Gouger Gastronomy: Gouger Street’s Best Restaurants
Craving a foodie trip for the ages? Gouger Street has flavors you’ve been dreaming of, and we’re dishing out the lowdown on the top contenders.
We have the Chinese bites of Ying Chow Chinese Restaurant, the exquisite offerings at Concubine, and more.
Your flavor adventure starts with this article!
East Taste Cafe
From fulltimejwalker
Address: 119 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8231 0268
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue to Sun – 5 pm to 11 pm
East Taste Cafe has been around since ‘03, making the resto a staple and a top dog in the Gouger St dining scene. The delectable Asian food here attracts throngs of diners daily.
They serve authentic dumplings filled with chicken, pork, meat, and veggies. The smoked tea duck is another popular dish, often ordered by groups of 3 to 4.
Seafood lovers can savor sweet and salty soft-shell crab, while the roast coriander fish is a fine choice for foodies who’d love something salty and zesty.
That Restaurant on Gouger
Address: 247-251 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: 0430 070 595
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 5 pm to 2 am
- Fri to Sat – 5 pm to 3 am
- Sun – 5 pm to 2 am
It’s always meat galore at That Restaurant on Gouger.
The slow-cooked pork with tofu skin is a hit with our team. It’s smoky and savory, and the tofu skin adds a fun-to-chew silky texture.
If you want a dish with a rich, sweet, and sour coating, the golden-brown mainland pork is the way to go. But for those who love fiery and crispy chow, this resto’s spicy chili chicken is a banger.
And if the robust and spicy flavors get too much, balance things with a strawberry daifuku, a mochi with a thick and sweet filling.
Mexican Society
Address: 140 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8231 2626
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 5 pm to 9 pm
- Fri to Sat – 2 pm to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm
- Sun – Closed
Expect a Mex feast at Mexican Society.
The headliners are the tacos packed with barramundi and crispy crumbed chicken and the BBQs boasting succulent lamb shoulder paired with a tomato mango salsa.
And it’s not just about food here. Mexican Society knows how to shake things up with cocktails like margaritas and calypso, a party-starting mix of vodka, peach liqueur, pineapple, and orange juice.
Gaucho’s Argentinian Restaurant
Address: 91 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8231 2299
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 12 pm to 3 pm, 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm
- Sat – 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm
- Sun – Closed
Time-honored Argentinian flavors reign supreme at Gaucho’s. They kick things off with artisan sourdough served with extra virgin olive oil and organic sea salt.
Follow this up with a cheesy delight—terracotta-baked provolone cheese oozing with mojo rojo sauce, roast capsicum, and served with an herb salad.
Moreover, this spot offers berenjena for vegetarians. This is char-grilled eggplant swirling in creamy cashew sauce and sprinkled with crushed almonds for that extra crunch.
Wah Hing Restaurant
From onlynoodes
Address: 85 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8212 0338
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue to Thu – 1:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9 pm
- Fri – 1:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 10 pm
- Sat – 5:30 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – 1:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9 pm
Wah Hing Restaurant is a haven for those craving fried rice.
You have tons of options here, from the savory and hearty minced beef fried rice to the saltier fish and chicken one. The pineapple and chicken variant is sweeter, but the solid savory touch still stands out.
You can wash the robust tastes with their red and white wines, like the 2022 Vinteloper Riesling and the 2022 Ministry of Clouds Rosé. If want to bring your own bottle, you have to pay $19.
Paul’s Seafood on Gouger
Address: 79 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8231 9778
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Tue to Fri – 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sat to Sun – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Paul’s Seafood on Gouger is where you can indulge in a sea-to-plate feast featuring the freshest morning catches. Our foodies suggest setting the tone with the enticing entrees, like grilled prawn shashliks and scallops.
For the main event, go with the chef’s recommendation menu. This selection has grilled Tasmania Atlantic salmon, prepared to your preferred doneness and served with lime butter sauce and garden vegetables.
And if you’re feeling a bit indulgent, the chef’s recommendation menu also has butter-coated lobster tails. You’ll get a plate with two Canadian lobster tails, hand-cut wedges, and a salad.
Little NNQ
Address: 125 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8231 9778
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Tue to Fri – 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sat to Sun – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Little NNQ has mastered crafting dishes that are as flavorful as they are visually appealing.
Their mini beef noodle soup, a Vietnamese classic, has thinly sliced rare beef, beef meatballs, and bean sprouts. Fresh rice noodles also swim in the thick broth.
Additionally, they serve Vietnamese cold rolls drizzled in peanut sauce and packed with fish cakes, sugar-cane prawns, beef carpaccio, and more. But if you can’t decide, the mồi platter solves your dilemma, offering spring rolls, cold rolls, and prawn skewers.
