Australia's REAL Chinatown! | Sunnybank, Brisbane | 澳大利亞布里斯班市的華人區

Don't believe the tourist information! Brisbane's REAL Chinatown is not in Fortitude valley! In this video I take you to Brisbane's Chinese cultural centre, show you some authentic dishes like:
2:09: congee with fried dough sticks
5:42: Guilin rice noodles
6:07: Brisbane's best dim sum
as well as some great products to pick up in the Chinese supermarkets (2:38).
Experience a bit of China here in Brisbane!
If you need high quality, authentic photographs or video content for your business or yourself in Brisbane or further afield, check out www.reportagephoto.com.au, and mention this video for a special price!
Music: Zhong Nan Hai by Carsick Cars is licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
If you're curious about what I do as a day job, I'm a visual storyteller, working in documentary photography and video: www.reportagephoto.com.au

[@jasdre28]

Great video Adam! I cracked up at the jibe about surveillance cameras 😂 I love exploring Asian supermarkets too! So many interesting and yummy foods to try.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Haha, thanks. I had another bit about all the pharmacies in Sunnybank (so you can stock up on milk powder), but it didn't make it in.

[@Repulsiastorm]

Since moving to Queensland I've been missing the ChinaTown experience and you're right, Duncan St is dead an uninteresting. This video is exactly what I needed! Thanks Adam!

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Cheers! Sunnybank still can't really compare with Dixon St and surrounds, but it's certainly much better than Duncan St!

[@BrisbaneChannel]

A funny thing... when I was making the video, I kept saying Dixon Street instead of Duncan Street. Thankfully I realised after about four takes and corrected it before I left!

[@jng66]

Love your humour in your videos Adam :) I hope to move to Brisbane one day so seeing all the places I would never think to visit is fantastic.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Thanks Jane! It took me a while to warm up to, but it is a really nice city to live in.

[@jane-BKK]

Great report !!!!

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Cheers!

[@huggledemon32]

Back in my uni days, (which is to be fair, about 15 years ago, my Asian friends and I a,ways used to go to sunnybank for food and cooking supplies. Back then, Chinatown was a but busier, but even so- Sunnybank was the place to go%!

[@antiawarenessawarenessclub]

Wow, this video hit close to home One thing I have to recommend are sunflower seeds (the Cha Cha brand is our personal favourite)

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Yes, I was going to include them in the video, but I was on a budget, and since I still had a full pack at home, wasn't going to buy them just for the video. But I do agree, they're great!

[@user-pp6cn8iz7j]

Haha， Yes， Sunnybank is the real China Town instead of Fortitude valley. I have the same view.

[@johnlay3040]

I don't go to the Fortitude anymore because you have to pay for parking, that can cost more than the lunch if you stay for long enough.

[@mitchs2148]

surveillance cameras just like the real thing! made me laugh

[@sp4263]

😂😂😂

[@ashleenromano9302]

So true, Sunnybank is my go to for authentic Chinese and other Asian cuisine. I love spending hours going through the food markets just looking at all the cool & different food/drink products. I love bold flavours and I'm always guaranteed to find something new and interesting to sample whenever I visit Sunnybank.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Yes, it really is a foodie's treasure trove!

[@feliscatusaf3015]

In Sunnybank i've tried eating duck tongues for the very first time, it was cool. Loved Brisbane. I used to live in Woolloongabba from 2018 to 2020.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

My Vietnamese partner loves eating similar food to that, and used to get a lot of that kind of thing when we lived in China. It's good that all kinds of food is still available here in Brissie. I guess you're not here anymore?

[@feliscatusaf3015]

​@@BrisbaneChannel I do love it too, I love to try new dishes from all around the world and I have to say that in Brissie I have discovered loads of ingredients and dishes that I had never even heard before! So cool! Now i'm back to my country, Italy.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Oh. I hope things are better there now with Covid!

[@feliscatusaf3015]

@@BrisbaneChannel It seems a little better now that summer is starting here but last summer seemed the same so who knows. Let's hope for the best! Hope to come back Australia soon!

[@programmingseries436]

Thanks for the videos! We are moving to Brisbane and can't wait to try your commendations out!

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Cool! Let me know if there's anything you wanna know about - I'm always looking for ideas for new videos!

[@programmingseries436]

You mentioned you guys are buying a house in Brisbane, we are also interested in that. I think you have done a lot research on the topic. If possible, maybe talking about real estate and house pricing in different regions of Brisbane in one of videos?

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Hi, and sorry for the really late reply! It was a while back that we bought our place (two years ago this July), and to be honest, I don't feel really well-qualified to provide that kind of insight, especially because we didn't even consider the north side of Brisbane, and we only searched in a fairly small area. But I do know there are videos on that very topic here on KZbin, so I'm sure you can find information that is useful relating to that topic. Also, people often ask about that on the Brisbane Reddit forum, so that's definitely worth a look also.

