Lunch for every budget in Brisbane City
Whether you're seeking a solo lunch on the run or making it a date with a friend or colleague, with so many worthy lunch options available in The City, the decision of where to go can often be a tough one. From burgers and beers to modern Mexican – here's our guide to the best lunch options in The City for every budget.
Cash strapped?
The Bagel Boys specialise in traditional kettle-boiled bagels that are mixed, rolled, boiled and baked fresh every single day. Choose from 11 different flavours including poppy seed, sesame seed, soy and linseed, onion, garlic and jalapeno, or step it up a notch and try the premium bagels on offer featuring cinnamon and raisin, sunflower rye, blueberry or gluten free. These bagels are guaranteed to revive your lunchtime tastebuds.
Our favourite: Smoked Salmon Bagel for $10
You can't go wrong with this delicious vegetarian restaurant - offering all you can eat and drink "Feast Meal" for only $12.90, or $10 if you're a student. Expect fresh food cooked daily from the finest ingredients.
Our favourite: Quiche + salad of the day for $9
Country comes to the city every Wednesday at the George St end of the Queen Street Mall. Whether you are a city worker, Queen Street Mall shopper or visitor to Brisbane, the market is the perfect place to grab a delicious bite, with many items being sold for under $10. Filled with fresh and exotic foods, the market is a unique and popular shopping experience.
Our favourite: Literally everything
Little Saigon Grill is a modern Vietnamese restaurant purveying authentic, delicious and healthy cuisine. You will find Vietnamese classics on the menu including a range of rice paper rolls, bánh mì, pork and satay chicken skewers and sizzling crispy crepes for under $10.
Our favourite: Crispy Pork Belly Banh Mi Cart for $8.40
Roll'd, Edward St & Queens Plaza
Roll'd serves grab-and-go Vietnamese street-style food favourites made fresh daily. Convenient and delicious, stop in for a rice paper roll or two, a roast pork noodle salad or classic pho before continuing on your shopping trip.
Our favourite: Garlic prawn rice paper roll for $4.20
Steamed serves up dumplings in three types; Harbin - pork and chive; Chicken Donggu - chicken with various spices; and a vegetarian version called Zen. There are alos Pork Clouds - wonderfully light and fluffy pork buns. Indulge in six dumplings of your choice and a pork cloud for $10.
Our favourite: 8 x Harbin Pork Dumplings for $10
Vege Rama, Post Office Square
Vege Rama is well known for delicious and nutritious vegetarian cuisine, cooked fresh daily from the finest ingredients sourced from local suppliers. Choose from delicious salads, multicultural curries and main meals ranging from small for $7.50 – and large for $11.50. All meals are produced from local, natural, organic ingredients, free of preservatives, additives and colouring.
Our favourite: Large Veggie Boost salad plate for $13.50
Lunch out with friends for $20 and under
Overlooking the stunning Brisbane River and Story Bridge, Bar Pacino offers a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere for you to sit down and enjoy a leisurely meal, as well as convenient grab-and-go lunch options if you're in a rush.
Our favourite: Life Good Salad for $18.
Combine a warm, buzzing vibe with a breezy beach fit-out and you get Santa Monica Pizza and Burger Bar. This lunchtime favourite focuses on laid-back casual dining featuring an extensive variety of gourmet pizzas, hearty American-style burgers and a premium selection of craft beers.
Our favourite: Classic cheese burger for $17.
Red Hook is a New York-inspired eatery and bar that has been serving up some of The City’s favourite’s burgers since 2014.
Visit for well-priced burgers, tacos, wings, dogs and other NYC-inspired street food with your choice from an extensive range of American and Australian beers, cocktails and wine.
Our favourite: Grandmaster Flash burger for $13.
Botero House takes the honest and fun country roots of the roastery and blends it with Brisbane’s urban landscape to create a unique feel. Find a table and enjoy a range of lunch options that are both sustainable and tasty.
Our favourite: Gnocchi Al Piccante for $18.
Brew, Burnett Lane
Brew is not only a great place for lunch or drinks with friends after work, it's also the perfect place to take some time for yourself. Find a space in the dimmed, rustic basement to enjoy some of the burgers or chipotle chicken wings for lunch, with a vast majority of meals available for the budget-friendly price of $17.50.
Our favourite: Signature Brew Burger for $18.90.
Blazing with rockabilly soul, Buffalo Bar offers authentic American food, drinks and culture. Channelling the charm of the southern states, the bravado of New York and the cool of California, Buffalo Bar satiates hunger with American eats and quenches the thirst with an extensive drinks menu.
