Curry 36 (Currywurst) - Berlin, Germany

Above: Currywurst - cut up sausage with ketchup sauce, sprinkled with curry power. Served with frites (chips) - please remember to order the mayonnaise with the frites (not pictured) because the mayonnaise makes the dish!!!

Coyote Cafe

Address: 220 Northbourne Ave, Braddon ACT 2612
Tel: (02) 6257 7777
Trading Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 4pm

This is a random best-kept secret located within a business building in the middle of Northbourne Ave, the main arterial road in Canberra. Since they only trade during the weekdays I would recommend it as a suitable stopover if you are driving through Canberra and want inexpensive, casual modern Australian cafe food.

I can't go past the French Fries with ranch dipping sauce - they use this special cajun seasoning (which seems to contain both sugar & cinnamon, but strangely works) which is to die for...

Brodburger Canberra

Address: Bowen Park Carpark, Bowen Drive/Wentworth Av, Barton ACT 2604
Website: http://www.brodburger.com.au/

TRADING HOURS
Tuesday: Dinner: 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Wednesday: Lunch: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm -- Dinner: 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Thursday: Lunch: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm -- Dinner: 5:30 pm - 12:00 am
Friday: Lunch: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm -- Dinner: 5:30 pm - 12:00 am
Saturday: Lunch: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm -- Dinner: 5:30 pm - 12:00 am
Sunday: Lunch: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

So, finally entered the league of the elite, within Canberra, owing to a visit to the famed Brodburger van by the lake.

Contrary to popular belief, the wait was, whilst significant, not exceedingly too long. A short 20-25 minute wait to place our order only heightened the anticipation and allowed time to over hear ample conversation amongst those, both returning, and new to the Brodburger phenomenon.

It's a two man operation, carried out by two young 'free spirited travelling' types in dance festival pants and tight t-shirts, not unexpected if I'm honest. What was unexpected was the use of rubber gloves for food handling.

The deluxe burger will set you back $14 and includes two beef patties, two eggs, salad and a choice of brie, blue or Swiss cheese. My companion and I both, rather boyishly, excluded all other options in favour of the premium deluxe double patty beast of a burger. We were confidently informed of a 25 minute wait enabling a quick dash to Kingston Grind, returning just in time for a short wait and collection approximately 30 minutes post order placement.

Like little boys upon finding a hidden stash of cookies in the spare bedroom, we giggled with delight staring into a bag hardly able to contain the mass of culinary delight. Biting into, or indeed I should say squashing before smashing into one's mouth, neither could contain roguish laughs and banter.

Now the taste, whilst I admit I did hold some reservations owing to potential over expectation as a result of the significant hype that goes with this place, I was sincerely pleasantly surprised. This was by far the most delicious burger I have experienced. Try hard as I might, I cannot recall a burger able to compete. This burger, partly owing to the underground (for Canberra) atmosphere whereby a rebel in a van continues to serve burgers to the dismay of authorities, partly the folklore, partly to the feeling of inclusion of an exclusive Canberra club but mostly, the sheer taste, is simply exceptional.

We are talking brie cheese on a roadside burger. We are talking real beef patties packed inside an actually fresh bun. Who would have thought, real, and fresh ingredients could be so successful? Finally, there is the sauce, probably a blend of magic and tomato sauce.

To not drop by at least once in your Canberra tenure, would be nothing short of an injustice.

Below: Brodbaby (chicken) w/ Brie cheese

Right: The Deluxe burger...

Campbell Restaurant (formerly known as Cafe de Campbell)

Address: 1st Floor, 102-108 Hay St, Haymarket (Chinatown) NSW
Tel: (02) 9281 0743

I was delighted when I found out Cafe de Campbell reopened after a 5+ year hiatus (well to be fair their building did get knocked down) - finally I can revisit my high school days when I was cool and hung out at budget HK cafes like this! (Excuse my extremely sense of humour).

Most dishes you will find here are under or ~$10 which is a great price point if you work in the Sydney CBD or passing through wanting a satisfying & tasty meal.

A loving memory I will never forget is eating the Club Sandwich here - it has formed the benchmark of Club Sandwiches for me and when the cafe initially closed down it left a hole in my heart no other club sandwich or BLT could replace.

Below: Club Sandwich - 3 slices of toasted white bread, mayo, lettuce, soft cheese, chicken fillet, sliced ham, and egg - carefully held together with toothpicks. The crunch of the lettuce, acidity of the mayonnaise and saltiness from the ham makes it a light, subtle and most delightful meal.


