Back late February March, when the threat of COVID-19 still seemed a fair way off in Sydney, we took advantage of the public’s avoidance of Eastwood that had turned it into a ‘ghost town’ to visit BBQ One.
BBQ One is a long-established shop selling Chinese roast meats out the front with a small eat-in section offering a more extended Cantonese-style menu.
A complimentary bowl of soup seems customary at Cantonese restaurants. This one is a light pork broth with a gentle sweetness from the carrots and corn.
Known for their roast meats, it was only fitting that we try their Triple Varieties BBQ with Rice ($14.50) with char siu pork, crispy skin pork and roast duck. We’re impressed by the generous serving of each meat which was tender and flavourful although a tad too salty even with the rice. Our favourite was the crispy skin pork with its crispy crackling and lean meat.
But the main reason we were in Eastwood was to enjoy Honey Chicken ($15.50, +$2.00 for serving of rice), so we put aside our misgivings about ordering it from a restaurant specialising in roast meats. Here, the generous serving is fried fresh to order so arrives piping hot with a dusting of sesame seeds. Each piece is crisp, with just enough honey drizzled over it. We enjoy it immensely, although it’s not quite so crisp and sauced as our favourite version from Sun Ming in Parramatta. That said, the similar flavour with the large serving and cheaper price means we’d pick this one more often.
The service was attentive and courteous, while the food was high quality and flavoursome. We’re hopeful it can ride out the downturn in business from the COVID-19.
BBQ One is located at Shop 10/181 Rowe St, Eastwood NSW 2122.