Yum cha @ Dragon’s Door – Erina Fair, Erina
Clockwise L to R: assortment of dim sums at yum cha; decor inside the restaurant; a big crowd having yum cha on a rainy day
It’s Valentine’s Day, and it’s raining; it is cold and miserable, which also means is Yum Cha day!
In Central Coast, you won’t have the dilemma of deciding which Chinese restaurant to go to for Yum Cha, because as far as I am concerned, there is only one restaurant in central coast that offers daily Yum Cha, and that is Dragon’s Door.
After darting through the crowd in the giant maze, also known as the Erina Fair, the largest shopping mall on the Central Coast; out to the outdoor arena called “The Hive”, Dragon’s Door is just on the first floor adjacent to the Hoyts cinema.
Clockwise L to R: Springrolls; Chinese jasmine tea to wash the greasiness down; fresh crunchy Chinese Broccoli
The restaurant is spacious, tables are arranged in order with just enough space for trolleys to get past. It is bright and lively from the ambient sunlight through the glass walls, and the warmth amber glow from the red cylinder lamp shades in all shapes and sizes sets the mood.
Seems like everyone has the same idea to hunt for comfort food on a cold rainy Saturday, as the restaurant is already jam packed with hungry customers when we arrived. I love the hustle and bustle in a busy Yum Cha restaurant, a mayhem of people shouting of dim sum names, running around with plates and teapots, trolleys are pushed around tables with steamy baskets filled with dumplings inside. Totally catastrophe, in a good way.
Our table is set up swiftly once we sat down, hot jasmine tea is served and it didn’t take long for the first tray of Dim Sums to arrive at our table. I personally prefer steamed dumplings over fried food at Yum Cha, but I’ll make exceptions when I am dining with one white pommie and one white aussie. Big D wants the springrolls (春卷), which is hot and crispy, but bit greasy with oil leaking on the side. The Pom who is trying to eat healthy wants some Chinese broccoli (gai lan – 芥兰), drizzled with olive oil and soy sauce, which is crunchy and flavoursome.
Clockwise L to R: Siew mai - pork mince dumplings with crab roe; chicken satay skewer with spicy peanut sauce; fried sesame prawn rolls
I can be quite superstitious when comes to Yum Cha, it becomes a ritual and it is compulsory for me to have some Siew Mai (燒賣). If not, I will feel uneasy, I will feel something is missing for the rest of the day and I will be unhappy. The Siew Mai is juicy, the skin is thin and the pork mince is tender, and a little red dot of crab roe on top to add the saltiness.
Big D also ordered chicken stay sticks, which is not a very typical yum cha dish, but who cares. The chicken is fried till crisp and still juicy inside, served with smooth peanut satay sauce that carries a bit of hotness. We are keeping up with the fried food diet, the sesame prawn roll is aromatic and actually quite delicious. The fresh prawns inside are steamy hot, plump and juicy, while the pastry is nice and crisp.
Soft and fluffy Char Siu Pao (steamed BBQ pork buns)
Another “must have” at Yum Cha, the BBQ pork bun (Char Siu Bao – 叉燒包) is fluffy and soft, but with very little of bbq pork filling inside. The bbq pork inside is nicely marinated with great flavour, shame there just isn’t enough. Despite the small dose of bbq pork satisfaction, we actually ordered another round of the buns to justify our desire.
Clockwise L to R: Steamed Garlic and Chinese Chives dumplings; steamed shark fin dumplings; steamed beef meat balls
The steamy dumplings trolley has finally arrived at our table. Unfortunately the prawn dumplings (har gau 蝦餃) are all gone, so we have to settle with steamed chinese chives dumplings, shark fin dumplings and steamed beef meatballs.
The steamed chinese chives dumplings (九菜饺) is steamy hot full of garlicky chinese chives wrapped in paper thin translucent skin, great flavour with a light crunch of water chestnuts. The shark fin dumplings (鱼翅饺) is a let down. We actually couldn’t figure out what it was when we ordered it, as there is no sign of shark fins inside but rather filled with pork mince and coriander which The Pom thinks is overpowering. But the hero among the all surprisingly is the steamed beef meatballs! Usually I am not a big fan of the steamed beef meatballs as I found them a little firm and chewy with tendons and stuff. But these meatballs are extremely light and bouncy, full meaty flavour with a hint of fresh coriander. Definitely will order again.
mango pudding with evaporated milk; mango pancakes
Big D and The Pom already have their mind set on the Mango pudding, while I am looking forward to some refreshing mango pancakes. The mango pancake is refreshingly chilled with sweet and fluffy meringue and fresh mango pieces inside. And I had a taste of the mango pudding, with is smooth and creamy with a good drizzle of evaporated milk, however I found it could do with a bit of extra sweetness.
fried chewky red bean paste dumplings
We also have this surprisingly good doughy chewy red bean paste dumplings look just like the ham shui gok (鹹水角). The pastry is crispy outside and chewy inside filled with a good dollop of sweet red bean paste. The saltiness of the pastry and the sweetness of the fillings works like a treat.
