Sarnai Sodnom, a mother of five, runs a popular Mongolian restaurant in Sydney called Ger House, named after the Mongolian word for 'home'. Her restaurant has garnered a strong community following, and her dishes, particularly khuushuur, have made their way onto the school lunch menu at Meadowbank Primary School. This is due to an increase in migration from Mongolia, leading to a significant number of students with Mongolian backgrounds at the school.

Sarnai opens her restaurant early to prepare fresh lunch orders for the school, ensuring that nothing is pre-prepared. She kneads the dough, seasons the meat, and shapes each khuushuur by hand before frying them to a golden crisp. Khuushuur, a fried meat dumpling typically filled with minced beef or lamb, is a must-try Mongolian dish, known for its crispy exterior and juicy interior.

Solongo Sukhbaatar, a local volunteer and parent at Meadowbank Primary School, expressed immense pride when the school began offering a Mongolian lunch option in late 2024. She noted that khuushuur days are the busiest, with both Mongolian and non-Mongolian children enjoying the dish.

Sarnai aims to provide a sense of comfort, warmth, and belonging to her community through her restaurant, offering food that resembles home cooking. Mongolian cuisine typically uses few spices, allowing the natural flavors of the meat and flour to shine. The food is intended to be enjoyed fresh, rather than stored for long periods.

According to Sarnai, over 60% of her restaurant's customers are Mongolian. Tsedensodnom Sukhbaatar, a loyal customer and accountant, praised the restaurant for comforting homesick hearts and creating a sense of being back in Mongolia.

Sarnai and her husband arrived in Australia 10 years ago to pursue a master’s degree in logistics and supply chain management. In 2022, they decided to open the restaurant, and she was pregnant with her fourth child when the business launched, welcoming her fifth child shortly after. Her name, Sarnai, means 'rose' in English.

Despite the challenges of managing five children and a business, Sarnai prioritizes her responsibilities, relying on her two teenage daughters to help with childcare and restaurant duties. She considers the restaurant her “sixth child.”

In Mongolian culture, motherhood is highly revered, with mothers seen as the foundation of life and the heart of the family. Women who have given birth to four or more children are awarded the Order of Mother’s Glory, a prestigious medal aimed at encouraging population growth. Sarnai received this honor at the Mongolian Embassy in Australia last year, along with 12 other mothers.

The medal is typically awarded on June 1, Mongolia’s Mother and Children’s Day, a significant celebration. Many Mongolians in Australia celebrate Mother's Day twice, once in May according to Australian custom and again in June for the Mongolian celebration.

According to the 2021 Census, over 5,000 people born in Mongolia were living in Australia, but the number has since quadrupled. Despite being far from her home country, Sarnai is grateful for the life she has built in Australia. She values the independence and responsibility her children have developed and finds joy in a house full of family.