Golden Dragon Palace, Templestowe – The Age Good Food Guide review

The crowned king of Melbourne’s south-east yum cha generation is well known to loyal fans, having shipped his first steamer basket in 2002. Today, up to nine carts surround the Golden Dragon Palace’s 200-seat room, carrying ethereal translucent shrimp and chive dumplings, rich and scalloped siu mai.

Beautifully rolled and with fragrant fillings, their thin, flexible wrappers have been steamed to a tender softness. Cue the caramelized turnip cakes and slippery cheung fun filled with barbecue pork. The à la carte dinner menu is a heavy tome listing endless things that can be done to king prawns and other pricey items.

Returning to the genteel dim sum pageantry of Cantonese during this fiery, funky purple enclave for regional Chinese food in Melbourne may seem backwards. However, this Palace has a gravitational pull that draws cars to the Eastern Ring Road at will.

Best for: A dazzling death row dinner with your nearest and dearest.

Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and independently paid. A restaurant cannot pay for a review or inclusion on a list. Good Food Guide.