Last Friday lunch was special, as Cheesecake Boy was able to clear some time from his hectic work schedule and have lunch with me. However, I was feeling a bit under the weather and felt like something plain and comforting, so it was decided that we would have a congee lunch. We always go to Haymarket Chinese Restaurant to get our congee fix in Chinatown.
Haymarket Chinese Restaurant has been in Chinatown for as long as I can remember. However, it wasn't until a couple of years ago, when one of Cheesecake Boy's friend's claimed this was his favourite congee in Chinatown, that we decided to give this place a try.
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| The entrance |
As this place is not in the centre of Chinatown we always manage to get a seat, and the place is pretty pristine. We are automatically presented with a small complimentary glass of cold soy milk each after we are seated.
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| Complimentary cold soy milk |
I never eat congee without you tiao or deep fried dough sticks as described in the menu. The ones served here are your standard you tiao, and they were perfect for dipping into my congee.
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| Deep fried dough sticks, $2.30 |
We always order chicken congee, because the one time I ordered century egg and pork congee, putting it mildly, Cheesecake Boy didn't take a liking to it. Understandable, as century egg and pork congee is something I grew up with, and is an acquired taste. To play it safe now, we compromise and agree on the chicken congee every time, so we're both happy after a sprinkling of white pepper.
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| Chicken fillet congee, $8.80 |
One good thing about our congee lunches, is that we never have to compromise with the fried rice cakes with XO chilli sauce. We both love the texture of rice cakes and the kick of XO chilli sauce. If we see this dish in a restaurant, we always try to order it. The rice cakes were perfectly cooked as they were soft but still slightly chewy, and the surface of these were nice and glossy making them easy to go down. Cheesecake Boy demolished this dish.
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| Fried rice cakes in XO chilli sauce, $13.30 |
We love the quick and efficient service and the simple comfort food available here. Haymarket Chinese Restaurant is a good feed and you don't need to deal with the hustle bustle of its contender, Supermeal. There are many other standard Chinese dishes on offer and you can view their menu on a table outside, before you decide to enter. The food may be simple and standard, but you will always leave satisfied.
Happy eating, Dumpling Girl.
Haymarket Chinese Restaurant
355 Sussex Street
Haymarket NSW 2000
Ph: (02) 9268 0988
10 comments:
I don't think I knew this place existed! LOL. And no century egg and pork congee? Boo. ;-)
Hi Joey, lol I am missing century egg and pork congee, but no can do unfortunately, as sharing is caring :)
This place has been around since I was a kid so not giving too much away, but more than 20 years. It's just very unremarkable looking, so you never think of going in, but that's the best kind of restaurant at times.
I've never tried congee, but people keep recommending it as a good food when I'm feeling a tad under the weather.
Hello MissPiggy, congee is definitely something my mum would cook for me when I was sick, and now it's a habit. Even, if I'm not sick I will still eating it, as I find it comforting. I guess it's easy for your body to digest when you're not too well.
It's basically water and rice with whatever you want boiled down, I use chicken soup instead of water when I cook it, but most people will disagree with me about that.
When it's your first time, may be don't go for one with unusual ingredients, as Cheesecake Boy still goes on about that century egg, lol.
Oh what delicious comfort food you have there! All the better to face autumn with! :D
Hi Lorraine, especially the cooler autumn days, we're having now :)
Agree that they have really good congee here. I like how it's of a good consistency and not watery to make it stretch further like at many other places.
I've always walked past this place but never gone inside. Now I know where to go next time I have a congee craving!
Hi mademoiselle délicieuse, I definitely agree with you about the watery consistency at some other places.
Hello Helen, it was a discovery for us as well, with the countless times we've walked by. Who knew, it's just such an unassuming place.
Great recommendation! Just had it for lunch and it was awesome!
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