Melbourne Trip 2019 ~ Juicy Bao @ Little Bourke St

“A true Asian must have rice even at overseas”.

I can vouch for that statement as I subconsciously crave for rice and Chinese dishes during my short stay at Melbourne. It’s even more apparent for my mom who have been eating the staple Asian food for more than 60 years everyday.

Thanks to globalization and its large Asian populations, we can get pretty much everything at Melbourne. Home to many Chinese restaurants, Chinatown Melbourne certainly an ideal food hunting place if one craves for Asian food. Centered at the eastern end of Little Bourke Street, Chinatown Melbourne extends between the corners of Swanston and Spring Streets, and consists of numerous laneways, alleys and arcades. It is a popular tourist attraction which known for its architectural heritage, annual festivals and wide choices of cuisine such as Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Indian, Malaysian, Vietnamese and Korean. 

 

Juicy Bao is one of the many restaurants in China Town that serves Xiao Long Bao (Chinese steamed soup dumpling) and assortments of Chinese dishes. Although not as famous as HuTong Dumpling Bar and Shandong Mama, the restaurant was bustling on a weekday during our visit and customers were pouring in the entire time we were there. The restaurant wasn’t really big, tables were cramped within the dining area and there were beverage preparation counter and dumpling making workstation occupied both entrance and the end of the shop.

 

Signature Steamed Juicy Bao – Pork (AU$12.80 – 8pcs)

Arrived steaming hot to our table, these Xiao Long Bao (XLB) definitely something great to be savoured on a cold evening. The plump XLB were filled with flavourful minced meat mixture as well as delicious golden yellow broth. However the skin was a bit thick though.

Also in the menu were Crab & Pork XLB, Chicken & Prawn XLB, Vegetarian XLB, Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Bao, pan fried dumpling and steamed dumplings with assorted fillings, price ranging from AU$11.80 to AU$14.80.

 

Sizzling Beef with Capsicum & Onion in Black Pepper Sauce (AU$26.80)

The menu wasn’t limited to XLB and dumplings, there were a good selection of beef, chicken and pork dishes as well as wide variety of noodle and rice dishes round out the menu.

 

Served on a sizzling hot plate, the enticing aroma of the dish tantalizes our sense of smell and the meat pieces lusciously covered with thick brown sauce was a sight to be drooling at. The beef was deliciously tender and the sauce was robust and full of flavours, paired really well with rice.

Other beef dishes included Stir Fried Beef with Spring Onion & Ginger (25.80), Stir Fried Beef with Broccoli (25.80), Braised Beef & Beef Shank in Claypot (22.80), Stir Fried Ox Tongue (22.80). Price for the chicken dishes ranging from AU$22.80 to AU$39.80. Pork dishes priced from AU$22.80 to AU$28.80.

 

Stir Fried Choysum with Oyster Sauce (AU$13.60)

This was more like blanched vegetables mixed with oyster sauce. >_<

Vegetables dishes priced from AU$13.60 to AU$19.80.

 

Special Fried Rice (AU$11.80)

Essential wok hei gave the rice its robust deliciousness that every fried rice should have. Well-studded with prawns, ham, egg and vegetables, the rice was fluffy, tasty and very aromatic, we polished this off happily.

Also expect to see Hot & Spicy Fried Noodle, Beijing Zhajiangmian, Seafood Noodle Soup, Hot & Spicy Braised Beef Noodles, Stir Fried Rice Cakes with XO Sauce, Stir Fried Rice Cakes with Spinach & Pork, Fried Rice with Salted Fish, Hot & Spicy Fried Rice and many more in the menu, price ranging from AU$11.80 to AU$18.30.

♥Verdict: The food and service were good, although the space between tables was a bit too too close for comfort. It was a filling and craving satisfied dinner nonetheless.

 

Juicy Bao

178 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia.

Tel: +61 3 9041 7009