Get a load of this healthy culinary delight! The 5 Best Eggplant Dishes in Adelaide
Eggplants are versatile, offering a rich, unique flavor and a velvety texture that enhances a variety of dishes. In the right hands, this vegetable transforms into a gourmet delight that’s both nutritious and delicious.
The problem is finding the restaurants that can do just that. That’s why we embarked on a quest to find you the best eggplant dishes in Adelaide. So the next time you’re craving eggplant, you’ll know exactly where to go!
1. Bai Long Store
Address: 80 Hutt St
Phone: +61 459 505 591
Opening Hours:
- Monday – 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Wednesday and Thursday – 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday – 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday – 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday – 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
| Google Review Score | 4.6/5 |
| Trip Advisor Review Score | 4.5/5 |
| Total Score | 4.6/5 |
| Score Consistency | 4.6/5 |
| Affordability | 5/5 |
| Freshness of Ingredients | 5/5 |
| Taste and Texture | 5/5 |
| Presentation | 5/5 |
Bai Long offers an intriguing eggplant dish inspired by a blend of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cuisines.
Their stir-fried eggplant with egg, priced at $22, is made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The eggplant’s tender interior and slightly crispy exterior were a nice surprise, but the real highlight was the Chinese-Korean Sichuan caramel sauce. This rich, sweet sauce, with a spicy kick from Sichuan peppercorns, coated the eggplant perfectly, adding a glossy finish that was both visually appealing and full of umami flavor.
However, because the dish was fried, we found the eggplant a bit too oily. The texture was also inconsistent, with some pieces leaning towards mushy rather than the tender-yet-firm bite we were hoping for.
A memorable dining experience from start to finish
“One of my favourite, Bai Long in Adelaide offers an extraordinary dining experience that blends modern Asian flavours with a contemporary twist. The food is exceptional, with dishes like Peking duck bao, yakitori, salmon sashimi standing out for their innovative combinations and flawless execution. The atmosphere is sleek and stylish, making it ideal for both casual and special occasions. Each plate is thoughtfully presented, reflecting the restaurant’s commitment to quality and creativity. Bai Long is truly a standout, delivering a memorable experience from start to finish—highly recommended for adventurous food lovers.”
Chee T, Google Review
We need more bun!
“Loved it, crispy cauliflower was delegate – surprisingly light and crispy. Peking duck bao – the duck was cooked to perfection with crispy fresh cucumber, spring onion and wrapped in the fluffiest bao steamed flat bun. The sous vide prepared beef ribs was amazing – had a subtle smoky flavour, light marinade so to not take away the meat flavour paired with a crispy salad. Partner had the ocean trout and she loved it. The service was second to none. Only one fault, we needed more steam bun to mop up the juices left on the plate. Thanks Bai Long team.”
Ben Fitzgerald, Google Review
2. Ragi’s New Deli
Address: 1/210 Hutt St
Phone: +61 872 224 969
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Saturday – 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
| Google Review Score | 4.3/5 |
| Open Table Review Score | 4.5/5 |
| Total Score | 4.4/5 |
| Score Consistency | 4.4/5 |
| Affordability | 5/5 |
| Freshness of Ingredients | 5/5 |
| Taste and Texture | 5/5 |
| Presentation | 5/5 |
Add some protein to your eggplant dish by visiting Ragi’s New Deli, known for its gluten-free curries and organic meats. They offer two eggplant dishes: Cheeky Vindaloo and Eggplant of the Day.
The Cheeky Vindaloo is a flavorful dish that combines tender, savory Dairyman pork and beef with creamy, slightly bitter eggplant.
However, the real standout for us was the Eggplant of the Day for $18, which happened to be eggplant tikka masala. The grilled eggplant slices were simmered in a creamy, spiced tomato sauce, garnished with fresh coriander, and served with perfectly fluffy and fragrant basmati rice that complemented the rich, aromatic sauce beautifully.
Since the Eggplant of the Day changes regularly, there’s no set dish to keep you coming back. If you find something you truly love, you’ll just have to wait and see when it makes its way back onto the menu.
Our favorite temptation
“Once again we had an amazing meal! The samosas are to die for and this time we tried the beef vindaloo as well as our favorite, the lamb roghan josh. Both dishes were excellent. We brought a friend along this time and she was most impressed and will be returning with friends of hers! Be mindful of the generous serving sizes as you will be tempted to order extras. The handmade chutneys are superb!”
Vikki, Open Table Review
The best Indian food I ever had!
“Hands down the best Indian food I have ever had. You can really taste all the ingredients in the sauce & can tell that the chef has taken a lot of time perfecting the recipes. Thank you and we will be sharing this gem of a spot.”
Byron Carelse, Google Review
3. Sunny’s Pizza
Address: 17 Solomon St
Phone: +61 455 522 356
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday – 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
| Google Review Score | 4.6/5 |
| Trip Advisor Review Score | 4.5/5 |
| Total Score | 4.6/5 |
| Score Consistency | 4.6/5 |
| Affordability | 4/5 |
| Freshness of Ingredients | 5/5 |
| Taste and Texture | 5/5 |
| Presentation | 4.7/5 |
Sunny’s Pizza serves an eggplant parmigiana that immediately tempts you with its rich, eggplant aroma rising from the warm, doughy base.
