It is hard to believe two years have passed since Luke Nguyen, one of Australia’s leading celebrity chefs, opened street food inspired Fat Noodle at the Treasury Casino. Not even a cracking summer storm could keep Brisbane’s food lovers away when he returned to the restaurant in December to celebrate this significant milestone. All of the dishes have been shared with Nguyen by 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.

Despite the humble origins of the food, the restaurant has a pleasantly sophisticated decor featuring shades of gold accented with dark wood. This adds an extra dimension to the dining experience and belies the fact that most dishes only cost around $20. We dined on a selection of individual mini-dishes and shared platters from the current menu plus a few new ones. It’s hard to choose a favourite but the turmeric barramundi steamed in banana leaf was a standout, driven by a superb piece of fish and delicate Asian flavours.

If you are thinking the yuzu tarts look a lot like citrus tarts, you would be right. Yuzu is an Asian citrus fruit resembling a small bumpy yellow (or slightly green) grapefruit. They are very aromatic with a strong citrus flavour and make for a fabulous lemon tart. Fat Noodle is worthy of a visit anytime. However, if you are after a restaurant for a first date which won’t break the bank but still delivers the goods, this spot the bill perfectly. It’s got a lively buzz, great dishes and good service and the meals are reasonably priced. If your first date is even half as good as the food, you’ll definitely be seeing each other again.

Disclosure: The writer attended the 2nd birthday celebrations as a guest of Fat Noodle.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Brisbane, we have reviewed The Calile, The Westin Brisbane, Hilton Brisbane, The Johnson, NEXT Hotel Brisbane, Sage Hotel James Street, Royal on the Park, Ibis Styles Elizabeth Street, Sofitel Brisbane, Gambaro Hotel, and Pullman Brisbane Airport.