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| - [Before reading this review, please see my review for the original Federick's location.]
So it has finally happened. Federick's has another location. It only took them like 20 years. However I predict this location taking the #1 spot for any halal hakka food in the GTA (not including the original Federick's).
I would be surprised if any hakka fan has not yet visited the original location, so if you haven't - do yourself a favour and go. This review is for the new location... which does well in many areas but lacks in a couple.
The ambiance is nice. The original location was poorly spaced, old school tables and chairs. Tacky lighting. Poor layout (pushing through 10 take out patrons to enter the restaurant is pretty annoying!). The new location addresses these issues with a well designed, well decorated, and more spacious layout. They've even put up a TV and play the Leafs/Raptors games.
The food. Not as good as the original location. I hate to say it as I was expecting the Federick's that I grew up with and came to love. Don't get me wrong, it is still better than most hakka places I've been to, however I didn't get the signature Federick's taste. Probably because the new location has a different chef.
To start we ordered chicken pakoras, hot and sour soup, chicken corn soup and crab corn soup. For the main dishes we ordered Manchurian chicken chow mein, chicken fried rice, and their new bite-sized version of their signature sweet and sour chicken balls (side note: the first time I ordered the chicken balls they came cold on the inside however this time they were some of the best sweet and sour chicken balls I've ever had).
Though I prefer the chicken corn soup, the hot and sour soup and the crab corn soup were surprisingly good. The pakoras stellar as usual. The Manchurian chicken chow mein could have done with a bit more flavour as it was a little bland. And as mentioned the sweet and sour chicken balls were simply amazing.
The portions were quite large, and you won't get any complaints here. However by time time we left this place we were too stuffed to speak words.
Buyer's Beware: many have been known to eat more than humanly possible at Federick's.
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