FEASTING TOP FIVE GUIDE · Things that keep me up at night
I'd drive back tomorrow for these 5 meals: Queensland and Adelaide
Zen revisits five unforgettable food memories across Queensland and Adelaide, from dark curry katsu to Brisbane's benchmark seven dollar banh mi.
Looking back at standout food moments from past visits reminds me how certain dishes linger in your memory long after the table is cleared. Whether it is a side order of rice requested specifically to soak up leftover wonton sauce or a seven dollar banh mi eaten on the go, the best dining memories usually start with an observant detail or an unexpected combination.
This edition revisits five memorable meals across Queensland and Adelaide. From late-night macarons served beside warm Biscoff lattes to a skillet of rich dark curry katsu and a bespoke birthday cake with ideal proportions, these five spots earned a permanent place in my food memories.
01 · Noosa, Queensland
Order rice just for the sauce: Light Years Noosa
The single smartest piece of advice I can share from my visit to Noosa is to hold onto your empty plates when staff come around to clear the table. The shiitake and chestnut wontons came swimming in a glossy black vinegar, sesame and coriander sauce packed with so much dark, nutty depth it deserved to be treated as its own course. I ordered a side bowl of rice purely to mop up every drop once the wontons were gone. Sending that sauce back to the kitchen felt like a waste. Together with hands-on DIY spicy Korean fried chicken bao, it made for an energetic lunch.
The single best piece of advice I can offer when sitting down at Light Years in Noosa is to guard your empty plates when the floor staff come to clear the table. The shiitake and chestnut wontons arrive swimming in a glossy black vinegar, sesame, and coriander sauce that is packed with so much bold flavour it deserves to be treated as its own course.
Light Years delivers vibrant, punchy flavours in Noosa, where interactive DIY Korean fried chicken bao and standout wontons make ordering a side bowl of rice essential for every drop of sauce.
What I’d start with: Spicy Korean fried chicken bao buns, Shiitake and chestnut wontons, Side bowl of rice.
Read the full recommendation02 · Brisbane, Queensland
$7 for Brisbane's best banh mi: Darra Pork Rolls
Grabbing a takeaway lunch along Scotts Road in Darra is all about zeroing in on places that keep things focused and simple. The signature #1 Pork Roll set a benchmark for what a banh mi should be. At seven dollars cash only, four slices of thin pork were layered with crisp pickled vegetables, fresh coriander and a very generous spread of savoury pate that pulled every component together inside a crusty roll. I accidentally squashed my roll on the trip back to work, but even in its flattened state, every single bite tasted wonderful.
Grabbing a takeaway lunch along Scotts Road in Darra is all about zeroing in on spots that keep things direct and focused on flavour. For my money, the signature #1 Pork Roll at this local takeaway sets a benchmark for what a great Vietnamese banh mi in Brisbane ought to be.
Packed with four slices of thin pork, bright pickled vegetables, and a generous spread of pate, this signature $7.00 roll stands out as my favourite banh mi in Brisbane.
What I’d start with: #1 Pork Roll.
Read the full recommendation03 · Adelaide, South Australia
Late-night Fairybread macarons: Shibui Dessert Bar, Adelaide
Ending the night on a sweet note in Adelaide meant pulling up a chair at Shibui Dessert Bar. Settling into a dark tabletop that soon held warm drinks alongside a colourful tray of handcrafted macarons turned late hours into a proper occasion. I paired a Biscoff latte with a white hot chocolate for cozy comfort before tucking into the macaron spread. The nostalgic Fairybread macaron topped with bright sprinkles was a playful standout, running alongside flavours like Thai milk tea, salted caramel and rich dark chocolate. It is a lovely late-night spot.
The night isn’t over until you have had your sweeties. That post-dinner ritual in Adelaide is what leads to Shibui Dessert Bar, where ending the evening on a sweet note is the whole point. Settling in for late-night treats means pulling up a chair to a dark tabletop that is soon filled with comforting warm drinks and a colourful spread of handcrafted macarons.
With comforting warm drinks like the Biscoff latte and a colourful macaron lineup featuring Fairybread and Thai milk tea, Shibui Dessert Bar is a delightful spot to round off an Adelaide night.
What I’d start with: Biscoff latte, White hot chocolate, Fairybread macaron.
Read the full recommendation04 · Brisbane, Queensland
Dark curry katsu in a hot skillet: Izakaya Haiiro, Hawthorne
The moment a hot skillet of dark curry chicken katsu arrived at our table in Hawthorne, it became clear why it stole the show. Resting over rice with sliced radish and fresh greens, the dark curry sauce delivered a deep, comforting richness that made it the best curry katsu I have tried. We paired it with crispy cauliflower bites and golden tempura potato fries plunged into creamy dipping sauce. Between the glowing green neon, comfy booths and dog-friendly outdoor space, it balances stylish Japanese comfort food with an easy local feel.
The moment a hot skillet of dark curry chicken katsu arrives at the table, it becomes obvious why this is the standout dish on the menu. Resting on a bed of rice and finished with a slice of radish and fresh green garnish, the dark curry sauce delivers a rich, deep, and comforting flavour that made it the best I have tried.
Izakaya Haiiro pairs modern Japanese comfort food with an inviting atmosphere, headlined by a dark curry chicken katsu that delivers deep, comforting flavour.
What I’d start with: Dark curry chicken katsu, Tempura potato fries, Crispy cauliflower bites.
Read the full recommendation05 · Brisbane, Queensland
The ultimate cake-to-icing ratio: I Am Ari, Fortitude Valley
Wrapping up my birthday month led me to this custom chocolate creation from I Am Ari tucked away in Fortitude Valley. Cutting into the bespoke cake revealed what turned out to be the best cake-to-icing ratio I have encountered. The structure achieved a real balance between soft chocolate sponge and creamy frostings, ensuring neither component dominated the forkful. Decorated on top with fresh floral accents and a personalised photograph, the exterior styling gave the slice a distinct identity that matched the quality of the tender crumb underneath.
Going straight in for that first bite is always the moment of truth with any celebration cake, especially when wrapping up my birthday month. Cutting into this custom creation from I Am Ari, I was immediately struck by what turned out to be the best cake-to-icing ratio I have ever encountered.
A custom photo finish and floral embellishments make this bespoke chocolate cake visually striking, while soft sponge and creamy frostings deliver an unbeatable cake-to-icing ratio.
What I’d start with: Personalised chocolate cake.
Read the full recommendationGood food has a way of anchoring a time and place in your mind. Whether you are chasing down a quick cash-only takeaway in Darra or winding down late with hot drinks and macarons in Adelaide, I hope these standout moments inspire your next table booking.
Visit details
Izakaya Haiiro: Invited / Gifted Collaboration as stated in the video caption.
I Am Ari Dessert Cafe: Gifted experience / contest winner.