If you’re not following chef-owner-restaurateur-lobster-enthusiast ‘Big’ Sam Young on Instagram, what have you been doing? The co-owner of Castlecrag’s luxe bistro S’more – known for its top-quality produce, bougie offerings and truffle-on-everything energy – posts non-stop pictures of delicious food and private dinners at multi-million-dollar homes. He’s also prolific when it comes to being a hustler, which comes from his lived experience of moving to Australia from Hong Kong at 13 – only to have everything, including his passport and money, stolen days later. Being an immigrant and working hard has shaped his ethos.
Now, he and partner Grace Chen have opened their second venue – a Chinese restaurant called Young’s Palace – dedicated to that journey. You’ll see the neon red lights in the excellent former home of Raja and Teddy on Kellett Street in Potts Point. And make sure you’re ready to eat. A lot.
“We’ve been sold this outdated image of immigrant-run restaurants as cheap, fast and scrappy. That was survival. But now, we want to tell a new story – one that honours hard work but also values quality, creativity and pride,” Sam says, who has also spent time in the kitchens of Queen Chow and Lotus.
Young’s Palace is also inspired by the couple’s travels – particularly the Chinatowns they’ve explored in cities like Paris, Amsterdam, New York, Vancouver and Sydney.
“Grace and I always find ourselves hunting down a plate of fried rice or chow mein, no matter where we are in the world. Young’s Palace is about recreating that joy – classic Chinese dishes that are simple, comforting and utterly craveable,” says Sam.
Kick things off with veggie spring rolls inspired by the ones found in Grace’s aunt’s Chinese restaurant in Amsterdam; a fresh and cooling salad of potato, enoki, chilli and black vinegar; and golden and crunchy salt and pepper squid. Other menu highlights include plump scallops doused in a ginger, shallot and soy dressing; kung pao chicken; and stir fried egg noodles with beansprouts. And because this is BSY we’re talking about, there are more baller menu items in the pipeline (lobster noodles, that's you).
“There’s no reason a bowl of noodles can’t be treated with the same respect and price tag as a plate of pasta. We’re not here to follow rules. We’re here to create something we’re proud of,” adds Sam.
And after one visit at Young’s Palace, we reckon there’s lots to be proud of.
Address: Kellett St, Potts Point NSW 2011
Find out more here.
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