Morty’s Launceston: Ding Sing’s Sam Pang to open new venue

A Tasmanian dining precinct, which has been on its knees since pre-Covid, with just under half its tenancies lying vacant, is set for a shot in the arm after a renowned chef revealed new plans.

A top Tasmanian chef and restaurateur has revealed his plans to revive a faded dining icon in the state’s north, which has been plagued by low foot traffic and long-term vacancies since pre-Covid.

Sam Pang, the man behind Launceston’s Ding Sing yum cha and, prior to that, Hobart’s Asian Gourmet On The Pier, which he sold in 2019 prior to his move north, has revealed he is set to open a new restaurant in Morty’s Food Hall.

The news is a shot in the arm for struggling Morty’s, previously described as “the premier family dining destination on the fringe of the CBD” by a local realtor: prior to Mr Pang’s signature, five of 11 tenancies stood vacant, some for years.

At least some of the remaining tenants are barely keeping afloat.

The Mercury spoke with one restaurateur who said they were working seven days a week as they could not afford to hire anyone and were the sole breadwinner for their family.

They furnished a picture of ugly ulcers spreading like wildfire over their ankle, the product, they say, of spending the majority of their waking hours on their feet.

Mr Pang, meanwhile, said he hoped his new venture would be a tonic for both Morty’s and Ding Sing, which he said has struggled in recent years due to Covid restrictions turning off the tourist tap.

“It’s not easy for anyone – that’s why we have the concept for the food court,” he said.

The new, lite-version of Ding Sing will feature cheap, but fresh, yum cha for people on the go, Mr Pang said.

The display window will be chocked full of roast duck and chicken and barbecue pork “to tell the people it’s fresh”.

Mr Pang also plans to offer full steak meals, with fried egg, salad, noodles and toast for “under $25”, and bubble tea.

Yum cha is not the only plan Mr Pang has for Morty’s: he also expressed a desire to open up a juice and ice-cream bar in a neighbouring tenancy.

Mr Pang said he relocated his business north – selling Asian Gourmet on the Pier despite the fact it won best Asian restaurant in the Tasmanian Hospitality Association and TasTafe Awards of Excellence in 2017 – due to the greater availability of fresh, local produce in Launceston and a less-crowded market for his cuisine.

Prior to moving to Tasmania in the mid-2010s, Mr Pang founded a series of successful restaurants in his native Queensland, including Chinatown’s Golden Palace, Paddington’s Hot Wok and Eight Mile Plains’ The Manor (both since closed).

All going to plan, the new Ding Sing will open on October 1.