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Kwan Bros. Asian bar and eatery opening soon

Natascha Mirosch

Damian Griffiths is expanding his late-night dining empire with Kwan Bros.
Damian Griffiths is expanding his late-night dining empire with Kwan Bros.Harrison Saragossi

Damian Griffiths' takeover of the Constance/Albert Street precinct continues. His new venue Kwan Bros. is scheduled to open this week in an old noodle factory on Alfred Street, beside his late-night diner, Alfredo's Pizzeria. Like its neighbour, Kwan Bros. will also service hungry night owls.

"It a party venue, bar and Asian eatery all rolled into one. Above all it's designed to be fun," Griffiths says.

The Asian theme came about after Griffiths did some travel through that continent. "I was really inspired by the hawker markets of Singapore, the night markets of Hong Kong, the izakayas of Tokyo, and the street carts of Bangkok. So I thought an Asian inspired bar and eatery was the perfect fit," Griffiths says.

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Diners can expect food with the flavour dial turned to full. "We set out to deliver food across the menu that has what we call 'flavour bombs'. Food that is bold and full of flavour where one dish is meant to provide all the flavours - sweet, sour, salty, spicy and umami - and just explode in your mouth. It's Asian food designed to be shared and paired with drinks."

Dishes include pork belly and crisp fried chicken bao, lamb ribs with pickled ginger, soy and chilli dressing, "shaking" beef salad, and deep-fried ginger ice-cream sandwiches with palm sugar.

Designed by Alexander Lotersztain, Kwan Bros.' interior is gritty-warehouse-meets-Asian-bling. There are disco balls on the ceiling; a massive poured cement bar overlooking the open kitchen and Japanese robata grill, besser block niched walls and a dancefloor with a red-lit floor-to-ceiling streetside window.

"It's a bit of a cheeky nod to Amsterdam," Griffith says. "We really want people to enjoy the food, the atmosphere and have a bit of fun with it. It's also another seven day, late-night venue, which we think Brisbane really needs right now."

We don't want to spoil the surprise but we suggest checking out what's behind the coolroom door.

Kwan Bros. is set to open on Friday, May 16.

Details: 43 Alfred St, Fortitude Valley, kwanbros.com.au.

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