Muoi's Feast

Slightly off the main tourist track in Byron Bay, NSW, Muoi's Feast is one of those gems that shines brightly amid an eclectic group of restaurants that in themselves have much to offer. But they don't have Muoi.

She came to Australia from North Vietnam as a young girl, speaking no english and with no cooking skills to speak of. After two years of catering college she began winning every award in sight and was soon top chef in the busy kitchens at Sydney's Hilton Hotel. Now she cooks beautiful Aussie/Asian food in a surprisingly small restaurant tucked away in Fletcher Street.

Never mind that the waiting staff appear to have had a collective personality bypass and appear less than happy to see you - it's the food you go for and that is superb. You will not eat better anywhere in New South Wales.

The restaurant is licensed, but you can also take your own wine and all the meals are very reasonably priced with most main courses around the $26 mark. For this kind of food, that's remarkably cheap.

My top recommendations are the char-grilled prawns and the barramundi fillet in a green curry sauce. Both come with steamed jasmine rice and perfectly cooked vegetables.

Muoi's Feast is closed all day on Monday and reopens for dinner on Tuesday night. In the holiday season it's best to book, but you can probably just wander in during the off-season, since a few tables are always reserved for passing trade.