Overview
Not content with knocking out Brisbane diners with their Street Fighter-themed burgers, one of the masterminds behind Super Combo is cooking up another addition to King Street. From June 16, Michael Nham will bring Banoi north, opening the first Queensland venture for his Melbourne-based Vietnamese restaurant.
Banoi is taking over the space next door to their burger joint, so if you've grabbed a Hadoken, Sonic Boom or Yoga Flame in Bowen Hills and noticed the adjacent construction zone, now you know why. With the eatery's name meaning "grandma" and its dishes based on Nham's grandmother's recipes, modern homestyle Vietnamese will be on the menu at the 85-seat venue, and plenty of it. Banoi will serve lunch and dinner for both dining in and taking away.
As for the specific meals on offer, Nham and his Banoi collaborator Viet Nguyen will replicate their Melbourne lineup, so prepare for a tasty feast. Four types of spring rolls, six kinds of rice paper rolls with seven dipping sauces, six different banh mi and two phos covers the basics, but that's just the beginning. Banoi tacos feature steamed Vietnamese taco buns filled with pork belly, garlic and soy chicken, tempura soft shell crab, and barbecue pork patties, while the cold Cao Lầu noodles are infused with the flavours of Hoi An. Speciality dishes include pancakes of the steamed rice and crispy variety, with banana fritters and coconut tapioca on the dessert list.
Making good news even better, Banoi isn't just showering Brisbane with authentic cuisine — to celebrate their opening, they're giving away free meals. On launch day, all signature lunch and dinner sets will cost dine-in patrons absolutely nothing. Don't walk, run.
Find Banoi at King Street, Bowen Hills from June 16. Head to their website and Facebook page for more information.