Celebrity chef, Luke Nguyen, has opened the street food inspired Fat Noodle at The Star. I was a regular diner at the reliable and well-priced Fat Noodle restaurant at The Treasury which had been going strong for more than 10 years when it closed so Fat Noodle could reopen in a brand new venue at The Star Brisbane on George Street.
Most of the dishes on the menu have been shared with Nguyen by his family and home cooks from China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. They are created in Fat Noodle’s open kitchen which adds a sense of theatre for diners waiting for their meals to arrive, especially when you’re seated at the counter overlooking the kitchen as my friend and I were when we dropped in for Saturday lunch.
Fat Noodle restaurant in Brisbane has a whole new home now The Star has opened, but it’s much harder to find this restaurant than the one at The Treasury. My friend and I weren’t overly keen on having to walk through the casino gaming area to reach the new Fat Noodle Brisbane, but this could be a bonus for those who enjoy a flutter on the pokies. Keep an eye out for the large mural if you’re having trouble finding the restaurant.
Unlike the original restaurant, Fat Noodle at The Star doesn’t accept bookings so you need to get there early and queue. I had been warned the restaurant was popular so I lined up around 10 minutes before opening time. Understandably, a lot of other people did too, so we missed out on a regular table for two and ended up at two seats at a bench overlooking the open kitchen. This wasn’t a bad thing as it turned out as the kitchen as a high-energy vibe and plenty of flaming wok action so it felt like we got lunch and a show.
Despite the humble origins of the food, the restaurant has a pleasantly sophisticated decor featuring shades of red and gold accented with dark wood. This adds an extra dimension to the dining experience and belies the fact that most of the mains cost are priced from a modest $20. Service was prompt and the staff were friendly and very eager to take our order. We opted for two soft drinks and my friend ordered the Cha Ca Ha Noi, a classic dish featuring turmeric barramundi, dill, spring onion, rice noodles and fish sauce while I chose the King Prawn Pad Thai.
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My friend’s barramundi arrived in double quick time and featured flavoursome pieces of fish and delicate Asian flavours, with a tasty sauce that got a big thumbs up ($32). My Deluxe King Prawn Pad Thai ($30) took so long to arrive that my friend had almost finished her meal, but it looked spectacular wrapped in a delicate egg parcel. However, it turned out to be very bland and only had three prawns. This equated to $10 per prawn if you don’t count the noodles!
The Pad Thai at the original Fat Noodle was a standout and one my favourite dishes. Perhaps I was just unlucky on this visit to the new Fat Noodle Brisbane or caught the kitchen on an off day. My friend enjoyed her meal and we both liked sitting up at the bench. While my first visit to Fat Noodle at The Star was a little disappointing, it didn’t break the bank and we enjoyed the restaurant’s lively buzz and friendly service. Hopefully the glitches we encountered on our visit will be a thing of the past once Fat Noodle at The Star finds its groove.
Disclosure: The writer and her friend paid for their meals and drinks at Fat Noodle.
If you’re looking for accommodation in Brisbane, we have reviewed the Treasury Hotel, The Calile, Ovolo The Valley, W Brisbane, Capri by Fraser Brisbane, Hilton Brisbane, The Johnson, NEXT Hotel Brisbane, Sage Hotel James Street, The Westin Brisbane, Oaks Brisbane Festival Suites, Royal on the Park, Ibis Styles Elizabeth Street, Sofitel Brisbane, Crystalbrook Vincent, The Inchcolm, Alex Perry Hotel & Apartments, and Pullman Brisbane Airport.
