Veggie spring rolls… finely sliced carrot and finely sliced cabbage are mixed with black pepper and then stuffed into the rolls. Photo: Wendy Johnson
Som Tum Thai… Green papaya salad with softshell crab. Photo: Wendy Johnson
Grilled pork neck… served with a colourful array of grilled veggies and a tamarind sauce. Photo: Wendy Johnson
“‘It’s always food o’clock’. I chuckle every time I pass by the sign at CocoNine in Kingston (and no doubt the Gungahlin operation makes the same promise), but admire the restaurant for being open seven days for lunch and dinner when so many places are cutting back on hours, writes dining reviewer WENDY JOHNSON.
When I crave quality Thai, I never hesitate to visit CocoNine. The place has a long list of loyal fans and booking is the safest bet.
CocoNine is one of the Kingston Foreshore’s longest-standing food establishments and can be counted on for its consistent, authentic approach.
On my last visit – with a friend who is very-much a regular – we relaxed and worked our way through some of her all-time faves and some of mine.
But first, we started with classic margheritas. I had never had a cocktail at CocoNine before, but will definitely order that margherita on my next visit. It was perfectly balanced and gorgeously chilled ($20).
It’s tough to go past CocoNine’s popular veggie spring rolls ($10.90 for 4). They’re house made and, although deep fried, aren’t greasy. Finely sliced carrot and finely sliced cabbage are mixed with just the right amount of black pepper and then stuffed into the rolls, which are always piping hot and super crispy when served. Dip them into the small dish of sweet chilli sauce and get the tastebuds dancing.
A dish I adore is the salmon crackers (six pieces for $18.90), which are fresh, inviting and served with a seafood dressing that celebrates the wonder of Thai flavours.
They’re on the “special entree” section of the menu, and with good reason. They look as delicious as they taste… the fresh salmon is finely diced and so, too, are tomatoes and onion. The mixture is carefully placed on top of crunchy rice crackers and fish roe adds colour and lovely pops of saltiness.
My friend adores the marinated and then grilled pork neck, which I had never road tested ($29.90). It is served with a colourful array of grilled veggies and a tangy-sweet-sour tamarind sauce, with a precise and perfect flavour profile. A couple of pieces of the neck were slightly tough, but the vast majority were super tender.
Another tasty dish is the green papaya salad. The Som Tum Thai ($23.90) is packed with goodness, and we added sensational soft shell crab for an additional $12 (grilled chicken as an add-on is $8).
This delightful salad has the right amount of chilli and the earthy, rich, salty and savoury fish sauce and fresh lime juice round matters beautifully.
CocoNine’s compact wine list is extremely reasonably priced.
While CocoNine can get exceptionally busy, staff always make a concerted effort to be friendly and attentive.
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