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Just Open: Ginger's Diner, Brisbane

Natascha Mirosch

Clams with passata, noodles and nori.
Clams with passata, noodles and nori.Robert Shakespeare

Jamie Webb (Lefty's Old Time Music Hall, Mermaid Lounge, Sonny's and Gordita) is throwing the doors open to yet another Brisbane venue.

Ginger's Diner next to Lefty's on Caxton Street opens on Wednesday. It was inspired, Webb says, by an "insanely popular" hole-in-the-wall Korean joint he used to frequent when he lived in New York.

"It ran for about 12 years and there was a queue every single night. The first time I tried it, I sort of stored the idea in the back of my head for a future venue."

(From left) Stef Gaglio, Nick Stapleton and Jamie Webb of Ginger's Diner.
(From left) Stef Gaglio, Nick Stapleton and Jamie Webb of Ginger's Diner. Robert Shakespeare
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Webb reckons the time is ripe for a turn away from European and American back to Asian food in Brisbane. "I certainly didn't want to do hamburgers because we've got that well and truly covered and there's not much Korean here, so it just kind of worked."

A fan of the TV show M*A*S*H, Webb says he has drawn some inspiration from the "dinky little bars" that the characters would go to during their R&R in Seoul. Thus, there are tongue-in-cheek cocktails such as Klinger's Closet and Seoul Sojourn.

Webb describes Ginger's as a little louche and a bit Asian shabby chic.

Bibimbap at Ginger's Diner.
Bibimbap at Ginger's Diner.Robert Shakespeare

The cocktail bar and casual diner seats about 65. One wall has red and gold feature wallpaper, while Webb trawled through south-east Queensland junk shops to source the vintage lighting.

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Bar manager Stef Gaglio (ex Porteno, Roosevelt and Eau de Vie in Sydney) was enticed back to Brisbane from Perth.

Wallet-friendly drinks and food are available until midnight. Snacks include wasabi peas and nuts, kimchi pancakes with sesame and soy dressing; fried chicken wth hot-sweet sauce; clams with spicy passata, noodles and nori; and classic Korean dish bibimbap.

Chef Nick Stapleton will head the kitchen for a few weeks, before shipping out to Webb's soon-to-open Paddington venue The Hope & Anchor.

Open daily 4pm-midnight.

Ginger's Diner, 19 Caxton Street, Brisbane

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