Food · Brisbane · Australia
What to eat in Brisbane
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Brisbane, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Start with Moreton Bay bugs, Mud crab and Tropical fruit. A shipping-container night market at Hamilton's riverfront with street food from around the world, open on weekend evenings. Brisbane eats early: many restaurants take last orders around 9pm on weeknights.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Moreton Bay bugs
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in Australia.
- Food experiences
- 4
9 foods to try
Dish
1.Moreton Bay bugs
A local slipper lobster with sweet, firm meat, served grilled with garlic butter, in pasta or on seafood platters. It is Brisbane's signature seafood.
Where: Seafood restaurants along the river at Howard Smith Wharves and South Bank, and fish markets in Hamilton.
Dish
2.Mud crab
Large Queensland mud crabs caught in mangrove estuaries, cooked with chilli or black pepper or simply steamed, and sold by weight.
Where: Seafood restaurants and Chinese restaurants in Fortitude Valley and Sunnybank.
Snack · Vegetarian
3.Tropical fruit
Mangoes (especially the Kensington Pride, or 'Bowen' mango), lychees, pineapples and custard apples grown in Queensland are cheap and abundant in season, with mangoes at their peak around Christmas.
Where: Farmers' markets at the Powerhouse and Davies Park, and greengrocers across the city.
Dessert · Vegetarian
4.Lamington
Squares of sponge cake dipped in chocolate and rolled in desiccated coconut, said to be named after Lord Lamington, a Governor of Queensland around 1900.
Where: Bakeries and cafés across the city.
Drink · Vegetarian
5.XXXX beer
Queensland's best-known lager has been brewed at the Castlemaine Perkins brewery in Milton for generations; Brisbane also has a large craft-brewery scene in Newstead and West End.
Where: Pubs citywide; brewery tours at Milton and craft breweries around Newstead.
Dish
6.Greek food in West End
Brisbane's Greek community has made West End the place for souvlaki, grilled octopus, spanakopita and loukoumades (honey doughnuts).
Where: Restaurants on Boundary Street and Hardgrave Road, and the Paniyiri festival in May.
Dish
7.Yum cha
Weekend dim sum brunch with steamed dumplings, barbecue pork buns and egg tarts from trolleys, popular with families.
Where: Restaurants in Fortitude Valley's Chinatown and in the southern suburb of Sunnybank.
Snack
8.Meat pie
The Australian meat pie, filled with minced beef and gravy and eaten with tomato sauce, is the standard snack at the football and late at night.
Where: Bakeries and stadium kiosks; Suncorp Stadium on match days.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Flat white
Brisbane's cafés take coffee as seriously as Sydney and Melbourne; the flat white is the default order.
Where: Specialty cafés in New Farm, West End, James Street and laneways around the CBD.
Food experiences
Eat Street Northshore
A shipping-container night market at Hamilton's riverfront with street food from around the world, open on weekend evenings.
Saturday farmers' markets
The Powerhouse market in New Farm and the Davies Park market in West End sell local produce, coffee and breakfast.
Riverside dining at Howard Smith Wharves
Restaurants, a brewery and bars beneath the Story Bridge, best at sunset.
Sunnybank food crawl
The southern suburb of Sunnybank is the centre of Brisbane's Asian food scene, with Taiwanese, Chinese, Korean and Malaysian eateries in a few blocks.
Quick bites and street food
- Tropical fruit — Farmers' markets at the Powerhouse and Davies Park, and greengrocers across the city.
- Meat pie — Bakeries and stadium kiosks; Suncorp Stadium on match days.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Tropical fruit, Lamington, XXXX beer and Flat white. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Brisbane eats early: many restaurants take last orders around 9pm on weeknights.
- Public-holiday surcharges of around 10–15% are common and should be shown on the menu.
- Tap water is free and safe; ask for a jug.
- Beer gardens and pub bistros offer good-value meals, with weekday specials in many suburbs.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Australia. Leaving about 10% for good table service in a restaurant is appreciated but optional; rounding up taxis is common.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Arvo | Afternoon |
| Brekkie | Breakfast |
| Thongs | Flip-flops |
| Bottle-o | Liquor shop |
| Ta | Thanks |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Brisbane famous for?
Moreton Bay bugs, Mud crab, Tropical fruit and Lamington. A local slipper lobster with sweet, firm meat, served grilled with garlic butter, in pasta or on seafood platters.
+Is Brisbane good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Tropical fruit, Lamington and XXXX beer.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Brisbane?
Tipping is not expected in Australia. Leaving about 10% for good table service in a restaurant is appreciated but optional; rounding up taxis is common.