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Really enjoy the Yum Cha

4 Posted on 02 / 26 / 2013

I visit Sydney regularly, but funnily enough have only been to Green Gourmet twice, but both times the yum cha has been great.
Good atmosphere, friendly staff, and the variety of dishes is worth a try for anything visiting.
Some of the fried yum cha options were a bit overly greasy and oily, however the steamed options like the buns and the dumplings were excellent.
Can get a little pricy if you want to sample alot of the dishes, but I have left both times very satisfied.

Pros: great yum cha, excellent variety of dishes, good atmosphere
Cons: some dishes very oily and greasy, can get expensive

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Worth going out of your way for

4 Posted on 02 / 15 / 2013

Really good vegan food! Yum Cha is awesome, and the buffet gives you the chance to try a good range of things all in one visit.

If you're only visiting Sydney (like me), it's only a couple of train stops out of the city, and an easy walk from the station. Well worth it, I always try to make time to pop in when I'm in town.

Don't forget to check out next door as well, vegan cakes, ice cream and groceries to go!

Pros: Great range, Tasty food
Cons: Can get a little pricy

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Deep fried vegan ice cream Mmmmmm!

5 Posted on 01 / 12 / 2013

The food is scrumptious - in addition to the dishes listed in 'pros', I love the 3 treasures chow mein and the 'oysters' (battered mushrooms - be careful to let the heat out before biting). Tragically, the weekend yum cha service is usually very bad - you can sit there for an hour and get 3 things, 2 of which are stone cold. Week days/nights are best because there are more staff and you can get served. Don't bother ordering the fancy teas - you'll get jasmine regardless and be charged the higher price. The first time we ordered the ice cream, it was so creamy we didn't eat it because we didn't believe it was non dairy. This is also a great place for family meals with non-vegetarians - our relos actually ask us to take them there. Afterwards (till 8pm) you can pick up some delicious vegan ready made chilled foods and pantry items in the shop next door (including the icecream). The great cooking staff are sadly let down by some of the serving staff (on weekends) including the owner I am sorry to say who sits up the back chatting to his friends while you wait 20 mins just to get a menu (this was not a one off experience either). I've had some very frustrating experiences here, but if approached strategically, I still think it is one of Sydney's best.
Updated from previous review on Friday August 29, 2008

Update: I am delighted to report that in the last couple of years this restaurant has had a complete turn around in its customer service standards and I can now wholeheartedly recommend it. The food continues to be as fantastic as ever. They have also continued to expand and evolve the menu over time so there are often new things to try. Current favourite is the naughty but nice 'better than calamari' which never fails to set people raving and wanting to order another one. I also love the organic burdock root salad which is so fresh and lovely. They now have lots of staff on the floor who are friendly and treat you like long lost family (unlike previously when they always acted like they'd never seen you before even though you went there every week). The owner Colin is a friendly and good hearted person who also helps out when things get too busy. We now always get the right tea (rosebuds with fresh chopped lemongrass) and quite often they make it for us before we even order it! But the cherry on top is the weekend yum cha, which is now the best in the land. Huge variety of hot fresh delights coming faster than you can poke a stick at! My number 1 fave!

Pros: Vegan deep fried cream, Crispy skin not chicken, The best yum cha
Cons: Can be a bit noisy when full

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Love this place!

5 Posted on 01 / 03 / 2013

Really liked this place, grab anything you want from the buffet! (all vegan) then you get charged by weight :) i always have a hard time choosing what to buy at restaurants because i want a bit of everything, and this place fulfils this desire. would definetly recommend.

Pros: cheap, good food, can sample a bit of everything

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Median dining

3 Posted on 03 / 05 / 2012

This is one of those places that serves dishes to share rather than complete meals. You need to go with friends and order a variety of stuff to get the most out of it.

The food is generic Chinese vegetarian, Beijing style. Nothing is spicy or oily, which is a negative for me but possibly a plus for you.

