Asian cuisine features some of the best combinations of flavours and ingredients in the world. And it doesn’t just come under one category – you’ve got Chinese food, Thai food, Indian food, Japanese food, Korean food, Indonesian food, Vietnamese food, and so much more. Of course, there are even Asian fusion restaurants which combine the cuisines of one or more of these countries into something new and exciting.
With so many native cuisines to choose from, it might seem overwhelming when it comes to picking a restaurant to go to.
As there are so many types of Asian food, you might not know exactly what you’re craving until you see it – whether it’s Sushi or Pad Thai. Especially if you’re in a city like Brisbane which is bursting with great restaurants featuring every type of cuisine imaginable.
Well, luckily for you, we’ve got you covered. Here are the 15 best Asian restaurants in Brisbane.
Launching our list of the best Asian restaurants in Brisbane we have a Thai eatery.
There’s a reason this place is fully booked most of the time. Thai Naramit is one of the most popular restaurants in Hendra for the wonderful service, authentic atmosphere, and (of course) the exquisite food.
This is a family-run restaurant that is committed to bringing authentic Thai flavours to Brisbane. The kitchen here uses high-quality ingredients, blending Australia with Thailand beautifully.
Then there’s the decor of the restaurant, which makes you feel like you’ve been transported to Thailand. It has traditional religious decorations, endless plants, and tile roofing to mimic a Thai street food vendor’s stall.
Location: 1 East Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4000 Ph: 0413 246 890
If you’re not looking to spend hundreds of dollars on a meal, make sure to check out Chinese restaurant Happy Boy. This place is about as cheap and cheerful as you can get, which is part of the reason why it’s so popular.
The other reason is that the food is genuinely good and is suitable for a variety of eaters – from vegetarians to meat-eaters to gluten-free eaters.
Happy Boy keeps it simple with their menu. The team make sure to create traditional Chinese flavours with simple ingredients to cater for every customer. Plus, this restaurant specialises in premium-quality Australian wine.
Give Happy Boy a try. We think it’s amongst the top Asian restaurants in Brisbane. Just make sure you book as we’re not the only ones!
Yes. I admit that I’m biased. But when the news filtered through that Melbourne culinary powerhouse Andrew McConnell was opening a Supernormal in Brisbane, we thought about booking a ticket up to Queensland.
The Brisbane incarnation of the much-loved pan-Asian eatery keeps a number of familiar dishes from its Victorian elder sister. And that includes the iconic – and much imitated – New England Lobster Roll. Oh, you lucky people! As well as winners like the Prawn & Chicken Dumplings and Steamed Eggplant with Spiced Yoghurt, Caramelised Chilli & Coriander.
But ever the innovator, McConnell is also channeling the ingredients and sunshine of QLD. Plates like a lush Moreton Bay Bug Toast and simply stunning Line Caught Wild Barramundi, Goolwa Pipis, Garlic, Rice Wine Sauce & Water Spinach pay homage to famous coastline outside the city.
The feel of the Brisbane Supernormal Restaurant is markedly different from the original. Whilst the Melbourne venue is atmospherically moody, the new version is open and spacious. Housed in the riverside, the floor to ceiling windows give expansive views of the river and flood the dining room with natural light.
Finally, although its been open less than a year, Supernormal Brisbane is already on Conde Nast Traveller’s Hot List 2025. Yep. Brisbane you have another world beating establishment on your hands.
If you find yourself in the Victorian capital and feel like something Japanese, or maybe Vietnamese, or perhaps Thai, don’t worry. Here are our Best Asian fusion restaurants in MelbourneAnd yes. The list includes the OG Supernormal.
Location: 144 Edward St, Brisbane City, QLD 4000 Ph: (07) 3211 8880
Bao Buns, Dumplings and Cocktails? Now that’s our kind of Asian restaurant.
From the XO Prawn Toast complete with Wasabi Mayo, Sesame Seeds and Katsuo ($28), to the funky Beef Tartare ($30) dressed with Korean Gochujang, Chives & Tobiko – every dish is a flavour bomb. And that’s just the Starters. Seriously, we could devour pretty much everything on this menu and happily come back for more.
And then there’s their fabulous Yum Cha Cha and their irresistible Yum Cha + Bottomless Drinks. Yet more reasons why this is one of the top Asian restaurants in Brisbane.
Café O-Mai is one of those unique restaurants that features traditional Asian cuisine with western influences. This establishment is all about making Vietnamese street food from locally sourced, fresh ingredients and encouraging customers to talk to one another.
