Sanhe Congee — Restaurant in Melbourne

I'm so happy to stumble across a congee place that offer so many different varieties. This is not the usual chinese restaurant that offers salty congee that are heavy on the taste palate. They offer rare-find congee like Chinese yam and minced meat. Chinese yam nourishes an overworked body and mind, especially one that has been thinking a lot (basically our modern lifestyles) in our culture. I also love the soup varieties they have which are all nourishing soup (ones that grandma would make for the family because they're slow cooked and take hours to cook). I had the cordiceps flower, goji berries chicken soup. It's smooth and easy, saltiness is just right. I'm surprised by the Chinese doughnut (they called bread sticks on the menu) which feels like a self made one and surprisingly good. We usually have them with congee. The radish cake is crispy in the outside and soft inside. I would say not enough radish but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Everything is yum and satisfyingly nourishing. I'm not sure if anyone outside the Chinese culture can appreciate how rare it is to have a restaurant offering nourishing meals like this but I certainly am grateful for the mere existence of a congee place that I can just order from when I'm in need of nourishing meals, especially if I'm sick. Will definitely order again ❤️ Thank you for the brave spirit of offering a different, less commercialised, more nourishing Chinese cuisine in...

A cheery restaurant with an extensive menu of Cantonese-style congee, soups, dim sums and snacks.

Cantonese-style congee is one of my favourite, any-time comfort food. It is something I often make at home. For me, the texture and seasoning is very important. The texture should be creamy but not stodgy and should not be soupy rice (unlike say, a Teo Chew-style congee).

At Sanhe, we have only tried the pork based congee from the wide selection. The rice has broken down to a creamy texture but the seasoning is a bit lacking for me. Topped with the classic Preserve Egg and Pork Mince ($15.50), the savoury flavour is just right. However, with the Chinese Yam Pork Rib ingredients ($15.50), it remains quite plain. Although the pork rib is tender, its flavour has not infused the congee. And whilst Chinese Yam (山藥, cinnamon vine) has medicinal properties for the Chinese - it has no inherent flavour, with a texture similar to a Western white potato.

Each table has a set of condiments - Chinese vinegar, salt, white pepper, soya sauce to tailor the congee to individual taste profile.

We also like the glutinous rice dim sum ($8.50). The glutinous rice texture is just right for me - its sticky soft, with a thickish sauce and fillings that are full of flavour.

Service...

My sister shared an instagram reel about this place and I flagged it to go when I visited Melbourne in July (on 13/07/2024). I took the train from Southern Cross Station after attending the Firelight Layrinth at Marvel Stadium and walked here. Arrived a little after opening time and it was already half packed with two groups. It's not very big inside and can get quite noisy. With windy weather, people walking in and out, who often repeatedly slammed the door which miffed me. I left after an hour because a line was forming outside.

Nothing like comfort food on a cold day though! One main and a side should have been enough for one person but I got greedy and ordered a second side dish which I later got as take away to have as a snack later. I ordered the preserved (century) egg and minced pork congee, fried bread sticks (you tiao) and the sweet potato and taro rice balls.

There is a generous serve of century egg. Definitely didn't skimp out. I didn't put additional seasoning since the congee itself was already very flavourful - sweetness from the pork mince, spring onion as garnish and colour. Partially dipped my bread stick into the congee and could only eat 1 of 6 of the fried rice ball. I was tipping over at this point, full of carbs...