Grab the chamomile and settle in, Brisbane – you’ll be here for a while. Read below to discover the top restaurants in Brisbane…
Brisbane’s Top Restaurants: Gourmand favourites
BIRD’S NEST | VARIOUS LOCATION
With restaurants in West End, Fortitude Valley and Toowong, this is Japanese but not as you know it. Taking the concept of yakitori (Japanese chicken skewers) and running with it, the team at Bird’s Nest are masters of all things sticky!
BECCOFINO | TENERIFFE
Beccofino is one of the OGs of Brisbane’s pizza scene. This Italian spot is blazing the trail, one delightful wood-fired pizza after another. We suggest grabbing a slice of their Di mare, topped with mozzarella, local tiger prawns, calamari, zucchini, chilli, capers and lemon.
GRECA | CBD
It’s a mouthful (and a delicious one at that) to say, but Greca’s taramasalata is a notch above the rest. Just one bite and you’ll be smashing plates of it as you take in their unbeatable riverside views.
HAI HAI | PADDINGTON
Ready to oodle over the noodles at Hai Hai? This ramen hotspot has us falling in love with their delicious tonkotsu with thin straight noodles and topped with egg, nori, negi, black garlic oil, and char siu pork.
CHU THE PHAT | SOUTH BRISBANE
You can chu-chu ka-chu your way through a million of Chu the Phat’s freshly-steamed duck buns and still be begging for more. They’re just that ducking good.
MR CHESTER | FORTITUDE VALLEY
Wine + Cheese = Love. That’s all the maths we need, and it completely represents everything Mr Chester Wine Bar is about. Particularly delightful for the senses is the Fungi, a shroomy pizza topped with smoked mozzarella, mixed mushrooms, parmesan and truffle oil.
LANDMARK | SUNNYBANK
It’s authentic yum cha in the heart of Sunnybank, so you know it’s going to be lit. Second only to mindlessly watching critters in the fish tanks living their best life is this icon’s delicate siu mai – little pieces of serenity amongst the otherwise hectic Sunday lunch crowds.
LIBERTINE | CBD
Oh to be young, wild, and Libertine. Their French-Vietnamese inspired menu delights all the senses, with their signature Moreton Bay bug toast an absolute must-try.
HELLO PLEASE | SOUTH BRISBANE
For stacks on stacks on deck and the best ‘90s playlist you ever did hear, move to the beat and make your way to Hello Please. Special mention goes to their Chinese bolognese, with rice dumpling, chilli oil, and salted egg – a little different from Nonna’s classic.
HAPPY BOY | FORTITUDE VALLEY
Joining the rank of Aussie legends alongside Egg Boy is Happy Boy, where the food will leave you smiling (and going back for seconds). Opt for their half roast duck selection or go full indulgence with their crispy pork belly to dine the night away, and sip on some stunning Aussie wines while you’re at it!
JULIUS | SOUTH BRISBANE
Caesar the day at Julius Pizzeria, nestled in the heart of Fish Lane! Always leave room for the gooey goodness that is their Tartufo pizza, piled with melted mozzarella, smoked bacon, portobello mushrooms, stracchino, and truffle paste.
NOSTIMO | SOUTH BRISBANE
Get him to Greek in this South Brisbane restaurant and see the kitchen Russell up some seriously good pork belly baklava, plated up with pistachios, dates, pork crackling and date mustard mastiha sauce.
RAMEN CHAMPION | SUNNYBANK
Always a winner in Brisbane’s ramen game is Ramen Champion. Be a champ yourself and slurp up the spicy champion ramen, a fiery concoction of minced pork, vegetables, and home-made spicy sauce.
GREENGLASS | CBD
Didn’t know cloud nine existed until we walked into Brisbane’s answer to Emerald City and had a taste of Greenglass’ Gratin Dauphinois – essentially a fancy French potato bake. Be warned, though, the menu changes often!
NEW SHANGHAI | CBD
We know you know all a-bao New Shanghai’s scrumptious dumplings, but ever given a thought to their gorgeous rainbow beef? A kaleidoscope of flavour awaits you in this sweet and sour crispy beef creation.
BAR ALTO | NEW FARM
Thanks to its location in the Powerhouse, it’s no wonder the meals at Bar Alto always pack a punch. Grab the squad and get dirty in a kilo or two of Cozze – mussels with chilli, garlic, white wine, tomato and grilled ciabatta.
GROWN | WEST END
This plant-based eatery is the perfect place to veg, preferably with their confit Jerusalem artichoke with cherry tomatoes, shallots, and pickled herb salad.
BILLYKART KITCHEN | ANNERLEY
Despite the relaxed atmosphere, the food at this southside spot is in a league of its own. When the clock strikes dinner time, peep the wasabi prawns with mango and watermelon salad, or the aromatic duck curry with sweet potato and lychee.
