Two of this correspondents great passions surprisingly came together in one location on a recent flying visit to Perth. I love a Laksa, but rarely does the opportunity arise to have a few crafties at the same time. The Old Shanghai food court provides such an opportunity.
The Satay Club serves up old school Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine, including a Chicken Laksa. There’s plenty of other cuisines available – Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Hong Kong Dim Sum – so everyone should be satisfied. And if you buy a feed from one of the stalls, you are allowed to buy a beer from the eclectically stocked bar.
“Bar” has 8 beverages on tap including a cider. There’s a Tiger Tap and five Western Australian offerings. As you’d expect Gage Road gets a spot, but there’s also Beerfarm and a beers from a brewery I haven’t heard of called Heroes and Villains. There’s a beer from Gwei•lo Brewing. I thought – gees that’s out there – importing a Hong Kong beer, but it turns out Gwei•lo Brewing has opened up a brewery in Perth. According to their website, they’ve also opened a site in the UK. That’s ambitious.
I’m buggered if I kind determine the provenance of the beer at the far right. Shen Sheng “Sacred by Liquorette”. All the check-ins on Untappd have been made at Old Shanghai – and I think the Untappd creator just had a stab.
Looking forward to repeat visits to the Old Shanghai food court, but I try something other than the Laksa – not the worst, but not the best.
Old Shanghai food court: 123 James Street, Northbridge WA
back of the ferry 