Box Hill is full of culinary delights and many are cheap. About a month ago, a new culinary delight joined the town. What is Food Republik? It’s a bit hard to describe, its like a mini food court where you are given one menu and you get to order from many subsidiary restaurants and you receive one bill to be paid at the end.
For Dessert Story, it’s a separate menu but the same bill. The food here is all Taiwanese and its’ meant to replicate “Taiwanese street food”. Restaurants involved in this mini food court includes Toast Box, Crystal Jade, Dessert Story, Taiwan Cafe and a few others.
Since day one, there have been very long lines at Food Republik. Luckily, three out of four visits, I managed to find it without lines! The idea is to go at non-peak hours where entry could easily be made without lines or just a very short line.
A line forming at 5:30pm
Making dumplings
Two Menus – one for dessert story and other for Mains
The ordering system is similar to Pappa Rich where everything you ordered is noted down of the writing pad. Easy ordering system.
On the first visit I went with Ms Peach Water. Ms PW managed to arrived at 6pm on Tuesday Night and got a table within 5-10 minutes. We knew looking at the overwhelming menu that The Xiao long baos from Crystal Jade are a must order. The Xiao long baos are amazing and very comparable to Din Tai Fung. Thin skin, very soupy and tasty – everything you wanted in a Xiao Long Bao. Only problem on the first visit the soup was a little lukewarm however the visit after when I went with the Mr it was piping hot. The Xiao Long baos aren’t cheap for 8 it’s about $10-$11 but it’s along the same price as the XLBS in Sydney’s Din Tai Fung.
I was feeling really under the weather so I went for the Pork Ball Noodle Soup from Taiwan Cafe – I found this very comforting but sadly the only downside was the soup was a little too oily. Ms PW chose the hot and sour noodle soup which I have been eyeing but sadly could not have!
Pork Ball Noodle Soup
Hong Kong milk tea from Toast Box
Horlicks from Toast Box
Xiao Long Bao
Hot & Sour Noodle Soup
I also went back with the Mr to have Dessert Story. I went for the Taro balls, honey bean, pearls and Herbal Jelly, the hot version from Dessert Story. I know it does not look good and usually the cold version tastes better but it definitely hits the spot when you are still under the weather
Mr picks the black glutinuous rice with coconut milk which he happily ordered on the three visits we went together. It must be good!
The other time, I came back to Toast Box to have Kaya Toast. Look at that thick slab of toast with Kaya. Oh and those gooey eggs! Love this but the Kaya a bit too sweet for me.
The concept of Food Republik is great but may be worth your while to visit when the hype dies down a little bit. I having been hearing hit and misses from this place.
Box Hill Centro South
Station St
Box Hill VIC 3128
Nice! Hrmmmm I am a sucker for Booth on Station St though, same food minus XLBs but you can customise your noodles!
What do you order from the booth? I need recommendations I been once but food was soso
yeah I think it’s mainly hype… people are drawn to lines š XLBs definitely the best I’ve had in a long time š
Agree about XLBS. I think DTF is slightly better but crystal jade comes close
I haven’t been to box hill for ages except to visit Little Lamb hot pot! I need to go soon but will probably take your advice and go after the hype has died down a little. XLBs!!!
Sadly the lines will be a while but I am going to be on the lookup and report back š
Love the post š I was hoping that you’ll be posting about it soon ~ hehe you go to Food Republik SO much hehe its become your little go to place in Box HIll! I’ve been meaning to go and visit but the long lines really turn me off especially after work I just want to sit down and eat hehe but I m definitely interested in trying the Xiao Long Bao so many people have posted about it and hahaha you know me! Sweet Kaya toast? YES PLEASE š
HAHA i know you daisy you will probably order kaya toast and top it off with dessert story š
Ooooh!! So there’s somewhere in Melbourne to get kaya toast? Hurrah!
Indeed! I believe there is a few places in melbourne where you can get it but not with the traditional way with the thick toast!
Me wants XLB and kaya toasts with half boiled eggs! Man, all the food is making me miss the food back home and I cant wait to try them at Food Republik! (: x
Yes go try! the eggs took forever to arrived but odd =[
OMG amazing.. So it’s like a food court? Love this post. Thanks for sharing as I am usually behind in the food new places even though I love eating out.
Yes it’s like a food court but one bill, so weird but interesting!
We were going to walk in yesterday and then talked ourselves out of it as we will be back in SEA in a month and it’s just silly as all I want is Toastbox!
haha definitely! you can go overseas and have all the toastbox you like š
I’ve been dying to check this place out but I hate queues so hmm, I think I might wait it out. Also surprised to hear that there have been a few misses but I’m just going to assume it’s due to teething problems š
Yes i have been hearing of misses bit disappointing but some food is good still!
Shame the noodle soup was too oily! The HK styled tea made me miss hk though!
We have a few HK cafes in this suburb too š jealous?
I saw this place after I had already eaten a tonne and vowed to come back but never got to it as I live on the west! Massive line to get in
Yes it’s crazy – but will check when the lines will die down and report back =]
I dont think I’ve heard of this concept before so I’m very interested to see if it lasts…
Yes it’s weird but it really works well I think
Wow that’s so trippy! It looks exactly like HK O_O really like the idea of it though, hope we get something like this in syd!
This reminds me of trips to Hong Kong and Singapore at the same time! š
I’ve been wondering about this place, it seems like such a good and novel idea but some of the food does look a bit more miss than hit.
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