Sunnybank Food Trail

Overview

Long before cozzie livs entered Australia's vocabulary, the Sunnybank Food Trail was serving up bargains. The one-day culinary event previously included a $2 price in its moniker, because that's how much everything that you could eat cost per plate. That gold-coin amount isn't stuck to as firmly these days, but it's still a cheap feast, including when the self-guided foodie adventure returns in 2024.

This year marks the tenth iteration of this beloved excuse to hit up its namesake Brisbane suburb's shopping hubs, then delight in dining in quite the affordable fashion. Pre-pandemic, around 22,000 people showed up annually to satisfy their tastebuds, so expect to have plenty of cost-of-living-conscious company from 2–8pm on  Saturday, July 13.

While 2023 saw the Sunnybank Food Trail was make its long-awaited return, hosting its first event since 2019 following a break for COVID-19 reasons, 2024's run will be all about celebrating turning ten with discounted bites. Some of this year's dishes will still cost $2, while others will set you back $3 or $5. Either way, that's a whole heap of your change being put to excellent (and tasty) use.

As in previous years, both Sunnybank Plaza and Sunny Park will play host to the trail. How does it work? Attendees walk between a heap of local cafes and restaurants, all at their own pace. The range of eateries taking part is usually hefty — in 2018, more than 45 places served up dishes.

Covering everything from deep-fried dumplings, noodles and curries to hot cakes, cream buns and bubble tea, every participating joint will feature a range of authentic Asian cuisines. You'll feast on Chinese, Japanese, Hong Kong-style, Vietnamese, Korean, Malaysian and Taiwanese food — and, with such an array of steaming soups and sizzling stir-fries on offer, we don't recommend eating lunch or dinner first. In fact, you'd best arrive feeling as hungry as possible.

Snacking on signature dishes is the main course — or several — but there's also plenty of non-edible appetisers, too. Enjoy live music, watch traditional lion dancers, and and check out the roaming entertainment as you feast and wander, adding the perfect garnish to every meal by setting the mood.

Images: Zennieshia.