Reviews of The Thirsty Koala. (Restaurant) in New York (New York).

The Thirsty Koala

779 Reviews

393 Comments

Restaurant

Australian restaurant

35-12 Ditmars Blvd, Queens, NY 11105, United States

Description

Information of The Thirsty Koala, Restaurant in New York (New York)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

This place has a very good rate, they treat their customers well and you’ll feel welcome, super recommended

Map

Open hours of The Thirsty Koala

Popular times

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Tuesday

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Friday

Saturday

Reviews of The Thirsty Koala

Daniel Rosenstein

Food was great! The lamb lollies were really nicely done, cooked to perfection and nicely plated. The Bonzer Burger was also great. My friend got the Australian sea bass and that was also great! We went on a Tuesday and it was happy hour all night, to our surprise, so we definitely took advantage. The house cocktails were unique and delicious!

Mahendra Shawn

Really dope restaurant. Everyone was super friendly and welcoming. I enjoyed my time here greatly. The owners went out of their way to make my friends and I feel super comfortable. They took very good care of us. The servers were super chill and out going. They were open to having conversations and answering whatever questions we might’ve had. The food was SO good!!! The Thirsty Koala doesn’t always go by reservation, but on the weekends, they’re super busy, so I’d suggest reserving a table. I definitely will visit again. Parking is a gamble. Its either a hit or miss. There’s always parking in the nearby blocks if you search good enough.

Joy A

I went here for brunch with my girl friend. The food and service was very good. Everything we ordered came very quickly and everything looked and tasted great! The servers were also extremely friendly. I had the prawns and porridge and some fried calamari on the side. The prawns were very flavorful, I would definitely recommend. PS. They also ask if you have any allergies when you order which I thought was great

Kirsten Janusewski

Went here with my partner last night, it was my first time there and it did not disappoint! The cocktails were on point and absolutely delicious. Sean was our waiter/cocktail maker and he is wonderful at his craft. Extremely friendly, attentive to detail, gave us recommendations on what to eat and it was all delicious. We started with the corn and jalapeño fritters which were so delicious. I got the steak sandwich with the lemon potatoes and my partner got the lamb lollies. Both entrees were awesome! The whole experience and energy was great! Thank you so much! We will be back for brunch to try some different menu items and certain bottomless cocktails :)

yugine lama

Went for first time. Wanted to explore new spot so just randomly googled and came to this place. It was pretty decent. They had happy hours but not on saturday which was the day we picked haha. The price were quite expensive. But not bad to try once. Truffle fries were the best. Their cocktails were also good.

Nafeesa Moti

Had a girls brunch here and absolutely loved every minute of it. The food is amazing, delicious and perfectly prepared. Two top favorites were the French toast and pancake choices on the menu. Trust me, you would not be disappointed. The brunch drink options are great, the gingeroo was our favorite. I can’t begin to describe the quality and attention to detail on the food so hopefully my pictures can do some justice. Our waiter was so pleasant and inviting. Made us felt so happy and comfortable. Definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for quality, delicious food.

Ashley Morales

The food was very very good! And they have gluten free versions of everything! Love the atmosphere and the owner was very nice, she came and greeted us, making sure we were happy with the service and we were! The passionfruit margarita is sooo good! U gotta try it. Will be coming back again!

Ursula Kastanos

We love Thirsty Koala and we have been coming here all the time to celebrate special occasions.Delicious food, great drinks, awesome stuff and the owner is a sweetheart!!! They made us feel very special!!! Thank you for the yummy dessert!!!🎂🍰🎂 …

Geovanna Serrano

Ordered the eggplant Parma with grilled veggies and the Good onya Arugula salad. The salad was probably my favorite part, super fresh and large portion. Overall everything was flavorful. However, The eggplant was on the salty side and wasn’t freshly made. The vegetables were really greasy so a bit unpleasant to eat. Wondering if the quality of food would be better in person.

Erin Lee

This place is busy so make reservations even on a weeknight. I made the trek from Brooklyn because they are one of the few places in the city that offers gluten-free Fish & Chips! Also, they don’t advertise it but most of their menu is gluten-free. They also are great about indicating on the menu other potential allergens like dairy. Their patio was lovely, the waitstaff was great and the food was delicious and generously portioned. Drinks are a little on the pricey side for the size but they are very good.

Ameya Bhakay

Went here as a group of 4 and a baby on a nice warm May morning for brunch. At around 12:30 pm, the place was fairly busy but we were seated right away and were able to get a high chair for our little one. We ordered a couple-ah beers, some cocktails and got to ordering our entrees right away, which included a Classic Burger, Prawns and Gritts, the grilled beyond burger ($14.95), and a side of Shoe String Fries ($7). My beyond burger was absolutely delicious and after becoming a vegetarian 2 years ago, beyond meat is many a times my go to meat substitute. I am always eager to know how restaurants make it and Thirsty Koala did not disappoint by grilling it perfection after adding some good seasoning. Food and service at this place is absolutely excellent and we'll definitely be visiting again to this place!

Mark Dimont

Delicious food in a chill environment. Lots of good veg options but plenty of stuff with meat too. Nice cocktail options. Salads are first rate.

K.C. King

The Thirsty Koala is of my favorite spots in Astoria. The menu is fun and creative and very well done. I often get the short rib tacos but there’s a lot to like, especially if you want something a little different and unique. Also I’ve found that it’s very well run. I order delivery fairly often and it always comes fast, they don’t make mistakes, and the taste and quality of the dishes is always top notch, every time. I definitely appreciate being able to trust they’ll get it right.

Afifa Mehmood

Amazing food! We went there for brunch. My husband got crispy fried calamari and I got Pain perdu (French toast). I was beyond happy that the food was gluten free and so delicious. One of the best French toast I have had. Will definitely be back. Can’t wait to try their lunch and dinner menu (so many amazing gluten free options).

Christopher Burfoot

Bonza burger lived up to its name! Juicy, savoury and satisfying!!

Irina D.

Came here for brunch on a Saturday morning. We sat outside and had the bottomless brunch. Mimosas and bellinis and bloody marys...all were tasty and strong. The food was delicious and service A+.

Ani

Great food & good service. I usually order in from them but I recently had the chance to dine in. The servers were very friendly and attentive. I’ve tried their sesame salmon before, which I love. It’s healthy and delicious. This time I had their TK fried chicken burger with kimchi and a punch of flavor. I got it with truffle fries which were pretty good as well. My boyfriend had the Grilled Beyond Burger with sweet potato fries. He did enjoy it but he felt that the burger could’ve used a bit more flavor. We shared the halloumi fries as a starter and it was an interesting combination of flavors - the honey was an excellent addition.

Bronx DJ Larry

My Fiancé and I decided to change locations in Queens, New York and scanned the restaurants along Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria, New York. We stumbled upon this small but neoteric restaurant serving food from "down-under." We discovered The Thirsty Koala. This restaurant which was featured on a popular daytime program, was a real treat. The eclectic spin on drinks served more than just a name change. The drinks were deliciously paired with our dinner and I must state that they were very good. We decided on their "Lollies" which were perfectly cooked and seasoned lamb chops. I had the traditional pairing of mashed potatoes while my gal pal had it paired with pumpkin and pomegranate. In all honesty, I should have repeated my girl's taste because while both were good, hers was even better. Our start of fried calamari was the lightest yet soft chew on the bite. To say that they were better than most is certainly an understatement. The Calamari was accompanied with their house sauce which by all means, complimented the dish further. Customarily, lamb chops are not cheap. So it was no surprise that each dish was priced at $45.00 and the calamari at $21.00. Overall, a wonderfully prepared and seasoned dish satisfied our palates. It was our pleasure to discover this diminutive gem. We will certainly be returning to sample other delicious favorites.

Tara Sekora

Love the huge selection of GF dishes. Every time I come to NYC I try to visit this place. I’ve gotten different dishes each time I’ve gone and each one has been amazing. Highly recommend checking this place out!

Benjamin Tien

Having never had Australian cuisine before, we thought we’d check out the Thirsty Koala for a quick appetizer and entree. The waiter was great and accommodating. We got the lamb lollies (basically lamb chops) with fish tacos to start off. The fish tacos were pretty well made (we had topped them off with green sauce and some house made tartar sauce). The lamb lollies were ordered and made to medium well. They were pretty flavorful and were paired with some buttery mashed potatoes. We really enjoyed the food but I felt that the dining experience was pretty pricey so I gave this three stars. Nothing against the food (it’s mighty tasty).

Dan G

We loved the Halloumi fries and tacos. The burger was huge, but I can't really say that the components meshed well together. The person who served us was a little unfriendly (pompous was the term I used at first edit but may sound a tad offensive). The food came ok, timing is off by just a tinge. The ambiance looks very welcoming, and is often attracting hip crowds. *Edited for correctness based on owner's response, seems i have to immerse myself more into Australian food. Will give them another shot, since they show that they care about what we think about their establishment.

julia gometz

Amazing brunch spot! We got the french toast, eggs and salad with salmon. Everything was delicious. Coffee was sub-par. Service fantastic!!!! Def coming back.

John Hsieh

It is surprisingly difficult to locate a good "fancy" burger in NYC, but fortunately, The Thirsty Koala exists. This small bar/restaurant on Ditmars has a reasonable selection of food options. Some of our favorites are: 1) The Lot Beef Burger, which is just a big burger with a ton of protein, 2) Fish and Chips, which is made with flaky cod, 3) Fish Tacos, which is made with the same flaky cod found in the Fish and Chips. The Heaps Good salad is a good choice to accompany all that protein, and we find that adding a side Charred Kale is the only way to get enough green for the meal. Clearly Australians compete with Americans in the "who can consume the least amount of greens in a meal" contest. Food can arrive slightly slow, so having either the Halloumi Fries or a side of Fries is a good way to munch of something while waiting for the food to arrive. Service feels slightly disorganized, but we always seem to be able to get sufficient attention throughout the meal.

Justin Latham

A unique dining experience with a nice take on comfort food. I had the beer battered fish and chips which were great. The sauces that accompany were excellent. Wife had the fish which was very good. Staff was friendly. Place was very crowded at dinner time, reservations are recommended for weekend nights. Took a really long time to get our food, but it was very busy and the staff handled it well.

Tim Farkas

The food was phenomenal! The gluten free celiac safe options were plentiful! The portions were perfect and I don't feel like I was being price gouged. The reason I gave it three stars was because it was sorely understaffed for a Saturday evening and the staff was friendly and doing the best the could but they were so understaffed it was overwhelming for the entire crew. We ordered more food and waited almost an hour because everything got so backlogged. So great food just hope the owner gives his team the boost it needs.

Ashlee Rose Perez (Ashlee Rose)

Such great food, wonderful service and even kangaroo burgers! It was packed when we got there around 8:30pm so there was a bit of a wait, but it was well worth it and I never felt rushed. Our waiter was great and offered recommendations that were perfect when I was stuck between 2 options. I would definitely try the kagaroo sliders if you have the chance! DELICIOUS 🍽

mohit garg

This place is so Amazing . Great customer service with Awesome food and drinks .I would love to get back to this place again . I wish if they could include some Aussie beers in their menu .

georgi petrov

Excellent place. Good selection of cocktails, beers and wine. There is a small outdoor seating space on the sidewalk. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Most things are gluten free, but its not the focus if the restaurant. The burrgers are great.

Nicole S.

