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    Chinatown

    4.0 (5 reviews)

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    As a kid, I knew Chinatown was the place my family would come to for yum cha, Chinese baked goods, and roast duck. While my parents bought groceries from Burlington and Yuen's, my siblings and I would rattle the change from my parents' pockets and dunk them into the ever mildewed goldfish pond. This is, I assume, what killed all of the fish and prompted the local council to put together blue prints for a cleaner, more open Chinatown, and in many ways they've succeeded. Just like King George Square was cleaned out and flattened, Chinatown's received a similar treatment. The main area resembles a futuristic temple entrance, the area is open, and feels slightly sterile. (Cleaners come by every night and buff the floors.) But it does create more dining space for restaurants, as well as space for the Chinatown markets that take place here, with many goods like jewelry, toy's, plants, and bags imported from Asia being sold here for cheap. There is also now ample space for a hundred lion dances, though the celebrations during Chinese New Years at Chinatown nowadays are depressingly few. Yes it's cleaner and more modern, and the renovations made to the driveways up to the parking lot are a welcome change, but as Chinatown ages, there's less and less about it that's actually Chinese. The old pagodas have been torn down, there are no volunteers handing out moon cakes at Lunar Year celebrations, and the 'Chinese Movie Night' they have on offer are only Hollywood Films starring Chinese people. There's definitely less to see and less going on here, but it's still a pleasant place to have a rest. It's just a little bit soulless and sparse; if you're after the real Chinatown, head to Sunnybank.

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    Giardinetto Italian Restaurant

    Giardinetto Italian Restaurant

    3.6(14 reviews)
    0.2 kmFortitude Valley
    $$

    Amongst the chaos of Fortitude Valley, it can be easy to pass by this classy little joint. Pop in,…read morethough, as Giardinetto have been serving up quality Italian fare since 1966 for a reason. I've eaten in several times, including for a birthday dinner a couple of years ago. The staff were very accommodating to our extremely large table and to the extras who continued to appear, magicking up extra chairs and taking new orders at a moment's notice. My personal favourite and my regular takeaway order is the beef lasagne, which is rich, tomatoey, and cheesy: everything you could want in a lasagne. I've never been dissatisfied with a dish, and prices are reasonable. Be prepared to need to be rolled out after a big meal!

    This unassuming restaurant now has national treasure status. Even Vogue has name checked it as "one…read moreof Brisbane's great icons". And no matter how far I go, or how wide I roam...I still come to Giardinetto when I'm home...(sorry, Peter Allen, for ruining your lyrics a little). Even though Brisbane has changed enormously since I first left here for Old Blighty at the tender age of 21, I'm always relieved to see that this, my favourite Italian trattoria, is still exactly the same. (Well, OK, it's a bit more expensive but I can live with that). I've had birthday dinners here, leaving do's, hen parties, catch ups with friends - there's a lot of fun, food-filled, and fantastic memories I associate with this Valley stalwart. And long may it (continue to) reign supreme. And be BYO.

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    Giardinetto Italian Restaurant
    Giardinetto Italian Restaurant
    Giardinetto Italian Restaurant - Risotto con Funghi

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    Risotto con Funghi

    Chinatown - localflavor - Updated May 2026

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