Find Comfort with a Meal at these 5 Venues

We all crave a certain comfort food when we are feeling down, under the weather or just looking for a pick-me-up. It is food that provides a nostalgic or sentimental value and is quite often characterised by its high-caloric nature and association to childhood or home cooking.

Ultimate Aussie comfort food choices include everyone’s fave butter chicken, chicken parmigiana, barbequed snags, lamingtons, a burger with the lot and the humble meat pie…here are five venues to get a comfort food fix:

If you thought Ballarat's vibrant dining scene couldn’t get any better, meet the city's latest sensation, serving authentic Mexican cuisine since 2013 - Hecho en Mexico on Sturt Street. It’s hard to miss this bustling restaurant with neon signage out front along with black and yellow striped umbrellas for alfresco dining while indoors takes you to the streets of Mexico with brightly coloured couches, table settings and sombreros.

 

Perhaps say hola to comfort food starters of street-style corn with chipotle aioli, ricotta salata cheese, tajin and lime; then dive into bliss with vibrant sizzling prawn Spanish paella, infused with tajin, garlic and tomatillo salsa, pan-tossed with veggies; or wrap your hands around a beef burger on brioche with olive spread, fresh guac, cheese and onion rings, garlic aioli, lettuce, beetroot and jalapeños.

What started from humble beginnings as a café in a service station has morphed into Kopitalk Malaysian Restaurant and Function on Ferny Avenue in Surfers Paradise. Located at the centre of the Gold Coast tourism precinct, find a vibe in fitting with the coastal lifestyle with potted greenery, cane pendents and polished wood floors.

 

Expect the best of Malaysian cuisine from buffet and à la carte options offering choices like the legendary street hawker-style beef burger, wrapped in a thin omelette, served on a toasted burger bun, with fresh vegetables, mayonnaise, chilli sauce and crispy chips; or nasi goreng fried rice with deep-fried spiced chicken, eggs, vegetables, chilli sambal and prawn crackers.

Celebrate authentic Indian cuisine the way it was meant and dine royally at The Royal Turban on Monaro Street in Queanbeyan. A large alfresco area beckons to soak up rays on balmy Queensland days; while indoors exudes a sleek vibe of marble, stacked stone, timber table settings and softly glowing cane lights, ideal for lingering over a meal with someone special.

 

From a menu designed to reflect culinary traditions centuries old, start a comfort food adventure with succulent lamb cutlets marinated in yoghurt, ginger and garlic then cooked in the tandoor; follow on with everyone’s favourite butter chicken in a rich creamy tomato sauce, best enjoyed with saffron basmati rice, papadums and garlic naan.

Heavily inspired by traditional fine dining and design, sample Korean BBQ dishes with delightfully unexpected twists at Hwadam BBQ on Elizabeth Street in Melbourne’s CBD. Cosy table seatings await, all with individual grills so diners can cook to their own liking in a moody vibe of subdued lighting and dark wood.

 

Start with shared plates sure the whet the appetite such as boneless Korean fried chicken and dipping sauces, or deep-fried dumplings and soy-marinated shrimp; before tempting comfort food hot pot options like ginseng chicken, pork kimchi, seafood and soft tofu, or beef soybean stew.

Brunswick diners say Namaste to authentic Indian and Nepalese fare at Old Durbar Restaurant & Lounge on Sydney Road. This stylish venue blends blond wood tables with red leather cushions on the floor, or relax at intimate settings for two; while the walls are covered with murals depicting homeland life and the sound of live music entertains guests.

 

Kickstart your evening with deep-fried chicken lollipops and housemade tomato sauce, or chilli prawns with Chef’s secret recipe; then delve into Kashmiri lamb curry with onion, tomato, yoghurt and aromatic spices, or goat cooked on the bone according to a traditional Nepalese recipe, paired with steamed rice, papadums and wholemeal roti.