If a full belly conquers all, then White + Wong’s are certainly winning.
White + Wong’s is one of the new restaurants that has opened amongst the 170-million-dollar MLC Centre renovation to what is now, 25 Martin Place.
Offering ‘East meets West’ cuisine, White + Wong’s takes classic street foods from China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand, providing an extensive menu to choose from. There are over 50 dishes on the menu, everything from dumplings, soups, curries, noodles and banquet offerings.
Whilst bookings are recommended, White + Wong’s is a large restaurant with seating for 290 guests, two levels of dining and indoor/outdoor (but still undercover) seating, so there’s a good chance you’ll get a table. Plus, the Chef’s counter seats are reserved for walk-ins.
It’s a vibrant restaurant with bright bold interiors and white and red paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling, helping create the Asian street-dining vibe. Following the ubiquitous style of Hong Kong, roast meats are on display from the kitchen window, right next to the restaurant entrance and the open kitchen setup brings an extra buzz to the busy but friendly environment.
Head Chef Ashish Bhatnagar leads the two kitchens, having relocated from White + Wong’s New Zealand, to bring the exuberant food flavours to Sydney diners’ tables.
With so much choice we decided to concentrate on a selection of starters and just one main dish. Highly recommended was Fijian-style Sashimi of Kingfish, heirloom tomatoes, chilli, lime, coconut cream, coriander ($19), and we quickly understood why given its unusual but delicious taste, a mix of fresh fish and creamy spice.
The menu includes a number of traditional choices – Dumplings, Baos and Peking Duck. We had the Peking Duck as a pancake with hoisin sauce, cucumber, spring onion (half $44), the duck was thick cut and succulent as expected. Never one to resist dumplings, especially handmade dumplings, we went with the Wagyu Beef, shiitake & cumin shumai and Prawn & Coriander crystal skin dumplings (both 4 for $14). They didn’t disappoint and absolutely loved the Gua bao of Chinese roast pork belly, chilli jam, red onion & peanut salad (2 for $16). Not every dish can be a winner and the Crispy Soft-Shell Crab ($22) needs to reduce the amount of bean sprouts and up the spice.
Hot off the wok, our main was the Kung Pao Chicken, green beans, peanuts, garlic chives, chilli ($30), which was actually about the same size as the starters and by that, I mean all the dishes we had were very generous in portion size.
The dish of the night was the Masterstock Fried Pork Hock, tamarind & chilli caramel, crispy ginger, coriander ($20). A delicious concoction of sweet sticky caramel, crispy on the outside but tender on the inside.
White + Wong’s also offers an 18-page drinks list, with fun Woktails – we had the Orchard Road – Malfy blood orange gin, St Germain elderflower liqueur, yuzu sparkling sake, soda and Red Lantern – Hayman’s sloe gin, Campari, Briottet fig liqueur, lemon juice, egg white (both $19). If cocktails aren’t your thing, then don’t worry, there are over 380 Australian and International wines to choose from ranging in price from $70 to $250. We went with the 2018 Lark Hill Dark Horse, Canberra ACT ($130), a biodynamic Shiraz Viognier, the spicy complex wine was the perfect accompaniment to our assorted dishes.
Before we rolled home there was dessert – Banoffee Sundae, salted caramel ice-cream, miso, chocolate rice puffs, nougat ($16) – a decadent dessert with a twist.
If the menu is too overwhelming, then just say ‘feed me’ and for $65 (pp minimum 2 guests) your table will be filled with chefs-selection dishes to share.
The restaurant aims to appeal to anyone who enjoys Asian fusion food and is suitable for most occasions. Looking for a date night venue? Hello dumplings and cocktails. How about some ‘Woktails’ with the girls? Then Sardine Cocktail Bar (on level 2) is just the place. And for ravenous folks, opt for a full three-course lunch/dinner or a banquet dinner with the family.
If a fully belly conquers all, then White + Wong’s are certainly winning.
White & Wong’s
25 Martin Place, Sydney 2000
Open Monday to Saturday 12pm till late
