Thursday 30 January 2014

Melbourne Kebab Station

451 Sydney Rd 
Coburg, VIC 
3058

Chris is my other half, I am sure of it. If I had said to anyone else that I wanted something eat-y for lunch, they probably would’ve given me a funny look and be done with me. But Chris understands me; when I say I want something eat-y, he nods sagely and agrees, before letting me pick out a restaurant that is sufficiently eat-y for my liking. And what exactly does eat-y mean? I couldn’t tell you if I tried, but I know that Melbourne Kebab Station fits the bill perfectly.

From the outside, Melbourne Kebab Station looks like every other Middle Eastern restaurant along Sydney Road – pictures on the windows, dips behind the glass, and meat revolving slowly on giant spits. But when you realize it’s the only restaurant packed to the rafters on a Saturday morning, the seats as valuable of a commodity as 24 carat gold, its reputation as one of Melbourne’s most highly regarded kebab shops becomes clear. 

Large Doner Meal ($21)

Eggplant/Cacik Dip

Chris talked me into getting the Large Doner Meal ($21) instead of the small, and it was a glorious mistake. Our backsides had barely hit the seats that we had so painstakingly captured before a massive plate of meat, salad, and rice was slapped onto the table, along with a couple of dips and a basket of fresh Turkish bread.



This plate is perfect for those of you who love kebabs and DIY in equal measure. We were given segments of pillowy Turkish bread with shells that crackled as we split it in two to stuff with a mixture of smoky meat, salad, and dips. There was not a single thing we could fault; the mixture of chicken and lamb off the spit was succulent and fatty, the juices soaking into a bed of fluffy rice. We had a cacik (tzatziki essentially) and an eggplant dip on the side, which were subtly creamy and tangy. The tabouli was also something; instead of wilted greens in half a cup of lemon juice, this was a sprightly mixture of coarsely chopped parsley – dazzlingly green – tossed with diced tomato and cucumber, and just enough lemon to keep the flavours vividly fresh. Even the Coke we got seemed to taste better than usual. 

After stuffing our faces, we still had a good third of the plate left, though admittedly we did eat way more of the fantastic Turkish bread than we should have. Like most places on Sydney Road, it may not be haute cuisine, but it’s bloody delicious and great value for money. Three people could feast on grilled meat, have some dessert if there’s still room, and still have change from a tenner – what more could you want?

Rating: 15/20 – the eat-y-est.
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.

Melbourne Kebab Station on Urbanspoon

Monday 27 January 2014

Hallah

268 Victoria St 
North Melbourne, VIC
3051

Nothing tastes as good as a meal well earned. Not that I toil for my grain or anything, but now that I’ve started full time work, it feels fantastic to end the day with  dinner date. Shame the restaurant I had in mind was closed for the Christmas-New Year’s period, but like any food blogger, I had a backup plan. Just down the road was Hallah, one of the few Korean restaurants in the CBD I’ve yet to visit.


Smaller than Wooga, but definitely not as small as Donwoori, Hallah is your standard mid-range Korean restaurant, the diners split between grilling meat on a charcoal BBQ, and ordering dishes off the menu to share.


Banchan

Whilst waiting for our food, we were served the two banchan staples – pieces of kimchi that were sour and spicy, just the way I like it, and a plate of blanched sprouts.


Popcorn Chicken ($11)

I’ve heard ravings of the KFC – that’s Korean, not the colonel! – at Hallah, but it’s not like we were going to eat a whole chicken between the two of us. Instead we ordered the Popcorn Chicken ($11), a plate of addictive fried chicken nubbins with a salt and pepper coating. The pieces of chicken were delectably tender, and were a delicious appetiser dunked in mustard mayo.


Kimchi Pancake ($13)

Despite not liking kimchi at all, Chris has found an unlikely fondness of Kimchi Pancake ($13). Unfortunately this one didn’t gel with me. Whilst the pancake was golden crisp, it left a greasy film in the mouth from the get-go, and the pieces of kimchi studded in the pastry didn’t have half the punch of what was served on the side. I ate a couple pieces and left the rest to Chris, who liked it well enough.


Beef Potato Noodles ($13)

I enjoyed the Beef Potato Noodles ($13) a whole lot more, the bouncy noodles tossed with crisp veggies and tender, sweet pieces of beef. The whole dish with its myriad of colours tasted fresh and healthy, and most importantly, not overly saccharine.

