Mustang Nepalese Restaurant
Mustang, unlike the car of the same spelling, is pronounced 'moo-stang' and refers to a district of Nepal known for its vast natural beauty, straddling the Himalayas. At Mustang Nepalese restaurant, the Nepalese head chef prepares traditional dishes which were so delightful I am geniunely surprised as to why Nepalese food is not as popular in Sydney as, say, Indian food.
As a rule, when I try a new cuisine, I always like to order the banquet menu so that I get a taste of the most representative dishes. At Mustang, the set menu is called 'Kaja', and it's a filling three course meal consisting of a plate of different entrees, a few mains to share, and a dessert.
Starting from the bottom and going clockwise, we first have 'aloo chop' - a golden globe of fried potato cake coated with chickpea flour and topped with mint sauce. It was soft, mild and moist in the middle, with the mind sauce adding a welcome tartness to this deep-fried item.
Underneath the aloo chop is a bed of crispy soy bean and beaten rice which not only added lovely texture to the plate, but could also be used to absorb the delicious sauces of the other items.
Next, we have Nepalese 'achar': a cold potato salad with green peas, cucumber and spring onion, seasoned with tumeric, fresh coriander and sesami seeds.
The next item is my absolute favourite: the spinach 'chat'. Baby spinach leaves are coated in chickpea batter and cooked until crispy - it is the most deliciously light and airy 'chip' I have ever tasted. The spinach piece literally crumbles as your bite into it with a satisfying little crunch, and the rather heavy (in a good way!) sauce of yogurt and tamarind tastes almost like a fancy barbeque sauce that really makes this dish a standout.
Finally, on the top right hand side is the chicken 'chewela' - grilled diced chicken fillets marinated with mild spice, tossed with lemon juice, fresh coriander and spring onion.
Clearly we were off to a good start.
Next came three main dishes, served with fragrant long-grained rice.
The lamb is so melt-in-your mouth, and not overpowered by the spices so that you could distinctly taste the gamey-ness that lamb often carries.
My faouvirte was the Nepalese Chicken Curry - tender chicken pieces marinated in a mild, creamy 'butter chicken' style sauce.
The vegetable curry was also quite mild, and the soft, gooey eggplant pieces are absolutely delicious.
Overall, the main dishes we tried seem quite similar to Indian cuisine (unsurprisingly, as many cuisines in the region influence each other and share a spice palette), but Nepalese counterparts are not as heavy on the chili - so anyone with anything more than zero spice tolerance could happily dine without fear of discomfort.
This icy sweet treat was the highlight of the night for me. Thick and very creamy, the baraf brought to my mind both yogurt and condensed milk, as it is sweeter and creamier than a plain old frozen yogurt, but more tart than a dessert made only with condensed milk. Even a little piece hits the spot just right.
Score: 4/5
As I have already stated at the beginning of this piece, I really don't understand why Nepalese food is not more popular in Sydney - I think it's time to get 'adventurous' and try this delicious cuisine out! Mustang Nepalese Restaurant combines authentic Nepalese food with lovely, quiet surroundings, ease of transportation and friendly staff - I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Cost: very reasonable at around $25-40 pp.
Address: 330 Pacific Hwy, Crows Nest
Website: http://www.mustangnepalese.com.au/
As a rule, when I try a new cuisine, I always like to order the banquet menu so that I get a taste of the most representative dishes. At Mustang, the set menu is called 'Kaja', and it's a filling three course meal consisting of a plate of different entrees, a few mains to share, and a dessert.
 |
| Entree Plate |
Underneath the aloo chop is a bed of crispy soy bean and beaten rice which not only added lovely texture to the plate, but could also be used to absorb the delicious sauces of the other items.
Next, we have Nepalese 'achar': a cold potato salad with green peas, cucumber and spring onion, seasoned with tumeric, fresh coriander and sesami seeds.
The next item is my absolute favourite: the spinach 'chat'. Baby spinach leaves are coated in chickpea batter and cooked until crispy - it is the most deliciously light and airy 'chip' I have ever tasted. The spinach piece literally crumbles as your bite into it with a satisfying little crunch, and the rather heavy (in a good way!) sauce of yogurt and tamarind tastes almost like a fancy barbeque sauce that really makes this dish a standout.
Finally, on the top right hand side is the chicken 'chewela' - grilled diced chicken fillets marinated with mild spice, tossed with lemon juice, fresh coriander and spring onion.
Clearly we were off to a good start.
Next came three main dishes, served with fragrant long-grained rice.
The lamb is so melt-in-your mouth, and not overpowered by the spices so that you could distinctly taste the gamey-ness that lamb often carries.
 |
| Nepalese Chicken Curry |
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| Mismas Vegetable |
Overall, the main dishes we tried seem quite similar to Indian cuisine (unsurprisingly, as many cuisines in the region influence each other and share a spice palette), but Nepalese counterparts are not as heavy on the chili - so anyone with anything more than zero spice tolerance could happily dine without fear of discomfort.
 |
| Himalayan Baraf |
This icy sweet treat was the highlight of the night for me. Thick and very creamy, the baraf brought to my mind both yogurt and condensed milk, as it is sweeter and creamier than a plain old frozen yogurt, but more tart than a dessert made only with condensed milk. Even a little piece hits the spot just right.
Score: 4/5
As I have already stated at the beginning of this piece, I really don't understand why Nepalese food is not more popular in Sydney - I think it's time to get 'adventurous' and try this delicious cuisine out! Mustang Nepalese Restaurant combines authentic Nepalese food with lovely, quiet surroundings, ease of transportation and friendly staff - I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Cost: very reasonable at around $25-40 pp.
Address: 330 Pacific Hwy, Crows Nest
Website: http://www.mustangnepalese.com.au/
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