Our favourite: Basket of Wings with celery, ranch dipping sauce and a topping of your choice for $15.
Housed in the basement of heritage-listed Corbett Chambers building on Elizabeth St, indulge in flavoursome fare at Corbett & Claude. The laneway bar serves up wood-fired pizzas, share plates and antipasti perfect for sharing among friends.
Our favourite: Pesto Parmesan with creamy pesto sauce with shaved parmesan, vintage cheddar and cherry tomatoes for $18.
Fat Noodle, Treasury Casino & Hotel
Housed within the Treasury Casino & Hotel, award-winning celebrity chef Luke Nguyen's Fat Noodle serves pan-Asian hawker-style food, including Nguyen’s own Vietnamese as well as Chinese, Thai and Malaysian. Opt for a lighter lunch of small plates in the $9-$15 range including BBQ pork buns, chicken and coriander dumplings, salt-and-pepper tofu, prawn and pork rice paper rolls. If you're in the mood for a heartier meal, the Vietnamese chicken salad or larger rice-based dishes and wok-cooked meals range for $16-$20.
Our favourite: Calamari sizzling plate for $19.
Venture inside this quaint, light-filled space and sit on a stool overlooking the laneway and watch the world go by, or soak up the relaxed atmosphere inside. The lunch menu changes daily, but regular features on the menu are the seasonal garden salad, baguettes, organic vegetable tarts, and healthy sweets for under $10.
Our favourite: Hippy salad bowl for $16.50
Located in QueensPlaza, New Shanghai's menu offers a vibrant array of tasty Shanghai-style soups, noodles, rice and vegetable dishes, as well as sensational dumplings – cooked using a special technique, an ancient family recipe passed down from generation to generation.
Our favourite: Pot Sticker - pan-fried pork dumplings for $13.70.
Yes, lunchtime experts Cheeky Poke Bar is in the CBD. It calls the Ulster Lane development home - Cheeky Poke Bar can be found just off Elizabeth Street. Dine in or takeaway to enjoy all the favourite dishes the modern Japanese concept has to offer – from signature poke bowls to nori tacos.
Our favourite: Nori chicken tacos with creamy asian sauce – 2 for $15.
Comuna Cantina brings modern Mexican to the lunch mix with its digs on Creek St. Choose from a mix of moderately priced tacos, nacho bowls, salads and starters, with vegetarian and gluten free options to suit everyone. If you’re after a cheeky lunchtime cocktail, they’ve got your covered. Spice up your lunch hour.
Our favourite: Abundance bowl for $16.
Vapiano, Albert Lane off Queen St Mall
Pop into Vapiano to treat yourself to made-to-order pizzas, fresh house-made pasta, hand-tossed gourmet salads and delicious dolci in a fun, relaxing atmosphere.
Our favourite: Margherita Pizza for $17.
A little more fancy, under $40
Riverbar & Kitchen has relaxed indoor and outdoor seating for you to have a bite to eat for lunch while admiring the incredible view. The bar menu features shared plates, grills and pizzas from the wood-fired oven and offers all-day dining from 7am to 11pm. As well as food designed by Matt Moran, the bar has a wide beer selection, contemporary and classic cocktails, and an extensive range of wines and champagne.
Our favourite: Crispy skinned Barramundi, roasted cauliflower, fennel and pomegrante salad for $28
Once you sink your teeth into the wagyu-stuffed dumplings, we guarantee this Asian-fusion restaurant will be one you never forget. Madame Wu is a lunchtime favourite in the CBD with its tantalising menu and stellar view on the outdoor terrace. Grab a bite for under $20 or make it a meal with a few share plates for yourself.
Our favourite: Four steamed duck buns for $20 and a side of wagyu dumplings for $16
Brought to you by Tom Sanceau of Red Hook, Coppa Spuntino is a boutique Italian restaurant. Bringing a little Italian-inspired flair to Eagle St, you can enjoy delicious options such as mouth-watering pasta dishes, seafood and charcuterie.
Our favourite: Pea and zucchini risotto for $28
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Top Coffee Spots in Brisbane City
Uncover the CBD's hidden coffee nooks, find our favourite local roasters, and cold drip, pour-over or French-press your heart out with the best coffee in Brisbane City.
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Konichiwa Brisbane! Drool over our top picks for a Japanese feast in Brisbane.
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American food has taken Brisbane by storm with US-style diners and fast-food venues popping up all over the city. More than anything though we’ve noticed an influx of burger joints – and we’re not complaining.