Above: Your experience would not be complete without trying the French Toast with peanut butter. Forget clumsy bits of ciabatta/sourdough dipped in egg and fried in oil that tastes like BO (yes, that was my last experience of RaNdOM cafe French Toast, never again!) - this is the real deal. Flash fried in a light batter, peanut butter and fluffy white bread ready to melt into a heavenly composition.

With over 120 items on the menu including an exotic mix of hot/cold drinks, you could challenge yourself to try all the items! I recommend the coffee & tea mix drink (you can have it either hot or cold) or just a HK style milk tea (basically a white tea, but much sweeter and stronger). I also love the Baked Pork Chop rice...

Please give them lots of business so they don't go on hiatus again and French Toast with Peanut Butter can continue to be enjoyed by all!

Thara Thai (Adelaide)

Address: 2 Gilbert St, Goodwood SA 5034
Telephone: (08) 8272 2262

This was such a delightfully surprising meal for me - I had been eating crap all over South Australia and was just craving one really authentic Asian meal.

With 30 minutes to spare before a movie at the Capri Theatre, this was a random bet.

Below: Chicken Satay - lovely savoury classic with a lighter, more watery satay dipping sauce, accompanied with a cucumber salsa drizzled in sweet chilli sauce.


Above: Tom Yum Soup - this chicken soup was so light, tangy and sour without the spice, fragrant and those cherry tomatoes were delightful explosions of flavour. This is such a fantastic rendition of Tom Yum soup, great for those who don't enjoy the heat but love the concept. Would definitely come back here for this meal!

They also serve Thai Coffee which I am curious about but will have to wait till my next trip to Adelaide...

Muzz Buzz Drive-Thru Coffee

Address: Various locations throughout WA, VIC, SA, North QLD
Website: http://www.muzzbuzz.com/au/

I feel quite seedy blogging about Drive-Thru coffee but this was the only passable I coffee (prepared by the right barista) on the way to work I could find. That being said, when prepared by the wrong barista, tasted like dirty dishwater.

I was hauntingly attached to the Cheese & Ham Bagel though - such a guilty pleasure in life - eating something cooked in its own shrink wrap.

Below: the devilish Ham & Cheese Bagel I speak of - the cheese is in between a usual cheddar & that fake American cheese served @ McDonalds, and the ham is a thick cut slab of salty goodness. The bagel itself is a softer consistency (slight stiffer than a brioche) and didn't want to take out half the gums in the top of your mouth like usual bagels do.


I can't quite put my finger on it - maybe its the purple & green logo with subliminal messages - but that bagel was GOOD! Its kind of like when Tony Stark in Iron Man craves an American cheeseburger - I crave this random processed ham & cheese bagel from halfway across Australia!

Ginger Beer @ Eumundi Markets

Address: Eumundi Square, Memorial Drive, Eumundi QLD (Sunshine Coast)
Trading Hours: Wed & Sat 8:00am to 1:00pm; Sunday 8:30am to 1:30pm
Website: http://www.iloveeumundimarkets.com/eumundi-square-food-and-beverages


I love the taste of Eumundi Square's Homemade Ginger Beer. The taste is clear, light and refreshing with a very gentle ginger flavour which is not too sweet like most commercially bottled ginger beers on the market. This variety is brewed in a barrel rather than in the bottle, giving it a more consistent flavour. Great to wash down a German Sausage hot dog with!

German Sausages @ Eumundi Markets

Address: Eumundi Square, Memorial Drive, Eumundi QLD (Sunshine Coast)
Trading Hours: Wednesday & Saturdays 8:00am to 1:00pm; Sundays 8:30am to 1:30pm


These German sausages are TO DIE FOR! The best I have ever tasted - a crisp skin which bursts as you take your first bite into the juicy meat. Served with sauerkraut and my own tomato/mustard sauce concoction. The sauerkraut is not overly oily, resembles a "German coleslaw" for my lack of better explanation.

There are 3 varieties:

1. Bratwurst - original smoked (saltier)

2. Bockwurst - mild (perfect harmony of saltiness & spice)

3. Spicy (not chilli, more a peppery type of spice flavour)

Note: sorry for my poor descriptions, I took a photo of the sign but it didnt save properly so will have to wait till the next time I visit to update the names.

Hakataya Noodle Soup (Japanese Ramen)

Address: Shop 27B Sunnybank Plaza, Cnr Mains Rd & McCullough St, Sunnybank QLD
Tel: (07) 3344 1313
Trading Hours: 9:00am - 8:50pm (last order), 7 days
Website: www.hakatayanoodle.com
Please note: they also have a vendor in Gold Coast. See website for more details.