The huge menu is all vegan, which is great to see.

Pros: Yum cha, Huge menu
Cons: No booze allowed, boo, Expensive

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Finally made it here.. and was disappointed.

3 Posted on 02 / 01 / 2012

I've heard so many positive things about Green Gourmet! I came here quite late on Sunday evening & tried the buffet. The food wasn't kept very warm & also it was pricier than I expected at $15 for a place. Zero ambience at this place however the staff are friendly. The ice cream is lovely, especially the dark chocolate flavour. I will give it another go sometime, maybe it is better at lunchtimes / ordering off the menu rather than buffet.
Updated from previous review on Tuesday January 31, 2012

Pros: Variety, Self Serve Portions, Grocery Attached
Cons: Tepid buffet, Boring decor

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Surprising

4 Posted on 01 / 08 / 2012

This place surprised me. I had it described to me as 'vegan chinese' so I was weary at first but it was much better than I thought it would be. It can get a bit pricy if you order off the menu. However the buffet (which is priced by weight) is a good way to keep the cost down and try different things. The service has also been quite friendly every time I've gone.

Pros: friendly staff, good 'chinese' food, cheap buffet option
Cons: use a lot of soy protien, can get expensive

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Yay for green gourmet

5 Posted on 10 / 21 / 2011

I have been coming to green gourmet on an extremely regular basis (read - eats out far too much) for years. And what can I say - I still love this place. And I haven't even tried everythg on the menu. In fact my partner and I regularly debate whether we should try something new (so tantalizing) or pick an old favorite... He always wants the monks choice hotpot and the burdock salad. My current favorite is the nori cutlets with salty plum sauce. With larger groups the banquet is pretty awesome. We prefer to order from the menu rather than the buffet.

Pros: Delicious food, Huge range & variety, Excellent, friendly service

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interesting concept

4 Posted on 06 / 11 / 2011

fresh, good variety & i like the concept of paying for food, by its weight lol, sigh! nice ambiance & very spacious. good for large groups.

Pros: fresh/variety food, spacious, locations
Cons: parking car - newtown location

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Awful - don't understand the hype

2 Posted on 11 / 03 / 2010

I have eaten here twice and both times left feeling very disappointed, and so has everyone who was dining with me too. I don't understand why everyone raves about this place. The first time, I ordered a fake meat based dish - BBQ Pork from memory - big mistake! It was absolutely horrendous (although the buns weren't too bad). I've since recently tried other fake meat dishes at different restaurants and have realised that they can actually taste great, but Green Gourmet just haven't mastered it - which is bad considering their menu is very fake meat based! The second time, I tried a mushroom dish and it was equally bad and unappealing. I'd try it out for a third time if I wasn't scared I'd be just wasting my money again.

Pros: Vegan
Cons: Everything else

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Interesting mix for all tastes

3 Posted on 09 / 01 / 2010

The food here was fairly good, the vegies were cooked perfectly, and the fake meat was somewhat convincing (for those that need it).

You can rack up an expensive meal though, as there's lots to choose from, and once you've piled your plate high it's weighed, and charged accordingly.

Still, I enjoyed my feast and would go back again. The attached shop allows you to buy fake meat products.

Pros: Variety, Flavour, Location
Cons: can get expensive

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nice

4 Posted on 07 / 09 / 2010

food is great but they rely too much on mock meat. The place is very clean and the food is not too oily. Certain dishes are but i don't pick those. They have really nice staff and i like the smorgesboard.

Pros: Smorgesboard, Reasonable price, Variety
Cons: Mock meat is horrible, Should open later

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Yum Cha at Green Gourmet

4 Posted on 02 / 19 / 2010

They offer really good Yum Cha dishes - in my opinion the best in Sydney. Staff are always friendly and approachable.

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Great experience!

