A hop skip and a jump from ultra-cool Paddington and sharing a fence with Fig Tree Pocket, Indooroopilly and St Lucia are more than just a playground for UQ students. This goes especially for the restaurant scene. Suburban charm meets culinary skill in this neck of the woods—here’s your list of must-visit spots in Indooroopilly and St Lucia, and the surrounding ‘burbs.
Ok, how is NKB Express dishing up burgers the size of a completed Jenga tower? We don't know, but we know this—we are pulling up to eat ALL of them with a milkshake. NKB Express is right near the Indooroopilly Shopping Centre so it's easy to find and its 40s retro fit-out makes it hard to forget. Stalk them on Insta to see the burgery deliciousness that awaits you but be warned, you will be hungry within 0.2 milliseconds.
As if the awe-inspiring sandstone and manicured gardens of UQ weren't bougie enough, Patina at Alumni Court within the university Customs House sure is. A contemporary paddock-to-plate restaurant flaunting luxe interiors with copper finishes and large windows, Patina is ultra-fine dining. Park up on one of the outside tables that boast sweeping views of the Brisbane River, sip some expertly selected wine and peruse the generous menu. Take it from us—go for the 12-hour Burnett pork belly.
Inside a pretty unsuspecting strip mall lookalike (apart from the giant pink mosaic sign) you’ll find Little Beirut, and some of Brisbane's best Lebanese cuisine. All the regular heavy hitters you know and love are ready and waiting for you on the menu, like juicy-as chicken and beef shawarma, and lamb kofta plates served with fattoush, rice, hummus and garlic sauce. Don't be alarmed if an impromptu belly dance performance starts up around you, this is known to happen at Little Beirut.
Ok yes, Colonel Sanders has us in a chokehold, BUT it's no secret that no one is frying chicken like Koreans. Enter: Kai Kai Chicken, any Korean fried chicken stan’s dream. Said dream is just around the corner from the University of Queensland and downstairs of a small shopping and restaurant complex in St Lucia. The best bit? Kai Kai is an all-you-can-eat fried chicken spot. Yep, that's right, for just $24.90 you can eat your way through every flavour on the menu (our fave is the Goroumaru flavour).
Betty! Girl, we greet you like an old friend. If you haven't been to Betty's Burgers yet you must be deep, DEEP under the rock you’re clearly living under. Not only that, you're missing out on one of the best burgs you’ve ever had. Yes, we said that. Relaxed vibes await you, as do seriously decadent thick shakes, classic sides like ultra-crispy shoestring fries and onion rings and an extensive array of burgers to choose from. There's a kids menu, a couple of vegan-friendly options and even a burger with lettuce as the bun.
If Surrey Hills in Sydney and a glorious backyard long-lunch-turned-turned-drinks-and-dinner had a lovechild, it's Suburban Social. Yes, yes, it technically calls Chapel Hill home, but it's riiiight on the Indro border so best believe we are counting it. Suburban Social is small but mighty, cosy even, but boy does their menu (both food and drinks) pack a punch. Craft beers are on tap, bespoke cocktails are shaken and eats like loaded waffle fries with house-smoked pulled pork with cajun spice, barbecue bourbon and ranch sauces topped with jalapenos waft past you to a happily awaiting table. Craving something more substantial? Go for the Thai barramundi red curry and you're sure to leave satisfied, to say the least.
If you're vibing Italian without the hefty price tag and must-dress-up dress code, Place of Stones is for you. This casual Italian eatery seems to ooze cool right from its bare-brick walls… sort of like how their pizzas ooze with ‘gram-tastic cheese pulls. Enough with the analogies—here's the tea. For some of the best Italian you've ever had, head to Place of Stones and even further, do yourself a favour and get the Meaty Number on Rigatoni and thank us later.
You know that scene in Gavin and Stacey where James Corden's character has a tantie about having to share the Indian food with everyone? (It’s here if you haven't.) That's us. And it's ESPECIALLY us when it comes to Indian from Indian Mehfil in Taringa. A certain biriyani awaits you at Indian Mehfil and, we know this is a big call to make, but it's gonna make your top five list of best biryanis ever. Yep, we called it. They also have all sorts of value packs and meal deals to make ordering a breeze. Expect to wait a little while if you don't have a table, which you can secure here.
Looking to get out of Indooroopilly and St Lucia? Check out Brisbane’s best restaurants here.
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