You know these guys are hardworking when they're still flogging ramen on Christmas Day - and this is where I found myself this year. I'm not usually a fan of the QLD palate but ramen at Hakataya saved my tastebuds this Christmas.

For a food outlet with only 10 items, it sticks to what it knows best - and at the centre of this, is its' specialty - ramen 'Tonkotsu' soup (broth of pork bone).

According to the brochure, their pork broth is simmered for 39 hours, scum skimmed to draw out the extract flavour. The soup features a mild taste without any associated smell. Free from chemical seasonings, it leaves a clear aftertaste. To top that, the soup is rich in collagen - which is recommended for women who are concerned with losing moisture & firmness in their skin.

I ordered the #4 Miso Spicy-men - Japanese spicy miso noodle soup (with ramen!). The soup was a perfect blend of spice, miso, and that clean, 'tonkotsu' flavour. The ramen (which at first looked like plain old Chinese egg noodle) was thinner, but cooked al dente and really soaked up the soup, giving it a rich & divine flavour. It is hard to expect authentic ramen in the middle of Brisbane, but Hakataya does not disappoint.

They call their thinly sliced 'fatty pork' Char-siu which is a Cantonese (Chinese) term, but I don't think they should have undersold their product to suit an audience which could understand those words. The way pork is cooked in ramen is not at all like Char-siu, which is actually barbequed. As described by their flyer, their pork is cooked for hours with a generous amount of soy sauce and mirin (Japanese cooking wine) - and it melts in your mouth. Tick.

At this time (I believe this establishment was new) they were offering free extra ramen - so save your soup and take advantage of the offer!

Pictured below: a sesame grinder - what an innovative idea...

By Korea

22 La Trobe St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9662 2370
Trading Hours: 7 days, Sun-Thur 12pm to 10pm; Fri-Sat 12pm till 12am

I truly underestimated this place on face value and I am truly sorry for it. Firstly they do not use MSG which is a plus for asian food, and their quantities, flavour & price points are great.
I had a wonderful beef bulgogi soup with potato noodles – usually not a fan of potato noodles, I can stand them in a broth with appropriately flavoured soup.

They also have this cube-shaped coffee machine (near entrance) which makes a great hazelnut coffee served in a slightly-larger-than-macchiato paper cup. You slot a $2 coin inside and it all comes to fruition at the press of a button. It has a strong, fragrant flavour with a dash of milk.

Korean Ginseng & Chicken Restaurant

Address: Shop 2, 94-98 Beamish St Campsie NSW 2194
Tel: (02) 9787 2707


Above: Korean side dishes - L to R: chilli pickled radish, onion picked in vinegar (sweet flavour)


Samgyetang is the literal translation in Korean for "Ginseng & Chicken Broth".

Extracted from the restaurant information: Samgyetang is a traditional Korean dish which consists of a young whole chicken (called spatchcock) cooked in water with ginseng, dates and glutinous rice. It's the perfect dish to enjoy anytime of the year but it is especially enjoyed in the summer months when energy levels are running low and recharging with nutritious fuel is required. This broth also assists with rehydrating the body after sweating in summer.

Samgyetang has a very rich but subtle flavour. The slow cooked recipe brings out the flavours and goodness of all healthy ingredients. The ginseng is very good for the heart (as you know Korea is renown for its ginseng which is found rarely anywhere else in the world). Garlic cloves are used for the taste and medicinal purposes.

It has been renown for reducing cholesterol levels. The chestnuts and dates benefit digestion and help prevent anemia.

And of course the chicken is an important source of healthy protein.

This traditional dish is a favourite among Koreans. It is eaten when one feels tired, when one loses his or her appetite or when one wants to prepare for the hot summer months to come.

It is also a popular meal for mothers-to-be or new mums.

Upon speaking with the owner Ms Jun, it was discovered that her family had a rich history of specialising in this Korean dish over the past 40 years, with the first family business established in Seoul. This resturaunt is the first of its kind in Australia to specialise in this dish.

Careful consideration is placed in the selection of ingredients - a whole young chicken (under 800g) is used for each 'pot' of broth - it is said the young chickens contain more nutrients. These chickens arrive daily and are fresh, not frozen. The rationale for this is evident as when cooked, the meat breaks away and almost 'melts' from the bone in the soup resulting in a very tender texture. The chicken is stuffed with rice, whole ginseng pieces and dates whereby the flavour gets slowly infused in the broth. Other versions include Chinese herbs, abalone, or nuts & grains.

