Northern Light has made way for the king. Chalawan, the crocodile king, to be exact. Chalawan isn't the place for traditional Thai. It's contemporary, and the menu has been adjusted to the Australian palate and our local produce....
The Sake brand has broken into the fast casual market with Saké Jr, which tries to bring extra healthy choices to the in-a-rush crowd. Bowls can be built to your liking with their Japanese and Korean-inspired bases, proteins and toppings. Pre-made dishes, soups, meals, and even breakfasts, are also waiting to be picked up by people who are even more time-poor, or for the indecisive....
Opening right on time, Spring and Summer is the latest pan-Asian restaurant to hit St Kilda. Though I'm usually a bit hesitant when it comes to fusion cuisine, finding out that the kitchen is under the charge of ex-Lucas Group chef Golf, made me intrigued. As co-owner and head chef, Golf lends a heavy and experienced hand to the food offerings. Thai, Japanese and Korean feature here, though the current menu for the season leans more towards the Thai spectrum of things...
A family-owned Tibetan restaurant, Shimbu comes from the same family who previously owned Wild Yak in Northcote. Both traditional and modern Tibetan food is served out of the black-tiled contemporary space, decorated with Tibetan masks and paintings....
One of Melbourne's finest Thai restaurants, Jinda Thai, has branched into the cafe scene with Oneyada. Straying from the typical brunch menus of late, their food is inspired by traditional Thai breakfast dishes instead.
The quaint cafe has a handful of glass-topped tables, all surrounded by rattan chairs. Walls are decorated with paintings created by Fon herself, who completed a Masters in Fine Arts in Thailand....