Showing posts with label Yum Cha. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yum Cha. Show all posts

Monday, 1 June 2015

BF Food Court (繽紛食閣) - 1/2898 Logan Road, Underwood QLD 4119

Last week I went to BF Food Court. Aka the "Bun Fun Food Court" in Underwood.


They don't really sell buns (unless you count the yumcha ones), and they're really not that fun, so why is it called the Bun Fun Food Court? Turns out that Bun Fun translates to 繽紛 which means rich and diverse in Cantonese, so it really suits a food court with various eateries.

The BF Food Court resembles the Little Taipei Food Court near Market Square, but looks a lot classier and cleaner with its oriental-antique wooden tables.


The variety of food is quite impressive.

Choose from
  • Traditional Chinese Food and Set Meals:
Set meals
A la carte



 
  •  Hot Pots - Seafood Sets

 
 
  • Dumplings


  •   Taiwanese Snacks
 
  • Yumcha
 
 
YUM CHA HOUSE
The master chef behind the Yumcha House (百勝點心之家) was Mr Lin Kee, who has over 30 years experience so there was no way I would leave the place without trying some Dim Sims. What's more, all the Dim Sims are only $3.80 after 8pm :D!!
 
Yum Cha House
 
Freshly steamed Dim Sims are perfect for a cold winter night! Even the Steamed Rice Sheets 腸粉 are made fresh to order (but they are not $3.80)!
 
Everything $3.80 after 8pm! (except steamed rice sheets) 
 
In general, the Dim Sims were delicious - the firm yet tender Squid was coated in a thin crispy batter, the prawns in the Prawn Dumpling and Steamed Pork & Shrimp Dumpling was fresh and flavourful, the bun in the BBQ Pork Bun was soft and light with subtle sweet flavours. I also really liked the Beef Ribs with Black Pepper as it was very tender but I would have preferred it to be stir fried rather than steamed as the peppery aromas would have been more pronounced. The rice in the Sticky Rice Lotus Leaf came with rich lotus flavours as it was wrapped in several layers of lotus leaf.
 
But of course, nothing is really ever perfect. I found the pastry skin in the dumplings a little too thick and chewy (but at least it wasn't holey), and the pork in the Pork Bun a little too savoury.
 
The filling in the Sticky Rice Lotus Leaf was generous but quite dry, so the mince didn't really gel together but I really enjoyed the intense lotus aromas. 

Sticky Rice Lotus Leaf - generous mushroom and pork mince
 
Verdict:
$3.80 Dim Sims is really good value for money, especially when it's freshly steamed :). Fresh and delicious. Apparently the gooey custard bun is also very good - but it's always sold out by the time I get there :(.
 
 
BF SEAFOOD HAWKER STORE
We also went next door to BF Seafood Hawker Store (繽紛海鮮大排檔) to try out the Chinese a la carte menu. To start off, we got the Herbal Chicken Soup ($9.90). Rumour has it that this soup has amazing effects on ladies and you will be more beautiful and youthful after drinking this soup. Well, I am not sure if that is true or not, but I can confirm that it was comforting on a cold winter night and it had rich delicious herbal flavours.
 
Herbal Chicken Soup ($9.90)
 
The Roast Duck & Taro Hot Pot 芋頭火鴨煲 ($21.80) also sounded like a warm option to order on a winter night. It tasted alright, but I wish they didn't use roast duck. The chef was probably also quite concerned about our daily vegetable intake as there were more onions and celery than duck and taro.
 
Roast Duck & Taro Hot Pot ($21.80)
 
We ended our night with Braised Seafood on Steamed Tofu 海棠豆腐 ($13.80). The textures were quite unorthodox - large chunks of tofu surrounded by slightly overcooked steamed egg white, topped with a thick seafood sauce. Traditionally, the tofu in the dish is very silky and smooth (as it is supposed to be made from mainly egg whites).
 
Braised Seafood on Steamed Tofu ($13.80)

Verdict
Some of the dishes are really good value for money, such as the Braised Seafood on Steamed Tofu. At only $13.80, it really is a bargain for such a big plate. The Soup was also very warm and comforting.
 


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Saturday, 21 February 2015

The Imperial Seafood Restaurant - Riverside Centre | 123 Eagle Street Brisbane QLD 4000

With a spectacular 360 degree view of the Brisbane River, The Imperial Seafood Restaurant would have been a wonderful place to spend Chinese New Year. Unfortunately, not for those with Groupons. Shoved in a lonely dark corner of the bar with absolutely no views (despite the restaurant being completely empty), I felt like a second-class citizen. Those who came after us were led to the main dining hall with spectacular views of the river.

Spectacular views of the Brisbane River which I did not get

Fair enough, I only paid $49 for an 8 "course" meal for 4 people and I came for the food not the views anyway (but it would have been a nice bonus).

In general, traditional favourites like Pork Ribs with Black Bean Sauce, Steamed BBQ Pork Buns, Salt & Pepper Calamari, Egg Yolk Buns, Chicken Feet with Black Bean Sauce, and Steamed BBQ Pork Buns were quite tasty. Unfortunately it was served lukewarm bordering cold which made it difficult for me to enjoy the taste. I don't know about you, but I prefer my Dim Sims to be freshly steamed and not microwaved.

Dim Sims Galore

The Steamed Pork and Prawn Dim Sim was delicious but it wasn't tender and was slightly chewy. Likewise, I wasn't too impressed with the Vegetable Spring Rolls and the Steamed Prawn Dumplings either as the pastry was quite thick and hard. The Mango Puddings had a rich mango flavour but I wish it was just a little creamier.

The Pan Fried Pork Dumplings was also served cold (and oily).

Pan Fried Dumplings, with an oily, soggy glow

Only the Rice was served steaming hot, but it came with an interesting addition - a dead fly.

Steaming Hot Rice
 
Verdict
To be honest, most of the Dim Sims were actually quite tasty, but I was feeling quite hungry after my 8 course meal (i.e. 1 course = 1 Dim Sim) . I suspect that I would have a better experience if I paid full price - at least I would have a nice view and my Dim Sims would probably be steaming hot.
 
Dim Sims are a bit pricier than other Yum Cha restaurants
 


The Imperial Seafood Restaurant on Urbanspoon
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