Exploring Canberra World Food Delights with Friends

Burmese Curry Place

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The Burmese Curry Place has always looked inviting and like incredible value for money ($7 for two curries and rice take away, $8 eat in).
But it is only open until 7pm-7:30pm Monday to Friday.
Serve sizes are generous, particularly for eat in, and service is warm, friendly and quick (instant).
There are just nine curries to pick from, which keeps the choice easy.

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Sweet Pork and Chicken and Beans with rice $8 eat in.
I liked the Chicken and Beans (No.8) and Sweet Pork (no. 3) best, followed by the Chicken and Prawn (No.7) and then the Fish Curry (No.5) and last the Vegetarian Curry (mainly shredded potato) (No.9) which I wouldn’t get again.
Reading a few more reviews, I’d like to go back and try the egg curry, fish cake curry and beef and potato curry (and why not try the Chicken and Potato too).
Probably better suited to warmer weather when it’s nice sitting outside as the ‘eat -in’ option is a good one and the dishes are more enjoyable served on a plate. No licensed and no BYO.

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Burmese Curry Place on Urbanspoon

Chong Co, Belconnen

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Chong Co in Belconnen shares the same gracious staff, menu, generous serve sizes and delicious recipes as it’s sister restaurants on the Kingston Foreshore and in Woden at Westfield and the Woden Southern Cross Club.

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While it has some charming corners that would be lovely on a quiet night, unfortunately the atmosphere on a busy night tends more towards food court. Sadly the decor and ambiance may be the least of all the Chong Co’s and does not compete with the space and outlook of the Woden Southern Cross Club venue.

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The BBQ Lamb is flavoursome, but you do need to enjoy lamb chops.

The Chicken Penang Curry is good, like all the Chong Co curries, but probably the Beef Massaman, followed by the Chicken (or Tofu) Green Curry and then the Roasted Duck Red Curry are the best that the Chong Co’s do.

Chong Co Thai Bar and Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Phnom Penh Cambodian Restaurant – Belconnen, Canberra

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What Phnom Penh may lack in appearance, it quickly surpasses in friendliness and delicious dishes.
Cambodian cuisine differs to Thai and Vietnamese in it’s unique and liberal use of pepper, with great effect.
Phnom Penh is well worth a visit, just to experience the difference.

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Dishes are well sized and ideal for sharing (around one dish per person is about right) and rice ($2.50 per serve) and corkage $5 corkage is inexpensive.

My favourites were:

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Fish Amok – fish cooked with coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves, crushed peanuts and chilli (Cambodia’s national dish) $19
Crispy soft shell crab with chilli – soft shell crab tempura with garlic,black pepper, spring onion, fresh chilli served with lemon and pepper sauce $25

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Ginger fish on vegetable crown – pan fried fish fillet with ginger and shallot sauce on a crown of tomatoes and cucumber $28
Crispy calamari – tempura calamari with lime juice and pepper (main size $17.50) (this photo is only part of the dish)

Others particuarly liked the:
Hot pot pepper and caramelised fish – fresh fish in caramelised sauce with pepper $20

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Cambodian BBQ special lamb sizzling – marinated lamb with lemon grass on a hot sizzling onion bed $20

Least liked was the:
Special lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and chilli stir fry with pork $18

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Easy to find as it overlooks the roundabout on Luxton Street from it’s upstairs location next to Taj Agra Belconnen.
Parking is easy below where there’s also conveniently a bottle shop, if you need it.

Phnom Penh Restaurant on Urbanspoon

La Rustica, Kingston Foreshore

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La Rustica is a great spot for celebrating a special occasion with a group. The menu offers many Italian favourites, in generous sizes that are well suited for sharing.
Spacious and airy, it is nicely situated on the Kingston Foreshore having moved recently from it’s former Kennedy Street, Kingston location. A warm and friendly experienced family business, staff are flexible and helpful when ordering.
Four dishes for six people is about right for lunch, but if you order more than you need, staff are happy for any leftover to be taken home.
Prices are good value and BYO is offered at $4 per person.

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The antipasto (for a starter), a salad, a pizza and a risotto (or pasta) makes a a nice combination of dishes.
The chicken risotto was definitely the stand out dish and a favourite for all.

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Mediterranean Antipasto $24 – selection of cold meats, Italian cheese, marinated vegetables, served with crusty Italian bread.

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Verdura salad $15.90 – marinated and grilled seasonal vegetables tossed in an avocado and lime dressing (I’d probably try the Caprese next time).

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Rissotto Pollo $22.90                                                        Penne Asparagus $22.90

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Lasagna $18.90

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Medium Vincenzo Pizza $23.90                                       Large Marina Pizza $28.90

La Rustica By The lake on Urbanspoon

Global Cafe Ethiopian – my favourite Canberra cheapie

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Located centrally on Northbourne Ave, next to the corner chemist, the Global Cafe doesn’t look much from the outside.

But the food is wonderful and the hospitality generous and welcoming.

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Meat & Veg Combination $18.90                                    Vegetarian Combination $15.90   (both includes rice and extra injera)
The combination injera meal serve sizes are large and made for sharing. There is no corkage cost for wine. This might just be the very best value in town.

