Chinatown in Brisbane
With an abundance of restaurants offering all sorts of Asian food in Chinatown, it can be quite overwhelming choosing one that tickles your fancy. Over the years many restaurants have come and gone and being a regular diner in Chinatown, my husband and I have developed our favourites. It's worth coming back again and again to experience what Chinatown has to offer.
Wagaya Japanese Restaurant
My husband and I discovered
this Japanese restaurant after having a little too many drinks one night and were extremely satisfied with what we'd found. We have been there many times since and I just love everything about this restaurant.
I love the touch screen menu and ordering system even though it's also proven to be quite dangerous on several occasions. However, we've learned to order as we go to ensure our food doesn't get cold and avoid ordering too much.
I also love their interior and unlike many restaurants in Chinatown, its soft lighting creates a romantic atmosphere. Once inside, you are greeted with staff shouting 'Irashaimase', meaning welcome in Japanese. What's more to love about this restaurant is their timber booths that are closed off giving you maximum privacy. It is the perfect place for a romantic evening.
I love their big menu. The technology savvy touch screen menu is extremely easy to navigate. With nibbles/salads, deep fried dishes, grilled dishes, a la carte selection, sushi/sashimi choices, rice/noodle dishes and hot pots/set menus, it's no wonder this restaurant is so popular amongst diners. What's more, they have a cosmopolitan of drinks available. We have been there a few times and have never been disappointed.
We've racked up a huge bill, which was a result of pure gluttony, but we've also eaten there for under $50, so it's suitable for all budgets. With fantastic service, scrumptious food and great atmosphere, this is one restaurant not to be missed in Chinatown.
When: 7 days, lunch 11.30am - 5pm, dinner 5pm - late
Where: Level 1, TCB Centre, 315 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Tea Master Vegetarian Restaurant
Being keen carnivorous eaters, my husband and I seldom visit vegetarian restaurants. We discovered Tea Master, a vegetarian eatery, one night when we were too lazy to walk further down Wickham Street in Chinatown. This occurrence has not only proven that our laziness has paid off, but also confirmed that vegetarian food can be delicious.
The 'seafood' laksa was particularly delicious and flavoursome. Sometimes vegetarian food can make you feel like you've been cheated on because chicken substitute taste awful. However, with the fragrant aroma of the laksa wafting around me, burning sensation on the palate as I take a spoonful of the soup, and the overall delicious flavours of this laksa, I almost forgot this was vegetarian. With various meals costing less than $10 each, I did not mind that this was a cash only restaurant.
When: Monday - Saturday lunch, Friday dinner
Where: Shop 8, 115 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley
King of Kings Resturant
My family and I have been coming to
King of Kings Resturant for years. It's been there for as long as I can remember and I like it there. It's not too hectic, staff are friendly, the sounds staff clearing tables don't echo through the restaurant and generally feels cleaner.
They have the usual yum cha staples: steamed dumplings, buns, rolls and meat as well as deep fried and pan fried items. My favourites from this place are the juicy steamed chicken feet, steamed dim sim, steamed pork spare ribs, steamed prawn dumplings, custard tarts, and the favourite of my favourites is the fried dough sticks in noodle rolls. They're not the healthiest, but totally worth it.
When:
Day: Monday - Friday 10am-3pm, Saturday - Sunday 9.30am-3pm
Night: Sunday - Thursday 5.30pm-10pm, Saturday - Sunday 5.30pm-11pm
Where: Level 2, 175 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley
Pho Hoang Gia Vietnamese Restaurant
My ex-colleague introduced me to this Vietnamese restaurant and now it's become our weekly lunch spot. It doesn't have the best interior and you do find a dirty spoon every now and then, but it does have awesome food and great service.
I've tried the beef pho, grilled pork rice paper wraps, grilled pork chop with rice, crispy skin chicken with rice and grilled lemongrass chicken with rice and I have yet to be disappointed. With their extensive menu, friendly service and delightful food, Pho Hoang Gia would be our weekly lunch spot for a very long time.
When: Lunch and dinner 7 days, except dinner on Tuesday
Where: 146-148 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley
Golden BBQ
Seriously, THE best roast duck in Brisbane!
Dad and I have been long term patrons of this cosy little joint, even before they had seating. For years, Dad and I would walk there to buy half a roast duck and whatever else we craved for at the time whether it'd be soy chicken or BBQ pork. But we went there for the roast duck. We loved it so much that it would be part of our celebratory dinners amongst mum and dad's awesome cooking.
Back in the days, when they didn't have any seating, we had to power walk back home before we could dig in. I can't tell you how tempted I was to sneak a piece of duck on the way home. It wasn't until I had roast duck from other restaurants that I began to appreciate just how good the roast duck is at Golden BBQ. They are moorish.
Golden BBQ is popular amongst diners for their roast duck, BBQ pork, soy chicken and roast pork. Their menu includes various noodle soups, steamed noodle dishes and steamed rice dishes. So if you crave some quality Chinese BBQ, this is the place to go.
They are quick, prices are reasonable, and absolutely delicious.
When: Lunch and dinner 7 days a week
Where: 157 Wickham St Fortitude Valley
