Golden Peacock restaurant closing after four decades
A popular Dandenong North restaurant is closing its doors after 38 years but the owners hope to sell it to a buyer who will continue its legacy.
South East
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A popular Dandenong North restaurant is closing its doors after nearly four decades of trade.
Joyce and Albert Yuen opened Golden Peacock restaurant in Outlook Drive in 1983.
For 38 years, the Yuens have served traditional Chinese and Malaysian food to the community but have decided to hang up their aprons at the end of the month.
Mrs Yuen said their decision to retire was a “tear-jerker”.
“The restaurant has been our baby since day one,” she said.
“We have grown up here, I’ve spent three quarters of my life here.”
Golden Peacock are renowned for their lemon chicken which Mrs Yuen says is a speciality to their restaurant.
“It’s the original recipe from the old country,” she said.
“There are no restaurants that do this particular style of chicken so we are pretty much the only ones in Australia.”
Mrs Yuen said her husband took pride in cooking his secret recipe.
“The chicken is marinated in stock that has been used for the last 40 odd years,” she said.
“We replenish it with herbs and spices which has been kept on for the length of time that we have been here.”
The successful restaurant has been on the market for a few months but Mrs Yuen said they had no luck selling it.
“It’s really sad, no-one wanted to take on the hard work,” she said.
“This is an established business so once you buy the space it’s for the long haul.
“You can raise your family here, it’s like a tradition.”
Mrs Yuen said she would love to sell it to a buyer who will foster the culture.
“We would like to sell it to someone who will embrace and take on the cuisine,” she said.
“We are absolutely willing to train whoever is willing to follow in our footsteps.”