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Samosas $2.50 each

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Open Monday to Friday only, for lunch and dinner, the cafe closes around 8:00-8:30pm. Bookings are taken.
The Global cafe website hosts some excellent background information on Ethiopian cuisine that adds great value to this global culinary experience.

Global cafe and bar on Urbanspoon

Pride of Siam, Deakin

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Pride of Siam, is a little known suburban gem in Deakin that is a stronger contender for one of Canberra’s top Thai restaurants!

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Don’t be discouraged by the exterior or if it’s quiet when you enter. The decor is very pleasant, staff are gracious and attentive, the food is very delicious and the value is exceptional.

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The Red Duck Curry may be Canberra’s best, the Massaman Lamb Curry (both $17.50) rivals that of Chong Co.

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The Pad Thai ($16.50) is excellent and serve sizes are very generous and great for sharing between six.
Four dishes and rices (coconut rice $3, is lovely) between six people is a good ordering plan.
Corkage is a low $4 per bottle.
…and Entertainment Book holders are eligible for a 25% discount.

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Crispy crab dumplings $9.50 per 4                              Duck spring rolls $9.50 for 4

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Chicken and Cashew nut stir fry $17.50                   Two serves Roti bread $3.50 per serve

Pride of Siam on Urbanspoon

Spicy Ginger Cuisine – Canberra City

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Spicy Ginger Cuisine is a popular spot for Sichuan cuisine, close to ANU on the corner of Childers Street.

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The decor is and atmosphere are inviting and attractive and staff are friendly and efficient.
Dishes are delicious and serve sizes are generous, great for sharing between even six or seven people.
Four dishes with rice would be suitable for four to six people.
Prices range, but some of my favourites were the least expensive. Rice is only $2 per serve.
BYO is available at $8 corkage per bottle.
Parking can be tricky if it’s busy, but after hours, it’s worth trying near the Drill Gallery on Kingsley Street.

My favourites were

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Cumin seeds spicy flavoured lamb $22.80                    Gongbao chicken $18.80

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Chilli beans (stir-fried fresh runner beans and pickled vegetables with Sichuan dried chillies) $ 15.80
Chicken sang choy bao (four serves) $14.80 – great for an entree

(This menu with rice is $80 -$84 for 4-6 people, $14 – $20 per person )

Others enjoyed the Braised eggplant in hot pot $14.80.

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The Sizzling beef in black pepper sauce $18.80 and     Scallop and prawn balls with ginger and shallots $ 24.80 (quite hot with lots of chilli) were also good.

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Rice $2 per serve.

Spicy Ginger Cuisine Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Noodle Cafe, Canberra City

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While there’s plenty of Canberra City eateries offering week day lunch specials, Noodle Cafe offers a terrific Saturday lunch special.

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Centrally located in Garema Place, this friendly family run restaurant offers great food, generously served at great prices. It’s a good spot for a casual Saturday lunch group lunch.

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Combination Laksa                                                            Nasi Goreng

The laksa is as good as any in Canberra and I’ve heard the Pho is very good too.

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Little complimentary extras are a welcome treat.

BYO is welcome at $3 per bottle of wine $1 per bottle of beer.

Also ideal for including as a dessert stop on a Canberra City street food tour.

DESSERTS

Black Sticky Rice $5.50 (Sweetened black sticky rice pudding topped with coconut milk)

Fried Ice Cream $6.00 (Topped with Chocolate, Caramel or Strawberry syrup)

Banana Split and Ice Cream $6.00 (Topped with Chocolate, Caramel or Strawberry syrup)

Fried Banana Fritter and Ice Cream $6.00 (Topped with Chocolate, Caramel or Strawberry syrup)

Chinese Pancake and Ice Cream $8.00 (A specially made Chinese style fried pancake with red bean filling and ice cream)

Noodle Cafe on Urbanspoon

Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant, Canberra City

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The Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant, on Northbourne Ave, offers a good value lunch special that includes a samosa, main dish, rice, 1/2 naan, and raita and banana sides for $23.
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It also has a private function room, that is ideal for a group with very flexible booking conditions. Staff were friendly and warm and very accommodating.

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The raita is delicious and serve sizes of curries are generous.
The chicken dishes, especially the creamy chicken dishes (butter chicken, chicken korma) are better than the lamb which can be a bit chewy.
The Taj Mahal is a good spot for sharing dishes as a group particularly if the group needs to keep to a budget.
Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant on Urbanspoon

iPho Vietnamese Cafe – Garema Place,Canberra City

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iPho is has a central location in the city and is helpfully open late and 7 days. It’s a great spot to get a Vietnamese street food ‘fix’ if you’re missing Vietnamese style coffee with condensed milk, Vietnamese rolls or pho.
Corkage is only $3 per bottle, there’s indoor and outdoor seating (cosy with gas burners in the cold weather).
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Chicken & prawn fresh spring rolls (the best pick)       Vegetarian spring rolls ( second best pick)

Staff are very relaxed and obliging, making it a great spot to start a city street food progressive meal with an entree of fresh spring rolls with a glass or two of BYO wine.
Two large fresh spring rolls are $5 with a very tasty satay style dipping sauce. The chicken and prawn rolls are the best, followed by the vegetarian rolls and lastly the pork and prawn rolls.
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If what you need isn’t ready to go, it can be quickly created in a few minutes.
IPho on Urbanspoon