Saturday, June 6, 2009

Advertisement (This week's Photo Hunt theme)




Have you heard about how, when deciding which place to eat at in areas full of eateries, the best one will be the eatery with the longest queue (or just plain line for those of you who don't understand British English!)? At any rate, this free form of advertisement seems to be all this dai pai dong without even a large sign to its name needs!

(For enquiring foodie minds, the dai pai dong in question is located on restaurant-laden Gough Street, opposite the also pretty popular Kau Kee beef noodle shop. And no, it's not just the recession that seems to be attracting people to this budget eatery -- as the photo in this week's Photo Hunt entry actually dates back to more than a year ago now! :b )

38 comments:

Carver said...

That's a good take on the theme. When I see a restaurant with a long line I tend to try another but it does make me want to try it another time (earlier to beat the rush) and see why it's popular.

Bengbeng said...

u r right. i tend to avoid eateries which are empty n the ones nearby full. i oways think to myself there mus b some reason it is that way

Annie said...

Great spin on this theme. A line like that is every restaurant owner's dream (and so much more effective that paid ads). I'm like Carver though, I usually skip the places with long lines until another time ( but I will eventually go).

Hope you have a nice weekend.

jmb said...

What a good post for this theme. Recommendation by others is the best (and cheapest) form of advertising.

Happy weekend YTSL.

Anonymous said...

Have you been that dai pai dong in your picture, YTSL?

BTW, I love your links! I'm always surprised by what I find. I just finished reading the HKU essay on the history of dai pai dongs. Very interesting! :D

candi said...

My dad would never eat at a restaurant that doesn't have a line, of course the line is an indication of good food, service,etc. And just the queue is an advertisement. Great take on the theme.

RJ Flamingo said...

That is indeed the best advertisement of all! When we travel and want to eat in any particular ethnic neighborhood (like a Chinatown or a Little Italy), we always look in the windows and see who's eating there - locals or tourists. Guess where we go? :-)

Leslie said...

I enjoyed your post - the advertisment theme has been fun. :)

http://lesliesmyers.blogspot.com/2009/06/photohunt-advertisement-for-famous.html

Upcountrysmiles said...

Aloha!!
Great take for this week's advertisement PH theme.
Happy photohunting,
Cindy O
http://upcountrysmiles.com
Stop by & visit.

Lynn said...

That's quite true. Long lines mean the food is good, affordable and the customer service is fine. Well, generally. :)

The Queen Bee said...

Happy weekend. Nice post, word of mouth is the best I guess. My PH is up as well. Have a nice day.

Hootin Anni said...

Your idea and photo depiction of the line...word of mouth...is excellent for this week's theme. Great choice.

Mine is posted. Kinda lame this week, but I did the best I could. LOL

Happy Saturday. Happy Hunting.

Carin said...

Very good idea! And yes great advertisement for that eatery, a line always attracks more people and does advertising by itself!

Enjoy your weekend!

Anneke (Mudhooks) said...

Word-of-mouth advertising...

june said...

What a clever take on the theme... Good job!

A. said...

A good idea of how to treat the theme in a different way - and very true too!

gengen said...

very good choice for the theme. Happy weekend. My entry is also up...TC

bing said...

you are so right! the long queue is an indication or an ad that the resto is superb!

Fishman said...

Oh yeah... when people see many patrons, immediately they will think that this place must be good.

I am sure many shops know that and they probably employed some people to queue up to create that impression.

YTSL said...

Hi Carver --

If I think I'll be in the area again some time soon, I'm inclined to act like you. But there have been instances when I've been prepared to join the queue...

Hi Bengbeng --

My sentiments exactly! :b

Hi Annie --

Thanks and hope you have a nice weekend too. :)

Hi jmb --

Especially recommendations that you know are genuine (i.e., have not been paid for!)!

Hi duriandave --

Alas, I had come out of eating at Kau Kee when I saw that dai pai dong and its long line! Have been meaning to check it out -- but, looking at the line, have to have a friend to talk to to make the wait seem less long... and a patient friend at that. You volunteering? :b

(Oh, and thanks for checking out the links!)

Hi Candi --

Wow... your dad sounds like quite the patient man *and* foodie! :b

Hi RJ Flamingo --

Heheh... I think I can guess pretty well since I've been known to do what you just described too! :b

Hi Leslie --

Thanks -- and I agree! :)

Hi Cindy --

Happy Photo Hunting to you too -- and yes, it seems we were stopping by each other's blog at around the same time! ;b

Hi Lynn --

Best restaurant I've eaten with a long line (45 minute wait!): Sushi Dai at the Tsukiji Fish Market!

