Howard 28 July 2010 Dinner, Laos, Lunch, Sydney, West, Thai 10 Comments  Print This Post  Email This Post

On yet another rainy night in Sydney, I find myself continuing my love affair with laotian food. Tucked away from the heart of Fairfield on Hamilton road is a charming restaurant called Star Lao. It’s one of many Lao/Thai restaurants in the area, and a favourite of my good friends Donnie and Jase.

We’ve been meaning to get together for a feed here for a while now, I’m still adamant that Lao Village is ‘better’. But after eating at Star Laos, it’s clear that both restaurants are different and have are excellent in their own little way.

Green curry, tom yum soup, bbq duck

I arrive late and the boys have already ordered and the first dish comes out even before I sit down. I should arrive late more often!

Grilled ox tongue

What a great way to start my meal too, good ox tongue.Eating tongue can be intimidating for some, but like a wise man once said, you must try everything at least once. Laos style tongue is marinated and then grilled on a BBQ. I think the key is not to overcook the tongue otherwise it becomes too chewy, something which star Laos chefs have avoided. The tongue is tender and a tad undercooked but I think I prefer it that way.

Lao papaya salad

The Lao papaya salad is hot, a good array of contrasting textures and most importantly a pungent shrimp based sauce with a bit of kick. Bits of crab are there too, but I always find that I take them out of my salad, not a fan of crunchy shells.

Deep fried pork belly

My girlfriend reckons dessert is a must order on every menu, for me it’s pork belly instead. It’s a relatively cheap cut of meat, yet tastes awesome regardless of the way its cooked. Here, it’s deep fried till crispy and served with a home made chilli sauce. All the components are here, a bit of meat, a bit of fat and a bit of skin.

Grilled lao sausage

If there is one dish which falls short , it’s the Laos sausage. It’s a bit tasteless and is missing the juiciness and fattiness of better ones I’ve had. Flavourwise, it’s there, plenty of lemongrass, garlic and fatty pork but definitely lacks the distinct robust flavours of a freshly made and grilled laos sausage.

Duck laap

This is the first time I’ve had duck laap, usually it’s pork. Surprisingly the duck salad is refreshing, with minced duck meat and giblets tossed in chilli, mint , coriander and a house made dressing. It goes great with the crunchy pieces of cabbage on the side, which is a common side dish at most Thai/Laos restaurants. You might find a plate of cabbage, lettuce and various Asian herbs at your disposal.

Lamb pad thai

Token order, pad Thai. I’ve had so many that they all taste the same at most restaurants. However it’s the first time I’ve seen lamb pad Thai and it’s kinda grown on me. Having had $1 pad thai in Bangkok and the smokey flavours it has due to the hot outdoor woks they have, nothing quite compares in Sydney.

Star Laos is another one of those restaurants who have stood the test of time in Fairfield. While it lacks the character and home style feel of food which my favorite Lao village offers, it makes it up with a cleaner dining atmosphere and competitive prices. One things for sure, in my opinion Fairfield is the undisputed king of traditional Thai and Laos food in Sydney. For every Sailors Thai and Longrain success, there is a dodgy looking version out in the west somewhere churning out food which is just as good minus the cocktails and leather lounges.

Star Laos Thai Restaurant
195 Hamilton Road, Farfield. NSW 2177
(02) 9723 9988