Tim Ho Wan, Bourke St Melbourne

We used to like going to yumcha but the prices these days are exorbitantly expensive. A few baskets of oft ordered dimsum would easily set one back $50 to $60. For those who used to have yumcha regularly, they would be familiar with the different tiers of dimsum dishes. For example, the least expensive and basic dishes are labeled 'small' dishes and consists of dishes like phoenix claws aka chicken feet. There are 'medium', 'large' and 'deluxe' dishes with the deluxe dishes consisting of special ala carte dishes usually served on plates rather than in baskets like fried whitebait fish, suckling pig and blanched vegetables. In recent times, the 'small' dishes have been slowly disappearing and prices increasing to $5.50 when it was previously $3.50 pre inflation. 

Speaking in terms of pre inflation like this makes me feel like an old person. In the old days... and cue adjusting my reading glasses. Call me an old person, but I sure miss the good old days. 

So when we go for yumcha, it is a special treat. On one of the occasion that we were nearby Bourke St last year, we went to Tim Ho Wan. Not all the dishes are the traditional yumcha dishes I'm used to but they are Cantonese dishes that I like. 

We ordered Golden Tofu ($9.20). It was deep fried and covered with sichimi chilli powder and seaweed. OK.. maybe not a traditional Cantonese dish, but who doesn't like deep fried food eh?

This next one is traditional Cantonese food - BBQ pork rice roll ($11). For some reason rice rolls have become very popular recently. There is a place in the city that specialises in rice rolls. Their rice rolls are much thinner and silkier whereas these are a little thicker and doughier. 

Personally I prefer the thinner ones because they're silkier and more delicate. Each roll is handmade and steamed to order so the quality is better. But, because it is thinner, it takes more to be full and at $14.50 per dish it is not a cheap carbo meal to gorge on. 

We also ordered the beef noodle soup ($11) to try. It was a small bowl of noodles and beef so that one does not feel too full to try other dishes. 

The bok choy in the noodles was a welcome element to the meal. 

At last, a yumcha dish! Spinach dumpling with prawns ($9.20). This is certainly not a frozen dumpling, because the filling was plentiful and tasted fresh. The spinach looked green and fresh. 

I would have liked more dumplings, after all isn't that what dimsum is about? But we had to reserve our stomach power for something else and that is dessert...

Mixue, a popular Chinese chain of bubble tea and ice cream opening up in Melbourne was a long awaited event. We tried out their vanilla ice cream ($2) and a milk tea drink ($4.60). The prices are good, but the ice cream tastes icy rather than creamy. Well, at least they got one of the components right... Icy, but not creamy..

The milk tea was average. It did not have a fragrant tea taste but not too sweet, which I liked. 

So on the one hand, we have a cheap but taste average case and another where it is not cheap but taste better case.. what to do?