Why This Deep-Fried Wagyu Curry Bun Is Turning Heads at Eat Street

OKO OKO, a new Japanese micro-restaurant at Eat Street Northshore in neighbouring Hamilton, is serving what its founders describe as the world’s first wagyu kare pan — a panko-crusted, deep-fried Japanese curry bun built around Queensland wagyu from the Darling Downs.



For Ascot residents who already make the short trip to Eat Street on a Friday or Saturday night, the new addition gives a compelling reason to visit. OKO OKO on 12 June behind a Shinjuku-styled pagoda facade, at 221D MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton, one of the most distinctive new fit-outs in the precinct’s history.

The kare pan — Japan’s beloved deep-fried curry bun, invented in Tokyo in 1927 and now the subject of its own annual national grand prix and a 50,000-member enthusiast association — has never previously been made with wagyu at its centre.

OKO OKO’s version uses Darling Downs wagyu from Sandalwood Feedlot, one of Australia’s oldest and most awarded producers, combined with a cheesy curry filling, panko-crusted and cooked to order.

Photo Credit: Supplied

Six months on a single dish

Founder Michael Otway says the kare pan took six months of development before the team was satisfied. “The dough, the curry, the wagyu, the cheese, the fry,” he said. “Queensland wagyu changes the dish. No kitchen in Japan or anywhere else has done it this way.”

Photo Credit: Supplied

The global head chef behind the menu previously worked at Nobu London and Yoko Brisbane. The full menu extends into okonomiyaki, yakisoba, yakisoba pan and other Japanese street food staples, all built to the same level of care as the hero dish.

Photo Credit: Supplied

OKO OKO is open at Eat Street Northshore every Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 10pm and Sunday from 4pm to 9pm. Entry to Eat Street is $6 per person. Drive or take the CityCat to Northshore Hamilton, a 250-metre walk from the gate.



Published 13-June-2026

Hudson Road Albion Apartment Tower Proposal Details 12-Storey Build at Moore Street Corner

Plans propose a new Albion apartment tower on Hudson Road, with a twelve-storey residential building planned for a prominent corner site near Moore Street.



A development application seeks approval for a high-density apartment building at 32 and 34 Hudson Road, Albion, which would add eighty-eight new homes to the suburb. The site sits opposite established mixed-use areas and within walking distance of Albion train station, cafés and everyday services, positioning the project as a residential infill development rather than a greenfield build.

What is Proposed for Hudson Road

The proposal involves consolidating two adjoining allotments at the Hudson Road and Moore Street corner into a single development site of about 1,548 square metres. Plans show a twelve-storey building with a total height just under forty-five metres.

Albion apartment tower
Photo Credit: DA A006923631

The development includes eighty-eight apartments made up of one, two and three-bedroom layouts. Most of the homes are two-bedroom units, with smaller numbers of one and three-bedroom apartments aimed at a mix of singles, couples and families. Private balconies are included for each apartment, with sizes varying depending on the unit type.

The building includes three basement levels that provide one hundred and twenty-four car parking spaces for residents and visitors. The plans also include bicycle parking, storage and building services areas.

Ground Level and Shared Spaces

At street level, the building addresses both Hudson Road and Moore Street, with the main lobby located on the corner. The ground floor also includes a co-working space for residents, visitor parking and landscaped entry areas intended to soften the building’s interface with the street.

Communal facilities are spread across the podium and rooftop levels. Plans include shared open space, landscaped areas, a rooftop garden, swimming pool and barbeque facilities. The design positions these spaces to provide outlook and separation from surrounding properties while giving residents access to outdoor areas within the building.

Design and Local Context

Architectural plans describe a contemporary tower with articulated façades, recessed balconies and varied materials to break up the building’s bulk. The design responds to Albion’s ongoing shift toward higher-density living, particularly around major roads and transport corridors.

Albion apartment tower
Photo Credit: DA A006923631

The Hudson Road site sits within an area already transitioning from older industrial and commercial uses to mixed-use and residential development. Nearby approvals include taller residential and mixed-use projects along Albion Road and within the wider Albion Exchange precinct, placing the proposed building within an emerging high-density pocket of the suburb.

Traffic, Access, and Infrastructure

The proposal provides vehicle access from both Hudson Road and Moore Street, using the site’s dual frontage. The design directs basement parking access internally, reducing reliance on on-street parking.

The application notes the site’s proximity to public transport, including Albion train station, as well as bus routes and nearby cycling connections. A sustainable travel plan accompanies the proposal, encouraging reduced car reliance through bicycle facilities and access to local services.

Infrastructure reports submitted with the application confirm the site already connects to existing water, sewer and stormwater networks, with the design including on-site detention to manage runoff.

Community Concerns

One formal objection has been submitted in response to the application. The submission raises concerns from an adjoining property owner on Moore Street, focusing on potential impacts to an established trade and business use next door.

Albion apartment tower
Photo Credit: DA A006923631

Issues raised include traffic movements on Moore Street, parking overflow, construction disruption, building height and the relationship between residential living and nearby commercial activity. The objection also questions setbacks, overshadowing and servicing arrangements given the proximity of the proposed building to the neighbouring site.vas

The application material addresses these matters through traffic, noise and air quality assessments, along with proposed building setbacks, acoustic treatments and on-site servicing arrangements. The assessment process will consider these issues.

What Happens Next

The assessment will consider the Albion apartment tower proposed for 32 and 34 Hudson Road against the area’s planning framework, including building design, transport, amenity and neighbourhood character.

If approved, the project would add a substantial number of new homes to Albion in a location already earmarked for higher-density living close to transport and services.

More information is available at DA A006923631.



Published 06-February-2026.