Chinatown Cafe is located close to the centre of the Grote Street and Gouger Street entrances on Moonta Street.  This place has two things going for it, it’s location and it’s cheap prices. The amount of foot traffic that goes past this place alone would keep the cash register ticking, however, all their main meals are under $10, which is equivalent to eating at the not so nice food courts. Their menu is fairly straight forward with a majority being noodle dishes. This place operates a little differently to other places. You have to order and pay for your meal before you can get a table. They have signs telling you this so don’t get too upset when the senior waitress has a go at you.

Tonight, I ordered the Mee Goreng. The dish came out after a 10 minute wait and was average in presentation. The serving size was generous considering the price. The noodles were well cooked although a little oily. The vegetables were lightly cooked and still maintained their crispness. The bean sprouts and dried onions added a nice crunchy texture. The dish was bordering on the bland side and lacked depth. It was edible but I’d have had better.

My friend had the Chicken Rice and was really happy with it. I’ve read good reviews about this particular dish so I won’t dispute it.

The staff here are not the friendliest, in fact, I would go as far as to say the reception was rather cold. The service was fairly fast and efficient. The customer turnover is high, and we didn’t have to wait too long at all to get a table. The meals came out quickly and we were eating shortly after ordering. The atmosphere was vibrant but we didn’t have problems hearing each other in a crowded room. The pricing also represents good value and is probably one of the cheapest dine in options in Chinatown.

The service wasn’t the best and my dish wasn’t much better.

WHERE: 38 Moonta St, Adelaide