Back in the days when I was a poor Uni student, Pancake Dessert House (Shop 18, 200 Bourke St in Mid City Arcade) was my favourite and most visited eating place. It was only a couple of years ago that this originally 1 shop lot space eating house became 2 to accommodate the ever growing queue of mostly Asian students waiting to get a quick bite.
The area is still very small and tight. There isn’t much space between tables and the small kitchen at the back just keeps churning plates after plates of cheap eats. The menu has grown substantially. I spotted new items like baked rice dishes, tomato sauce dishes, fried egg with sausages & ham on rice and kimchi fried rice. It had a much simpler menu then and I guess with the growing Asian population in the CBD area, this place is catering for different groups as well. And I think the other reason is the closure of one of the HongKong cafe in recent years and this place seems to have taken some of the popular dishes from them and made it their own.
Pancake house menu
I ordered the dish that I have always ordered – Fried pork chop on rice topped with fried egg. It is always accompanied by the spring onion that has been infused with oil. And I always ask for another helping of it. Break the egg yolk and mix it with the rice. Cut a piece of pork chop, get a small piece of eggwhite, spoon it with the rice and spring onion and eat it together. I love the combination. Still tastes so good after so many years. I will never get tired of it. 
Fried pork chop on rice topped with egg
Mister ordered the Fried Kway Teow. It had good wok hei (cooked in a very hot wok so it imparts flavour, texture & aroma). The noodles and the prawns have a caramelised flavour from the black sweet sauce. The bean sprout provided the crunch and freshness to the dish. Very delicious! I think a new favourite has been discovered
Char kway teow
We didn’t order any desserts but this place as the name suggest serves pretty good sweet pancakes or crepes. The usual toppings are cream & strawberries or other fruits like kiwi or banana.We settled for a hot almond drink to accompany our meal. I love the aroma of almonds. A nice not too sweet ending to our simple meal.
Hot almond milk
Another specialty of this place is the ‘Small bowl noodle’ as translated from Cantonese. You can choose from a list of ingredients that goes into your chosen type of noodles and broth. It is quite fun and sometimes frustrating because there are so many choices!
Small bowl noodle menu
This is not a place to come to if you want to catch up with friends. The turnaround here is really quick. It is still one of my favourite cheap eats that I will come back to once in awhile.
Please do share a favourite eating place of yours that you tend to go back all the time.
Yum Up!
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ah, that place is always packed. which makes me wonder – there is another place on swanston street that is also called desert house. Is that affilated to the one in chinatown?
I think they are the only ones? It is packed because it is cheap and not much MSG! Plus, students just flock there day in day out.
I remember going to Mid-city arcade for a cheap meal in my Uni days, though I never knew Dessert House serves savoury food! I always went to the 2 restaurants on the left hand side when entering from Bourke St! Both dishes look good!
They do and cheap. Is it the Hong Kong style cafe with the baked rice dishes?
Oh, hey, the almond milk..I remember eating in one of these places.
Oh! were you in melb before?
Yum, Beautiful pic. This looks delish.
Thanks Miranda
Glad you like it.
Oooh look at that lovely char on the noodles for the Kway Teow! I always look for that and also pieces of chinese sausage and char siu! The pork chop rice also look good (and quite generous with the pork serving size too!)
The wok hei was good!
this place sounds nice, i know a place like this in chinatown @ new york. & i’ll have to make almond milk soon, it looks great.
@Jesse – Everywhere should have one
@Short and Bald – I may attempt to make my own almond milk this weekend!
cheap and delicious food, I'm so there! I wish we had a pancake dessert house here
I was quite surprise with the food I saw on this post. It's a good surprise though. I was expecting pancakes. But the pork chop and fried kuay teow looks amazing. I like almond milk too. But I normally bought them from the grocery store. And they are refrigerated. Next time I'll try to warm it up. Great post.
Many punters must be deceived by the name but they serve lovely and cheap food for hungry poor students. As for the almond milk drink, just warm up slightly and sprinkle alittle nutmeg. Just a little.
hey, I love their Salt & Pepper Spare Rib
and their Yin-Yong drink
Just spoke to a few friends yesterday and they said that they are famous for their char kway teow. must go back again and try new dishes. And yes I love the ying yong drink too!
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