Best of the Gold Coast 2018: 11 of the best extreme junk food meals in the region
SAY goodbye to your summer shredded bod. We’ve rounded up the Gold Coast’s most outrageous cheat meals, taking binge eating to the next level
Best of Gold Coast
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SAY goodbye to your summer shredded bod.
We’ve rounded up the Gold Coast’s most outrageous cheat meals, taking binge eating to the next level.
THE BADDEST BURGERS
Ze Pickle
37 Connor St, Burleigh Heads
Ze Pickle isn’t known for its controlled portions and healthy ingredients, but if you want decadence, this is the place to go.
Co-owner Nathan Zukerman says the team created a burger specifically for customers who scoffed: “What else have you got?”
“It’s called the shut the f*** burger,” Nathan laughs.
“It’s pretty well known. It did come about because people used to say the triple loco was too small or cheesy. This is way bigger.”
Nathan says this monstrosity of a meal uses basically every possible ingredient available in the restaurant.
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“It’s pretty much everything we do,” he says.
“It’s got the beef patty, fried chicken, brokett pastrami, every meat we serve, every vegetable, its got Ze Chips on it, loaded fries. It’s towering. It’s definitely what we call a knife and forker.
“Generally it doesn’t go down pretty well with the kitchen when someone orders it. It puts the kitchen on hold for 20 minutes.”
Nathan says they sell about one a week and it’s often the most unlikely of characters that polish it off.
“We do get some of the gym guys, bodybuilders,” he says.
“It’s often like the most unassuming people, your average bean pole, they’re the ones that finish it.”
There are plenty of other, less ridiculous options for those looking to treat themselves at Ze Pickle, including the famous loaded fries and Twix tacos.
“Our most popular loaded fries are the Ze Chips loaded with smoked maple bacon bits, shallots, our IPA beer cheeze sauce and ZP sauce.
“It’s become a popular option to add our popcorn chicken tossed in spicy buffalo sauce alongside ZP’s smoked jalapeños.
“The other dish that comes to mind is the Twix taco. It’s a dessert — deep-fried Twix in a red velvet pancake that we shape into a taco. We serve it with ice cream and chcoclate brownie salsa and shaved Milky Bar on top.”
LOADED SHAKES
Guilty Cafe
174 Galleon Way, Currumbin Waters
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There’s a reason this place is called Guilty and it has a lot to do with their loaded thickshakes. Topped with whole ice creams, lollies and chocolate, you can fit a fortnight’s worth of dessert in one sitting.
Owner Tom Wilcock says the fairytale shake is the most popular.
“It’s massive,” he says.
“It’s a strawberry shake decorated with a vanilla rim, then it’s got colourful choc drops around the outside, topped with cream, three flavours of fairy floss, two sour straps and a giant lollipop.
“The kids love the colours. And the thickshake is really thick. There’s four scoops of ice cream. It’s pretty much all ice cream.”
BUBBLE WAFFLES
Bubbo Desserts
Shop 10/2 Elkhorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
Bubbo Dessert’s most OTT bubble waffle is perfect for the indecisive and those looking to cram as much sweetness in as possible.
“The most over-the-top waffle is the classic,” manager Rachel Wong says.
“They (customers) love it because sometimes they just cannot decide between the strawberry, banana or Oreo Bubbo waffles.
“So a classic with all the ingredients is the best choice. It is a combination of an original egg waffle, vanilla ice cream, oreo crumbs, fresh strawberries and banana slices, topped with rich chocolate sauce and a dash of icing sugar.”
Bubbo Desserts serves the Hong Kong street food phenomenon bubble waffles wrapped in a cone with toppings placed in the centre.
FLAMING CHEESE WHEEL
Salts Meat Cheese
The 4217, 10 Beach Rd, Surfers Paradise
Do you love your pasta with a bit of parmesan? What about pasta cooked in parmesan? Surfers Paradise Italian restaurant Salts Meats Cheese serves up this concoction every Wednesday.
A giant wheel of parmiggiano is hollowed out and splashed with brandy before al dente pasta is added and tossed through the melted parmesan.
“We prepare the pasta in the kitchen and finish at the table in the wheel of parmesan with the flame,” Salts Meats Cheese co owner Alex Vicinanza says.
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“It’s actually melting the bottom of the wheel, crushing with a big spoon and stirred together. Customers love the wheel and the flame on the table. It’s a beautiful thing to put on Instagram.”
