Open your eyes, heart and mouth to the vibrant inner-city retail and restaurant precinct of King Street. Situated in the heart of Brisbane’s Showgrounds in Bowen Hills, King Street is home to a number of trendy eateries and bars including a giant sports bar, rock ‘n’ roll Mexican joint, highly awarded French cuisine and some of Brisbane’s best gelato.
King Street is renowned for its ever-growing food fest, but it's a destination that offers more than just delectable eats and drinks. Book yourself a staycation at the Rydges or do a spot of shopping at Queensland’s home of craft and design, Artisan or Shop For Her. Swing by Tigerlamb or The Common Barbershop for a quick trim or a full-blown makeover before embarking on your foodie adventure.
Then comes the hard part – where to eat? We're here to help with that hard decision, so read on for all our tips and tricks to maximising a King Street food adventure.
Tex-Mex meets rock 'n' roll at El Camino Cantina. Surround yourself with a carnival of vibrant artwork, neon lights and rock 'n' roll tunes as you snack your way into a food coma with spicy wings, nachos, chargrilled fajitas, burritos and tasty tacos while sipping on frozen margaritas the size of your head.
As the name suggests, Fat Dumpling specialises in poached, pan-fried or steamed dumplings, along with a selection of soups, curries and buns. You can't go past the spicy chong dumplings doused in house-spiced soy sauce, and there are plenty of vegetarian options too.
Needing a carb fix? Il Verde is King Street’s resident Italian restaurant serving hearty pastas, wood-fired pizzas and a selection of gluten-free options. On the first Wednesday of the month you can delight in their decadent cheese wheel pasta – fresh spaghetti swirled in a wheel of Parmigiano-reggiano until it’s perfectly ooey and gooey.
This one’s for the coffee connoisseurs and blissful brunch fanatics looking to find their fix along King Street. Kuhl-Cher Coffee is a premium coffee outlet and brew bar – one of the only inner-city roasteries that roasts, grinds and brews its own coffee. If you're a coffee fiend looked for like-minded passionate peeps, stop by for a chat.
There’s always room for dessert, especially freshly made, ice-cold gelato! La Macelleria’s convenient location in the middle of King Street makes it hard to resist this post-meal treat. The menu is laden with Italian classics and unique Australian-influenced creations sure to suit any gelato craving. You can also sip a gelato shake or order a heavenly gelato cake.
Never mind your four-legged friend, Musette is all about welcoming your two-wheeled ride. A cycling lover’s paradise, this is the spot to fill up pre-ride, or rest and refuel post. The menu features healthy and bistro-style faves, and you can’t go past their icy cold smoothies for a refreshing drink.
With a focus on seasonality, sustainability and perfect plating, a trip Six Acres Restaurant is sure to be a treat. Enjoy some of Australia’s most succulent proteins from land and sea and be warned – you’ll be hard-pressed to resist their fries loaded with Parmigiano cheese and truffle oil.
Drop into Super Combo – mixing a childhood love for arcade games and a hunger for the perfect burger to create Brisbane’s first gaming-themed burger joint. Inspired by Street Fighter and a bevy of classic arcade games Super Combo offers a globally inspired collection of interesting flavours alongside your gaming hit.
Winghaus is a mega diner that specialises in all things wings and beer. Boasting 40 taps and with all the biggest and best sports screening, this is the spot for sports fans. There’s plenty of pub-style grub including satiating schnitties, nachos and burgers and spice junkies can get the blood pumping with a round of flamin’ roulette featuring 8 traditional or habanero wings.
There’s also Sushi & Nori for an authentic taste of Japan, Xin Chao for a Vietnamese infusion and The Charcoal Hub for flame-cooked spit meats and mouth-watering souvlaki.