Seeing my brother was in town I thought I’d expose him to a variety of cuisines he wouldn’t normally go out for. Being one of Sydney’s few Burmese restaurants, Bagan has a decent selection of rice, curries, soup, meat and seafood dishes. I first found out about this place early last year thanks to a clients recommendation, so I decided to follow up. A couple of the dishes stood out from others such as the pae parata and pennywort salad. A taste sensation. So these were a must on our latest visit.
We chose a few bits to nibble on while we browsed the rest of the menu and the first to arrive is the plate of crispy fried wonton chicken. The chicken was virtually non-existent but overall tasty enough with the tangy sauce to dip into.
Out comes the delicious pae parata, hot, flakey, soft and crispy and so good with the lightly-spiced green lentil puree and fried shallots.
The pennywort salad seemed to have everything but pennywort. Oh wait, look, there’s a piece. Despite it’s virtual absence, the other ingredients make this little bowl of salad shine. The medley of shaved red onion, tomato, coriander, ground shrimp and fish sauce (I’m sure there’s more) is sunshine on a plate.
Big Bro orders the watt thani, a very rich concoction of stewed pork belly in soy. He’s loving it while I’m really struggling with my choice – ngar myin si pyan, fish curry. I’ve never been a fan of freshwater fish, the flavour is just too heavy and dirt-like and the richness of its sauce adds to my struggle.
Mr K goes for the biriyani rice with chicken, a massive serve of tasty leg and thigh on crumbly spiced biriyani. Enough for two, really. A side order of ka zoon ywet, fried greens in shrimp sauce is a nice accompaniment to the richness of it all.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Greta review of Bagan! It’s been ages since I visited but thankyou for the reminder. The last time we went there (before I started the blog) the Sunday Magazine photographer was there. My friend told me I ended up in the review pic (although I never saw it )
ha! GrabYourFork just blogged about it and what a coincident found this place on your blog too! I think I need you both to take me there now!
Ha what a coincedence that we both blogged about Bagan on the same day! I agree, the par parata and the pennywort salad were the standout dishes by far
i’ve been here & loved it considering im a vegetarian i left this place really really full :O)
To walk into Bagan and not try the faluda at least once is an absolute crime! Please go back and try it if you’ve never experienced the pleasure of a non-alcoholic liquid dessert. It really revolutionized my life (as corny as that sounds) and often I’ll get off at Strathfield station on my way home just to get takeaway faluda.