I came here on a busy Saturday night a little earlier than my reservation time and we didn't have to wait long before being seated. I loved everything about this place! Had to get the Nicole cocktail (obviously) which was fresh and tasted great when made with gin. I was beyond excited about all of the gluten free options and how the server asked about allergies/was knowledgable. They also value the ingredients they serve, which you can tell when tasting everything. I got my own GF garlic bread to start with a tomato jam which is a plus. The Halloumi fries were a generous portion for an appetizer (in a good way). The GF fried chicken served with mashed potatoes & charred kale, and the pork belly with sweet fries went beyond my expectations. The desserts, made in house, were also pretty good, alongside a shot of espresso. I should mention that I didn’t feel rushed here at all, the courses were coming out with plenty of time in between to make room for the next plate! Check this place out!

Andrew Seelall (MrAndy)

First Australian restaurant I've been to and don't regret it. This place gets VERY PACKED FAST AND GETS REALLY LOUD FAST! NO JOKE! The menu is funny as it's true to Australian foods and its sayings. The decor is nice and service is good, but the noise had us shouting to each other even in the early morning when it just opened. This just means it's very popular, a good thing. Prices are very good and quantity of food is a lot. Idk about the late scene so it's up to you for a date here or not.

Daniel Kries

Had a pleasant experience here, food is fresh, service is attentive, kind and helpful. I went on a Sunday, they offer a 2 hour bottomless drink menu, this can make it a busy time to visit. Make reservations to get seated faster. Also it can be pretty loud with the happy people and their drinks.

RACHEL K

Came for brunch on a Sunday and it was delicious. Pro tip: they take reservations, so either make one in advance or come when they open at 11. We got here around 11:15, and there was plenty of space. Service was also friendly-lost one star because the coffee was very watery, and I NEED coffee with brunch!

David Lapietra

Great food, but even better service. Rob and Sean made it a great experience. We will definitely be back!

M OWENS

The staff and the owner couldn’t be more kind and down to earth. If you want authentic Australian cuisine I highly recommend you check them out and ask for Nick as your bartender💯

indah nuria Savitri

Love the menu they have.. enjoying the burgers with the lot! Try the Australian grass-fed beef burger and my fave, veggie burger! The veggie burger is so good with quinoa, mushroom, aragula and more. It comes with crispy fries as well. Kids enjoy their fried calamari, mashed potatoes and sliders, while I love the corn and jalapeño fritters! Hot and cheesy! Tried the virgin Dingo, the perfect mixture of lemon, lime and cilantro! The ambience is lively, service is fast and friendly, toilet is clean. Happy to go back!

Danny Chan

The food was pretty good but the owner was so kind! Super personable and extremely generous. After an amazing multi-dish fare, she graciously offered us this epic pavlova! Highly recommend

Mehtab Iqbal (Shahan)

Stopped for a Sunday brunch before our flight from LGA (it is a 10 minute drive.) Our server Nick and the experience was phenomenal. The food was great! The drinks were on point, and the service was fantastic. The order: - Crispy Fried Calamari - cooked to perfection and I have absolutely no complaints. It was fresh and flavorful. - Bonzer Burger - perfectly medium rare and seasoned deliciously. - Pain Perdu - no words. I am definitely going back on my next trip to NYC.

Rich Hackman

Cute outdoor seating on a portion of Ditmars were the street was blocked off for pedestrian use only on the day we visited. I had the most delicious frozé cocktail. Can't remember what was in it but I think it was pineapple or mango (maybe both). If still on the menu, I highly recommend. Also got pulled beef tacos that were so savory, came 4 on a plate, a great choice.

Stephen Smith

All the staff at The Thirsty Koala are extremely helpful and super friendly. Our server Nick is a total Rockstar and so attentive/responsive. Dinner was ordered and delivered in less than 20 mins and the drinks we ordered while we waited were amazing. Additionally, the restaurant patrons were all super welcoming locals that made sure to let us know how much they appreciated us coming to Astoria (from Hoboken, NJ) to dine. This place is a 12 out of 10. Do yourself a favor and check The Thirsty Koala out!!

Melanie Rios

I was attracted to this bar because of 1-name and 2-Australian beers and food. I had the Coopers Sparkling Ale and a standard "brekkie" with eggs, fries, sour dough toast, and added the jalepeño chorizo sausage. For a basic breakfast, the food tasted really good and was flavorful. My boyfriend got the steak sandwich that had (FRIES!!) inside and was very tasty. I thought the portions were perfect. This place is legit, as even the waiter was Australian. Definitely check it out!

Umme Shital

Really great food and drinks! Came here for brunch on a Saturday and the place was packed! We were seated immediately though by our waiter who took what seemed forever to come back and take our orders. That's why I'm giving it 4 stars- otherwise the food is exceptional. Try the corn and jalapeno fritters benedict if you're going for brunch!

Diego Marin

Bottom line: nice small cafe, good food but uncoordinated service really draws from the experience. Bit pricey to not have good service. Gluten line: nice clearly labeled menu with lots of options. Halloumi fries were delicious! Long line: we'd been wanting to come here for a while but the experience fell short of our expectations. We missed the brunch, but still wanted to enjoy a drink and some appetizers. Service was terrible uncoordinated, with 3 people randomly coming at odd, spaced out intervals and at times seeming like they were all hiding in the back. A bit disappointing to be sitting for so long with empty drinks and plates.

Tatiana T Ting

Had a really great dinner here. Thank you to Ursula our waitress and Christine the owner for making our time here amazing. Food was tasty and our party got most of the appetizers to share. I really liked the varied menu, with many gluten free and vegan options.

Richele Kim

First time eating at a restaurant in Queens. My friend was intrigued by the halloumi fries. Staff was great. Food was very tasty.

Usury Torres

One of my favorite spots to come with my family! And one of the best in Astoria. The food is always delicious. Their drinks are wonderful as well!

Andrea Allison

Fantastic service on our way out of NYC. The waiter was excellent and provided excellent recommendations. We had the truffle fries for an appetizer then a beet salad and the chicken marsala as entrees. Great vibe and music.

Liz Hurtado

Great space (plenty of outdoor seating), food, and service! Thank you, Koala!! My partner and I always enjoy this place. The second picture is proof that we destroy everything we order here. Tip: if you order wings, ask for sauce on the side if you’re not into spicy food. Also, Justin is incredible!!!

Brian Dunlop

Came here for brunch. Had the Sheep Shearer's Brekkie (breakfast). Great deal. Three eggs, sausage, potatoes, grilled tomato, toast, and two hotcakes. Bloody Mary is good, spicy muy picante. Btw, you don't have to cut any wool if you order the sheep brekkie. Just need a big appetite. Good on you.

David Budnetz

Lamb Lollies are fantastic. Pretty good rotating craft beer selection. Kangaroo sliders were worth having once.

yesenia bravo

Great brunch. Tasty home fries. The pancakes have a lil too much chocolate for me.

NK

We didn't plan going here, but luckily our other brunch reservation fell through last minute. A group of 12 of us came in and the service was great. Our waiter Nick really took care of us and everyone was super friendly. The food was super tasty and great portions. Definitely should be your next go-to brunch spot!! 10/10 on everything 😀 …

Henry Nichols

Great calamari. Excellent whiskey drinks. Huge entrees. Incredible service. Awesome night out!

kennie morales

The food, atmosphere, service, presentation was all great. Two thumbs up. I would definitely come back again. Thank you all celebrating my wife's birthday with me.

Dane “Matthew” Gregg

Great burgers and the halloum fries are just sinful. Been coming here for years and I love that it's become a staple of Ditmars.

Wesley Curtis

My wife and I loved Thirsty Koala so much that we asked if they would cater our small wedding and they generously accepted! The quality and care they take in their restaurant service translated ten-fold to their catering. We can't thank you enough, Thirsty! A priceless Astoria gem. From the brunch, drinks, rotating menu...These reviews say it all.

Gavli kay

Fried chicken sandwich was amazing!! Fresh, juicy and filling! Gf had the burger, tasted great!! Fish Tacos were excellent appetizers. 4 times I've been to thirsty koala, always great food!!

Sara

Great brunch options! Love the creativity of the menu and GF options. In addition, the brunch price wasn't bad at all and they didn't have any hesitation with the refills. Drinks were strong and presentation was beautiful. Great customer service but the outdoor setup could be a little better. Definitely will return!

Angela Chung

I didn't realize that this was a gluten free restaurant, which could explain why their meat pies are the way they are. Anyhow, I had the paella which was great--5 stars. My husband loves meat pies, and was excited to try their meat pies. He describes them as follows: "it was like someone took a pilsbury biscuit, cut a hole in it and placed some filling, and then covered it back up." He was disappointed with the crust, but if it's a gluten free restaurant then I can understand why the crust may have been different than what he was expecting. In which case, their gluten free pasta is phenomenal because I couldn't tell it was gluten free. They do have kids options, but it's not a menu--just ask the server. The service was great.

Ming

My first time trying Australian food! Parking was easy to find as metered parking had already ended at 7pm for the night - I found a parking spot right across the street from the Thirsty Koala I got to taste the 11 menu items as follows: - Crispy salt and pepper calamari with sweet chili - So good and I loved the sweet chili sauce. I love drenching my foods in sauce - Angry wings with carolina reaper sauce - the sauce sounded super spicy bc of the word 'reaper' but I'm glad to say I was able to try and down two pieces haha - Halloumi fries with buckwheat honey, lemon, sesame, mint - The sweet honey and sour lemon had a nice kick paired with the halloumi fries. A plethora of non-spicy flavors to contrast eating spicy chicken tenders - Moussaka - First time trying this vegan dish! I liked the minced ingredients inside, glad I got to try something new - Corn and jalapeno fritters - This was good, no complaints - Thea's meatballs - I wish I had more meatballs, I liked this as well - Grilled octopus - Delicious! My favorite dish of the night (dessert is its own separate category :P) - Australian leg of lamb tacos - The lamb was too chewy and thick for me - Beyond burger sliders - Some may say that the zuni pickle was overpowering, but as a person who likes pickles.. it paired well with the beyond burger sliders :) - Bonzer slider - Double patty! By the time I got to this dish, I was so full.. so I took my double patty home for lunch the next day, yum - Koala chocolate truffles - This. is. the. best. I would definitely come back to the Thirsty Koala especially for these Koala chocolate truffles! The staff here are such a delight. They know how to make things right! I had such a wonderful night; I'll be back, alright~

michelle

I really love this place! Kind people and amazing food! But PLEASE bring back the tapenade with the bread! It was my favorite 😭

s.g Ciattei

Great Great Eatery Excellent food. the Meatball Appetizer KILLER... THE NED KELLY STESK SANDWICH I COULD EAT 3 TIMES A WEEK AND NOT GET BORED..GREAT SERVICE

Mark LoGiurato

Good place to get fresh food and good cocktails. Terrific happy hour specials. Good service as well.

John Waters

Came here on a Sunday afternoon. The place was very loud with not that many people, and had background music too, making conversation at the table hard! The food was not spectacular. I got the 2 Scrambled eggs, and home fries with toast. They gave me 1 piece of bread, frozen butter and the home fries were nothing special. The eggs were good. It’s a nice place but diner food.

Carla D'Andrea

We accidentally stumbled upon this amazing restaurant, which featured fresh, farm to table ingredients and so many gluten free options for me (celiac). I would definitely recommend The Thirsty Koala to anyone!

Theodoros Theodorou

Gluten Free HEAVEN. Forget the fact that it was only the 2nd time I ever tried gluten free calamari but it was the best fried calamari I had period. Friendly staff, amazing food. You won't be disappointed. I have literally tried everything on the menu.

Erin Smith

There are so many gluten-free options and a lot of awareness about celiac disease. They have a dedicated gluten-free fryer which is rare in NYC. Thank you!

