Tucked away from the busy coastal precincts in a small suburban shopping centre, Yum Cha Delights is one of the Gold Coast’s favourite yum cha restaurants. Opened early in 2011 by the Lei family, its ‘all-day yum cha’ menu is loved by locals, many of whom the owners know by name. Its convenience, good food and personal touch add to its charm, so the restaurant is always busy, as we found out on our most recent visit.
It’s always a good sign to see a majority of Asian faces in a Chinese restaurant, which is the case here. The yum cha is above average quality – mostly standard items, and a la carte Chinese dishes are available at lunch and dinner to eat in or take away. There’s something for everyone at this affordable restaurant, making it a family favourite.
Like many Chinese restaurants, utility is the main concern of the venue, its plastic cloths and bamboo baskets serving a purpose: efficiency and convenience rather than aesthetic appeal. The dining room is smallish in size yet airy, a decorative panelled painting of waterlilies and carp adding grace to the decor. Large timber-framed glass bifold doors open onto verandas, where you can dine overlooking a quiet street.
Dim sum choices are brought out in bamboo baskets on trays, a simple and efficient method of delivery. Specialties such as soft shell crab, tender rice noodles or barbeque pork appear on sparkling white melamine plates, a refinement on the cumbersome steam carts prevalent in larger restaurants. Extra dishes may also be ordered from the menu.
Table service is relaxed and courteous, with dirty dishes whisked away to the kitchen out of sight. Wait staff ask to refill your teapot (rather than the other way around), and are genuinely interested in diners being pleased with their meal. All in all it’s a welcome change to the brusqueness sometimes encountered on your average yum cha experience, with veranda dining a nice twist.
The dinner menu offers many options to cater for all tastes. Most dishes are $15 to $18, a couple of dollars less for takeaway. The notable exception is Peking duck, priced at $62 for a 2-course dish: duck and 10 pancakes as first course, and stir fry duck with vegetables or noodles as second. There is a good range of vegetarian dishes and no MSG is added to the food.
Leave room for dessert: their famous egg tarts, coconut jelly or mango pancakes are great options. Yum!
This well-priced, relaxed and welcoming restaurant is a really good alternative to the bustling coastal dining scene. There’s also plenty of parking close by.
While the venue is licensed, carrying a small range of well-priced beer and wine, BYO is also available with corkage for $3 per person.
Shop 5/217 – 219 Ron Penhaligon Way, Robina Ph: 07 5593 1298
Open: Tues – Sun 10am – 3pm, 4.30pm – 9pm, Closed Monday
NOTE: This is an updated version of a review first posted in October 2011.