Brisbane’s Top 20 suburban cult restaurants revealed
Queues form at their doors and bookings fill up in a blink – these are Brisbane’s biggest suburban cult restaurants.
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Queues form at their doors, bookings fill up in a blink and their loyal fans could pack a football stadium – these are Brisbane’s biggest suburban cult restaurants.
From tiny noodle shops with barely a Google listing to waterfront seafood restaurants, they’re the venues tucked away in our neighbourhoods and away from traditional dining hotspots that have reached the popularity of their top city rivals.
Among them is the tiny 36-seat Mons Ban Sabai Thai restaurant in Camp Hill, which has been serving diners in Brisbane’s south for almost 20 years.
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Manager Danny Venzin believed it was their top-notch food that had propelled the eatery to cult status, with word of mouth leading to customers coming from all corners of the state.
“I think quality of ingredients and just a lot of work to be constantly assessing things,” he said. “Just because we might be selling a lot of something doesn’t mean it can’t be better, so we’re always looking at it.”
That attitude has led to many of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, such as their eight-hour, slow-cooked beef cheek massaman curry and pad Thai, evolving over the years, with less sugar going into them as customers’ tastes change.
“I think our food is becoming healthier and healthier. Most people love it and we have people who come every week 52 weeks of the year,” Mr Venzin said.
On the other side of town, another tiny suburban eatery is also punching well above its weight, with Taro’s Ramen in Ascot amassing a huge following for its quality, authentic Japanese.
“We just try to do the right thing and serve good food at a good price with authentic service,” said owner Taro Akimoto.
The restaurant serves up to 150 bowls of its acclaimed ramen a day, using top quality Australian pork, pasture-raised eggs and 50kg of bones to derive just 60L of broth.
Mr Akimoto said it was his classic tonkotsu ramen that proved the most popular, however, his fire version drew the most vocal fans.
BRISBANE’S TOP 20 CULT RESTAURANTS
HAIG RD BISTRO
111 Haig Rd, Auchenflower
This modest European bistro in an old timber cottage in Brisbane’s inner southwest only opened in late 2019 but has already amassed a dedicated local following. The menu covers French classics, but the highlight is the traditional Alsatian dish, tarte flambee – a French pizza of sorts with a thin, crisp flatbread topped with cheese and other seasonal ingredients. The restaurant is also popular for its BYO Wednesdays and Thursdays with $15 corkage.
YUM YUM PEKING DUCK
5/146 Scotts Rd, Darra
Just near Darra train station, this tiny, no frills Chinese restaurant has become renowned across Brisbane for its crispy skinned, moist-fleshed traditional Peking duck. Order it as two or three courses, with their signature pancakes served with options such as san choi bow, chow mein, and fried rice.
GENKOTSU RAMEN
51 Sherwood Rd, Toowong
As if it’s been plucked from the backstreets of Osaka, this ramen haven hidden in Clements Arcade is like a little piece of Japan in Brisbane. Expect a line-up of local uni students and those in the know jostling for a bowl of the restaurant’s authentically made noodles and broth all at keen prices.
WOODEN HORSE RESTAURANT AND BAR
278 Junction Rd, Clayfield
The work of brothers Dane and Morgan Hoey, this sophisticated cosy cottage aims to elevate suburban restaurant food well beyond the expected. Working with local farmers to use the freshest and most sustainable produce possible, the venue turns out a share-style modern Australian menu, running from small plates like sake and miso-cured salmon or hickory-smoked mushroom parfait to larger plates such as gnocchi with hazelnut cream or crumbed pork belly. A vegan menu is also in play, as well as a strong Aussie wine list featuring lesser known producers, and a handful of cocktails.
SUPER BOWL CHINESE RESTAURANT
185 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley
A favourite among those in the hospitality industry, this Chinese and Malaysian restaurant from Jimmy and Eunice Chung is beloved for its keen prices and charming service.
The prawn toast is a must, as is the Chinese-style chicken with shallots, chilli, black vinegar and ginger, or ask the staff, including the couple’s son Nick, for advice when ordering to discover some of the best dishes.
MONS BAN SABAI THAI
12A Martha St, Camp Hill
Celebrating 20 years in business next year, this Camp Hill institution has developed its cult-like following from never resting on its laurels and always striving to be better. The ingredients used are high quality, all dishes are made from scratch with chefs taking the utmost care, while the front of house staff know many of the diners by name, with regulars eating there every week. Just be sure to make a reservation well in advance for weekends as they book out.
LITTLE G PIZZERIA
64 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba
Having build a dedicated following in Dutton Park before moving to Woolloongabba in 2020, this pizza joint from siblings George and Danielle Diacos is a little bit casual, a little bit fancy. The sleek, contemporary fit-out makes the venue suitable for a special date night or impressing friends, while the service and offering keeps things relaxed, with a menu that includes pizzas (the pear, gorgonzola, honey and prosciutto is a favourite with chefs about town) and snack-style dishes such as lamb ribs, arancini and fried chicken.
TOCCO ITALIANO
80 Oxley Rd, Chelmer
With fourth generation restaurateur Arturo Buonocore and his team welcoming diners in like family, this suburban, child-friendly Italian restaurant is a favourite of locals and high profile chefs.
The eatery opens for breakfast and brunch serving classic cafe favourites like French toast, ham and cheese croissants and mushrooms and eggs on toast; while at dinner it’s all about pizza, pasta and Italian wines.