Charles Simms (Charlie)

We decided to try some Australian food on a Sunday afternoon when we were the only patrons. We had the wagyu diablo dog and spicy fried chicken, along with a red sangria and painkiller cocktail. The food was delicious, and the drinks were superb. However, we weren’t thrilled with the Manhattan pricing, nor the hidden up-charges: for example, the waiter recommended that my girlfriend add goat cheese to her spicy chicken, never mentioning anything about an additional charge. (It was an extra $4.) Additionally, the sangria was listed on the drink menu as being $9, but when we got the check, it was $12. They claimed that the listed prices reflected “happy hour” prices. That said, we’re still giving The Thirsty Koala 4 stars because of how delicious the food was. If you’re in the neighbor and are looking to try something nice, give this place a chance.

Nick Then

Food was serve really fast right after I place order. Great food and friendly server. Will definitely come back again

Isabel Montalvan

We are SO happy we decided to order dinner from The Thirsty Koala today. We got amazed last time we ordered their burgers. We took a chance to order something different and WE did not regret it! Amazing amazing food. The chicken marsala was really good. Garlic mashed potatoes were truly delicious. And the Philly Cheese steak sandwich was scrumptious! Even the side grilled veggies was delicious. ➕ their customer service is outstanding. Super nice 👌. Definitely hit the spot BIG TIME. We will definitely will be ordering from there again!

Naomi Lee

Really good! Loved every dish. Try the halloumi fries

Eugene Sava

Best place on the street hands down! The wife and I enjoy birthdays and our New Years at Koala. Lovely staff and a menu that constantly has new and fun things and well as some long lasting classics. Perfect farm to table experience!!!

Chantal F

Love it! The owner(s) got it right! My waitress got it right! I’d recommend the lavender lemonade with gin and the meatballs but honestly the entire menu is lush. Happy hour is from 3-6 pm m-f but I missed it because my cab driver was a chatty patty and I love listening to people 💬 Come here ASAP and order whatever and you’ll honestly enjoy it! Sb: covid conscious, clean, safe, all payment methods welcomed and it’s a vibe.

Kathy T

Love this place. The food is always delicious. I have a gluten allergy and this is a place I can eat with my whole family and has a big selection of gluten free dishes unlike most restaurants. One of my kids is vegetarian and my husband is a total carnivore. This place has a great selection for everyone. Absolutely delicious fried calamari. Crispier than any calamari that is not gluten free! Amazing sticky date pudding dessert...omg so good!! Every dish we've had has been delicious. We go back again and again.

Frank P

Went there for the first time this past weekend. The place was at capacity due to covid restrictions so we had to wait a bit to get in, but were totally kept informed every few minutes by Nick on when we could expect the be seated. Once we were seated, Nick and crew went out of their way to make sure we had a great dinner. The food was phenomenal, but the service is what stood out to me. I may be wrong, but the way they operate it seems to be family run, and they made us feel like family even if it was only for a few hours. Blown away and will def be visiting again. Thanks Nick and crew for a great evening!

Roseann

The food here is always great as well as their service. Today was no different. There was a small error on my bill which I noticed after, but I received a quick response indicating it would be taken care of. There are great vegan options and happy hour drinks are awesome. Tried their Thirsty Koala beer for the first time today as well as their Earth Chili bowl. It was delicious.

Kristen

Every time I come here, it's a pleasure. The staff is cute and helpful, the food is always delicious. my family and I love the cocktails. The first time I came, of course I had to try the kangaroo burger. So delicious, but definitely for adventurous eaters.

Eriç Wakeham

Great food , great drinks ,great dessert . Great owner / chef is a retired NYC Emergency Medical Services Chief .

Fernando Mattei

Great place and food. Very careful with our gluten free needs.

kristina ykalo

My girlfriend and I have gone to Thirsty Koala a few times. The playful name is what caught us the first name, but the restaurant itself is what keeps us coming back. When you walk in, the decor is inviting and comfortable. (See how many koalas you can find!) Every time we go, there are only a few free seats, if any at all. I'd guess this spot is popular because of the amazing food. We've tried a few items on the menu and plan to go through each one. We like the food that much. One of their signature brunch dishes, the Corn Fritter Salmon Benedict, is clever, tasty, and very filling. The staff is always very timely and courteous. It is one of those places that works for a casual meetup or even a first date. There are plenty of options on the menu to fit all sorts of palates. We plan to keep coming back!

Maria Vomero

Nice spot in Astoria for some gluten free goodies! Fried calamari were really nice and burgers are pretty delicious as well! Staff was very nice too.

Patrick Healy

This place is a beautiful bright spot in a sea of overwhelmingly average eateries in this part of the neighborhood. I almost think it should be on the other side of the neighborhood where all the great stuff is. Had the kangaroo burger and it was outstanding - and very satisfying. I think every person on staff that day came by to see how we liked our meal. They were very accommodating to myself, my wife and our 2 year old daughter. It was one of the more enjoyable, stress free meals we've had in quite some time. I will go back here and recommend you give it a whirl. If you don't like interesting and unique food there's always McDonald's down the street. :-)

Christopher Van Zele

The burgers are excellent. Burger "with the lot" is worth a look. I generally don't like pineapple on anything but it blends very well with the other flavors. Brunch cocktails are a fantastic deal. Service was competent.

John Dough

Good food but it's a little pricey. Kangaroo burger was quite good, made of actual imported kangaroo meat. Pork belly was really tasty when dipped in the chili sauce provided, which brought out and enhanced the flavor. Lamb lollipops were an okay appetizer, but overpriced for only 2 small pieces. I'm not really into seafood, but I sampled the cod tacos and thought it was okay. Finished the night with the salted caramel slice, which was a little hard but enjoyable.

Maximilan Rothschild

I’ve never been to the place but I get food delivered from this place quite a lot. Foods great,no doubt about it,loved everything I’ve ordered so far. Reasoning behind this review is tonight’s order,picked a date pudding which comes with a side of vanilla bean ice cream. They didn’t put the ice cream on the same container as the hot pudding; they are meticulous enough to have the ice cream on a different container. And that sure tells me how they run as a business,definitely will go one day to dine in. 5 Star

Eliezer Wagner

Took my wife here to try something new for her birthday and can't wait to go back. I had the ribeye, she had the kangaroo burger and I wish I had what she had. The steak was great, but I tasted her burger and WOW it was delicious. The flavor and tenderness of the kangaroo burger is so far unmatched to anything I've had before. The service was great and the prices were just right. Again, can't wait to go again!

Brett Taranda

We've lived on Ditmars for 5 years now and this has been the best, most consistently great restaurant from day 1. I am the type of person who finds something on a menu that I love and then order it every time. But this place has so many superb items, from appetizers, to entrees, to burgers, that I have such a hard time deciding what to get every time I go. The owner is so nice. She's always there, always talking to customers, always trying to improve the menu based on what the customers want. Oh, and if you are vegan, gluten free, vegetarian, you all have tons of options, and every item is clearly marked on the menu if it is gf, veg, dairy, whatever. It is no surprise that this place has thrived the whole time we've lived here while a hundred other restaurants have closed.

Kelly Paulsen

Great option for vegans. I am not a vegan, but my boyfriends mother is a vegan. We had a great time here - myself, my boyfriend and his parents. The service was wonderful. The chef came to check in on the tables halfway through our meal. I got the chicken sliders -- they were pretty good without cheese. I enjoyed the french fries. My boyfriend and his dad both got burgers...no one was brave enough to try the kangaroo meat -- seems cruel...they're so cute! His mom and I split the Coco Pomme Margarita, which was really delicious - the perfect amount of sweet and boozy with a spicy rim. My boyfriend and I had been once before for happy hour and a quick appetizer while we were apartment hunting in the area. We had Thea's Meatball appetizer and it was not what we expected in the taste category, but it was delicious!! They had a halal spiced lamb taste, and were served with a basil yogurt sauce. Will be back for those again, and for some of the $5 cocktails you can get during happy hour -- try The Gabba! Really nice atmosphere, attentive and friendly bartenders. Definitely stop in for a meal or a quick bite!

Adam Fowler

The Thirsty 🐨 is amazing. They have a great menu which I believe is almost entirely gluten free, their pasta of the day is always good, and their cocktails are incredible. It's one of my go to spots for brunch or dinner in Astoria and never disappoints. …

Charles sammut

Good food and nice staff. I had the seafood paella. Very good.

Yi Ren

Thirsty Koala is one of the best restaurants around in Queens. Their vegetarian taco and fritters were top notch. They also offer exceptional good services. One of my friends (first time here) felt adventurous and wanted to try the kangaroo burger. But unfortunately, he didn't enjoy it. I had the kangaroo burger previously, and thought it was delicious. I guess it's not everyone's cup of tea. A lady(the owner or manager?) came over and noticed the kangaroo burger only had a few bites on it and felt bad that my friend didn't enjoy his meal. She insisted on switching his meal to anything he wanted, even thought my friend was totally okay with it and the fault wasn't at the restaurant. This lovely lady didn't have to do any of this, but she went out of her way and made sure my friend felt like a valued patron. Excellent food and services. Keep it up and we'll be back soon!!!

Nathan Hancock

My husband and I love to go here for brunch. The food is delicious and fresh, with a lovely Australian menu. The servers are friendly and helpful. The music is fun (usually oldies). I can't wait to try the dinner menu, but we keep coming back to brunch! A complimentary drink with every entree...I usually go for the Bellini and order the two eggs with fries and toast- all for under $10!

Saturday Mourning Car Tunes

Never a dull moment when the bar husband and wife team are working together (Victoria and Matt). Great atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff make for a fun evening every time. The food is excellent, my current favorite is the pan roasted chicken breasts and you can't go wrong with the calamari appetizer. Worth a try if you're indecisive of where to go.

Beth Karlin

Love this place! Been going here/ordering from here for a couple years now and it’s super consistent. They use quality ingredients and the food always tastes amazing. I love the chicken tacos and the salads/bowls - produce is on point!

Angelina Lorenzo

This was my first time going to a restaurant that serves Australian cuisine and I was not disappointed! The food was so good, I forgot to take a picture of it 😅. The coffee was also similar to Latin coffee in taste and I loved it!

Stefanie Torres

I love this spot! The food is so delicious every single time! I've tried so many different dishes and I am never disappointed...the service is the most amazing bunch you will ever meet. Always my favorite date night spot.

Ran Brosh

Great restaurant. Food is delicious. One of the best places in New York to get gluten free food. The GF calamari was delicious and the steak was superb (but spicy). Burgers are great too, though a bit too big to handle without deconstruction. Deserts were okay.

james bond

Amazing food options and the drink choices are definitely great for the area. This place is fun and chill. Great first date spot for sure. The tacos here are amazing!!! Food here looked amazing. Headed cheif is has been featured on chopped!! Drinks are put together very well. Look at the picture of steak tacos I ordered. Look at my drink. One of the issue's is they can't keep up with the rush. Again this place is great I will come back for sure but they only had 1 bar tender for a happy hour. There happy hour here is unreal they have draft beer, wine, and mixed drinks for an unreal price. This hands down is great but they just need to get ready for the rush aka peak, load of people, that will help them increase sales and increase amount of people that will return. 5 star place remember that

Elizabeth Sesha Coleman

love that they mark the allergens on the menu so those of us with food allergies can make decisions easily. The cafe has a gluten allergy so I always know I'm going to be taken care of, plus they have gluten free bread you can start your meal with! Great happy hour drink specials plus the wine pours are fairly generous. Between that, the delicious food and friendly service, I find a stop at the thirsty koala to always be a delightful one

Peter Foster

Food was very good. We had lamb lollies, stuffed jalapenos, fish tacos, and a burger. There gluten free menu was one of the best I've seen. Almost everything was gluten free OR had a gluten free variation. I plan to go back.

