Upscale Vietnamese Restaurant in Woden, Canberra
I usually choose Vietnamese food when I want something light, fresh, and full of vegetables. While many people think of Vietnamese food as quick and affordable, The Q Dining offers an upscale Vietnamese dining experience. It’s a stylish, high-quality restaurant. Another big plus for health-conscious diners is that they don’t use MSG, making it a great choice for clean and mindful eating.
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| The welcoming entrance of The Q Dining has beautiful Christmas decorations. |
The Q Dining Vibe and Dress Code Tips for Diners
The atmosphere is sophisticated and polished. Regarding the dress code, there wasn't a strict limit. Since it's summer, I saw women in sundresses and men in dress shorts. It’s pretty relaxed, but since the place has a nice vibe, I’d suggest wearing neat shoes rather than flip-flops or Crocs.
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| A sophisticated and moody interior featuring elegant, warm lighting. |
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| A stylish wine cellar on the wall adds a touch of class to the dining area. |
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| View of the open kitchen from my table- loving seeing the chef cooking |
Booking Tips: The $80 Minimum Spend Confusion
I booked online and got a reminder email saying there was a $80 minimum spend per person, which was unexpected since I haven't really seen any other place with a minimum spend limit like that. However, when I asked at the restaurant, they said it was just a default setting on the booking platform and not their actual policy. If you want to avoid this confusion, it’s better to call them directly to book. The place is spacious with over 10 tables inside and a nice outdoor seating area.
Choosing Between the $72 Tasting Menu and $86 Feed Me Menu
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| Choosing between the $72 Tasting Menu and the $86 Feed Me Menu. |
If you’re not sure what to order, the set menus are usually a safe bet. When I visited, there were two options:
- $72 Tasting Menu: 6 courses (including dessert)
- $86 Feed Me Menu: 5 courses (including dessert)
Both looked great, but I went with the $86 Feed Me Menu simply thinking, "The more expensive one must be better!"
Feed Me Menu Appetisers: Kingfish Crudo and Wagyu Beef Lรก Lแปt
Appetiser 1: Kingfish Crudo
Fresh kingfish slices served with a mild coconut sauce and green chilli. The first bite reminded me of a Green Curry—it had that familiar, exotic Thai-style flavour. The finely diced green mango and pickles added a really nice crunch and freshness to the dish.
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| Fresh Kingfish Crudo with tangy green mango and pickles. The mild coconut and green chilli sauce keeps every bite moist and flavourful. |
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| A closer look at the fresh, tender Kingfish—perfectly balanced and moist. |
Appetiser 2: Wagyu Beef Lรก Lแปt
Beef "sausages" served on top of crispy rice noodles with a subtle, savoury peanut sauce. The fresh herbs made it a good combination of flavours. I tried to wrap it up like a traditional wrap, but it wasn't easy, so I ended up eating the components separately. The balance of flavors was still excellent.
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| Sausage-style Wagyu beef served with fresh herbs and a savoury peanut sauce. |
Main Courses: Lemongrass Baked Snapper and Crispy Pork Belly Platter
Main 1: Lemongrass Chilli Baked Snapper (with charred broccolini)
This snapper was perfectly cooked—crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. It’s baked with lemongrass, ginger, and other aromatics. The charred broccolini on the side was seasoned with just enough salt to go perfectly with steamed rice. Mixing the fish with the pickled radish, carrots, and grilled onions was the highlight of the meal.
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| Beautifully baked Snapper with a crispy skin—don't forget to squeeze the fresh lemon! |
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| Perfectly crispy on the outside, incredibly moist and flaky on the inside |
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| Perfectly charred broccolini with just the right amount of salt to go with rice. |
Main 2: Five Spice Crispy Pork Belly Platter
Think of this as a "DIY Luxury Banh Mi" platter. The crispy pork belly pieces were quite large, so I had to tear the meat in half to fit it into the bread. To eat it, you spread the three sauces (spicy-sweet soy, Mayo, Pate) onto the bread to make it moist, then add the meat and salad. It was a very satisfying, high-end version of a classic Banh Mi.
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| The impressive Five Spice Crispy Pork Belly platter was served. |
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| Three essential sauces: Pate (top), Mayo (left), and Spicy Sweet Soy (right). |
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| Making my own DIY Banh Mi with crispy pork belly and fresh salad. |
The Best Part of the Meal: Caramel Coffee Flan and Coconut Ice Cream
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| The highlight of the Feed Me menu: Coffee Flan with coconut ice cream, raspberries, and meringue powder. The spun sugar on top makes the presentation absolutely stunning. |
Caramel Coffee Flan was the star of the whole course.
- Flan: A French-style egg custard with a silky and smooth texture. The mix of subtle coffee syrup and tangy raspberries was perfect.
- Meringue Powder: This added a light, crunchy texture that contrasted beautifully with the soft flan.
- The coconut ice cream was unique—unlike typical ice cream, it had a soft, slightly chewy, mochi-like texture. The coconut flavour was very subtle and perfectly balanced, and it wasn't cold. It provided a lovely contrast to the smooth flan. Overall, it wasn't overly sweet and tasted absolutely amazing.
Final thought: Is The Q Dining Worth It? (Plus additional Info)
If you’re looking for a stylish Asian dining spot in Canberra, this place is definitely worth a visit. The service was exceptional—the staff made me feel truly welcomed and well-attended to throughout the meal. Even though it's 100% MSG-free, the seasoning felt a bit distinct. I didn't quite notice it while eating because the flavours were so good, but I found myself reaching for a bit of water afterwards.
However, the flavours were great, and at $86, it’s a high-quality dining experience that offers excellent value for money. The restaurant gets packed quickly, so I highly recommend booking in advance.
- Parking: You can find parking info on The Q Dining website. The easiest way is to park at the Westfield car park right next door and walk over. They also stay updated on Instagram and Facebook, so check those out before you go!
Opening Hours (Closed Mon & Sun):
- Lunch (Tue–Sat): 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
- Dinner (Tue–Thu): 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm (Last order 9:00 pm)
- Dinner (Fri–Sat): 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm (Last order 9:30 pm)
*This review is based on my personal experience, and results may vary for others. Please take it as a friendly reference.
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