Perth’s charm
Jess Kramer takes a jaunt across the country to soak up the careless charm of Perth and surrounds and brings back the hot tips on the region
Calling Junk simply an adaptation and fusion of Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese food doesn’t do this Toowoomba restaurant justice — it is a lively, colourful sensation of Asian street food that leaves an exceptional impression far beyond anything I could’ve imagined hitting the Downs, and I was lucky enough to try it out.
Within five minutes of sitting down in the artistic, funky restaurant, I had five different meals and a delicious icy beverage sitting in front of me — steamed pork bao, crispy pork belly, chicken satay rice browl, crispy fried gunpowder chicken ribs and a strawberry bubble tea with blueberry pearls.
The pork belly was crunchy and rich, dressed in a kaffir lime and dark palm sugar caramel.
Contrasted with the papaya and cashew nut salad with touches of mint and some beautiful laksa, multiple elements of freshness delighted the palate and complemented one another.
When I tasted the chicken ribs, I simply had nothing else to compare them to that I’d had in the past — they were tender, crispy and zingy, adding a surprising and unexpected pop of flavour that was certainly welcome.
With tamarind chutney, gunpowder salt and coriander yoghurt, all elements of the dish seemed to work so well together like they’d been doing the same dance together for centuries.
I was thrilled by the beautifully presented steamed pork bao — coupled with the pickled cucumber, these pillowy, refreshing and zesty bites were exceptional — it’s easy to see why they are a favourite at Junk.
For those of you who appreciate the smaller elements of your meals such as sauces made from scratch, you simple can’t go past the chicken satay rice bowl.
The oustanding, flavoursome satay sauce is made in house and is unique and genuine.
Another favourite at Junk, this wonderful dish is filled with marinated free-range chicken, jasmine rice, satay sauce, spicy tomato and garlic relish with coriander and lime.
Junk is truly a wonderful addition to the Toowoomba foodie scene, incorporating elements of Asia and a cuisine that is so distinctive but truly extraordinary.