It’s a fairly small restaurant, but the tall ceilings, colourful furniture, and beautiful paintings on the wall make the place feel far bigger. However, keep in mind that this restaurant is only open for breakfast and lunch.
There’s a reason Mons Ban Sabai Thai has been voted “Brisbane’s Best Thai Restaurant” for the last three years. Known simply as Mons Thai amongst the locals, this restaurant is the place for foodies.
If you’ve ever been to Thailand and you’re missing the traditional food, this is the place to go! Every item on the menu features fabulous flavours, and sometimes ones that you wouldn’t expect. Our favourite? The Island Duck Curry consisting of roasted duck, lychee, and pineapple – it’s a fabulous balance of sweet, savoury and fruity.
Finally, Mons Thai offers monthly cooking classes!
We return to the heat and vibrancy of Vietnam for the next of our best Asian restaurants in Brisbane.
District 1 is all about bringing the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese street food straight to the Queensland capital.
It doesn’t feel like one restaurant with all the different food options. So even while you’re in the middle of Brisbane, the street food-esque style of the restaurant makes you feel like you’re actually in Hanoi.
Each dish is sourced from local, high-quality ingredients and is designed to be eaten with your hands, so be prepared to get messy! Plus, District 1 also offers unique hot and iced Vietnamese coffee.
Location: 702 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006 Ph: (07) 3257 2305 Also at Shop 5, 220 Melbourne St, South Brisbane, QLD 4101 Ph: (07) 3844 4306 & 9 Sherwood Rd, Shop G67A, Toowong, QLD 4066 Ph: (07) 3815 6491
If you didn’t know, Yakitori is a traditional Japanese grilled chicken dish. It is typically served on a bamboo skewer or served as a meal alongside other ingredients. Bird’s Nest Yakitori restaurant, as the name suggests, is one of the best places in Brisbane for this tasty meal – along with other dishes.
This restaurant is deliberately dimly lit with contrasting bright colours to mimic Japan’s side streets and laneways. The result? You feel instantly like you’re in the depths of Tokyo surrounded by street food.
Also at 135/400 Newmarket Rd, Newmarket, QLD 4051 Ph: (07) 3856 6986 & 19/663 Beenleigh Rd, Sunnybank Hills, QLD 4109 Ph: (07) 3162 2993 & Shop 28 Carseldine Central, 735 Beams Rd, Carseldine, QLD 4034 Ph: (07) 3150 8700 & Shop 119, Chatswood Central Shopping Centre 2, 16 Magellan Rd, Springwood, QLD 4127 Ph: (07) 3290 0729 & Shp7/ High St, Victoria Point, QLD 4165 Ph: (07) 3820 9720 & Shop 2/51 Sherwood Rd, Toowong, QLD 4066 Ph: (07) 3371 7341 & Kmart Plaza, Shop C8/1909 Creek Rd, Cannon Hill, QLD 4170 Ph: (07) 3399 5253 & Lower Ground Floor, 8 Charlotte St, Brisbane City, QLD 4000 Ph: (07) 3012 8915
If you’re looking to soothe your cravings for dumplings, make sure to check out Little Red Dumpling. This restaurant makes some of the most authentic Chinese dumplings in Brisbane, ranging from pork-filled chive dumplings to steamed soup buns.
They also do succulent bao dishes, pancakes, spring rolls, and pan-fried dumplings, all with a variety of fillings.
Also at 4/27 Samuel St, Camp Hill QLD, 4152 Ph: (07) 3398 4945
Banana Leaf Thai’s goal is to serve soul-filling foods, from premium-quality ingredients and with simple authentic flavours. Each dish begins with traditional Thai flavours and techniques, then the chefs add a flash of contemporary flare.
Moreover, the restaurant itself is quirky. Its walls are tastefully cluttered with posters of Asian (mostly Thai) vintage movies and artwork, making the place feel like a hidden gem.
Planning a trip up to beautiful Hervey Bay or K’gari (Fraser Island)? Here are our Best Restaurants in Hervey Bay recommendations.
Also at Shop 8/455 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006 Ph: 0423 921 949
Next on our look at the best Asian restaurants in Brisbane we hop scotch over to India.
Curry n’ Cask prides itself on bringing the real taste of India straight to Brisbane. With a range of dishes including biryanis, Indo-Chinese dishes, dosas, and street-food, you’re bound to fall in love with something new. For us, the go-to dish is the Chef’s Special, Bhuna Goat. Rich and fragrant, its a real treat.
