Whether you’re pulling up to the terrazzo bar for a quick drink or settling in for a full-scale feast, Light Years is ready for both. Located within Byron Bay’s Jonson Lane, the 95-seat modern Asian diner has room for the whole crew, complete with an intimate private dining space and a handful of bar seats for those last-minute dinner plans.
Any intention of ordering ‘just a few things’ tends to unravel as soon as the menu lands, starting with the bao buns. Choose from spicy Korean fried chicken, chilli caramel pork belly, panko-crumbed fish, and eggplant katsu, or order a few for the table and avoid choosing altogether. Save the big decisions for the larger plates. The crispy masterstock pork belly with charred pineapple, and the turmeric and coconut curry with market fish are hard to go past; ordering a pickled papaya salad on the side is a must. You’ll be tempted to try one of everything. If you’d rather leave it to the pros, hand the reins to the chefs with the Feed Me menu. And for whatever you miss, consider the rest an excellent reason to come back.
Punchy cocktails and a well-travelled wine list are built to keep pace with the bold, salty, spicy, and sweet flavours coming out of the kitchen. The Margarita lineup: coconut, spicy, or on the rocks. And the Netflix & Chill with spiced Bacardi, macadamia, passionfruit, lemon, and a foam finish is a local favourite.
There’s a seat for sun-soaked lunches, dinner under the laneway’s fairy lights, and spontaneous drinks with plenty of indoor and outdoor tables. For birthdays, celebrations, or long-overdue catch-ups, the tucked-away ten-seat private dining room keeps things intimate while staying close to the buzz.
Regulars will know the Jonson Lane location as Light Years’ second chapter in Byron. The interiors mark a departure from the lush, tropical look synonymous with their first venue; in its place is a more grown-up palette of warm textures, earthy tones, and sunbaked clay hues. True to Light Years’ signature sense of fun, it’s made for a good time.
Book at lightyearsasiandiner.com.au
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