Flavours of Peking

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  3      Value  1     

Absolutely terrible. This is the worst Chinese food we have ever had. We ordered from the specials, Peking Duck, Hot and Sour soup etc and pretty much every dish was awful. Lousy service too. With so much great Chinese food in the LN Shore and Chatswood this place is definitely one to miss.

Jan 10, 2012 

5.3 Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  3     

We try this place every couple of years to see if things have changed but whilst this visit was better than the previous ones, its still not there. It was a Monday night and the place was pretty full, which should be a good sign. We were the only aussies there so that should be a better sign.

All started well, with excelled Egg Rolls and Pan Fried Dumplings. For mains we had shredded Beef, Chinamans Hat and Kung Po Chicken.Maybe I'm wrong but I'm sure the chicken was served in Mongolian sauce. It wasn't the spicy dish I expected. All the dishes were okay but not outstanding and this is an expensive place for what is really just the local chinese.

We like to have a plate of steamed chinese veges as a side, but all these were $22, Twenty-two dollars for a plate of Bok Choy! Indeed that seems to be the cheapest price for anything on the menu except entrees. The serves are pretty generous but it is overpriced for what they serve. I guess it'll be another five years before we give it a go again.

Jul 06, 2011 

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  8     

Good place to come to literally taste the Beijing flavours. Non-Peking style dishes are just average but the pages on the menu for Peking-style noodle, pastry, and Chef's recommendations are worthwile trying. We love the dumplings here. They are thick and large and so filling. We also always like to start with cucumber and shredded chicken vermicelli, which is yum! The peanut and soy sauce is lovely. The noodles are also hand-made (like the dumpling skins) and are delightful to try.

You can tell this place serves authentic Peking sytle by the number of Chinese families that come here to eat. Better to come during the hourly hours to get your food quickly. It is also a great place to have functions as it has a separate room.

May 19, 2011 

6 Average

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  6     

Like so many chinese restaurants, Flavours of Peking is not hip, modern and flashy in decor or service. People go here for the food which is always good if you order things like the Hot and Sour soup, Vegie dumplings, Sen Jen Bao and Tea smoked duck.

Dec 31, 2010 

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  7     

Good quality local chinese.

Dec 19, 2010 

6.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  7     

Excellent Peking duck, steamed vegie dumplings, pot-sticker pork dumplings with red vinegar and ginger, avoid the cliches and seek out the northern Chinese specialties (pastries and noodles) and you won't be disappointed.

Sep 19, 2010 

3.3 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  1      Service  9      Value  1     

Tragically, we were expecting good Dong Bei food according to other reviews. However, the food was very disappointing and expensive when considering food quality and ambience. At least the service is excellent, but again doesn't justify the prices. This is closer to Aussie Chinese than North Eastern China.

Dec 17, 2009 

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  9     

We hope this review does not sound condescending, but Westerners are much more likely to enjoy Flavours of Peking if they know a few facts before they visit.

China has many regional cuisines. This restaurant specialises in food from northern China, where the big cities are inland and it is too cool to grow rice. Wheat is the staple crop, so the cuisine features dumplings, pancakes, noodles and buns. The food is heartier and less delicate than Cantonese, and is based on duck and pork instead of seafood. You can certainly order chicken and almonds or honey prawns here, but it is like eating steak and chips at a curry house.

This is not the place for a quick, cheap meal or a romantic date. Like the chinese, come here in a large group and celebrate with a banquet, because the best dishes are spectacular, elaborate, expensive set-pieces that feed 4-6 adults.

Examples we have tried include: Peking duck (crispy skin pancakes with sweet BBQ sauce, then minced duck meat in lettuce leaf cups and finally soup), Beggar’s Chicken (must be ordered in advance: chicken stuffed with pork, black mushrooms, ginger and gingko nuts, wrapped in lotus leaves and baked inside a bread shell to seal in the juices, arrives flaming at the table) and chrysanthemum fish (fried whole fish, crispy skin scored into diamonds, served with sweet and sour sauce and pineapple). Our kids favour the Peking Duck, Grandma (from Scotland) the fish.

The toffee-apple dessert (fried in batter, then coated in toffee and cooled off in ice-water at the table) is fun food theatre. So popular with the kids, we now have to order four serves (24 pieces). European diners need to bring a sense of adventure to try dishes such as jellyfish, sea cucumber, pig’s ears (Thousand Layer Wind), duck’s feet in mustard sauce, and preserved eggs. The first four have a rubbery/cartilaginous texture which Chinese prize but Westerners often dislike. The eggs taste musty. The only one our kids like is the pig’s ears (crunchy but spicy). Dad loves them all.

You come here for the food. The surroundings are pleasant but unspectacular. The kitchen gets stretched on busy nights and can be quite slow. Some waiters do not speak English well and so may appear unhelpful or surly. Do not be afraid to point to dishes that other diners are enjoying and ask what they are. If all else fails, owner Judy is usually at the cash register and can help. The staff seem to warm to Western diners “brave” enough to try the specialties.

No Sunday surcharge; watermelon, orange and fortune cookies served complimentary at the end of the meal - we usually spend about $35/person for our banquets including steamed rice, tea and the compulsory toffee-apples.

We have eaten here five times and every occasion has been memorable. Our kids vote the food 9 to 10. Less-adventurous adults may not enjoy all of the dishes at Flavours of Peking, but will at least have expanded their food horizons. Hey, there are only so many times you can eat rib-eye fillet and creme brulee!

Jun 15, 2009 

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

Very popular restaurant with delicious Chinese food. There is a car park underneath which is convenient and they do a good take away/home delivery. The service is generally good, however, they do get a bit stretched when the restaurant is full.

May 26, 2009 

4.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  7      Value  2     

Food is so so. Extremely expensive for a suburban restaurant. The bill was $160 for 4 people!! No Peking duck ordered and the only seafood was the prawns. Only 2 beers were consumed. Better food in Ashfield. The Peking shredded beef is awful - taste like a dish of lard. Don't know where the beef is. Would not recommend and would not go again.

Feb 09, 2009