Viet Au Kitchen & Bar - Burleigh Heads

Viet Au Kitchen & Bar is a family-run Vietnamese restaurant in central Burleigh Heads, serving pho, banh mi, bun bo hue and crispy banh xeo from family recipes, alongside fresh smoothies and bubble teas. Dogs are welcome at the alfresco and footpath tables out front, which makes it an easy lunch stop when you are doing Burleigh with the dog in tow.

The dog setup

Leashed dogs are welcome at the outdoor alfresco and footpath dining areas, and table service runs to the outdoor section, so you can order from your seat without tying your dog up out of sight. The indoor dining room is humans only on food-safety grounds. Bring a travel bowl because the Gold Coast sun is serious, and pick a shaded table if you are eating at midday.

The vibe

The cooking leans traditional: slow-cooked beef pho in regular and larger bowls, herb-loaded banh mi on crisp baguettes, spicy bun bo hue, vermicelli salad bowls and the sizzling banh xeo pancakes. There are vegetarian and vegan options across the menu, and the family running the room keeps service quick and friendly, so it works as a weekday lunch as well as a weekend feed.

Getting there and parking

Central Burleigh fills fast, especially on weekends and public holidays. The Gordon and Jean Duncan carpark at 7 Park Avenue is close by with paid spaces between 9am and 5pm and free parking outside those hours, and there is further all-day parking in the Park Avenue precinct. Walking in from nearby accommodation is often easier than circling for a street spot.

Pepsi: Footpath table, a bowl of water and a plate of lemongrass chicken rice - this is my kind of Burleigh arvo.

Close by with the dogs

Tarte Bakery & Cafe does dog-friendly outdoor tables a short walk away, and Burleigh Town Hotel pours nearby for a post-beach drink. If you are staying over, Burleigh Break Apartments is one local option to check. More Gold Coast eats are on the dog-friendly restaurants in QLD list, or browse Burleigh Heads directly.