The art of hot pot may have originated on the steppes of Mongolia, but it’s now a big part of regional China’s many cuisines. This Brisbane version is Sichuan style. And inspired by Lady Gaga, it’s the home of the “Beef Barbie” – a Barbie doll dressed in thin slices of beef. David’s is spicy fun and best enjoyed as part of a group for the whole hot pot experience. The starting point is a pot of steaming broth, and then comes meat, seafood and vegetables as rolls, balls or sliced. Let’s just say the meat and poultry options range from the expected to the exotic. 662 Compton Rd, Calamvale; davidshotpot.com.au

With outlets across the country, this contemporary Chinese restaurant brand has become a go-to for those after fast, affordable fare within a flashy fit-out. Dining rooms are elaborately decorated with Chinese influences, and are as suitable for special occasions as they are a quick lunch. As the moniker suggests, most dishes are from Shanghai, with the city’s culinary delicacies creating a menu far removed from your standard Aussie Cantonese offering. Try dishes such as cold noodles with smoked fish, salted duck or hot noodle soup with spicy pork, prawns and smoked tofu. There’s also everything from dumplings and wontons to meat, seafood and vegetable dishes. Level 2, Westfield Garden City, 2049 Logan Rd, Upper Mount Gravatt; newshanghai.com.au

Not your typical Indian restaurant, Nutmeg is about taking traditional flavours of the subcontinent and giving them a contemporary twist. While favourites like butter chicken and vindaloo are necessary inclusions on the menu, it’s the snacks where the real fun is had, turning mandatory samosas into photogenic spiced potato and pea swirls, or offering up slow-cooked pepper lamb in a trio of sliders with smoked chilli and pickled onion relish. The goat and prawn curries are also must-orders. With most dishes coming in under budget, there may even be money left over for a beer or wine from the carefully curated drinks list. 281 Sandgate Rd, Albion; nutmegindiancuisine.com.au

Antica started as Pizzantica in the back of a Kombi, moved to Casa Italia at New Farm, then abbreviated its name and moved to more up-market digs at Wilston. Now it’s a must-book hotspot. You will see happy families starting early for the woodfired goodness. The house speciality is designed for a crowd – a long pizza split in half with tomato, burrata and balsamic pearls on one side and fig, honey and goat’s cheese on the other. The margherita is a given, while the gamberi and prosciutto run hot. Unlike most traditional pizza spots, there are also dedicated vegan pizzas, pasta, antipasti, gelato and “vegamisu”. 1/70 Kedron Brook Rd, Wilston; anticapizzeria.net.au

Inspired by Mexican taquerias of the 1980s, Cartel Del Taco is the type of venue in which guests feel comfortable to relax, push their sleeves up and let the juices run down their arms as they devour delicious tacos to a soundtrack fit for a fiesta. The centrepiece of the kitchen is a traditional grill known as a trompo, used to create their signature Al Pastor tacos. Piled inside the thinnest of corn tortillas is pork that erupts with flavour. Just as good are the pescadillas (red snapper-stuffed, deep-fried quesadillas). A vegetarian cauliflower steak is fine, but your money and stomach are best reserved for the snacks, tacos and tequila fuelled drinks. 290 Hawthorne Rd, Hawthorne; carteldeltaco.com.au

Its website makes the bold claim of serving “Brisbane’s best burgers” and, while contentious, this hipster-cool eatery sure serves up some of the most popular. It has an Instagram following of more than 15,000 and diners flock to the establishments in Fortitude Valley and West End for the jam packed bun creations that have taken years to perfect. The burgers come topped with everything from high-quality beef to organic salad ingredients, mac ’n’ cheese patties and even crumbed beetroot, with a side of loaded fries or potato gems almost compulsory. There are desserts, too, including sweet waffles, alongside over-the-top shakes, soft drinks and beer. West End & Fortitude Valley; hashtagburgersandwaffles.com.au

Supplying some of Brisbane’s best restaurants, this fish market and eatery is known for its top-quality catches at great prices. With a menu that is constantly changing depending on what’s biting, customers are promised the freshest fish in the land, served crumbed, battered or grilled with thick-cut chips. For non-traditionalists there are also the likes of salmon wings and bellies cooked in the smoker, or fresh crab sandwiches. Other favourites are the burgers, with beef, chicken and fish varieties all on the menu, ready to pair with wine or beer. On Wednesdays, the kitchen’s signature fish-burger-and-a-beer deal is certain to get you through hump day. 220 Annerley Rd, Dutton Park; fishkitchenduttonpark.com.

