Good food, great price: Brisbane's best value for money eats
Fine dining may be languishing but at the value end of the dining spectrum, it's a diners' market. We're not talking cheap and dodgy but restaurant quality food at wallet-friendly prices. Here are some of our favourites.
Billykart Kitchen
The quality of the food here belies Billykart's homely ambience. Everything is made in-house, from the range of gluten-free cakes to milkshake syrups. For lunch and Friday night dinner it takes it up a notch with a well-considered a la carte menu and concise, friendly wine list.
1 Eric Crescent, Annerley, 3392 9275, billykartkitchen.com
Bonsai Botanika
With its cool Scandinavian-cabin-meets-izakaya styling, this CBD hotspot has real style. On street level, there's a serious focus on coffee and chocolate beverages and sweets. Upper floors function as a cafe with a stylised Japanese-leaning menu and a private dining space.
109 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane, 3210 0059
Harajuku Gyoza
The dumpling gods were smiling when this cheerful match made in heaven hatched; icy Kirin beer on tap and warm gyoza, pan-tanned or steamed silken, filled with duck, chicken, pork, prawn or vegetables. As well as dumplings, there's favourite pork katsudon and chicken kaarage.
394 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, 3852 4624; Indooroopilly Shopping Town, Station Road, Indooroopilly, 3378 4863; harajukugyoza.com
Holloway
Small, in this case, is sublime. With only 27 seats Holloway has plenty of kook in its looks and a wealth of detail in its execution. The menu mixes Italian with Malaysian and constantly morphs, keeping to a few small/large plates, pizzas and desserts. Char-grilled meats are a specialty.
69 Hardgrave Road, West End, 0439 178 787, hollowayeyewear.com.au
Kettle & Tin
Be it banh xeo for breakfast, pork belly fries and beer for brunch or a 'hair of the dog' cocktail, there's a little bit of everything here including a coffee window for those on the run. It also doubles as a bar after 5pm.
215 Given Terrace, Paddington, 3369 3778, kettleandtin.com.au
Kwan Brothers
Winner of the Brisbane Times Good Food Guide Under $30 award, this kooky little diner in a former noodle factory may tick all the hipster boxes, but open all day and late into the night, attracts an eclectic crowd. A retro cocktail list, beer and wine are all matched to wallet-friendly street food made to share.
43 Alfred Street, Fortitude Valley, 3251 6588, kwanbros.com.au
The Rogue Rennard
Every neighbourhood should have a likeable rogue, especially one offering up wine and cheese or tasty tapas with a tipple. The little kitchen impresses with simple pairings such as cauliflower with curry leaves and labna, and lamb's brains with honey and rosemary.
106 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington, 0434 720 106, theroguerennard.com
Sorellina
This new kid on the Logan Road strip has quickly developed a loyal following and they keep coming back for Neapolitan-style pizza, flavoursome salads and the warm, no-fuss atmosphere. The list of mostly natural and biodynamic wines is as fun and funky as the tunes.
31 Logan Road, Woolloongabba, 3391 8459, sorellinapizzeria.com
The Burrow
Aptly named, this converted Queenslander presents a veritable warren of spaces in which to dine. The menu is similarly exploratory with breakfasts including tacos and sweet rice sushi before morphing into wood-fired pizza offerings throughout the day. More than 100 beers keep the drinks list humming.
37 Mollison Street, West End, 3846 0030, theburrowwestend.com.au
Wild Canary
In its tranquil garden centre setting, eating here feels like you're dining on some tropical island. They grow a lot of fresh produce and herbs in their veggie garden for their equally fresh, modern menu, matched with a smart wine list.
2371 Moggill Road, Brookfield, 3378 2805, wildcanary.com.au
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