Hi Gorgeous Nelly --

Happy weekend to you too!

Hi Hootin' Anni --

Every effort counts and thanks for visiting as well as Photo Hunting regularly. :)

Hi Carin --

The ideal line: one that's long but also moves quickly! ;b

Hi Anneke --

...is great advertising! :)

Hi June --

Thanks, glad you approve! :)

Hi A. --

Thanks for appreciating -- and agreeing. :)

Hi gengen --

Thanks, and happy weeked to you too!

Hi Bing --

...even an eatery that doesn't quite qualify as a restaurant! ;b

Hi Fishman --

Hahaha at the idea that shops employ people to queue up!!! :D

srp said...

This is true... there is a small hole in the wall decrepit Mexican restaurant in Dallas near the med school. At lunch there is a double line around the building for two hours.. that must be some really good food. My hunt is up here.

Tara R. said...

I can see your point. People won't be queuing up for bad food.

Good take on this week's theme.

CRIZ LAI said...

Now I know why my food blog has been swarmed by readers. Cheap food at hidden areas. LOL!

Please do drop in my blog to help me in a proper advertisement for a better cause. :)

http://crizcats.blogspot.com/

SabineM said...

You are SOO RIGHT!
Great take on the theme!

lissa said...

I love those old places where the food is better than the atmosphere and the long line probably justify it and love the British English - shame I don't know enough phrases

hcpen said...

oh my, definitely true in asia, anywhere where there's a queue must be good...i wonder what this dai pai tong is selling...hhmm..

just jody said...

that's so true! great take on the theme.

Carmen said...

Yep, that line is making me hungry! Great advertisement!! LOL

Sai Hijara - Ferraris said...

Nice hunt...I usually don't have patience...but it's sure nice to check why people love or frequent a certain place.

Mariposa's PhotoHunt

jams o donnell said...

Great take on the theme. I am sure the food must be great!

YTSL said...

Hi srp --

Have you tried the food at that Mexican hole-in-the-wall? If I were you, I'd make a beeline for it! :b

Hi Tara --

Yup, exactly, and thanks! :)

Hi Criz --

Another possible reason for your food blog's popularity: to be Malaysian is to be a foodie! ;b

Hi Sabine M --

Glad you agree -- thanks! :)

Hi Lissa --

Sounds like Hong Kong would be a great place for you to visit, especially if you haven't already! :b

Hi hcpen --

We asked and it turns out that beef noodles are their speciality -- like with Kau Kee!

Hi "just jody" --

Thanks!

Hi Carmen --

Problem with that line is that you have to be not too hungry. Otherwise, you won't have the patience to wait that long to get to the food!

Hi Mariposa --

Well, one can always try to get there another time when it's less busy!

Hi jams --

Thanks, and I'm thinking so too re the food! :)

JC said...

Never underestimate the power of the noodle... good noodles can make you believe you are in heaven!

Now you've made me hungry for Mom's pasta...

YTSL said...

Hi JC --

Heheh... sounds like you need to come over to visit and try out a whole bunch of different kinds of (Chinese) noodles! ;b

MaR said...

Clever take on the theme!! I have no patience to wait for a free table, but it sure makes me curious about the restaurant!

eastcoastlife said...

That's how I recommend my foreign friends when they try our hawker food in Singapore. :)

Buy from the food stall with the longest queue. I was always right. :D

YTSL said...

Hi Mar --

I understand where you're coming from re no patience. E.g., on Saturday evening, I skipped out of a long line. OTOH, have been in line for a seat at a restaurant (Sushi Dai in Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market) that turned out to be absolutely worth the 45 minute wait!!!

Hi EastCoastLife --

Glad you have patient friends! :b

Dragonstar said...

Hi. Thanks for dropping by. We just didn't have time this week - family visit, first birthday, christening the new baby... Slowly getting back to normal a bit!

I like your photo, and the different angle from which you looked at the theme. You always do well.

YTSL said...

Hi Dragonstar --

Glad to know you (and Aileni) are on just a temporary hiatus from Photo Hunting. And thanks from dropping by and leaving comments re this Photo Hunt entry and more! :)