There is also another rendition of this traditional broth which uses a "black" or "Silkie" chicken. Black chicken have a chewier texture and contain more nutrients.

Jjimdak (included on RHS in photo above) - 'braised chicken with vegetable & clear potato noodles in a special sauce'. The homemade sauce contains 10+ ingredients, has a slight peppery spice - sweet yet mild but rich in flavour. A very morish, unique soy-based sauce. Highly recommended!

This is not a restaurant with a huge menu but it's huge selling point is that it specialises in what it does best. The modern & newly furnished establishment makes for an enjoyable dining experience, out of the hustle & bustle of the local shopping strip. Suitable for those with a busy lifestyle and want a low fat, highly nutritious meal cooked with meticulosity and love. There is always a generous serving of food and the staff are happy to pack the rest away for you - in one of the most elaborate take-away packaging I have seen!

The Booth (Taiwanese Gourmet)

Address: 612 Station St, Box Hill VIC 3128
Tel: (03) 9899 7666

This is a cosy little establishment of the pseudo-Chinatown precinct in Melbourne's suburbs. Serving traditional Taiwanese fanfare I wanted something light and went with the shredded pork with pickled cabbage noodle soup (pictured below) - lots of noodles (texture & similar to thick Shanghai 'stretch' noodles) and a pleasant soup flavour.


Pictured above: Beef wrap - shredded beef slices marinated in what tasted like a Pekin duck plum sauce in a spring onion pancake wrap - savoury snack goodness!

This is a great place for quick & tasty snacks where you can choose a few smaller dishes and sample these across a group. The recommendations on the menu help with the range of choices and the added bonus is you can choose from a range of noodles to be cooked up in your noodle dish (one of them looks like mini sea shells).

Yokozuna Japanese Cuisine (formerly Umaimon)

Address: 159 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW
Tel: (02) 9357 7808
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 12pm till 10pm

Formerly Umaimon which was located near St Andrews Catheral School (corporate building), the owners have moved to a new location in the heart of Oxford St, Paddington.

Run by a small Japanese family, serving authentic and honest food at very reasonable prices.

Pictured below: Dumplings under a thin crepe shell - culinary genuis! I suspect the batter is light fried in a wok to produce the shell which has a charred, crispy savoury taste under which reveals a bed of Japanese gyoza.



Above: on the left is a special mackeral sushi - very finely sliced dried mackeral topped on an inside-out sushi roll. On the right is a raw salmon & avocado roll - these are both quite large so don't attempt it on your own! They are made fresh so be sure to sample!

Below: Fillet fish with tomato chilli - the fish fillets are always fresh, cooked to perfect and very tasty. Also highly recommended is the fish fillet with tartare sauce - Japanese style does not have that overpowering pickle/dill taste as normal tartare sauce does.

Pictured below: Beef steak - the sauces are always very savoury and light in true Japanese style.

Spicy Fish Restaurant

Address: 209 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9639 1885

Scallop & eggplant claypot – signature dish with hot, sweet & sour flavours with a claypot temperature (even though it arrived in a metal pot); scallops perfect texture (I prefer cooked through, al dente & consistent scallop textures found in Asian cooking of scallops).

Also: Spicy Szechaun Noodle Soup – hot, sour soup – not all that flash but included it for comparative purposes. Soup was too watery for the noodles to adequately absorb flavours.

Oriental Spoon

Address: 254 Latrobe St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Ph: (03) 9654 9930
Website: www.orientalspoon.com.au

Note: May be under renovations, please call ahead to confirm

Chicken Bulgogi (pictured above) – ‘lean chicken skinless chicken fillets marinated in chilli paste, cooked with vegetables’: thinly sliced threads of chicken, really punchy spice in light stirfry sauce – almost smoky flavour

Tuna & Kimchi fried rice (pictured above and below): cooked tuna, light fried rice, served with miso mushroom soup

Spicy Seafood Udon (below): really thick but ligh chilli soup with peppery undertones, seafood does not conflict or overpower broth.

Clean, well-presented honest Korean meals in decent portions to satisfy those with a bit of hunger or just to share.

Shyun (Japanese)

Address: 126 Koornang Rd, Carnegie VIC
Tel: (03) 9569 6530
Website: http://shyun.net.au
Closed Mondays

Teriyaki Chicken with brown rice sushi roll – tasty & fresh, brown rice gives it a chunkier, fatter, fibrous & grainy texture.

