As a resident of the eastern suburbs, Box Hill has become somewhat of a hangout area for my friends and I. For as long as I can remember, Grain Asian Cafe has been serving Chinese food in Box Hill's Box Hill Central Shopping Centre, which has long been a central hub for both the Asian community and Asian restaurants.
Box Hill Central Shopping Centre
Jumbo chicken bun $4.50
With a love for all kinds of different buns and after seeing their impressive display, ordering one of these was a must. With a good amount of filling and not too much of the dough, the jumbo chicken bun was definitely not a disappointment.
Squid with special sauce $5.00
Assorted stuffed vegetable noodle soup $11.80
The noodles are a dish that I remember eating many times when I was younger. I used to look forward to eating the noodles with toppings I could choose for myself every week, however after the brief sensation of nostalgia passed by, I realised that this did not have the same quality of food that I once expected from Grain Asian Cafe. The only part of the dish I enjoyed was stuffed okra, everything else especially the hokkien noodles was overcooked to the point of where it was falling apart.
Not only was I disappointed by the food, but the standard of service has also dropped by a fair amount since I last visited. I sincerely hope that this was just a once off bad day for them, as I have many fond memories of Grain Asian Cafe, but with so many great restaurants around the Box Hill area I can not see myself returning.
Food Rating 5/10
Overall Rating 5/10