Kitsch by name, awesome by nature, at least if giant technicolor murals from China’s proletarian era get your aesthetic juices going. For anyone that’s visited and eaten at the night markets and hawker centres of South East Asia, this cosy Leederville hidey hole will be instantly familiar.
While indoor seating is available, grabbing a perch outdoors is our keeping-it-real recommendation. Your options range from banquettes along the sides of this home-turned-small-bar to benches and couches in the front courtyard – no using tissue packets to ‘chope’ tables, unfortunately, the friendly staff will show you to your seats.
Libations have, largely, been chosen with taming the heat of the kitchen in mind. Outside of the usual Asian beer suspects, the refreshing, lemony Dim Sum by Mikkeller deserves consideration. There’s also a pronounced citrus edge to the cocktails: how’s about a Ruby Red Grapefruit Margarita or a Hula Girl made with vodka, Licor 43 and pineapple? We dig the adventurous wine list too.
While there’s good drinking throughout, those planning on ordering food are advised to stick to the well-chosen whites including heat-sympathetic and off-dry wines from Europe (read: riesling!) And if you’re not planning on hitting up the kitchen, please reconsider. From chilli caramel doused son-in-law eggs and crunchy corn fritters to squishy pork ribs alongside a feisty som tum, Kitsch’s menu of keenly-priced, share dishes are conducive to the good times.