Traditional Turkish tiles clad the open kitchen at this bright and breezy corner eatery, which brings a little bit of glamour to affordable eats in Brisbane’s east. Operated by successful restaurateurs the Alemré Group, Downtown Istanbul offers a modern take on classic Turkish cuisine. While you could happily spend up big here with the (fit for a) King’s Mixed Grill featuring lamb, Adana, chicken and garlic prawns served with rice and salad, you can just as easily stay on a tight budget with filling-yet wallet-friendly pides, gozleme and chargrilled lamb dishes. Even the drinks list is kind, with affordable wines by the glass aplenty. 4/274 Hawthorne Rd, Hawthorne; downtownistanbul.com.au

You’d be hard-pressed to find an eatery in Brisbane that delivers better value for money than Seoul Bistro in the city’s south. For a steal, you can devour all the fried chicken wings you can stomach, along with bottomless fries, garlic bread and iced tea. There is a 90-minute time limit, but you’ll have reached maximum satiation well before then. And the wings are finger-licking good, with 10 flavours to choose from, including original, peri peri and honey wasabi. The no-frills eatery also offers a range of rice bowls, burgers, loaded fries and chicken tenders at highly affordable prices. 152 Turton St, Sunnybank; seoulbistro.com.au

The oversized Red Lotus lamp shades cast a warm glow in a space designed for devouring deep-fried quail and benchmark green papaya salad, but not lingering – there’s a time limit of one hour after your dishes hit the table. The menu has plenty of the usual suspects and some surprises. Peking duck rice paper rolls are hoisin sauce on the inside, and the morning glory with fish sauce and fresh garlic or black Angus porterhouse will not disappoint. From the charcoal grill, Pepsi Marinated pork belly sits happily alongside 10 vegan options, including stir-fries and salt ’n’ pepper tofu. 3 Cracknell Rd, Annerley; red-lotus.com.au

From award-winning chef Alejandro Cancino and Brisbane Vegan Markets creator Jonny Garrison comes this insanely busy plant-based burger joint in South Brisbane’s bustling Fish Lane. With only a clutch of seats inside, you’ll often see customers perched on milk crates out the front, chomping down on burgers from the tight menu that mimics traditional meat creations. Think The Aussie with a “beef” patty, vegan egg, vegan cheese, pineapple, beetroot and pickle; a faux chicken katsu number; or even a fish imitation. While for dessert there’s the signature vegan soft serve, which comes on its own or in a sundae or shake. 67 Fish Lane, South Brisbane; grassfedvegan.com.au

Hiding down Brisbane CBD’s Albert Lane, this contemporary Australian-Chinese eatery offers a slick fit-out and tome-like menu, extending from dim sum and hot pot to popular Chinese favourites, all at budget-friendly prices. Start with the standout soupy xiao long bao or moreish duck san choy bao, before moving to the must-order cumin-crusted, wok-fried lamb or the venue’s hero dish, a crispy skinned, tea-smoked half chicken – wickedly good when swiped through accompanying salty-sweet powder. A keenly priced wine list is well-matched to the food, as are an array of tea-infused cocktails and mocktails, beers, frappes, fruit drinks, sodas and more. G14/140 Elizabeth St, Brisbane City; lucha.com.au

The menu at Afghan restaurant Bamiyan reveals a lengthy line-up of spice-laden curries, kebabs, vegetarian concoctions and specialty dishes, including meatballs and an assortment of pallows (rice dishes). Start with the garlic naan if you dare – it’s puffy and charry and irresistible, but also so large it could double as a doona for a small child. The mantu (beef dumplings with yoghurt sauce and ground chilli), however, is a non-negotiable. It’s also hard to go past the Kabuli pallow with lamb, which looks fit for a celebration and is equally flavoursome. Bamiyan is making its mark with generously portioned, hearty food that’s also packed with flavour. 4/82 Bennetts Rd, Camp Hill; bamiyanrestaurantqld.com.

Serving an authentic blend of Uyghur Chinese cuisine, traditionally from northwest China, this pumping restaurant at Sunny Park shopping centre draws long queues on weekend evenings. The mission: a taste of Uyghur without leaving Brisbane. And it delivers, with every dish made fresh to order. Diners order on their phone from an impressive array of traditional Chinese dishes featuring the restaurant’s signature handmade noodles, chargrilled meat skewers, egg fried rice, lamb (Mongolian, of course), chicken (including crowd-pleasing kung pao), dumplings (also handmade) and soups. Portions are huge, flavour is full and service is fast-paced. 46/342 McCullough St, Sunnybank; apandim-uyghur.com.au

It’s considered one of the hardest foods to master, but the guys behind this “gnoccheria” have nailed the winning recipe, turning out perfectly pillowy puffs of potato every time. Serving dine in and takeaway, these minimally adorned restaurants offer seven varieties of gnocchi, with the biggest seller (and arguably the best) being the wild mushroom and truffle sauce gnocchi, closely followed by the beef bolognese. A gourmet lobster and barramundi incarnation makes the menu, too, alongside a vegan option, with diners able to pair their choice with sides like bread or salt and pepper calamari and an Italian wine or spritz on tap. Fortitude Valley, Paddington, South Bank; gnocchignocchibrothers.com.au