Fook Yuen Seafood Restaurant, Chatswood

These days many Cantonese restaurants in Sydney have ‘seafood restaurant’ in their name and with good reason too.

Chinese cuisine is probably the epitome of communal dining. When dishes are shared among many diners, the average price of Chinese food per diner for similar quality food is usually a lot less than a 3-course meal in a western style restaurant. This is good news to customers. So, in order to increase average spend, many Cantonese restaurants complement traditional dishes on their menu with a variety ‘live’ seafood which are relatively more expensive.

The Chinese have a fixation for ‘fresh’ seafood. When everyone is gathered at the dining table, nothing beats the joy of tucking into a whole fish and a platter of stir-fried lobster or mud crabs. The stark silence when the seafood arrives is usually broken by the sounds of crustaceans being cracked open by food hammers or the sheer determination of bare teeth.

The inclusion of these ‘live’ seafood dishes to a Chinese meal can be an expensive affair. But if you are familiar with a Chinese restaurant’s menu or the manager, ‘strategic ordering’ can result in a very good meal without busting the wallet.

And we are here tonight at Fook Yuen Seafood Restaurant in Chatswood with our friends Mr. & Mrs Coconut, who dine at the restaurant at least once or twice every week.

This restaurant is owned by the King Fook Group, who also operates the Kam Fook restaurants in Chatswood, Bondi and King Fook in Carlingford.

Complimentary prawn crackers

Complimentary prawn crackers

It’s easy to tell if prawn crackers are of good quality. A plate of complimentary prawn crackers is crisp, non-greasy and have good prawn flavours.

2005 Chateau Rollan de By

2005 Chateau Rollan de By

A 2005 Chateau Rollan de By has dark berries on the nose and tannins are nicely balanced. Although it has good length, this wine can well afford a few more years in the bottle.

Special XO sauce

Special XO sauce

The special XO sauce at this restaurant is rather special. Not too spicy, it has some intense flavours of sauteed chilli, shrimp and seafood.

Add a dash of light soy sauce and this condiment is a top complement to seafood or a simple plate of fried rice or noodles.

2011 Albert Mann Vin D'Alsace Gewurztraminer

2011 Albert Mann Vin D'Alsace Gewurztraminer

Floral with hints of lychee and rose petals, a 2011 Albert Mann Vin D’Alsace Gewurztraminer would appeal to wine lovers who like it a little sweet. This wine will make an excellent pairing with curries and spicy stir-fry dishes.

Spicy deep-fried whitebait and squid $36

Spicy deep-fried whitebait and squid $36

A plate of deep-fried whitebait and squid is tossed with chilli flakes, salt, shallots and deep fried onion. The combination of salt and chilli makes these chunks of squid extremely tasty and the whitebait is crisp and not overly greasy.

This dish would be a guaranteed hit in any pub with an ice cold beer.

Crispy spring rolls with mushroom, water chestnuts and beansprouts $30

Crispy spring rolls with mushroom, water chestnuts and beansprouts $30

Spring rolls with beancurd skin is light and crisp. Finely diced shitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, celery and beansprouts make a filling with good flavour and texture. Dipped into a rich savoury sauce, these two dishes make excellent canapes and finger food.

Stir-fried pipies in XO sauce $44.70 with crispy vermicelli noodles $10

Stir-fried pipies in XO sauce $44.70 with crispy vermicelli noodles $10

Stir-fried pipies in XO sauce is a perennial favourite in most fine Cantonese restaurants. The quality of this dish is predicated on fresh pipies from seafood tanks.

Stir-fried pipies in XO sauce with crispy vermicelli noodles

Stir-fried pipies in XO sauce with crispy vermicelli noodles

The XO sauce has a gentle chilli kick but the seafood flavour from fresh pipies is unmistakable. The vermicelli noodles is like a big, crispy biscuit and that is how it should be. It does its intended job of soaking up all that delicious XO sauce. Having tasted so many interpretations, this one ranks among the very best in Sydney.

Tea-smoked duck $88

Tea-smoked duck $88

I tasted Fook Yuen’s tea-smoked duck on previous visits and the flavours of this dish is unforgettable. It is special because you have to order it three days in advance.

To me, this is a must-have dish at this restaurant and it beats many more expensive seafood dishes in terms of taste and flavour.

“Man, this duck tastes like an ashtray!!” Monk exclaims upon first bite.

Monk’s comment is with good reason too. The ash-like tea aromas are so distinctive, I am enjoying a few good sniffs on a duck wing tip. The duck skin and meat around the bones are the most flavoursome. The breast meat is filleted into thin slices with its ribbon of fat and skin and fanned out for a majestic looking dish.

