By Franz Scheurer
Adelaide’s Chinese restaurants are fantastic. Every single one is a cut above most you’ll find in any other Australian city. The only let down, so far, has been the lack of what I consider a top-notch Yum Cha place. It seems that I simply didn’t look hard enough.
Enter, centre stage: Chef Lau
A big shaker and mover in his hometown, Hong Kong, Chef Lau decided he needed to smell the roses and spend some time appreciating his family. So he opened a tiny restaurant in Unley, a suburb of Adelaide, where he serves his superb food to an almost “groupie” captive audience Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. The rest of the time he’s relaxing, meditating and enjoying life.
His food has a clarity of flavour that is outstanding. Everything is very fresh, the produce superb and his technique exemplary. Be it a wonderfully crispy War Tip that explodes in your mouth in fatty exuberance or a subtle and silky stuffed bean curd, succulent chicken feet or steamed lotus leaf sticky rice the kaleidoscope of his food is both tantalising and satisfying. Even his tea is a cup above the norm.
If you’re in Adelaide on a weekend, don’t miss Chef Lau!
Score: 7/10
For more information or bookings:
Chef Lau
Shop 18
13 – 23 Unley Road (Corner of Clyde Street)
Unley SA 5000
Tel.: 08 8373 3780
Open 11.00am to 3.00pm