Sushi Ari Maroochydore

Sushi Ari runs from 60 Dalton Drive in Maroochydore, next to the child health centre, serving fresh sushi rolls, sashimi and hot Japanese dishes from 10:30am to 7:45pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 7:45pm on weekends. The dog-relevant part is the layout: a genuinely spacious outdoor seating area where dogs are allowed, with room to settle a dog beside the table, and a free car park at the door that makes the whole stop quick.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating, which is open and paved rather than a leafy courtyard, so shade shifts with the day; grab the shaded end of the terrace in the warmer months. Staff are friendly but a water bowl is not a given, so bring your own. The space is roomy enough to keep a lead slack between chair and table, which matters more than decoration when you are managing a dog around food.

Max: karaage and a salmon roll on the terrace, then a leash-free run at the park up the road. Maroochydore lunch sorted.

Worth knowing

The menu runs from teriyaki chicken rolls and salmon sashimi to chicken katsu and teriyaki rice bowls, karaage, okonomiyaki and party platters, with a solid run of vegetarian and vegan dishes, and ordering ahead through the online page keeps the wait short. Aim either side of the midday peak for a calmer terrace, and treat it as a quick lunch or an early dinner rather than a long sit, since the kitchen winds down by 7:45pm.

Close by with the dogs

Maroochydore's leash-free park covers the pre or post-meal run, and along the river at 361 Bradman Avenue an open unleashed stretch lets dogs splash and burn energy, with the shared paths on-leash. MURRAYS on Sixth welcomes leashed dogs at its outdoor tables if the visit needs a coffee extension. Wider options sit under QLD dog friendly restaurants and the Maroochydore guide.