Golden Swallow

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  10     

Like D_Roseville said, it is a quick takeaway chinese restaurant. The ambience and service don't need to be the best. The food is the best. I've been going to the restaurant for years and I have always walked out satisfied. I love the tofu and beef hot pots.

Oct 03, 2011 

6.5 Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  5      Service  3      Value  8     

Okay, I've noticed some of the reviews here on eatability regarding this establishment, I have gone to golden swallow approx 5 times. Every single time I have walked out with a full belly and a smile on my face.

Admittedly its pretty rough around the edges regarding ambience and service, but the food makes up for this. If you go get the: Sang tong Chicken, salt pepper squid, beef fried rice, mud crab with noodles. Its epic!

Aug 20, 2011 

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Disgusted with dining experience here. Noodle City was packed so we decided to go around the corner to this place. Oh how I wish we'd just gone to Maccas instead.

On being seated, our table, dishes and cutlery were dirty and covered with black specks. We asked for them to be replaced but even the replacements, although relatively clean, were chipped and uninviting. Waitress didn't say one word to us the whole time, and I'm Chinese.

Mini spring rolls were ok, though didn't taste like much. We were unsure what exactly the meat filling was. The sweet and sour sauce they were served with was so watered down it had barely any flavour.

The sweet and sour pork pieces were ok, though the carrots had a strange unpleasant after-taste to them. The honey chicken was terrible. The pieces of chicken were almost bitter because they had so much bicarb soda or something on them (presumably used to keep the meat 'tender') and there was no honey flavour. Worse than food court Chinese. Seriously.

At $25 head you'd expect so much more but we left feeling disgusted, unsatisfied and ripped off.

Feb 06, 2011 

7.3 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  9     

A great local Chinese restaurant with very simple decor but surprisingly good traditional food. If you know what to order the food is excellent with some dishes amongst the best Cantonese in Sydney. Great value. BYO with no corkage charges.

The pick of the dishes on the menu include Shantong Chicken, Shredded Beef fried in Plum and Orange Peel Sauce, Deep Fried Pork Rib with Spice and Salt, Steam Chicken with the best Ginger, Shallot and Garlic sauce on the side (need to smother the Chicken with the sauce).

They often have exceptional specials that are not on the menu. Ask Jenny for the Pacific Oysters in Soy, Ginger and Shallots, or the Fried Blue Eye Cod covered in Pork Strips and Traditional Chinese Vegies, or the Lamb Hot Pot (in Winter), or Mud Crab in Ginger and Shallots (when in season), or the Fried Tofu topped with minced Prawns (need to pre-order this).

Reminiscent of eateries in the Wan Chai district of Hong Kong with laminex tables and typical Hong Kong service. A great hang-out for a small group of up to six people but not really set-up for a large party, and not really a place for a quiet romantic evening.

May 30, 2010 

5.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  6     

I had been here recently with a group of friends for dinner. We had made a reservation, due to our number, but when we arrived they could've easily fit us in regardless (numbers did pick up a little through the night though). Parking is sparse in front of the restaurant, but plenty nearby train station parking.

The food is typical chinese style cuisine, oil, msg, and food dye featuring heavily, but lets face it if you wanted healthy food, then you've made the wrong choice. Each dish was well prepared, served on a characteristic lazy susan, and portions were large enough to satisfy all appetites.

The decor is tacky, at best, tables are widely spaced apart so as not to touch the adjoining patrons, but not far enough to escape their unavoidable conversation. The service though was decent, with someone hovering close by at all times, you felt comfortable to know assistance isn't too far away. This became overbearing though towards the end of the night when we were clearly the last to leave and the wait staff were all waiting around our table, making excessive noises with the metal pots and pans, and switching lights in the background off.

In summary, its a good place for a (very!) casual night out with friends, wanting a low cost chinese meal you don't have to drive too far for.

Jan 28, 2010 

7 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  9     

While not the shangrila, if you want trad cantonese food this is the place. Have been going here for years. Ask for any specials going like crab with ginger and shallots served over long life noodles or the special blue eyed code or the black mussels in black bean sauce or steamed chicken and baby buck choy with the ginger/shallot sauce (the real one). Stay away from the banquet and set meals.

May 15, 2009 

4.5 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  3      Value  9     

The food and service was unremarkable to say the least. The rice was actually cold, the pork dish we ordered was salty and undercooked. I had a chicken laksa, which looked pretty generous in its serving, but had more bones than chicken. There are better places to eat just down the road and around the corner, not coming back here again.

Apr 30, 2009 

6.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  7     

We've been coming here on and off for a few yrs - and while it's not a restaurant you'd go to for a date, it's great for a quick, casual meal. The salt and pepper squid was great, as was the fish & tofu hotpot.

Sep 03, 2007 

6.5 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  3      Service  5      Value  9     

It is meant to be a takeaway type of place! Don't expect too much. I spoke Chinese and still the service isn't great. Nevertheless, the food is always good as usual. I had the mined pork with crunchy egg noodles. I have heard the salt and pepper squid is awesome. That's what I am definitely trying next time! The dishes that I order are always YUM! The food is always delicious. The service is quick and efficient, just don't expect it to be too friendly.

Aug 24, 2007 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  10     

Here's the thing with the place, it's your typical takeaway Chinese. So why would someone expect marvellous service? Sure the decor isn't the best but the food is fantastic. Always fresh, always great value whether you want a take-away or a quick dinner, you can't beat this place.

Jul 26, 2007