Citi Zen Chinese Restaurant
now located in the Brecknock Hotel
401 King William Street
Adelaide, South Australia 5000
W Not available
E Not available
T +61 8 8212 8383
F 08 8410 7212
OPEN 7 days lunch and dinner, Yum Cha trolley service Sunday only 11.00 am till 3.00 pm, other days order from menu
Citi Zen has moved across the road into the Brecknock Hotel, (yes we know Sacré bleu and whilst it might seem to be a strange location for a Chinese restaurant they have spent a lot of dosh and at least doubled their capacity with multiple private rooms upstairs and a very large nicely outfitted main dining room. Service was very shaky but they had only been across the road for two or three days and we have always loved their yum cha so cut them some slack for a couple of weeks! And, on the upside instead of waiting on the street for Sunday yum cha we can now wait in the bar…Ann Oliver 29 September, 2011
FOOD There is no better way to spend a Sunday afternoon in Adelaide than the 1.00 pm sitting of Yum Cha at Citi Zen. Travelling to China many times since 2004 has left a longing for the real food of China.
First it’s important to understand, on Sundays no booking no table!
Some wise patrons have a booking every Sunday and only ring the restaurant
when they cannot come. When quizzed about some uncommon dishes, restaurant
manager and part owner Amy, explained they keep it interesting, that
their regular clientele enjoy trying different things. The Crystal dumplings filled with prawn and celery were the start of a succession of really fantastic dishes. There are all the old favourites (including tripe and chicken feet) smattered with lots different dumplings, steamed bean curd wraps and much more. There are plenty of the fried offerings that Australians love, but steamed is our preference and they are especially good. Interestingly the best dish was pure fusion. Egglpant, soft and luscious and slightly spicy topped with clusters a fish and prawn dumpling and fluttering bonito flakes. Japanese anything remains unpopular with Chinese in China but good cooks always want to experiment with available ingredients.
Another important thing to remember about Citi Zen is that desserts are fabulous. Mango jelly restrainedly studded with a couple of sultanas and garnished with evaporated milk had just the right amount of sweetness and a long lingering mango flavour. The cold cherry studded tapioca cakes stuffed with coconut custard have a wonderful combination of texture and taste. The custard tarts are perfect in their flaky case that melts against the tongue, but the best is the warm sweet silken tofu with ginger syrup. By this time we were balloons about to burst but it was so good!
Staff are young and playful and make their bullying you into ordering more a fun game. They know the food and respond with enthusiasm to adventurous diners. To add further recommendation the restaurant is very well supported by local Chinese of all ages.
This is out favourite yum cha in Adelaide.
WINE Fully licensed this is a restaurant
that doesn’t find the need to flog bottle water and ice water comes
to the table free of charge on request.
