Tao Heung Training Restaurant

Ventured to Fo Tan this weekend for a family lunch. The location was okay, it’s only a few minutes walk from the Fo Tan MTR station. As it’s located within the industrial area I’m still a bit sceptical to this place. However, the food was in fact really good. We have ordered the banquet style lunch set. The most impressive dish was the crispy pork on ice. I never have «gu lo» meat on ice, and it was so good that the crispy «crust» would melt in your mouth. The dim sum are all very nice and served in a mini bamboo steaming case per person. The dessert is special too, it’s a «thousand layer cake». Great lunch with big surprise. Will try to come back again.

Food (**** out of *****); 80% of the time, they serve good food equal to any Hong Kong restaurant that has been in business for many years. 10% of the time, they will serve you something that is so divinely delicious and special that it will blow you away. 10% of the time, they will serve you something improperly made. Just remember that it is a «training» restaurant, smile, and send it back to the kitchen if this happens so that the budding new chefs will have a learning experience.
One time, I had a fish dish here that was truly divine. All the diners in my party talk about it every time we go back. We ask the waiters every time if they’re going to serve that fish again, but they always tell us, «no, this is a training restaurant. We serve different dishes every time you come back and have no permanent menu because what we serve here is what is on the curriculum at the time you are here.» That fish was perfectly cooked. It was not overcooked so that the flesh was hard. It was fully cooked, not raw, yet, the flesh was still soft and moist. It was not overseasoned so that it was too salty. It was not underseasoned so as to be flavorless. It tasted like we were dining on a a soft, flavorful piece of the ocean. It was so good and fresh, it did not taste like fish at all. The chef even skillfully removed every piece of bone from a hard to debone species of fish, too. This should take a long time to do, but if you do take a long time, then the fish will have a fishy smell because fish spoils very quickly at room temperature. This means that the chef skillfully deboned that bony species of fish with great speed and precision. That fish showcased the chef’s skill and totally stunned everybody at my table.
However, yesterday, they served me a raw lobster. Remember, they’re cooking school students. I just smiled, and politely send it back to the kitchen. Then, whoever cooked me that lobster, RECOOKED the same lobster instead of starting over. That is not good because you are not supposed to bring half eaten food back into the kitchen for sanitary reasons. Whichever cooking school student who cooked my lobster tonight should get an «F». Not good.
Atmosphere (*** out of *****); On one hand they have a collection of Asian antiquities and the place is really tastefully decorated. On the other hand nobody is ever given any napkins to use. I have to bring my own napkins to wipe my lips. Really?
Service (***** out of *****); I come here all the time, so everyone knows me here. All the wait staff are super friendly and helpful. If you’re confused about what to order, just ask the waitresses what they recommend. They will never tell you anything is bad, but they will always tell you if anything is really good.
Conclusion (***** out of *****); The tally is 4 stars, BUT I gave them an extra star for value. The prices here are super low because it is a «training restaurant» in a kinda industrial and lower rent area of town. Because it is in a lower rent area of town, do not order any luxury foods. For example, the lobster I ordered was on «special» sale. After I was served the lobster I understood why it was on «special» sale. Since it is in a lower rent neighborhood, nobody could afford the super big lobster I bought. This means that it has been sitting in the aquarium for a long time. It had a gigantic shell with very little meat inside. The weight of the lobster was 90% shell. As long as you do not order any luxury foods here, you will have fun dining on high quality food prepared skillfully while paying very little money. Two thumbs up ;-)
P. S. They only take diners who have made reservations. Please call ahead of time to place a reservation before going there.