Perhaps it wasn’t the wisest move going to the Sydney Fish Markets the week before Christmas. I think I was lulled into a state of denial by hunger and eager opportunism and the compulsive urge to try somewhere new. I was taking my “team” that is my lovely hair stylist and makeup artist Elly and Joel from Stevie English salon to lunch. And before you think “Who on earth has a team?” it was a temporary dream team for me, we were doing a shoot (I can’t wait to tell you all about it!) and whilst I wish they were my permanent team, alas I awoke a few days later and did my own hair and makeup-badly I might add 
Chosen because all love yum cha, we decided on a new venue that was set apart from the Chinatown crowd, for no reason apart from wanting a nice view. Of course the uncooperative partner for this plan was the weather and we had buckets of rain which made the stalking experience in the car park all the more unpleasant.
We arrive at 1pm on time for our booking but you don’t really need to book here. It’s a large room on the first floor of the Sydney Fish Markets building, quite busy and yum cha is in full swing. Large Chinese families dispense with the yum cha and order celebratory king crabs, whole fish and lobster. This is Elly and Joel’s second time at yum cha and I’m just going to broach the topic of chicken’s feet with them here 
Out of nowhere a woman appears with three plates of roast duck on pancakes and we nod eagerly. The first few moments of yum cha always seem to be filled with an overwhelming urge to order everything. Elly, Joel and I are hungry, particularly Joel whose eyes are bobbing up and down with excitement, pupils dilated at the trays of food swimming past us. We grab a bit of everything from the steamed dumpling tray and sit back and sample our choices.
Duck pancake $5.50
The roast duck pancake is actually rather good with the crisp duck skin and dark meat, baton of refreshing cucumber and sweet, moreish sauce. Also of course there is the obligatory sauce drip down your hand as you lift it to your mouth.
Scallop dumplings
Now the prices for each of these are a bit all over the place as they just stamp and I never check but medium dishes are $5.20, large dishes are $6.50, specials are $7.80 and BBQ’d items are $14.80. The scallop dumplings weren’t bad, they weren’t the ones with peanuts in them which I don’t like much at all but they were full with scallops.
Vegetable and scallop dumplings
The vegetable and scallop dumplings were quite good with one burst open but quite honestly I was on the hunt for my favourite prawn dumplings and these were really biding my time until the trolley lady came around. And the trolley ladys are quite good here making sure that you get what you want even if they aren’t quite as frequent as you would like with about three covering the floor during service.
Dim sims
The dim sims are quite good, I’m not a huge dim sim eater but I do like the fact that there’s a fat prawn at the bottom of each dim sim to give it extra flavour and texture.
Char Siu $14.80
The char has nice thin pieces, a good sauce and a mixture of not too lean pieces for I am Jack Sprat’s wife and can eat no lean when it comes to char siu.
Eggplant dish $7.80
The trolleys were slowing down at this point but we were still quite hungry so we ordered these. There are three pieces per plate, two with eggplant where the eggplant is nice and soft and there’s some seafood mince on top. The third is tofu with a seafood mince on top and it sits in the same thick, slightly sweet garlicky ginger sauce.
Prawn dumplings
I always feel unsettled until I get a steamer of these and these were the highlight. Packed full of delicious, large prawns, they’re so satisfying each bite providing that lovely texture that you get from perfectly cooked prawns.
Chicken’s feet
The trolley lady opened up one steamer to reveal…chicken’s feet. Now I don’t really see the big deal as I grew up eating these (only the ones with sauce though, the steamed ones are not my cup of tea). But I know that Mr NQN refuses to eat them as does everyone but my mother and I. So I assumed that Elly and Joel wouldn’t be interested in them. The trolley lady smiles and says “they’re very nice”. Joel and Elly look at each other and they both say that they’ll give them a go. I explain that they will be bony and just to discard the bones discreetly. They give them a go and whilst they like the sauce, perhaps we will need to play footsies with more chicken feet to get them used to the idea!
