New Moon

It is once in a blue moon that Perth gets to experience Dim Sim at NIGHT time, and so it is once in New Moon that we check out what this relatively new Dim Sim restaurant has to offer at DAY time (the less exciting time of day to be scoffing down Dim Sim nowadays!)

Anti-climax?

Maybe.

But the consistency we experienced here was something to get excited at.

Perhaps we have a new dim sim haunt to frequent from now on! And at seemingly abnormal hours too.

Steamed Fish Balls - $4.40

We order some balls to kick start our Dim Sim party, and these are definitely worthy guests. I'm impressed with these fish balls, especially after losing my fascination with them the older I grew.

Smaller sized than the usual huge white orbs served by other places, these are served atop sheets of bean curd skin that have delightfully soaked up the juices from the dish. The balls themselves taste more "real" and "fishy" (they are fish balls after all!), which is actually a good thing for once!

Because sadly, fish balls actually tasting like fish is something that doesn't happen too often here.

Steamed Bean Curd Pockets stuffed with Fish Roe - $5.80

Money catches anybody's eye, and these little money bags are no exception.

It's refreshing to see a new offering in dim sim menus and trolleys that you can usually recite off by heart. These adorable pockets are bean curd skins wrapping a sweet mushy fish roe filling, and knotted with what I think are dried lily buds. In their literal sense, golden needle vegetables, which are crisp to the bite.

Not only attractive, but taste pretty good too! Double win.

Money bag - the edible type

When I see a goodie bag, I'll jump on it. 

Because the best thing to do with your fortune - is to eat it!

Deep Fried Prawn Dumplings with Mayonnaise - $5.80

The next to arrive are 4 very good looking, golden tanned guests who are still fresh hot from the fryer. Flaunting very plump bodies full of meaty prawn fillings, the deep-fried prawn dumplings have crunchy skins that shatter with each bite, helped by little airy bubbles on the skin.

Mayonnaise is essential, if you plan on eating these while they are still burning hot!

Deep Fried Almond Prawn Cakes - $4.40

The first thing that catches your eye is the tightly packed and compressed amount of almonds that are loaded onto the prawn patties. Golden brown in colour and gloriously crisp, each bite cuts through a crunchy exterior of toasted almonds and consequential firm but springy bites of pressed prawn patties.

I think these kinds of layered "cakes" are starting to win my heart more so than the sweet kind do...

Almonds galore!

Almond saturation: an almond fan's heaven :)

Steamed Prawn Dumplings - $4.90

Every dim sim expedition has a must do, to order the well known har gow staple of the dim sum cuisine. These make a very regular appearance on every table, and no visit is ever complete without these as an important addition.

I personally think these are a good benchmark to judge the restaurant's quality standards, as it is important to make these famous dim sim landmarks up to scratch or exceed levels of adequacy.

We love Har Gou!

New Moon's har gou are in very fit condition when they join our feast on the table.

Extremely circular spheres thanks to the abundance of prawns securely wrapped in chewy, stretchy skins that are magnificently white and glowing with youth.

Steamed Spare Ribs in Black Bean Sauce - $4.40

Spare ribs at different dim sim restaurants are a bit of a hit and miss, depending on how good a day it is.

On the good days, you'll get good chunks of meat with a good lean meat to fat ratio.
This dish is one of those "good days" where you don't get the greasy ratio of fat to fat, however a more generous serving is welcome; one where the dish does not look like someone has already dived in!

Steamed Prawn & Chive Dumplings - $4.90

I'm beginning to grow fonder of this newer take on the standardised har gou. There are many similarities between the two, but the addition of chives adds a splash of colour and an extra fragrant and fresh flavour to the usual prawn dumpling.

A perfectly plump prawn-stuffed dumpling, chock full of springy, juicy prawns...
and the best kind of cross section I'd enjoy making a little too excessively :D

Steamed Beef Tendon in Szechuen Sauce - $4.40

Perhaps not to everybody's liking, beef tendon is a food that can be prepared and cooked in different ways and liked in even more ways.

I personally like them slightly hard so they retain their chewiness, however majority (usually) rules and most places will serve these up in their soft-edging-towards-mushy form. Coated in szechuan sauce with its distinct red colouring, the soft tendons have that sweet, salty flavour combination and slightly mild chilli undertones.

Deep Fried Cuttlefish and Pork in Bean Curd Wraps - $4.40

I'm not too overly fond of these golden pyramids, but since my welfare is usually ignored, these are always on the table and ALWAYS in front of me. These deep-fried dumplings are a family favourite (MY family favourite...) and are a must have.

Every. Single. Time. Without. Fail.
I have always likened these to hash browns; but then again, I'd be all over them if they really were hash browns!