Clockwise L to R: fellow australians with perfect chopstick skills; circles of orders on our card; Dragon's Door backlit sign outside the restaurant
Dragon’s Door is the only place you can experience yum cha on the central coast, and the quality of the dim sums are definitely above average with a great selections to tempt your tastebuds. The price is reasonable with the bill comes to $90 for three of us.
I had a quick glance over the crowd, apart from the chinese family at the table behind me, the waiters and the restaurant owner, the rest are actually anglo-Australians. When I first arrived in Australia back in 1996, I had to introduced Yum Cha to my Australian friends and explain what it is and how it works. Now to see a whole Chinese restaurant filled with Aussies, holding a pair of chopsticks grabbing dumplings (and occasionally dropping it), makes me realised food is really the universal language of the world. And Yum Cha on the weekend has definitely stamped its status in the Australian’s lifestyle and culture.
Dragon's Door The Hive T318-319 Erina Fair Shopping Centre, Terrigal Drive, Erina NSW 2250 T: (02)4367 0388 W: http://www.dragonsdoor.com.au
Open 7 days & 7 night Yum Cha Lunch: 11am-3pm Ala Carte Dinner: 5-10pm Take Away: 11am-3pm/5-10pm
A Table For Two (ATFT) is Billy Law's food blog that features best eats in Sydney and around the world with drool-worthy food photography to salivate your appetite. I also throw in a smidgen of my food and travel photography for good measure. Billy Law also happened to be a contestant on MasterChef Australia 2011. 
Ditto with you on the Siew Mai. That’s my requisite dish at yum cha. And egg tarts too.
I’m loving your new masthead btw. Very nice. Probably less work than having to update the seasonal version everytime.
I’ve never seen those red bean paste dumplings before, sounds and looks delish. Thanks! Now I know where to go for yum cha when in the area… hehe
Jen (jenius.com.au)’s last blog post..Chinese New Year 2009, Year of the Ox
I didn’t know you were supersticious about siu mai. I’ve never been a fan of the beef balls because they often taste of mandarin peel. A great mix of dishes and are you sure you didn’t photoshop out the chilli sauce and tea stains on the table? It’s always a struggle looking for a clean backdrop on the yum cha table whenever I’m lunching
Helen’s last blog post..Wakana Yakiniku Restaurant, Artarmon
Have to have tofu-fa!
steven’s last blog post..Like A Painting
@K: egg tarts are hard to come by and have to fight for it. Yum Cha is no Yum Cha without siew mai.
@Jen (jenius.com.au): Yeah I don’t think they are on the menu either, must be something new and only available occassionally.
@Helen: Interesting u say the meatballs taste mandarin peel, but this actually more with a hint of coriander. There are only 3 of us, so there isnt really any chilli sauce on the table, and since I am the only one who had the sauce.
@steven: nah dont miss tofu-fa, unless is so damn good.
Have you tried Fisherman’s Wharf at the fish marekts yet? It’s my new favourite yum cha place – they still use trolleys not polite wait staff & trays but they have natural ambient lighting.
Very clean & pretty blog btw and your food photos are awesome
@Forager: No, I haven’t but I’ve heard good things about that place. I also want to try the phoenix at Manly. Looks like I have more places to add to my “to do” list now.
Great pics!!!
Ash’s last blog post..waiting for summer
What beeeautiful photography! I recently learnt of your blog and have shown the Yum Cha Chefs & Pastry Cooks which was an absolute delight for them to see. We appreciate your patronage, blog entry and humble comments about our restaurant and food =) We will endeavour to continually excite all tastebuds! With gratitude,
WW | Assistant Manager & Seating Hostess.
I tend to agree with Forager, Yum-Cha at Fisherman’s Warf, Sydney Fish Markets is rather good. Their Mango Pancakes are the best ever. Would love to know the corrcct method. Mine are ok – just, but not a patch on theirs.
We went for lunch today at this Dragons Door restaurant at Erina Fair and after having eaten Yum Cha all over the world I have to say this was the worst food coupled with absolutely appalling service. The waiters were inattentive and the ladies hawking the food were unkempt. When offered Chinese rice noodles with prawn I asked for two servings and was promptly and abruptly told “I only have one” then she disappeared. Next a young girl serving spring rolls walked past our table, I called her back and as she served the food she knocked a whole glass of water over me and then said “oh shit” and walked away. My young children looked in amazement. I was soaked right through to my underwear and my chair was too. I was stood up but was completely ignored by all the staff. I had to call someone over to help and they promptly laughed and mopped up the floor. When I went to pay they said they would knock off the drinks. My bill and receipt shows I was still charged for them. Quite frankly the worst meal and experience anyone could have. 9 dishes for $70