Yangma Noodle & Dumpling, Bayswater

Crispy bases, clear porky and prawn flavours. Auntie's Dumplings of the far East.

Golden Fields, St Kilda

Come on Andrew McConnell, this is pretty unimaginative. The Asian Cumulus. Just quietly… it’s bloody awesome. Enough said. Please let me back in.

4.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? 2/157 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, VIC

Hu Tong Dumpling Bar, Melbourne

Not so dirty dumplings.

Dainty Sichuan, South Yarra

Absolutely a delicacy… of sorts. Not small and pretty though. And if you choose wrong, you could be giving birth to a lava worm. But absolutely something good to eat.

4 / 5 yums!
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Where? 176 Toorak Road, South Yarra, VIC
What? Around $20

David’s, Prahran

Recently, we were invited to attend the relaunch of David’s in Prahran.

Can’t say that I’ve been to the previous David’s, but I’m liking the new fit out that’s warehouse cool washed in laboratory white, with a nod to the mainland through the industrial lanterns.  Feels rather homely.

No decisions required, a series of dishes selected by the man himself to showcase the new sharing menu designed to share.

The entrée section shined, balanced by salty, sweet, pickled and spice.

Drunk chick: white cut chicken marinated in Chinese wine that won’t get you smashed.

Green ‘n red: el dente green soy beans, bok choy and chilli was refreshing and my favourite dish of the night.

Shredded Duck and Veggie Wrap – Peking duck it ain’t.  A nice stir fried filling but probably better with rice.

Spicy beef with white radish & cucumber – pickled with a bit of heat.

Mains I’d order individually, but not all at once as that familiar savoury flavour of oyster sauce can be too much.

‘One bite’ soft shell river prawns: consuming these crunchy suckers head to tail is so hot right now.

Grandma’s 8’s: origins from the olden days, we’ve been told that each family has their own version of this, and its basically leftovers combined into a tasty dish the day after.  Bought forward to the modern era with fresh ingredients and presto, David's suped up version!  If this Shanghai medley of scallop, shrimp, pork, chicken, chestnut, cashew, bamboo & shitake is this good, it’s a symphony better than Bach or Lady Gaga.

Sticky pork belly & chat potatoes: country comfort it definitely is a BAU home dish.

Tofu & field mushrooms: silky.

Man these country folk must eat so well: Peasant’s crab of diced scallops, fish & egg white tossed in the wok.

Golden eye fillet with sweet potato, ginger & soy: you will need rice.

Now Asian desserts… need I say more?

Osmanthus & Red Bean Black Sticky Rice Pudding: it’s hard to make this look any better.  I like red bean, and black stick rice, but this is challenging.

Much better was the traditional almond pudding sprinkled with black sesame.

A new beginning and a new chapter, we’ll be back for more of David’s Country Shanghai.

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Where? 4 Cecil Place, Prahran, VIC

Wonton House Secret Kitchen, Glen Waverley

It’s pretty hard being a secret when your restaurant is smack bang in the middle of Century City walk where you can enjoy crab and be in line for the 9:15 movie session of Bridesmaids. Yes it’s a very open restaurant, where you and your table’s moves and reaction are part of the advertising.



Crab – a meaty specimen, done in the standard ginger and spring onion sauce.



Steamed free range Chicken



Scallops & stir-fried asparagus



Steamed roasted pork with yam and sweet potato, braised to a tender mash.



Kang Kung

The food won’t be so different to the other Chinese restaurants in Glen Waverley, but you will have prime position for a boysenberry choc top.

3 / 5 yums!
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Where? Century City Walk, 285-287 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley, VIC
What? Dishes around $20

Spice Temple, Melbourne

I was premature in Sydney. In Melbourne I just wanted it to last all night long…

With the success Mr Perry has had lately with his contemporary Rockpool empire you could easily forget that he has a Chinese tongue that has tasted Mongolian beef and probably dismissed as offensive, even for a Chinese Crested-Chihuahua.

You might as well close your eyes in a restaurant setting more suitable for a seedy adult cinema. But visuals are not needed as Mr Perry paints the flavours of China with woks, pots and pans for your eager palate.



Go the banquet if you have at least four, which in a word is delicious.








Mr Perry is ah McCain. You’ve done it again.

4 / 5 yums!
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Where? Crown Entertainment Complex, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank, VIC
What? Banquet around $90

Kam Fook, Doncaster

No issues with squeeziness as you sit in Qing styled bucket chairs and feel like an Imperial boss. This is one glitzy yum cha place that’s more than fit for the newer wing of the sterile Donny Westfield.





Drink tea, eat dim sum… Like a boss.

3.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? 2/619 Doncaster Road, Melbourne, VIC
What? Around $20