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| - Listen, you shouldn't be in Chinatown if you're looking for high-quality, super authentic-like-home Chinese food. It doesn't exist here anymore (ironically). That's all moved up to Scarborough, Markham, and Richmond Hill.
What you have left in Chinatown are just those old-timers that refuse to pack their bags. The food served at King's Noodle is mostly the same as what was served in the 80s and early 90s -- there has been practically no change. It's still the same simple, staple food that represents an era of transition from the time of the early Chinese immigrants, when you had the first Chinese restaurants firing up North Americanized spins on their hometown dishes using whatever local ingredients were available, to the time of mass immigration starting from Hong Kong in the mid-90s. This latter era saw a large influx of more wealthy, entrepreneurial immigrants -- a stark contrast to their predecessors. And with them came more highly skilled chefs and artisans, settling down north of the 401 with their talents, where now you will find some of the best Chinese food in all of North America.
So with the amateur sociology lesson out of the way, maybe you can understand the food that King's Noodle puts out. The restaurant represents that transition "sandwich" generation of Hong Kong immigrants, and the food reflects that perfectly -- it is a marked improvement over the fast-food style Chinese places, while not quite being able to match up to the quality and authenticity of the more recently opened restaurants in the suburbs.
Having said that, King's Noodle is among the best in the Chinatown area. They still make one of the best BBQ ducks to be had in the downtown core. The food is economical and the quality is mostly dependable. Service is down to the no frills, barebone essentials. Come here with realistic expectations and I don't think you will leave disappointed.
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