MARTHA ST. KITCHEN | CAMP HILL
We’ve officially set up camp in front of this suburban delight, hanging out for their gnocchi with pumpkin, nduja and pecorino.
FAT DUMPLING | BOWEN HILLS & FORTITUDE VALLEY
You are what you eat, and we came to eat nothing but the chonkiest dumplings. Straight from bamboo basket to mouth are the delicious, plump and flavourful dumplings, handmade before your very eyes and available fried, poached or steamed with an array of delightful fillings.
A NIGHT IN INDIA | TOOWONG
Brisbane, you don’t need no man – but you do need the butter naan at A Night in India. One to ghee up next time you’re in Toowong, pair this delicious treat with any of their massamans, biryanis, and vindaloos to take your tastebuds on a magic carpet ride.
ARLETTE’S KITCHEN | ALBION
Get to Arlette’s for a meal brimming with zingy flavour. Don’t even get us started on their three-taste belly – crackling pork belly served with Vietnamese fish sauce, chilli caramel and chilli sauce. We’ve pigged out here so often that the pork’s not the only one with a belly these days…
PROVA PIZZERIA | STAFFORD HEIGHTS
This suburban eatery has nothing to Prova, consistently whipping up goodies like the Zucca pizza topped pumpkin cream, basil, smoked mozzarella, pancetta, and parmesan, or the cinnamon doughnuts with caramel, peanuts, vanilla ice cream, and Nutella.
WOODEN HORSE RESTAURANT & BAR | CLAYFIELD
We won’t Troy with you Brisbane – prepare to demolish some of the best mains and steaks, all served with rosemary salted shoestring fries, bearnaise, and caramelised onion jus.
SICHUAN BANG BANG | KENMORE & WILSTON
Kick uber to the kerb and get a bang for your buck at Sichuan Bang Bang, where nothing packs a punch like their kung pao chicken. It’d be rude not to order their speciality peking duk pancakes, and throw in some crispy eggplant chips for good measure…
ONE FISH TWO FISH | KANGAROO POINT
One Fish Two Fish has hella tasty gourmand options like battered cod, fries and salad, and the quarter flounder burger, but also has us pulling up our fancy pants as we dive into their seafood risotto of prawns, mussels, cod, tomato and dry vermouth!
Brisbane’s Top Restaurants: Gourmet favourites
LITTLE VALLEY | FORTITUDE VALLEY
A xiao of hands for how many people love the baos at Little Valley would have the whole of Brisbane up in the air. Oh and another warning for you – last time we tried their truffle potato spring rolls, we smashed so many we had to unbutton our jeans.
DEER DUCK BISTRO | AUCHENFLOWER
Duck, duck, bistro. Be a deer, and head to this Auchenflower restaurant to try the sous vide duck breast with blue cheese, pear, and walnut, and revel in this flavour marriage that was undoubtedly made in heaven.
E’CCO BISTRO | NEWSTEAD
Gnocch, gnocch, Newstead’s best gnocchi is here! Echoed all across Brisbane is the e’cco bistro famed potato gnocchi, doused in gorgonzola, spinach, and a sprinkle of pine nuts for crunch. This is one Brissie dining stalwart you just can’t miss.
DETOUR | WOOLLOONGABBA
Avenging the Great Emu War of 1932 one tartare at a time is Detour in Woolloongabba. Stray from the usual and discover new tastes in their innovatively inviting emu tartare with burnt shallot, chilli, and yolk.
PATINA | CBD
Everyone’s taking a shine to Patina, and how could you not? Watch our eyes gleam over their Darling Downs ribs, dressed to kill in delectable chimichurri sauce.
LA LUNE | SOUTH BRISBANE
Fly me to La Lune. For an out-of-this-world wine and dine experience, look no further than this European wine bar nestled in the heart of Fish Lane. We recommend digging into their tasting menu with paired wines, and let the food and wine teams work their magic.
WILSON’S BOATHOUSE | MANLY
Dock in at Wilson’s Boathouse for a seaside seafood feast. Locals point to this Manly restaurant’s BBQ Moreton Bay bugs as reigning supreme – served with garlic butter, broccolini and quinoa salad.
GAUGE | SOUTH BRISBANE
Are you bready for this? Since day one, Gauge’s avant-garde black garlic bread, made even more perfect with burnt vanilla and brown butter on the side, has been a post-dinner winner.
HONTO | FORTITUDE VALLEY
Head honcho Honto is vying for the top spot in Brisbane’s Japanese foodie scene with their spectacular lobster katsu sandos, with salted cabbage and dill slaw, and tempura prawns with jalapeño mayo, pickled cucumber and bao buns.
1889 ENOTECA | WOOLLOONGABBA
Woolloongabba’s classy 1889 Enoteca shows that some dishes are timeless. They knock pasta out of the ballpark with their delicious pappardelle with braised pork and beef, tomato sugo, and authentic Parmigiano Reggiano imported straight from Italia.
