It’s another well-known fact that cooler weather makes you (or is it just me?) so very very hungry!

Mr EatMe Brisbane and I set out to warm up and pig out. After being very cheerfully greeted by the wait staff at Dragon Inn we were given our choice of tables. We sat outside to enjoy the newly refurbished china town mall. I ordered jasmine tea to start off. It arrived promptly, however it did have a dishwater flavour to it. Bummer.

After a short wait, our starter, steamed dim sims, arrived. They are served in a cute metal steamer and are accompanied by a perfectly sweet and salty sesame oil and soy dressing. YUUUM. These are seriously good and seriously cheap. As you would expect of a dumpling they have an amazingly flavourful pork and herb filling.

The main course- we ordered the chicken, mushroom and black bean hot pot and mussels in XO sauce. The mussels arrived first and were perfectly cooked and seasoned. They were NZ green-lipped mussels that were scrubbed clean and stir-fried through XO sauce. They were succulent and flavoursome and the seafoody, garlicky, chilli quality of the XO is the perfect accompaniment.

Next up what we came for- the hot pot. In a word it is fabulous. Braised chicken with giant gloriously dark brown shitake mushrooms and button mushrooms glistening with spring onion and black beans. The slightly thick braised sauce with it has a delightfully delicate flavor that work oh so well together. This dish epitomizes savoury comfort food for me. YUM.

Before leaving we are given the ubiquitous orange as a refreshment. We leave full and happy. Every time we have been to Dragon Inn we are never disappointed. Great service , good food and cheap. The feast cost only about 40 dollars (honestly it’s enough to serve at least 3 ppl).

Dragon Inn Chinese Restaurant

Chinatown Mall

Fortitude Valley

(07) 3252 4770