It’s a first for us to walk into a restaurant themed around a 16th century Chinese novel where, surrounded by a monolithic cave of rock, the legendary character Wu Kong (also known as the Monkey King) fights battles and defeats his enemies on his journey to the west.
With a move towards experiential and immersive dining, it’s interesting that Wu Kong Kitchen & Bar is located beside the Dendy Cinema. Ancient stories have long been a source of inspiration for film and popular literature. To us, it feels as though we have walked right into a film set, a novelty in itself.
With one wall framing a flame display display (representing the Flaming Mountain), the restaurant is atmospheric and cosy in winter, privacy given by the rock formations/cave walls that surround diners. A bar stretches along another wall, spirit bottles standing out against the backlit wall.
Wu Kong’s specialty is Chinese cuisine, a menu of entrées and dim sum with a great choice of mains and chef signature dishes, all suitable to share. They include Har Gao (steamed prawn dumplings); Prawn Shumai (traditional Cantonese steamed prawn dim sum); Spanner Crab & Lobster Bisque Xiao Long Bao (spanner crab dumplings filled with lobster bisque, which is excellent) and Wagyu Beef & Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao (juicy Wagyu beef dumplings with black truffle).
For mains, we share two dishes from the Chef Specialties: the signature Plum Duck, a centuries old standout dish that boasts an abundance of deboned succulent crispy-skinned duck stir-fried in a shining house made plum sauce, and Shanghai style Golden Crispy Prawns tossed in the chef’s special sauce, also excellent, surrounded by perfectly steamed broccoli. Our main dishes are so generous that one could be shared by diners with smaller appetites, especially if they also shared vegetables. A wide variety of noodle and rice dishes are also available.
We also enjoyed Cheese taro dumplings for dessert, noting that Deep-fried ice cream is also on the menu.
Wu Kong offers $16.90 Lunch specials including the main and rice or noodles on one plate, a great idea to entice shoppers and moviegoers to factor in an affordable meal on their day out.
When we walk out of Wu Kong, we almost expect that we will be in the middle of the Mongolian dessert, but no. The experience is complete and outside life bustles on in the city.
Wu Kong Kitchen & Bar, Queen St Village, 10/129 Queen St, Southport QLD 4215 Ph: 07 3846 1068 Open daily from 11:30 am until 9:30 pm.
Also at 119 Charlotte Street, Brisbane Ph: 07 3003 0596
NOTE: Good Food Gold Coast dined as guests of Wu Kong Kitchen & Bar.