Five of the best: The Gold Coast’s five best waffles

Enjoy waffles? Who doesn’t! There’s plenty of waffly goodness out there and we’ve found the Gold Coast’s five best waffles for you to tuck into.

Yum! Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

ENJOY waffles? Who doesn’t! There’s plenty of waffly goodness out there and we’ve found the Gold Coast’s five best waffles for you to tuck into.

ELK ESPRESSO

Oasis Shopping Centre, Broadbeach

Elk Espresso's Black Forest Waffle is made with activated charcoal.

Elk Espresso are the original waffle wizards of the Gold Coast. The Broadbeach cafe’s concoctions draw crowds from far and wide, including the infamous fried chicken-topped treat, and its new dark magic dish is certain to tempt tastebuds. Fresh off the new autumn menu is the black forest waffle, a sweet treat where ash grey-coloured waffles are juxtaposed by pink and red trimmings. “Our black forest waffle is the latest sweet addition to our autumn menu and its available all day,” Elk Espresso owner Andrew Whiting says. “(It has) activated charcoal waffles, raspberry ice cream, berries, strawberry gel, chocolate soil, violet white chocolate and marshmallow. We used the charcoal as an ingredient to bring an earthiness to the dish. The overall inspiration and flavour profile of the dish comes from the classic black forest cake.” Andrew says the plate is quickly becoming Insta-famous. “So many are ordered and photographed.”

OH MY WAFFLE

6/1837 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Oh My Waffle owner Jessica Hannagan with one of her creations. Picture Glenn Hampson

For serious cravings, go straight to the source — the Gold Coast’s first waffle dessert bar. Co-owner Jessica Hannagan says they’re constantly upping the ante with monthly specials, but the Straight Outta Burleigh is the bestseller. “That’s got strawberries, brownie pieces, melted Whittaker’s Creamy Milk chocolate and ice cream,” she says. The launch of weekend breakfasts from 7.30am to 11am introduced a host of new creations to the line-up, including a waffle/French toast hybrid. Imagine brioche French toast, cooked in the waffle press, dusted with cinnamon sugar and loaded with caramelised bananas, strawberries, maple syrup, house-made honeycomb and (optional) crispy bacon. Jessica also hints their hot cross bun ice cream could be making a comeback for Easter.

NEIGHBOURHOOD ESPRESSO

4/9 Station St, Currumbin Waters

It’s all things nice at Neighbourhood Espresso, where they serve their waffles infused with sugar and spice. The pumpkin spice buckwheat waffle comes with sweet and savoury elements added in the toppings of mascarpone, house-made praline and banana curd. “We serve it with fresh banana and it goes really nice with the bacon,” owner Cleo Watterson says. “The waffle itself isn’t overly sweet at all but it’s not savoury either. There’s really nice spices to it. Everyone that’s had it has ordered it again, literally everyone has absolutely loved it. Besides the waffle being different, the banana curd and mascarpone really make it unique.”

THE LOOSE MOOSE

Oasis Shopping Centre, Broadbeach

The Loose Moose's Golden Gaytime waffle. Photo: Chantay Logan

Our second contender from the waffle wonderland that is Oasis Shopping Centre, The Loose Moose is luring fans of a cult Aussie ice cream. The Golden Gaytime recreates its role model with salted caramel sauce, Gaytime ice cream and flavoured labneh, white chocolate “soil” and shortbread. The crispy buttermilk waffle foundation is presented on an ice-cream stick for your eating pleasure, then crowned with strawberries and a sprinkle of pretty petals.

CARDAMOM POD BRICKWORKS

3/3 Brolga Avenue, Southport

Cardarmom Pod’s Indian Street Food waffle. Pics Tim Marsden

Sweet or savoury? Why not both! Cardamom Pod has two plant-based waffles on its photogenic menu. If you have a sweet tooth, get saucy with the vegan double chocolate option, which comes with housemade salted caramel ice cream, raspberry compote, strawberries, Oreo crumbs, meringue crumble and a whole lot of chocolate sauce. The Indian street food waffle is just as elaborate, but the spinach pakora base makes for a savoury sensation. It’s topped off with a maple-sriracha glaze, roast sweet potato, potato peanut fritter, beetroot-coconut yoghurt raita, tomato chutney, herbed aioli, avo and Mumbai trail mix, and also gets the gluten-free tick.