LOCATION Opposite Fishing Boat Harbour, 15 minutes walk from Fremantle train station.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAThose who appreciate fine Chinese cuisine will no doubt be familiar with the difference between the slop served from food hall bain-maries and dishes served at first-class restaurants. I’m not talking about your local Chinese take-away here; I’m referring to the likes of Joy Kitchen in Fremantle. After moving from its Point Street premises to the much larger Marine Terrace venue, Joy Kitchen seems to have accumulated a whole new throng of regulars. This could be attributed to fitting more people in but I believe it’s the more prominent street frontage, views of the Fishing Boat Harbour and most importantly, its consistency in serving superb Cantonese cuisine. There’s so much to say about this sensational fare that I’m not going to go into detail about the interior – although you can rest assured that it’s a far cry from the average local, with a contemporary style, modern furnishings and superb service.
As with most meals, starters give a pretty good indication of what’s to come. The sang chow bow knocks it out of the park. There’s no need to fret at this stage as the mains are just as good, if not better. With a reputable soft-spot for seafood I must pay special homage to the chilli pepper squid and honey king prawns. Both dishes are cooked to perfection using the freshest produce, making the temptation to order the same again very attractive. Alternatively, you could order dishes such as duck with plum sauce, pork with Peking sauce or Shanghai-style chicken and still get the same warm and fuzzy feeling. If you love a bit of drama and don’t mind the entire restaurant looking at you for a few minutes, the sizzling black pepper beef is super flavoursome. All I can say is it’s called Joy Kitchen for a reason!
Karen Bilsby