Star of Siam
Address: 67 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8231 3527
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue to Thu – 11:30 am to 2 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm
- Fri – 11:30 am to 2 pm, 5 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sat – 5 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sun – Closed
Don’t let Star of Siam’s simple dining room fool you. The Thai dishes here are stellar!
We always crave their kao-pad prik, a sizzling plate of fried rice with chicken, egg, chili, and fresh basil. You can add a seafood twist of squid and prawn toppings for an additional $2.
Then, there’s the drunken noodle, a spicy stir-fry that takes Hokkien noodles and infuses them with chicken, chili, and basil. And, of course, we can’t forget the king of Thai noodles, the nutty and savory Pad Thai.
Mrs Q
Address: 1/128 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8211 8887
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue to Thu – 5 pm to 10 pm
- Fri – 5 pm to 10:30 pm
- Sat – 5 pm to 11 pm
- Sun – 5 pm to 10 pm
Mrs. Q is where chic design meets top-tier modern Asian cuisine flavors. Their Peking duck pancake is a showstopper that gives you the freedom to wrap sweet and savory duck meat with cucumber, spring onion, and special hoisin sauce.
But if you’re more into hearty mains, the piping hot red duck curry with braised duck leg, chili, and Thai basil is where it’s at.
You can also go for the fattier, crispier, and more savory Chinese pork belly. This melt-in-your-mouth dish is slow-cooked for 6 hours and spiced up with aromatic herbs.
Ky Chow
Address: 27-29 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8221 5411
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 12 pm to 9 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 8:30 pm
Ky Chow is a go-to spot for alfresco enthusiasts looking to dine in lush and shady outdoors.
From the classic chicken and sweet corn soup to the umami-filled hot and spicy seafood soup, Ky Chow serves up top-notch bowls with diverse flavors and viscosities.
Vegetarians aren’t left behind too. The restaurant has a vegetarian bean curd soup.
This dish’s main stars are bean curd, assorted fresh vegetables, and a delicate, savory broth.
Ba Guo Bu Yi
Address: 98/100 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8212 0000
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 5 pm to 10 pm
- Fri to Sat – 5 pm to 10:30 pm
- Sun – 5 pm to 10 pm
Ba Guo Bu Yi is probably the best restaurant in Gouger St when it comes to Szechuan specialties.
With signature dishes like steamed chicken with homemade chili sauce and braised yabbies covered in Szechuan sauce, it’s all about the perfect balance of tenderness and spices here.
They have a dose of sweetness too, particularly the creamy rolls with velvety taro fillings.
Hotaru Japanese Restaurant
Address: 162-164 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8410 2838
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue to Thu – 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5:30 pm to 10 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm
- Sun – 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Hotaru Japanese Restaurant is a laid-back dining experience with unpretentious decor and generous portions of traditional sushi and teppanyaki delights.
Their sushi menu is eclectic, from the rich, buttery kingfish to the unique and briny giant clam. You can also savor the distinct taste of eel, the comforting roasted egg, and the sweet and salty crab roe sushi.
For teppanyaki aficionados, they have beef tenderloin and sashimi-grade scallops as the crowd-pleasers.
Address: 95-97 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 7226 8983
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – 5 pm to 9:30 pm
- Wed – 12 pm to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 9:30 pm
- Thu to Sat – 12 pm to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 9:30 pm
Gyoza Gyoza is a premier spot for Japanese izakaya-style culinary adventures.
Their porterhouse steak stone grill is a dish all foodies must experience. It’s seared to perfection on the sizzling-hot stone and brings smoky char and succulence with each cut.
The stone pot teriyaki chicken rice should also be on your list. It has tender pieces of chicken with the sweet and savory embrace of teriyaki sauce.
Concubine
Address: 132 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8212 8288
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue to Thu – 5:45 pm to 9:30 pm
- Fri – 12 pm to 2 pm, 6 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sat to Sun – 5:45 pm to 9:30 pm
With golden lanterns and deluxe Chinese fusion meals, Concubine is one of Gouger St’s most elegant and sought-after restos. The only downside is it’s kind of bank-breaking, but don’t worry, you’ll get your money’s worth.
Their slow-braised pork has slices of pork belly, bathed in a rich and luscious dark soy sauce. The meat is infused with savory and slightly sweet flavors, while the slow braising process renders it incredibly tender.
They also have the earthy and crisp wok-tossed baby soya with bean curd, shiitake mushroom, and chili. And for curry enjoyers, you’ll have a superb time feasting on their red coconut curry overflowing with plum and fresh South Australian prawns.
