Best of the Gold Coast: Surfers Paradise’s nine best places to eat
Surfers Paradise has much more to offer than late night kebabs and HSPs. We reveal nine of the best places to eat in the vibrant glitter strip.
Best of Gold Coast
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Surfers Paradise boasts foodie delights much more impressive than a HSP at 3am.
The vibrant glitter strip is a melting pot of vegetarian treats, decadent burgers, modern Mexican and much more.
Just be prepared to grace the backgrounds of at least 78 international photos or vlogs while on the pursuit of gastronomy.
Check out our list of Surfers Paradise’s top nine best places to eat.
Govindas
3120 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
THE COAST’S BEST VEGO RESTAURANTS AS VOTED BY YOU
You haven’t lived until you’ve stuffed yourself silly on Govindas kofta balls at Surfers Paradise. The buffet Hare Krishna restaurant serves up all-you-can-eat vegan cuisine, from warming curries to potato bake and fresh salads. Whoever said vegans are underfed was seriously deluded.
White Rhino
Shop 38, 55 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise
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The people go wild at White Rhino for its Moreton Bay bug pizza. Featuring five bug tails delicately shelled and sliced, marinated in chilli and garlic before being scattered atop a soft, fresh dough, White Rhino partner Matthew Keegan says it lures in the masses all day. “People really like it, they say the Moreton Bay bug is so different to have on a pizza.” Other notable nibbles are the White Rhino pizza with pork and fennel sausage, salami, fior di latte cheese and rocket.
Chop Chop
3113 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise
FIRST LOOK AT BURLEIGH’S NEW JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Food markets are the new black, and Chop Chop in Surfers Paradise capitalises on the next generation’s cravings for variety. The alleyway houses more than a dozen eateries offering chow from a number of countries, including Japan, Thai, China, Indonesian, India, Korea and Taiwan.
Longboards Laidback Eatery and Bar
Hamilton Ave & Northcliffe Terrace, Surfers Paradise
A tall building calls for tall burgers, and Longboards Laidback Eatery stacks them up. Operations manager Patrick Hanrahan says the poolside restaurant attached to the Q1 is known for its sizeable servings. “Our burgers are probably bigger than most venues around the Coast, they’re all pretty massive,” Patrick says. “That’s definitely a drawcard for us.” Patrick says the top patty picks are the traditional style New Yorker and the signature 1.8kg “fat bastard” burger challenge.
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La Diosa Mexicana
Circle on Cavil, 3184 Surfers Paradise Blvd Surfers Paradise
RESTAURANT KING ANNOUNCES SHOCK DEPARTURE FROM NINETEEN
La Diosa is the new el chico on the block, opening up in the Circle on Cavill complex in February this year. The restaurant blends Mexican food with worldly flavours, taking inspiration from chef Danny Azzi’s Middle Eastern and Mediterranean background. “We had a couple of compliments from people saying it’s the best Mexican they’ve had outside the US,” Danny says.
Yamagen at QT Gold Coast
7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
WHY THIS COAST RESTAURANT WANTS TO STAY OPEN LATE
Yamagen at QT Gold Coast brings traditional Japanese cooking to the 21st Century by incorporating Australian ingredients and cutting-edge cooking techniques. Yamagen executive chef Adam Lane says the restaurant often combines the cuisines of different countries to create a unique, contemporary dining experience. “The sashimi taco (is) my modern twist on onigiri,” Adam says. “We like to showcase our culinary collaboration between different cultures. We like to take the traditional Japanese ways with our Australian twist.”
Milky Lane
1/38 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise
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Milky Lane, known for its crazy, decadent concoctions that can barely be contained between two buns, has been attracting big names and common folk from far and wide since first opening in Sydney in 2016 and later on the Gold Coast in 2018. “When celebrities are in town, they turn to Milky Lane for their fix,” Surfers Paradise Milky Lane owner Christian Avant says. “Ed Sheeran, Post Malone, Russell Crowe, Nick Jonas and more have eaten at Milky Lane in the last 12 months.”
Salt Meats Cheese
The 4217, 10 Beach Rd, Surfers Paradise
GOLD COAST’S TOP 10 BEST BRUNCH SPOTS
You think making pizza is just some salami and zucchini and a-lots-a-mozzarella? Think again. “It looks easy but it’s not,” Salt Meats Cheese owner Alex Vicinanza says. “It’s easy to eat the pizza but not to make. The secret is to make the dough rise for around 48 hours.” Salts Meats Cheese employs chefs from the birthplace of pizza — Naples — and orders its flour and some meats from Italy. Top slices include the prosciutto pizza and the quattro carne (aka four meat).
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Cantina on Capri
Shop 3G13, Capri on Via Roma, Surfers Paradise
Cantina on Capri is described as a “hidden gem” by customers and has a strong local following, taking diners from knock-offs on a Friday to fuelling the weary on a Sunday. The wooden deck with fairy lights is the perfect spot for knock-offs or pre-drinks, and the menu is stacked full of delicious Latin American dishes. The owners recommend the loaded fries with pulled pork, jack cheese, barbecue sauce and ranch dressing as the ultimate hangover refuel.
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