The best thing I can probably say about Hallah is that I didn’t not like it, but don’t let me put you off. It’s not too different from its Korean neighbours, and the food, though not overly special, was enjoyable at the very least.  It just doesn’t leave me any particular reason to want to go back.

Rating: 12/20 – hallah at me!
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. 

Hallah on Urbanspoon

Thursday 23 January 2014

Mamasita

Level 1, 11 Collins St 
Melbourne, VIC 
3000

Revisiting old favourite restaurants scares me. Back in my very first days as a blogger, Mamasita was the restaurant that I loved the most (see here and here). In the two and a half years since I had last paid it a visit however, I’ve been deathly afraid that this hot babe has sizzled out to a lukewarm matron, thanks to my increasingly picky palate. So it was with a mixture of trepidation and anticipation that Chris and I arrived on a Friday afternoon for a casual, light dinner. And to think, Mamasita used to be a special-occasion-priced place for us back in the day! 



It’s good to see the Mamasita has stayed largely the same, from the relatively affordable prices to the items on the menu, and of course the huge line snaking down the stairwell by 5:30pm. However one thing I noticed was the change in wait staff; whilst they used to be chirpy and helpful, they now seem to spend most of their time chatting and determinedly avoiding our eyes, and were thoroughly unhelpful once we finally managed to catch their attention. Will the food be good enough to make up for the drop in service? Let’s see.


Elote Callejero ($4.9ea)

One of the dishes I was the most excited yet apprehensive to have again is the Elote Callejero ($4.9ea), the flagship grilled corn that started the love affair that swept through Melbourne like a storm. Blissfully, I discovered that these little babies were still the best ones around, the smoky chilli and generous shavings of queso fresco paving the way to sweet, charred corn kernels. 


Totopos Los Dos ($9)

The Totopos Los Dos ($9) were similarly enjoyable, the flaxen tortilla chips served with a duo of guacamole and salsa (por que no los dos!). Both dips were exemplary, the salsa fresh and smoky, and the smooth guacamole creamy with a light tang from lime and onion. And whilst I have had better tortilla chips (I’m looking at you, Bay City Burrito), these certainly weren’t an unworthy vehicle for the condiments.


Taco de Pescado ($6ea)

We ordered a pair of tacos, which were served with a dish of fresh green salsa. The first of the two was the Taco de Pescado ($6ea), a simple grilled fish taco. Simple it may be, this was a great deal more exciting than most of the tacos I’ve had, the fish marinated in a spice mix reminiscent of the Caribbean, enhanced with the richness of chipotle mayo and the bitter crunch of cabbage. 


Taco de Arrachera ($6ea)

The Taco de Arrachera ($6ea) was similarly delicious, the chunky slices of flank steak augmented with a smear of guacamole, salsa, and a squeeze of lime. The tortilla was infused with the wonderful fragrance of corn husks that lingered on my fingers for hours. 


Enchiladas de Queso y Papas ($17)

We finished out meal with a more substantial dish, the Enchiladas de Queso y Papas ($17), and it was nothing like we had expected. What we ended up with were mouthfuls of crunchy tortillas competing with fluffy pieces of potato rolled into its center, drenched in the pool of hearty black bean and chilli sauce. The faint whiff of goats cheese and piquant cress salad on top lightened things up considerably. Whilst rustic, this dish was also somehow extremely elegant, and greatly enjoyed by both of us, and the couple at the next table it seemed. 


Flan ($10)

Having only been moderately hungry, I was definitely done by this point, but Chris still had room for dessert, and who am I to say no? We both have a soft and wobbly spot for Flan ($10), and this one was no exception. Flavoured with tonka beans, this flan was a thick custard with flavours reminiscent of sweet almonds and vanilla, and just a hint of cinnamon. The scattering of crushed brown sugar and almonds were a great textural contrast to the slippery decadence of the flan.

I am extremely relieved and happy to find that whilst it is no longer a culinary wonderland, Mamasita is every bit as delicious and enjoyable as I had remembered. It was a shame that our meal was somewhat marred by the experience with the wait staff. This babe is still smokin’, but the service could really use some work.

Rating: 15.5/20 – babin’
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. 

