As the world’s largest and most populated continent, Asia is home to many cultures and cuisines with their own characteristics.
Ingredients common to many cultures on the continent include rice, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds, chillies, dried onions, soy and tofu; while the balance of sweet, sour and salty flavours is quintessentially Asian.
Wok on at these five dining destinations sure to set the benchmark for Asian fare with flair:
Find where the flavours of Southeast Asia artfully collide at Rumble restaurant on Pyrmont Street in Pyrmont. Located on Level G Harbourside of The Star, Rumble is the latest spark in the casino’s dining precinct, chasing bold flavours that bring punchy tastes to complement quality local produce; expect a warm, immersive experience in a beautiful setting of natural quality materials and traditional cues.
Embark on a journey taking you from the streets of Ho Chi Minh City to the upmarket restaurants of Bangkok; perhaps starting with caramelised scallop miang, betel leaf, peanut, galangal, ginger, lime and tossed coconut, before slow-braised massaman beef curry, potato and peanut.
Keeping things simple with great coffee and a delicious all-day menu, Blueprint Café on Soldiers Parade is the place to head in Edmondson Park to refuel and recharge. Located in Edmondson Park Town Centre and boasting a modern industrial space with blond wood furniture and trailing greenery, chill out with a coffee in hand at this family-owned café.
A fusion of international cuisine on a modern menu delivers plates like nasi goreng rendang with fried rice, fried egg, capsicum, chilli jam and crispy chicken, or devour red curry chicken tacos, brown rice, coleslaw, avocado tomato salsa and lime mayo.
For delicious vegetarian Indian street food, head down Wheelers Park Drive in Cranbourne to find Jalsa Eats. Step into a warm and welcoming vibe of spice-coloured walls, cosy table settings and softly glowing lights to indulge the senses with tantalising flavours wafting from the kitchen, promising some of the best street food from Gujarat.
Kickstart your adventure with Mumbai’s popular street food, vada pav – spicy potato filling, sandwiched between buns and layers of spicy chutney, then delve into thalis served with rice, pickles and puri.
Decadent indulgences await your exploration at Kuza Urban Japanese Food on Albany Highway in Victoria Park. Enter a dining space that fuses comfort and style, embodying the ethos that defines modern Japan today, with black leather banquette seating, blond wood tables and a wall covered with an extensive wine rack.
Share a fresh and delicious sashimi platter to start served with housemade katsuo sauce or tuna tartare, avocado, yuzu pepper, aioli and crisp nori crackers; move onto charcoal grilled pork belly skewers and miso mustard sauce.
Stop by Melbourne’s premier Southeast Asian dining destination, Chin Chin's at Koto Moon on Rathdowne Street in Carlton North for the best of fare from Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and China…with a twist! The ideal venue for any occasion, settle into plush surrounds of polished wood floors and cane table settings in the main dining room, or dine alfresco on balmy nights under twinkling fairy lights.
Dip your spoon in steaming bowls of chicken and prawn laksa or tom yum noodle soup to start, then devour slow-cooked Malay beef curry with sides of steamed rice and roti, best enjoyed with a glass of Pinot Noir.
For more Asian dining destinations near you, click here.