[@doc2590]

yes, your right. When at Sunnybank you don't feel like your in Australia anymore.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Apart from the fact that you can still breathe the air and not worry what pollutants are entering your body.

[@user-pp6cn8iz7j]

I love 水井坊。 Especially the Grilled fish

[@BrisbaneChannel]

So you like 川菜？ I'll have to try that place.

[@user-pp6cn8iz7j]

@@BrisbaneChannel Yes, I love that. Most of the food in 水井坊 are good quality. 👍 Back in the day,老邻居 is excellent. But it bankrupt last year.

[@2DFlightSim]

I love browsing the asian supermarkets & often buy odd sounding sweet things just to challenge myself. But I draw the line at the fish & cheese sausages.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Haha, yeah I wouldn't go there either!

[@thegirlwithnoname3187]

I love Sunnybank one of my go to places back home in brizzy

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Yeah, Sunnybank is great. Where do you live now?

[@maxairjet3741]

I agree with you ,Sunnybank is real china town in Brisbane.My wife and daughter always go to shopping overthere.

[@alexrenova]

完全每想到Adam 老師有介紹sunnybank 的影片！ I still remember when I was your English student in Language school, you were mentioned that you enjoy photography 🤣 Technology is the best! I’ve never thought about see you on KZbin after 5 years 🤣

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Haha. Which of my past students are you?

[@tamaracoba]

Chinatown in the valley used to be full of Chinese people, and was hustling and bustling. Now it’s dead. Sunnybank used to be where the rich people lived, now it’s become Chinatown.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Judging by the expensive cars in Sunnybank driveways, it's just a different kind of rich people now.

[@sp4263]

Interesting take Adam: over 20 yrs ago when I used t live in Brisbane, the "original" Chinatown in the Valley was a happening and lively place. But it looks like the Chinese community packed up n moved to the suburbs like Sunnybank !?!

[@janelu2697]

wow, what you recommend is really classic, I also like this snacks. Are you Australian or you move from other country ?

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Hi Jane. I'm Australian-born and grew up here, but I lived for many years in China and Vietnam.

[@tomjones4451]

Since paying for parking was introduce, redevelopment of Chinatown valley. The whole Asian community could not be bother driving all the way to the valley and pay for parking too. Sunnybank is the next Chinatown and Inala has Vietnamese food to eat as well.

[@museumholictv]

Hello! Chinese Pilipino here & will be visiting Australia in the future

[@BrisbaneChannel]

You'll be welcome. It's a unique place!

[@zhongyunyuan8232]

love from China.....In China, many young people, people in love, like to go to such places.. It always looks very prosperous, lively and full of life, in Changsha, Chengdu, Shanghai and Hong Kong....chinese love the food and atmosphere... If there were more Chinese here, it would be more lively and energetic. 😄

[@mecllo7205]

Yeaaaa Southside!

[@BrisbaneChannel]

You mean there's another side of Brisbane?!!

[@mecllo7205]

BNE lens only to the ones who seek the different sides would come wisdom from the cuisine differences they offer 🧖‍♂️

[@BrisbaneChannel]

@@mecllo7205 Oh that's right, I just remembered Yes Please is on the Northside...

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Actually I quite like a few restaurants up there...

[@p1mason]

Do Moorooka next!

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Ha! Moorooka is definitely high on the list! It's likely to be among the next 3 or so videos.

[@georger6772]

Africatown and 'Chinatown' not far from each other. I've met Africans who come all the way from the Northside to Moorooka to have some African food.

[@johnlay3040]

It's a pity you didn't show the Market Square where they have a variety stalls in an alfresco eating place, serving all kind of Asian goodies.

[@dungcuocsonguc-brisbane3410]

Chicken feet! Yum!!!

[@Alan.livingston]

When I was a kid in the 80’s and 90’s the Chinatown mall was a real hub and was packed with little specialty stores. The rising rent on inner city retail killed it I think.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Yes, I remember for the couple of years I lived here as a kid in the early '80s that it was a pretty lively spot. I may do some research into what led to the old Chinatown's decline for a future video...

[@littlecatfeet9064]

10 years ago, my friends and I used to go to Chinatown in the Valley all the time, but it’s deffo died. Talking to some restaurant owners & workers there, many said that the parents bought the restaurants so the kids could go to uni and do something other than hospitality, so there was no need to keep the restaurants going. Not sure if that’s the only explanation but it might make sense.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

It does make sense. Maybe it's one of a number of things that led to the decline of the Valley's Chinatown.

