Yummy Cuisine: Asian, Martin Place, CBD Sydney (24 June 2014)

Shop 16, Martin Place Shopping Circle, Sydney NSW 2000

Yummy in my tummy

I've been visiting Yummy Cuisine for a few years now and for me their signature dish has always been the Penang Char Tway Teow ($10) with a nice amount of wok hei and good spread of ingredients. They're pretty consistent most of the time. Other dishes I've had a few times and worthy of ordering are the Hainanese Chicken Rice ($9.50) which had moist meat, Ayam Goreng ($9.50) with crispy skin and Wonton Noodle Soup ($9) with nice wontons and al dente noodles. The Penang Har Mee ($9.50) has a good mix of ingredients although the broth is not as robust in flavour as I'd prefer and would love some fried pork fat sprinkled on top for extra yummy flavour but that seems hard to find in the CBD. It's located sort of underground in the passageway between MLC Centre and Martin Place Train Station. Seating is very limited outside but fairly quick in turnaround. Service is efficient and will bring out your dish to your seat when ready so grab a spot after ordering. Keep in mind on a cold windy day you can feel the weather from the open roof area nearby.

Other visit reviews:

• 20 Jan 2010

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Efficient and friendly service, Lots of classic hawker style dishes, Reasonably priced

CONS: Limited seating, Area is a bit exposed to the outside weather if windy, No toilet

MUST TRY: Char Tway Teow, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Ayam Goreng, Wonton Noodle Soup

VERDICT: Cheap and cheerful place that has most of the Asian classics you might be craving for a quick lunch. I haven't tried everything on the menu but that's probably because I keep going back to my favourites.

—

Penang Char Tway Teow ($10), 23 May 2014

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Hainanese Chicken Rice ($9.50) — leg moist meat, nice flavour chilli, nice side soup, 23 May 2014 

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Ayam Goreng ($9.50) — crispy skin, nice flavour, 3 June 2014

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Wonton Noodle Soup ($9) — tasty soup flavour, nice wontons filled with visible meat and prawn, served hot, good egg noodles al dente, 5 June 2014

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Noticeable prawn meat inside wonton

Penang Har Mee ($9.50) — lots of prawns, wish there was also crispy pork fat, broth flavour light, nice pork, 2 types of noodles, 24 June 2014

Broth not as robust as I'd like but still enjoyable. Add extra chilli for more flavour.

Limited seating outside

View Larger Map

Sayong Curry & Laksa Malaysia Cuisine: Ipoh Fried Koay Teow, CBD Sydney (13 June 2014)

LG Food Court, Pittsway Arcade, 303 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000

It was hor fun while it lasted

Winter weather means seeking out comfort food and the Ipoh Fried Koay Teow ($8.50) or as I like to call it Hor Fun fits the bill for me. One of my long time favourites is found at the highly popular Sayong Curry & Laksa Malaysian Cuisine. It's hidden away in the Asian food court underneath Woolworths Town Hall. Lose yourself in the medley of chicken, large prawn (singular, more if you're lucky), slivers of fish cake, half globes of fish balls and flat rice noodles buried underneath with a decent wok hei. This is all combined in a glistening egg gravy sauce that melts to a flavoursome sauce by the end of the dish. Don't forget to ask for the pickled green chilli sprinkled on top that goes so well with this one plate wonder. 

Service is fast and efficient but be prepared for a little wait as dishes are cooked to order in a bustling kitchen with sounds of banging woks. There's heaps of seating but that doesn't mean it'll be easy to find a table during lunch time peak hour. Turnover is fairly quick though to vacate the fluorescent filled underground eatery void of natural light. Lots of other cheap dining options to be found in adjoining eateries to satisfy your hungry stomach although I always go to this place which also does a nice Hainanese Chicken Rice and Penang Char Koay Teow.

Other visit reviews:

14 Jan 2010 / 19 Oct 2009 / 22 July 2009

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Reasonably priced menu, Authentic-like dishes, Generous serving size, Efficient service

CONS: Hard to find a table during lunch time, Not the most pleasant food court to be in

MUST TRY: Ipoh Fried Koay Teow with green chilli, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Penang Char Koay Teow

VERDICT: A long time favourite I keep coming back for as a comfort food dish

—

Ipoh Fried Koay Teow ($8.50)

Make sure you ask for the green chilli on top

Chicken, fishcake, fishball and a prawn

By the end of the dish you're left with a soup sauce

Always busy busy busy

There she is #1 on the menu

Penang Fried Koay Teow worth getting

Hainanese Chicken Rice is pretty good too

I've never tried their bain-marie but looks like it has many tasty options

Finding a seat is the most challenging

View Larger Map

Le P'tit Café at The Mint: Coffee, Sydney (27 May 2014)

10 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/2014/03/26/le-ptit-cafe

French inspired coffee spot

This cosy French themed popup cafe located within The Mint is only supposed to be running for 12 weeks from Monday 31 March so I've only noticed it in its last weeks. I remember when this venue used to be looked after by the Trippas White Group but now it's Restaurant Associates. Renovations are being finalised upstairs for a new restaurant 'Bistro Mint'. Stopped by for a quick Cappuccino ($3.50) which was OK and the service was very friendly and helpful. Such a shame it's only here temporarily as it's a nice space although having no running water in the space does make it a challenge for any type of food and beverage service.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Cosy and quiet space to chill out, Very friendly service

CONS: Only temporary popup with limited menu

MUST TRY: Visiting the new restaurant upstairs once it opens

VERDICT: Nice space for a relaxing coffee break or meetup

—

Cute and cosy decor

Cappuccino ($3.50)

Bevande cups — nice

Table water

Limited menu but reasonably priced

Plans on display for Bistro Mint upstairs

Some outside seating

View Larger Map