A taste of Hong Kong
You don’t need to head to Chinatown to enjoy Cantonese flavours.
Newtown’s dining scene recently welcomed Duk Inn, an authentic Cantonese restaurant to add to a vibrant choice of eateries in the suburb.
Johnathan Wu, a third-generation Cantonese barbecue chef, and his partner Tracey Rhodes, wanted to bring a taste of Hong Kong’s culinary style to Newtown.
The concept for Duk Inn began in 2022 when Johnathan, after an eight-year career as a chef, decided to follow his dream of owning a restaurant.
The restaurant’s inspiration is deeply rooted in Johnathan’s family history. His mother, Shao Qiong Sun, who has been cooking since she was 14 years old and passed down her culinary skills and family recipes.
Duk Inn’s mission statement is “to serve great food that ignites the taste buds and elevates
Cantonese cuisine to new heights”.
“Our mission at Duk Inn is to remove the stereotype that Chinese food is cheap and elevate its status with high-quality ingredients and innovative cooking techniques,” Wu says.
“We want our patrons to experience the rich flavours and textures of our dishes, not just through their eyes but their taste buds.”
The restaurant’s décor has a blend of traditional and contemporary elements.
The ground floor walls are adorned with elements from Hong Kong culture, 1950s advertisements, and internet memes, creating a lively and playful atmosphere.
Upstairs aims at a vibe reminiscent of a Chinese restaurant from the 1980s.
The “must try” menu item is Peking Duck served with pancakes, shallots, cucumbers, sugar and fresh hoisin sauce made by Shao Qiong Sun.
Other dishes available from the Wu barbecue include Siu Yuk (crispy skin pork belly) and Char Siu (fatty pork belly).
The wok kitchen, meanwhile, is led by chef Guo Kuang, a seasoned chef who is a seafood specialist.
Duk Inn is at 194 King St, Newtown. It is open Tuesday-Friday 5pm-10:30pm and Saturday – Sunday noon-3pm and 5pm-10:30pm.
- Winsor Dobbin