Porkfat Thai Restaurant Sydney
33 Ultimo Rd, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
About
Experience authentic Thai cuisine bursting with flavor at Porkfat, a Haymarket gem where traditional recipes meet fresh, local ingredients. Our warm atmosphere and highly-rated dishes will transport you to Thailand with every delicious bite.
Features & Amenities
Reviews (5)
We ordered 4 dishes to share between the 2 of us: spanner crab fried rice, crispy pork jowl, red curry with beef brisket, and chinese broccoli with shiitake mushrooms. They were all excellent, especially the fried rice which paired really well with the fish sauce served on the side, and the curry which was both aromatic and had a nice spicy kick to it. What I do want to call out is the outstanding service. Some small touches which really made for a great experience: napkins were proactively brought over by the service staff once we had started eating the red curry and we told them when ordering that our heat tolerance was so-so, and a plate of complementary cucumber slices with some palm sugar was given after we finished our meal, again to counter the heat from the curry and cool down the palate. If you're after authentic Thai food with great service, then Porkfat is the place to be!
I went to Porkfat with high expectations, the restaurant describing itself as refined Thai cuisine and showcasing honest and good quality ingredients. It appears that the chefs make their own pastes and sauces mostly from scratch using fresh ingredients. That can only be commended as it is uncommon in Sydney due to the labour intensive processes and higher costs. This would, at least in part, explain the significantly high price on the menu. They serve Thai dishes in smaller portions and with semi refined presentation. The main issue here is flavours and balances. Flavour profiles are not as typically expected in Thai food and it would be a great point of difference if it retained the balance of taste so essential in Thai cuisine. The larbโs meat was well cooked and would have been delicious if it wasnโt drowned in overly sweet and tart sauce. The tamarind flavour is usually a beautiful but here it overpowered the balance. The toasted rice powder (Khao kua) which brings larb together as its signature flavour was nowhere to be found or maybe too deep under the sauces to be enjoyed. The green curry was lacking punch and tasted a bit flat and was unnecessarily oily. Split coconut milk is typically a great quality in green curry but here it felt like more oil was added and it was drowning in it. The pork jowl was perhaps the better dish but also not mind blowing either. I had high expectations for the coconut ice cream dessert, having had it in many shape and forms in Thailand, with sometime smoked or candle scented coconut milk giving it depth. Here it fell a bit flat again with overly sweet ordinary tasting coconut flavour. In short I had high expectations and was excited to enjoy Porkfat food, but it was generally a flop due to disappointing flavours. I would still like to highlight that the waiting staff were friendly and welcoming but that isnโt enough to make me want to visit a second time.
Dropped in for lunch and were seated straight away. Itโs a small, cozy restaurant with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The staff were lovely and attentive โ they refilled our water, helped pour drinks, and provided wipes after the meal, which was a thoughtful touch. Food came out quickly. The flavours are on the milder side and not what Iโd consider fully authentic Thai. Not overly salty, sweet, or spicy, which makes the food easy to enjoy and adjust to your own taste. Crab fried rice: Tasty. Served with fish sauce on the side, which helped enhance the flavour. Pork fat larb: Simple and decent, but very mild even at medium spicy Tamarind chicken wings: Crispy and enjoyable. One downside was the fried garlic โ it was slightly burnt and bitter across all dishes. If improved, it would really elevate the overall experience. Overall, an enjoyable meal with great service, but pricing is on the higher side. Would return? Possibly, though value for money could be better.
Rating: 10/10 I love a restaurant with a focused menu, and Porkfat gets it exactly right - they offer a curated selection and execute every single dish to perfection. The Barramundi with 3 spices was the absolute standout; incredible flavor and texture. I would come back again just for that fish. The space is great, too - spacious with plenty of natural light. Service was excellent: fast, friendly, and attentive. A flawless dining experience.
We had the most delicious meal tonight. As soon as we arrived we felt so welcomed. We throughly enjoyed the Pork belly, sand crab fried rice, pork jowl green curry and crying tiger beef. OMG ๐คค๐คค๐คค everything tasted beyond amazing and so so fresh. The waitstaff were all so attentive and were able to suggest drinks to suit our dishes. We finished off with the coconut icecream. It was a perfect end to our delectable meal. I would give 100 stars if I could.
Highly Acclaimed
TimeOut Best Thai
This restaurant has received significant industry recognition and critical acclaim for outstanding dining experiences.









