5 Australian Thai dishes

There are barely any high streets left in Sydney without a Thai takeaway joint. While the street food scene doesn’t quite approach the ambiance of Soi Rangnam, a whiff of coconut milk or lemongrass is never far away.

But Australians can do it a bit differently to Thais –- some old-fashioned Thai chefs might be aghast at these Aussie takes, but others could be intrigued.

From Japanese-inspired curries, Italian-Australian-Thai pizzas and European-Asian dessert, the emphasis is on cultural fusion. Australian Thai is a bit like Khaosan Road: Thai flavor, but the world on top of every plate.

Culinary experimentation reigns supreme, but it tastes good.

Vegetarian Duck Salad at Peace Harmony

At Peace Harmony, the lime green walls are mounted with predictable flower paintings and a map of Sydney wraps the wall behind the counter.

But when a menu is full of words like chicken, prawn, mussels and beef, you can’t resist questioning the loud wall stickers that say, “If you love animals, don’t eat them”. As far as tricky food marketing is concerned, Peace Harmony owns the throne.

Booting the misconception of Thai food being a vegetarian’s nightmare, this vegan-veggie food joint proves otherwise. It serves an array of fake meat with fused Thai flavours.

Vegetarians would never know what real duck meat tastes like, but its bogus variety is chewy and flaky. The deep-fried version comes with a side of raw salad, drizzled with lemon juice and hoisin sauce. Other options include sweet chili, pepper sauce, soy sauce and oyster sauce.

Peace Harmony, 44 Erskine St., Sydney, +61 (0)2 9262 2247, Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.–3.00 p.m, 5.30– 0.00 p.m., Saturday, 5.30 p.m.–10.00 p.m.

Thai Chicken Calzone at Crust Pizza

Hawaiian, supreme and meat-lovers have been western takes on the Italian staple, but Crust Pizza has fused Napoli's finest with Thai, and made a healthy alternative to the greasy stereotype. 

Cooked in an old-fashioned, wood-fired pizza oven, the pizza also has a new age twist, being available on gluten-free and wholemeal bases.

The pizza has a sweet chili base, the pastry is stuffed with hearty chicken breast fillets, sufficient greens and copious amount of cashews. Succinct Thai spices are muted with bocconcini, while the side of mint yogurt cleans the palate for the next bite.

Crust Pizza has more than 40 in Sydney; order online for home delivery: www.crust.com.au