Stir Fry Cafe - Pullenvale

We've been going to Stir Fry since 2010. Don't come here if you want nice restaurant surroundings. It's decor is of the cheap and cheerful theme. However, this no-pretense joint is a family favourite for Chinese, Malaysians, Singaporeans, etc living in the area. Chef/Owner, John, is a Hong Kong chef who's been at the helm for over a decade. He serves up brilliant Cantonese fare devoid of msg, as evidenced by his huge vat of stock on constant boil in the back burner. There are English menus, of course, but the Asian regulars simply tell John what they want to eat and he'll cook it up. Best Cantonese in the Western suburbs and cheap! If ordering from the English menu, best to stick to the 'Recommended or Chef's Favourites' list.

Family got together for a night of footy and decided Chinese take-away was the go. Four adults, so we ordered their "A" buffet special, adding another main and another rice. All up cost was $62.00 so at $15.50 a head we figured it was good value. Tasted good too! We had S&S Pork, Beef with Chilli Sauce, Chicken & Almond, Mongolian Lamb and two Special Flied Lice. Oh, and they threw in a few Fortune Cookies. Turn around time was excellent. We've never eaten in, but if you're happy with basic laminated tables, good food and great value....give it a go. Not the place to "pop the question" or a romantic night out, but no complaints from any of us.....and our footy picks won too!

We ordered the following dishes, I provide a review for each dish.1. Duck and plum sauce. This was quite nice.2. Sweet and Sour Pork, this was pretty poor, the worst sweet and sour pork I've had. Some of the balls didn't have any pork, just dried up batter with battered goo inside. The other balls had teeny weeny bits of pork in them, I opened a few of them up and could see the measley bits of pork.3. Singapore noodles, very average4. Mongolian lamb, the lamb meat was gorgeous, very tender and melted in mouth, sauce was quite nice. Heaps of vegetables, maybe too many.5. Special fried rice, very average.Probably wouldn't go back here, I'd go to the Chinese at Sumners Road which is much better.

We frequently ate at this Cafe and kept going to it because it has ample parking in the Jindalee Shopping Centre. The prices of the Asian dishes were reasonable and overall the food tasted good. As it is a family run business we found the service could improve. Recently When we were there recently for Sunday lunch, there were about 40 guests. The lady boss was the same person taking orders, brought out the food & managed the cash register resulting in disappointing service.

The Chinese name of the cafe - 'fuhua yuecai' - renders as 'Wealthy China Cantonese food'. From the English menu, you only can find food styled towards Australian tastes - salty, sugared and totally unlike anything you'd find in Guangdong. I asked for the Chinese menu, and found a few differences from the English menu, but nothing resembling Cantonese food. The staff were friendly - from Zhongshan and Hong Kong. So I don't know why the menu is not more "real".We tried shandong chicken - deep fried chicken ; gong bao ji ding - chicken cubes with peanuts and a spicy sauce; and kou rou - steamed pork belly. All were basically average. The shop boasts "no added MSG", but I think they substitute salt in its place.As I am not a local, I don't know if you can find real Cantonese food in this area.