Kawan Dining
Great food starts long before it reaches the plate. It begins with the people, places, traditions and ingredients that come together to shape a living food culture.
By Launnie Team
For husband and wife Efendi and Pebrinawaty, Kawan Dining is a shared expression of their love of food, hospitality and connection. The name “Kawan” means “friend” in Indonesian – a fitting name for a restaurant centred around bringing people together around the table.
Their story is part of what makes Launceston a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy: a place where food brings together different cultures, local produce, creativity and community.
Efendi’s cooking draws on his Indonesian heritage and years spent working in modern Asian kitchens in Sydney. But since opening Kawan in Launceston, Tasmania has become part of the way he cooks.
Rather than trying to recreate dishes exactly as they would be in Indonesia or elsewhere in Southeast Asia, he allows the produce around him to shape what comes next. Tasmanian Wagyu can become a West Javanese satay, while local seafood, lamb, beef and seasonal ingredients are interpreted through the techniques and flavours that have shaped his cooking.
When you have more local produce, you have more creativity,” Efendi says. “It’s kind of like having a toy — what are you going to do with this one?
That curiosity keeps Kawan’s menu moving with the seasons. Different ingredients bring new possibilities, allowing Efendi to experiment and adapt while creating food that reflects both where he comes from and the place he now calls home.
For Efendi and Pebrinawaty, that connection also means making local produce accessible. Rather than seeing premium Tasmanian ingredients as something reserved for high-end dining, they want Kawan to be a relaxed and welcoming place where local people can experience the quality of what is grown and produced around them.
This is gastronomy in action: food as a way of connecting people, place, produce and culture. At Kawan Dining, Indonesian heritage and Southeast Asian cooking meet Tasmanian seasons and produce - contributing another story to Launceston's living food culture.
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We acknowledge Tasmanian Aboriginal People as traditional custodians of this land, we pay respect to Elders past and present, as they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hope for generations to come. We recognise and value Aboriginal histories, knowledge and lived experiences and commit to being culturally inclusive and respectful in our working relationships with Aboriginal People.
Launceston Visitor Information Centre
Town Hall, 18-28 St John Street,
Launceston TAS 7250.
Phone: 1800 651 827
Mon to Fri:9am - 5pm
Sat & Sun:10am - 2pm
Public Holidays:10am - 2pm