“Please don’t give me a mullet, please please!” I pray silently to myself one afternoon sitting at the hairdressers. The reason apart from justifyingly fearing that particular haircut? I was speaking on a panel of the We Blog The World Event held by Klick Communications where my lovely friend The Second Wife works. I would be speaking alongside Ben Groundwater “The Backpacker” blogger from the Sydney Morning Herald and Tim Burrowes from Thumbrella. And the last thing I wanted was to have the haircut from hell.
Renee Creer, Trina (aka Foraging Otaku), me and Ben
Some pics from We Blog the World taken by Klick Communications. I didn’t take any photos as I was too busy being nervous…
At 6.20pm at the Sir Stamford we answered some questions from our fantastic moderator Kim who runs Klick and then fielded questions from the audience. And by 8pm we were done and dusted and retired to the bar. By 10:30pm we realised we were all starving and so a collective gaggle of us jumped into 3 taxis and high tailed it to BBQ King – stat! Yes we were starving and it suddenly hit us that we had to have food and have it now. Dining with me were Trina, The Second Wife, Naomi, Tess, Ben, Alice and Glen.
A food lovers version of an art gallery?
We’re shown to a large table on the ground floor set among a gallery of photos all celebrating BBQ meat and meaty goodness. There are some curious BBQ King Fashion photos with some models with China doll haircuts posing in the restaurant. But these are a mere distraction for us as we peruse the menu determined to try the best they have to offer. I have strange memories of BBQ king from many years ago when we were asked to share a large, round table with strangers and a Peking Duck that was expensive but not very exciting so I was a bit apprehensive but hunger got the better of me. And keen photographers take note, BBQ King has deceptively difficult lighting. It’s incredibly yellow and hard to photograph in so please excuse the photos.
Yes that’s a ceiling full of Ducks!
Complimentary watercreess and pork soup
To whet our appetites, they give us a big bowl of watercress and pork broth. It seems to be self service here and I have to apologise to my fellow diners for doing such a terrible job of ladling this up. It’s delicious and warming and certainly whets the appetite.
Spring rolls $12 ($6 for 4)
The Spring Rolls, an item I am usually hugely disappointed in are really tasty here with a great mix of flavours and they’re not too dry with a good amount of filling in them.
Braised Chicken Fillets in Scechuan sauce $19.80
This resembles sweet and sour chicken with the pieces of capsicum. It’s spicy and sweet but not particularly exciting.
Steamed Chinese broccoli with Oyster sauce $12.80
These are nicely steamed with a nice texture to them and simply flavoured with Oyster sauce.
“Suckling Pig” and Roast Duck $42.80
Hmm see that pork? It’s not Suckling Pig but Roast Pork which is so much less exciting (and cheaper). I’ve never liked Chinese Roast Pork done this way as it’s a bit too fatty for me (yes I really did say that) but the roast duck is good. And if you are interested a whole suckling pig which needs to be ordered in advance is $480. Let’s just hope they don’t substitute it with Roast Pork…
Braised Eggplant hotpot $19.80
I didn’t expect this dish to be my favourite but it was. With delicious, beautifully textured eggplant strips, it was full of flavour and a soft texture.
Crispy Shredded Beef in tangy sauce $19.80
Sometimes called Imperial Beef, we asked the waiter what his recommendation was and he suggested this dish. It’s not bad with a sweet almost sweet and sour taste to the sauce (a similar sauce is a Peking Pork Chop sauce) although I find it a touch dry and I have to admit I rarely order this because of that reason but I was hoping that it would be done differently here.
Salt and pepper Tofu
The Second Wife’s favourite restaurant item is tofu and so we order the salt and pepper tofu which comes as large, soft pillows of tofu strongly salted almost to the point of being too salty but not quite.
Fried Rice $9
The fried rice isn’t bad and has plenty of prawns and char siu in it
As we leave, I am holding the camera and I notice a glass box above the register counter that shows a diorama scene of Chinese chefs chopping barbecued pork and duck. I point to it and the man behind the counter swtiches it on and it springs to life with the cleavers chopping and the figures moving. It’s totally and utterly transfixing and of course I want one for my home.
So tell me Dear Reader, what sort of Art do you have hanging around your home?
BBQ King
18-20 Goulburn Street, Chinatown, Sydney, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9267-2586
Open 7 days from 11:30am until 2am
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37 Comments | Add your own
Your hair looks gorgeous! How cool you got to speak at an event!
I absolutely love aubergines in hotpots! One of the dishes I usually order when I’m at a Chinese restaurant. Out of curiosity, did the deep fried tofu come with a dipping sauce?
ok… if I ever visit sydney, I want to go there. Everything looks so delicious and great. Yor style of writing is also great (also for a not native speaker). regards…
Your hair definitely looks fantastic and not a mullet in sight. The eggplant looks yummy
Congrats on the gig – hope the panel went well. The food looks amazing!!
