Best of Gold Coast: We reveal the top 10 spots for cheap eats
WHETHER your wallet is empty or you’re just on a budget, there’s nothing better than finding downright delicious food for a bargain price.
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WHETHER your wallet is empty or you’re just on a budget, there’s nothing better than finding downright delicious food for a bargain price. Those cheap eats that make your eyes widen and your jaw drop before uttering the words “I can’t believe how cheap this is.” Good food at a low price — it’s the best of both worlds and here are the top 10 on the Gold Coast as voted by you.
10. Stingray Lounge QT
7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
5584 1200
Being social and saving money are two concepts that don’t generally go hand-in-hand, but at Stingray Lounge’s taco Tuesdays you can definitely have both.
Stingray’s tacos are just $3 a pop but you won’t find salty mince and stale shells anywhere in sight, with offerings including grilled fish, chicken, king prawns, Cuban style pork, braised goat leg and a weekly secret taco.
9. Kirra Beach Hotel
Miles St & Marine Parade, Kirra
5536 3311
Kirra Beach Hotel have figured out the formula for success with their $12 dinner specials, which include chicken schnitzel with chips and salad, calamari salad with a house dressing and beef rissoles with gravy and mash.
The hero of the $12 menu, though, would have to be the 200 gram rump with chips and salad, of which they go through about 1500 every week.
Sous chef Mr Dallas Cazatto said even though they go through such a high volume, the kitchen won’t send out a meal unless it’s perfect, so loyal customers know they’re getting the best every time.
8. One50 Public House
150 Bundall Road, Bundall
5504 6688
One50 Public House is one of those Gold Coast venues that’s perfect for every occasion — including a cheap meal.
Find the Cuban and Rueben open sandwiches stacked with gourmet fillings for $10 every Monday and Tuesday and on Wednesdays nab half price gourmet pizzas fitting for the whole family.
Events manager Ms Bree Maloney said the team at One50 want to create an overall pleasant experience — including the part when the bill comes.
“We know dining out can be expensive so we’ve tried to make our menu affordable and enjoyable,” she said.
“Everyone loves a special and if it means the family can go out for a change it makes us happy to know we’ve saved them a bit of money.”
7. Pop Pad Thai
3/110 Laver Dr, Robina
5575 7171
Pop Pad Thai have frequented Best of the GC lists consistently, being voted in the top five for best value restaurant, best Thai restaurant and best takeaway restaurant in 2015 alone.
The team have a loyal following with locals getting hooked on the authentic Thai cuisine after just one visit, falling in love with the flavours, service and fantastic value.
Pop Pad Thai also introduced a $9.90 lunch menu at the start of the year, with 30 Thai favourites on offer for just $9.90.
6. Cha Cha Japanese
6/2705 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach QLD 4218
5538 1131
A Broadbeach staple since 1994, Cha Cha Japanese at Broadbeach is always a safe option for a fun night out that won’t leave you skint the rest of the week. Cha Cha boasts a huge menu with countless options available anywhere between $4.50 and $14.90, including Japanese favourites gyoza, wasabi scallops, chicken karaage, spicy chicken and beef udon noodle soup, to name a few.
Best of all, Cha Cha charge just $2 per head for BYO corkage so you’ll have plenty of spare change for the cab ride home.
5. Caffe Chino, Nerang
3/18 Ferry St, Nerang QLD 4211
5596 7110
Home-cooked food, personal service and great value will always be a winning combination and Caffe Chino at Nerang have all three covered. Owner Ms Kim Elder and her partner Mr Greg Bernard keep the local workers and residents happy with a constant flow of delicious specials.
“At the moment we’ve got the jacket potato for $6.50 which is a meal in itself — perfect for the cold weather,” Kim said.
“The tradies love our brekkie special which is a bacon and egg roll with a coffee for $11 — some of them come in every day.”
The Caffe Chino specials change monthly depending on the weather and what the people want. Kim said she’s happy to make good value food for people.
“We all work hard and don’t get paid as much as we should, Caffe Chino is somewhere people can go and get truly great value,” she said.
4. Govinda’s
3120 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
0466 181 495
facebook.com/GovindasSurfersParadise/
Govinda’s is tough to beat in terms of value, with a vegan all-you-can-eat buffet setting you back just $14.90. Co-owner Mr Zardi Manning said the Surfers location is, to the best of his knowledge, the only totally vegan Govinda’s in the world.
“We have vegans and non-vegans coming in or even just people who feel like they just need to eat more veggies,” Zardi said.
Offering a range of hot vegan meals, salads, desserts and drinks, Zardi said Govinda’s is usually cheaper vegan than what customers would spend to make a meal at home.
3. JFX
b5/56 Scarborough St, Southport
5528 1616
JFX is that little gem you dream of stumbling across, with its unbeatable everyday value and authentic Japanese cuisine.
There are almost 50 menu items all under $13 on JFX Central’s everyday menu which owner Mr Ryoji Tanaka has kept close to what you’d find in his home country Japan.
Find stone pot rice and noodle dishes such as aburi salmon and pork kimchi for $10, rice bowl favourites hot and spicy pork and teriyaki chicken for $8, bento box for $9 or $11 with sashimi and a large range of sides from $4.90.
JFX is popular among corporates, students and everyone in between for a quick, cheap lunch that you are welcome to eat there or take away.
2. Wahoo’s
2/1726 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
5520 4477
Christine Rebeil and her husband Sterling opened Wahoo’s Fish Tacos in 2002 and since then have been dedicated to keeping local bellies full without emptying the pockets.
“We do three tacos for $10 every day — there’s no special day of the week or anything — just three tacos for $10,” Christine said.
The no shirt, no shoes, no-fuss Mexican favourite, who also placed second for best Mexican on the Gold Coast last week, also do big bowls of chips for just $3, perfect for young surfers to grab after a big session in the water.
1. Apres Surf
2376 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
5661 3396
When it comes to cheap eats, there’s few that trump Apres Surf.
Two best friends, Richard O’Hanlon and James Angell, wanted to open a place on the Gold Coast that emulated the spirit of the ski slope bars of Canada.
A big part of that atmosphere is cheap but drool-worthy food that skiers and snowboarders could gorge themselves on after a strenuous session.
With a lack of snow on the sunny Gold Coast, the boys are feeding the surfers flocking from the suburbs surrounding Apres’ Mermaid Beach location.
On a weekly basis you’ll find $5 cheeseburgers on Monday, $10 Pho on Wednesday, $1 dumplings on Thursday, $10 nachos on Saturday and $15 parmi and beer on Sunday.
Richard said the diversity is thanks to a desire to be diverse and avoiding being locked down by any particular food trend.
“$5 cheeseburger Mondays are a popular night and our buns are brioche baked fresh from The Pastry Emporium,” Richard said.
“On Thursdays and it’s not unusual to go through over 600 dumplings on one night.”
Their Asian influence can be attributed to Richard and James’ vast travels, which is also why their truly authentic pho is brought out with bean sprouts, chilli, basil, fresh lime and all the sides available for you to add in yourself — just like over in ‘Nam.
Richard said they want to keep their locals happy, full and coming back for more and most of all, said thanks.
“Big thank you to everyone who voted and everyone who keeps coming in, we love the support,” he said.
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