Mango pancakes
Dessert time is very important and Elly chooses the mango pancakes. They’re paper thin crepes wrapped around mango and whipped cream and disappear in a matter of a few light bites. I think you could easily scoff a plate of these and feel none the heavier.
Mango pudding
The mango pudding was Joel’s choice and had quite a bit of real mango throughout it. It was covered in evaporated milk and it disappeared quickly although out of the two, I really preferred the pancakes.
Sweet tofu
I ordered the sweet tofu so that they could try it. It’s Mr NQN’s favourite (he once ate three bowls at yum cha) and it is a lightly sweetened silken tofu. I prefer it sweeter than this one although it is a large serve.
It was a fun lunch with my dream team. The selection isn’t anything unusual and it lacks some wow dishes but the dumplings are well made and freshly steamed. If you’re looking for more unusual yum cha offerings, you would be best to go to Chinatown.
So tell me Dear Reader, which is your favourite item at yum cha and why?
Fisherman’s Wharf Seafood Restaurant
Sydney Fish Markets
1 Bank St Pyrmont NSW 2009
Tel: +61 (02) 9660 9888
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57 Comments | Add your own
I love the BBQ pork rice rolls!! They are so soft and slide down your throat!! I also love the lotus leaf sticky rice! Your yum cha looked yummy!
I simply adore Yum Cha and love it best of all in Hong Kong where they really do it well. Not sure if I have a favourite, though I know for sure that chickens feet will remain an untried mystery to me – and that’s the way I like it!
I’m very timid when I go to Yum Cha and don’t like to order anything I consider hard-core so no chicken feet for me. I think they’re something you have to have been introduced to when very, very young. Definitely my favourite dish is the duck pancakes. I could eat many. Shame about the weather.
Oh how I wish I had access to such food–it’s been far too long for me! I’ve never had mango pancakes before and I must say they look delish!
Yum! I love yum cha. I have so many favourites but really love the prawn dumplings and the prawn rice noodle dish smothered in a sweet soy sauce.
Looks OK, we tried IRON CHEF at Cabramatta and it was pretty good. David
We went to the Sydney Fish Markets at 10:30pm on the 23rd to buy all of the Christmas menu seafood. It’s always packed and after we had been there quite a while, hordes of people were still coming in to eat and buy.
I’m with you, if you’re after real Yum Cha then Chinatown is the place to go.This would suffice for a quick bite or if very hungry.
Was very spoilt yesterday for my birthday by family & friends, then my dear husband took me to Balla at The Star for a delicious meal, very busy and the food & service exemplary.
You didn’t have a post yesterday, too much Christmas cheer? lol
My favourite thing at Yum Cha are those rice noodles that are served in a roll with that sauce poured over them (forgive my inarticulation here). They are so slippery and moorish!
The prawn dumplings & dim sims
as my Aussie/ English partner can these two items so perfectly in Cantonese : )
My favourite are the chicken feet. I took a German friend out for some the other day and he was very scared and terrified
I can’t pick just one favourite! For me, a yum cha isn’t complete without some char siu bao, cheong fun and egg tarts.
Good strategy to have lunch with the team, it would be a step towards becoming more permanent?
Oh, char siu, its been a while.
I LOVE chicken feet, don’t ask me why, I can’t explain it. I love it done all ways, with the red sticky sauce, white with ginger and salt and black bean, bring it on!
My favourite item(s) at yum cha would have to be prawn dumpings or steamed BBQ pork buns or mango pancake….. yum.
Anything that is steamed and not oily! However, I have a biased for:
prawn dumplings
steamed beancurd rolls
steamed bbq pork buns!
