The Gold Coast has long been home to world-class beaches and an ancient, scenic hinterland. These days, increasingly, it's also dishing up a diverse range of dining options, sometimes in surprising locations.

For the past few years, Burleigh Heads has been the epicentre of the action but the ripples can be felt all along the coast and in some lesser-known suburbs, too.

Here are 10 places worth going the extra mile to visit.

Anekawa, Mudgeeraba

It'd be all too easy to miss this coffee shop-sized gem, swathed in traditional noren. It sits unobtrusively in an unremarkable shopping strip in a township off the Pacific Motorway. But if you love characterful Japanese, you'll fall hard for Anekawa. Opt for omakase and let chef-owner Koki Anekawa impress with eight or nine courses of meticulously sourced produce – a hearty claypot steaming with dashi rice, beef strips, chilli and a coddled egg mixed at table, oysters with bonito jelly and pops of finger lime, and fabulous smoky chargrilled Spanish mackerel in buttery shoyu sauce with pickled red cabbage and green peppercorns. Expect a smart clutch of natural wine and sake too.

Shop C4,50-54 Railway Street, Mudgeeraba, anekawa.com.au

Franc Jrs, Coolangatta

Sure, there are decent pizze to be had all along the Coast. But if you want to try the most indulgent (and arguably tastiest), nab a deep-dish Sicilian square Detroit-style number from Franc Jrs. The Orange Stripe with its bouncy focaccia-style base is highly recommended, the pie's fat edges crisped up with umami-laden caramelised cheese. The chilli, vodka tomato sauce, pools of stracciatella, fresh basil and parmesan don't hurt either. There are lighter Neapolitan-inspired offerings and vegan options too – a Dollop Parton, perhaps, with cashew ricotta and Calabrian chilli, or A Little Sticky with meatless 'nduja and vegan hot honey. Franc is tiny, counter-service and it's mainly designed for takeaway. But you won't regret the trip wherever you're staying on the coast.

102 Griffith Street, Coolangatta, francjrs.com.au

Miami Fish Market, Miami

Whether or not you're self-catering on the GC, this seafood hub submerged in the semi-industrial backblocks of Miami should be on your holiday to-do list. Admire the impressive displays of wet fish and hard-to-find shellfish specialties, then join locals to snack on freshly shucked oysters, uni (sea urchin roe) and paper cups of fish chowder sitting at a high-top on an umbrella-shaded deck. Or go one better – snap up a $16 bluefin tuna or $15 kingfish sashimi platter, add in a haul of cooked local prawns, and head to your favourite beach for views and a feast. There's a tight selection of high-end deli items too.

Shop 1, 54 Paradise Avenue, Miami, miamifishmarket.com.au

Tommy's Italian, Currumbin

Freewheeling Italian with views of dunes and mist-topped rollers? Hustle for a seat on Tommy's upstairs deck with its cheery red and white upholstery for full dolce vita vibes. But a spot on the bronze-hued banquette doesn't feel too much like second best. Paccheri is the smart pasta choice with a spicy arrabiata sauce, splodged with stracciatella, fresh basil and extra chilli; or share a char-freckled pizza topped with fennel-forward sausage, fior di latte, ricotta and broccolini. There's a decent range of antipasti, too; pickled sardines perhaps? Perfect with a chilled vermentino from Sardinian grower Pala Fiori. If you'd prefer to stay on the beach then sibling outfit Little Tommy's, across from Currumbin Creek, fires up at the end of October for takeaways.

818 Pacific Parade, Currumbin, tommysitalian.com.au

The Langham Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise

Langham's elevated afternoon tea should be a lock for anyone who loves stylish surrounds, petite sweet treats and elegant savouries –think airy choux buns topped with local crab and scampi roe, lemon myrtle infused cream cheese cucumber sandwiches and more. But if hotel buffets are what spikes your heart rate, try Akoya's. It's a full buffet but the widescreen vistas of sandy dunes and surf are a prompt to pile your plate with Moreton Bay bugs, Mooloolaba prawns, spanner crab and sashimi with all the trimmings. Those craving silver-service and Cantonese classics can find Australia's first outpost of T'ang Court on the third level.

