Lucky Chan’s is Perth’s first crowdfunded restaurant. Interested punters could contribute by signing their name signed on a wall or impart your wisdom on a step for $5 or $175 respectively. 672 punters put in and Lucky Chan’s ended up raising $112,000, well over their $100,000 target during the 60-day campaign. It opened about a six weeks ago.
It’s a narrow little eatery has a crazy Asian-Urban influenced fit out makes is tricky to climb the stairs – there’s so much stuff to look at everywhere – on the walls, floors, stairs, ceiling, mezzanine.
Of the three floors, the roof top is the best space – high above busy William Street three floors below. The city skyline is in the near distance and it’s wonderful to see it from a higher perspective. On a warm and sunny autumn day, the roof terrace was a great place to be. The tables are probably a bit too close together, but it wasn’t busy the day we visited, so no bother to us.
The menu is short and sharp and not much is paleo friendly. It was one of my 20 per cent off-paleo days when I visited (planned that way), so all was okay. If you are avoiding grains, then avoid Lucky Chans. It’s all fresh dumplings and hand made ramen noodles – and worth going off-paleo for.
The two ‘from scratch’ dumplings we shared were prawn, snapper, squid ink mai and caviar ($13) and the sticky beef shin and liquoice gyoza ($14). The prawn dumplings had a pungent fishy smell that put me off, most likely from the squid ink. Not for me. But the beef ones were amazing – soft tender beef, slightly sweet, perfect dumpling casing, finger-licking-good.
The ramen noodles are made in-house and a bowl of Shoyu ramen ($14.90) with Hanoi chicken, 62 degree egg, fishcake and nori is what I had next. The noodles were a wonderful texture, still with integrity (not mush). The broth was really tasty, perfectly seasoned, and the gorgeous 62 degree egg oozed all through it. What I didn’t like was what looked like seafood substitute. The waitress didn’t know what it was when I asked, only to return to inform us that it was fish cake. It looked wrong, so I didn’t it.
Lucky Chan’s is hot right now in Perth. The prices are really very reasonable. The drinks list is excellent, and the service friendly. Would I go back? Absolutely, especially if the sun was out, I’d be heading straight for the roof terrace.
FACT FILE
Lucky Chan’s
311 William St, Northbridge
getlucky@luckychans.com.au
Seems to be a great restaurant. I must say bars and dinning room in Perth are simply great at serving superior food and drinks. Whether one prefers street food, cafes or classic cuisines of home country, there’s a sport for everyone.
I agree, we certainly are spoilt for choice in Perth 🙂