Best Asian restaurants in FNQ revealed after diners vote in poll
With so many diverse Asian eateries in FNQ, diners are spoiled for choice. These are the top 10 Asian restaurants in the region, as voted by you. Have you tried number one?
Cairns
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ASIAN food lovers have had their say in the Cairns Post’s Best of FNQ Asian Restaurants poll and the results are in.
Today we reveal the region’s most popular restaurants.
NUMBER 10
GANBARANBA RAMEN RESTAURANT
14 Spence St, Cairns
Anyone who has eaten at Ganbaranba will know it takes patience because the queues outside are so long. But it’s worth the wait and can be addictive.
There’s no staying away.
“Ganbaranba is the best ramen outside of Japan,” says Megan Watson. Kerry Lee Ehlich, Tanja Skärström-Høwells and Marie Jones agree.
“Their ramen is hands down the best in Cairns. Amazing staff and excellent service every time,” says Marie.
Ellie Ryan adds: “Kyoko and her team have the most amazing little restaurant and the food is second to none. The service is amazing and the staff are lovely. Well worth the wait for a seat.”
NUMBER NINE
MR SOY BOY
463-465 Mulgrave Rd, Earlville
Since opening in 2015, Asian fusion restaurant Mr Soy Boy has won the regional readers’ choice in the Australian Good Food Guide three times, including this year. Specialising in modern Asian cuisine, Mr Soy Boy is famed for its Malaysian nonya curry made from Mareeba farmed chicken fillets with butternut pumpkin, star anise, coconut juice and fresh
coriander. Juliana Flynn says Mr Soy Boy has her vote.
“Been there numerous times and it never disappoints.” Aliesha Power declared Mr Soy Boy a hands-down winner. “Awesome variety, fantastic service and chef Ferdi is exceptional at what he does.”
NUMBER EIGHT
POEMPHUN THAI
343 Sheridan St, Cairns
A modest restaurant on busy Sheridan St, Poemphun Thai has nonetheless attracted a faithful following among lovers of Asian food.
“Authentic quality food. Absolutely fantastic,” says Lance Smith.
His comments are backed up by Elizabeth Harris: “Best Thai food in Cairns. Very consistent, great portion size, friendly service.”
Poemphun Thai offers a range of classic Thai curries, stir fries, noodle dishes, salads and soups with dine-in or takeaway options.
Poemphun is casual, family-friendly and no-frills, but it’s still a winner with diners, rating 37th out of 425 restaurants in Cairns on TripAdvisor.
NUMBER SEVEN
BAYLEAF BALINESE RESTAURANT
Cnr Lake & Gatton streets, Cairns
For the best Balinese food in Australia, go no further than Lake St in Cairns.
Bayleaf has taken out the Best Speciality Restaurant at the Queensland and Northern Territory Savour Australia Restaurant Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence nine times, also winning the national award in 2014.
The awards are judged by experts who dine anonymously and evaluate each plate and the service.
Chloe Sutherland agrees Bayleaf is a winner. “Can’t beat the duck parcels,” she says. Lyn Busato says it is “without a doubt” her favourite, while Shana Taylor says she loves Bali “and to have this restaurant in Cairns is awesome”.
NUMBER SIX
PEARL GARDEN CHINESE RESTAURANT
578 Mulgrave Rd, Woree
Pearl Garden has been a favourite with Far Northern diners for more than 25 years, among them Peter Knight, Nadine Evans and Peta Smerdon.
They helped put Pearl Garden into the Top 10 during our search for FNQ’s Best Asian Restaurant. Patrick Clair was another firm fan.
“Best service and Chinese food in Cairns by far. I’ve been eating there for over 15 years and it never disappoints. The traditional Cantonese cuisine is delicious,” Patrick wrote.
Highly recommended are the sizzling pork ribs, chicken satay, Shanghai beef ribs and mussels with chilli garlic sauce.
NUMBER FIVE
COREA, COREA
Orchid Plaza, 79 Abbott St, Cairns
Join the queue at Corea Corea, which has been pleasing the palates of diners for 17 years with its fresh Korean-style street food. Delicious, affordable, plentiful and prompt.
Tucked away upstairs in Orchid Plaza, it offers hotplate and hot-pot dishes such as spicy octopus, spicy chicken and barbecue beef, served up with steamed rice, sauces and extras like bean sprouts and shredded lettuce.