The One and only Pinky Pinky

We went to Thirsty Koala when they first opened and recently! It is so much better than it used to be! Best fried chicken in the 5 boros IMO and wonderful sides! Friendly service and wonderful food with reasonable prices! We went during the heat wave and didn't remember to take pictures but we will go again soon and I will post pictures then! I need to add that it is truly gluten free also! That is what drew us there! They have a dedicated fryer for those of us with illnesses that can not have gluten. Gluten is a cheap filler and it is a credit to them that they do not use it!

Leysel Siguenza

Such a pleasant experience! I would recommend this restaurant hands down to everyone. The food was delicious but the customer service was excellent. It looked like we were served by the manager, she was wonderful, we were a party of 8 and it was around 10pm. She made us feel comfortable and educated us on the Australian menu. Loved it!

Nicole

Stay away from the cheese steak sandwich it has an awful seasoning. My boyfriend who will eat anything didn't even like it. The halloumi Fries are great

Miriam Vera

The waiter and restaurant staff were super attentive and the food was magnificent. It's pricey but worth it. So much to choose from but happy that I spend my money on food that I ate all.

Maninder Parhar (Mani)

Went here on a quiet Wednesday evening and it was a nice vibe. Happy hour until 9pm! The food overall was delicious with fair portion sizes. My favorite was the corn and jalapeños fritters. The meatballs were good but too oily! I would go back to check out other items on their menu.

Tom Huang

excellent food and service, although it was a bit expensive -- two beers, an 8oz burger, and a pavlova dessert during happy hour ran up to $58 pre-tip, and they were medium-lower priced items on the menu. again food was authentic Australian and delicious, and service was very attentive

Jae Hyun Ha

One of my favorite restaurants in the area. It’s good for comforting staple dishes but done very well. The charred kale is to die for! Their cocktails are pretty strong as well

Maddison-Belle Petrus

Living in New York for so long, I need a meat pie once in a while to remind me of home. This is awesome for an Aussie looking for some Aussie food. They vegetarian/vegan/gluten free options. And quality of the food is tops! The service is awesome, everyone is very nice. Would recommend everyone!

Jon Silverman

Ordered delivery and it was delicious. I think this might be the best fried chicken I've ever tasted in NY (not to mention it's GF and is better than non-GF fried chicken at most places). It came still hot and crispy which was impressive for delivery, definitely exceeded my expectations. My wife ordered the fish tacos which were good but didn't arrive quite as fresh/hot. Will most definitely be coming back for more!

Nabeel Akhtar

Little overpriced, but food is good and people working are nice and polite

Savannah King

Oh Thirsty Koala, I have such mixed opinions about you...On the one hand, food is quite good and portions are great, especially for the very reasonable prices, but the service here during brunch is bad on most days and horrendous on others. They take forever to take your initial order and everything thereafter is at an insanely slow pace. The staff they hire here are also super unfriendly and a bit aggressive for some reason. Don't expect to get a drink on the house from these guys! Definitely would not recommend getting the bottomless drinks special during brunch since these waiters take years to refill you, it's definitely not worth it. But the mimosas are pretty damn good and not to be missed, so just get the mimosa pitcher and refill yourself! I kind of hate the service here, but I like the food and their mimosa pitchers make me happy, so I'll be back.

Tim Ferris

Yet another item i love at Thirsty Koala …softshell crab. Delicious! Service at the bar awesome as usual. Oh, great fry’s tonight.

Barrie Smith

We went there on Friday night to get some drinks and get some nice food! The food was excellent there is no complaints about it! The music was so chill! Everything was delicious and fresh! The staff is excellent ! If your looking for a nice after work chill spot with great food, drinks and overall vibe.. This place provides it and won't disappoint.

Michael Garcia

Great restaurant, very casual, awesome staff, and of course the food is great. The environment is awesome and adapts throughout the day. If you're grabbing lunch or breakfast the environment is light and inviting and at night it turns into a chic, dimmed-light environment. They offer a wide variety of spirits with a reasonable amount of beer on the tap, a selection of wines and of course they have a full bar that can serve cocktails. They offer Coopers as well since this is an Australian restaurant afterall! The staff is awesome! They're very helpful and engaging with their customers.

Gloria Kim

A solid 4 stars. They're conveniently located in the corner of the most heavily touristy shopping strip. What lured us in was the food other people were eating while we passed by. They have outdoor seating as well as indoor seating. They offer free wifi (yay!) and the menu is extensive. I had the fish tacos and they were delicious. The fish on the tacos were really crispy and tender and full of meat. It was flavorful and definitely one of the top fish tacos I've experienced. We also ordered the loaded nachos with chicken as an appetizer and it was huge. That appetizer is definitely worth an entree. We couldn't finish all the food because the servings were huge! Cost is pretty darn cheap and very affordable.

Nate Hopkins

Bringing Australia to Astoria, the food at The Thirty Koala is excellent, intriguing; always on-time and it's always delicious! They are quick to help customers with kindness and more than willing to meal individually specified dining preferences. I'd highly recommend this joint.

Linda J. Renna

Food was excellent. Have never had a bad meal here. Smoked kale with lemon sooo tasty! Roo burger perfect. Took 1 star away bc the table was a bit sticky and although our waitress was wonderful, another in the background tapped her watch when we came in because it was late/too close to closing for her comfort. If not for our waitress being so good it might have affected my return again.

Jeremy Webner

We had brunch here with a pitcher of mimosa for the table and bottomless coffee. The wonderful wait staff asked if we had allergies. One in our party has a ton of allergies and the waitress wrote them all down and took our order. Later on the waitress came back to let us know the sweat chili sauce is made with fish sauce and will not be in my fish allergic friend's order and asked if that was ok. We never would have know otherwise and we loved the initiative the restaurant took.

Alicia Zamora

Love the avocado toast. Great service.

William Kimbark

Definitely an interesting menu. Mostly vegetarian stuff and the three that I went with all enjoyed their meals. I got the burger with the works and it was good but not great. Beer is a small selection but they have good crafts.

Vanessa Carney

Great happy hour - $4 beers, $5 cocktails and wines. And it's not just a crappy house wine - any of them, and they're all good in my experience. Sweet staff, great fresh cocktails, and every good item has been delicious. Fish of the day lightly cooked to perfection.

Pinky Chan

Awesome atmosphere. The wait was pretty long as the food is served quite slowly compared to other restaurants. Are they hunting the kangaroos back there? Came on a late Sunday night expecting not a lot of people there. I tried some of the kangaroo sliders -- KANGAROO tastes a lot like lamb... interesting, but I don't think I will eat it again. I was really excited about the sausages though, that was really delicious. I ordered the steak and potato sandwich. It's a lot of food -- I was super stuffed! I'm not sure if it's because I was already starving that my stomach shrank though. The steak was a bit hard to chew, but there was char on the pieces that added an interesting texture. Not sure if the cuts should be in a sandwich because it's so hard to chew together with all the ingredients. When you bite into it, the sandwich falls apart! Dinner was pricey, but it was a lot of food -- so it was worth it. The chef came out at the end of the night to meet us. Magnificent special exp! I want to try the shakes next time if I am in the area again.

Mihai Pistol

Was there for brunch and did not disappoint. The eggs Benedict were delish as well as fries. They make good bloody Mary's if not a bit small. The only downside was the food taking about 45 minutes to show up. I've seen the nice owner a couple of times for dinner and I wish she was there on Sunday to speed things up.

xiao hello

For me the Thirsty Koala is the quintessential Queens restaurant with a mix of adventurous and familiar dishes; generous, accommodating and warm friendly service; reasonable cost for the quality (never mind having one of the best Happy Hours in NY!) - it is one of my favorite places I always recommend without hesitation. My love for the Koala runs deep - allow me to count the ways: The owners Alex, Christine and Chef Kathy are the best people. Alex runs an amazing bar with a great, rotating selection of craft beers, unique well-made cocktails and great selection of wine (good cost too - most bottles no more than $30-35.). Also a Happy Hour from 4-8 with discounts on nearly everything.

Heamasi Vi

Such a friendly little place! The staff is really attentive and can be heard and seen enjoying each other's company. I got the Kangaroo Burger With The Lot and it was definitely worth the experience! Love their sweet chili sauce that they have. Definitely a place to return to. Our sever, Sofia was always on hand to help us out and even told us how the meat would taste best! The decor inside is really nice, from the lighting to the tables, somebody went out of their way to create that relaxed feeling. Props to the designer because it feels like you're at home in there.

Meghan Haffey

IF YOU HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES, THIS IS A FANTASTIC RESTAURANT CHOICE! I was blown away by my experience at this place. I went with my aunt and my best friend because I have a significant amount of food allergies and their menu offers gluten-free and vegan options. After being seated, we were waited on by an amazing server who was extremely considerate of my food allergies. She was very knowledgeable of the ingredients in each dish, and if she was ever unsure, she would ALWAYS check directly with the kitchen staff. When Chef Katherine was made aware of my many food allergies, she personally came to our table not once, but THREE times to ensure that she could prepare a meal for me that would not give me an allergic reaction. She even went as far as to tweak one of her dessert recipes so that I could have dessert with my aunt and best friend. Let me tell you, I NEVER am able to order a pasta dish or a dessert at other restaurants, but Chef Katherine made sure that I could do it at her's. After taking our orders, she would always come back out to check on us and make sure everything was meeting our expectations. Both our server and Chef Katherine were amazing, and they made this restaurant experience one of the best I've ever had since getting diagnosed with all my food allergies. My experience at this restaurant absolutely exceeded my expectations, and it will be the first restaurant I return to each time I go back to Astoria, NY. Chef Katherine, if you're reading this, COME TO TEXAS PLEASE!!!

erin kim

one of my favorite/go-to spots in the neighborhood!! well made, great flavors, worth every penny. especially like the burgers.

Sum Alv

Excellent staff! The owner is very friendly and very nice. She came to our table to apologize for the long wait and gave us some desserts on the house that were absolutely delicious! The food here also tastes amazing. Definitely recommend!

Ali Janati

I love getting kangaroo burger from here and the staff is sooooooo nice and helpful. Whether you're looking for drinks or just great authentic Australian food and sauces this is a place to visit. Nowhere else like it in the city so if you're looking for a spot to get some Australian food definitely make a trip out of it. Loved it the first time I got it and still always come back because it's just that good!

chris serrano

Place gets super packed! Make a reservation if you can. We had the meat pies, meatballs, hanger steak tacos, Australian sausage, and kangaroo burger. Everything was delicious, but the meat pies and sausage were my fave. Its super casual and gets pretty loud, so if you're looking for a lively night with great food and drinks, this is the perfect place.

Avery Jones

A TRULY Fantastic place. Great food and Excellent atmosphere!! My party's server, CALEB, was fantastic and very attentive!! The Owner KATHERINE was a true delight as well. She made us feel welcome! Surely a place we will be returning to soon!

Juan Francisco Mosquera

I would like put more start for this place. Here I ate the best beef in America.

flora avani

I love having brunch here on the weekends. I usually order one of the omelets with hash and of course mimosas. The food is always fresh and well prepared. The Staff is attentive and friendly. In the summer I always sit outdoors to relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Sebastian Trujillo

This is a cool place that caught my attention when I found out it was a local favorite. The place has a cheerful atmosphere and the waitresses are friendly. Of course I had to try the kangaroo burger and let's just say it is a must have just for the experience but not for its taste. There is plenty of space both inside and outside and it makes for a great dinner.

Arthur A

I loved this place as well. Usually they do wonders with food and everything tastes amazing. But recently there was a hair in the fish my mother inlaw ordered. They did not charge me at all for that order of fish. But they do charge a mandatory 20% tip. I still love the place. The meat is imported from Australia.

