Bistro Mekong

Bistro Mekong in Castlecrag is a modern Asian diner and the sister restaurant to Kensington Street’s Mekong restaurant. It’s an al fresco restaurant that’s all about Indochine cuisine done with a Bistro Mekong twist, meaning that from the all-day menu you can expect entrees, shared mains and desserts that take inspiration from many parts of the Indochina region. The menu was designed by acclaimed Chef Tiw Rakarin who ensures dishes don’t just taste amazing, but that they look the part as well. Naturally there’s an impressive wine list to complement. You’ll find Castlecrag’s Bistro Mekong on Edinburgh Road, a convenient location to reach no matter what part of suburban Sydney you might be based.

Headed by Kensington Street’s Chef Tiw Rakarin, Bistro Mekong is an unbeatable al fresco dining experience that diners in Castlecrag and wider Sydney can’t get enough of. These Asian dishes are designed for sharing which encourages a social, relaxed, even quite romantic atmosphere that we admit is hard to resist. From the all-day menu you can start your Indochine meal with anything from grilled scallops and fresh coconut with bacon oil to spanner crab tacos or Vietnamese turmeric pancakes. If you’re undecided, however, the Bisto Mekong shared plate gives you the chance to try a bit of everything.

The main section of the menu at Bistro Mekong is where the restaurant really comes into its own, with Indochine dishes done in a way you probably haven’t seen before. The Burmese pulled chicken salad is a delight if you want something light, while for something a bit heavier the beef cheek Cambodian curry with sweet potato and pumpkin hits all the right notes. Also good is the confit red duck curry, the Phuket-style noodles with seafood and the fried snapper wings. With Asian food as good as this, as you can imagine, reservations at this suburban Sydney gem are essential – don’t arrive on Edinburgh Road in Castlecrag without one.