Chinese Noodle Restaurant

Not the most inventive name for a eatery out there, but the Chinese Noodle Restaurant in Haymarket is best known for its dumplings. Even though we went there on a cold rainy night there was still a 15 minute wait to get a table. The shop decorations will definitely not win any interior design awards with its plastic grape vine covered ceiling and the country-side deco rugs on the walls. I’ve never understood the logic of this, but apart from this the restaurant has the buzz and feel of a typical busy Chinese restaurant you might find hidden in an alleyway somewhere in China or Hong Kong.

The interior is also packed with as many tables and chairs as possible so be prepared to be bumped a few times while you’re having your meal. Hygiene is questionable and the service is plain ordinary so this is not a place to go if you’re looking for five-star service.

As for the food, we went with the best of both worlds, and had both fried and steamed dumplings – two dozen dumplings for a paltry price of $17.50. Bargain!

Pan Fried Pork and Chive Dumplings

Perfectly crispy on the bottom and soft on the top.

Steamed Pork and Vegetable Dumplings

These are the polar opposite of the fried dumplings. Steaming the dumplings mean that they are soft and a lot lighter than the fried variety. Definitely my favourite between the two.