Don't they look like hash browns?

Their warm golden brown tone makes them very deserving of their place in the deep-fried category of the menu. Simply named crab meat dumplings elsewhere, they have a very appealing title here at New Moon being cuttlefish and pork in bean curd wraps.

The bean curd wraps are certainly a nice, new, refreshing touch on the standard floury batter that covers the patty within. They provide a slightly crispy sensation and are much lighter than the usual batter.

Can't remember much of the amount of cuttlefish-ness or pork-ness in my bite, but I'd imagine dipping anything golden into chilli sauce is a winning combination.

Steamed Minced Pork & Prawn Dumplings - $4.90

Just like har gou, these siu mai are just as important to get right! The two usually go hand in hand, and will usually sit steamer by steamer right next to each other.

Juicy minced pork meat with smaller morsels of prawns are tightly pressed amongst opaque skins, a lot less glutinousy than har gou wrappers. Usually garnished with specks of fish roe, the dumplings taste quite lean - which is a relief for some and a disappointment for others.

Steamed Beef Tripe with Ginger & Spring Onion - $4.40

Continuing with our feast, the usual suspect of cow bits starts popping up on our lazy susan.

The tripe is done nicely here, not overly soggy nor hard and tiresome to chew. The touch of ginger is a nice touch, however overall the sauce might be a bit plain and watery clear for some.

Another (worse looking) tripe

Not as "perky" in looks as the first dish, this dish of tripe bears more resemblance to beef belly - yet another cow innard. Boy we just can't get enough of those organs! Belly..tendon..tripe..

And now I'm starting to talk utter tripe.

Pan Fried Glutinous Rice with Egg - $4.40

And when we were finally full, we started to round things up with a plate of pan-fried glutinous rice with egg. This is cooked fresh from the kitchen to order, and always comes out steaming hot as a result - evident from the heat that escapes upon lifting the golden egg blanket.

This dish is truly a sentimental childhood favourite of mine that is close to my heart. I loved and will always love eggs, and this egg omelette that wraps cosily around the mound of glutinous rice satisfies all my criteria.

Even more perfect is when the egg is not fully overcooked, so a little gooeyness remains that moistens up the rice when it combines with it. Pure, utter bliss.

Steamed Chicken & Chinese Mushroom Buns - $4.40

Not sure how these managed to sneak their way onto the table, but somehow they did.

And even though in their pure white bun-ny forms and neatly constructed outer appearance are here to impress, I'm less impressed with their personalities inside.

Right here to satisfy your curiosity of what's inside!

The filling is a hasty and mushy meat centre, offering not much to be excited about.
Buns are buns, unless they are sweet buns :)

New Moon's blocky steamers

A refreshing visual change from the usual round steamers is one with 4 added corners - because we all know that good things come in square bamboo steamers.

...

This is the one of the first restaurants I've come across (or have chosen to notice) that extends their Dim Sim offering beyond 3pm. It is one of the first of this kind, speaking by Perth's standards of course *mumble mumble* and seems to be quite successful in its own right.

Ironically it has been closed whenever I have gone past, and upon closer inspection of its trading hours does it reveal that you get your guilty night dim sim hit only 2 nights out of 7. New Moon Dim Sim Day & Night should really come with an asterix!

We were, however, delightfully pleased with the too many items on the table, all looking good, tasting fresh and comfortably priced. Service was a little lagging initially but as the ball got rolling and the lazy susan got spinning, everything picked up and staff efficiently delivered. There were dropped dishes and sauce splatters behind our backs (literally!) so while I wasn't over the moon with New Moon's service, they're getting the hang of it.

The attention grabbing thing that works in this new environment is the modern, polished design and understated class of the dining space. It has a spacious, comfortable layout and an overall blueish, cool coloured tones that drift throughout the restaurant's atmosphere. A really good job of giving the place a successful face lift from its preceding looks.

As the former business here was also a Dim Sim restaurant, here's hoping it is even more successful in maintaining the dim sim spirit that this location exudes.
And it will no longer be New Moon, as this might become my regular choice for dim sim - you won't be "new" to me for much longer.

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(08) 9328 8720
Tuesday - Sunday: 9.30am to 3pm
Friday - Saturday: 6pm to 10pm
Closed Mondays

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Kabuki

Not sure what sudden interest propelled me to drive 30 minutes just for some Kabuki.

Maybe it was the flood of positive reviews on Urbanspoon (I don't care what they say, Urbanspoon is always right.
...most of the time.
...sometimes.
...ok, when it isn't rigged and bombarded with painstakingly obvious self-praising comments like OHMAGAWWDDD best meal everrr, LOVE THIS RESTAURANT FOREVERZZZ XOXO!)

