Mekong Restaurant — Restaurant in Launceston

20250906 Mekong restaurant review

I looked at the other restaurants around Yorktown Square as I perused through the dining opportunities locally and hoped that the Mekong would be as patronised at least as well as one of the other establishments I had bypassed.

It wasn’t. I was immediately wondering whether this was a mistake. Without judging the exterior and interior decoration of the dining facilities, my instinct was to reject this as a challenge for a dining experience, but my friend was shouting me, so who was I to complain. My gut instinct was right. I entered this particular dining establishment and we (my friend and I) were promptly seated. This was not difficult as there was no lack of spaces - mainly due to a lack of patronage during the restaurant’s prime occupation time and most likely profitable period.

I hesitated quite a while before ordering. Not because the choice was overwhelming but more because the choices where so completely underwhelming and facile.

I eventually, and begrudgingly, ordered Chicken with shitake mushrooms in oyster sauce (I make this myself in an offgrid kitchen so it’s not hard to do) but unfortunately the taste was waaaay tooo saaaallllty.

Btw my man, I apologise (this is to my friend who paid for the meal). The food standard was at best second rate, closer to third rate, ie, 3 star or below. Unfortunatetly the experience was all too recent and all too real.

Bunch of oil saturated slop, possibly done according to local tastes – no surprises there. The waiter was very young and very intrusive, most likely exhibiting the usual signs of someone in a service position that they were only filling due to familial obligations. For sure his willingness to engage with the general public was less than acceptable, but not completely unresponsive – barely above responsive is more like the general impression. It almost felt as though this youth thought that what he was doing was below his current and future position in life.

Why don’t you (the owners) just say you do a Viet/Asian style menu. Your meal was crap and I could have had this anglicized version of an Asian /Vietnamese meal anywhere else in Launceston. Don’t bother with this place (anyone apart from locals who have never eaten outside of Launnie) if you are after an authentic Vietnamese meal.

Only the second time eating here in about around 10-15 years but now I remember why - it took at least a bottle of an on special Shiraz + 2 ½ Coronas to get over this salty offering.

Go somewhere else if you really want to eat real Viet...

The Asian style food was delicious, and of acceptable serving size. There were four of us, and we had four different mains, which were all very good. I personally had the caramelized pork with egg, which I specifically asked whether the egg was whole, or mixed in. I was told it was mixed in, so I went with. It turned out that it had a whole boiled egg in with the dish. No problem, I just gave that to my wife as I don't like whole boiled, fried, or poached eggs. I guess something was lost in translation there. Something to remember is that English is not their first language, hence you have to concentrate on what the waiters are saying, and make sure that you are understood too. It's not a deal breaker for me, but some have difficulties with this. The prices seemed quite reasonable. The only reason the food loses a star is because of their sticky date pudding. I should have known better than order dessert in an Asian style restaurant, but I did. I reckon it was one of those Betty Crocker microwave jobs from Woolworths, no flavour in either the pudding, or the sauce. It was miniscule to boot. Definitely not worth the $10.90 charged. Anyhow, apart from that aberration, the evening was pleasant, and the food enjoyable. The service was good....

Revisited my most favoritist Vietnamese restaurant in the whole Universe today. Nothing has changed: Same lovely smiling reception at the door. Great authentic home style Vietnamese cooking.

They go out of their way to cater for your every whim. Nothing is too much trouble. Serving sizes are generous. There is nothing pretentious about this little gem. Still tucked away in a corner of York Square. It may take a little effort to find it if you are a visitor to Lonnie, but well worth the effort.

Their Beef Pho is the best I have tasted anywhere, and these guys have never closed down through the Covid lock down. They survived on take away trade, but now they are open for dine in again. Please support this great little restaurant.

And if you are thinking " this guy must be a family member!" ..well I am not. I'm an Australian born Aussie who just appreciates good food and service when I see it. Please give them a try on your next...