| Fast service and delicious food are the norm at this Campbell restaurant |
Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1012
Reviewed: 12/7/2005
Rating: 8.5
My photo gallery
|
Thanks to Jen S for another great restaurant suggestion. Her latest pick Tsing Tao is hidden in a random shopping center where you wouldnt think good chinese food would be served.
We arrived around 12:30 and the place was packed. Before I could even open the menu, they were serving water, tea, and asking if I knew what I wanted. Holy smokes, this place is fast, its giving Thai Pepper a run for their money in fastest service. Remembering what Jen suggested, we ordered the Szechuan beef, wonton soup, and Hunan smoked pork.
The food was brought out amazingly fast, this is just insane
wonton soup - one of the best Ive ever had, so much flavor, so fresh, even the wonton wrappers tasted like they were folded that day. I enjoyed 2-3 bowls of this and was practically full at this point.
hunan smoked pork - plenty of sliced pork with a mix of veggies. a bit on the oily side but heavy on the flavor. There was a distinct smokey taste with every bite. I ate 1/2 my meal and had to stop eating, I was completely full off the soup. Served with the pork dish was fried rice and an eggroll. I wasnt impressed with the fried rice, tasted like it was made with no soy sauce or green onions. The eggroll was standard frozen stuff you can pick up at the market. It was one of those deep fried veggie egg rolls.
szechuan beef - I had a bite or two and it was excellent. lightly battered and crunchy with a semi-sweet glaze over the beef. It comes in beef, chicken, or shrimp. The menu indicated it as spicy but it was tame on my heat scale.
Im already looking forward in making a return visit to Tsing Tao. Service was fast, food is great, prices are just right. The wonton soup and Szechuan are must orders and I doubt you will be disppointed.
|
| |
|
|
Reviewer: jsatre
Total Reviews: 74
Reviewed: 11/17/2005
Rating: 9
My photo gallery |
Tsing Tao - Campbell
I've been a patron for years and I'm SO glad Jason and Terry enjoyed then as much as I do!
This is a pretty unassuming little place that's always packed... I too agree that when you often see Chinese people at a Chinese restaurant, it's agood sign.. Nothing racist, just a good sign of good eats! The Assorted Won Ton Soup and Szechwan Beef are must orders.... The wonton soup is jam packed with fresh vegetables, tasty almost rich broth and handmade pork wontons that are well seasoned. I taste ginger and green onions predominatly. The Szechwan Beef is a combination of crisp, spicy and sticky with a taste that kicks anything else I have tried...The fried rice doesn't even seem to be fried, just woked a bit with minimal oil which I find appealing... carrots, peas, large pieces of egg are well distributed. It's close to steamed rice with additions, so don't expect true 'fried rice'. I also judge most Chinese places by the Lemon Chicken, an unasuming, simple dish often poorly done - this is crisp and light without oil everywhere, and the lemon sauce is authentic, no artifical coloring, no canned sauce... this is real stuff made from fresh lemon juice with a light pale yellow to prove as such... The fact that their entrees aren't swimming in oil is one good reason to return. I taste the flavors, the textures, the ginger, the garlic, the FOOD without my mouth coated in oil! The complimentary Kim Chee on each clean sit-down, glass topped table is homemade.... spicy and not overly vinegary.... Almost crisp if you will. We asked for seconds. Service is lighting fast by a mirraid of trim black aproned waiters who rush your meal into production... They are excellent about tea and water refills.... The decor is older, but the beautiful round, mahogany, glass screen and large koi fish tanks add a nice touch... It's clean and bright, just not fancy. Prices are a nice value for the portion sizes... If we're not ravenous we often take leftovers home. While entering, the phone rings off the hook, I assume for take-out orders. They take major credit cards but I do not believe they take reservations. The wait is usually minimal with the exception of busy Friday and Saturday evenings. This is a 9 in my book! My experience with take out is also a 9 ... generous servings with quick 20 minute turn around. Large parking lot right in front. Melt in your mouth cuisine at a great value... MC, Visa & Discover (can't remember if they take AMEX thought) This is my VERY favorite Chinese Place and after 30+ visits, still is.
|
| |
Reviewer: ne00
Total Reviews: 173
Reviewed: 6/29/2006
Rating: 7.5
My photo gallery |
My friend and I arrive for lunch around 11:45 and the place already has several people. The place is definitely a lunchtime favorite crowd as 95% of the customers was non-Asian and everyone seems to be ordering the lunch special.
The lunch special is definitely the way to go. Lunch special consists of soup, egg roll, choice of fried rice, steamed rice or chow mien, and choice of item starting at 6.95 and up. I scanned the menu and did not find anything appealing. Most of the dishes are priced on the high end, ranging from 5.95 for fried rice to 7.95 or 8.95 for main dishes and up for seafood items.
My friend settled on the chicken fried rice, which he later regretted because they serve it on the same sized plate they serve their lunch special. For $5.95, you definitely do not get as much as you would at other restaurants. I decided on the wonton and noodle soup. Their regular wonton soup is 4.95 for a small bowl or their assorted wonton soup is 7.95 for a small bowl. The bowl of noodles cost 7.95, which also include wonton, beef, veggies, and hand pulled noodles.
Upon serving our food, the waiter places the bill with two fortune cookies on our table. This place is all about the fast service. Service was good as we received water and tea upon sitting. Water refilled when we ran low and change brought to us within less than one minuet after paying.
Chicken fried rice looked like the typical fried rice. It did not look like Tsing Tao used any soy sauce, as the fried rice was white with chicken, peas, carrots, and large pieces of eggs. My friend complained that it lacked taste as he poured on the pepper.
My noodle soup had 4 or 5 pieces of wonton, with noodles, beef, and veggies. The broth was light, the veggies were a little excessive, and the beef was tender. The noodles were round, thick and firm, definitely the hand pulled home made kind but I do not think they hand pulled it for this meal but had it pulled in advance. The wonton had a lot of pork in it, but the pork did not taste fresh. I can give them credit for putting so much meat into the wonton as most places have more wonton wrap than meat. Good noodles but not enough of it. I can get better noodles for cheaper with bigger portions.
Total meal was $16 with tip and tax. One of the few times, I paid in cash even though they accept visa and mastercard.
Bottom Line: I cannot see myself giving the restaurant more than a 7.5 (even that is generous) as prices are high, and taste is average for Chinese food. Service is quick and that is what is keeping this from being a 7. I may come back to try the lunch specials as that is the only value.
|
| |
|
|
| Disclaimer |
|
|
