14 Local Food in Brisbane

The sunshine state has got it’s name for a very good reason, and as such, Brisbane restaurants have capitalised on the year-round sunshine in this sun-drenched city by opening spaces that feature alfresco dining areas and rooftop gardens with sunbeds, where you can indulge in some seriously good food and some expertly made cocktails to boot. Park yourself at Sassafras Canteen to while the morning away over a fresh coffee and a proper Aussie breakfast in their back terrace, followed by a long lunch in Southbank taking in views of the river and CBD skyline, before ending your day in one of the cool rooftop restaurants Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley or West End have on offer.

While it’s true yes, that Melbourne and Sydney are frontrunners in the restaurant scene, Brisbane had made a name for itself in its own right for providing some of the best restaurants in the country. Many premier restaurateurs have chosen the Queensland capital as the city of choice for opening their sophomore restaurants, and the results speak for themselves. Restaurants in Brisbane’s Eagle Street Pier are where you’ll find fine dining, hatted restaurants owned by world famous chefs, who have brought with them a new wave of dining to Brisbane. With a focus on Australian and specifically, Queensland produce, and local and organic ingredients alongside wine lists featuring wineries from the Margaret River, Yarra and Clare Valleys, this area of Brisbane is one where restaurants are simply flourishing.

But it’s not all fine dining and premium wines that have made the Brisbane restaurant scene what it is. Casual eateries nailing street food favourites are the talk of the town at the moment. Cosy Mexican taquerias like Coyotito are making taco fanatics weak at the knees, and their tequila list is dangerous to say the least. Vietnamese street cuisine has also exploded, with Brisbane restaurant goers obsessing over pho and vermicelli rice paper rolls like nothing else. Not that we blame them, this fresh and tasty cuisine is all kinds of delicious. Another firm favourite in the casual dining category are American-style eateries brimming with southern fried chicken, sliders with every filling you can poke a stick at, pulled pork burgers, hot dog specialists (yes, that’s a thing) with some spots even doubling as old time saloons perfect for some late-night revelry.

Lucky for you, no matter where you find yourself in Brisbane, there will be restaurants on your doorstep. However, it’s good to know where some of the best have found their homes. As you would expect, the CBD is packed with places to eat, from local spots to the more upmarket restaurants, so take a wander around Eagle Street Pier, George Street, North Quay and Elizabeth Street and you’ll be in for a treat. Across the river, West End is brimming with funky bars and restaurants that Brisbane locals – most notably students – would be more than acquainted with. Craft beer bars and hipster hangouts have found their place here, and you’re in for a banger night in this part of town. For Asian delights, further south is what you’ll be wanting, and a visit to Sunnybank will leave you in heaven, no matter if it’s Sichuan, Vietnamese, Cantonese or Thai cuisine. And of course, the Fortitude Valley, New Farm and Teneriffe area is packed with some of the best up-and-coming restaurants around. Wander through James Street or indulge in the Gasworks complex before hitting the dancefloors, or relax in a rooftop bar and knock back some seriously stellar tipples.