Your hair looks lovely! I’m sure you did a great job speaking at your event! And what an incredible spread of food…wow!
I love this place! I went there in July while visiting Sydney. The duck was fantastic. The food was so good in fact that it pulled my 10 year old out of his “I had to leave Luna Park because it was closing” funk. That’s some good food.
Your pictures and play by play of your dining adventures are simply lovely NQN!
What a beautiful food-art gallery . The problem with the Spring rolls is I can eat them for dozens…a Chinese feast in front of me
Cheers!
Gera
I’m glad the mullet never eventuated!
I’m a huge fan of suckling pig too, oh i’d give anything to hear the sound of crackling right about now…!
I don’t know if I’d try BBQ King you didn’t sound that impressed with anything. But we are coming to Sydney from Toowoomba in Queensland next weekend 12/9 staying at Swissotel in the City any suggestions for somewhere delish to eat and if they have great cocktails as well all the better. How exciting to be invited to speak about blogging well done.
I was first introduced to BBQ King by an older, more experienced chef back in 1997 when I was a green first year apprentice. We even got taken out the back to see the hanging ducks in the flesh! I’ve still got no idea how that passes health regulations…
I fell in love with the place immediately and have eaten there a couple of times a year since. It’s pretty hit and miss and you need to know what to order, but it’s always a great night out.
The chilli salt prawns are usually great, duck is an essential and I agree, the spring rolls are yum! And it all needs to be washed down with a cold Tsing-Tao.
Lol. The glass box is awesome! I’ve never been to BBQ King, but I’ve been told to stay away from it
But, I’m glad to hear that you had a few decent dishes there… How annoying that the ’suckling pig’ was roast pork!! Ah well, not exactly surprised with that!
Your hair looks gorgeous, Lorraine!! Definitely NOT a mullet! LOL
I think I would’ve been boring if I’d have eaten with you that night…I don’t like broccoli, nor do I like eggplant. I eat tofu if it’s got a sauce or some sort of seasoning on it…and I’m not a huge fan of Chinese roast pork (for the same reason as you, I find it too fatty, with not enough meat), and roast duck has never really been a favourite of mine (mainly because of the image I get of those ducks hanging from the ceiling of heaps of shops when I was a kid living in Cabramatta! LOL)!
Other than that, the food looks nice!
Your hair is flawless. I went to BBQ king sometimes too. It’s so close to my house
That tofu looks delicious!
Oh, I love that shredded beef, I love the sticky sweet sauce it comes with and the contrasting crunchy, chewy beef. Omnomnom!!! In our part of Sydney its called alternatively Shanghai Beef or Beef in Peking Sauce.
A question for you: what questions were you asked on the panel? Anything tricky ?
I love BBQ King and I miss it now I’m not living in Sydney. I’ve had many a hilarious night there and while the food isn’t the best in the world it was always memorable. I was addicted to the chilli salt tofu delicious and I would love that eggplant dish. Yum!
I love BBQ King for its old fashioned semi-sleazy low tech 60’s laminate atmosphere, at one time in Dixon street all Chinese restaurants used to look like this – part of the charm but there’s a hint in the name, stay away from anything else except the BBQ items – mixed BBQ anything, steamed greens in oyster sauce and plain white rice and you’ll have a great time!
Love your curls! I haven’t been back to BBQ King after similar experience many years ago but the food does look good!
Nice photos! the food looks good!! its making me hungry!
Lady I am so impressed with your memory of the night & the details about the dishes! I don’t remember you taking any notes.. Mind like a steel trap..
omg that crispy beef and that mountain of tofu????
i swear i could inhale them both in one giant mouthfull right now!
oh – lovely picture of your good-self looking extremely glamorous, Lorraine!
The former chef from BBQ King actually has a little place in Dee Why which I have been meaning to try for ages. Called Top BBQ I think.
If you want awesome suckling pig, try Pilu at Freshwater!
I think I would be rather creeped out sitting under a ceiling of ducks, but that’s just me
Can you believe I’ve never really tried roasted duck before? Not the good ones, anyway.
The tofu looks good and I never pass up tasty spring rolls but I still have to find any that come close to my Vietnamese foster sister’s spring rolls, they’re the best!!
I love the Diorama box with the mechanicals, anything like that sends me into a spin lol, My hobby…making porcelain dolls.
I like your hair~!
Oh, and that braised eggplant looks tempting, too!
No mullets love, just a great hair cut. You look lovely! Brilliant coverage & great detail.
oh me. such down-home, comforting cuisine. i feel warm and cozy just looking at it.
Oohh haven’t had crispy shredded beef in the longest time… cravingg nooww!
