China Grand Restaurant, Haymarket Chinatown

EDIT: China Grand has now closed and been replaced with The Eight.

It took me a while to realise that Dragon Star was no more. This behemoth of yum cha, characterised by huge crowds and female 'bouncers' calling table bingo at the top of Chinatown's Market City, used to be one of our favourite haunts on Sunday mornings.

So it's been about a year since Dragon Star closed and was reborn as China Grand, a befitting name for one of the biggest single floorspaces in Chinatown devoted to yum cha.


Gao choi gow - garlic chive dumplings

The decor's had a makeover - it looks brighter, more modern and a bit more upmarket these days. There's a few too many fancy lights overhead, and it's interesting to note the built-in partitions ready to section off private rooms along the wall and down the back. The kids are also disappointed they can't check out the fish tanks, still visible but inaccessible to customers unless they brave the staff-only corridor.


Pai gwut - steamed pork ribs in black bean and chilli

We order all the usual favourites. The pai gwut is soft and tender and boasts an impressive number of black beans (too often there's nary a bean to be seen in many yum cha houses I've been to lately)


Ham soi gok - combination pork dumplings

The highlight is the ham soi gok, probably my favourite dish. I'm always nervous as I take the first bite. The audible crunch answers my prayers. It's super crisp on the outside, the thin golden veneer giving away to a chewy starchy layer of utmost deliciousness. Inside is a teaspoon of pork mince and a few chopped prawns, but for me, it's all about the casing and this is the best one I've
had for quite some time, fresh from the fryer.


Har cheung fun - prawn in long rice noodles


Har gow - prawn dumplings

The har gow prawn dumplings pass the test too, whole prawns encased in a translucent and delicate pastry skin.


Daan tart - egg custard tarts

Desserts are all pleasing too. The custard tarts have a flaky pastry, the layers so thin they leave a trail of crumbs all around your mouth. We also dig into the mango pudding, the sago pudding and a bowl of dofu fah, the fresh bean curd served with a sweet ginger syrup.


Mango pudding


Say may - baked sago pudding




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China Grand Restaurant
EDIT: China Grand has now closed and been replaced with The Eight.
Market City Level 3
9 Hay Street, Haymarket, Chinatown Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9211 8388

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