Home Food Reviews Fong Lye Taiwan Restaurant @ The Gardens

There’s a saying that if the restaurant is packed, chances are the food is good. I’ve walked past Fong Lye many times over the span of 2 years, only to see a snake-like queue outside the restaurant. “Business must be good”, I thought to myself. “I shall pay the place a visit when it isn’t so packed.”I was with Shum deciding on what to eat at The Gardens, and since my favourite eye candy wasn’t around, I suggested Fong Lye. She was just as game, because she too, has been curious about the place. So we went. To be frank, I hated the seating arrangement. Tables were way too close to each other, and someone grazed my arm with her butt cheek while trying to squeeze out of the narrow table gap.On to the food. The Three Varieties of Supreme Diced Chicken (RM19.80) was highly recommended, so I ordered it. Shum had the Three Colour Chili Beef Rice (RM26.80). Drinks were ridiculously expensive. RM4.30 for a can of coke and RM3.30 for a bottle of water. We shared a pot of Jasmine Oolong Tea (RM12) instead. The tea pot set was very delicate and very pretty, but I’m afraid that was the only nice thing about it. The only thing remotely tea-like about this ‘tea’, was its colour. We were paying for its presentation.First to arrive was the Three Colour Chili Beef Rice. Portion was small, even for Shum, who has a considerably smaller appetite than myself. It tasted peculiar, like a mix of ketchup, oyster sauce, honey, chilli sauce and soy sauce tossed together with the beef slices and bell pepper. Come to think of it, you know those local chilli and tomato sauces mamak stalls use for their French fries? THAT was what the gravy tasted like. Poor Shum. Slightly better was the Three Varieties of Supreme Diced Chicken, basically a glorified name for 3 Cup Chicken (san bei ji). Cooked with basil leaves, sticky dark sauce, sesame oil and chilli, the chicken didn’t taste that good. At least not as good as people were ‘oooh-ing’ and ‘aaaah-ing’ about. I thought the chicken wasn’t fragrant or flavourful enough and it reeked mostly of star anise. I don’t remember 3 Cup Chicken ever being cooked with star anise. More shaoxing wine would have done the dish a favour. The minced pork on top of my white rice didn’t do much for the set. I felt like a child who had just discovered her candy bar was actually a carrot stick wrapped with a sweet wrapper by her mummy.The side dishes, which included a bowl of lotus roots soup, stir-fried French beans, fried fish cake and half an egg, was boring. I didn’t give two hoots about the soup, French beans and egg — I could get those at home. The fried fish cake was well, fried fish cake. Nuff said.

We had to fork out RM67.40 for lunch. Shum was upset. Her set was a complete disaster. I was angry, because we could have eaten at Ko Hyang or TGIF for less, and feel more satisfied.

Ambiance: 4/10 (refer to butt-cheek incident)
Price: 3/10
Food: 4/10 (non-halal)
Verdict: Tiny portions, below average food and wallet-denting prices.

Fong Lye Taiwan Restaurant
Lot T208
3rd Floor
The Gardens
Mid Valley City
03 2282 8699

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12 comments

"Joe" who is constantly craving January 21, 2010 - 3:40 am

oh dear tat bad? usually the food is ok la, we have the simple yet satisfying tomato egg and fish on most days..

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eiling lim January 21, 2010 - 3:42 am

The best Fong Lye outlet is still the one in jalan Imbi.

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§pinzer January 21, 2010 - 4:55 am

curiosity really killed the cat, i guess ill stick to Decanter Too in tht area :)

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thenomadGourmand January 21, 2010 - 5:53 am

@spinzer Mid Valley – decanter too? Huh?
Yeah, prices are high & when at the Gardens, Ko Hyang is a lot better bet!

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CUMI & CIKI January 21, 2010 - 6:22 am

really ar? never been there for street food. much rather eat it on the street.

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ai wei January 21, 2010 - 7:09 am

the last time i was here, it was good. hmmm… i do agree, their drinks are expensive

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TY January 21, 2010 - 11:02 am

One of the worst restaurant and never to return again.

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PureGlutton January 22, 2010 - 12:54 am

What a let-down! I'm surprised there are always CROWDS in this place and that's the reason I've never ventured in. Now i have good reason NOT to!

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J2Kfm January 22, 2010 - 8:52 am

Seriously, I found nothing much to shout about, after the 1st time dining here.
And that was my last. And what's not so attractive was they insisted on cash payment ONLY (i think still do), no credit card payment. How inconvenient, for a meal for four can easily reach the hundreds.

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vialentino January 22, 2010 - 10:09 am

must go and try one day after reading many review bout it

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Bangsar-bAbE January 27, 2010 - 7:50 am

vialentino – Order carefully. Skip the beef! =P

J2Kfm – That's ridiculous. They expect people to carry a lot of cash around izit?

PureGlutton – It was the crowd and got me curious. Now that I've tried it, don't bother going!

TY – Agree.

Cumi & Ciki – Hahaha…nothing like the real thing!

nomad – Ya lor…sigh, wrong choice.

§pinzer – Got decanter too there meh? You mean the one next to Fong Lye Hartamas ah?

eiling – Never been there…but judging from the food I had, I don't think I want to bother trying. =P

Joe – I didn't like it… =(

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§pinzer January 27, 2010 - 8:16 am

ya got it wrong :$

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