Jade Palace(Chinese), Cooma

Sizzling garlic prawns, Jade Palace, Cooma

The Style: Jade Palace in Cooma is hard to miss - from the outside, it is all pagoda roofing, lanterns and lions. The inside of Jade Palace has had a tasteful renovation and looks crisp and fresh. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. Jade Palace has done something amazing for a country town Chinese restaurant - it makes you want to dine in rather than grabbing your takeaway and running! 

The taste: The menu at Jade Palace has all of the classic Chinese restaurant favourites. The difference is they are not greasy or stodgy and the sauces (thankfully) missing the fluorescent colour which seem to pop up in a lot of the 'dodgy' Chinese places. The helpings are generous without being ridiculously huge, the flavours are tasty and the vegetables are fresh. 

Mongolian lamb, Jade Palace, Cooma

Sweet and sour pork, Jade Palace, Cooma

The service: The service at Jade Palace is efficient - the staff are attentive and friendly without trying too hard. 

The price: Prices at Jade Palace, Cooma are on par with your average country location Chinese restaurant. Expect to pay between $12-$20 for your main.

The location: Jade Palace is located on Amos Street, Cooma overlooking Centennial Park (the park with the flags). It is on the right if you are heading from Canberra. The exterior makes it hard to miss!

Jade Palace Chinese, Cooma

The Chairman and Yip, Canberra

The Chairman and Yip, Canberra

The Style: The Chairman and Yip mixes lush drapes of fabric with paintings, floral displays and mercifully comfortable chairs to create an atmosphere you just want to stay in. For a restaurant with such a reputation, there is nothing pompous about the Chairman and Yip.

The Chairman and Yip, Canberra

The Taste: Lunch at the Chairman and Yip is a banquet only menu. There are two to choose from with six courses for $45 or eight for $59. The first three items were entree-style offerings, the remaining three were mains served with fluffy steamed rice. The duck pancake which was the first item to role out was absolutely delicious and set a high standard. There was a great mix of food with duck, chicken, ocean trout, chicken and beef dishes all included on the menu.

Roasted duck pancake with shiitake mushroom, The Chairman and Yip

Grilled field mushroom with cashew and herb pesto, the Chairman and Yip, Canberra

The Chairman and Yip's food is so far removed from the oily, fluorescent coloured mush which so many Chinese restaurants sadly dish up in this part of the world. The meats and vegetables were cooked to perfection in all of their natural glory - nothing processed, nothing canned and nothing coated in thick, bland sauces. The flavours were rich and tasty, some with a fresh zing, others with a peppery bite but all yummy.

Kurobuta pork cake with red wine vinaigrette, the Chairman and Yip, Canberra

Sesame crusted ocean trout with cinnamon infused soy, the Chairman and Yip, Canberra

Slow cooked wagyu beef in pombal sauce, the Chairman and Yip, Canberra

The Service: Having arrived without a booking and seeing how busy the place was, I thought we might be turned away. The staff did some quick reshuffling of furniture and managed to squeeze us in. Our order was taken quickly and the first three courses came out in (very) quick succession. I was still eating my pancake when a mushroom was popped onto my plate next to it. There was a break of about thirty minutes between the first three courses and the last which meant the whole meal stretched over nearly two hours. That said, it was two hours well spent.


The Crowd: The Chairman and Yip was packed. There were suits, romantic couples and shoppers taking time out.


The price: The lunch menu is made up of banquets at either $45 or $59 depending on your choice. For full menus, go to the Chairman and Yip's website here.

The Chairman and Yip, Canberra