First look: Dada

Posted on 1 July, 2022

Woden continues its march into serious foodie territory with the addition of Dada, the newest venture of Ramentic founders Peter Kang and Kaye Park.

The arrival of The Alby signalled the start of something interesting at the government end of Phillip. Things got even tastier when eightysix south moved in a few months ago—and now there’s a new kid in town, and he packs a real punch.

Dada is a sleek, minimalist space—floor-to-ceiling windows, terrazzo flooring, light timber with black accents, and subtle curves that are anchored by a peek-a-boo pass that provides glimpses of c0-owner and chef, Peter Kang, at work.

Co-owner Kaye Park explains that ‘Da’ in Korean means ‘all’, a direct connection to Dada’s ‘Modern Asian’ dishes that traverse a broad range of Asian cuisines—from Peter and Kaye’s native Korea, to Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand and further afield.  It could be a risky proposition in less skilled hands, but Kang has some serious cheffing chops, having worked in the kitchens of eightysix and Provini before opening Ramentic in 2017. Somehow it all works.

A starter of Pickled Fennel Lemon is the perfect way to prep the palate for the riot of flavours to come. Next up, the Black Vinegar Beef Tartare is a quintessentially Asian twist on the classic—the sweet fruitiness of the Black Vinegar and fresh pops of cucumber cutting through the tender beef in a dish that is a pleasure to scoop up with delicate rice crisp.

A Wombok pancake is crispy and delicious and oily in the best possible way—its richness offset with a perfectly balanced dressing. It’s followed by fried rice that hums with Tom Yum flavours and leaves a delightful lingering heat.

It’s hard to pick a favourite from tonight’s selection, but our final dish is a contender—a simple moniker of Lemongrass Pork belies the complexity of flavour packed into this moist flat meatball, and fresh herb topping.

Although parental transport duties meant we couldn’t indulge in dessert, we’ll be going back for the Sticky Red Date Pudding or the Mandarin Sorbet (or both).

Perhaps the most exciting thing for diners with specific dietary requirements is the accessibility of the menu. Sympathetically designed by Peter and Kaye after their experience of catering to their youngest daughter’s many food allergies, there are some great dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free and vegan options.

Dada is an impressive new entrant to Woden’s dining scene. Our advice? Get in quick—it won’t be long before it’s on everyone’s ‘must eat’ list.