LOCATION Tucked away in Weedon Close in Belconnen.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAIf you are a capital city connoisseur who fears venturing too far from Manuka, Kingston or Dickson, Paprika Asian Restaurant in Belconnen is a great excuse to widen your horizons. For those who live in the Belconnen area, Paprika simply offers fantastic Malaysian food worthy of any of its competitors in the inner north or south. Paprika is a welcoming and unpretentious family run restaurant, focused on the service of tasty and authentic dishes. The menu is large enough to offer a decent selection of dishes, but small enough to ensure that each and every dish is prepared with thoughtful attention to detail and flavour.
Examples of choices from the fixed menu include crisp beef tossed in a special KL sauce with sesame seeds,
ayam pangang (spicy grilled chicken) and a large variety of traditional laksas. The sambal king prawns and beef
rendang rank as personal favourites. Indeed, although
rendang is a staple of most Malaysian restaurants, Paprika’s version is a grade above most and arguably one of the best available in Canberra. The freshness of Paprika’s spices and ingredients comes through in every mouthful and the dish is a far cry from those made in bulk with pre-prepared curry pastes. A serve of
roti chanai makes the perfect accompaniment to any dish, but especially that remarkable
rendang. In addition to the set menu, there is a large selection of blackboard items and banquets available. The takeaway banquets at Paprika are excellent value for money and perfect for dining at home. Paprika is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and is a must-visit next time you are on your way to Manuka and feel inexplicably compelled to make a detour.
Elizabeth Hall, August 2010