Rice to the Occasion at These 5 Asian Dining Destinations

As the world’s largest and most populated continent, Asia is home to many cultures and cuisines which have their own characteristics.

Ingredients common to many cultures on the continent include rice, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds, chillies, dried onions, soy and tofu; while the balance of sweet, sour and salty flavours is quintessentially Asian.

Wok on at these five dining destinations sure to set the benchmark for Asian fare with flair:

The Chinese Dragon King of the Sea has arrived in Brisbane in the form of new dining destination, Longwang on Edward Street. With roots in Chinese mythology, the name Longwang is a homage to the revered Dragon King – a fitting moniker for Queensland’s first Asian bar and restaurant by seafood virtuoso, Michael Tassis and celebrated Chef, Jason Margaritis.

 

Custom-built over two storeys in what was a laneway between two buildings, Longwang boasts a private dining area, Chef’s Table and open-air bar with a curved frontage extending above the street. Expect to sample starters such as seared scallops, strange flavour sauce, macadamia, sesame and crispy chilli, before tea-smoked duck, fragrant soy sauce, Sichuan pepper and Thai basil.

Find Melbourne’s only BBQ toaster that grills your meat vertically at Hinoak Korean Charcoal BBQ on Coleman Parade in Glen Waverley. As the smoky sizzle of charcoal grilled meat wafts in the air, step through the beautifully crafted wooden frontage to find an ambience created for perfect dates, birthdays, functions and much more with blond wood table settings, polished concrete counters and leather banquette seating.

 

Perhaps share a Hinoak classic BBQ set such as Char Char Char – pork belly, Wagyu oyster blade and Scotch fillet and marinated beef rib with sides of King oyster mushrooms, steamed rice and corn cheese – or order per serve of cuts such as ox tongue, pork jowl and brisket. Perhaps Chef’s special Tiger prawns hit the mark, with capsicum, onion, chilli and sweet chilli sauce.

Find the authentic taste of Vietnamese pho at d’Viet House on Shute Harbour Road in Airlie Beach. A colourful vibe of paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling and walls adorned with images of an Asian vibe make for an ideal setting to linger over steaming bowls of pho soup and Korean BBQ plates sure to tempt all palates.

 

Start small with prawn dumplings in garlic and lemongrass-based soup, or pan-seared plump scallops with spring onion and coriander oil; perhaps a crispy teriyaki rice bowl entices, or beef bulgogi with kimchi, pickled carrots, bean sprouts, corn and sesame seeds, washed down with an ice-cold beer.

With spectacular views of Werri Beach and the surrounding Gerringong region, Gather By The Hill on Noble Street has been styled as the perfect coastal oasis. Located just a stone’s throw from the main hub and beach and with natural light flooding the space, Gather is the best spot to sit back and relax over a meal with family or friends.

 

After a long day at the beach, a pitstop after a stroll or a long lunch, Gather has the answer with an all-day menu, cocktails and wine choices; think small bites like a pork belly bao bun with SCB sauce and slaw, moving onto mains such as Peking shredded beef, sweet and spicy sauce and fried vermicelli noodles, or mussels in coconut sauce, with tamarind and basmati rice.  

Exceptional tasting dishes that captivate the senses await Sydneysiders at new Asian fusion restaurant on the Waverley block, M-WOK TASTE on Macpherson Street. Celebrate the diverse culinary traditions of Asia in a warm and inviting vibe ideal for lingering over a memorable meal and glass of wine with family and friends.

 

Combining the flavours of Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine, Chefs meticulously craft each dish using authentic ingredients; begin your culinary adventure with chicken satay skewers and peanut sauce, or steamed black pepper beef dumplings. Classic curries such as beef rendang with special sauce, coconut milk and steamed rice always hit the mark, before a dessert of deep-fried ice cream.