I've been to quite a few Chinatowns in quite a few cities around the world (though never in actual China...but I digress) and I've got to say Adelaide's ranks among the best IMHO.
The reasons are many, and enthusiastic. And here they are in no particular order:
1. It's close to the CBD, and super easy to get to (City Loop bus/ walk/ drive)
2. Parking is plentiful and cheap. I tend to use the Central Market parking, which is about a buck or so for every hour.
3. The choice! Oh, the choice! Despite being called "China Town" you can get everything from Vietnamese to Japanese to Korean to Japanese to Indian, to crepes and cafe food and coffee and sweets....
4. The prices. On average you won't pay more than $10 for a food court meal and probably about $20 on a sit down dinner at places like East Taste and BBQ City.
5. The meal sizes. In general: massive.
6. The food itself. I rarely have a meal that doesn't blow my socks off in Chinatown: the competition is fierce so if the food isn't good a business won't survive. I'm all for the capitalist system of competition when it results in amazing food.
7. Proximity to the Central Markets, Adelaide's best food and produce markets.
8. The atmosphere. One of the few places that's almost always busy in Adelaide, it's one of my fave spots to sit outside, eating and drinking on a summer night (then head to a nearby bar like Lotus Lounge or La Boheme)
I could go on. In short: head here for plentiful, oh so tasty, cheap food in a buzzing atmosphere. AWESOMESAUCE! read more