ACAI SNICKERS BOWL
The Cardamom Pod
3/3 Brolga Ave, Southport
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This vegetarian cafe likes to call its meals “clean cheating” as they only use plant-based ingredients, but that doesn’t mean they’re not totally delicious.
Cardamom Pod owner Sean Pinnell says the best treat on the menu is the Snickers acai bowl that looks like art but “tastes like sin”.
“It looks like a work of art with a housemade Snickers bar on the bowl just to take it into the stratosphere of clean cheating gratification,” Sean says.
“It’s Amazonian acai blended with house-made peanut butter, cacao, almond mylk, home made granola and maca caramel sauce, topped with a raw chocolate bar.
“It’s fully gluten free and vegan.”
LOADED FRIES
Brooklyn Depot
The 4217, 10 Beach Rd, Surfers Paradise
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Salty fried carbs are a big no no when you’re dieting but a big yes yes on your cheat day. So when you want to go all out on your hot chip gorge, hit up Brooklyn Depot for some of their loaded fries.
“Order the Brooklynise fries and you can choose from garbage fries — bacon, onion ring snippets, cheese, frickles, beef chilli cheese fries, and cheese and gravy fries — poutine,” Brooklyn Depot general manager Danny Sibillo says.
“Every day of the week can be your cheat day at Brooklyn.”
ALL YOU CAN EAT MEAT
Lester and Earl
1097 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
Lester and Earl at Palm Beach boasts all-you-can-eat ribs, wings and sides all weekend, every weekend from late in the afternoon.
The southern American eatery serves the juicy meats buffet style for $35 per person or $15 for children.
If you’re after something a little more diverse, Lester and Earl’s ode to all American food means the serves are always large and in charge.
While you’re there, wash it down with a pint of Budweiser or an American whiskey on the rocks. Yee haw!
ICE CREAM SANDWICH
Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar
Resort precinct Pacific Fair, Broadbeach
With a menu packed full of dozens of dessert options, it’s hard to choose just one from Cowch.
The confectionery and cocktail bar at Pacific Fair is every sweet tooth’s dream, but Cowch founder Arif Memis says those looking to indulge can’t go past the Nutella ice cream sandwich.
“This dessert is two scoops of creamy Nutella ice cream sandwiched between two Belgian waffles with a scoop of Nutella, crushed Oreo and strawberries,” Arif says. “We sell around 500 a month. People love how extra it looks and it makes a great photo for Instagram. Who doesn’t love Nutella topped with Nutella?”
UNICORN COCKTAILS
Ravens Lounge Bar
53 Thomas Drive, Surfers Paradise
Vodka, lime and sodas not cutting it on your cheat day? Roll in to Raven’s Lounge Bar on Chevron Island.
The puppy-friendly establishment is famous for its sensationally larger than life cocktails and the top pick is called The Unicorn.
Based on milky liquors for a creamy taste, it’s then topped with whipped cream, pink lollies, rainbow sour straps, marshmallows, nerds, sherbet and fairy floss.
You’ll be floating on a sugar high all night, and if you bring your furry best friend along as your date, they definitely won’t judge you.
FRIED CHICKEN FOR BREAKFAST
Elk Espresso
Beach end Oasis Shopping Centre, Broadbeach
Some cravings just can’t wait for the clock. Fried chicken has taken its rightful place on the breakfast menu at Broadbeach cafe Elk Espresso.
If you’re bored with bacon, it’s the ultimate way to upgrade your eggs benedict.
Elk serves the snappily spiced morning meal with sauteed kale (so it’s practically guilt free), salted pepitas, poachies, rockmelon spheres and pomegranate gloss, coated in a generous helping of chipotle hollandaise.
Or, if you prefer to cheat with sweet, order the Iced Vovo waffles.
BURGER WITH THE LOT
Milky Lane
Cult Bondi Burger joint Milky Lane took no time turning heads when it opened here with its exaggerated burgers.
Manager Thomas Soler says it’s the optional add-ons that gives popular burgers the big poppa its extravagance.
“Inside you have some mac and cheese croquettes, onion rings, beef, extra cheese,” Thomas says. “It’s pretty big, then you can add a chicken patty, extra cheese, extra bacon.”
Thomas says the presentation of the burgers has to be insta-worthy every time.
“(Customers) take their phone immediately and post it on Instagram,” he says. “You have to make everything look gorgeous.”
Some daring devourers have been known to swap out the buns for deep fried substitutes.
“We had a monthly special with a mozzarella patty, someone swapped the buns for the mozzarella patties,” Thomas says.
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