Finally, Curry n’ Cask has become so popular that it has two locations – Corinda and Fortitude Valley – both of which offer dine-in and takeaway options.
Also at 154 Melbourne St, South Brisbane, QLD 4101 Ph: (07) 3844 4414 & 16 Old Cleveland Rd, Greenslopes, QLD 4120 Ph: (07) 3324 2823 & 1/145 Racecourse Rd, Ascot, QLD 4007 Ph: (07) 3868 2833
Nothing is quite as comforting as a bowl of ramen. Taro’s Ramen was founded 11 years ago and has since become an ever-evolving ramen restaurant, using locally sourced ingredients such as pork and eggs from local farmers.
And best of all, everything at Taro’s Ramen is handmade. From the noodles to the broth, allowing customers to eat nothing but healthy, authentic ramen. The result is a marry of the tastes of Japan with the atmosphere of Brisbane, all in a welcoming restaurant with friendly staff and a relaxed vibe.
Whilst we love the aromas and warmth of a reliable local Chinese eatery, it’s safe to say that Longtime Dining is a very different beast.
This elegant, refined restaurant has a menu packed with traditional Cantonese winners, but enhanced with exciting contemporary European twists.
For example, the Yum Cha ranges from the familiar such as King Prawn Dumplings, to more exotic fare like Squid Ink, Prawn & Wasabi Dumplings. Rather than pale pink Prawn Crackers, the ones at Longtime are made from Lobster, and there’s a dish of Cheung Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls) mixed with Roasted Duck and Foie Gras.
But whatever you do, leave room for the Honk Kong Egg Tarts. A spin on the famous Portuguese Pasteis de Nata, they are utterly addictive.
If you can’t decide what type of cuisine you want, check out Chu The Phat. This restaurant focuses on a variety of Asian street food, transporting you directly to Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong with every bite.
Our recommendations? Well, the Wagyu Dumplings with XO & Lime are a knockout as an opener. As for the Mains, both the Chu Chicken Katsu with Brown Herb Sauce and the crunchy General Tso’s Fried Cauliflower always go down easily.
Here, the street food vibe blends with modern dine-in flare, making for a lively and exciting dining experience. Plus, the venue can cater large groups, so it’s a good place to go for birthday parties or work meetings. Always buzzing and serving great pan-Asian dishes, you’re guaranteed a fun night out at Chu The Phat.
The penultimate spot on our best Asian restaurants in Brisbane goes to a haven for spicy heat lovers.
Sichuan Province, located in the south west of China, is known to the locals as the “heavenly county”.
Sichuan Bang Bang opened in Brisbane with the aim of bringing traditional Chinese-inspired flavours to Australia. But, with a small, though important twist – almost everything is spicy.
This restaurant is all about celebrating hot spices like the Sichuanese do, so this isn’t the place for the faint of heart. If you’re not prepared for strong spices, make sure to tell the waiting staff who will have the dishes adapted to your liking.
Location: Riperian Plaza, Upper Plaza Level, 71 Eagle St, Brisbane City, QLD 4000 Ph: (07) 3229 5070
One thing we’ve really noticed editing this article – Brisbane has some belting riverside restaurant. And Madame Wu totally fits that description. And whether or not you choose to dine on the terrace, looking out over the water, or sit sipping a Cocktail under a lantern inside, whatever you order will be divine.
The menu skips across the cuisines of Asia with a skilful lightness of hand. The flavours of Japan are present in the Tuna Wasabi Spring Rolls, but Aussie natives get a look-in with the Lemon Myrtle Furikake. China pops up across the dishes, with 2 of our favourites being the mouth-watering Tang Sui Chicken Ribs Steamed Duck Buns.
Of course, being located in glorious Queensland, Seafood has pride of place amongst the offerings. For us, the stand-out option is the Wok Fried Bug Meat, XO Sauce & Spinach. You’d be a fool not to try it!
All this plus a great drinks menu and views too. No wonder Madame Wu is one of the top Asian restaurants in Brisbane.
When it comes to great places to eat in Australia, the list really is endless. There are so many different restaurants, cafés, and chains to try that you really are spoiled for choice. From Italian food, to Japanese food, to a good ‘ole rump steak, the food options are endless.
This is why I decided to set up my blog, Eatability, to share the best food and drink spots in Australia with as many people as possible. Hi, my name is Dylan Cole, and I moved to Australia five years ago from England, UK.
Through this blog, I will be sharing and recommending some of my favorite places you need to visit, such as where to find the best pizza in Adelaide, and the best bakery in Brisbane. Whatever food you are fancying, I have got you covered!