Mamasita on Urbanspoon

Monday 20 January 2014

Saigon Light

109 Kingsway 
Glen Waverley, VIC 3150

I’m not sure I like Christmas anymore. Now before you all call me a Grinch, hear me out. When I was younger, Christmas was the time of year where no more work was done at school, and the prospects of presents and endless weeks of holidays loomed on the horizon. But now, as a soon-to-be working young adult, Christmas has suddenly morphed into a stressful time of present-buying, gift-wrapping, dinner-planning, and money-depleting. But arguably worst of all is the unpredictable opening hours of restaurants, leaving food bloggers who like to plan their meals out in the cold.


Thankfully there is always Glen Waverley, serving up Asian food all year round, holidays notwithstanding. And whilst I’ve eaten at most of the restaurants on the Kingsway strip now, I’ve yet to try Saigon Light, a small Vietnamese restaurant with what seems to be a loyal following. The interior is simple with functional furniture, and the menu is full of funny engrish typos. There are plenty of food options to choose from beyond your stalwarts, as well as a variety of psychedelic drinks.  


Bun Bo Hue ($9.8)

Bun Bo Hue ($9.8)

Bun Bo Hue ($9.8) is the new pho, and this bowl was definitely one of the better I’ve had. Whilst lacking in the herbal tang of lemongrass, it had generous amounts of shrimp paste and all the trimmings, pig's blood included. It was a satisfyingly deep bowl of noodles with a soup that was complex and fragrant, and slippery noodles perfect for slurping. 


Salt and Pepper Pork Rib Rice ($9.8)

Salt and Pepper Pork Rib Rice ($9.8)

Forever less adventurous, Chris had the Salt and Pepper Pork Rib Rice ($9.8). The meaty ribs were tossed with stir-fried vegetables and served with a bowl of tomato rice. Whilst the seasoning for the ribs could use some work, it was a satisfying lunch overall.

Whilst there isn’t all that much to say about Saigon Light, it seems to be reliable and fairly authentic, and the portions are generous. It’s not my favourite Vietnamese restaurant in town, but as it is fairly close to where I live, it will certainly do.

Rating: 12.5/20 – 60 watts.
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. 

Saigon Light on Urbanspoon

Friday 17 January 2014

Pacific Seafood BBQ House

210 Toorak Rd 
South Yarra, VIC 
3141

I’m back! Though my posting schedule might make it seem otherwise, I’ve taken a week and a half worth of blogging hiatus for Christmas, choosing instead to rely on my backlog of past eats. But now I’m back in business, and with it still being the holiday season, there wasn’t much choice in terms of food. We ended up at Pacific Seafood BBQ House, a Cantonese stalwart that has long tempted us with its delicious smells.



Pacific Seafood BBQ House is exactly what you’d expect from a mid-range restaurant specialising in home-styled cooking. The interior is nice enough, with every inch of space carefully utilised to maximise capacity, in order to fit in as many large, boisterous Asian families as possible. Strips of colourful paper lining the walls proclaim the specials of the day. 


House Soup

Like all good Asian restaurants, we were treated to a bowl of House Soup as we scanned the menu. The broth was delicately porky, sweetened with chunks of wintermelon and carrot. 


Crispy Roast Pork ($10.5, entree)

Crispy Roast Pork ($10.5, entree)

It’d be incredibly remiss to visit a BBQ house and not try any of the BBQ, and I for one prefer Crispy Roast Pork ($10.5, entrée) much more than duck or chicken. After all, how could I say no to juicy meat and incredibly crunchy skin, ribboned with fat?  Whilst the fat to meat ratio may be a little too much for some, as a diehard Asian, I adore the way it melted in the mouth. 


Seafood with Silky Beancurd ($26)

The Seafood with Silky Beancurd ($26) combined all my favourite things on a bed of crunchy broccoli, doused in a slippery egg sauce. Whilst simple, this was a delicious tumble of fresh seafood, from plump scallops to chewy pieces of calamari, and everything else in between. The deep fried globes of wobbly tofu soaked up all the delicate umami flavours of the seafood.  


Special Fried Rice ($7, small)

And instead of boring steamed rice, we opted for the Special Fried Rice ($7, small) instead as our filler. If only all fried rice was like this! Interspersed with BBQ pork, golden shreds of egg, and large bouncy prawns, the rice was fried to a fragrant smokiness, with shreds of lettuce added in for a bit of crunch.

