A taste of...
Dragons
25 Tory St, Wellington.
We hear… It’s one of the best yum cha joints in a city that is well furnished with great yum cha joints.
We ordered…The best thing about yum cha is that you get to try a little bit of everything. My extended family of about 15-20, depending on who can make it, regularly get together to do a little family bonding over our favourite kind of food.
Last Sunday we chose Dragons and the food was so good, I couldn’t resist making it my review of the month.
Steamed dumplings are the staple of yum cha. Dragons has an astounding selection to choose from: prawn, white fish, chicken and mushroom, pork and chive, pork and mushroom, spring onion - you name it, they will offer it to you. It’s hard to pace yourself, but try.
Otherwiseyou won’t be able to fit in the things that come around a little less frequently, like the bok choy in black bean sauce or the garlic sluiced gai lam greens.
Then there are the real gems of Dragons’ yum cha menu: the sticky rice parcels stuffed with minced pork and mushrooms, pork buns, fried bean curd with fungus (it’s a kind of wood fungus with the most delightful nutty flavour), and the glutinous rice and taro cakes with chicken and corn, or pork.
Yes, there is a lot of pork, which I don’t eat. But never fear, there is more than enough for non-mammal eaters – although vegetarians and vegans will struggle. Add some delicate roast duck, slices of fried pork belly, and spicy chicken wings and that is one major meal. Someone at the table was brave and tried the deep fried chicken feet, and they often bring even more traditional fare around if you want to push the limits. After the savoury courses, there are custard tarts, custard and coconut rolls, and a mango jelly that you will yearn for in the days after.
For the kids re are icecream mochi balls, a delicious Japanesestyle treat.
It’s not cheap, each dish is priced differently, so be prepared for a bill to match your appetite. We always chow down big time, so splitting the bill between the adults only (about nine of us from a group of 15) my meal, which included green tea and a can of Coke, came to about $57.
The service… Is practical, swift and friendly. Don’t expect too much, the place will be so packed it’s sometimes hard for the waiters and trolleys to get through the tables. Be patient though, that roast duck will get to you eventually.
The vibe… You want some hustle with your bustle? Dragons is made out of hustle and bustle.
If you go… There are five sittings. You will need to book and it will be packed. But it’ll be worth it.
Rating out of 5: 4