Panxi Restaurant (泮溪酒家)

When my friend showed me the magazine article on this restaurant, I am sold.  Look how cute the porcupine dim sum is!  Dim sum is one of my favorite food since it usually comes in small bites and I can order a variety of them.  (Likewise, I love tapas and sushi for similar reasons.)

Panxi Restaurant is nice - very Chinese and very traditional.  However, it was too big in my opinion.  In fact, it claims it is the country's largest garden-style restaurant.  I prefer cozier places.  The service can be better but I get it!  With the size of this restaurant, they are going for quantity, not quality...

the floor plan... look at how big this place is!!!

I don't get it... kids are so cute...
How come most of them become obnoxious adults when they grow up?

This is a boat.  My friend said the last time she dined there, she almost freeze.
There is also a hefty minimum charge to dine there.

I love that more and more places are "smoke-free" in China too!
(and it's actually followed!!)

This was our queue ticket.
Some areas have a minimum charge or a higher tea fee.
This time, we ate at the "Tea Court" (茗茶閣), which has a minimum tea fee.

You can enjoy "Kungfu Tea" at the Tea Court for a minimum of RMB$9 per person.
The nicer the tea, the more expensive it gets.

The specials.  RMB$28 each.

The dim sum menu.

The porcupine dim sum comes in a dish of 10 pieces, which is too many for the two of us.
We went for the 六六大順餃 (Variety Dumpling) but we were told they don't have it that day.  :@
We settled for the 綠茵白兔餃 (Rabbit Shaped Dumpling) in the end.  I wasn't happy :(

I want a set like this when I have my own place in Macau!
I have the pots now... and probably the cup too...
just missing the wooden base... and a space to enjoy tea like this.

A copper pot at the table for our convenience.
We went to the copper street to see if we could find a cheap pot but failed.
I don't have the space anyway.

I didn't find the quality of the tea very good.

Make your own Kungfu tea.
It would be nicer if the servers there refill our tea like they did at the Golden Flower.
(yes... I know I shouldn't compare the two...)

荔灣艇仔粥
Liwan Seafood Congree

泮塘馬蹄糕
Pantong Water Chestnut Cake

This is my friend's favorite.  It is light and not too sweet.  A jello like texture.
Since it is steamed, it's not oily and you can taste the chestnut.
A simple but delicious dish.  We encored another plate. :)

綠茵白兔餃
Rabbit Shaped Dumpling

These are NOT rabbits.  I am disappointed. :(
The taste is alright.  They taste like your normal shrimp dumplings.

This is the promotional picture on their website!!!
Now that's a rabbit!!!

秘制金沙包
Special Egg Custard Buns

I always order the custard buns over the BBQ pork buns.
You have to be careful when you eat this because the custard is very hot!

My friend refuse to let me order any more food so I had to stop there.  (I was pretty full myself...)  There are quite a few souvenir shop next to the restaurant including their very own outlet.  My friend picked up a box of the water chestnut cakes.  The shelf life is pretty short for them - only 3 days!

My friend is demonstrating to you how cheated she felt by the packaging of the water chestnut cake.

I was more interested in these

Panxi Restaurant (泮溪酒家)
No. 151 Longin West Road, Liwan, Guangzhou Guangdong, China
荔灣區龍津西路151號 (近荔枝灣)

Tel: +86 020-8172-1328 or +86 020 8172-2788

Hours: Breakfast 7:00 - 11:30; Lunch 11:30 - 14:30; Afternoon tea 14:30 - 17:00; Dinner 17:00 - 21:30

Disclaimer:  I am not affiliated with the restaurant and I paid for my own food.