By Franz Scheurer
Let me see… Salted Eel, Gluten with Fungi, Pork Ear with Soy Sauce, Seaweed Salad, Hot and Sour Sea Cucumber, Steamed Preserved Tofu, Fish Head and Bean Sheets Hot Pot, Fried Radish Cake… do I have your attention? These are just some of the fabulous dishes that make Shanghai Yang Zhou House stand out from the crowd.
These days Hurstville has a very definite Asian feel and flair. There are probably more Chinese restaurants there than you’ll find in Chinatown and they’re all full. The crowd is predominately Asian as well, which tells us something about the authenticity of the food served. To excel in this market you have to be good.
The food at Shanghai Yang Zhou is more than just good, it’s excellent. Every dish surprises with clarity, length and superb flavour and texture. The ‘Szechuan Style Sautéed Green Beans’ alone are worth the trip. Share an entrée of cold cuts and make sure you don’t miss out on the ‘Orange Duck’ and the ‘Nanjing Style Salted Duck’. For mains I suggest some of the many varieties of dumplings or shallot cakes, as this is typical for the northern region, the cuisine this restaurant specialises in. Texturally we found the ‘Deep Fried Rice Cakes with Home-style Lamb’ a knockout and value for money is simply astounding.
The restaurant space is bright, noisy and space is at a premium. Service is efficient and friendly, in a Chinese sort of way and the restaurant is not licensed and BYO is welcome. If you are an adventurous eater, live in the area or don’t mind travelling then this is a great place to eat. Make sure you go in a group so that you can sample as many dishes as possible.
Score: 6.5/10
For more information:
Shanghai Yang Zhou House
177 Forest Road
Hurstville
Tel.: 02 9580 9188