The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement

10 things you need to eat at the Brisbane Times Night Noodle Markets 2016

Callan Boys
Callan Boys

Hey ho, let's go. The Brisbane Times Night Noodle Markets are underway and there's more deliciousness than you can poke a chicken skewer at.

Part of Good Food Month, presented by Citi, the Noodle Markets takeover South Bank's Cultural Forecourt every night until Sunday, July 31. There's live music, entertainment and more than 20 food stalls.

Brisbane Times Good Food Guide editor Callan Boys shares his must-eats, but keep in mind it's only the tip of the delicious iceberg that awaits.

All of the gyoza, Zagyoza

Advertisement

If someone tells you they don't like gyoza, walk away. Walk away swiftly and quietly and never return. They are not be be trusted and more than likely one of those shape-shifting lizard people. Everyone likes Japanese dumplings, and Zagyoza has come to the pot-sticker party by offering vegan and vegetarian varieties in addition to its meat and seafood-filled bad boys.

Black truffle ramen, Taro's Ramen

Taro's Ramen was awarded Cheap Eat of the Year in the Brisbane Times 2017 Good Food Guide (available in stores now, you know) for 'setting a national ramen standard with creamy, fresh and (almost) light tonkotsu'. FACT: Fresh truffles make everything taste better. Well, maybe not icy poles or low-fat milk, but certainly ramen. Taro knows what time it is and shaves jet-black slivers of WA truffle on his knock-out tonkotsu and when that delicious fragrance slaps your face it's goodnight, nurse and hello, Dolly. (Good Food Guide editor's note: this is the best thing I've ever eaten at Night Noodle Markets anywhere in the country ever.)

Inihaw na manok (chicken skewer in traditional glaze), Hoy Pinoy

Hoy Pinoy on the grill at Brisbane Times Night Noodle Markets 2016
Hoy Pinoy on the grill at Brisbane Times Night Noodle Markets 2016Brock McFadzean
Advertisement

This could have been a 'Top 10 things you need to eat on a stick' list for the Night Noodle Markets but we're saving that investigative journalism for Ekka. Hoy Pinoy (translation: 'Hey, Filipino') are a Melbourne-based street food vendor who like to grill stick-threaded meat over charcoal and they do a very good job of it. You'll smell the smoky chicken skewers long before you see them glistening in their traditional soy glaze, and it would be churlish not walk around the markets scoffing them. Ten, please.

Karaage barramundi and sweet potato chips, Fat Noodle

Aha. Nice one. We see what you did there, Fat Noodle. Dress it up how you like, but if it looks likes fish and chips, and tastes like fish and chips...well, you know the rest. This isn't a bad thing in any universe.

Octodog, Harajuku Gyoza

Advertisement

What's the old adage? You know it's a good sausage when the eyes follow you around the room? Something like that. Anyway, this frankly weird frankfurt thing is made with deep-fried Tako-San pork sausage and we're not really sure what's going on here. Still kind of really definitely want one though.

Peking duck fries, Bao Stop

In the noble tradition of halal snack packs, poutine and those cheese-and-bacon assaulted chips they once served at Lone Star Steakhouse, comes the latest frontier in topping fries with something that isn't fries! In this case it's spring onion and shredded Peking duck that's all crackled skin and juicy flesh.

Raindrop cake, Harajuku Gyoza

Advertisement
Raindrop cakes care of Harajuku Gyoza.
Raindrop cakes care of Harajuku Gyoza.Supplied

If these raindrops kept falling on your head, there would be little chance of your eyes soon turning red. Although, your hair would get pretty sticky what with all the agar, strawberry, matcha, crushed peanuts and brown sugar syrup Pro Harting your noggin. Best keep them in their little boat and mix the jelly-like drop with its sweet shipmates before melting point (about 13 minutes).

Strawberry watermelon cake, Black Star / N2

Black Star Pastry strawberry and watermelon cake.
Black Star Pastry strawberry and watermelon cake.Stephen Claxton

Black Star owner Christopher Thé says the multi-layered creation he whipped up for a friend's wedding a few years ago is supposedly the most Instagrammed cake in the world. It's a claim difficult to measure, but we reckon he's right. And why wouldn't it be? Racing stripes of watermelon, cream and almond dacquoise topped with strawberries and rose petals? Get in, lad. The cake attracts lines of punters like The Empire Strikes Back on opening day, so best get to the markets early if you want a slice of the action.

Advertisement

Vegetable udon noodles, Sake Restaurant and Bar

Sake retained its hat in the Good Food Guide this week, making it the highest rating storeholder among food critics at the markets. This is reason enough to check out its wares and hey! Look kids! They have noodles. At a noodle market! Probably should. They're big, fat, healthy vegetarian ones too with fried tofu and wakame. Alright, so not as healthy as a cold-pressed kale and falafel bone-broth juice, but a truckload tastier.

Night Noodle Markets, Cultural Forecourt, South Bank. July 20-31. Weekdays 5pm-late; weekends 4pm-late. Free entry. See brisbane.goodfoodmonth.com

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.

Sign up
Callan BoysCallan Boys is editor of SMH Good Food Guide, restaurant critic for Good Weekend and Good Food writer.

From our partners

Advertisement
Advertisement