Pink Whale Thai street food opens in Surfers Paradise

A hospitality trailblazer has unveiled her newest and most brazen venture this week, replacing the iconic Charlie’s right in the heart of Surfers Paradise with an ambitious new venue. SEE INSIDE

A hospitality trailblazer has unveiled her newest and most brazen venture this week in the heart of Surfers Paradise.

Taking over from the iconic Charlie’s Cafe and Bar on Cavill Mall, restaurateur Pattaree Jiranuchaiwattana (Pat) said she’s brought Thailand to the streets of the Gold Coast with what she calls a never-before-seen concept called Pink Whale.

“It’s street food in a way I’ve never seen here before,” she said.

“We will have a food cart at the front with street food, chicken skewers, and you can just go order and then sit down inside or outside enjoying live music and with a beer tower and eat real Thai food.”

Owners Vitchaya Hasitawet and Pattaree Jiranuchaiwattana at Pink Whale Thai Street Food in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The longstanding venue known to locals as ‘Charlie’s’ closed in April 2023 after serving the city for more than 40 years on the strip.

Now nearly two years later the empty space has turned into what Ms Jiranuchaiwattana calls a “Queensland first” and her eighth venue in the state – with six on the Gold Coast alone.

“I really love this one,” she said.

“The location is perfect. The rent is half a million a year but I don’t care. My husband asked if I’m sure I’ll be able to cover the cost and I said, even if I make even that’s okay – I love street food, it’s my passion even more so than high end food. It’s the real food of Thailand and it’s something very new to the Gold Coast and super fun.”

Ms Jiranuchaiwattana said while she’s had her share of failure, she’s learnt the secret to industry success.

Owners Vitchaya Hasitawet and Pattaree Jiranuchaiwattana check the plans for the new space. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“I keep going, I work hard, I put my whole heart into it and I don’t get loans from the bank – I only use my own money,” she said.

Moving to Australia on a student via, Ms Jiranuchaiwattana shared a single bed in a living room with her husband, working her way up the industry from food delivery to restaurant management.

Now the self-made success story hopes to rack up $20 million this year in revenue across all her eight venues.

Originally published as Pink Whale Thai street food opens in Surfers Paradise