Curry Udon (Pictured below) – Literally a thick curry sauce with udon noodles inside – served ‘al dente’, bouncy, chewy thick cut udon noodle. Curry surprisingly lighter than the texture looks, moderate spice – pleasant, substantial meal with out feeling too heavy. Served steaming hot – just be careful eating it with chopsticks because if you are a retarded lefthanded user you will manage to flick the curry sauce all over the table as well as your clothes (wearing dark colours is advisable). An enjoyable, simple dish – no meat, broccoli tastes slightly barbequed/charred – best I’ve ever had!

Huff Bagelry

Address: 112 Koornang Rd, Carnegie VIC 3163
Tel: (03) 9568 3866
Website: www.huffbagelry.com


Cauliflower frittata, cheese, tomato, rockets, mayo on a poppy seed bagel delightfully toasted to a crisp – there is something orgasmic about a crispy, dense bagel filled with ingredients that work and flavours that melt in your mouth!

They also render a more-than-acceptable coffee and some homemade treats for the sweet tooth.

A highly desirable Sunday brunch destination!

David & Camy Noodle Restaurant

Address: 605 Station St, Box Hill VIC
Tel: (03) 9898 8398
Trading Hours: Sun-Thur 11am to 9:30pm; Fri-Sat 11am to 10pm

#1 Peking Pork (pictured below) – nice, crispy on one side although can be too fried on the other visits

#64 Shanghai Mini Pork Bun (pictured above) – steamed too close together resulting in dumpling collapse/tear, not a lot of soup – if put enough chilli & vinegar it is quite palatable (Unfortunately Ding Tai Fung has set the benchmark for this style dumpling).

#36 Shanghai Fried Noodle (pictured below) – tasty, not hard/crisp noodle, strong sweet almost vinegary flavour enhanced by champignon mushrooms - suspect flavour is the trick to its glazed texture.

Note: Chilli is really hot & pungent - sensational! (Below)

Thanh Nga 9

Address: 160 Victoria St, Richmond VIC
Tel: (03) 9427 7068

Now before we get to the food - please be careful. Every 2nd shop on this road has the word "Thanh" in the shop title, and my friend who originally booked for this place accidently called up the wrong place and restaurants will claim to be Thanh Nga 9 even though it is not (that or they can't understand English very well).

A very clean cut, Vietnamese restaurant serving a combination of authentic dishes and some mixed in from other Asian regions to serve the masses (e.g. Honey Chicken, Mongolian Lamb etc).

For entree:


Signature Minature Pancakes ST Style - made from rice flour with crispy base filled with prawns, mung bean paste & sprinkled with crush prawns, served with fish sauce & coconut sauce. They are not really a 'pancake' but for lack of better description they are shaped as more like a hardened pastry cup which tastes like a deep fried fortune cookie.

Spring roll: miniature sized eaten with mint & lettuce leaf

Betal Leaf Beef: square of rice vermicelli – really pungent spicy meat, betal (dirt) leaf

Rice roll: really fresh mint taste (not bitter), smelly rice paper

Tangy Tomato Soup – strong tomato flavour even through broth, enhanced by shrimp flavour.

Chilli sauce – fried oily? texture, savoury

Coconut cake: similar to pancake, slightly sweet & enhanced by coconut dipping sauce

Thaila Thai

Address: 82 Lygon St, East Brunswick VIC 3057
Tel: (03) 9387 0659

This restaurant is no flash, fine dining destination (in fact it is shopfitted with a really authentic restaurant-in-asia feel) but the food is cheap, fast & generous.

The Pad Thai noodles pictured below are a particular standout - has a nutty, sweet flavour which is probably enhanced by the tamarind juice. The noodles are a slight chewy (but nice!) thin rice noodle which absorb the citric flavours well. Chicken has a really pleasant charred/smoky
flavour and is not too dry. Serving size can feed a family of 4, so make sure you ask for a takeaway box and have the rest for lunch tomorrow (there is no judgement here, everyone does it).

Chicken Yellow Curry - we don't know what this is because my friend just asked for their hottest curry. Wasn't send-all-your-senses into sniffling mode, but it contained some of the freshest and perfectly cooked zucchini ever. Usually people get zucchini very wrong and it becomes soggy and watery which is why most people hate the vegetable. The curry itself builds up to a gentle spice, but not overly chilli. The density of the curry is an authentic Thai one - not too thick, and not
too watery (as some restaurants can get it wrong, so when it comes out you think you ordered a broth soup).

In a nutshell this is a fantastic place. The staff are very courteous and efficient, don't let the outside/interior fool you (as it nearly did me). Thumbs up!!!