Let’s clear something up. Eating at an Asian restaurant, eating meat, or visiting Chinatown or a suburb densely populated by Asian-Australians will not cause you to contract coronavirus (COVID-19). Authorities have already warned people to be mindful of that has been rife across social media as the outbreak spreads.
Nonetheless, Chinese and Asian-run businesses are experiencing a very real , with some reporting a drop in sales of up to 80 per cent due to public reaction to the virus outbreak.
Times are tough enough, with Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg last week saying the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak will be than the detriment caused by recent bushfires. With , Asian food businesses could use a helping hand.
Luckily, public support is gaining momentum with several food industry voices . Recently, activist group GetUp joined the conversation with a new petition labelled . The movement is not dissimilar to bushfire recovery support initiatives like the or , and encourages the public to 'vote with your wallet' so to speak.
To join the movement, all you have to do is pick an Asian eatery or grocery to visit this month and share your experience under the hashtag .
If you need help choosing, we've compiled a restaurant hit list to get you started including recommendations from Luke Nguyen, Adam Liaw and Melissa Leong.
New South Wales
The soup is served with a salad which is mixed in before eating (Dominic Ryan). Source: Dominic Ryan
This late-night joint slings some of the most sought-after bowls of Bun Bo Hue by local chefs. Some say it's even more satisfying than a bowl of pho.
Bun Bo Hue Gia Hoi
230 Canley Vale Rd, Canley Heights NSW 2166
Sun to Thurs 9:00am – 11:30pm
Fri to Sat 9:00am – 1:30am
Head out to Cabramatta with Luke’s Nguyen’s list
Vietnamese food crawl: Luke Nguyen's tips for a Viet fix in Cabramatta
Gami Korean fried chicken all around Australia
How four uni friends built a multimillion-dollar Korean fried chicken business
Hong Kong Classics at Kowloon Cafe in Haymarket
Try the mega French toast and egg sandwiches at this Hong Kong eatery
Lunch and dinner is served at Market City's 1909 Dining Precinct. Source: Market City
Next time you're in the heart of Sydney's Chinatown, you might just have to venture to Market City's 1909 Dining Precinct for sushi burgers, Chongching noodles and Korean barbecue.
Market City Dining Precinct
Level 3/9-13 Hay St, Haymarket NSW 2000
Daily 10:00am – 11:00pm
Korean comfort at Bibim Bar in Chippendale
A little Korean comfort food in Sydney's inner west
Banh Cuon at a family-run Marrickville spot
The family keeping Vietnamese food traditions alive
So famed is the Cebu version of lechon, it's not uncommon to fly a whole pig from Cebu to Manila, but we've got a version right here. Be prepared to queue at Sydney Cebu Lechon.
Sydney Cebu Lechon
Shop 4/80-80A Enmore Rd, Newtown NSW 2042
Thurs 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Fri 5:30pm – 9:00pm
Sat and Sun 11:30am – 3:00pm, 5:30pm – 9:00pm
XOXO at General Chau in Chatswood
A Chinese restaurant dedicated to XO sauce opens in Sydney
Victoria
Whether you skip the soup or stick with it, either option is worth ordering. Source: Nong Tang Noodle House
David Yang opened Nong Tang Noodle House last year with his mother, wanting to showcase the authentic Shanghai cuisine he grew up eating.
Nong Tang Noodle House
MidCity Arcade, Shop 16-17, 194-200 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Vic
Daily 11:30 am – 10 pm
Share a Sichuan hot pot in Melbourne
From the mountains of Sichuan to your simmering hot pot
Singaporean soul food in Collingwood
These owners have delayed retirement to continue cooking Singaporean food
A soul-warming laksa in Flemington
Is this Melbourne's best laksa?
Pho Thin might be known for it’s stir-fried beef pho, but there are four other bowls to choose from as well. Source: Pho Thin
Pho Thin in Melbourne’s CBD touts the original unique recipe from its namesake shop in Hanoi that starts cooking at 5:30am.
Pho Thin
Shop C, 389 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne (enter via Hardware Lane)
Daily 10:30am – 8:30pm
Iconic dumplings in Melbourne’s CBD
Chefs get their fish dumpling fix in Melbourne at ShanDong MaMa
Japanese hotdogs in Melbourne Central
Japan’s hot dog lookalike has landed in Melbourne
Pan mee at Go Noodle House in the CBD
Malaysia's cult noodle chain, Go Noodle House, has launched its first outlet in Australia
Pick-and-choose your Sichuan hotpot at Tina's Noodle Kitchen. Source: Melissa Leong
Drive about 15 minutes from the centre of Melbourne, and you’ll hit the reasonably innocuous suburb of Box Hill. Somewhere around the 1970s, this predominantly English and Australian neighbourhood began its evolution into one of the city’s great (and possibly most overlooked) food destinations.
Various locations
Box Hill Central, Victoria 3128
Korean comfort in Ringwood at Mr Lee’s
How a Korean restaurant got a cult following with just three dishes
Historic dim sims at the South Melbourne Market
Six decades of South Melbourne Market Dim Sims