Joseph Coffey-Slattery

The food, ambiance and service was amazing.This restaurant is certainly one of the best places I’ve ever been to in Queens, if not period. I highly recommend the fish and chips, a staple but one they do very, very well. Reasonably priced and high quality. Excited to visit again!

yu new

Came here last night for an Elite event. Impressive. The atmosphere is quaint and the ever friendly, welcoming staff brought out dish after dish of Australian delights. Every dish that that got passed my way was simply scrumptious. Among the favorites, lamb lollies, the cauliflower quinoa, meat pie was but so good. The cocktails were pretty refreshing as well. I would like to come back for dinner another time. I really enjoyed this venue and the menu is not your every day fare. Side note, also seems like a great place for gatherings.

Gerardo Aponte

This is my second event in The Thirsty Koala, third if we include Queens Museum, my expectation was very high and they definitely didn't disappointed me, from the large open bar that was in the bar to variety of food that was served there. And we cannot stop saying what a great job the staff did, always serving with a smile and making sure that we had something in our mouth or plate. A Special Shootout to the chef Kathy we got to meet the chef in person, for the great menu, the careful service and for her great dedication, kindness always coming out and asking us if the dish was good and what we had not eaten for the menu. Congrats on going to the Chopped, I am sure you will go far.

Kat R

They definitely improved their menu from the last time that I was there and the other good thing was they no longer have a sanitation grade of C in their window which didn't make me feel uncomfortable like the last time when they did, this time there was an A in the window. I stuck to something basic for brunch which was a grilled chicken sandwich with avocado cheddar lettuce and tomato. That sandwich alone was about $10 and then fries had to be ordered separately. I guess it was okay, the bellinis definitely were very good I got to say in comparison to other brunch drinks I've had at other places this one was better.

John Pershing

Passable for brunch, good for dinner. I've been here a couple times and it's never disappointed, but never exceeded expectations. They have a few Australian dishes that are interesting, but overall just average.

Rowan Pritchard

I had high hopes for this place but was a little disappointed. The breakfasts are filling and nice but at best 4/5. The bacon was served cold and the toast is just cheap sliced bread. Further more, for an Australian-themed place the coffee is all wrong - maybe it resembles truck stop coffee in Australia but that's it. Even Australian McDonalds has better coffee. The decor also could really use an overhaul. Service is great and friendly

Drew Helling

The food was great as per usual, but our server Nick went above and beyond with everything. We will definitely be coming back as soon as possible!

Alena Kharlamenko

One of my go-to places for happy hour in Astoria. Great deal for drinks and they’re always delicious. The fried calamari here is unreal. They have fun inventive vegetarian dishes (as well as non-vegetarian), and are conscious of any food allergies you might have.

Kyle Devine-Szymonek

Cozy restaurant with a solid cocktail menu on a buzzing strip of ditmas. The menu is very good, though it's basically a la carte. The food was delicious. Fish and chips was three big portions of fish and some shoestring fries. The fried chicken was huge and fresh and delicious. If you're getting a salad, it's worth it to add the protein (went with the tasty salmon). Would recommend for smaller groups or dates

Nancy Baird

Out of this world! Australian food in NY? Chef Elizabeth was wonderful with me on the phone as well! A must visit restaurant! I'm a koala collector in Charleston SC and saw The Thirsty Koala's Chef Elizabeth on Chopped. I looked the restaurant up online to see if I could get a tshirt with their beautiful logo. When I couldn't find anything, I called them direct. The woman who answered listened to my story and put Chef Elizabeth on to talk with me. I was thrilled! We talked for awhile and she said she would definitely get them made since I was about the 50th person to ask. They were so nice to a crazy lady in SC that collects koalas! Kudos to The Thirsty Koala and Chef Elizabeth!🐨🐨🐨

sedi lushaj

I’ve been here at LEAST 10 times, I’m a very sensitive celiac and I’ve never gotten sick. They take allergies seriously and they have a dedicated area where they prepare gluten free meals. The menu is also gluten friendly, pretty much the entire menu is/can be gluten free. Fahad has been our server every time and he’s one of the best. He knows how to treat allergies and provides quick and efficient service. LOVE THIS PLACE !!! Favorite of all time. Most delicious food. Excellent service. Awesome menu. And celiac approved!

Foodlover Girl

I wanted to try good Australian restaurant, and this place came up on the radar. The inside was larger than it looked from the outside. The front wall facing the street can be opened up entirely, extending the dining area onto the street. With this, it had lots of natural lights coming from the outside, making it nice and bright. We ordered Fried Calamari from the “small plates” section of the menu as appetizer. I thought the price was a bit high for “small” plates. It had good amount of calamari, more than enough to share among two people. It was lightly fried, really nice and crispy on the outside, not greasy at all. From here, it went really slow motion. It took a while for our main dish to come out. We ordered Burger with the Lot (Australian Grass-Fed Beef) to share. I was so excited for this burger, from the moment I saw a photo of it. When it (finally) arrived at our table, I was surprised to see a patty in a shape of a round ball. It was just sitting there in a middle, with all the other toppings and buns being bigger than the patty, creating dead space around the patty. I am not sure the reason why they made the patty into a ball, but it was very difficult to eat. As everything else was bigger than the patty ball, they fell apart around the patty. It tasted good, but the effort it required to eat it was a bit much. Throughout out our meal, I don’t remember our server ever coming to check on us. But, other staffs took care of us with removing dirty plates, refilling weather, bringing our food…well, basically, they did everything. I think our server kind of forgotten about us, didn’t event know if our appetizer came out. When we were about to finish up with our burger, he all of a sudden looked at our table and asked “did the appetizer come out? Oh it did? I missed that. Hahaha!”…I guess it was funny to him that he was obviously NOT paying attention to our table. But that didn’t change his behavior. After we finished our food, other staffs came to pick up the dishes, cleaned off the table, and gave up new napkins and silverware. Then, we sat there for 5-10 min while waiting for our server to come give us a dessert menu. When no one came, we had to grab one of the staffs to ask for the dessert menu. Overall, the brunch was good, not great. The desserts were awesome, which was the highlight of the brunch. The slow service was a bit too slow. The table next to us felt the same way, and that they had to grab one of the staffs to go check on their food, since it was taking so long to come out. If there was no other staff assisting, and we only had our server, it would have been a disaster. Thank you to all the other servers for helping us have a better experience! Read my full review of the restaurant and food on my food blog, foodlovergirl.

Rajiv Perinbasekar

I've been here twice, for lunch and dinner. All the food was tasty, whether burgers or salads or fish and chips. They have quite a few gluten free options, which was the reason we visited The Thirsty Koala in the first place. One star off for the loud music. I sat in the back of the restaurant both times, and it was hard to hear myself my think, let alone hear my friends sitting next to me.

Taylor Schooley

Only place I've ever had kangaroo meat. Cool atmosphere and fresh food. Only reason for 4 stars is because it is very small and loud inside when crowded and the server was a little in attentive. Other than that all around good eat.

Nicole Monahan

If you plan to go full Aussie, get the kangaroo burger with their goat cheese (made in house). The thing I love about this place is the friendly welcoming vibe. There's two owners, one is a chef and one runs around taking care of the business odds and ends. Whether you're here in the day or evening, one of the owners will be there and will come out and greet every single customer. They go above and beyond to make sure you're having a great meal. They also have very reasonable prices, especially for brunch ranging anywhere from $5-$15 with an alcoholic beverage included. Additionally they have daily specials that are always health conscience with fresh ingredients. Definitely, can't recommend this place enough!

Mattherw Davis

I enjoyed the food and service. They are very friendly and have great gluten free and vegetarian options. But the prices are high, so expect to pay a lot for these options.

Gabriel Walsh

This place does what it does very well. The food is generally light on the plate and deliciously seasoned (this is especially true of their rice). The only catch is that if you're looking for some kind of unique ethnic experience, you won't find it here. As with the country this restaurant represents (Australia), the food is a hodge podge of European and Asian dishes and influences. While they do them very well, there is nothing truly unique about them. If you keep that in mind, you will have a fantastic, laid back and delicious dining experience.

Mike Minervini

Very fresh and clean place, very friendly waitress who explained the somewhat foreign menu. The kangaroo burger with goat cheese was great! They were able to accommodate our party of 5 just walking in but I would recommend reservations for 5 or more ad its not a huge place.

Cameron Farah

Healthy, delicious food in a vibrant restaurant (with outdoor seating). I had the eggplant parmesan and it was extraordinary! As the server explained to me, the types of meals they serve are not authentic Australian food. Instead it's food prepared with Australian herbs with a heavy slant toward sensibly healthy.

Robbie Holmes

The food here is spectacular, the chef is gluten intolerant so there are gluten free options galore. The staff are super nice and engaged, and likely will have a real Australian accent. Maybe my favorite mimosa ever :)

John Tao

First time trying a kangaroo burger. I would say it's worth the experience just to try something new!More gamey then beef but less then lamb I think so it's a good in between. The texture of the burger was a bit loose and I think it could've been packed together tighter. The Ned Kelly is also an amazing sandwich, tender steak on a bed of cheese and onion jammy goodness. Another specialty they have here are the lamb lollies which were very delcious and not over powering in flavor at all. Mild and juicy lamb cooked perfectly. I managed to sample the fish tacos which surprised me how much fish they can fit on a taco. Finally, we get to the appetizer, I recommend the calamari (sweet sauce is my favorite) and the halloumi fries (who doesn't love fried cheese). Great Aussie food all around! I can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!!

Daniel Miller

Balanced cocktails, attentive staff, and delicious food. Originally chose this restaurant because of the healthy focus listed on their menu and website. We started with two of the signature cocktails, which were balanced in strength and flavor. The truffle fries with a variety of dipping sauces were a great start to the meal. The chipotle aioli was our favorite! We shared the Chicken Marsala and the Golden Salad. The Marsala had a light and clean sauce with great flavor. The salad was predominantly kale and my only suggestion would be for whole beets instead of the shreds. Overall a great meal on our way from midtown to LGA

Quaid Jnolewis

I've gone here a few times and each time I've tried something different and each time the experience was different and enjoyable. The staff is great, the atmosphere even better. This is why this is my to go place when I have time to sit and eat.

Nina G

Amazing food and really friendly staff! There was a delay in receiving our food, but they handled it really well. Our appetizer was on the house and they made sure we were taken care of/satisfied.

Nancy Black

Excellent! So many choices of eclectic dishes. Get the jalapeno fritters!! -service for a busy sat night was fantastic -apps to dessert food runners were friendly -go with a large group so you can try EVERYTHING!! Thank you!! (13IDA)

Allison Ledee

Absolutely lovely! My sister, my son and I sent to the "Thirsty Koala" during our brief stay in Queens. My son was having a rough time, he was very tired with all of the traveling we did the night before. Not only eat the server fantastic and extremely sweet, the chef herself came out!!! She wanted to make sure that everyone was enjoying themselves and when she realized that Henri was having a rough time she was very kind! She refused to let us pra for our meal. It was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. The food was amazing, the staff was equally amazing. We will be back!

Selma

One of the best eateries in this part of the neighborhood. The service was impeccable; they serve good authentic Australian food. Though I did not like the kangaroo burger the rest of what we had was delicious.

