I’m the first to admit I often get sucked into a new dining venue based on aesthetic. What I also do is hop down a researching rabbit hole, to make sure the dining quality makes the spot worth a visit. Which leads me to my latest dinner out. Found a hop, skip and jump down Scarborough Beach Road, away from the main hustle and bustle of Mount Hawthorn, is a leafy sanctuary called Ginga. I’ve done the research, you should try it.
You could be excused for thinking you’d blinked and found yourself on a southeast Asian holiday, as you sit by the koi-filled pond. I was there with one of my oldest, dearest friends, Nays. Both busy mums, we struggle to find time for a proper catch up these days, but when we do, it’s like no time has passed. Ginga’s relaxed, fairy light strewn courtyard is primed for a good meal with long chats; whether that’s a date night, or catch up with mates.
My only “could improve” note of the night came early, from the patchy service. Waitstaff were friendly, but often forgetful. You know, the kind where you’re offered a bottle of tap or sparkling water that never turns up, despite the summer heat. Tables have QR code ordering, which I attempted, but found glitchy. I opted for ordering the ‘old-fashioned’ way – waving down waitstaff. This also had mixed results, I’m sure we had five or six different waiters over the evening.
Once things got going, our drinks arrived. Ginga has a great drinks line up, whether you appriciate a quality wine, cocktail, or even non-alc options. I’m a big lover of southwest WA Chardonnays, and after one sip, the Cullen Estate chardy headed straight to my top 3 favourites (along with Xanadu and Singlefile, with Cape Mentelle in a close fourth). Nays chose a crisp rose, which was refreshing in the summer night air.
Ginga Mount Hawthorn Menu
An Asian-fusion menu is packed with all those tropical Thai flavours; lemon grass, coconut, lime and plenty of spice. Small plates, large plates, curries and stir-fries offer plenty of choice, with lots of gluten free options too. Not knowing what the deal was with the food, in terms of portion size, we were conservative with our entree choice. We shared a lightly seared, super fresh tuna tataki with pickled cucumber and citrus-y ponzu dressing.
It was just as well we skimped on the entrees and sides, as the main meals are generous portions! We shared a Pad Thai; stir fried sweet savoury and tangy rice noodles with fried tofu, beansprouts and herbs, topped with an egg lace.
A saucy roast duck curry packed a punch, finished with plump cherry tomatoes, crushed peanuts, and sweet lychee. The meaty, sliced duck was delicious. We paired the dishes with a simple steamed jasmine rice.
I sipped on a delicious ‘Lychee Bloom’ elderflower and lemon-lime mocktail, and was far too full for even contemplating dessert. Ginga is also open for brunch, and I’d definitely love to check it out in the daytime too. If you love Asian flavours, paired with a solid drinks list and a lush alfresco dining space – Ginga is for you!
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Ginga Mount Hawthorn is found at 193 Scarborough Beach Road, Mount Hawthorn.