We finished up our meal with a quick dessert of complimentary orange segments (sweet and juicy), and left feeling completely satisfied. That feeling was compounded when we walked past the mob of people waiting outside on the sidewalk for their chance at delicious Cantonese home cooking. Like all good cheap and cheerful Chinese restaurants, the service and decor at Pacific Seafood BBQ House may be minimal, but you’re sure to get a fabulous feed with hardly any damage to the wallet.

Rating: 14.5/20 – moooooooother knows best.
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. 

Pacific Seafood BBQ House on Urbanspoon

Tuesday 14 January 2014

Mr Burger

Location Varies 
Melbourne, VIC

So apparently The King has competition. After a friend who loves Huxtaburger claimed that he enjoyed the one at Mr Burger even more, I was intrigued and utterly intent on trying the burger myself. Being a food truck however, I was afraid that I had to chase it down all over Melbourne. Luckily, they have one permanent location on Little Bourke Street that’s open for lunch, so it was to there that Ethan and I headed. 

Mr Meat ($11)/Mr Burger ($10)

Mr Burger does one thing and one thing only. There are only two burgers on the menu – the Mr Burger ($10) and Mr Meat ($11) – with sides of chips and cold drinks. There is also a Mr Veg on offer but, really? There are no seats but plenty of cheery staff, one of which who had called me a series of amusing nicknames by the time we had our burgers, including Ming the Merciless, charMING, and Ming Kong. 


Mr Burger ($10)

The Mr Burger ($10) was a stalwart combination of meat, cheese, salads, and sauces. This is what a burger should taste like – fresh salad, oozy cheese over a melt-in-the-mouth patty, doused in the golden trio of tomato sauce, mustard, and mayo. It was a lovely and balanced burger. 


Mr Meat ($11)

The Mr Meat ($11) isn’t actually as meaty as it sounds, but certainly manlier with the addition of bacon, onions, and BBQ sauce. It was also richer than the Mr Burger, with a strong aroma of sweet smokiness. 


Chips ($5, large)

We also had a serve of Chips ($5, large), which were exactly what you would expect – fluffy, golden, and coated in chicken salt.

I can definitely see the appeal in Mr Burger – there’s nothing to fault, from the fresh ingredients to the succulent patty to the jolly staff, and there are plenty of locations around town to cater for the munchies any time of day. I still prefer Huxtaburger and its overly indulgent flavours, but Mr Burger definitely has it going.

Rating: 14/20 – dr burger.
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.

Mr Burger on Urbanspoon

Saturday 11 January 2014

Jimmy Grants

113 St David St 
Fitzroy, VIC 3065

Will the man never stop? At barely 35 years of age, George Calombaris (aka Georgie) has already has a string of successful restaurants under his belt, not to mention being the adorable co-host of Masterchef. Eager to expand his empire, he’s now turning his hand to cheap and homely Greek food, serving up souvlakis, salads, and other nibbles at his newest restaurant, Jimmy Grants.




It may be on a small side-street, it may have no signage except a neon blue ‘plus minus’ sign, and it may look like an abandoned warehouse, but word of good food travels fast and far in Melbourne. The funky stop-over started filling up rapidly after 5:30pm; it’s popular with the young and hip, as well as the older folks with prams in tow. The funky music kept Chris grooving throughout the entire meal. 


The Bonegilla ($8.5)

Normally we’d have a souva (Georgie’s words, not mine) each, but on account of all the delectable sides on offer, we decided to just share The Bonegilla ($8.5) in order to leave room for other goodies. This was just like any other good souvlaki you’d find, but subtly refined. The bread is pillowy soft, the mixture of spit roast chicken and lamb succulent and extremely flavoursome, and the pungent garlic sauce was replaced with a tangy mustard mayo. It was the gourmet souvlaki experience with neither the pomp nor the guilt.  


Chips, Garlic Oil, Feta, Oregano ($6)

It’s not always a good thing when the main dish is overshadowed by the sides, but in this instance it’s a case of good and great. As delicious as the souvlaki was, I couldn’t keep my grabby hands away from the Chips, Garlic Oil, Feta, Oregano ($6). It’s just a regular (albeit golden, crisp and fluffy) plate of chips, but top it off with a scattering of feta and oregano, and the result is pure magic. Chips are great, but chips interspersed with creamy hunks of herbed feta are even better. 


