The Prawn Pad Thai at Supa Love is delicious. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
Tiger Lane has quickly become a cornerstone of casual dining in the Canberra Centre with their technicolour mix of hawker-inspired kiosks, pan-Asian flavours and electric atmosphere. But for the uninitiated, it can be a slightly intimidating tableau. For those experiencing analysis paralysis we’ve put together a cheat sheet of the signature dishes of the food hall venues to make choosing a little easier.
First things first: yes, Tiger Lane is kind of a lot. Bright colours, neon lights, uptempo music and plenty of people. But there are pockets of quiet if you’d like a slightly more relaxed experience. Head up the ramp to find a slightly quieter dining space where you can look out over the food hall, or keep going for more seating outside Honey Toast. There’s even some space outdoors if the weather is fine. But if you’re feeling cosmopolitan, embrace the chaos and have your meal in a replica Tokyo bus stop.
There’s something to satisfy your cravings at Tiger Lane. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
Sticky Beak is all about Korean-style street food. If you’re sharing, then the twice-fried chicken is a great option, but if you’d like your own meal then the Sticky Beak Sandwich is the fried chicken burger of your dreams. They’ve nailed the crunchy exterior and kept the chicken super moist on the inside. Pickles and chilli sauce balance things out nicely.
Fair to say that fried chicken isn’t the healthiest option, so if you’re on a health kick then the salmon and avocado poke bowl from Blowfish might be more up your alley. Loaded with fresh flavours, seaweed, and enough rice to fill you up, this is a great cold lunch option to fuel you for the afternoon. Top tip: grab a packet of wasabi off the counter to add a little extra whomph! The tofu version is an excellent vegetarian alternative.
The mixed meat platter at Tiger Lane is outrageously good. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
For the opposite of vegetarian, head to Lucky Duck for incredible Cantonese-style barbecue meats. You can get a plate for one but it’s better to find a friend and get the mixed meats platter. The three meats are all delicious with distinct characteristics: the pork belly has unbelievably unctuous fat and satisfyingly crisp skin. The barbecue pork is smokey and sweet, and the duck is the real deal. One bite and you could be in Sydney’s Chinatown, or a side street in Hong Kong. Dip into your choice of three sauces, load up with some rice and take a sip of cleansing broth.
Next door, Golden Panda has the goods with dumplings made in-house daily. The steamed pork and cabbage are delicious, but there are plenty of options and they’re all good. Get a selection and share with your friends or the bao buns are also worth ordering, and a few of those would fill you up nicely.
Supalove has its own seating space but is definitely still a part of the thrum and buzz of Tiger Lane. Supalove serves up classic Thai dishes and you can’t get more classic than a good pad thai. The prawn pad thai at Supalove totally hits the spot for comfort food: a generous portion of thin rice noodles tossed in a sauce that manages to be salty, sour, sweet and sticky all at once. Toasted peanuts, chilli flakes, a wedge of lime and crisp bean sprouts are served around the edge of the plate so you can add as much or as little to your taste.
You obviously need to wash it all down with a drink. The sum yung gai is a gin-based tropical cocktail with lychee, passionfruit and mint that will transport your mind to a beach in Phuket. Or keep the party going with an espresso martini. If you’re stopping in for lunch the Karate Kid is a very tasty mocktail that will keep you alert in the office for the afternoon.
And if you fancy dessert after whichever option you choose, then Honey Toast has got you covered.
What’s your go-to dish at Tiger Lane?
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