Good to know
Good to Know
- Brisbane's dining scene has expanded rapidly in 2024-2025, with major new openings positioning it on par with Sydney and Melbourne.
- Levantine and Middle Eastern cuisine is experiencing a boom, with multiple high-quality venues opening across CBD and inner suburbs.
- Moreton Bay bugs, mud crabs, Hervey Bay scallops, and other local seafood are showcased prominently across all tiers; worth seeking out for authentic Queensland flavors.
- Vegan and vegetarian dining options have surged and are no longer limited to specialty cafes—most mid-range and high-end venues now feature dedicated plant-based sections.
- Inner suburbs (CBD, South Brisbane, West End, Fortitude Valley, New Farm) have the highest concentration of both casual and fine dining; many new restaurants opened mid-2025.
- Grocery shopping in the CBD can be tight; Woolworths at MacArthur Central is the only full-line supermarket; Coles alternatives exist but are smaller formats. IGA in nearby New Farm is a fuller option.
Supermarkets
Woolworths Brisbane City
- Location
- MacArthur Central (Lower Ground Floor), Queen Street entrance, CBD
- Note
- Only full-line supermarket in the CBD; comprehensive fresh produce, meats, pantry staples
Coles
- Location
- Queen's Plaza, Queen Street, CBD
- Note
- Central city location for quick shopping
Coles
- Location
- Myer Centre, CBD
- Note
- Express format; smaller footprint with limited selection
IGA New Farm
- Location
- New Farm
- Note
- Full-service with separate gourmet deli section; popular local option
Pandaroo (Asian Food Specialist)
- Location
- Fortitude Valley (Wickham Street)
- Note
- Specialized Asian groceries
Budget
Vege Rama
- Price Range
- A$12
- Neighborhood
- CBD (Adelaide Street)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Vegan Indian, curries, dosa, baked goods
Dicki's New Farm
- Price Range
- A$18
- Neighborhood
- New Farm
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Vegan cafe, sticky duck bao, waffles, breakfast burrito
Bar Monte
- Price Range
- A$20
- Neighborhood
- Newstead
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Italian classics, snacky plates, mortadella bun, anchovy toast
High End
Essa
- Price Range
- A$95
- Neighborhood
- South Brisbane
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Modern Australian, seasonal local produce, Moreton Bay bug
+81 Sushi Kappo
- Price Range
- A$550
- Neighborhood
- West End
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Tokyo-style omakase, 12-seat counter, seasonal Australian seafood with Japanese imports
Suum
- Price Range
- A$120
- Neighborhood
- CBD
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Modern Korean, molecular gastronomy, fermented elements, tasting menu
The Summit Restaurant
- Price Range
- A$110
- Neighborhood
- Mt Coot-tha
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fine dining, seasonal, Moreton Bay prawns, roast duck, dry-aged Wagyu
Mid Range
Supernormal
- Price Range
- A$35
- Neighborhood
- South Bank (riverside)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Pan-Asian, lobster roll, dumplings, seafood
Golden Avenue
- Price Range
- A$40
- Neighborhood
- CBD (Edward Street)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Levantine Middle Eastern, wood-fired bread, meze, grilled proteins
Gerard's Bistro
- Price Range
- A$38
- Neighborhood
- Fortitude Valley
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Middle Eastern, house-made breads, wood-smoked mussels, charred meats
The Fifty Six
- Price Range
- A$45
- Neighborhood
- CBD (Naldham House)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Cantonese dim sum, roast meats, prawn toast, scallops with XO
Delivery Services
Uber Eats
- Note
- Wide restaurant coverage across Brisbane
DoorDash
- Note
- Available in central and inner-city areas
Menulog
- Note
- Local Australian platform with broad restaurant network
Michelin Restaurants
Essa
- Cuisine
- Modern Australian
- Neighborhood
- South Brisbane
- Note
- Gourmet Traveller's 2025 Queensland State Winner
Local Must Try Dishes
Moreton Bay bugs
- Description
- Local Queensland crustacean, often char-grilled or served with native herb chimichurri
Burrumbuttock Black Angus steak
- Description
- Premium local beef, grilled and served dry-aged
Queensland mud crab
- Description
- Fresh crab, typically baked with calamansi or charred and served with house sauces
Hervey Bay scallops
- Description
- Sweet local scallops served raw or cooked, often with XO or butter
Eastern Australian lobster roll
- Description
- Fresh New England lobster served in a soft roll with minimal dressing, a Supernormal signature
Vegan And Vegetarian Dining
- Overview
- Brisbane has a strong and rapidly expanding plant-based scene, concentrated in inner suburbs including West End, South Brisbane, Fortitude Valley, and New Farm. The city now offers dedicated vegan restaurants, cafes, and many mid-range establishments with comprehensive vegan menus.
Venues
Vege Rama
- Price Range
- A$12
- Neighborhood
- CBD (Adelaide Street)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- 100% vegan Indian, curries, dosa, lasagna, desserts
- Note
- Winner of 2024 Best Vegetarian Restaurant in Brisbane CBD award; affordable, counter-service format
You Came Again
- Price Range
- A$32
- Neighborhood
- West End
- Cuisine Or Dish
- All-vegan tapas bar, mushroom and walnut pâté, pesto-stuffed mushrooms, meetballs with romesco
- Note
- Brisbane's first dedicated vegan tapas bar; fun, social dining with cocktails
La Bodega
- Price Range
- A$22
- Neighborhood
- East Brisbane (Lytton Road)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Vegan Mexican, chipotle cauliflower wings, loaded fries with vegan queso, three types of tacos (jackfruit, shiitake, black bean)
- Note
- Entirely dedicated vegan menu; also noted as 'frozen marg factory'
Dicki's New Farm
- Price Range
- A$18
- Neighborhood
- New Farm
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Vegan cafe, sticky duck bao, waffles, breakfast burrito, pastries
- Note
- Popular long-standing vegan institution; relaxed cafe atmosphere
Vegeme
- Price Range
- A$16
- Neighborhood
- West End
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Asian fusion vegan, bean sauce rice/noodles, sweet and sour pom pom mushroom rice, vegan fried chicken
- Note
- Most dishes clearly marked vegan; generous portions
ZA ZA TA
- Price Range
- A$28
- Neighborhood
- Fortitude Valley
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Vegetarian (since 2021) Mediterranean/Middle Eastern, stone-oven pita, silverbeet börek, BBQ cauliflower shawarma
- Note
- Fully vegetarian menu; plant-based Mediterranean staple
International Cuisine
International Cuisine
- Greek (widely available; noted as world-class standard)
- Italian (Roman fine dining, casual trattoria options throughout inner suburbs)
- Modern European / French bistro (Penelope, C'est Bon, Auguste)
- Spanish (MODA; tapas widely available)
- Middle Eastern and Levantine (rapidly expanding; Golden Avenue, Gerard's, Emme, Layla, NAÏM)
- Asian fusion (Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian—strong presence in Fortitude Valley, West End, South Brisbane)
- Mexican (La Bodega vegan-focused; El Planta plant-based seasonal menu)
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Brisbane
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.