Neal M.
Yelp
If you're looking for an Asian spot in STL, you must HIGHLY consider this place!!
Environment: One of those casual yet sort of fancy restaurants with an open ambiance with high ceilings that made the restaurant feel spacious even though the place was packed. They have high top seating for those looking to eat Hot Pot, and normal granite tables for those looking to order a la carte entrees. The servers were accommodating for our large group and made sure that we were seated timely and together; however, they were a bit short with us. We decided it was understandable considering how busy they were on this Friday night (wait times of near 30-45 mins to be seated). Despite this, we were constantly checked on and made sure we had water/utensils/etc. The service was really quick, probably about 15-20 mins after we placed our orders which is super impressive! The only downside is that our entrees came at different times. Seems like their kitchen pushes out entrees as they're made rather than doing tables all at once.
Food: They have an expansive menu that all seem to have slightly different flavors, but overall capture the essence of Taiwanese cuisine, including Hot Pot, noodle dishes, fried rice, Street Snacks, and classic meat curries/entrees. We ordered the Three Cup Tofu, Sizzling Chicken, Chili Stir Fry Chicken, and Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken. Each entree comes with white rice on the side. All of these entrées delivered big bold flavors that packed spicy heat as well. The Chili Stir Fry Chicken is one of their specials, and it is evident in the perfect cook on the meat, quality of ingredients and the flavor. The Sizzling Chicken came with an awesome presentation, similar to getting fajitas at a Mexican restaurant, and was a "wow factor" for the table that got us excited to dig in. The Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken is a sweet-and-salty combo with some chilis on top for heat-- they're also crunchy to provide texture amongst the other dishes. Perfectly cooked white rice is a must, and Tai Ke did it flawlessly.
Rating: 4.5/5, the food is fantastic, some of the best Asian cuisine in STL. The service could be friendlier. This place seats first come first serve, so you better get here early if you don't want to wait! We will be back to try their Hot Pot next time for sure!
We all know Tai Ke has some pretty solid competitors like Chilispot and Cate Zone, stay tuned to see how they compare!