Frank Bacolas

Really loved this place! I went on a Thursday night with a couple of friends, including the 84 year old gentleman pictured who has been a professional culinary photographer and James Beard House original member. He's a really venerated food expert and he's good friends with mostly everyone who is anyone in the culinary world in NYC. None of us had been there before and we decided to eat inside to enjoy the decor and atmosphere. Upon entering, there was a cute stuffed koala. We sat deeper inside, about ten feet from the beginning of the bar. The walls near us had a didgeridoo, as well as an ornate walking stick, and a few other art pieces representing the Australian motif. The energy of the place on a Thursday night around 9 pm was good and it had a low key, neighborhood restaurant vibe. Later on before we left, a bunch of young women sat at the bar, as well as a bunch of 20-somethings filling the tables that came in for late night meals. He had the fish and chips, I had the eggplant parmigiana, and our friend had a really delicious and healthy salad called the Fair Dinkum as our entrees. We started off with the Halloumi Fries and the Grilled Australian Herb and Wattle Seed Crusted Lamb Lollies for appetizers. The halloumi fries are basically like mozzarella sticks, but made with halloumi cheese that had been sweetened lightly with clover honey. Personally, I prefer my halloumi unsweetened, but it was still delicious, especially after dousing the cheese sticks in lemon. The grilled lamb lollies were really delicious (you can see a picture of the dish when visiting their website, that plate is the first food image that popped up on the home page when I visited just now. The lamb was delicious and soft enough to pull off the bone with a little bit of work. The chimichurri sauce that came with them made the flavor especially flavorful. Our waitress was an awesome help and had a lot of energy and regularly visited our table to check on us. She was very knowledgeable about each of the menu items I asked about. She helped me choose the eggplant parmigiana when I asked her what the best vegetarian dish on the menu was. She said it was the best bet for me on the menu, and I was already leaning in that direction so that was an easy choice. She offered us some bread to start with and it was some very delicious little buns. My elderly friend Jerry is a big fan of fish, but is often disappointed when he orders fish from places that are either not extremely high end places that regularly procure very fresh and high quality fish, and places that simply specialize in fish and seafood. When we saw the Beer Battered Wild Alaskan Cod and Fish on the menu, it was an easy choice for him. When it arrived, we all were impressed by the amount of fish and chips he received. There were three substantial pieces of fish, and all three of them had been cooked to perfection and he was very happy. I tried some of the fish and chips and I agreed it was delicious. I found the eggplant parmigiana to also be a pretty large portion, and much to my happiness, directly underneath the mozzarella topping was a very generous amount of flavorful pomodoro tomato sauce. Usually, when ordering in a non Italian restaurant (and in a lot of Italian restaurants, too), directly under the cheese, you find a very thin layer of boring tomato sauce. The breading was just right in terms of thinness and seasoning. It was perfect. I can't speak as to the taste of the Fair Dinkum salad, but it looked great and my friend said it was very good. For dessert, my friend had the Pavlova, which is a meringue with fruits and he thought it was amazing. Overall, with the two appetizers and three entrees, a dessert item, and a root beer soda, the bill came out to about a hundred dollars and I was very satisfied with that amount for the three of us. I highly recommend giving this place a try if you're in Astoria!

Vincenzo Maimone

For appetizer we had the fried calamari with sweet thai chili sauce. Calamari portion is big enough for 4 people. I eat and cook a ton of seafood and I can honestly say that this was probably the tastiest, most tender fried calamari I've ever had. It melted in my mouth like butter and it's also made with gluten free flour. We than had the squash feta fritters over arugula salad which was so light and refreshing was a special of the day. For entree we had the citrus salmon was amazing. It was served over crispy bok choy with a hefty side of your choosing ( we had the mashed potatoes which was so smooth and buttery and chunky like homemade). The salmon was perfectly pan seared which left a slight crispy texture on the outside and the inside was moist and flaky. That ginger citrus sauce really hit the spot ( mashed taste great dipped in the soy sauce). I also have to say that the service was also great. Our New Zealander waitress was very friendly and checked on us numerous times.

Olesia Hlyzova

The best GLUTEN FREE food in NYC! Clean, fresh, friendly, when it comes to allergy friendly place, look no further!! Best hidden gem in Astoria. Sometimes busy, so it is best to call ahead if you need table for party or a few extra friends. Try GF Eggplant Parma! Delicious! Bar, Management and cooks are courteous, detailed and amazing!!! 👍

Leo O

Came here with a group of 3 on the weekend and was lucky enough to sit right where the big doors open up. Gentle breeze through the restaurant which made the lunch more enjoyable. We ordered the lamb lollies, Aussie grass-fed strip loin, and kangaroo loin filet. I have to say that all the dishes were excellent and chef even came out to greet us. We chatted for a bit and she even let us try her new fig sauce for the kangaroo filet. As for sides, we had an order of fries. They are basically steak fries with lots of seasoning on them and it comes with 2 types of sauces, ketchup and a type of chili sauce. I'd definitely preferred the chili sauce. The fries were on the thicker side and thus there wasn't a balance between amount of potato and seasoning in each bite. The Lamb lollies: Excellent dish. I'd definitely order this again. I usually like my lamb medium rare but this was ordered as well done and I was very surprised and how tender the meat still was and how much flavor it still had despite being well done. The caramelized pumpkin was a good balance to the meat. I wouldn't say that it's a good balance to the lamb flavor though. I think the amount of sweetness added to the pumpkin was appropriate because the pumpkin wasn't that sweet to begin with. I would highly recommend this dish. The strip loin: I ordered it medium rare and it was cooked to perfection. For a small place, they probably cook their meats much better than other fancier restaurants I've been to. You can see the pink in the middle without lots of blood coming out once you cut through it. Meat was tender and appropriately seasoned. The mushrooms and onions were flavorful but I do wish that they would hold back on the oil when cooking those. I assume that it was cooked separately and the onions were sweet, they definitely tried to get a good caramelization on the onions. The mushrooms were thinly sliced but they should cut it in half so it's not a long strip of mushroom. Last but not least the kangaroo filet: Definitely take their recommendation and get the meat cooked at least medium rare or rarer. Do not get it medium or well done. The meat itself is very lean, no fat and you'll just be disappointed if you order it well done. On the rarer side is the way to go. Because of how we ordered it, it came out to be very tender and juicy. The vegetables were tasty and the the yams was amazing. Definitely a hearty meal. The new fig sauce was amazing. I recommended to the chef that the sauce should be slightly thicker. I thought it was too watery and it won't stick onto the meat when dipped. This way you can get a play on sweet and game-iness. Overall I would highly recommend this place and would definitely come here again. Across the board, get your meat medium rare here, you won't regret it. They also need to hold back on the oil a bit and the dishes would be perfect. The staff was amazing. Extremely friendly and very attentive to our needs. Our water level never went below half and they did not rush you at all.

Tammy Ranchor

A quite cozy place almost like being "DownUnder" the food was wonderful and so far they made an AWESOME Bloody Mary(the best I had since last summer 😀). I highly recommend this place 👌

Joshua Lory

Came in because of the yelp notification of a new place in the Ditmars area and the overwhelmingly good reviews for this newcomer to the neighborhood (they don't have a liquor license yet so you know people are focused on the most important thing - the food!) Freshly renovated and spacious the place is welcoming the moment you step in (they have authentic Australian art and instruments on the wall even though they are not done decorating). The lady and I were greeted promptly by a server and sat at a nice 2 top in the corner. As we read the menu with the restaurants story printed on the back (great idea for background and context) we began to smile. They source all their organic fish and meat from Australia, make their desserts, farmers/goat cheese, tortillas all in house (probably missing other in house items). FOOD & DRINK: Prawn tacos - You get two tacos that are quite large with plenty of shrimp (would be bigger), cilantro, fresh cabbage and homemade sauces to top. Shrimp could have been spiced a bit more but still delicious. Mahi Mahi tacos - Our favorite out of the bunch. Fish was seasoned just right with the same toppings as above. Roasted strawberry salad - Spinach, roasted strawberries and the fresh goat cheese. Perfectly done. Maybe add some pine nutes or walnuts?? Skirt Steak Sandwich - Cooked to order (ordered medium rare of course) Tasty sandwich topped with garlicy home fries. My suggestion here is to marinate the skirt steak more so it gets really soft and also add some hot sauce or chiptole mayo on the side. Lamington - loved this handmade chocolate, coconut covered angel food care with strawberry jam inside. So good! Dying to try the tim tam tiramisu (they ran out when we were there) Espresso drinks - Australians are big on espresso so i was hoping that they could recreate the same quality coffee environment. They hit the mark which i am so happy about. My Machiato was spot on and my gf's flat white was great too. CONCLUSION: The real treat of this whole experience was speaking to the owners Christine and Kathy (chef). I told them both about my recent time in Australia and how i loved the country and they told me about their back stories and how the Thristy Koala came to be. They both have so much passion and love for the industry so I am hoping this place sticks around for awhile. Still think the bucket of prawns and beer special in the warmer months will be an absolute hit! I want credit or something for that one ladies..lol We will be back and with a huge smile on our faces. Thanks for the great time.

Peter Kollek

If you are looking for a casual Australian take on comfort food, this is the place to visit, highly recommended. Call in advance if you are looking for always in demand Grilled Kangaroo Burger, this speciality is NOT always available

Raymond Pabon

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place so much. Fantastic food freshly cooked and the flavors are AMAZING. The owners are so sweet and friendly. If you want quality food and great service and a feel good atmosphere The Thirsty Koala is the place to go 🥰 …

Meg Conaty

Ordered for hotel delivery. The BEST meal we'd had on our week long visit to the Hudson Valley. Lamb lollies with arugula, pomegranate and pumpkin...heavenly. And so many gluten free options...pavlova, and lamington cake. Have ordered wattleseed seasoning for my own kitchen. Eat here, order from here...enjoy every bite.

Diana Gajtani

Walking around the neighborhood, the thirsty Koala looked interesting so we diced to try it on with friends and it was our first time here. Absolutely delicious food, great hospitality and amazing friendly staff. Looking forward to come back soon. Keep it up 🙌🏻😋 …

Anatoliy Budnitskiy

Australia in Queens! What an amazing place. Very tasty. Had an amazing omelet with goat cheese. My whole party enjoyed their food as well. Excellent ambience and service as well.

Mike Malone

Tried my first kangaroo burger here and it turned out to be delicious! Such different options than most other places you find in Astoria. Brunch/lunch specials are great as well!

L Hong

Friendly owner and prompt frinedly staff. I liked that they called me to confirm my reservation for a larger party. I do recommend getting doubles of apps if you have a party of 6 or more. Very busy but not chaotic. Definitely will be back.

William Petz

$5 happy hour with Interesting food menu. The fish was swimming in the sauce which was a bit much for me, but luckily it was tasty. Service was great and the atmosphere is good for a first date.

Kris (KrisRanks)

Highly recommend! The food was absolutely delicious and our server was amazing!

Christina Chow

Grilled veggies are small but great. Aussie burger is tasty & juicy. Fish & chips have tender fish & wonderful sauces to go with it. The star would be the triple T tiramisu. Get it, so good!

Loanky De Jesus

Love this place. It is one of my wife's favorite local places. The one thing I love here is the fried chicken. It is amazing! This time it was a bit too breaded, still amazing. Love the staff and decor.

Kristina Kern

New brunch chef wanted. We took our friends to The Thirsty Koala because the brunch menu looked tasty and the reviews were positive. Unfortunately, the meal was regrettable. The G'Day, Loaded and Kalimera were overdone and dry. The potatoes were cold. This as a lukewarm start to a Sunday. Does The Thirsty Koala actually fly in beef from Aussie? This is not very sustainable. You can still be a thirsty koala and provide an Aussie experience with local ingredients. Something to think about, mate. Brunch was redeemed by the accompanying juice, tea and coffee choices. The service was nice. The space is somewhat warm. All in all, management should work on the food, so that we can come back and visit again.

David Kim

Great food and very nice staff!