This tea-smoked duck comes with steamed Chinese buns to wrap those duck breast fillets with. Personally, I prefer it without the buns as it does little apart from reducing those addictive smoky aromas. I have tried other tea-smoked ducks and this one ranks number one in my mind.

2008 Cullen Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

2008 Cullen Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

I detect tobacco and tea leaf aromas in a 2008 Cullen Cabernet Merlot and this wine is a good complement to our tea-smoked duck. With a deep red hue, there are hints of dark berries on the palate with a dry finish.

Braised pork belly in special sauce $26

Braised pork belly in special sauce $26

A slab of braised pork belly comes in a tangy sauce which is more deserving of plain steamed buns to soak it up.

The meat is wobbly succulent and it is good, honest Chinese food.

Deep-fried cod fillets $35

Deep-fried cod fillets $35

Deep-fried cod fillets are in beer batter style. Crisp and golden brown, the fish inside is tender.

In itself, these cod fillets are subtle in taste.

Special dipping sauce for deep-fried cod fillets

Special dipping sauce for deep-fried cod fillets

A spicy tangy dipping sauce instantly brings those cod fish fillets to live. Thick and gooey, this sauce is made up of slices of onions, red and green capsicum and tomato.

Glass noodles, spinach and preserved egg $26

Glass noodles, spinach and preserved egg $26

Our vegetable dish is in the form of glass noodles, spinach and preserved egg cubes. Egg white finds its way in this comfort dish that is a bit like having a bowl of soup with some greens and noodles.

Complimentary Chinese cookies and orange

Complimentary Chinese cookies and orange

Dessert options in Chinese restaurants are almost non-existent. We spot two options of ice-cream and mango pudding in the menu for $7 per person. But who needs these when after dinner fruit and cookies come complimentary.

Complimentary sago soup

Complimentary sago soup

A sago soup is subtle and not overly sweet. It is just the kind of finish to a good Chinese meal. The nine of us agree this is a fantastic Chinese meal at a reasonable price.

Menu - Fook Yuen Seafood Restaurant, Chatswood, Sydney

Menu - Fook Yuen Seafood Restaurant, Chatswood, Sydney

So dear readers, are you keen on expensive live seafood or prefer to stick to good traditional dishes in Chinese restaurants?

Fook Yuen Seafood Restaurant
7 Help street, Chatwood
New South Wales

http://kingfookgroup.com.au

Tel: +61 2 9413 2688 

Opening hours: Lunch Monday to Sunday 10am to 3pm, Dinner Monday to Sunday 5.30pm to 11pm.

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10 Responses to Fook Yuen Seafood Restaurant, Chatswood

  1. milkteaxx says:

    xo pipis is my favourite seafood dish to order, the rice noodles on the bottom are a must!

  2. The deep-fried whitebait squid is always a winner isn’t it? I find it extremely flavoursome! Albeit a tad bit too salty, but extremely addictive 😀

    • Chopinand says:

      Dear Sherrie,

      I’m generally not a big fan of deep-fried stuff although I make an exception for KFC.

      The deep-fried whitebait and squid here was right on the money, it wasn’t too salty and I enjoyed it. I thoroughly recommend this dish.

  3. We love lobster and crab and my father doesn’t consider it a dinner out unless there is whole fish. He loves it more than lobster and crab! Those cookies look like pineapple buns!

  4. loveeeee XO pippies!! but i always prefer exp seafood restaurants over traditional because you are always guaranteed to have a great night! who doesn’t love seafood?

  5. The tea-smoked duck looks so impressive! Will definitely have to remember to pre-order this if we visit!

  6. Lena Para says:

    Dear Chopin, Oooh The food looks scrumptious .It makes me so ravenous .it sure is my choice of restaurant without a doubt.Happy New Year.Lena

  7. craig says:

    Wow. Must check out this restaurant when next in Sydney. Especially love smoked duck and love Rollan de By- fantastic quality and good value Bordeaux

  8. Valent Lau says:

    Did you find the restaurant changed in any way since being taken over by the King Fook Group? I haven’t been in many years, but I’m sure in the past the few restaurants in Chatswood were not under one group.

    • Chopinand says:

      Dear Valent,

      I believe the restaurant is not as busy as before though not surprising since there is so much choice for dining out in Chatswood. Like most restaurants, you need to know what to order and the dishes we had were pretty spot on. I especially liked the tea smoked duck which needs to be ordered 3 days in advance.

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