Village Salad ($7)

We had both wanted to try the ‘Jimmy Dimmy’ (it's what it sounds like), but I put my foot down and ordered us a Village Salad ($7) instead. Like everything so far, it’s simple but done just right. The combination of crunchy cucumber chunks and chewy pearl barley brought some much-needed freshness to the meal, its flavour augmented with a handful of mint and coriander, and generous amounts of olive oil. 



Jimmy's Wheel ($6)

Because we just had a salad, we were now allowed to have dessert, so we finished our meal with the Jimmy’s Wheel ($6). It was essentially a larger and fancier version of the wagon wheel, with chocolate biscuits sandwiching strawberry marshmallow, all coated in milk chocolate. The surprise came when we got to the middle, and found a center of peanut butter and jam, transforming this classic biscuit into a sweet and salty playground.

We couldn’t have been happier with our meal at Jimmy Grants. Not only is the food fresh, flavoursome, and almost-healthy, it is also ridiculously affordable, especially given the quality of it. We need more places like this around Melbourne.

Rating: 15/20 – jimmy grants wishes.
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. 

Jimmy Grants on Urbanspoon

Wednesday 8 January 2014

Chat Thai

20 Campbell St 
Haymarket, NSW 
2000

Remember what I said about the perks of Sydney? Well aside from ramen, the other thing Sydney does way better than Melbourne is Thai food. After an agonising night trying to decide between two of the most popular Thai restaurants, I settled on Chat Thai, located right near our hotel, in Thai Town.




Considering how busy it was, Chat Thai really should be bigger. But I was happy to be seated in the cosy restaurant within 40 minutes, perusing their extensive menu consisting of a selection of authentic Thai street food.


Fresh Spring Rolls ($12)

Fresh Spring Rolls ($12)

I’m not usually one to order spring rolls, but I’ve heard good things about the Fresh Spring Rolls ($12). It certainly was something different – a cylinder of fish sausage, crab, and chicken, wrapped tightly in fresh rice paper and covered in sticky tamarind relish. It wasn’t mind-bendingly good, but it made for a promising start to the night. 


Nahm Drok Nuea ($14)

Nahm Drok Nuea ($14)

I held my breath as I put the first piece of Nahm Dtok Nuea ($14) into my mouth, and hallelujah it was delicious! The salad of succulent grilled beef was garnished with herbs, onions, and generous lashings of lime and chilli that woke my tastebuds up with a bang. It was a beautifully vivacious dish, overcrowded with a myriad of Asian flavours. 


Grapao Gai Sub ($14)

Equally as delicious, though perhaps not as confronting, is the Grapao Gai Sub ($14). The simple stir fry of chicken mince and holy basil, interspersed with chopped chilli and garlic, had layers of flavour and plenty of spice, yet was still comforting and immensely satisfying eaten with a bowl of Jasmine Rice ($3).



I’m not usually one for Asian desserts, but the menu at Chat Thai had me salivating. Unfortunately most of their vast dessert menu was subject to availability, so we had to make our choices from a smaller pool of treats.


Sticky Rice and Mango ($8)

I haven’t had Sticky Rice and Mango ($8) for a while, usually deeming it too simple to be worth my time and money, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t one of my favourite things to eat. The combination of slippery-sweet mango and sticky rice was a timelessly moreish pairing of sweet and salty, and soft and chewy, all drizzled in a thick coconut cream.



Tao Tang ($6)

We finished our meal with a light bowl of Tao Tang ($6), a refreshingly sweet bowl of herbal longan juice ladled over a cornucopia of Asian jewels, including dates, lotus seeds, tapioca balls, and dozens more. Topped with crushed ice, this was a restorative palate cleanser that made for a perfect ending to our sumptuous feast.

I could not find a thing to dislike about Chat Thai; well, there was the wait, and the service wasn’t crash-hot, but I’d happily eat off the floor if the food is going to be this good. Chat Thai is so scrumptious that it makes me cry. Or maybe it’s just the chilli.

Rating: 16.5/20 – on-de-palate-dance
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. 

Chat Thai Haymarket on Urbanspoon