North East China Family

302 Flinders Ln 

Melbourne, VIC 3000

Chris and I had a simple dinner at North East China Family. A real simple dinner. Because sometimes you’re just so tired and hungry you just want something comforting sitting solidly in your tummy.

The menu boggled a little, being a mix of Northern Chinese, Southern Chinese, and Aussie Chinese. Nevertheless, there is bound to be something that pleases everyone. 

Pork and Cabbage Dumplings ($9, 15pcs)

Pork and Cabbage Dumplings ($9, 15pcs) were a must-order. These plump parcels were reassuringly irregular, filled with a mince and vegetable mix, and the overall effect was one of hearty stodginess. The jar of chilli oil was a disappointing flavourless burn, but a dash of vinegar made things better. 

Spice Salt Squid ($18)

The Spice Salt Squid ($18) was battered with powdery rice flour, and fried into large golden florets. Though the squid leant towards mushiness, the batter was light and peppery with just the right amount of salt. Despite having a light texture however, the batter was rather too liberal in places, and ended up being a bit cloying towards the end.

I told you it was a simple dinner.

Rating: 11.5/20 – K.I.S.S.

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.