Sago
88 Musk Ave
Kelvin Grove, Brisbane
Mon-Sat 11-3
Mon-Sat 5-9
BYO
38327244

This understatedly chic little eatery serves up fresh modern Viet cuisine with panache, complemented by little touches like the cluster of coolie hats (arranged by the owner’s uncle) on the ceiling and gorgeous ceramic chopstick rests.

But it’s the food that steals the limelight, from the signature dish of roast duck and Vietnamese salad and the sago special fried rice to the succulent and tender char grill beef rice paper wraps. (And here self-wrapping isn’t the usual table-destroying activity, thanks to the provision of spray water bottles rather than steaming dipping bowls). And most of the veges are sourced from their own organic market gardens.

While dinner mains hover in the $20-$25 range (and well worth it), lunch is a much cheaper affair, with curries, noodle and vermicelli dishes, fried rice and pho all coming in at under $14.