Jason King
AmyHuangGungho Restaurant
April 11th 2006 07:29
Shop 9, 107-121 Quay Street, Haymarket - 92123228
Now I don't like writing something negative, or even nonplused, because in most cases that doesn't help anyone. After all, I might easily be wrong; I've only tried a small proportion of the menu, and they might've had a bad few days.
But on the other hand, there's an argument for knowing where not to eat, or opening up a discussion for people who've had a more positive experience. That's the beauty of free media, after all.
So with that in mind, let me introduce Gungho. It's a modern, very brightly coloured...box. But watch out those with epilepsy! This is fusion at it's most hybrid, especially in terms of the decor and design; including the restaurant's tagline "makes life so much more", or catchphrases for parts of the menu such as "Work & Out" or "Fast & Furious" (money's too short to afford the extra two characters to make an 'and', I'm afraid). It tries to be everything to everyone; for those with short attention spans. Unfortunately the food suffers.
It's all technically correct, in the most part. It just lacks any sort of...flavour. Which is pretty essential. And it doesn't even seem to try to keep me interested. The fried kway teow rice noodles is a dark mess Chinese sausage, chicken, prawns, bean sprouts, and a bit of soy. On the plus side it does look like the photo; but it lacks enough soy, there's no chilli, and it just tastes limp. Like I was just eating plain noodles. *Yawn*.
I'm intruiged by the photos of the grilled chicken salad, plus the tag of "Fatbusters" for the salads; after all, we all need to be healthy once in a while. The photo representing the salads part of the menu is a nice looking sliced duck breast on a pile of salad leaves, capsisum, tomato, peanuts, beansprouts, and so on. The picture of the chicken salad is the same with a whole plump looking chicken breast, grilled tantalisingly crispy. No less then I would expect from a fat busting salad!
So you can imagine my disappointment when it turns out to be old looking bits of chicken leg meat or fat with the skin on, mixed into a bored looking pile of slivered capsicum, cucumber, and lettuce. Not exactly fat busting. Or flavourful. The dressing lacks the fantastic sugary, salty, and tarty combination of so many Asian salads, and once again there's very little promised chilli. This one I can't save with the little container of chilli pieces in vinegar they provide. But we are getting well acquainted; it needs to go on everything.
I feel disappointed, without the excitement that comes from eating a flavourful meal, and decieved by the photos. This food is uninteresting, and with the shop radiating a cocky and confident attitude it seems as if they don't care.
Sure there may be some good stuff on the menu; there are always other people there when I've been. But it wasn't apparant to me. So why you'd want to chance it when there's so much better things on offer is a mystery to me. Go across the road to Satang Thai instead; down the road to The Chinese Noodle Restaurant; down George St to the Ploy Thai; or past central to Spice I Am. Even go around the corner to Sumo Salad (yes it's fast food, but if you're less worried asbout taste and mroe on health it's good, very correct and you know what you're getting). Why chance it when there's so much that's better?
Now I'm willing to be proven wrong. I'd like to be proven wrong! Nothing's worse than a restaurant which is failing in what it's trying to do. So if anyone has a different opinion, has eaten something good there, please post it. Also be aware that this isn't the only place like this, by any means. There are many places everywhere which serve average food, but you can usually spot them and avoid them. I'm only posting about Gungho because I've eaten there; because, unlike the others, it looks like it provides more than it actually does. But in my opinion, it doesn't.
Now I don't like writing something negative, or even nonplused, because in most cases that doesn't help anyone. After all, I might easily be wrong; I've only tried a small proportion of the menu, and they might've had a bad few days.
But on the other hand, there's an argument for knowing where not to eat, or opening up a discussion for people who've had a more positive experience. That's the beauty of free media, after all.
