China Town Cafe – To Hainanese or not to Hainanese?
There is only one dish China Town Cafe in the Central Markets is famous for, and one way to order it: Hainanese chicken and rice with laksa broth. If you are from Adelaide, you know this. If you don’t, you should move. Or read on.
You get:
– A plate of either chicken breast/thigh with bok choy,
– a plate of rice,
– a little bowl of laksa broth.
It is highly recommended if you are not a puss that you load up on serve yourself chilli oil.
Everyone eats it slightly differently, but essentially, the deliciousness is unavoidable. The chicken is tender, the laksa is enjoyable, the rice is, well, rice. Admittedly, separately, it’s all pretty stock standard fare. The chicken is not mind-blowing, and I’ve had better laksa.
But combined, you are onto something. This dish, while not specifically on the menu with the laksa broth or chilli oil attached, is what China Town Cafe is famous for.
Last week, I went and had Hainanese chicken, and it was exactly what it should be.
Yesterday, a rainy Tuesday, I went again, but with the mindset of venturing past the aforementioned dish. It isn’t as though Hainese chicken is the only thing on the menu. There are about twelve dishes, and surely they aren’t there as decoration.
Rain = soup. Prawn dumpling noodle soup.
Broth: Light, but not too mild, could’ve eaten it twice
Dumplings: Yes. Yes yes yes, dipped in chilli oil, you yummy little bundles!
Noodles: To quote my little friend who came along for the ride, “Like two minute noodles but better”.
Bok Choy serves as our greens for the meal, and chilli oil makes everything better.
Realistically, you creature of habit, your favourite will always be there… Give something else a try for once. I’m glad I did.
jac writes 
I believe the dish is colloqiullly known as the S Lake special after the man who first crafted the dish
Classic! Went there again today for laksa, will have to try ordering it by that next time, haha.