First Taste - Melbourne

I had an excellent experience at this restaurant with their delicious clay pot rice at an affordable price. I ordered the eel version and found the sauce to be perfectly seasoned. The sauce soaked into the rice, enhancing the flavor even more. The crispy base was also cooked to perfection. I highly recommend trying this dish.

Today, I tried the beef claypot at this restaurant and it was excellent. The beef was incredibly tender and the service was also very good.

This restaurant is excellent. I particularly enjoyed the clay dishes, especially the prawn ones. I brought my friends here on the second day and we all had a great time. I look forward to trying out the other clay dishes next time.

煲仔饭 • Bou Jai Fan • Claypot Rice<br/ Menu item: Salted fish and pork loaf<br/ <br/ A classic Cantonese comfort meal, the soul of the dish resides in the containment of all raw ingredients cooked together in a claypot over a large flame. Best with preserved meats such as Chinese sausage or cured duck, the contained cooking method allows for flavours of the meat to permeate through the rice as it cooks. The claypot will reach such high heat, any contact with the rice will cause it to crispen up and also develop a smokey toasted layer. Then it's ready to be served up with a side of soy sauce to taste.<br/ <br/ The pork loaf here is incredibly tender and has been prepared in such a way that it has a slight bite to it, a supple resistance bursting with juice, disintegrating after a few gentle chews. There is also a welcome smokiness fused with the crunch of the charred rice, very slight hints of sweetness and umami from the soy sauce, every bite, a flavourful and textural delight.<br/ <br/ For even more flavour they provide a piece of Cantonese style Salted fish (a cured product akin to anchovy, both of which I love) for that guilty, face scrunching, salty pleasure.<br/ <br/ I also noticed that the presence of the ginger shreds on top, which had been steamed with the meat, were there not only for flavour but also to counteract any presence of natural funk from the pork. The addition of the spring onion was also delightful, going beyond the purposes of a garnish but actually providing a necessary release from the heaviness of the overall meal.<br/ <br/ Served up fresh, steaming and hotter than the face of the sun, there is little alternative on a cold winters day.<br/ <br/ My ideal rating would be 8.7/10 but keep in mind it's brethren in Hong Kong has set for me an impossibly high standard. Still the best I have had in Melbourne so far, highly recommend.

First Taste is SUCH a belated find for me and after tasting the soups and claypot ginger salted fish pork+ rice combinations, which are the most authentically delicious things ever, I am riddled with regret. <br/ <br/ Aiming to be here every week from now on, makin’ my way down that menu.