Best-Kept Dining Secrets: Inner Brisbane’s New Wave Asian Fusion Restaurants

When it comes to authentic Asian eats, Inner Brisbane is the pocket to explore. From the fine dining fanciful to the cheap and authentic, this part of town is teeming with cool Asian fusion venues that combine good food, great drinks, and even better vibes to provide a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Blurring the lines between restaurants and bars, these dining destinations have solidified themselves as icons of the Brisbane dining scene. 

Take your tastebuds around the globe without leaving Brisbane, by visiting these Asian fusion restaurants and bars that have raised the culinary stakes, without compromising on flavour or atmosphere.

Wu Kong Kitchen & Bar

Named for a legendary figure from the classic 16th Century Chinese novel “Journey To The West”, the design of this sparkling restaurant takes inspiration from scenes in the story. This makes for a sensory experience like no other, as you dine under the glittering LED ceiling lights, ensconced within the vibrant colours of this inner-city Asian fusion restaurant. We can’t go past the Char Kway Teow or the Truffle Prawn Dumplings, and the cocktail menu is not to be missed!

119 Charlotte Street, Brisbane

Donna Chang

With a nod to Sichuan flavours and authentic Cantonese dishes, Donna Chang is one of our favourite haunts for Asian fusion food. Modern Chinese dining meets inner-city elegance, in a glamorous setting housed within a heritage-listed building on George Street. Donna Chang is the ideal spot for your next dinner date or night out with the girls, while you share plates of fresh seafood, dim sum and braised pork belly.

171 George Street, Brisbane

Pawpaw Cafe

Head ever so slightly out of the hustle and bustle of the inner-city of Brisbane and discover fresh and fun food at Pawpaw Cafe. The contemporary and chic Balmoral and Woolloongabba locations are dishing up Asian fusion eats crafted by their creative and proudly multicultural team. There’s always something delectable (and Instagrammable) on offer at Pawpaw. Book in for their banquet dinner for your next special occasion to make it one to remember.

Various locations

Longtime

East meets west at this chic new Asian fusion restaurant in the inner-city of Brisbane. Bringing their own brand of dim sum to the plates of hungry Brisbane diners, Longtime Yum Cha should be at the top of your culinary hit list. At this cool restaurant expect traditional flavours, packaged up in exciting new ways. From their handmade dumplings and fresh seafood to the fun cocktail menu, there’s plenty to sample on your next visit to Longtime.

Queens Plaza, Level 1, 226 Queen Street, Brisbane City

Chop Chop Changs

Perched on the most vibrant stretch of Boundary Street, Chop Chop Chang’s is a local favourite for pan-Asian street food rich in authentic flavours. An intriguing menu designed to share, their all-day fare is inclusive of a variety of dietary requirements, making it a perfect spot for any occasion. Or if you can’t get into Chop Chop Changs, head to Jungle, another West End favourite which serves the same delicious menu with sides of tiki bar vibes and a rum-heavy cocktail menu.

185 Boundary Street, West End

LÜCHA Black

Known for their tea-infused dishes and epic banquets, LÜCHA is your quintessential Asian fusion restaurant. Think xiao long bao and siu mai, wok-fried eye fillet with oyster and black tea sauce and a whole Peking Duck with all the trimmings. There’s also sizzling clay pot dishes, noodles and lunch specials. No meal is complete without dessert, so finish your dining experience with a jasmine tea soft serve!

140 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane City

NGON

When it comes to authentic Vietnamese cuisine, look no further than Ngon. This restaurant and bar make the ultimate dining destination with an enormous menu that features plenty of options for the gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian diners among us. Combining incredible flavour and friendly service with stylish surroundings, Ngon is our go-to for dinner dates or an awesome meal with mates.

233 Given Terrace, Paddington

Emily Yeoh

If the name of this Asian fusion restaurant sounds familiar, that’s because it is the name of ex-Masterchef Australia contestant and now restaurant owner Emily Yeoh. In the six years post-Masterchef, Emily worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, like Melbourne’s Attica, and late last year she opened her eponymous restaurant to fantastic reviews. Dishing up inventive Asian fusion fare, you’ll quickly fall in love with the curated menu of new classics. We cannot get enough of the Peking duck!

283 Given Terrace, Paddington

Keen to discover more of Brisbane’s best eats? Scroll through our guide to the best new venues that have opened across the city. Or if you have suddenly developed a craving for yum cha, check out our guide to the best places to find it in Brisbane.