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The dream team behind Paddo’s Chubby Cheeks and Mona Vale’s Armchair Collective have done it again – say hello to Fat Pomelo. Songpol and Lyn Manoonpong have sprinkled their magic with flavour and flair and the interiors hum with nods to Asian culture that channel joy into every corner. Yep, lucky old Narrabeen just levelled up.
Welcome to Fat Pomelo – the new South East Asian hotspot on Ocean Street, Narrabeen. With former Mimi’s star Julian Luczyc-Wyhowski teaming up with James Sombunpeng from Chubby Cheeks, expect big flavours, bold vibes, and serious kitchen skills all under one juicy roof. Serving up a bold, beachy spin on modern Asian, think Vietnamese, Indonesian, Malaysian, and a few cheeky surprises. It’s East meets West, local meets luxe, and it’s absolutely rocking it.
Naturally, we legged it there on a Saturday afternoon faster than you can say “crackling pork bao,” along with half the postcode. This place is pop-u-lar. Humming-with-energy and packed-with-people kind of popular. From the minute you walk in, it hits you. The warm glow from the dreamy sculptural pendants is like drifting down the Mekong at dusk… if the Mekong served cocktails, bao, and a DJ-worthy playlist.
It’s got that hawker-market hustle with a laid-back Beaches twist. And the bar is where the fun starts, shaking up tropical flavours, clever spins on classics and cheeky surprises that’ll have you ordering “just one more” (three times over). It’s fresh, zesty and dangerously easy to settle in.
The drinks here are as vibrant as the food — spicy, citrusy, herbaceous, sometimes fizzy, and always fabulous. Whether you’re sipping a yuzu margarita at the bar or diving into a kaffir lime spritz with dinner, the cocktails don’t just match the menu. Instead, they elevate it. Our advice? Leave the car at home.
A PARTY ON YOUR PLATE
Now, onto the main course. The menu is bold, zesty, punchy, saucy, and fresh, basically all the good adjectives rolled into one delicious mouthful. And the portions? Fat Pomelo doesn’t do dainty dollops dressed up for Instagram. These are hearty, roll-up-your-sleeves, dive-right-in kind of dishes. No precious plating, just big servings made with heart and hunger in mind.
Of course we ordered the Fat Pomelo Feast because… we’re not rookies. It was glorious and we left our table a cacophony of herbs, spices, and flying coriander. Forks clashing, mouths full, and shame nowhere to be seen. The set menu is a total no-brainer. At $52 per person, it’s outrageous how much food rolls out. Dish after dish of goodness that just keeps coming. Crispy bites, saucy mains, dreamy salads… every plate is all killer and no filler.
Special shoutout to the Crackling Pork Bao – crispy, juicy, and five-spiced perfection. The Pomelo Salad was a zesty, herby knockout, and the kids went nuts (pardon the pun) for the Satay Chicken. Yep, we all left stuffed, happy, and booked another visit on the way out.
Fat Pomelo, welcome to The Beaches! If you haven’t checked it out yet, what are you waiting for? Go, eat, and enjoy. That’s an order.
