Har gao: prawn dumplings… 3 servings of it!
Anyone else remember the good ol days of yum cha at Gouger Palace?! Extra dumpling points if you do! They closed down at the Gouger Street location years ago but guess what? The owners have actually been up and operating at a different location and under a different name for the last few years! Thanks to a little birdy and some time on my hands, I finally made my way there with Mama D in accompaniment! A decade or two Years ago, the parents were taking me out for yum cha, now the roles are reversed and it’s my turn to take them out! Happy birthday and happy mothers day Mama D! xx
The decor at Payneham Chinese Restaurant is nothing to rave on about. In fact, the atmosphere is quite harsh and uninviting but we’re here for their yum cha and as far back as I can remember, it was damn good. Let’s see if it’s as good as I remembered it to be! There are no trolley carts at this yum cha service, you’re presented with an order sheet so it probably helps if you know the dish names else the provided pictured menu should help. The good thing about this system? Your food is made to order and arrive piping hot as opposed to it sitting on the trolley for multiple circuits around the restaurant or dishes selling out before the trolley reaches your table.
Onwards to our yum cha feast!
The first and mandatory dish at any yum cha outing is the har gao!
Yup, this stuff is legit. Soft, delicate translucent skin covering a generous filling of prawn and bamboo shoots which is sweet, bouncy and piping hot! A heavy handed dip in the chilli oil makes me a happy camper! XD
Spicy ox tripe, prawns in rice noodles and fried prawn balls covered in croutons
Those crouton fried prawn balls were delightful. I may or may not have had two.
Mango pudding
Finished off with the mango pudding. Light and refreshing but I suggest you ask them not to pour the milk concoction on top of the pudding cause that.. I did not like. It’s runny, watery and tasteless. (If you’d like the option, I suppose you can ask them to have the ‘milk’ on the side)
A very good yum cha feed; so so satisfying! It’ll be my go to yum cha feed from here on in methinks! 
~~
Food: 4/5
Service: 2/5
Value: 3.5/5
Ambience: 2/5
-d
Payneham Chinese Restaurant
307 Payneham Road
Royston Park SA 5070
P 08 8363 6883
I LOVE Payneham Chinese! Food is great, including their yum cha. Their meat rolls wrapped in bean curd skin are the meatiest I’ve ever had, and I love grabbing a takeaway combination chow mein on the way home! And, the best thing is, it’s only 1km away from where I live!
Looks like I need to get myself back there and try their bean curd skin wraps! Cheers