68/12 Challis Street, Dickson, ACT, 2602 
02-6162-0666  02-6162-0906
Full service
Sichuan

About Us

Four Rivers
Offering yum cha favourites along with less common options, this Sichuan restaurant is a welcome addition to the local dining scene.

Unit 68/12 Challis St
Dickson, ACT 2602
Phone:(02) 6162-0666

Editorial
Since the inconspicuous, but ever popular, Superior Peking (in Braddon) quietly shut up shop last year, Canberrans have been seeking an alternative yum cha spot. The arrival of Four Rivers has gone some way to filling the gap - unusual considering its cuisine is rooted in the traditions of the Sichuan province and not Canton.

The ever-smiling owner, Peisen Guan, is steadily building a following, flying in chefs from his home province to oversee traditional noodle making. And with a vibrant young floor team with a great approach to service, it's a pleasant alternative to the trolley traffic chaos that characterises other yum cha options. Yum cha selections include favourites like steamed pork buns, prawn and shallot dumplings, or sticky rice. Then there are less common offerings like deep-fried green beans in a spicy Sichuan pepper. For dessert, some coconut-coated balls of sticky rice filled with rich custard are a stand out selection. Other pan-Chinese dishes like lemon chicken and barbecue duck, are interspersed with interesting Sichuan options rarely found in the national capital. The "husband and wife beef slices" challenges conventional tastes in its combination of beef, tongue and heart. Another speciality - spicy mung bean noodles - are beautifully slippery and silky, and arrive cold in a Sichuan chilli oil. Dan Dan Mian - or "pole carrying noodles" - are served warm in a nutty and beefy stock, of which Chinese sesame paste is an important ingredient. The dish can be traced back to days when noodle sellers would carry their produce on shoulder poles.

The decor at Four Rivers is all salmon-pink toned walls, burgundy carpets and scarlet Chinese wall hangings which impart an old-fashioned complexion on a relatively new apartment complex.

Four Rivers isn't a dedicated follower of fashion, but is a welcome alternative to the standard suburban Chinese formula.

Gareth Meyer
Canberra City News Magazine

Mr. Gareth Meyer garpen@netspeed.com.au
Journalism: travel, food and wine
Photography: fine art, travel and food