My parents have been going to Golden Sands for yum cha for just over ten years now, which corresponds loosely to around the time they made their way out of the West (where my heart still lives).
I find it generally hard to review yum cha restaurants because you always eat so many different things, and for the most part it’s hard to tell good quality from quality that simply isn’t terrible. Through all of my visits I’ve never had a bad meal, which I guess is saying something.
Please enjoy the following as photographic evidence I’ve attended
Prawn and Chive dumplings 韭菜饺 – my go to at any yum cha restaurant that has them available (serious red X next to Vinh Phat Cabramatta). Pretty good, good chive flavour.
These egg tarts 蛋挞 were sadly missable. We ordered them (not off the cart) and yet they still came lukewarm.
These shao mai 烧卖 were fine. I wouldn’t even know an English name for them.
These steamed pork ribs in black bean sauce 豉汁蒸排骨 I actually didn’t enjoy either. I guess thinking back on this meal there was more to discuss and complain about than I had imagined. I thought that these pork ribs were too fatty, too ‘porky’ in flavour, and did not have as much black bean to them. I’m not looking for saltiness – just the black bean flavour itself.
The sticky rice chicken 糯米鸡 was great. Always something I enjoy.
My wife has absolutely ruined me, because once upon a time I definitely would’ve had some of the mixed beef offal 牛杂, but having been with her for over ten years my culinary landscape has contracted.
The century egg and lean pork congee 皮蛋瘦肉粥 was ok, at least that’s what I think it was. I can’t really see any century egg in the photos and my memory fails me. Kind of an unusual thing for yum cha but we had like 10+ people.
The fried dough sticks / you tiao / 油条 were actually excellent. Amazing. So fresh and crispy. So savoury. We got a second order.
The BBQ pork puff pastry 叉烧酥, again not something we normally have, was not too sweet. A bit cool though.
After having the world’s best chang fen 肠粉 at Traditional Cantonese Taste I can’t take any yum cha chang fen seriously any more. I think this was beef?
The braised chicken feet 凤爪 never miss. A true cultural export.
The fried dough sticks wrapped in rice noodle 炸两 is something my wife’s family usually gets at yum cha, not mine. We enjoyed it – more opportunities to enjoy Golden Sands’ fried dough crullers is always welcome.
More chang fen? Why?
DINNER VISIT
It’s hard for me to present too many views when I’m not the one ordering or paying for dinner. Thanks mum and dad.
This abalone/shark fin soup was nothing special. The price to enjoyment ratio just isn’t there.
The lobster with e-fu noodles. No complaints.
This char siu was really good! The roast goose was too.
The beef in this was pretty tender. Nice.
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I did not enjoy this fried rice. I agree that there was good separation between grains, but thought that overall it was too dry. Definitely not a special special fried rice.
Thoughts
Overall good, but not the best.
Golden Sands 金沙酒楼
Hurstville Times Plaza, Level 2/127-141 Forest Rd, Hurstville NSW 2220