Iama Critic Rating - Hong Kong - 2 Stars
7704 Augusta Road, Piedmont, SC
Overall:
Hong Kong is a very typical strip mall Chinese restaurant except that, in addition to menu items, it operates a two table buffet. The buffet is great for the lunch crowd of which I was one. The buffet items looked fresh and reasonably well cooked, but lacked a significant amount of flavor. Some dishes bordered on, "How on Earth can it look so good and taste so bland?" Hot chili sauce and cocktail sauce were available, but there was no duck, sweet and sour or mustard sauces. Plus it was lunch. Customers don't have the time to fix the flavors and make it back to work in time.
I believe I have been spoiled by the awesome and cheap buffets that I have visited in the last year or two. And I have no doubt Hong Kong can be better, because it is easy to fix bland cooking. But I went prime time, just before the lunchtime rush, when everything was at its freshest. So I can't give them any better opportunity to impress my readers.
The Service - 0 Stars (0%)
When you order the buffet Hong Kong is a completely self-serve restaurant, including pouring your own drinks. Hong Kong might offer wait service if you order off the menu. However this has not been verified. But I did see a tip jar near the cash register, which is rather odd. What exactly am I tipping for if there is no wait service? My guess is that tipping is optional and I chose to leave none.
At value restaurants we typically provide 25% or more for 5 star service on the pre-tax portion of the bill, 22% for 4, 20% for 3, 17% for 2 and 0% for 1 star service.
The Buffet:
$7.75 Buffet - 2 Stars
This is the out the door price including tax and soda fountain drink. This is a remarkable value price. Considering the value price, the buffet could easily be three stars on a good day.
Various Buffet Items:
2 Stars - Egg Roll (Boring)
2 Stars - Spring Roll (Soggy innards)
2 Stars - Pot Stickers (Overcooked)
1 Stars - Tempura Shrimp (Where's the shrimp?)
3 Stars - Pork on a Stick (A bit dry)
4 Stars - Cream Cheese Wontons (Sweet & awesome)
2 Stars - Pork and Broccoli (I know its pork but can't taste pork)
1 Stars - Creamy Mixed Veggie Stir-fry (Bland beyond bland)
4 Stars - Cold Peel & Eat Shrimp (Small)
3 Stars - House Fried Rice (About average)
2 Stars - House Special Lo Mein (Rubbery)
3 Stars - Rice Noodle w/Egg (Very bland)
3 Stars - Fake Crab & Cheese (Fake but pretty good)
1 Stars - Soft Balls O Meat (Undetermined meat)
2 Stars - Tao Chicken (Too much Tao not enough chicken)
1 Stars - Salmon (Simply gross)
4 Stars - Chicken Wings (Small but awesome)
3 Stars - Strips O Pork (Fatty but flavorful)
Total Bill:
$7.75 for one person including tax and one soda fountain drink.
Final Thought:
In the same strip mall as Hong Kong, there is a fabulous Mexican buffet called La Fiesta. I was really hoping Hong Kong would be the Chinese equivalent of La Fiesta. Sadly Hong Kong isn't there yet. No doubt they could be, but they would really have to improve just like La Fiesta did. La Fiesta went from two stars to four when they starting keeping their buffet fresh and adding serious flavors with their condiment bar. I certainly hope Hong Kong does the same and starts adding much needed flavor to their buffet items. read more
