Hakka Chinese Food

I am a lover of good food and love to try out cuisines from different countries of the world. I was born and brought up in Kolkata, India and came to Canada in 1990 and settled in Toronto. I can proudly say that Toronto is unlike any other city in the world. People have come and settled from practically every corner of the world and thus one does not need to travel all over the world to enjoy the delicacies of the food and culture that every ethnic group has to offer. It is right here not too far from your own doorstep.

I settled initially in North York, moved to Scarborough, re-located back to North York and finally settled in Mississauga, in the heart of Dundas and Hurontario. I am surrounded by eateries, mostly take-out food that would suit the taste buds of most people. Yet, I feel this void. Somehow this not enough. There is this need and desire to share with people your favorite take-out joints and restaurants and other eateries in and around the GTA.

Through trial and error as they say, I have come to love some and discard others. One of the greatest flaws in the food business is consistency. Every time a new restaurant or take-out joint opens up, the food is excellent for the initial few weeks and then slowly you begin to realize that the quality is not the same. Sometimes I wonder why this happens. I have not yet found the right answer to that question.

I come from Kolkata, India, the home for Hakka Chinese food. I have tried dozens of different restaurants such as Frederick's and Lin Garden in Scarborough, Wah Too and Spadina Garden on Dundas Street, downtown, to Ming Room on Hurontario/Dundas in Mississauga.
At the Ming Room, I have tried some excellent items such as, chicken manchurian, zesty fish, Calcutta style chop suey, their house special hakka chow mein, shrimps in spiced salt, all excellent dishes and well prepared. But then after a few outings, the last time we ordered take-out, the hakka chow had more green peppers and onions than shrimps and chicken and manchurian chicken too was sub-standard.
Lin Garden too, the food was excellent but the business was slow being a new venture. But as they gained popularity and the customers increased in numbers, so did the quality of the food and service.
Speaking to some people who frequent Frederick's, their service has always excelled and selected items on their menu has maintained their quality and standard. I'd still recommend going there, although i have personally not been there for a while.
Wah Too at University/Dundas, good food but I have some bad experience with their service. Totally disrespectful to their customers. For businesses who don't treat their customers well no matter how good the food may be, I'd never go there.
Somehow, I have never been to Spadina Garden since my first time in 1990 and so I am in no position to judge the quality of their food. Although the food then served was not the same as they use to prepare when they were known as Tai Wah in Kolkata. Maybe I need to give it one more try and express my desire for wanting the food prepared the way they used to serve in Kolkata.
Very recently, I tried out this place called Asian Wok 'n' Roll at Derry/Airport Road. I kind of enjoyed the the 2 items ordered for take-out, chili chicken and hakka chowmein. The chili chicken was prepared with a soya sauce grave but was nice and spicy. I realized that also do serve the dried preparation, which probably would have been to my liking. I cannot judge a place with just one attempt and a couple of items on their vast menu. Maybe the next time, I shall try out some of their other specialities.
Lastly, one name that missed out is Royal Chinese and Seafood Restaurant located at Mc Nicoll/Middlefield Road. The food is good and is consistent, but poor service due to lack of staff. The wait is too long if you are hungry or are time bound. But I'd still recommend eating there for the quality of their food or maybe take-out is good option by placing the order ahead of time.
Please feel free to make suggestions, recommendation or make critical remarks. Any debate or dialogue is a good things and since we spend a good chunk our hard earned money on eating out, we deserve good value for our money.