Tasty 100

Located at 3793 Samet Drive in High Point, Tasty 100 offers Chinese cuisine for lunch (Monday through Saturday) and dinner (seven days a week). Online ordering, a wine list, and a Chinese-language menu are available.

I tried Tasty 100 years ago when it was Full Kee (the original owners changed the name when they reacquired the establishment this year) and was none too impressed. However, in need of a Christmas Day Chinese option, I decided to give it another try. Overall, it was a better experience albeit not an entirely satisfying one.

Tasty 100 remains clean, classy, and spacious, and the menu is still deep and varied. Though takeout staples such as egg rolls, fried rice, and lo mein are accounted for, Tasty 100 also offers higher-end delicacies such as Peking duck and steamed sea bass.

The restaurant was nearly empty when my wife and I stopped in for lunch, but owner George Yu said he was expecting a dinner rush. We opted for a steamed dumpling starter, eggplant beef, and Singapore noodles. I had tried two of the three dishes here previously and was curious to see if the execution had improved.

While still uneven, the food was better than I remembered. The dumplings were still thick and doughy and should go on my “avoid” list if I come back here. However, the enticingly fragrant Singapore noodles tasted as good as they looked this time thanks to better seasoning. The eggplant was a bit chewier than it should have been though its accompanying sauce was flavorful, and the meal as a whole showed enough promise to encourage a return.

One factor working against that is the price. Tasty 100 remains a poor value. Though portion sizes are respectable, the $13 and $16 respectively paid for our entrees seemed like a reach.

Sticker shock aside, Tasty 100 is still one of the better Chinese dining options that High Point has to offer, but that says more about High Point than anything else. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for something more than Americanized takeout fare and don't want to drive to Greensboro, it’s worth a visit.