So because of its relatively high rating, here is another dinner featuring Japanese cuisine to add to my seemingly Japanese diet.
I've eaten so much of it.
I just might turn Japanese.

Una Don - $13

I've heard Kabuki's kitchen produces a mean sushi roll, but the idea of having sushi for dinner is far too unsubstantial for my gluttonous mind and stomach.

I've gone with their Una Don, out of my pure everlasting craving for eel. The star of the show sits in the centre, fanned out on top of glorious sauce soaked rice and glistening with teriyaki sauce. Simple garnishes of cucumber, tomato and carrot shreds are a nice touch, but a bit plain.
A dressed salad would work wonders instead.

I have yet to come across a poorly grilled eel in any of my dinners, as it seems that eel is just one of those things that work.

I appreciate a hearty slab of thick juicy eel, complete with delicate layers of skin and flesh having different textures and feels among them. The smooth, soft white flesh is beautifully moist with the fatty element, attached to a grilled chewy skin on the underside.

An absolute delight to eat. Could do with more. A lot more.

Salmon Teriyaki Donburi - $9.50

Looking strikingly similar, the noticeably more dehydrated sibling of the Una Don is this Salmon Teriyaki Donburi. Although presented in the same way, the slices of grilled salmon are disappointingly thin, and tongue-scratchingly dry as a consequence.

Overcooked salmon cannot be saved really, and even copious amounts of teriyaki sauce cannot bring back the moisture, that's now forever gone.

All donburi meals give you the option to add miso soup and salad for an extra $3 as items are not included. Oh you thought! And oh I wished!

Beef Tataki - $7

The starter that came after the main meals arrived - a gorgeous looking dish of neatly arranged beef in a shallow pool of tangy sauce. Apart from its appearance on this long slender plate, the sauce is also present in a separate bowl as dipping sauce.

I'll have my steak done rare thanks :)

It's odd, that I don't have the guts (or I have the guts, but my guts can't stand the sight) of pink steak cooked (well, uncooked) to the state of rare, yet I can stomach as much beef tataki you feed me. Pretty much the same thing, but just oh so different!

Described as "slightly cooked" on the menu, the slices of beef are lightly seared on the outer edges, leaving the centre raw and untouched in its deep pink, chewy form. Multiple tender beef strips are laid across a bed of shredded lettuce that have soaked up the vinegary sauce, perfectly marinating the beef fillets.

Vinegar dipping sauce

Big but thinly chopped garlic pieces and spring onion rings adorn the beef tataki and float amongst the tangy vinegar dressing to pack more flavour into the mouthful.

Having bathed in this sour liquid, the garlic pieces have soaked up the sourness into themselves, and resemble pickled garlic. They've lost a lot of their pungent odour and sharp garlicky flavour, and are much more milder in taste (should you decide to have a go at eating it!)

Green Tea

Tea is not free here, however at $1 or $2 per person, can get you a cute teapot of Japanese green tea. Upon taking off the lid to peek at what's happening inside (just like any kid would do), I was greeted with an abundance of roasted brown rice floating on the surface.

This gave the green tea a really nice, distinct nutty aroma that was really pleasant to drink. The pouring of tea process itself scared me a little, because the ability for a cup to suddenly break off from the handle is not unusual for me. True story. I bawled my eyes out. I was 5.

So, while the teapot appears so robust, it also seems delicately fragile. Just like myself.

...

After the plates, bowls and boxes were cleaned (via eating every last speck of food), admittedly it was not a truly satisfying meal. It wasn't bad, though it wasn't great either, and it certainly didn't live up to all the expectations I created out of the hype on Urbanspoon for it. Perhaps the comments are a little outdated, I'm a little skeptical and just a little late (as always).

The better side to Kabuki is its cheap and cheerful style, offering affordable meals at acceptable portions. The menu is not extensive but is well rounded with the usual Japanese cuisine items. Service is quite efficient however, you can't really judge that efficiency in a restaurant with only 2 occupied tables during dinner. Meaning, the 2 of us made up half their dinner crowd that night!

The shop exterior isn't anything to jump about, and the limited seating inside makes it popular for takeaway instead of dine in. The restaurant's design is simple and casual, with wooden flooring and plain, practical furniture and very warm yellow orange lighting. I can see why takeaway is more exciting.

More suited to its "little local takeaway eatery" status,  I'm guessing Kabuki is more popular with the "30 seconds around the corner" crowd, and not the "30 minutes from the other side of the river" type.
Gee, the lengths I would go to get good (and mediocre) food!

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(08) 9362 3550

Mon - Sat: 11am to 9pm
Sunday & Public Holidays: 5pm to 9pm

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