributed making some with no spice and others with so much that it is absolutely gross. I am never coming back again, they just use the obnoxious music and flashing lights to distract you from how terrible...

I've never experienced something like this - had dinner here with my friends and the service and food was just okay, nothing particular good just another 626 restaurant.

When the bill came I did my usual thing: checked the pre-tax total amount and add about 15% round up a little more to a total and paid. Then a guy (who did not serve our table) came to me pointing out at the bill saying "we require minimum tips shown here, at least this 15% number". He was talking about the printed suggested tip over-calculated based on the post-tax bill. And he insisted it was a " restaurant requirement". So I had to give up and updated the total amount to their "required minimum" which costs me $20 more.

Most of the people I know have been calculating tips based on pre-tax amount and I'm never a stingy tipper (at least 25%-30% tip if service is good). But I felt I was tricked and intimidated to tip more while the food and service is just so-so.

If you come here please don't follow my bad example. Tip whatever amount you think is reasonable. Or,...

This isn't a place I can recommend for everyone. You would need someone who speaks or read Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese). Sadly it is not an English friendly restaurant. Also, you are forced to use WeChat to order. I am not sure but US has banned the use of Wechat. Sadly, waiters are not friendly. I will assume there are communication problems. If I was not with my friends I cannot go to this restaurant. Also, they allow people to smoke in the restaurant. So I do not recommend if you are bothered by people smoking cigarettes. Personally it is less enjoyable eating there due to other customers who smokes. As for the food, it is comparable to other Chinese skewer restaurants. The prices are also comparable to other same type of restaurants. There other problems with the restaurant but I believe these are major issues that are needed for anyone who is going to try...