DETAILS
Blue Ginger, one of the most popular Asian restaurant in the inner-west, is found on busy Darling Street, Balmain. The design of the restaurant is sleek and casual with a funky Sydney edge.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Talented Blue Ginger team produce the best Asian food around Balmain, with signature dishes such as salt and pepper squid, grilled barramundi fillet with chilli and blackbean sauce, Vietnamese vegetable rice paper roll and San Choy Bao for starter.
PRIVATE DINING
The back section of the restaurant is ideal for product launches, corporate functions and private parties.
PROFILE BY BEST RESTAURANTS
Behind carved, brass-bolted, double doors is Blue Ginger - calm and spacious (until half way through the evening when it can be literally overflowing with diners) and fast becoming a Balmain institution for high quality Asian food. The large dining room has a sleek, minimalist design. Coloured in dark tones, it's livened up with flashes of bright red in the plastic chopsticks and the painted slats running above the banquettes on one side of the room.
The menu has strong Vietnamese leanings, making use of lots of fresh, crunchy vegetables and light, quick cooking styles. Dishes from Thailand, Malaysia and China are also well represented. Start with Vietnamese chicken and vegetable rice paper rolls, sang choi bow, or the Blue Ginger sampler plate for two. For mains there's a good choice of seafood: stir-fried scallops with young ginger and celery, or grilled barramundi fillet with chilli and black bean. There are noodles, including delicious, sweet char kway teow with fish cakes, chicken and Chinese sausage, or curries, such as red duck curry with pineapple and tomato. Sticky rice fans will definitely appreciate the black sticky rice pudding for dessert. Food and wine prices are quite reasonable and service is quick and attentive.