There’s something elemental about food cooked over fire. From the crackle of burning wood to the scent of smoky char clinging to grilled meat, flame-driven cooking satisfies a primal craving that no induction cooktop could ever replicate.
Across the country, Chefs are stoking embers, mastering charcoal and letting open flames shape their menus in dramatic, delicious ways. Whether it’s Indian tandoors, Korean charcoal grills or Neapolitan pizza ovens, these restaurants make fire their centrepiece - delivering bold, smoke-infused flavours that are as captivating as the theatre behind them.
Here are five restaurants where fire isn’t just a method - it’s a way of life.
Tandoori Flames – Coolum Beach, Qld
Tucked away on Birtwill Street in Coolum Beach, Tandoori Flames has been igniting appetites since 2011 with a menu that celebrates the bold, smoky flavours of Northern Indian cuisine. The warmly lit space, adorned with glowing mosaic pendent lights, sets a cosy yet exotic tone that mirrors the spice-laden dishes on offer. It’s an unpretentious venue with a serious dedication to flavour, where locals return for their regular fix of fiery indulgence.
Expect dishes kissed by fire and rich with depth - from coconut prawns served with tamarind to calamari fritters that crackle with heat. The goat Madras is a standout: tender, slow-cooked goat bathed in a creamy coconut milk sauce, delicately tempered with curry leaves. For those who like their curry with a kick, the beef vindaloo brings the heat, balanced with fragrant rice and blistered cheese and garlic naan straight from the tandoor.
Circa 900 Pizzeria Napoletana – Pascoe Vale, Vic
Step into Circa 900 in Pascoe Vale and you’re instantly transported to the streets of Naples, where the wood-fired oven is King and pizza is sacred. With its name paying homage to the era when Neapolitan pizza was born, this charming eatery draws crowds with its commitment to old-world techniques and authentic Italian ingredients. Rustic brick walls and the comforting scent of scorched dough set the tone for a deeply traditional experience with a modern edge.
The heart of the menu lies in its pizza - thin, blistered and beautifully airy, thanks to dough crafted from ‘00’ flour and a slow fermentation process. The chilli prawn pizza is a fiery masterpiece, topped with garlic, chilli oil and sun-dried tomatoes, while the housemade linguine with chicken, mushroom and Parmesan is a smoky, creamy indulgence. Every dish here is touched by fire and by tradition.
K Town Restaurant – Northbridge, WA
In the heart of Northbridge, K Town Restaurant serves up the sizzle of Korean BBQ with a legacy that spans more than three decades. Inside, the industrial-chic interior of recycled timber and twinkling fairy lights creates a relaxed, communal vibe, while the star of the show is centre-table: your own charcoal grill. It’s a carnivore’s playground, where thin-sliced brisket, pork belly and ox tongue crackle over an open flame as diners wield tongs and share plates.
For those after a fiery feast, the charcoal BBQ set menus are the way to go - offering a symphony of grilled meat, seafood and sides. Tiger prawns and scallops char beautifully, while tofu kimchi and pork deliver layered spice and umami. Don’t miss the cheesy pork ribs served with hot chips, or the sizzling bulgogi beef that arrives caramelised and smoking, ready to be wrapped in crisp lettuce with a dollop of gochujang.
Summer Restaurant – Patterson Lakes, Vic
Summer Restaurant in Patterson Lakes blends the bold spirit of Afghan cuisine with the sultry atmosphere of a shisha lounge and cocktail bar. Nestled in Harbour Plaza, this lakeside spot is where fire meets flavour in an elegant setting. With marinated meat, spice-laced rice and a menu made for sharing, Summer is as much about the mood as it is the food - balmy evenings spent with friends, drink in hand and smoke curling from both grill and hookah alike.
Charcoal flavours shine in dishes like spiced lamb cutlets paired with chutney and rice, or the crowd-pleasing kebab platter featuring kobideh, tikka and chicken - all kissed by flame and brimming with aromatic depth. For something truly rich and hearty, the ghorma sabzi - a lamb stew simmered with spinach and herbs in a deeply savoury broth - is pure comfort with a fire-cooked soul.
Located on Redfern Street in Sydney, Mezepotamia is a vibrant homage to the culinary traditions of the ancient Middle East. Here, the flames of history and heritage burn brightly. The restaurant’s name and concept are inspired by the cradle of civilisation - Mesopotamia - where fire first revolutionised how we cook. Step inside and you’re welcomed by warm, earthy interiors and a menu that blends Turkish and Middle Eastern flavours with modern finesse.
Marinated over fire and grilled to perfection, the lamb rump skewers are a celebration of smoke and spice - served with sumac onions and a rich jus that ties everything together. Mezepotamia’s dry-aged sirloin, eggplant begendi and marash chilli butter is a bold dish that plays with texture and heat, while the roasted chicken thighs with harissa offer a smoky punch softened by pickled peppers and parsley oil. It’s flame cooking with finesse, rooted in tradition yet entirely contemporary.
From the tandoor-fired depths of Indian curries to the blistered crusts of Neapolitan pizza and the seductive char of Korean BBQ, these venues take open-flame cooking and turn it into an art form. They remind us that sometimes the best flavours come not from precision, but from fire - wild, unpredictable and deliciously primal. So, whether you're chasing heat, smoke or sheer flavour, these are the places where fire truly reigns.
Ready to book? Click on the venue's link now!