Zoraida Cordova

Solid food and drinks. Rude/cold blonde waitress 🙃. Great outdoor space. …

J I

Tried their burgers a few times and they are delicious and unique (um hello kangaroo lol)! Cant say Ive had anything else, but everything sounds amazing. My little guy also enjoys their burgers

Jaime Kinyon

Our favorite gluten-free restaurant find thus far. Unique and great tasting! I always buy some extra Earth Chili to take home. I wish they had more locations!

Ben McOwen Wilson

The waitress is lovely and so child friendly and the food is just delicious! Written by lily aged 11 Edit by Lily's dad - the "waitress" was, I suspect, the owner Christine. More of a review from Anya aged 8: "A restaurant for all the family. I got to sit next to a giant koala"

John Butterfield

Love love love their sheep sheerers' brekkie for breakfast. Every one of the individual components is quality and delicious. From the lemon ricotta pancakes to the sweet sausage, you will not be disappointed.

ej shortell

The Thirsty Koala is an interesting Australian restaurant. There is a brunch menu served on the weekends. The lunch menu is very reasonable and includes an alcoholic drink (beer or wine) or a soda. There is a large menu including burgers, sandwiches, or seafood with Australian style sides. Dinner is delicious. I had the salmon with ginger soaked bok choy, and sauteed pumpkin. Dinner was very interesting. Very good. They also have a variety of steaks, burgers, seafood, and more. Prices were reasonable. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Good selection of draught and bottle beers, as well as wines, and mixed drinks. Fun place.

Viktor Aleksiev l

Delicious avocado toast. Really fast and good service. The waiter was very nice and polite.Delicious food and reasonable prices. Definitely going again.

Jaimie M

Good for a quick bite or can sit and stay longer. Their food was really fresh and staff was mostly pleasant. It was uncomfortable to see the manager (I believe it was the manager, maybe an owner) berate one of the waitstaff in front of the customers.

Patricia Bagby

Unusual restaurant in that it features Australian food. Two of the items can even be made with kangaroo meat. Pros: very tasty food. Drinks during Happy Hour are 1/2 price. Cons: A bit pricy for Astoria. Noise level is very high.

Kevin Chan

The summery Thirsty Koala beer which was cold and hit the spot. Very refreshing while matching up with the food of the night. Some hits of the night were quinoa pumpkin and mint sliders. Who knew veggie no gluten sliders were so good. Flavorful and had a great grill char. The no gluten calamari was also fried up crispy and tender and matched up well with the dippy sauce. The roasted chicken and quinoa garlic mash was also delish. Chicken was moist and had a great flavor with the mashed quinoa. The fish and chips were also fried up well with the flakey cod but the fresh cut fries were some of the best fries i've had. Top that off with the australian meat pies and sweets for the end of the night of date pudding and addictive chocolate koala clusters it really made for a great dinner. The restaurant doesn't disappoint.

Elizabeth Sharapova

Food was alright, but we reserved a table for a good buy dinner for my friend who've been wanted to try some kangaroo. But when we came we were told that they totally sold out. Place was super loud so u couldn't hear anything. I think if it wouldn't be Friday night and it would be more quite I would like this place more

Conor Doane

Great food and amazing gf options! Try the poppers, calamari, or fish tacos!!! Our table accidently broke a bowl and some glasses and they cleaned it up in no time and were very nice about it!

David Goehring

Went for dinner with my spouse, food and drinks were very good. Will be eating there again in the future!

Maria J Martinez

Excellent kangaroo hamburger. They serve vegetarian menu options. Good service. This is an unconventional place. Preferably make reservations.

ejaz samad

Amazing atmosphere, amazing service,food and price was great,honestly the best food I’ve ever had in my life, the kangaroo burger was super good, I would definitely recommend to all my friends and family and come here atleast twice a month. Again the FOOD is amazing

Paige Pon

I love this place! I've been going for years and always try something new. I'm very rarely disappointed. Try out the corn fritters, triple t and the sticky date pudding!

Fx Rodriguez

Stopped in on a hot Monday afternoon n Megan the bartender was just the breath of fresh air we needed. She n the tequila I had were great.

Mike Burke

Sliders, burgers, Aussie lamb lollies, super fresh fish, gluten free, vegan, "bush tucker" all killer! Service friendly and knowledgeable. Atmosphere relaxed, with Aussie artist Jennifer Baird's paintings on the walls. A one if a kind spot right in my nabe.

Arny Whittleorwhittler

Came here for a late brunch on a drizzling Friday. Place was rather empty besides 2 other couples, so my reservation seemed a bit pointless but hey, you never know. Outside has 1-hour metered parking but I got lucky and found a residential spot down 35th street.

Shirley Leon

Even though we dined outside, I was disappointed that none of the waitstaff wore masks and they didn't make an attempt to stand appropriately apart from customers. The food was delicious.

Danielle Fuchs

Vegan beyond burger was good 👍 …

kora foto morgana

sunday brunch - delicious food, 5⭐ bloody mary, big portions, nice atmosphere and overall very good service. one ⭐ off because they were out of foster's and the food took long time to arrive but if you don't mind the wait, definitely check it out.

Diana G

Love this place so much! Starting to come here every weekend to try something new. Last week was the vegan earth chili tacos and this week I got the corn and jalapeño frittata 😍 the whole menu looks amazing …

Ryan Suh

4.5 stars. The Kangaroo burger... 8.5/10. You'd never know it's not beef, tastes a lot like gamey beef. The place is loud on the weekend so if you want a place to chat, come during the weekdays, not on weekend.

Anna Zabniak

Come and experience amazing food created by Chef Katherine served by a friendly staff. Enjoy great tasting cocktails at Happy Hour. Thirsty Koala a favorite of mine.

Ian Robertson

Great brunch and friendly staff. Enjoyed minimal wait times by going right at open. According to the waiter, they do allow table bookings for brunch - rare in New York.

JN Five

Awesome food and no wait time cause they do take reservations. Cute place for brunch and going on a date. Service was friendly. They have kangaroo meat, which is interesting to try.

Cheryl Reyes

This place had a really good staff. They were all friendly and nice with their patrons. I enjoyed my food and drinks here!

Michael Kauffman

Tasty grub. Best fish and chips in Queens.

David Melvin

Service is a little slow,but staff is nice and food is good, if a little overly complicated.very generous portions,but some entrees come without sides, making them pricey. Nice cocktail and beverage selection too

Erin Horanzy

always a good time here! cocktails are tasty (and good happy hour), there are healthy and unhealthy, meat and veggie, glutaceous and gluten free options, something for everyone.

Theo Panagopoulos

One of Astoria's treasures Fresh and vibrant dishes Organic and or locally sourced Phenomenal Happy Hour Seriously...who do you know that has a happy hour till 9 PM ? Great service with no attitude and chill vibe A MUST on your to do list if you are in Astoria

Felicia Pullam

Loved the food! All four of us enjoyed our dishes, and were blown away by dessert. Can’t wait to visit again.

jess denis

I love what I ate! Fresh food, fast service with a side of that charming Aussie smile :) Would still like to try other things on the menu. So I will be back!

Tao Li

Sat down at 710pm didn’t get food til 8:20pm. Ordered medium rare lamb and got well done. Not impressed with wait staff. It makes me sad the busy service has lowered quality

Steve

Love the food at koala. Their brunch is and dinner service are very good. Their corn fritters benedict is my favorite item.

Ray Zapata

Amazing red snapper special! Fresh and well seasoned lunch. My girlfriend loved her cauliflower quinoa salad. Veggie and vegan friendly! :)

J Tsav

What a great meal. Had gluten free dairy free option for my daughter. Clean, great food. We'll run, and great staff!

Fabrizzio Dortignacq

Very tasty steak, full of flavor, my family enjoy their meal as well. Nice host. Will come back .

Roma Muela

I love eating here. One of my favorites in Astoria. Love Thea meatballs and the fish and chips. Everything is good so far.

Gregory Venditto

Chicken sandwich (was a special) was just OK but fries were good. Small but had no problem getting a table outside.

Michael J. Morgan

After stumbling upon this place last year, I've already been back three times! I recommend it for anyone who is gluten-free but doesn't want to sacrifice a quality meal.

Ken Bergreen

Got the classic burger with the beef short rib brisket blend. It was okay. Least favorite burger I've had on Ditmars.

Joe Wehry

Veggie burger, moussaka and Lamington cakes are all delicious. The haloumi fries with a touch of citrus and honey are excellent appetizers.

Michael Gorbovitski

Great interesting Australian place!

Najeeb Abdullah

I had the fish and chips. The sauces are awesome and totally bring out all the best flavors of the dish.

Victorio Blanco

Great food and staff. The food takes some time to come out, but enjoy some of their great cocktails while you wait!

Angela Cruz

Amazing food and service! Absolutely delicious drinks! Zack is the best waiter... and most handsome there too 😉 …

TheTheodorouFamily

Gluten free calamari is better than any regular calamari i ever tried. Been here a few times and everything is AMAZING!

YI-HAN HUANG

Came here for brunch(egg Benedict, was AMAZING) and dinner(I forgot what I had), always got really good food, never let me down. Would totally come back to dine again!

Arthur Shatz

Nice place with an Australian theme. Interesting take on traditional dishes with different flavorings and sauces.

Cephas K-W

The food was delicious, the drinks were tasty and the staff and ambiance were playful and inviting. Will definitely be stopping by here again.

Paul Benedict

Best summer time drinks!! Refreshing and they pack a punch!! There burgers are delicious too Good all around, highly recommend

Mark Smith

Not bad. Aside from the Coopers Pale Ale I do not see what makes this Australian. .ore American styled foods than some American places. (Since when are tacos Australian?)

Claudia De Pinto

This is the best place in Astoria for brunch. Food is always delicious and the service is impeccable. 😋😋 …

Khyati Vyas

Cute small place. The food was average. Not many vegetarian options.

Jonah Cohen

Fracking delicious! Get the kangaroo steak or the vegan chilli. Also, if you're up for it, ask for a taste of Vegemite.. Not on the menu but sometimes available on request

Michael Kantor

We come here all the time. The manager is so nice and they have the most amazing quinoa tacos. Would definitely recommend coming here

Jackeline Currie Rubio

I ordered a burger with the lot which was good but the chicken had no flavor at all and the pineapple was not grilled. The place is nice and the staff is friendly

Patrick Hahn

This isn't "good for gluten free" food, this is straight up amazing food. I'm still reeling from the flawless scallops in the paella.

Alphonse Tam

Love this place! Authentic Australian brunch, great coffee, great service. Always packed on the weekends, so be sure to get there early.

Mack Knapp

Great food and they are super serious about gluten free dining, but it's a great place to eat even if you aren't avoiding gluten

Jeff Bugbee

Kangaroo burger review: gamey, with a hint of a seafood flavor at the end. Very different! Not bad at all

William G

One of the best brunch places in queens

Ari

Unique dishes great for foodies and those wanting to try a gamier meat. Bar drinks and draft selections are good, and service is always great.

Dena Cod

Amazing!! Fish tacos were AWESOME. I couldn't finish them all. There was 4 and the smoky mole sauce waa perfect.

Antonio Ruiz

I love this place, great service and great food.

V Rosales

This is one of my favorite restaurants! So many gluten free options and absolutely delicious every time.

Christian

Great food & Great service! Vegan/Vegetarian options are also a plus and are absolutely delicious! Will definitely be coming back!

Andrew Kemp

Service great, food and drinks are great. But a little pricey for portion sizes. Happy hour is fantastic though.

Sandi Burke

Nearly everything on the menu is gluten free. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Very yummy and many healthy options, too.

A Rahman

Best fish taco the New York City. Manager and waitr was very courteous.

Constantine Germanakos

Love this place! This is my “Go To”. Chef Kathy is a master of Culinary Arts. I recommend the Koala to everyone and they all thank me for it!

