Brisbane’s Chinatown revitalised by multimillion-dollar dining concept

A sprawling new food and drink concept is set to pump new life back into a languishing Fortitude Valley precinct.

Vince Moefa’auo has big plans for Brisbane's Chinatown. Picture: Steve Pohlner

A sprawling new multimillion-dollar hospitality concept is set to reinvigorate Brisbane’s Chinatown, promising to draw fresh crowds and business to the languishing Fortitude Valley strip.

Vince Moefa’auo, the chef and hospitality guru behind Bowen Hills cafe Halo Ground, will launch Mr Duncan later this year – a 300-seat restaurant and bar featuring five individually operated kitchens, all serving different food.

The concept means diners can order up to five cuisines at once from individual operators and enjoy them share-style in the venue.

Chinatown has never fully recovered from the pandemic.

With Chinatown having deteriorated into somewhat of a ghost town littered with for lease signs, Mr Moefa’auo said the strip was long overdue for a refresh.
“Chinatown has been shut down since before Covid and it needs to be reactivated totally,” he said.

“To me it’s one of the most important parts of Brissie and one of our food districts.”

The chef, who once worked at Brisbane’s best fine diner Esquire and at Melbourne’s renowned Vue de Monde, believes the new venture will bring more businesses and patrons into the precinct.

Vince Moefa’auo inside his new Mr Duncan space in Fortitude Valley’s Chinatown. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“Having multiple food outlets, affordable food and to make it look big and busy I think that will attract more markets to come in and bring their businesses back in and bring more offerings,” he said.

The restaurateur is also seeking Council approval to build a kiosk-style bar and eatery in the centre of the mall to help encourage new patronage and give the stark strip some life.

“It’s all about enlivening the street,” he said.

“Brunswick St is the party district and this is more the start-off district, where you come first for a few drinks and to eat.”

It is hoped the redevelopment will revitalise the strip.

Mr Moefa’auo has already locked in three of the five eateries in Mr Duncan: a Japanese, Vietnamese and a meat operator, which will serve a casual day-time offering of everything from sushi and banh mi to pork and gravy rolls before transitioning into a more premium dinner menu with the likes of sashimi, charcuterie, whole fish and 1kg+ Tomahawk steaks all designed to share.

Mr Duncan is due to open in November.