T-Chow is an absolute Adelaide institution, and one I’ve spent many fun nights at. The venue and it’s accompanying Chinese menu are a source of great comfort for me, reminding me of hospo Christmas parties, the beginning of late nights out on Hindley Street and a source of nourishment after said big nights. T-Chow has been serving the people of Adelaide for 25 years, and after bouncing from success to success, has just reopened after an exciting renovation.
Still at the same beloved location nestled in the heart of Chinatown, the renovation includes updates to the main dining room and the addition of three private dining rooms. Two VIP rooms will be able to accomodate up to 30 people each, and a VVIP room will be perfect for more intimate groups of up to 15 people. The new dining spaces can also be opened up to flow into the main area, creating a large event space that can seat up to 250 guests.
My last trip back to Adelaide happened to coincide with the reopening of T-Chow, and I couldn’t hit that RSVP button fast enough. Super excited to check out the new space, I popped past with two of my closest friends in Adelaide, Millie and Natalia, to sample some of the menu and toast to T-Chow’s success.
Tasty bites from the menu we tried were plump prawn hargow (my fave), shumai, spring rolls, crispy calamari and a whole suckling pig (!!). I can confirm, after so many years away from Adelaide, T-Chow has not lost its touch. The food was still delicious and comforting, with the menu continuing to offer Western favourites like sweet and sour pork and lemon chicken, seamlessly blended with authentic dishes like peking duk (something the restaurant is particularly known for) and plenty of yum cha. The live seafood tanks have also stayed, ensuring you can get still get your fix of fresh mud crab and lobster.
One of the highlights of T-Chow has always been its accessibility, which remains. Smaller plates still sit around $10-15, with bigger dishes at $20-30. The seafood naturally costs more, but is still at a much lower price point that you’ll find at many other establishments. The allure of BYO is another constant, making dining at T-Chow a super affordable evening.
You can check out T-Chow’s new fitout any day of the week, with the restaurant open Monday through to Sunday 11am-3pm and 5pm-11pm.