[@Mellyouttaphase]

There is a Fen Ku in Southport, Gold Coast. When I moved here and saw it I pretty much lost my proverbial. Such an underrated dish and Aussies who haven’t been to China seem to have never heard of it. They are missing out! Just need to open one further south!

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Damn, now I feel like some Guilin Mifen! I didn't know they had it down on the Goldie! Good to know.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

By the way, you obviously spent some time in China. I'm curious about the story?

[@Mellyouttaphase]

@@BrisbaneChannel Hey! Nothing too crazy, spent a month there in 2014 (so long ago!), mostly eating! Cried leaving Chongqing thinking about possibly never eating that hot pot again and couldn’t satisfy my Mi Fen craving until I found the place in Southport in 2019. It’s sad that many Aussies have no idea how good Chinese food actually is. I picked up from binge watching your channel that you were teaching over there, assuming that it was for a while going by your pronunciation of Chinese words? It sucks that we can’t travel at the moment but your channel is fantastic for getting to know Brisbane and shows we can travel within our own neighbourhood, love your work!

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Yeah, altogether I was over there for about 9 years - 1 in Guilin, 6 months in Wuhan, and the rest in Guangzhou. I left in 2013. I think the time we were each in China was a bit of a golden time, before things got crazy with the surveillance and control that has become quite extreme now. But spending a while over there certainly helped me appreciate some of the restaurants here in Brissie much more, and I always get a little nostalgic whenever I eat at FenKu (my first year in China was in Guilin, and the first six months was like a bit of a honeymoon period). Never made it across to Sichuan. Did you see Jiu Zhai Gou? That's very high on my bucket list!

[@melancholycollie1466]

I'm half asian and my mum always bought me some of those Want Wants, they are so oooo moreish it's unfair! Lol my mum always demanded the savoury chicken feet at Yum Char. Nobody else wanted it but I can assure you, she made a scene.

[@LachieVidsTransportVlogs]

I liked the part where you said a Chinese word and the Chinese guy in the background turned around and looked at you 😂

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Those looks are always fun, but the best times are when people are talking next to me in Chinese and don't realise I undertand them. I once caught out some students on the subway in Guangzhou talking about some pretty spicy stuff. They almost died when I turned to them just before they got off and told them in Chinese that I'd understood every word.

[@maxairjet3741]

My family always go to eat dim-sum at Landmark restaurant .

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Landmark is the best dim sum I've found in Brisbane so far.

[@MrGaryZhou]

your mandarin is very good!👍

[@BrisbaneChannel]

It used to be good years ago, but it's very very rusty now! I haven't used it for years, so I've lost it a bit!

[@brucehemsworth6844]

伊普斯威奇嘅中餐館唔多。 所以我每两周揸車一次到桑尼班克去地標餐廳。。。

[@BrisbaneChannel]

好像你很喜歡點心!

[@brucehemsworth6844]

​@@BrisbaneChannel 我中意我嘅零食！

[@alexrenova]

為了方便的吃家鄉食物（台灣美食） 我2016年時搬到sunnybank 後就一直住sunnybank 了🤣 家鄉味就在步行距離，買食材自己煮或是到餐廳吃都方便！

[@shashankparamkusam]

Love your content man! I guess your background music a bit distracting! Other than absolutely love your content!

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Cheers! Let me know if there's one or two videos you particularly like - feedback like that is always useful in making this a better channel!

[@shashankparamkusam]

​@@BrisbaneChannel I love the way you talk - for instance, your minimalistic take on videos( cinematography) as you said documentary style, of course, the jokes you crack XD. my personal favourites are Kitefest and 7 best cafes till now. Yes, I am watching more of your videos! Thank you for responding!

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Thanks, I'm really glad you enjoy them.

[@TheAbeKane]

How has Sunnybank changed in the last 4 years?

[@BrisbaneChannel]

It hasn't really changed much at all, to be honest. The only thing I'd say is that Market Square, where there's a great selection of restaurants, has become more popular, and getting a park is nearly impossible on a Friday or Saturday evening (despite having a multi-level carpark).

[@TheAbeKane]

@@BrisbaneChannel thanks for letting me know

[@georger6772]

From years driving taxis in Brisbane, the Asians measure how far you live from Sunnybank. Not from the CBD, and definitely not from Chinatown in the Valley. I once came across an Asian lady living in Ferny Grove on the northside. She said her friends and family didn't want to know when they found out. It was too far...lol

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Haha.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Being a taxi driver must really give you great insight into a city!

[@georger6772]

@@BrisbaneChannel yes it did. That's why I love Brisbane. The people are amazing and friendly.

[@GRexerLee]

2:09 congee with fried dough sticks 5:42 Guilin rice noodles 6:07 Brisbane's best dim sum

[@GRexerLee]

Thanks for the video. You speak really decent Mandarin Chinese!

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Cheers!

