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Burleigh Heads dining: 11 of the best places to eat and drink

Looking for Burleigh’s best places to eat? Look no further. There’s burgers your stomach will love, plus the best Mexican and Asian this town has to offer, and much more.

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Wanting to impress your date but can’t decide where to take them to dinner before sitting on the hill with literally everyone else in Gold Coast going on a date? Here you go, take your pick, my sweet lazy cherub. Or maybe you’re wondering if Burleigh serves up anything other than Saturday morning breakfast? Look no further, because the people have spoken. There’s burgers your stomach will love, plus the best Mexican and Asian this town has to offer.

Mr Hizola’s

3/1730 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Heads restaurant Mr Hizola’s. Pork Pot Stickers, Dim Sum. Picture: Jerad Williams
Burleigh Heads restaurant Mr Hizola’s. Pork Pot Stickers, Dim Sum. Picture: Jerad Williams

WHEN ASIAN EATERY LIGHT YEARS WILL OPEN ON COAST

Tradition takes a back seat at Mr Hizola’s, a Cantonese food restaurant that creates more progressive and approachable dishes for diners. Owner Scott Imlach says Cantonese is a modern twist on Chinese food, with less spice and a lot of flavours. “You’re looking at that Westernised-style Chinese. There’s a lot of dumplings there, then you’ve got the chicken chow mein, lemon chicken, those are very popular.” You can expect dim sums and salt and pepper squid, minus the peculiar parts. “We don’t do ducks feet,” Scott says.

California Tacos

1/1718 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

California Tacos is Tijuana-inspired Mexican food.
California Tacos is Tijuana-inspired Mexican food.

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So you’ve agreed on Mexican but you’re only after a snack while your friend is seeking a siesta-inducing pile of nachos … por que no los dos? California Tacos owner Ty Yturralde says his restaurant accommodates for dos. “We have Baja Mexican which is really reliant on fresh fruits and fresh vegetables,” he says. “The food is not meant to knock you down — a couple of tacos and you go out for a surf. Then there’s an element of San Diego-style Mexican food, that’s like food to feed an army. As far as I’m concerned, we have the biggest nachos dish in Australia. And our burrito is 1.3 kilos.”

Burleigh Baker

13/50 James St, Burleigh Heads

"Give us this day, a choice of daily bread …" and that's exactly what The Burleigh Baker offers customers.
"Give us this day, a choice of daily bread …" and that's exactly what The Burleigh Baker offers customers.

THE GOLD COAST’S BEST BAKERIES AS VOTED BY YOU

You know how Burleigh Baker owner Geoff Dance knows the customers love his loaves of artisan sourdough? It’s all in the body language. “When they leave the shop, even the blokes hold the bread over their heart region,” he says. The Burleigh Heads bakery, known for its sourdough and gluten-free treats, has recently been awarded a research grant for its innovative approach to fermentation, a slow process that culminates in bread that’s lighter on the tum.

Jimmy Wah’s

1724 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Steam bun with braised beef short rib, pickled cucumber and fried garlic at Jimmy Wah’s, Burleigh Heads. Picture: Supplied.
Steam bun with braised beef short rib, pickled cucumber and fried garlic at Jimmy Wah’s, Burleigh Heads. Picture: Supplied.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN FOR $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS

Jimmy Wah’s takes the most enticing aspects of Vietnam and blends it with Australian persuasions. Co-owner Shelly Greaves says the communal dining style is a friendly approach to a cuisine based in custom. One of the best dishes is the bug tail beetle leaf. “With the bug tail, it has a super light tempura, you’ve got the beautiful betel leaf which we pick ourselves. It has these layers of flavour, and it keeps lingering and lingering.”

Montezuma’s

Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade, Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

Montezuma’s food: the Montezuma’s delight and nachos San Antonio. Also pictured chef Michael Smith
Montezuma’s food: the Montezuma’s delight and nachos San Antonio. Also pictured chef Michael Smith

LOCATION OF COAST’S NEW TACO BELL REVEALED

Montezuma’s in Burleigh is your trusty old amigo that never lets you down. The restaurant chain is decorated and colourful, with an extensive list of Mexican options sure to please every palate. Look out for lunch specials from Monday to Thursday, paired muy bien with a cool margarita.

Ze Pickle

37 Connor St, Burleigh Heads

The pastrami fries from Ze Pickle — pieces of house smoked pastrami topped with cheese and spring onion.
The pastrami fries from Ze Pickle — pieces of house smoked pastrami topped with cheese and spring onion.

