Fresh User Reviews for Asian in Canberra

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

Really lovely food. The duck curry in particular was delicious. Mostly Asian-inspired food but with a modern twist and touch of class. A nice quiet spot for groups.

May 14, 2012

7.8 Recommended

Drinks  9      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  9     

Fantastic laksa. Best in Canberra and indeed better than anything in Sydney too. We also appreciate the half-size laksa which is great for a lunch-sized meal. To be honest we've never got past the laksa so can't say much about the rest of the menu. The place is always busy, service is quick if not particularly friendly.

May 14, 2012

4.8 Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  3     

On your first time at this restaurant no one explains the way things work and it can be confusing for those that haven't travelled.

The food at 1300 Hot Pot is Ok (mainly because of its different concept to other restaurants) although you don't always get what you ask for. Once you get served it's hard to get anyone's attention to ask for anything else.

The biggest issue is they charge $10 per bottle for corkage even though they don't open the bottle, pour your wine or even give you a cooler to keep it cold. What's the reasoning behind paying for this if they do nothing re: your BYO drinks. Who decided on this exorbitant price? $3-$5 per bottle for doing nothing would be a more ethical price.

We need to voice our disgust for charges that are unreasonable by refusing to go back until they rethink this charge.

May 10, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  6      Service  10      Value  9     

We thoroughly enjoyed not only the delightful food, but the utterly charming service at Bambusa. The waitress could not have been more helpful and guided our group with our choices. By the way, the wine list has a good variety to choose from. Can't wait to go back with the family.

Mar 29, 2012

4 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  5     

Good food marred by appalling service experienced when I went to lunch there on Sunday. The senior staff came to serve and recommended ordering Char Kway Teow just so he doesn't have to spend an extra 10 minutes cooking for other orders. I agreed to go with Char Kway Teow, but the order still came very slowly after 15 minutes.

Then the senior staff made a deal about shutting the door so that flies won't come in, yet does not turn on the fans, and we were suffocating in the heat.

To make matters worse, the senior staff refused to give out a small plate of chilli, which is standard in most Asian restaurants, but wanted to charge $2 for it!

Finally the icing on the cake came when I discovered a small black rock when eating my food. When confronted the senior staff about it, he first accused me of eating everything then complaining, Admitting that it was a piece that fell from his wok when cooking, then came back 5 minutes later to claim that it was a piece of fried onion.

This is the most ridiculous service I've ever experienced, and has marred what is otherwise a decent dish, bar the piece of wok that I nearly swallowed.

Never going there again.

Mar 11, 2012

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Value  8     

Takeaway was fairly quick for a Friday night. Quality was good, better than your average suburban chinese. Good value.

Mar 10, 2012

4.8 Average

Food  1      Ambience  8      Service  5      Value  5     

I really actually liked the ambience of this place and service was to be expected, nothing to rave about but didn't have any problems with it.

Having recently moved from Sydney and expecting some satay beef pho we were sadly disappointed here but nevertheless stayed to try something else.

The spicy soup was super spicy, not complaining here, but flavours were lost a bit on it. However, the duck in the duck soup was definitely far past its used-by date and my partner was sick afterwards. By both the smell and taste it was not ok to eat and so I've had to rate the food quite low. I'd like to think that this is not the usual but I wouldn't return here before trying all the other Vietnamese places in Canberra first.

Feb 15, 2012

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  10     

Fiona and her team are excellent hosts, most attentive and gluten free is no problem at all. Strongly recommend the cheese curries! [Not GF!]

Feb 06, 2012

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

The prawns sour soup is awesome but a bit heavy on the Msg. Service and atmosphere are as to be expected from a down-to-earth Vietnamese. This is all about the food, not the surroundings.

Jan 25, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

Based on the Noodle House in another area of Canberra, the Asian Noodle House offers a similar menu. The service is prompt, friendly and always attentive. The laksa is wonderful, full flavoured, filling and offered in two sizes and always makes me look forward to my next visit. Other meals that my family have eaten here have always been fresh, well sized and valued, and full of flavour.
I would recommend this restaurant for lunch or dinner, families or couples or groups, as it has never failed to deliver on any aspect.

Jan 23, 2012

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

This was an appalling experience. The service was rude, late and unapologetic. Cheap terrocota tiles masked with cheap carpets do not make for ambience, if I order $30 meal I expect the waiter to remember it, not scream across the table for who ordered what. I will never go back.

Jan 22, 2012

5.3 Average

Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  7     

Loved the Tom Yum Kung but found the Laksa too rich. The vegetable Tempura is not very authentic but tastes OK. Service is terrible; Thumbs placed in our bowls, our plates whisked away just as we swallowed our last bite, our table trampled upon a couple of times without acknowledgement or apology. The food is fine but Perhaps a take-away is a better option.

Jan 17, 2012

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

Moved from Sydney to Canberra 6 months ago... at last, a decent vietnamese restaurant. Their Pho's authentic. This is from someone who used to visit a vietnamese restaurant at least once a week in Sydney. It's driven away the urge to drive 3 hrs to Sydney for a good bowl of pho... I'm not complaining

Tried chilli mussel and spring rolls but going back soon with a large group to sample a larger selection from the menu. On a Saturday afternoon, there was a constant stream of asians entering the premises... you know that's gotta be a good sign.

The foods great, price is right...I don't really care about the kitschy decor. So long as they don't increase the price of dishes to pay for an expensive fitout. It adds to the overall atmosphere... Even better, 25% off from Entertainment Book (up to $20 off).

Jan 17, 2012

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  5     

I paid just under $15 for 2 rice rolls (served cold from the fridge and therefore tasteless) and 3 small and rather dull chicken gyoza. Perhaps, huge bowls of noodles in soup is the way to go but I shall give it a miss. Service was non-existent, had to ask for chop sticks, there were no napkins and/or cutlery on the table and I was not offered water.

Dec 23, 2011