Adelaide is bursting with culture, flavour, events and entertainment.
Taste the world-famous wine regions only minutes from the city or indulge in award-winning restaurants in the heart of the CBD; join the party at immersive festivals and events, or spend the night exploring Adelaide's attractions and a thriving restaurant and bar scene.
Continuing on our delicious drive around Australia of 2023 Readers’ Choice award-winning restaurants, here are six locations that will satisfy any hunger growl:
Readers’ Choice 2023 – Asian:
Explore the foodie road less travelled at Gaja by Sashi on Pirie Street in the heart of Adelaide city. This fusion restaurant - the brainchild of MasterChef 2018 winner Sashi Cheliah - oozes charm and warmth, with wooden table settings, potted greenery, an open kitchen and Edison bulb lighting setting the scene for inspired dining.
Meaning elephant in Sanskrit, Gaja symbolises strength, wisdom, royalty and solidarity in the Hindu culture, transcribed onto plates like Khmer flathead curry, pickled cucumber, coriander relish and crispy basil.
Readers’ Choice 2023 – South American:
Indulge in smoky sensations at Hoosegow Charcoal Restaurant on Magill Road, a popular venue inspired by exotic tastes in St Morris. Encompassed in an ambient vibe, dine surrounded by vibrant red, pink and orange hues, dark timbers and colourful artwork, mesmerised by wafting aromas.
Embracing fresh, local produce and fiery chillies, Hoosegow offers tantalising Latin American, Eastern and Asian fusion dishes cooked on crackling Mallee Root charcoal to seal in enticing textures such as octopus, pico de gallo and corn salsa.
Readers’ Choice 2023 – Vietnamese:
Find a sun-filled atrium, bubbling pond and market garden waiting for you when you dine at Noi Vietnamese Eatery on Glen Osmond Road in Fullarton. The restaurant’s menu pays homage to the childhood of owners Thy and Quang Nguyen, merging traditional flavours with char-grilled smokiness and herbs from the kitchen garden.
Embark on your culinary adventure with minced prawn and pork belly bites, bean sprouts and fish sauce, moving onto braised beef ribs, with pho reduction, pickled onion and sides of jasmine rice and seasonal wok-tossed Asian greens.
Readers’ Choice 2023 – Italian:
Italian-owned and operated for more than 30 years, Adelaide culinary institution Parlamento on North Terrace (near major hotels and the Casino), has been graced by many international and local celebrities. Expect traditional Campania-style of cooking, combined with modern dishes in stylish surroundings, creating a great dining experience for all palates.
Say ciao to starters of veal meatballs and tomato cream salsa, before roasted Atlantic salmon with fennel, citrus and chilli; pasta lovers twirl a fork around spaghetti with brandy flamed seafood, parsley and Napoletana salsa.
Readers’ Choice 2023 – Modern Australian:
Aptly named for its location beside the old post office, award-winning Stamps restaurant is quaintly tucked away on a leafy back street of Mitcham in Adelaide. While the gorgeous heritage building with its vine-entangled verandah exudes old-fashioned charm, Stamps’ seasonal menu is undeniably contemporary, with dishes that frequently change to emphasise fresh produce.
Dive right in with calamari, caponata, white beans and pangrattato, or a blue swimmer crab steamed bao; for the main think plates like crispy skinned duck leg, duck fat potatoes, roasted fennel and peppers and olive tapenade.
Readers’ Choice 2023 – Thai:
Live, laugh and love at Thai restaurant TingLish on George Street in Thebarton. With a name originating from the blend of English and Thai, this sleek venue offers memorable dining in industrial-style surrounds of polished wood floors, pendent globes and eclectic artwork; while outside a paved courtyard and wooden tables beckon under a canopy of trailing greenery.
Don't go past favourite main plates like beef Massaman curry with potatoes, carrots and roasted peanuts or red curry duck, with coconut milk, pineapple, cherry tomato, lychees and steamed rice.