The no-fuss menu features more than 20 MSG-free items for both meat lovers and vegetarians. Corea Corea has both takeaway and dine-in menus and is open seven days a week.
NUMBER FOUR
CAFE CHINA
The Reef Hotel Casino, 6 Abbott St, Cairns
A favourite with locals and visitors, Cafe China has been part of The Reef Hotel Casino since it opened in 1996.
Cafe China Noodle Bar is still housed in the historic Customs House, but the business has grown to include a second location in the casino and another at The Pier.
Always consistent and reliably quick, the Noodle Bar offers a mix and match menu with 90 items to eat in or take away.
Known for its noodle artistry, it’s a great place for cheap eats and excellent quality.
Highly recommended are the Peking duck salad, Singapore noodles, Szechuan chicken fried rice and spicy seafood laksa.
NUMBER THREE
SAMGASAT THAI CUISINE
Shop 1/271 Pease St, Edge Hill
The hardest thing about visiting Samgasat can be deciding what to order. The answer? Go back and work your way through the menu.
Sue Fowler says it is easily her favourite Asian restaurant in the Far North. “The food is the best, especially the fish.” Melanie Soo says she couldn’t fault it.
“The food is fresh and full of flavour.”
Maggie Roberts says it is: “Regional Thai at its best. Amazing deep fried fish and duck and cabbage, fast service, delicious sauces, jam-packed with locals, great dining atmosphere with open kitchen with duelling woks hissing away. What a treasure in the middle of Cairns!”
NUMBER TWO
THAI COINS
371 Mulgrave Rd, Cairns
It doesn’t take long before customers become part of the Cruz family at Thai Coins. Owner Joel Cruz sees to that.
“I don’t call them customers because I see them when they are single, when they are dating, when they’re married, when they have kids.”
Some even drive from Port Douglas. Michael Friganiotis loves Thai Coins for its “authentic Thai food, great prices, BYO wine, friendly staff, easy parking, cosy atmosphere and good location”.
Joel says he loves to cook because he loves food.
“If I didn’t have the restaurant, I’d be out all the time. I’m one of those foodies. That’s my hobby.”
NUMBER ONE
SONGKRAN THAI
96 McLaughlin Rd, Bentley Park
AFTER fire destroyed their business not once, but twice, it took true grit for Peter and Suree Nicol to reopen Songkran Thai Restaurant in Bentley Park.
But their customers are sure glad they did.
The couple’s Thai restaurant has been voted into the top spot in the Cairns Post’s Best of FNQ Asian Restaurants from a field of 46 restaurants nominated by 300 people.
Peter says it was their customers who helped them get back on their feet and start all over again — twice.
“We knew if we did open, we’d get a lot of support.”
Fiona Cole says Songkran makes “the best Thai food, hands down”. JoAnne Cross agrees: “Best traditional Thai I’ve had.”
Tania Richards says Songkran ticks all the boxes.
“Awesome food, atmosphere and staff,” she wrote.
The Nicols took over the restaurant in 2014.
“It was mainly takeaway with a very small dining area, so we knocked down a few walls and tried to get as much space as we could out of it,” says Peter.
Back then, it was mainly takeaway. Now it’s the reverse.
“Thai food is beautiful as a takeaway, but you can’t beat it from pan to plate, kitchen to table. Fresh is best.”
He says the suburban location suits them.
“We’re happy to stay here away from everything else, do our own thing and try and do the best we can.”
He was the one who initially suggested they open a restaurant, but Suree knocked it back.
“She’s passionate about cooking, but didn’t want to take that step. Then she came to me a couple of years later and said ‘do you want to talk about buying a restaurant?’”
With the help of Suree’s daughter, Palm, the Nicols open seven days a week with a late start on Sundays.
“We usually get here about 10.30 or 11am, set up and go through until about 9.30pm. Then we put all the furniture inside, sit down and have something to eat, prep for the next day, clean up and we’re here most nights until about 2am.”
Peter says the two fires nearly broke them.
“The second time, we didn’t even know if we wanted to start again. We couldn’t bring ourselves to go there.”
But their loyal customers stood by them.
“That’s what got us across the finish line,” says Peter.
Originally published as Best Asian restaurants in FNQ revealed after diners vote in poll