Chinese restaurant charges more for English customers

A Sydney Chinese restaurant has been caught out charging English-speaking customers more than 10 per cent extra per dish than their Chinese-speaking counterparts.

A serving of fried rice at the Yin Li Sichuan restaurant in Chinatown costs $2 more on the English menu than on the Chinese menu.

When quizzed on the price discrepancies owner Diana told The Daily Telegraph: "The Chinese menu is usually just for Chinese people, they like the Sichuan flavour."

On the English menu a serving of fried rice with lettuce and beef costs $17.80 but only $15.80 on the Chinese menu.

A staff member at the Dixon Street restaurant tried to explain the difference in cost by claiming the English menu is "more expensive because it is new".

However on close inspection, the newspaper found both menus displayed the same amount of wear and tear.

Customers have been quick to accuse the restaurant of "racism" online, with one tripadvisor reviewer remarking that the restaurant dished out "racism in its worst form".

The Racial Discrimination Act stipulates that it is unlawful to offer goods and services at "less favourable terms and conditions".

However, proving discrimination under the current law would be "difficult" according to Restaurant and Catering Association chief Executive John Hart.

Source: The Daily Telegraph