We appreciated the delicate slices of eggplant on their eggplant pizza. While slightly bitter, the combination of parmesan and smoked scamorza cheeses balanced the flavors, creating a rich taste. The eggplant’s tender flesh added to the overall experience, making every bite satisfying.
That said, the eggplant pizza cost $49, which for us was a bit steep. And while it’s well-presented for a pizza, it lacks the visual impact you might expect from dishes in upscale restaurants.
Nothing but outstanding!
“We’ve been to Adelaide twice and come to Sunny’s both times it’s that good.
The pizza has perfect neapolitan dough, good and few ingredients as a pizza should be! All of the ones we’ve tried have been delicious but that eggplant parmiggiana is just outstanding, I’ve never had such a melt in your mouth eggplant! Today we tried a couple of the sides and my god they were delicious. Don’t sleep on the brussels, I’m already dreaming of that vinaigrette. The staff is super nice, the atmosphere is fun and the drink selection is great. What a cool place, wish we could come more often!”
Laura Rotger, Google Review
The BEST pizza in Adelaide
“THE best pizza in adelaide. Period. Over the last 2 years I have frequented Sunny’s for date nights, friend dinners and birthdays and they have never disappointed. The food is immaculate and the service is very attentive and kind. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and lit with a steady flow of good music. The eggplant parmigiana pizza is like something I have never had before! Amazing drink range and rotating specials, a very lovely place for your next dinner outing.”
Amber Barton, Google Review
4. Nishiki
Address: 21 Sturt St
Phone: +61 872 266 031
Opening Hours:
- Tuesday to Wednesday – 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Thursday to Friday – 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Saturday – 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Sunday – 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
| Google Review Score | 4.5/5 |
| Trip Advisor Review Score | 5/5 |
| Total Score | 4.8/5 |
| Score Consistency | 4.8/5 |
| Affordability | 5/5 |
| Freshness of Ingredients | 5/5 |
| Taste and Texture | 4.5/5 |
| Presentation | 5/5 |
If you want to explore just how versatile eggplant can be, visit Nishiki, a Japanese eatery known for its sushi, bento boxes, and sake.
We were impressed by their nasu dengaku, a roasted eggplant generously bathed in a delectable sweet miso glaze. Unlike the usual tough eggplant skin, it was tender and easy to enjoy. The miso sauce brought a satisfying balance of umami and sweetness that soaked into the eggplant, making the dish both succulent and flavorful.
That said, we found the glaze a touch too sweet, which slightly overpowered the natural taste of the eggplant. Still, this dish is a must-try.
Great things happen by chance!
“We stumbled across this incredible place by chance and consider ourselves so lucky to have done so. We enjoyed every. dish. We also loved sitting at the bar watching the chef.
Nigiri, eggplant, gyoza, chicken and spring onion skewers (has a large charcoal selection at dinner service), karaage chicken. It’s family run and felt very authentic. If you’re in Adelaide, don’t miss out.”
Rosemary Mudge, Google Review
The best Japanese restaurant in Adelaide by far!
“This is by far Adelaide’s best Japanese Izakaya. Authentic Japanese food the way it should be, and I love that it’s open for late night meals. Not a big loud restaurant, perfect for enjoying your meal and chatting with company. We love sitting at the bar and watching the staff cook and prepare skewers and sushi while we sip on Sake and Japanese beers. It’s the closest thing to actually going out to dinner in Japan that you can get in Tokyo. The food is so delicious that it’s hard to stop ordering more rounds so the bill can be pricey, but worth every cent.”
Kris Rodda, Google Review
5. Gondola Gondola
Address: 1 Peel St
Phone: +61 881 233 877
Opening Hours:
- Monday – 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Tuesday to Thursday – 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday – 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday – 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
| Google Review Score | 4.3/5 |
| Facebook Review Score | 4.3/5 |
| Total Score | 4.3/5 |
| Score Consistency | 4.3/5 |
| Affordability | 5/5 |
| Freshness of Ingredients | 4.5/5 |
| Taste and Texture | 5/5 |
| Presentation | 5/5 |
Gondola takes the classic salt and pepper eggplant up a notch with a unique twist. Instead of the usual long, rectangular slices, they serve halved eggplant pieces with the skin left on, adding a rustic touch.
The eggplant was tender, and the batter provided a satisfying crunch. Subtle hints of sweetness and spiciness balanced well with the lively fish sauce-dressed salad. What stood out most to us was the portion size, with a generous serving of eggplant that made the dish more filling for $23.
While the dish was good, ours lacked a depth of flavor possibly because it was underseasoned.
Best 60th birthday ever!
“I chose this restaurant for my 60th birthday and had THE best experience. The food is absolutely delicious (especially the salt and pepper eggplant) and a fantastic wine list with a variety of local wines. The atmosphere is fun and the service is great. On our way out we met the lovely owner and enjoyed a birthday drink with her. We felt so welcome and thoroughly enjoyed our night. Thank you for looking after us!”
Melbean, Google Review
Felt like living in a hedonistic dreamland of culinary ecstasy!
“Superb food set in a unique venue with a great atmosphere. I had the salt and pepper eggplant with a glass of red and experienced the heights of what it must be like to live in a hedonistic dreamland of culinary ecstasy. Would recommend to anyone seeking a quality evening and the best of Adelaide’s bar and restaurant scene.”
Jase Berry, Google Review