Christopher Chilas

Great options for vegetarians and omnivores alike! They've put together a well thought out menu, and, most importantly, put out delicious food.

Becka Simon

Delicious. Vegan, veggie, gluten free, & omnivore food. They're really attentive and sensitive to allergies - would reccomend for any diet

L Dern

Great brunch. They also offer gluten free options. And also very friendly staff!!

Patricia Bagby

Very fun and different. The kangaroo dishes were tasty and not odd. Very noisy, though.

Karen Skala

It's very hard to find a restaurant that has good food and that's gluten free. We have been here before and will return

Stephen Goldberger

Unusual options well prepared.

Nga

Great food! Quality is fresh and delicious and reasonably priced. Friendly service and great vibe.

MARIOQ KLOVER

Best restaurant in Astoria hands down no one else is bringing you FARM to table with these type of flavors in Astoria

Larry French

Remarkable, delectable, delicious, nutrious! Another family tradition each visit to Ditmars/Steinway neighborhood of Astoria/Queens NYC!

Andrew Sexton

Food/atmosphere great. But desperately need to expand dipping sauce variety

Ivan Beacco

Great food with a Australian flare. Very friendly ownership and staff. Became a safe bet over the years.

Steve Ginther

Great food and service!

Tonia Gordon Ray

The best fish tacos I have ever had. And our waitress from Alabama was the BEST!!

MD Teofana

Delicious food, music and smiley wait staff ❤️ My date and I enjoyed the Truffled Fries, Salmon, and Champagne. Thank you @TheThirstyKoala

Costa Michailidis

Great food, great service, great staff! I recommend trying kangaroo if they've got it. Their fish is great too!

Chrissy Schwen

Happy hour is great, and the food is decent and fresh, but a bit pricy and the service is slow.

Crystal Gulabchand

great service, food, and drinks. 10/10 definitely would recommend and go back again!

Erika Orellana

Great food and service! Bartender makes amazing drinks too.

Chari Cayanan

Authentic Australian cuisine in NYC doesn't get better than here. Try the sticky date pudding and a flat white!

Camille Sallette

Our bartender was awesome, the service was great, the tacos are on point, and the beer is good. A+!!

Amy B. Bienstock

Great brunch. Staff was wonderful. Will definitely go back for the burgers.

Michael Gilpin

Excellent food with a large vegetarian menu. Very healthy menu. And a great brunch menu.

Lazaros Samlidis

Great brunch. Interesting menu. Nice decor and good service.

Ronit Engel

If you're looking for good food and good service, The Thirsty Koala is a definite place to visit, with an exceptional variety of freshness! Must visit.

Brie Mittan

Excellent brunch place with lots of menu options. Everything tastes great and the staff are really great!

Vasiliki G. K.

Best eggs Benedict ever!! (If it wasn't so loud in the restaurant I would give 5 stars)

Brandon P

Great food and friendly service. Had a great time will definitely go back.

Bryan Ray Lobo

Very nice place, comfortable and very friendly staff -meat proportions always tend to be healthy perhaps the only ding is the food can be a bit salty on occasion

Jodie smith

Great service! Great food! They took wonderful care if our party of 20. And Lucas was the best!

Shilpa Rani Raghavan

Loved it. Great food, terrific service, and wonderful company. Can't wait to go back!

Tatiana Etienne

Food was delicious and worth the wait! The customer service was awesome and really appreciated the random discovery of this gem!

Helen Mary

Great food, delicious; friendly and very courteous service; casual atmosphere, comfortable.

Nicolas Farkas

Great for celiacs. Everyone was very knowledgeable about gluten free and cross contamination. Looking forward to the next time

Jeffrey Chambers

Fantastic food and solid service every time!

Adeel Raja

Incredible service they welcome you right away. Food was pretty good too. Will definitely go back there 😊 …

Georgeann Digangi

Great food and atmosphere Happy Hour from 4-8 Monday through Friday at tables also

Kevin Shea

Super gluten-free friendly, amazing food, and a ridiculous happy hour ($5 great cocktails.)

Eridanio DeRavin

Was here for brunch! I must say was amazing especially their passionfruit margarita.

Jamane Warner

Food is always fantastic, owners and staff are super friendly and very attentive..love the place! Cheers!

Jeff Blackman

Good, creative food and menu by Chef Kathy Fuchs. Great staff and service.

devian r

So many great food options and there drinks are so good! Love this place!!

Roderick A. Jr

Great food, awesome staff, and the chef came out to say hello. Awesome bathroom lol

Фернандо сосет Пипи

My favorite neighborhood spot, I try to hit them up at least once a week for their delicious wild salmon and their chicken with mango

jose luis gonzalez anguiano

Awesome food for pick up or delivery and excellent drinks to go. Highly recommended 👍🏼 …

C

Food and live band was great. Drinks were ok.

Michael McNicholas

Just a bloody great gastro pub......creative menu.....organic, gluten free, totally Aussie.....how is that possible. . . Love it

Robert Shelly

A 10 for brunch. Going back for dinner soon. Stop in and have a bite!

Arry Areizaga

Love this place, service and the food is fantastic. My only complaint is, the water does not spin the opposite direction as it does in Australia.

M C

Legendary place had a kangaroo burger there so tasty

Joan Garrison

Dee-lish-uss new brunch menu! Super hospitable. A neighborhood fave!

Toby Baratta

Delicious with great gluten free options! There was a wait but it was worth it.

Roberto David Rodriguez Jerez

Nice place for brunch. A bit loud for my taste but the food and drinks are okay.

Y Smith-Shpolyz

Great fresh options, from fish, chicken, lamb or vegan, everything is delicious and flavorful!!!!! Herbs are your friends!!!!!

Tatiana L

Best vegan tacos anywhere. I love that they put walnuts in.

Milan Stojkovic

Great place, food, drinks and hosts. Miloš was wonderful.

Mary Ann Kochanski

Every time I come visit my daughter I want to go there. Love the fish and chips.

Shannon Johnson

The best gluten free restaurant ever! So many choices pluse desserts.

Cullen R

Always a pleasure, fantastic food with new tasty options and great service.

Christian Gomez

Ahh if you're into kangaroo meat then this is the spot... the steak was mediocre and the crab cake patties sucked....

Andrew Richardson

Comfort food for homesick Australians. The fish tacos are also very good.

Anda Totoreanu

Amazing service, and their salmon en papillote is to die for. Will definitely be going back.

Nader Khandaker

Awesome food, great service and fun happy hour!

Sam Gardner

Excellent options and quality ingredients, laid back setting, enjoyable dinner

Scott Both

Good food but service was a little slow at brunch time.

Rabita Khan

It was good, not so great but not too bad either

lorraine torrella

Quick service, good food, meatball apps were a little pricey.

Gary Riger

This place has some of the best food in Astoria. Don't take my word for it GO GO GO!

Jenna bae

The special dipping sauce(spicy maple?) for me makes this brunch restaurant special.

Herald Stephens

Went to this place after having a disappointing kangaroo experience. This place was great and the food was even better.

Abhijeet Shrivastava

Great Australian BBQ, quick service

Marc de Smidt

Great staff, great food, definately will visit again!

riz haider

It's not fair, their menu. Everything sounds great and you will not be dissappointed

Chris Jensen

Good tap beer & vegan options, but the vegan options are rather unremarkable.

Michelle Rooney

Great food, great service and awesome happy hour

Louise Garcia

Oh so good!!! Delicious food, gluten free and fabulous!!

Stacie M Peirce

Best avocado key lime dessert! V & GF ! A++++++

Nektar Giannios

Nice freshly prepared Great tasting food And friendly service

Albert Olson

Nice place, good food but extremely LOUD conversations!

Rob Kinyon

Delicious food, gluten-free, and reasonably priced for what you got.

Grace L

Love love loved everything on their menu!

Catherine t

Yummy, clean food, also great if you have food allergies

John Mullen

Pretty good food, great drinks.

Sean Hummel

Great breakfast for a good price. Ditmars is the place to be in Astoria!

Nathan Dibben

Great beer selection, delicious steak, and a great atmosphere

Bill EVERSON

Great food Noise level is high Great drinks

Harpreet Multani

The place is nice but the food was kind of bland. We got what the waiter suggested.

Mitch Harvey

The Vegan tacos are delicious! Highly recommend

Alex Pla

Excellent food and drinks, amazingly flexibility in working with people with food alergies and sensitivities.

Jeremy Rubenstein

If you sing the Australian national anthem with the owner you’ll get a complimentary pavlova.

Eric Figura

Food was tasty and bartenders personable. Will definitely return.

Ely Marrero

I really like the vibe here. Their approach to food and cocktails is thoughtful and deliberate.

Victor Ortuño

Great burgers and good tap beer selection

JustAnotherMike

Great place in Astoria if you want to try somethibg different. I will be coming back here.

Gregory Lammers

It's really good and the guys at the bar are great.

Abby Brooks

Packed, so you know its good. The bartenders are awesome!

billy timm

Kat is amazing

Stanley V

Good food, good service, nice healthy spot. Would surely return

Catherine Wilson

Great brunch spot with a very friendly staff!

Julian Lopez

Great place. Saturday Brunch is the best.

Jacky

The burger was not bad at all. Restrooms in the back.

erick elias

Great food and awesome bottomless brunch option

Phyllis Pastore

Loved loved loved it. Can't wait to go back.

Celine Moumne

10/10

Sarah Momen

The koala was thirsty for a reason...the chicken was dry!

LightningWolf21

Food was great and service was amazing.

Steven Sanfilippo

Excelent food. Charming host. Server was the best.

Omer Ekinci

Amazing restaurant,great service.deliciius food

Jessie Newman

Burgers were quality but cocktails were a little off.

rob hubbard

Great food, and the regulars are hilarious!

Robert Shelly

Always a good place to walk around.

Chris Castillo

Great food and drinks will definitely go back. A most to go

Michael Gesamondo

Total gluten free menu that is amazing

Mary jane quinlan

first time, food was great, nice ambience, will return

Lizeth Rodriguez

Good customer service and the food is really good.

Jennifer Mckenna

Great food, gluten free options

Ann Thompson

Awesome mimosas. Best brunch!!

Brigitte

My favorite gluten free place to go to

Anna Inverso

Fresh good Australian food we love it!!

Jonathan Richards

This fish here is done perfectly. And the hamburger is monstrous.

Jessie G.

awesome healthy food and great entertainment!

Ashley Hughes

🔥🔥🔥🔥

Mary Courtney

Noisy, but excellent food.

Angela Norris-Lamon

Enjoyed the calamari! Tons of GF options!

Sergey Shevelev

Good service, not impressed with their food

Jim inPa

Waited over an hour for a table after being told that it would be a 15 minute wait.

Endrin Shehaj

3 stars only because the bartender was always screaming

Julian Rodriguez

OMG get the fully involved kangaroo burger!!!

Jim Gulick

Open late, good food, beer and people.

Tom Moncho

Good food. And kangaroo if you want that.

Jamil Lahham

Love their menu. Friendly staff.

Heather Mcknight

Get the truffle fries. Friggin amazing!

Phil Cappadora

Amazing food !

Amina Garau

The quality and the care for the customers are always guaranteed at the thirsty Koala!

anthony ngucaj

Super tasty food. Loved it

Oliver McLean

Favourite spot in ditmars for great food and service

mario calabrese

Great spot. Been going there from the beginning.

Elaine Marchesini

Fun place..great food

CzakaCzakawakawakaa

Great staff. Great Australian beef.

Zarina Sharsheva

Thank you for your team for grateful service!!!

Andres Miranda

Great night as always and this on a school night too (Monday)

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