Top 5 Signature Dishes

Dear readers, how many times have you gone to a restaurant and then wondered omg what should I order? The variety of dishes and choices is mind boggling! Well, fret no more, here are the Top 5 signature dishes so you'll know what to order when you pop into one of these restaurants.

1. Old Kingdom - Peking Duck
When I first visited the infamous Old Kingdom at Smith St, Fitzroy, I looked at the menu & decided to order some classic chinese dishes e.g. sweet & sour pork, stir fried buk choy, etc. As I placed my order, the waitress said to me "Erm, you mean to say you don't want to order the duck?". Looking puzzled, she then explained further, "I think you should order the peking duck, trust me on this." And true to her word, she was right!

Old Kingdom is the place to be for Melbourne's best peking duck. A huge claim but I reckon they offer the most value for money. Set up more than 20 years ago, proud owner-chef Simon personally carves up succulent pieces of crispy aromatic duck and provides light entertainment with his sense of humour and naughty banter. Duck afficianados won't be disappointed as the 3 course duck (peking duck with crepes, stir fried duck & vegetables as well as duck soup), will make you walking out all ducked-out! *Note: You must call to book and order the ducks at least 2-3 days in advance. Rule of thumb: 1 duck : 3 people (regular eaters) or 1 duck : 2 people (for big eaters)

2. Ling Nam - Shared Traditional Chinese Dishes
Ling Nam, located in Little Bourke St, Chinatown, is a no-frills Chinese restaurant, that offers a fabulous late night feed. The restaurant is called Ling Nam but is listed as Ling Nan (with an "n") probably because (a little trivia) - Lingnan (also known as the "South of the Five Ridges") is an area in Guangzhou, China. In any case, look out for the tanks of live fish, prawns, lobster, crab and the like at the front of the restaurant. Expect a slight wait for your basic white linen-clothed tables, it's certainly worth the wait. Don't be bamboozled by the vast variety of dishes in the menu (Asian clientele usually get offered a choice of the Chinese or the English menu btw), you order dishes here to be shared, accompanied by steamed white rice.

Go for the crispy fried chicken with bitefuls of well-seasoned, flavoursome chicken crunch. Order the XO sauce chilli stir-fried pipis with a side of chinese donuts so you can dip them in the scrumptious sauce. The tender braised pork ribs in peking sauce are another sure-win. If you have room for more, try the stir-fried soy sauce noodles or the fried rice, they are simple but oh-so-delightful!

3. Hu Tong - Dumplings
Situated opposite the Flower Drum in Chinatown, Hu Tong is an up and coming Dumpling bar. Yes, you might pay a little more here than at Camy's Shanghai Dumpling but I reckon you're paying for quality food. The "Xiao Long Bao" steamed pork dumplings are delicate with juicy broth bursting with every bite. The "Guo Tie" pan-fried pork dumplings are crispy on the outside but soft & tender on the inside. The shanghainese rice cakes sound like sweets but are actually savoury rice cakes stir-fried with garlic, vegetables & minced seasoned pork. Don't forget the shanghai fried noodles featuring thick noodles stir-fried with vegetables & the special shanghai sauce.

4. Straits Cafe - Chicken Rice
It would be an injustice not to feature this cosy, charming, Malaysian cafe located in Doncaster. Especially since they serve one of the best Hainanese Chicken Rice in Melbourne. Succulent slivers of seasoned steamed chicken, home-style cooked for hours, with fragrant chicken rice bursting with flavour, served with garlic chilli, ginger & dark soy sauce & a side of light chicken soup. Owner Tony Tan and family provide quick, friendly service, always with a smile, which draws in the regular clientele of students, locals & chicken rice fanatics.

5. Roti Man - Biryani
What is biryani? According to answers.com, it is "an Indian dish containing meat, fish, or vegetables and rice flavored with saffron or turmeric". Simple but delicious, Roti Man, in Middle Park, provides a variety of distinct biryani dishes for under $20. Choose from the tender lamb or beef, uniquely delectable goat, spicy chicken, fresh prawn or curried vegetables served with rice cooked with nuts, Indian spices & herbs. The servings are massive so the discerning diner would eat half of the portion and pack away the rest for lunch the next day. For $6.50, you can order the mango kufli for dessert - an "Indian ice cream made from 100% milk slowly & lovingly reduced & transformed". * Note: pappadums are not free but an additional $3.50 if you choose to have them with your biryani.