Asian is a diverse and complex cuisine that encompasses a wide range of culinary traditions from various regions of Asia and is known for its bold and complex flavours.
Every dish is cooked using a wide range of spices and condiments that bring out distinct flavours and while the food has common ingredients, the taste becomes different when it’s stir-fried, deep-fried or steamed.
Australians love the sweet and sour elements of Asian cuisine and there are many great restaurants around the country serving delicious fare to tempt your palate.
Here are six Chef-hatted venues that deliver Asian fare with flair:
Share Plates & Cocktails
Highlighting a passion for Asian cuisine and culture, Sum Yung Guys on Weyba Road in Noosaville is an ideal spot to share plates and cocktails with friends. Styled to capture the personalities of the four partners, the dining room presents a fun and funky vibe with neon signs, Japanese-style wall murals and wooden furniture, creating warmth and energy, just like the fare on the menu.
Kick things off with a Rickshaw cocktail before salivating over seared scallops, dry green curry, macadamia and Thai basil; followed by larger plates such as Crying Tiger short rib, with fried garlic, kaffir, basil and sides of jasmine rice and wok-tossed vegetables.
Stunning Alfresco Area
Showcasing a passion for modern Asian fare, Honeysuckle Restaurant on Ballinger Road in Buderim is the place to go for East Asian flavours, fused with Australian ingredients. This cosy restaurant, housed in a white-clad building with a stunning alfresco area ideal for soaking up Sunshine Coast sun, blends aqua-polished tiles with sleek white lines and cane pendent lighting to emulate a laid-back vibe.
From a menu designed for sharing, discover a world of flavour with dishes such as prawn larb and jellyfish sashimi, Vietnamese mint and lemongrass; moving on to smoked duck breast with cashew satay, rice cake, orange, fennel and charred vegetables.
Stylish Ambience & Distinguished Service
Photo credit: Miya.
Named after the Sanskrit word for ‘flawless jewel’, Mani Restaurant on Alfred Street in Milsons Point is devoted to providing distinguished customer service paired with unique dishes made from fresh and premium ingredients. Expect a stylish ambience of carved wood tables adorned with napkins and sparkling glassware, while a cool green colour palette provides a culinary oasis ideal for any occasion from romantic rendezvous to family gatherings.
From Chef’s seasonal menu, delve into starters of crispy toothfish in Shanghai-style soy sauce, or simmered abalone and pork soup; then indulge the senses with signature mopo silken tofu with crayfish, chilli and mixed spices.
Moodily-lit Interior Vibe
Born amid fire and ashes to guide Nobby Beach locals and visitors through the dark alleys of dining choices, Ally Chow on the Gold Coast Highway tells your fortune through Asian fusion share plates and drinks. A moodily-lit interior embraces Asian accents from the well-stocked bar to Oriental cushions, bamboo plants and pendent bulbs glowing seductively overhead; while the alfresco laneway space is dominated by a vibrant wall mural depicting river life.
Grab a chilli Margarita and chow down on duck satay roti with housemade pickles and herbs, or ocean trout sashimi, taro, grapefruit, coconut and shiso; follow on with sticky pork belly, peanuts, soy caramel, banana blossom salad, lemon and ginger dressing.
Culinary Adventure Like No Other
More than just a restaurant, embark on a culinary adventure like no other at Ming Asian Fusion on Queen Street in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. This dining destination hides in a basement, boasting soaring ceilings, a main dining room and exclusive niches for private and event dining; expect dark wood panelling, sparkling chandeliers and intimate table settings, ideal for lingering over a meal with someone special.
With a focus on fresh ingredients, the menu showcases classic and unexpected flavour combinations begging to be tried – think starters such as beef tartare and fermented red tofu mayo and taste-bud tempting mains of ginger scallion lobster and noodles.
Modern Asian-Chinese Fusion Fare
Delicately fusing together modern Asian and Chinese fine dining, Embassy XO in Sunshine Beach overlooks the picturesque surf beach and quaint village from a prime seaside location. Exotic decor distinguishes this restaurant with majestic red and orange lights, a Winter fireplace, dark timber and stylish Asian furnishings, making Embassy XO's lounge bar ideal for relaxing with a drink.
Serving unique plates by Executive Chef James Wu, Embassy’s menu is transformed into dishes to excite the taste buds; delve into the likes of prawn dumplings to start then devour Cantonese roast duck with coconut and turmeric curry.
