Shark Fin House

The yum cha at Shark Fin House is consistently recommended as the best in Chinatown. So too is the service under the direction of Gabriel Chan. But don't expect peace and quiet, it's a busy bustling place with three floors and a lift which gets very crowded at yum cha. At weekends there is always a queue and it's mostly Asian. The quality and variety of the yum cha selection defies understanding. With some 25 chefs working round the clock, it is amazing value.

At night the restaurant is a bit quieter and the service less hectic. There is a big a la carte menu (predominantly Cantonese) with live seafood available then, more in the Hong Kong style. It is a popular place for business functions and formal entertaining. The wine and drinks list is comprehensive and, in a rather Chinese tribute to Italy, lists 11 ways of ordering your coffee.

131 Little Bourke Street
Melbourne
Chinese Cuisine
Melways reference 1B:R4
Phone: 9663 1555
Opening hours: Lunch: Mon-Sat 11:30 am-3pm, Sun 11am-3pm, Dinner: 7 days 5:30-11pm
Licensed
Accepts credit cards
Seats Inside: 380
Features: Restricted smoking, kids encouraged, private room seats 40
Favourites: Tasmanian green lip abalone $50 per pound, Antarctica crab $26 per pound, Live coral trout from Queensland $38 per pound.

*An updated review can be found in Mietta's Eating & Drinking in Australia 2000 pg99, published by Black Inc., 2000, Vic