What it is
Bird Rock is a bar and dining room at 2 Princes Terrace, in the Jan Juc shops, just over Spring Creek from Torquay. The venue describes itself as perched above Jan Juc, serving Asian-inspired share plates, and rolling from dinner into late nights with live music, DJs and events.
It's been around a long while. Visit Great Ocean Road calls it a venue that has connected locals and travellers for decades. These days the menu is dumplings, bao, curries and noodles, and the drinks list leans local. It's a more casual night than the beachfront places in Torquay, and it stays open later.
This is an independent guide; menus, prices and hours change, so check Bird Rock's website before you go.
What's on the menu
The menu linked from Bird Rock's website in October 2026 was its Winter 2026 menu. Prices below are from that and will change.
Dumplings and bao
Dumplings come six to a serve ($18), steamed or pan fried, in pork, chicken or vegetarian. Gluten-free dumplings are pan fried only. Bao come in twos ($18): sweet and sour fried chicken, spicy chicken, tofu with eggplant, or caramel-glazed pork belly with peanuts. There are chicken and prawn wontons too.
Plates to share
Pulled duck pancakes with hoisin, spring rolls, fried eggplant, san choy bow made with vegan mince, and fried chicken wings in honey lemon, sweet and sour or spicy sauce. The bigger dishes are nasi goreng, pad thai and a Thai coconut curry (each with chicken, prawn or tofu), plus sticky Szechuan lamb ribs at $31, the top of the menu.
Salads and dessert
A rice noodle salad, a Thai chicken salad and a quinoa gado gado. To finish, a dark chocolate brownie or cinnamon doughnuts with chocolate sauce.
Feed Me
Two set options: the Classic at $59 a head and the Feast at $79 a head. Handy when there's a group and nobody wants to be in charge of ordering.
Dietary
The menu marks gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes and options, and a fair chunk of it is covered. Tofu is an option on most of the bigger dishes.
Drinks
The taps included Aireys Draught and Bells Beach Addis Pale Ale, alongside Stone & Wood and Guinness. The wine list had a few from close by, like Tipping Point from the Otways and a Mazzini pinot noir from Geelong. Cocktails and margaritas were $22, and there were mocktails and non-alcoholic options.
Weeknight deals
This is what a lot of people come for. Dumplings and bao have been Bird Rock's thing for years (Forte Magazine wrote up an earlier version of its dumpling night). On the Winter 2026 menu the weekday specials were:
Monday: bao and beers
$5 bao and $5 pots.
Tuesday: Death by Dumplings
$1 dumplings all night.
Wednesday: wings
$1 wings all night.
Happy hour
Monday to Friday, 5 to 6pm, with $12 Guinness pints.
Specials like these come and go with the seasons. Check the current menu before you plan a Tuesday around it.
Hours and bookings
When it's open
Bird Rock says it's open seven days, from 5pm on weeknights and from midday on weekends. But the banner on the same website said Sunday to Friday from 5pm and Saturday from midday when we looked. So Sunday lunch is a maybe. Check the website or social pages before you go.
Booking
Book through OpenTable from the website. On a deal night or when there's a band on, it's worth it.
Takeaway
There's online ordering for pickup on the website. Dumplings in front of the wood fire back at the house isn't a bad night either.
Functions, kids and dogs
The website has a functions page but no capacities or packages, so get in touch with them directly. We couldn't find a published kids or dog policy. Later in the night it's more bar than dining room, so families are better off going early.
Getting there and making a night of it
From Holyday House in north Torquay, allow about 10 minutes' drive to Jan Juc. It's a late-night venue, so if anyone's drinking, plan the trip home first. Our getting around without a car guide has the options.
The venue shares its name with the headland at the western end of Jan Juc beach, and Forte Magazine puts it across the road from the Bird Rock lookout. Get there before dinner and watch the sun go down over the beach. If you've got the legs for it, the Surf Coast Walk runs about 3.3 km along the clifftops from Point Danger to Bird Rock. Our Jan Juc guide covers the beach, the surf, the cliffs and the dog rules.
Back in Torquay, the Torquay Hotel is the other place for a band and a feed, and Mule does share plates cooked over fire.
Bird Rock FAQ
Where is Bird Rock?
2 Princes Terrace, Jan Juc, in the Jan Juc shops. About 10 minutes' drive from Holyday House in north Torquay.
Is Bird Rock open for Sunday lunch?
Maybe. Its website lists weekends from 12pm in one place and Sunday from 5pm in another. Check before you go.
What nights are the dumpling deals?
On the Winter 2026 menu it was Tuesday for $1 dumplings, Monday for $5 bao and beers, and Wednesday for $1 wings. Specials change, so check the current menu.
Is there live music?
Yes. Bird Rock says it runs live music, DJs and events after dinner. Check its website or socials for what's on.
Are there vegetarian and gluten-free options?
Yes. The menu marks vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes and options, including vegetarian dumplings, tofu bao and tofu versions of the curry, pad thai and nasi goreng.
Can I get takeaway?
Yes, there's online ordering for pickup on the website.
For the full list of where to eat, see our Torquay restaurants guide. Heading to the famous wave next door? The Bells Beach guide has the details, and the surfing guide covers the rest of the breaks. Want a base for all of it? Check dates and send us an enquiry.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 14 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Bird Rock | Asian-Inspired Restaurant & Late Night Bar — Bird Rock
- Winter 2026 menu (PDF) — Bird Rock
- Functions — Bird Rock
- Bird Rock Jan Juc — Visit Great Ocean Road
- Jan Juc staple Bird Rock is hosting a weekly 'all-you-can-eat' dumpling night — Forte Magazine