So with that in mind, let me introduce Gungho. It's a modern, very brightly coloured...box. But watch out those with epilepsy! This is fusion at it's most hybrid, especially in terms of the decor and design; including the restaurant's tagline "makes life so much more", or catchphrases for parts of the menu such as "Work & Out" or "Fast & Furious" (money's too short to afford the extra two characters to make an 'and', I'm afraid). It tries to be everything to everyone; for those with short attention spans. Unfortunately the food suffers.
It's all technically correct, in the most part. It just lacks any sort of...flavour. Which is pretty essential. And it doesn't even seem to try to keep me interested. The fried kway teow rice noodles is a dark mess Chinese sausage, chicken, prawns, bean sprouts, and a bit of soy. On the plus side it does look like the photo; but it lacks enough soy, there's no chilli, and it just tastes limp. Like I was just eating plain noodles. *Yawn*.
I'm intruiged by the photos of the grilled chicken salad, plus the tag of "Fatbusters" for the salads; after all, we all need to be healthy once in a while. The photo representing the salads part of the menu is a nice looking sliced duck breast on a pile of salad leaves, capsisum, tomato, peanuts, beansprouts, and so on. The picture of the chicken salad is the same with a whole plump looking chicken breast, grilled tantalisingly crispy. No less then I would expect from a fat busting salad!
I feel disappointed, without the excitement that comes from eating a flavourful meal, and decieved by the photos. This food is uninteresting, and with the shop radiating a cocky and confident attitude it seems as if they don't care.
Sure there may be some good stuff on the menu; there are always other people there when I've been. But it wasn't apparant to me. So why you'd want to chance it when there's so much better things on offer is a mystery to me. Go across the road to Satang Thai instead; down the road to The Chinese Noodle Restaurant; down George St to the Ploy Thai; or past central to Spice I Am. Even go around the corner to Sumo Salad (yes it's fast food, but if you're less worried asbout taste and mroe on health it's good, very correct and you know what you're getting). Why chance it when there's so much that's better?
Now I'm willing to be proven wrong. I'd like to be proven wrong! Nothing's worse than a restaurant which is failing in what it's trying to do. So if anyone has a different opinion, has eaten something good there, please post it. Also be aware that this isn't the only place like this, by any means. There are many places everywhere which serve average food, but you can usually spot them and avoid them. I'm only posting about Gungho because I've eaten there; because, unlike the others, it looks like it provides more than it actually does. But in my opinion, it doesn't.
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Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
There are so many bland, worthless fake-Chinese restaurants in Chinatown...
I know of this authentic hot pot place, though, that sets me on fire for days - Sichuan style!
Comment by edward
Rocky's Running Diary
What's the Sichuan place? (If you don't mind me invading it!) I love Sichuan food!
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by edward
Rocky's Running Diary
Ah well there's no problem with sharing, the more the merrier!
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Graham Myerson
I admit there is a shop across the road that sells meals 2 - 3 dollars cheaper, but it is slopped on a plate and no service is provided, spoons, forks and knives are half washed and the tables are dirty. Gungho on the other hand is spotless. An open kitchen shows this. Never have I ever sat down at a table where there were any remnants of food or dirt. Cutlery is shining and the presentation is excellent.
The owner of this shop frequently provides additional snacks at no charge and this added with the fantastic service and the smiles is what you pay for. I have always found the quality of the food excellent and the owner frequently asks if there is any scope for improvement. In all the time we as a group have been there, I have never heard a complaint about price, service or quality of food. I find it rather strange that this site has a number of persons complaining.
The menu caters for a broad spectrum of food Asian and European. This is good for groups of persons, as not everyone always wants to eat the same kinds of food. Portions are large and unlike other cheaper shops it allows you to work your way through a full series of courses... entree, main, desert and after dinner compliments. I have eaten out extensively in the Sydney area, and I must say that rarely have I come across a restaurant that allows for this amount of choice with this quality of service and at such a moderate price. It is a real pleasure to eat in this establishment and I will be continuing to frequent it, and wish the owner a long and successful future.