[@sarahproctor8517]

Where did you go eat congee in Sunnybank?

[@BrisbaneChannel]

I can't remember the name of the place. I'll take a look when I am there next. All I can tell you is that it was in Market Square, I think it was a few restaurants away from the public toilets as you walk toward Fen Ku restaurant.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

I should let you know though, that I was not really impressed with the restaurant overall. The congee was... OK.

[@sarahproctor8517]

Thank you for your reply.. Have you been to Landmark for congee? Love to know how you go.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

No, I haven't tried the congee at Landmark. I may try it next time, and I'll let you know. The problem I find with congee is it's hard to find the type I really like. Often they have century egg congee (which I'm really not a fan of), various types of offal congee (likewise not a fan), or beef. What I used to love eating in China was pork congee. I would have thought it would be just as common here with pork being the main Chinese meat, but seems not. I'm yet to find it. In this case, I ordered century egg and pork congee without the egg.

[@TimothyChoi]

If you haven’t tried it, I recommend Haoke for yumcha. I think it’s much better than Landmark and their lao sa bao (sorry dunno the characters or mando pronounciation) is even better than what I’ve had in HK.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Is that Haoke at Sunnybank Hills? If so, my partner and I have been talking about trying it for ages. Maybe soon... Googled that dim sum, it's one I've never tried. I think I prefer nai huang bao (Cantonese lai wong bao or something like that).

[@TimothyChoi]

@@BrisbaneChannel yep that’s the one! Just around the corner is Just Soy Cafe as well if you want some good soy based desserts. It just has odd hours.

[@adriennemarkjohn]

I agree that Sunnybank is the place to be but I way prefer Parkland to Landmark. I grew up in Sunnybank and Runcorn and have been eating yum cha in Sunnybank for over 30 years. Parkland is my pick. It would have been Marigold before the catastrophic fire years ago. I also hear Golden Lane is good.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

I tried Parkland a couple of times when we first moved to Brisbane, but both my wife and I prefer Landmark. That said, I've discovered a place I think we prefer to Landmark, but it's not in Sunnybank. I can't remember the name or the suburb (I think it may be Eight Mile Plains), but it's a bit cheaper than Landmark, and very authentic. Tried it for the first time a couple of months ago, and am due for a return trip soon.

[@adriennemarkjohn]

@@BrisbaneChannel I suspect you are talking about 3 Bamboo which used to be the Manor at Eight Mile Plains. Haven't been for a while. Parkland still gets my vote but not necessarily just for the food. When my parents were still alive, the Parkland staff all knew them and their favourite meals. They made a huge fuss of them every time we visited and they all - owners included - were distraught when they died. Their kindness and consideration of my parents always stuck with me, so I will always stick with them.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

@@adriennemarkjohn Just did a search and it's Ming at Underwood.

[@donherbert7826]

So why didn't you video the standard westernised Chinese food that Australians eat at Thier local Chinese restaurants? You stated it was authentic as all Chinese people in Brisbane eat there. Example sweet and sour pork? So please do a video on the mainstream Chinese food Aussies are used to and give us the authentic style at Sunnybank cheers

[@nyf1124]

Carsick Cars!

[@BrisbaneChannel]

You know them?

[@jclau9000]

zhongnanhai hahaha🤣🤣🙂

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Yeah, I know. But Chinese music that's royalty-free is hard to find. It was the best I could do.

[@gamingguruoz]

Sunny bank is more Taiwanese

[@BrisbaneChannel]

I believe it was the Taiwanese that first started settling there, but there's plenty of mainlanders there now too. Not sure if many Hongkies, though.

[@paulharris1916]

empty but very clean ha ha

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Except for at 2am Friday and Saturday mornings!

[@dsm5d723]

Here in Brooklyn, a good portion is now Chinatown. But on 7th Avenue in the 40's and 50's, there is a real almost exclusive Chinese community. Ha Ka food and no English spoken, with gaps on the menu for those ??? things. I ordered sticky rice and they gave the gweilo a plastic fork. Pricks, the rice was too hard to use the fork, they made me ask for chopsticks. I like the experience there, Bensonhurst is newer Chinese with many Russians too. Many bakeries, but I'm not that partial to Chinese bakery fare here. We have Italian-American bakeries that are objectively more interesting. Xi'an Western Chinese food is essentially a Uighur-like, almost Uzbek but non-halal regional place and actually the most interesting food with NO fanfare.

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Agreed that food from the northwest of China is underrated.

[@tomoinbrissy5938]

Haha yes I think so too Th China town in valley is not real one The real one is in sunny bank 😅

[@BrisbaneChannel]

Absolutely.

[@clevelands]

chinatown actually located in cbd just like sydney but there was riots of aussie locals n pushed away to fortitude valley, places dead,