4 Posted on 01 / 30 / 2010

My 1st experience (based on great reviews/recommendations) has not let me down. I had self-serve (priced by weight) and got to try a little of everything. Most things were delicious, and the variety had something for everyone - from buns, fresh spring rolls, to various stir fried, stuffed tofu, stuffed mushrooms, fried entree items, sticky rice. Many of which are familiar to non-vegans (but this is the vegan version! And they'd be none the wiser!)
I ate till I was stuffed, and my favourite item (i went back for seconds) was making me feel queasy. Reasonably good value.
Nice, easy going atmosphere with friendly staff. Even my non-vegan friends liked it. :)
cant wait to go again!

Pros: Good variety
Cons: somethings were too sweet

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Great food!

4 Posted on 01 / 27 / 2010

Great vegan chinese food at a fantastic price! They do get busy so sometimes you have to wait, but I've never waited more than 5 minutes. Love the choice of yum cha on wkends or menu or buffet for lunch/dinners. The menu is huge and it'll take you ages to choose something as it all sounds yummy!The restaurant hasn't got the best decor and is very open with lots of tables but the food makes up for it.

Pros: Great food, Value, Yum cha
Cons: Does get busy

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I LOVE GREEN GOURMET!

5 Posted on 11 / 14 / 2009

When I lived in Sydney I used to go to Green Gourmet at least once a week. It's my favourite restaurant in Sydney and I can't wait to go back to for a visit just so I can eat there again. The prices are great, the service is fast and the food is delicious.

Over the three years that we were customers at Green Gourmet we took heaps of non-vegan and non-vegetarian friends there for the yum cha and every one of them loved the food - even though most of them were expecting not to.

I've never had the buffet, we prefer to order off the menu when we are there for dinner, but it always looks delicious!

Did I mention that I love the Green Gourmet?? :) You should definitely go there!

Pros: Everything!!!

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Decent Yum Cha

3 Posted on 07 / 06 / 2009

This is asian (chinese) vegan. Ive been twice for yum cha on a Sunday and its always packed. The food is OK, a good selection but some are a bit hit and miss. It does the fake meat. Nice dumplings. I'll go back here. It was about $18per head for yum cha (we ate a lot though!!). It isn't fantastic but it is OK.

Pros: Yum cha is good, Nice dumplings
Cons: Packed and noisy

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next door is green gourmet DESSERT

4 Posted on 04 / 08 / 2009

vegan dessert...like SFCity Cafe Grateful! organic dessert

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Decent veg*n yum cha

4 Posted on 12 / 28 / 2008

This place is pretty good -- lots of variety. Coming from Melbourne, we've not found anywhere as good as Natural and Healthy Vegetarian Restaurant in Doncaster yet... or Enlightened Cuisine in the city (Melbourne). But Green Gourmet comes close.

Pros: helpful staff, good value, good food
Cons: not as tasty as Melbourne equivalents

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Great Food & Variety

5 Posted on 08 / 30 / 2007

This is my favourite vegan restaurant. It is such a delight to always be able to order straight off the menu without having to cross exam the staff about what dishes contain. The staff are unobtrusive but will help you if you seek their suggestions. The owner Colin is a wonderful person who has taught us so much about food & lifestyle.
Some fascinating dishes and a wonderful grocery next door. If you are on a budget the buffet is available every night except Mondays.
Lovely drinks as well.

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Great Vegan Food

5 Posted on 06 / 22 / 2007

Green Gourmet must be one of the oldest vegan restaurants in Sydney as everyone knows of it! They have a buffet by the plate if you prefer to try it all, but the meals are better to buy (in terms of quality). Those fried entree's really load down your plate. The tofu ice cream is great, but small quantity. The meals are good, chinese style. The vibe is happy there.

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Yummy!

4 Posted on 02 / 22 / 2007

I agree with the last reviewer. It was my first visit, but won't be my last. Very good food, with nice flavour, and it is not too oily or heavy. Not the best Asian vegan place I've ever been too, but well worth the time and money. They do nice fake meat dishes, and everything had good flavour.

Pros: big portions, clean