Mimi Wong

If Canberra had to pick a culinary crush, it would be Indian. The city is full of curry-craving residents, many of whom would much rather indulge in the real deal than settle for their own half-hearted attempts at home (let's face it, it just never tastes quite as good). Luckily for them, Canberra has a plethora of places serving everything from the smoky flavours of the tandoor oven and the fiery heat of a North Indian curry to South Indian dosas and a cooling lassi. We asked ex-MasterChef contestant and food writer Mimi Wong to recommend the best Indian restaurants in Canberra, and her list takes you right across our capital. The only question is, can you handle the heat? Editor's favourite Indian restaurants in Canberra: ✨ Best local favourite: Rama’s Fiji Indian Restaurant 😋 Best cheap and cheerful: Indian Pantry Restaurant 👌 Best institution: Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍕 The best pizza in Canberra🍽 Canberra's best restaurants🍝 The best Italian in Canberra

Finally settled on Chinese? Now, it's time to decide how fancy you want to get. Luckily, Canberra houses a full spectrum of Chinese restaurants to cover every craving and every budget. Expert foodie and MasterChef alumni Mimi Wong, who loves her dim sum and Peking duck, has rounded up the best spots, whether you're after an affordable weekday lunch or a festive spread. At CBD Dumpling House, you can watch skilled chefs make wontons from scratch before demolishing a dozen all on your own. For something totally different, go to Au Lac Dickson, where the offerings are all vegan (hello, soy 'pork' dry noodles). Want to go fancy? A fine dining Nonya-style feast awaits at Lanterne Rooms. Here's our pick of the best Chinese restaurants in Canberra right now. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍝 The best Indian in Canberra🍜 Canberra's best Japanese food🍝 The best Italian in Canberra

With its award-winning restaurants and dishes worth trekking interstate for, Canberra has earned its place on Australia’s gourmet map. The star of the show is the region’s local produce – including truffles, smoked meats and wines – which are fired, flamed, fermented and fried into all sorts of culinary creations. Time Out Australia’s Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley spent four years immersed in Canberra’s dining scene before returning to Sydney, and she can vouch that its newest openings are right up there with the Emerald City’s. Whether you’re dining at the Italian spot in Braddon, vying for a table at a tiny Parisian-style restaurant, or making friends at one of the city’s funkiest pan-Asian eateries, these are the best Canberra restaurants you want to be hittin' up. Update September 2025: Since our last update, we've added three high-anticipated new restaurants that have already earned a reputation as some of Canberra's best – Lunetta Trattoria perched atop Red Hill, Azuma Den at East Hotel, and Shaw Estate Restaurant in the Murrumbateman wine region. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍹 The best bars in Canberra☕️ Canberra's coolest cafés🍣 The best Japanese food in Canberra

If you’re looking for next-level dumplings, noodles with actual stretch or Peking duck so crisp it could shatter on impact, well, congratulations – you’ve come to the right city. Thanks to a vibrant Asian-Australian community and a collective obsession with wok-fried everything, Brisbane punches well above its weight when it comes to Chinese cuisine. And while Sydney and Melbourne may hog the culinary spotlight, Brisbane quietly plays its hand, offering up dishes that rival anything found south of the border.  From Cantonese institutions still spinning lazy Susans to new-gen spots that wouldn’t look out of place in Shanghai, the choices here are plentiful and, frankly, overwhelming. There are long-standing institutions like Enjoy Inn, spots where dinner turns into a night out like Central Restaurant, as well as special occasion venues like The Fifty Six. To make life easier, Time Out has teamed up with a local Brisbane writer and food expert, Alli Forde, to bring you this ultimate list of the best Chinese restaurants right now. Gather your people, order with abandon and prepare for a food coma of your own making. 🥘 The best Indian food in Brisbane🥩 The best steaks in Brisbane🍣 The best Japanese restaurants

Brisbane’s Italian dining scene has long been among the best in Australia – and it just keeps getting better. Drawing inspiration from regions all over Italy and working with top local produce, these restaurants show why we have such top-notch Italian fare. Time Out Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley has drawn on her recent dining adventures in Brisbane and teamed up with expert foodie Isabel Cant to bring you this list of the top spots for your next Italian feast. There are stylish diners like Gemelli, longtime favourites like Ristorante Tartufo and family-friendly joints like Marinara Restaurant. So, whether a hearty ragu in a cosy dining room is what you’re after or linguine with prawns enjoyed al fresco is more your speed, these are the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane. 🍽️ Brisbane's best restaurants🍕 The best pizza in Brisbane🥩 The best steak in Brisbane

From piping hot bowls of ramen to artistic plates of sashimi, Canberra is brimming with Japanese restaurants that prove there’s so much more to the cuisine than your standard sushi roll. Across our capital, you’ll find chefs putting their own stamp on traditional dishes, blending precision, artistry and a love of seasonal produce. Some spots like Yakitori 38 are perfect for a late-night hang with friends, sake in hand, others like Koto Dining invite you to linger over multiple courses, while suburban gems like Raijin dish up comfort food along with awesome customer service. Our Travel Editor Melissa Woodley has teamed up with ex-MasterChef contestant and food writer Mimi Wong to recommend the best Japanese restaurants in Canberra for your next feed. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍕 The best pizza in Canberra🍽 Canberra's best restaurants🥘 The best Indian in Canberra