KCS CHICKEN BY KIMCHI CHEESE SMILE
2/888 Stanley St E, East Brisbane
After starting as a traditional Korean restaurant, this husband and wife-run operation was forced to change tack when Covid first hit in 2020. The pair switched to offering takeaway-friendly fried chicken and burgers and the decision was a winner, with their crispy, golden bird gaining a gun-hoe following. The KCS chicken sandwich is a standout, with diners also advised to order the honey sweet potato chips and house-made kimchi.
MARU
4/1145 Wynnum Rd, Cannon Hill
Korean barbecue enthusiasts rave about this shopping centre restaurant for having some of the best quality wagyu of any K-BBQ eatery in Brisbane. A sister venue to its CBD operation, which opened 11 years ago, the Cannon Hill incarnation is darker and moodier with a menu moving from spicy boneless fried chicken with cheese to bibimbap and, of course, barbecue with the wagyu and pork combo a winner.
GRAPPINO RISTORANTE TRATTORIA
226 Given Terrace, Paddington
This family run restaurant has been delighting Brisbane crowds for almost 20 years, serving its unique style of cuisine from the Swiss-Italian Alps region. Regularly booked out on weekends, the venue’s charming blend of family style service and tasty fare continue to attract loyal diners, feasting on everything from signature bruschetta and gorgonzola souffle to their famous spaghetti marinara and much-loved sand crab cannelloni.
KINGSFOOD SUNNYBANK
25/341 Mains Rd, Sunnybank
While its dining room is a fluoro-lit, basic affair featuring a handful of lanterns and a ubiquitous red wall, Kingsfood’s mix of terrific Taiwanese classics and dishes from the provinces of China mean the only thing diners are looking at is the food. Go-tos are the salty fish with chicken fried rice, the mapo tofu and the white chicken with special sauce.
TARO’S RAMEN
1/145 Racecourse Rd, Ascot
While there might be three Taro’s across Brisbane, including in South Brisbane and the CBD, it’s the tiny, humble Ascot eatery that owner Taro Akimoto says is his best performer.
Tucked away behind zippable, white, marquee-style covers, the restaurant delivers some of the best ramen in the state – and arguably the country made with top-notch ingredients. While the classic tonkotsu is the most popular, it’s the fire version that will truly light up your world. The restaurant also does some seriously good karaage and curry.
KEBAB PALACE
3/2120 Logan Rd, Mount Gravatt
Open until late every night of the week, this casual Turkish diner delivers authentic flavours at unbelievable prices. Slide into an oversized booth after ordering at the counter from a range of pizza, pide, grills, kebabs, gozleme, HSP and more. The pizzas are hugely popular or try to the must-order Adana grill with juicy, just-pink lamb cooked over charcoal, accompanied by the freshest of salads, two dips of your choice, bread and rice for just $21.
MIRCHH MASALA
3/110 Logan Road, Woolloongabba
Sitting above an Indian grocer in an imposing double story building along Logan Rd, this Woolloongabba eatery’s presence is well known across Brisbane. Serving up vegetarian Indian eats in a casual, cafeteria-like setting, the pillowy fried bread, chole bhature, is undeniably popular, ready to be swiped through creamy saag paneer or a variety of brilliant meat-free curries. The thali and masala cheese dosas are also extremely popular with the huge crowds
who fill the place daily.
CEYLON INN
300 Oxley Rd, Graceville
One of the few restaurants in Brisbane serving authentic Sri Lankan fare, in addition to a variety of Indian dishes, this suburban gem is filled with ex-pats, those who want to relive the tastes from holidays to the island nation and diners who simply love great food. The Ceylon curry with beef, chicken or lamb is a treat, or even better, the version with achingly tender goat teamed with their signature Ceylon naan.
APANDIM UYGHUR
46/342 McCullough St, Sunnybank
Serving authentic Uyghur Chinese cuisine, traditionally from North West China, this pumping restaurant at Sunny Park shopping centre draws long queues on weekend evenings.
Diners order on their phone from a huge array of dishes moving from chargrilled meat skewers to traditional Chinese noodle dishes, dumplings and soups. Portions are huge and service is fast-paced.
SHUCKS BAR
459 Esplanade, Manly
Obsessive locals have made this glam seafood restaurant a virtual second home, stopping buy for everything from midweek suppers to long Sunday lunches. Opposite the water at Manly, diners love nothing more than sucking down the ever-changing array of oysters (for which the restaurant is named) while sipping on bubbles from the eclectic global wine list, or pairing one of many Queensland beers to local prawns or wild-caught fish.
BEIJING NOODLES
76 Boundary St, West End
You’ll barely find it on Google but this bustling, little Chinese restaurant certainly brings in the crowds. Most loved by chilli fiends, it serves up a variety of numbing delicacies from spicy mung bean noodle salad to fiery Sichuan hotpots and a mapo tofu with pork that will make your tongue tingle.
CHARCOAL BBQ HOUSE
24/258 Warrigal Rd, Runcorn
A favourite among southsiders and some of Brisbane’s top chefs, this Korean barbecue restaurant prides itself on offering authentic charcoal eats. The top pick by those in the know is the samgyeopsal – quality pork belly, thickly cut and grilled over charcoal, but their pork schnitzel and beef rib soup are other solid choices from the long and varied menu, matched with cheap beer.
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