Fat Noodle

Overview

"Let's head to the casino for a nice dinner," said nobody, ever.

Until recently, that is. Fat Noodle has been open in Brisbane's Treasury Casino since late 2012 and if you haven't visited yet, it's high time you got around to it. Celebrity chef Luke Nguyen — known for his SBS show Luke Nguyen's Vietnam and appearances on MasterChef — has created a dining hub where freshness and flavour are the priority.

Start off the meal with a bowl of steamed edamame ($7.00) and some salt and pepper tofu ($10.00). You certainly don't have to be a vegetarian to enjoy these dishes; the edamame is as moreish as a bowl of potato chips (but healthier!) and the sweet, salty taste and fried texture of the tofu will have you weak at the knees, even if you've never been a fan of the ol' bean curd. Other options on the small plates menu include salmon sashimi ($14.00), pork skewers ($12.00) and Vietnamese chicken salad ($14.00).

Larger meals are broken down into the categories 'rice', 'noodle soups' and 'woks'. Luke Nguyen's signature dish is the Fat Pho Noodles — beef broth, sliced Angus sirloin and brisket, bean sprouts, fresh Thai basil, chilli and rice noodles ($18.00). However, another standout on the menu is the Singapore laksa with prawns, fish cake, scallops, chicken breast, rice noodles, tofu and egg in a rich, coconut-spiked broth ($19.00). You better be hungry before you tackle this delicious bowl of goodness, because it is absolutely packed to the brim with seafood and chicken. The prawns and broccoli with rice ($19.00) is another nice, fresh-tasting dish, although lacking the punch of the laksa (to be fair, most dishes everywhere lack the punch of the Fat Noodle laksa). If you have any trouble deciding what to order, ask for a recommendation from the wait staff.

If by some miracle you are still hungry after the main course, there are a couple of dessert options available: a jasmine tea-flavoured crème brulee ($12.00) and a lemongrass and perilla leaf-infused panna cotta with pandanus and coconut sago ($12.00). The panna cotta on its own could be more flavoursome, but is delicious with the sago accompaniment.

Fat Noodle has a wide selection of drinks, including draught and bottled beer, wine, fresh juices, and cocktails.