Hidden Jade - A journey of Sichuan Taste

Hidden Jade is a stunning waterfront restaurant in Albert Park perfect for indulging in Chinese cuisine and fine wine.

Opened in February 2016, Hidden Jade is the first Melbourne venture for Sydney’s Red Chilli Group. Keeping in line with Red Chilli Group’s Sydney restaurants, Hidden Jade offers traditional Sichuan cuisine and made to order Yum Cha. The menu reflects different parts of Chinese culture, allowing diners insight and a comprehensive taste of China.

Gastrology were recently taken on a culinary journey through Hidden Jade's new menu by passionate restaurant manager, Locky Wang. Locky curated a special taste through the Sichuan province (where he grew up) for us and explained that Sichuan cuisine is largely misunderstood and that while the flavours of Sichuan cuisine are palpable, it is not all about blowing your mouth away with spiciness!

Our dinner commenced with Special boiled boneless chicken with spring onion sauce - a wonderfully traditional Sichuan dish which was full of flavour (and not spicy at all). We loved the aromatic spring onion sauce and the tender chicken that was succulently seasoned to perfection.

To follow, a refreshing plate of Sichuan special bean noodles with spicy sour sauce graced our presence. We loved the amalgamation of different textures and the spicy sour hit which was all about showcasing the unique flavour of the Sichuan pepper. The dish was served cold and this worked well as a refreshing start before the heartier mains.  

For mains, we fell in love with the Homestyle stir fried eggplants with prawns. This well-conceived dish was bursting with flavour and took full advantage of the eggplant’s most notable characteristic - its supple flesh. The thick pieces of creamy eggplant flesh melted in the mouth in a manner similar to unctuous pork fat. Together with juicy prawns, this was one gem of a dish that commanded respect.

Stewed pork ribs with mashed potato continued to please. A hearty dish of melt in your mouth pork with juices that just soaked into the potato. 

The Chef's special fish noodles in spicy sour broth was similarly delicious. The noodles in this case was the fish. Yes, you heard right. A popular Sichuan dish, this is one dish where the noodles itself is the fish. Who would have thought bouncy, fish-ball textured noodles make for a hearty slippery treat!

One of Hidden Jade's newest menu additions (sure to become a hit among regulars), the Stir fried Boston lobster fried rice makes an appearance. Far from being an ordinary fried rice, denied due love and attention, this was a welcome deviation from the norm and featured scrumptious morsels of lobster, truffle shavings and scallop. Each mouthful was truly gratifying. This is certainly a must-have. 

To finish, Chinese pancakes filled with red bean paste and banana hit the spot. A simple dessert that amalgamated the best aspects of banana fritters and red bean pancake, the pancakes were folded over delicately mashed banana and luxurious red bean paste. The pancake had a pleasant chewiness which contrasted nicely with the soft banana and its crispy exterior.  It was a simple but truly superb dessert.

Hidden Jade continues to raise the bar in Chinese cuisine with its latest menu. Bravo!

Location: Aquatic Dr, Albert Park
Phone: (03) 9682 5566
Link: www.hiddenjade.com.au/