MONTRACHET | BOWEN HILLS
Brisbane’s best bouillabaisse. Yep, we said it. Local seafood simmered in Marseille stock with tomato, fennel, saffron, rouille and croutons – taste it and you’ll sea what we mean.
CORELLA | WOOLLOONGABBA
Flaming galah! Fly into the luxurious Woolloongabba restaurant Corella for modern Australian dining experience like no other. Pair your feast with any of their fifty gorgeous bottles of wine and you’re good to go!
OTTO | CBD
Ott oh – we’re back again. Nothing can keep us away from Otto restaurant’s signature ravioli, stuffed with Moreton Bay blue swimmer crab, mascarpone, and accompanied by black garlic crema.
BLACK HIDE | PETRIE TERRACE
Gotta get back to Black. If, like us, you’re a mad cow lover, you can’t miss their luxuriously indulgent Angus Tomahawk, boasting a marble score of 3+ and served with unbeatable wagyu fat roasted potatoes, rosemary, and garlic.
DONNA CHANG | CBD
We love a little Donna in the summer… autumn, winter, and spring! To ensure you don’t miss out on Donna’s best, get the whole table on board and get amongst the banquet options. Trust us!
BACCHUS | SOUTH BRISBANE
At Bacchus, it’s almost impossible to choose which multi-course option to pick, but our personal favourite is the dessert degustation. Skip dinner and go straight to dessert so you can get through four courses of sweets – which includes a food baby, a sugar high and a food coma – in that order.
GAMBARO | PETRIE TERRACE
At Gambaro, when you sea food you’re gonna wanna eat it! Their deluxe Queensland mud crab comes plated with your choice of lemon and thyme, chilli and white wine, or smoked tomato butter and is insanely tasty.
CITY WINERY | NEWSTEAD
A winery? In the city? You better believe the wine is good and the food is too! Our current top pick from their ever-changing menu is mutton, with organic Mallow mutton with grilled squash, baby potatoes, goat’s curd, and fermented zucchini dressing, best enjoyed with one of their many great wines poured straight from the barrel.
ROGUE BISTRO | NEWSTEAD
The concise menu is bursting at the seams with flavour, with combinations you’ve never heard of, but are now dying to try. From the gingerbread cauliflower with carrot jam and pancetta, to the “cheesecake gone Rouge” with rice bubbles and raspberry sorbet, this spot will have you scratching your head AND rubbing your tummy.
MADAME WU | CBD
Enjoy fine China and Wu the crowds at Madame Wu, where their decadent piju yu snapper, made Guilin-style in Tsingtao beer is always a show-stopping fave.
SAME SAME | FORTITUDE VALLEY
One of James Street’s very best, sAme sAme takes Thai fare to a whole nother level, using top quality ingredients and staying true to traditional Thai flavours. You can’t go wrong ordering a curry or two, like their red curry of angus beef cheek, crispy shallots, lime leaf, and potato and pork dumplings.
Brisbane’s Top Restaurants: Old-school favourites
BILLY’S PINE AND BAMBOO RESTAURANT | CANNON HILL
Dare we declare this the best Peking duck in all Brisbane? Better go and find out! Billy’s crispy take on this Beijing favourite tastes heavenly on its own or wrapped up in shallot crepes, followed by the restaurant’s equally famous deep-fried ice cream.
LEFKAS | WEST END
Pack up the van and bring the whole family to Lefkas Tavern for one big, fat, Greek feast! Special attention must go to this restaurant’s moussaka that layers pork and beef mince with eggplant and potato stacked with creamy bechamel sauce.
SEOUL BISTRO | SUNNYBANK
Hitting you right in the Seoul is this Korean bistro’s famous chicken wings, available in an array of flavours, and served all-you-can-eat. Chuck in some of their equally good kimchi fries and you’ll be in heaven, and maybe a food coma.
CARAVANSERAI | WEST END
Ready to tuck into some Turk? Look no further than the Mediterranean delights available at West End’s Caravanserai! Fill your table with all the meze in the world, but make sure to leave room for turkish delight later!
ENJOY INN | FORTITUDE VALLEY
Have a quail of a time at this long-term Wickham street favourite, chock-a-block filled with great finds such as the deep-fried quail seasoned with good ol’ salt and pepper. Enjoy!
LA QUINTA | BULIMBA
Ooh la La Quinta! This Bulimba Mexican restaurant has us doing the salsa over their signature chunky beef chilli, simmered with prime beef chunks, tomatoes, chilli, spice, and served with fluffy flour tortillas and a dollop of sour cream.
VERVE | CBD
Alcohol-soaked pasta? Verve is on the verge of something here… Kick back with their drool-worthy spinach and ricotta tortellini, cooked in brandy for that extra kick, and served with roasted pine nuts, sun blushed tomatoes, and baby spinach, and explore their fab collection of ciders while you’re there!
So, what’s for dinner?