Hee hee pity I didn’t get to see your hair before you combed it down
wish i cud visit that art gallery!! soo beautiful!! great post L!
cheers!
photos of spices, whole and in little dishes “from far off places” – such color and textures! Crisp-looking Brown-crusted Sour Dough in French Bakery Window, my family eating off of many dishes on a long table just like in an old sepia tone of a large Italian family in some vineyard!!! Great to see photo of lovely you occasionally (”doing your thing!”)! Sad that with all that is available some of the restaurants don’t do a better job at flavoring…and aren’t more sensitive to perfectly vs. over done meats!
Another restaurant to add to my Sydney list
Ahhh good old BBQ King!
I didn’t even know the suckling pig would cost that much!
I liked my dinners @ BBQ King, but I again find them to be inconsistent in their food. Sometimes great, other times so-so.
Congrats on the gig again, and you look great with your hair
Please please please tell me where you get ur hair done! Its gorge!! =)
Mmmm…nothing like good Asian cuisine. Your photos are mouthwatering!
what art do i have in my home…lots of it…i have a lot of embroidery hanging on my walls that i’ve done over the years…also my eldest daughter is an acrylic painter so we have her art hanging too and there’s art we’ve picked up here and there over the years..mostly oils. I have a gorgeous oil on canvas rolled up that i bought in cairns in 2004..i’ve really got that thing framed & hanging…
great blog post!
Hi Blond Duck-Thankyou so much! Yes it was lots of fun
Hi Su-yin-They’re great aren’t they and they really seem to soak up the juices well
No it didn’t come with any sauce, it was more a dry salt nad pepper tofu 
Hi Anja-Hehe cool! Well if you’re lost and it’s 1am that is where to go
Thankyou so much!
Hi sandra-Hehe thankyou! Yes I was so relieved!
Hi Cakelaw-Thankyou so much! I think it went really well and an evening is always good when it ends with a good meal
Hi Faith-Thanks so much! I hope I did
Hi Vivian-Oh very cool!
Haha sounds like he might grow up to be a foodie yet! 
Thankyou so much 
Hi Gera-Hehe it’s so funny isn’t it? These ones were great-mostly they don’t thrill me but these one did
Hi Jen-Me too believe me!
I was so disappointed when it was just roast pork 
Hi Kim-Well it was more fun for the company. The food was a touch hit and miss. Hmmm there are are lots of places but at that location I think the Merivale restaurants at The Ivy and their Winter Feasts are amongst the best deals out there and they’re an easy walking distance from your hotel
Hi sissyhankshaw-Oh lucky you!
Haha yes! Yes it is, I think if you know what to order and have it all the time then perhaps you’ll encounter less misses. Will try the chili salt prawns next time! 
Hi Betty-Isn’t it just!
I think it was just what we needed for the time and the night althought here are so many other places but it was late and we were starving!
Hi Liv-Thankyou so much!
Hey that’s no problem! Everyone has different tastes 
Ahh bad childhood memories? 
Hi Anh-Thanks so much! Oh very lucky to be so close to all of those restaurants
Hi Ali-It was pretty good and my friend loved it (and she loves tofu)
Hi Megan -It can be done well but usually it’s too dry for me. I love the Peking sauce though. Nothing tricky really, it was for PRs and travel writers to find out more about blogging so the questions were quite different for both groups. I was amazed that it was packed and every seat was taken with some standing!
Hi Jetlagmama-Hehe yes it’s definitely a late night kind of place isn’t it
Hi Moya-LOL you have it in one
Yes true but there was no way we could just stick to that with so many people with different tastes!
Hi Ellie-Thankyou! Yes it’s the kind of place to keep up your sleeve if necessary and late at night
Hi thelma-Thankyou! Hehe me too
Hi Forager-I have a vivid memory for food
I really should take notes…
Hi the projectivist-Oh thankyou so much! It felt rather risky with a new hairdo
Hi sissyhankshaw -Oh very cool! I wonder what that’s like!
Hi Sophia-Hehe that was just a picture, we weren’t really sitting under one (yes that would be strange). No, really? It’s so good!
Hi Matilda-Nothing beats family recipes huh?
I loved it too, how much did I want one? 
What a great hobby! 
Hi Midge -Thanks so much!
I wish I could have some now 
Hi deeba-Thankyou! I was so relieved
Thanks so much!
Hi grace-Hehe most definitely suga’!
Hi FFichiban-Haha you’re such a metrosexual!
Hi nora-Hehe we should have a museum of food!
Hi rose-Your art pieces sound amazing *sigh*! Thankyou! Yes flavouring and seasoning is so important!
Hi Vanessa-hehe cool!
Hi Yas-Yes me neither!
Yep I agree, sometimes and some dishes are great and others less so 
Thanks so much!
Hi Brianna-Thankyou! I get my hair cut at Valonz in Paddington
Hi MrsDesperate-Thankyou so much!
Hi Suziwong66-Wow, you must have an amazing place! You sound like you really invest in your art
Thankyou!
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