The burnt smoked trout is the standout dish of the night. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
I love researching restaurant menus before I go out to eat, my eyes always drawn to dishes I wouldn’t cook at home.
So when I planned dinner with a friend at Narrabundah’s Spanish-Mexican fusion restaurant, Illuka, I went straight to its website to check out the menu.
The breakfast menu’s opening dish sounds like a cracker: Breakfast Enoki Gnocchi. Gnocchi for breakfast? Yes, please! And with chorizo, chilli and mushrooms? Hell yes.
The Brûlée French Toast also catches my eye: “24-hour shocked brioche”? Whatever that entails, I can only imagine it results in incredibly soft yet resilient bread – perfect for soaking up custard and caramelised sugar.
The full dinner menu isn’t listed online, but I spot a range of paellas and hand-stretched pizzas – many hinting at a gentle fusion of Spanish and Mexican flavours. It’s enough to pique my anticipation.
Later that evening, we walk into Illuka where chef and owner Sudip has transformed what was once a cafe-style eatery into a relaxed yet refined restaurant that showcases his passion: Spanish-Mexican cuisine with flair and finesse.
Ambient lighting glows softly from behind the wall-edged seating, bathing the space in warmth. The rustic whitewashed brick walls and timber slats overhead conjure the feel of a coastal Mediterranean village.
We begin with a little off-menu amuse-bouche: Stracciatella cheese on crisp crackers, topped with jalapenos and tomato salsa. It’s a fun, punchy start.
Then come the entrees: Crumbed duck with polenta and Mexican plantains la gamba.
The chef has encrusted the duck leg in sesame seeds, nori, kaffir lime and panko, then fried it to golden perfection. The meat falls right off the bone and the polenta is smooth and mild – perfect for soaking up the bold, aromatic flavours that surround it.
The contrasting salsas is vibrant and satisfying. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
Crisp plantain slices crown a plate of prawns served with two salsas: a piquant tomato-chilli salsa rosa and a smooth, earthy avocado salsa. The contrast is vibrant and satisfying.
For mains we enjoy Angus beef and burnt smoked trout.
The Angus beef dish rests medium-rare; crisp-edged beef on lush mash and a crisp-bottomed, butter-baked sweet potato. Al dente broccolini adds freshness, while two sauces elevate the dish: a dense, syrupy mushroom jus and a tangy, creamy béarnaise. It’s rich, balanced, and beautifully plated.
The burnt smoked trout is the standout dish of the night. The first surprise is that it’s served at room temperature. Tender, smoky-edged trout sits atop swathes of smoked cream, topped with wide ribbons of sweet, pickled beetroot and saffron-pickled radish. It’s the flavour combo of the evening – unexpected, elegant, and utterly delicious.
My icy tart cosmopolitan has been the perfect palate cleanser as we have journeyed through all the rich, layered dishes.
Illuka serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week, and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday. It’s a gem of a spot – thoughtful, creative, and full of flavour.
Illuka at Shop 1/16 Iluka St, in Narrabundah opens for breakfast and lunch seven days from 8 am to 2 pm and for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday. Follow Illuka on Facebook and Instagram.