After reading this, I feel much better about the yum cha we have in Canberra! I love so many yum cha dishes, especially when you do get some ‘wow factor’ dishes – but I love anything wrapped in rice noodle, I love the plates of greens and for dessert I am totally addicted to bean paste sesame balls – I could live on them! I am so dying to find out about your ‘shoot’ as you have mentioned it before and I quickly understood that it would be something to be revealed in the fullness of time! But I really am looking forward to the ‘reveal’. I am also looking forward to your book being released in the coming year, we have had to wait far too long now
Oh, Lorraine, me wanna all of that NOW
! The place looks gorgeous and the food more so – this is truly going down on my bucket list! When my children were growing up, we went for yum cha almost every Sunday we were free and never ceased having fun. I suppose my favourites would be the dumplings, especially prawn and other seafood 
! Loved the look of your char siu and the eggplant dish, and tho’ chicken feet are usually not quite my favourite either, yours I would have tried any day! Thanks for the post!!
I avoid the fish markets like the plague! Woefully inadequate parking and too small for the number of people in Sydney. Funny how we think of it as a bit of a tourist attraction- I would be embarrassed to take an overseas guest there.
I actually went to two yumchas in the last two days, one on Christmas Day and one on Boxing Day. The restaurants were SO packed…:( Service ended up being poorer and food not as lovingly prepared (although yumcha items probably never were to begin with) but I like yumcha so I still enjoyed them.
My favourite yumcha dish would have to be…prawn dumplings…or the spinach one, it’s a must order for us. I love chicken feet too! But hardly anyone eats them with me
Last time I ate them, I had 3 out of the 4 
Lorrainne… Im soo happy you went here… This is my fav yum cha restaurant, because they are cleaner and the staff are nicer
I am similarly enamoured with har gau. I also always order siu mai, pai gwat, chee choeng fun, yeung tau foo, gai larn, daan tart and ma lai gou (if they have it), too. I don’t care that it’s predictable – that’s what I want to eat when I go yum cha.
Lorraine, you’ve got me craving my next yum cha fix!!
Ooh, now NQN has a posse/ entourage/ team? How exciting, I can hardly wait to find out all about it!
My favorite yumcha dish has to be the bbq pork noodle rolls, or glutinous rice balls, or stuffed eggplant, or steamed pork ribs,or hargow, or… Or….or… Don’t make me choose,I love them all!
Oh Lorraine Christmas is now a far off dream as we stagger into new year 2012…Where did the time go?? I love Yum Cha I do however, have a preference to the steamed goodies. Which reminds me of a joke… How do you know you are eating in a posh restaurant? The chicken feet have their nails manicured! I do love beautifully sauced chicken feet…Happy new year!
I love pork buns! Pork buns! Pork buns!
I have to say that the mango crepes looked tempting (as I have a mango addiction).
Yum cha at the Fish Markets? I didn’t know about that! Thanks for the headsup!
In answer to @Clare: I happen to have quite a few foodie friends in the Diplomatic Corps etc – funny, one of the first places in Sydney they take their guests for a look and a meal are the Fish Markets! They have both knowledge and the money. Can afford to choose. I am writing this so that future visitors to Sydney are not necessarily put of by onesided comments. To each their own!
I didn’t know you could go to yum cha here!. Looks good. i find people get so squeamish about things, I’m pretty willing to try most things besides anything like snake hearts raw or fried spiders, against these chicken feet are tame and deliciously gelatinous!
I love yum cha! The duck pancake is my favourite – who can resist duck with hoisin sauce?
In my family, yum cha isn’t yum cha without ending with dan tarts
And remember, Spay Lady, when you do build a for-realz dream team, Ima gonna be in it, okay? To get your coffee and help finish off all the desserts, and hold your slippers during international flights
Hi Lorraine,
My all time favourite,flaky custard tarts,so lovely to finish the yum cha off with.
Yum cha is my favourite!! I had no idea about this place. Thanks for sharing and I can’t wait to hear about your photo shoot!
stalking experience??????
Hi LS Gourmet-jut a stalking experience for a car spot, nothing too sinister
Mmm, could totally go some siu mai now. Love that cheese sign board…!
The first pic took me straight back to my trip to the Sydney fish market earlier in the year. It was oysters and fish and chips that day…had a lovely yum cha at Chinatown when I went back to Sydney in October…great photos
Your shots of dim sum are making me hungry. They look so delicious.