11 OF THE GOLD COAST’S WILDEST CHEAT MEALS

Imagine you had the drunk munchies and had a whole burger bar and its kitchen at your disposal, what would you make? That’s how Burleigh Heads restaurant Ze Pickle comes up with new recipes. “We usually get drunk and talk about it, and go into the kitchen and give it a go,” Ze Pickle director Nathan Zukerman laughs. “That’s one of the luxuries of owning your own business.” Nathan says the winning buns on the menu are the wagyu beef “Chee-ze” with maple bacon and fried onion straws, and the Biting Buddha with grilled szechuan chicken, charred haloumi cheese and sauces.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN FOR $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS

Slice Pizzeria

7/1837 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Slice Pizzeria’s goloso pizza. Picture: Jerad Williams
Slice Pizzeria’s goloso pizza. Picture: Jerad Williams

Let’s be real — no one is modest when it comes to devouring pizza, and folks at Burleigh Heads Slice Pizzeria know it. Owner Ryan Leader says the minimal amount of yeast in his pizzas’ dough means you can go to town on an eight-slicer without worrying about the bread-induced stomach ache (don’t mind if we do). Ryan says top picks on the menu are the bolognese and the margheritana.

THE GOLD COAST’S BEST PIZZERIAS AS VOTED BY YOU

Rick Shores

3/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

Rick Shore owner Nick Woodward standing in front of the iconic view. Picture Glenn Hampson
Rick Shore owner Nick Woodward standing in front of the iconic view. Picture Glenn Hampson

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN FOR $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS

Rick Shores’ food is inspired by a broad scope of Asian cuisines redeveloped in interesting ways. The clever interpretations of cuisines from Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and Korea on its refreshing menu are polished and mature, rivalling the incredible ocean view for attention from your senses. Rick Shores’ menu transitions from easy bar snacks including the signature fried bug roll or the kingfish sashimi, through to fares cooked over coal, meat, curry plates and salads.

Red Hot Cod

1716 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Red Hot Cod’s BBQ Australia octopus with Greek salad. Picture: Jerad Williams
Red Hot Cod’s BBQ Australia octopus with Greek salad. Picture: Jerad Williams

Red Hot Cod is a small fish in the big Burleigh dining pond but owner Simon Scott says his shop is quick and clean. “It’s one of the smallest seafood places on the Coast but very busy — really fresh and really fast,” Simon says. Instead of having the fillets ready to fry in the cabinet, customers choose their fish and preferred coating before being fried or grilled to order. Red Hot Cod offers gluten-free batter on its fish as well as fresh salads, sweet potato chips and brown rice.

HERE’S WHERE YOU CAN GO TO TOWN ON COAST’S BEST WINGS

Hail Mary

6/26 James St, Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Heads' Hail Mary offers tasty and good value Mexican food.
Burleigh Heads' Hail Mary offers tasty and good value Mexican food.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN FOR $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS

Make the pilgrimage to Hail Mary if you’re looking to save on pesos. The Burleigh Heads hangout offers a mix of much loved Tex Mex dishes and authentic Mexican recipes, all served at reasonable prices. Simon Oxley took over the business late last year and says he’s been experimenting with a menu that meets in the middle. “I’ve blended the two styles of food, it doesn’t really try to stick to one thing,” he says. Every day there’s sunset specials and other deals on menu items. “Wednesday and Thursday we have a cheap feed option, on Saturday we do a lunch deal, on Sunday a large nachos and jug of sangria is $35,” Simon says.

Iku Yakitori Bar

1730 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Iku Yakitori Bar at Burleigh Heads specialises in charcoal-grilled meats. Picture Mike Matterham
Iku Yakitori Bar at Burleigh Heads specialises in charcoal-grilled meats. Picture Mike Matterham

GOLD COAST’S 13 BEST MODERN ASIAN RESTAURANTS

Once a delicious secret of Japan, the Gold Coast’s only yakitori restaurant is drawing crowds with its authentic Asian grill. Yakitori entails cooking pieces of chicken over Japanese Binchotan charcoal, resulting in moist, juicy meats devoured straight from the stick. The art of yakitori demands no part of the chicken to be wasted — so with the typical thigh, wings and skin skewers, there’s also gizzard, liver, heart and much more for the adventurous. If roasted flesh isn’t your jam, Iku also offers a selection of raw and cooked seafood, vegetarian and vegan nosh.

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/best-of-gold-coast/burleigh-heads-dining-11-of-the-best-places-to-eat-and-drink/news-story/0ae160c8be1eb47e7e47279da3ff4ca5