Top End Kitchen

Zhen’s Kitchen:

7/50 Smith St, Darwin NT

Zhen’s Kitchen is a canteen-style Asian restaurant located in Darwin. Designed by Andrew Waller Design, the eclectic interior references the ‘Night Markets’ in Taipei where the counter areas have taken on the form of street trolley eateries with billboard-style street signage. It’s all about mismatched gung-ho furnishings comprised mainly of randomly-sized wooden tables and stools in the relaxed mode of make shift ‘drinks crate’ clusters seen all over Asian streetscapes. Collections of lanterns and birdcages hang from the ceiling and The Australian Chinese Daily is plastered to the walls, giving something to stew over while waiting for your food. The fitout alludes to an Asian streetscape, but this is a classy, well-conceived design despite a tight budget. [Photo: Simon Furlong]