Hope you had a very Merry Christmas
I’ve never had yum cha so was fascinated to read your account…very jealous of you having the incredible Sydney Fish market on your doorstep
What lovely dimsum! Oh, but I’ll pass on the duck; after two days of duck over Christmas, it’s a tad much even for me!
Love yum cha it’s such a Chinese weekend thing hehe
do it all the time with my parents.
My favourite dish would have to be dim sim (siu mai) I’ve got a friend who’s dad is a dim sim chef gotta ask him to teach me some dim sims one day
Hope you get your dream team soon Lorraine! I know I would love a dream team to do my hair and make up everyday hehe
Mmmm.. yum cha! I love the pork buns & prawn dumplings best. I’ve tried chicken feet before (just steamed) but i’m not a big fan of all the bones. They reminded me or frogs legs
That *so* beats my local market
I only get jealous with a post like this. Nashville isn’t serving anytime soon. But, I think I might leave the chicken feet all for you.
i love peking duck pancakes although its abit steep at 5.50 a pop YUMMO!
My favourite dish at Yum Cha is the mango pudding, closely followed by those football dumplings! (Pork and mushroom I think they are, lol). I tried chicken feet once – definitely an acquired taste
My favourite at yum cha is probably prawn dumplings and mango pancakes. Yum. Didn’t even realise this place was even there. Definitely need to bring myself to try the chicken feet.
My fave yum cha items: curry octopus, duck pancake, sio mai (that’s a classic!), fried taro duck ball, tau fu with shrimps…
I’m amazed at how you are able to take good photos of your yum cha before they get attacked! That never happens in our family. We’re all vultures! Hahaha! Belated Merry Xmas, Lorraine!
Dear Lorraine,
I’ve never been to their yum cha but their dinner seems to be quite decent since the seafood is really fresh. My fave yum cha item is definitely wu gok
I believe we call that Dim Sum, Lorraine, and OMG, you weren’t kidding about the chicken feet! The rest of the food looks amazing, I wouldn’t know when to stop! Lucky “team”!!!!
My favourites are definitely in the dessert line. Thsoe wonderfully flaky custard tarts, and also the coconut jelly.
I’m keeping this post in mind. I hope to be in Sydney this coming year. I really miss the delights of Chinatown.
Salt and pepper squid always my favourite. I have been known to go for more even after my mango pancakes. I love the Yum Cha at the Fish Markets especially with kids because you can book tables, parking is easy, you can do some seafood shopping and my kids are entertained for ages watching the fishmongers at work.
My favourite are the prawn/garlic chive dumplings…love yum cha! Just had dinner but now craving dumplings after reading your post
I probably shouldn’t say this but I’m not a huge fan of yum cha. I like to know exactly what I’m eating before I get it and the only one I’ve been to they kept forcing the food on us! Not that I don’t like food being brought to me though!
I don’t care how ordinary this is – I am jealous of anyone who has ready access to these delicious looking treats.
Sadly, Newcastle is not known for its access to yum cha.
mmm mango pancakes but its actually hard to choose one when its all SOOO GOOD !!
and hey the chicken feet were trying to play with me!
Thanks again it was so much fun, its not hard to make someone beautiful when u already are xxx
i never liked chicken feet when i was growing up…i just thought they were scary. but a friend of mine brought me to Rhodes Phoenix Yum cha and the rest is history! I order them every time i go for yum cha. My mother-in-law once tried cooking it “Philippine adobo-style” and it was sooo good!
Football dumplings and coconut jelly every time. If you’re in Melbourne I recommend Shark Fin restaurant at Keysborough. It’s a fair way out of town and there is another Shark Fin restaurant in Melbourne’s Chinatown. But for some reason we always find the Keysborough food better prepared.
What a coincidence – I just moved to an office across from the Fish Markets!
I’m there for lunch, now I know they have a Yum Cha set up there!
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