Superbowl Dixon Street, Chinatown, Sydney

There is nothing awful about offal. I love the stuff. It is heaven in a mouthful.

Those who disagree have never had it Asian-style: simmered for hours until the tripe is tender, soft and gelatinous. It is cooked in a rich dark stock, taking on a deep honeyed brown as it slowly soaks up a layered melange of flavours.

Tripe-eating companions are hard to find, so when Saffron said that she was considering ordering the Chiu Chow beef tripe with egg noodles in soup, I looked at her over my menu and broke into a grin.



We were seated inside the Chinatown institution Superbowl on Dixon Street, an eatery renowned for cheap meals, late opening hours and notoriously brusque service. There are always plenty of diners inside though: Chinese students, Caucasian couples, chatty groups of friends, Asian parents with cheeky beaming children.


Sampan congee $7.50
Hong Kong Roadside Popular Congee

I order the Sampan congee to share, knowing full well that the bowl of arriving rice porridge will be as big as a bath-tub. The congee, a watery rice porridge that is the Chinese version of chicken soup (great for when you're sick or under the weather), is filled with a treasure trove of squid, fish, pork intestines and honeycomb tripe. Dry roasted peanuts and delicate ripples of deep-fried wonton skins add crunch; rings of chopped scallion give peppery relief.


Yu tiaou fried bread

We spoon the congee into our individual bowls, seasoning it with a glug of soy sauce and alternating mouthfuls of cleansing congee with bites of chewy yu tiaou, the Chinese deep-fried cruller that is congee's preferred taste-bud dancing partner.


Original Chiu Chow Beef Tripe with Egg Noodles in Soup $7.80

The Chiu Chow beef tripe with egg noodles in soup is the winner of the day though. It is, in a word, magnificent. Soft, tender, gelatinous, silky. We dip tripe morsels into the salty chiu chow chilli oil, savouring the tell-tale tingle of chilli on the lips.

The egg noodles are smooth, the vegetables are sweet, the tripe has nuances of star anise and the dish is as comforting as a warm cosy doona.

Winter is here; it's time to snuggle.




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Super Bowl Chinese Restaurant
41 Dixon Street, Chinatown Haymarket, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9281 2462

Open 7 days 8am-2am
Unlicensed BYO, Corkage $2 Person

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