Thursday, January 19, 2006

China Legend

China Legend
160 University Ave. West
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3E9
(University Plaza)

About 10 days ago, I went to Home Garden to order take-out. I noticed that "Grand China", adjacent to Home Garden, is now replaced by a new restaurant called "China Legend". So I went back the next day.

I ordered two items to go: Kon-pao-guy-ding (spicy hot chicken) and Taiwanese stew over rice. On my way home, my whole car smelled just like decent (casual) Chinese food - aroma generated by high-heat wok work. However, the taste was relatively disappointing. The spicy chicken was not spicy at all; there wasn't any Chinese chilly pepper in sight. The onions were too raw, almost as raw as sliced raw onions normally served on a burger. Originally I ordered "Taiwanese" stew because this restaurant is just next to Home Garden, one of the most authentic Taiwanese eatery in town. After having first bite...well, let's just say that it was a stupid decision.

I chatted with the lady (probably the owner?) while waiting for the order. She mentioned that they bought the restaurant from the owners of Grand China because they were planning to retire. With so many (Northern) Eastern Asian eateries crowded in University Plaza, they really need to improve significantly in order to stay.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

China Legend is actually an amazingly good restaurant. It is now better than any Chinese restaurant I've eaten at in the KW area. You just have to get the menu which they give to Chinese people. The menu that is all-English is filled with Americanized slop.

If you go in at dinner nowadays, you'll see that most of the people there are Chinese. Ask for the dinner menu (or the Chinese menu) and pick something you haven't had before!

Anonymous said...

Ordered food for delivery- said it was going to be 15 minutes. (we live a block away) It took 1.5 hours to get ICE cold food. We called several time to find out where our 15 min. order was, and was told that "it was on the way" several times. Don't get delivery!!

Anonymous said...

The people at China legend is very kind and nice. I wouldn't recommend take out 100% thought, because foods not that fresh. Overall I rate it 8/10 Bam!