Best of the Gold Coast 2018: 9 of the best modern Asian eats

CHOPSTICKS at the ready! Here are 9 of the best modern Asian fusion eateries serving up flavoursome goodness on the Gold Coast.

We’d happily bao down for Lucky Bao’s pillowy goodness. Picture: Two Birds Social

CHOPSTICKS at the ready! Here are 9 of the best modern Asian fusion eateries serving up flavoursome goodness on the Gold Coast.

Mamasan Kitchen and Bar

3 Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach

Mamasan’s Ocean Trout Sashimi.

While travelling the world, Lauren Mitchell and JP Duitsch noticed the modern Asian trend taking off and instantly knew what their next project would be.

“We love Asian cuisines ourselves and we knew it wouldn’t be long until the trend caught on here,” Lauren says.

“So in 2015 we opened Mamasan Kitchen + Bar and have since watched the style explode.

Mamasan’s beef ribs.

We had a few dishes that we wanted on our menu from day one, like the pork bao buns and Mamasan KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) which everyone loves — if we ever removed them from the menu we would have a revolt so they’re definitely here to stay.

“We originally wanted an evolving menu that would change seasonally, however, our customers are so passionate about their favourite dishes we find it hard to choose which items to change, so now we do small updates twice a year to keep the menu interesting and still keep our regulars happy.”

Yamagen Japanese Restaurant

7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise

After a mammoth renovation that rendered QT Gold Coast’s resident Japanese restaurant unrecognisable, Yamagen has wasted no time establishing itself as a GC must.

Thinly sliced snapper at Yamagen is one of the signature dishes.

There’s no better way to immerse yourself than with their upcoming whiskey dinner on March 19, where you can try Suntory’s best whiskies paired with Japanese fare.

For $99 per person, be tempted with tipples from the Hibiki, Yamazaki and Hakushu collections and enjoy six courses of locally sourced Yamagen favourites, including freshly shucked truffled oysters, Sakura smoked ocean trout and AO Nori crispy quail.

Rick Shores

3/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

Recently crowned as the No. 1 restaurant in Queensland in the delicious 100, Rick Shores takes the best of Asian cuisine and mixes it with the best of Australian landscapes.

Rick Shores co-owner Nick Woodward with their famous Bug Rolls. Pic Adam Head

The stunning outlook over the salty sea towards the Gold Coast skyline makes long, leisurely dining on Asian-influenced fare a world-class experience.

Rick’s fried Moreton Bay bug roll has earned itself cult status, with the crunch of freshly battered bug offset by soft, sweet brioche, with a bit of kick from the sriracha sauce. One won’t be enough.

Hideaway Kitchen and Bar

2657 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach

Not only does Hideaway’s menu boast delicious modern Asian delights, but graffiti-covered walls and a ceiling of colourful suspended umbrellas transport diners to another place.

The interior at Hideaway Kitchen + Bar. Photo: Jerad Williams

Co-owner Simone Tunbridge says that’s no accident.

“We have the largest alfresco dining area in Broadbeach, so it feels like you are eating in a hawker market,” she says.

“We have a chef covering every aspect of Asia — Philippines, Thailand, Japan, China, Nepal — so that we can bring the most authentic flavours to our menu.

“And we have some new exciting moment items dropping this month.”

Rumour has it Hideaway will be adding their own spin to a certain raw fish dish sweeping the Coast.

Junk

Shop 54 Victoria Avenue, Oasis Shopping Centre, Broadbeach

For modern morsels that won’t burn a hole in your pocket, Junk Asian in the new strip of shops outside The Oasis Broadbeach is a strong contender.

Junk does cheep, cheerful Asian eats.

Three fried fish bao with baby cos, sriracha sauce and kewpie mayonnaise will set you back only $12, while Junk’s fried chicken is $10.

For bigger meals, a charred half chicken with fragrant herbs and nuoc cham dressing is $16 and the lamb rendang curry with baby potatoes, snake beans and coconut is $17 — both are more than adequate for a main meal. You’re not skimping on flavour or atmosphere either, Junk brings both to the table.

Lucky Bao

6/90 Markeri St, Mermaid Waters

A line-up of Lucky Bao’s famous bao.

These days it’s not unusual to see bao on a menu, but not long ago Gold Coasters were only just learning what the pillowy bundles were.

Emmi and Kendall Daud are largely responsible for the Taiwanese dish gaining local popularity.

They started at a market stall and now own a booming venue, proving nobody does the dish quite like them. There’s far more than bao on the menu, but get in quick because there’s about to be a shake up.

Lucky Bao do much more than just bao.

“Everything goes well so it’s hard to cut items but we thought it’s time to be ruthless, for our customers and our own creativity as well,” Daud says.

“We’ll be doing things like changing over the lamb ribs to a modern sweet and sour pork with pork hock, changing the kingfish over to ocean trout and changing the beef cheek bao to wagyu brisket. It’s all flavours that we know work, but just changing it up a little.”

Ally Chow

2215 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

The newest kid on the block, Ally Chow covers all styles of Asian cuisine. “We are trying to cover the whole spectrum,” manager Stan Karvchenko says.

Ally Chow at Nobby Beach. Images by Two Birds Social

“A lot of eateries lean heavily towards Japanese cuisine, yet Asia offers a variety of flavours that are a little bit different and we try to marry them all together.”

The menu is playful yet simple, with three banquet options showcasing the Ally Chow team’s favourites to take the guesswork out of ordering.

For those who prefer to choose their own adventure, there are plenty of tempting dishes, including kingfish sashimi with coconut cream and nam prik — a chilli-based Thai sauce — or perhaps the spiced curry of quail with charred chilli, or for the hot nights, crab, mandarin and mango salad with watercress and a spicy sour dressing.

Can Tho

5/465 Oxley Dr, Runaway Bay

Tara and Vien Nguyen have established the ultimate example of old meets new at Runaway Bay with Can Tho.

Can Tho is a northern GC patch of paradise. Photo by Andrea Thompson.

Both Vietnamese they know their traditional dishes not by recipe, but by heart.

“We are normally referred to as modern Vietnamese, but our flavours are authentic as all the sauces have been taught by my mum,” Tara says.

“Our food is something that can’t be perfected in a cooking class, but honed over decades of cooking it from memory.”

The modern twist comes from the pair’s love of the funky Melbourne food scene, which they have incorporated into their presentation, fit-out and a tempting cocktail list.

Iku Yakitori Bar

1730 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Etsu Izakaya’s tuna maguro sushi. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Bit by bit, Mitch and Nerissa McCluskey are bringing their beloved Japan to the Gold Coast, first with Etsu Izakaya and most recently, Iku Yakitori Bar.

While Etsu covers a broad range of Japanese cuisine and technique, Iku focuses more on yakitori — chicken skewers — grilled over Japanese charcoal.

“We decided to open this place with the focus being yakitori, I think there’s a need for it on the Gold Coast,” Mitch said when the venue opened in November.

“On our last trip to Japan, we went in February, no joke, we ate yakitori the whole time.”