The Sunshine Coast truly does have it all – sparkling beaches, peaceful national parks, exhilarating adventures and delicious dining. This tourist haven in Queensland stretches from the super-chill beach town of Caloundra through the resorts and national parks of Noosa, all the way up to the postcard-perfect Great Sandy National Park.  Adventurous travellers flock here to swim in the wild with humpback whales and hike in fairytale forests – but there’s no need to work up a sweat if you’re here to wind down. You can also go on a golden hour cruise with Saltwater Eco Tours, hunt for treasures at the mega Eumundi Markets or float away your worries at Tank Bathhouse. Dive into our guide on the best things to do on the Sunshine Coast right now. ☀️ The best things to do in Noosa🍹 The best restaurants on the Sunshine Coast🌴 Australia's top beach towns

​​With trendy restaurants and bars popping up all over the city, it’s no wonder Brisbanites and visitors alike can feel a bit overwhelmed when deciding where to eat. That’s where we come in! Our expert local writers, along with Time Out Australia’s Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley, have tasted their way through Brisbane’s diverse food scene to bring you this list of must-try restaurants. From a sprawling Japanese izakaya overlooking the river and an old-school pizzeria to a contemporary Chinese eatery with a spicy Sichuan fish broth that will make your eyes water, these are the best restaurants in Brisbane for a culinary adventure in the River City. Update August 2025: Since our last update in May, we've added three fresh dining destinations already turning heads – Stilts Dining, Queensland's first restaurant on a bridge; The Summit Restaurant, a multi-million dollar venue with million-dollar views; and Layla, a sleek city gem by renowned Melbourne chef Shane Delia. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍸 The best bars in Brisbane☕️ Brisbane's coolest cafés🥐 Where to find Brisbane's best pastries

Two decades ago, a night at the pub was pretty bleak for vegans – think hot chips with a sad side of leaves. But Australia’s dining scene has come a long way since then, with menus now featuring everything from cashew cheese and oat milks to mushroom meats and pub grub that’d fool your meat-loving mates. That said, it’s no secret our hospitality industry’s been doing it tough in recent years, and the vegan scene hasn’t been immune. Beloved plant-based venues like Sydney’s 34-year-old yum cha institution Bodhi and popular Sunshine Coast herbal bar Elixiba have sadly closed their doors, while ethical fast food chain Lord of the Fries has shut down more than half of its Aussie stores. Many fully vegan restaurants have also transitioned to being just veg-friendly – a move we support if it means more creative dishes at a wider range of venues. If you’re keen to back those doing the absolute most for our planet (and our animal pals), here’s just a short selection of the best vegan restaurants in Australia right now. ⭐️ Australia's best restaurants☕️ Our favourite cafés in Australia😋 The best vegan restaurants in Sydney🥑 And the best vegan spots in Melbourne

We're saying it loud and clear: Darwin is one of Australia’s best-kept secrets. It’s that far northern city where people put ice in their beer, dodge cyclones and take their lives into their hands if they ever step into the sea. And while there's something a little untamed about Australia’s northernmost capital city, that’s what makes it so much fun to visit.  Whether you’re here to access the majesty of Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, check out the incredible international food scene or just planning to kick back by the water in this tropical paradise while the rest of the country shivers through winter, there’s something in Darwin for everyone. Our expert writers (including Time Out's Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley) have curated the ultimate guide on the best things to do in Darwin for your next trip – happy scrolling. 🍽️ The best restaurants in Darwin🚗 All the best day trips from Darwin🍸 Where to go for a drink in town

Margaret River is easily one of the most charming little pockets of Western Australia and a must-visit on your next adventure out west. ‘Margs’, as she’s known to locals, has a reputation for producing some of Australia’s finest wines, with more than 90 cellar doors ready to fill your cup. However, she has a whole lot more up her sleeve than just a good pour. When you pay Margs a visit, she might take you for a wander through the region’s fairytale forests, along stunning coastal trails, or into the depths of sparkling crystal caves. Trust us, it’s well worth the 3.5-hour drive south of Perth to explore this charming region, which has been the traditional land of the Wadandi (Saltwater) People for more than 60,000 years. Here are the best things to do in the Margaret River. 🌊 The best things to do in Perth☀️ Your ultimate guide to Albany🍷 Australia's very best wineries

‘Barossa' is a name synonymous with world-class wine. Characterised by its luscious rolling countryside dotted with charming stone churches, this compact region is home to many of Australia’s most renowned and historic wineries, including Penfolds, Henschke and Seppeltsfield.  However, the Barossa Valley is more than just an idyllic place to drink, dine and unwind. Just under an hour’s drive northeast of Adelaide city, the Barossa boasts fantastic farm gates, gorgeous goldfield trails and luxurious lodges, for when you’ve had a glass (or two) too many. Here are the best things to do in the Barossa Valley, including the top spots to drink, eat, explore and rest your legs. 🍷 The best wineries in the Barossa Valley🚗 Here are the best day trips from Adelaide✨ All the best wineries in Australia