38 Old Burleigh Road, Surfers Paradise, langhamhotels.com

The North Room, Mermaid Beach

Owners chef Tim Stewart and wife Shannon have been diligently building a well-deserved reputation for their compact, casually smart, Euro-inspired 20-seater for half a decade. Dishes such as the signature crab and bone marrow crumpets blobbed with creme fraiche and shavings of salted egg yolk are just one reason you should visit. You might also find pipis from the nearby beach paired with green tomato and curry leaf, or Bay Lobster with Geraldton wax. Just choose five of the eight dishes featured. There are always nature-respecting wines on pour. Don't be deterred by the less than idyllic highway location, this five-course tasting menu would cost double in Sydney or Melbourne.

Shop 1, 2527 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach, thenorthroom.com.au

Scott's Luncheonette & Bar, Palm Beach

Perry Scott has been mixing cocktails for Splendour in the Grass VIPs for two decades and once owned Brisbane's The Lark. It's fitting his latest venture, in rapidly gentrifying Palm Beach, also does a cracking line in booze, with cocktails and tasty natural wines to the fore. Seen from the highway, all clean white lines, it looks like an airy specialty coffee haunt – and during the day, great coffee and impressive sangers such as the house-cured corned beef ciabatta Reuben ensure it's no slouch in the breakfast or lunch departments. But return post-beach and you'll find the bar menu with its steak frites, jalapeno poppers, Philly cheese steaks and more to inspire a thorough exploration of the drinks offering.

1114 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach, scottspalmbeach.com.au

Cantina, Mermaid Beach

There's more to this lightly Spanish accented neighbourhood hang than its signature crisp-crumbed mortadella sando – but do grab one if you score a seat at the bar. This delightful two-hander offers a tight menu of simple Iberian snacks, sometimes crafted with a twist, so plan on nabbing the likes of knobbly prawn fritters, sheathed in GF besan batter with preserved lemon mayo, and braised chickpeas topped with fat chorizo slices. Cantina's eclectic fitout – copper-topped bar, mirror ball overhead, vintage posters on the wall – chimes with a pared-back Spanish-leaning wine list and general chilled vibes. Missy Price and partner Harry Pearce are sociable hosts. Walk-ins only. Prefer Italian? Cantina sits beside Piatto, Pearce's parents (Brad and Thea's) big-hearted 16-seat Italian adventure (bookings essential).

2460 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid beach, @cantina_au; @piatto.restaurant

Milkman's Daughter, Mermaid Beach

A goblet of house-made lemon myrtle pepperberry kombucha? A golden turmeric latte on coconut milk? Precisely brewed organic coffee? If you're in search of lightness but don't want to ditch flavour in the process, this little vego cafe, aptly decorated in muted tones of milk and cream, delivers the goods including useful gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options. Vegan apple pie porridge is a hearty breakfast, made on oats and quinoa, with seeds, cinnamon pear and apple. Vegan nachos sport house habanero jam and vegan cheese with chimichurri and house-baked beans. The clientele all look so healthy you may want to order one of whatever they're having.

Shop 2, 43 Alfred Street, Mermaid Beach, themilkmansdaughter.coffee

Eddy + Wolff, Robina

And the award for the best repurposing of a space that used to house a dry cleaning business? That gong has to go to this darkly attractive, fast-paced, 22-seat pan-Asian hot spot. Zero traces of the venue's former life remain. Instead two clever border-crossing tasting menus are on offer, an omakase for $95 or the Lucky menu for $75, where diners can dial their own adventure – starting perhaps with a skewer of bo luc lac (shaking beef), followed by possibly some of the state's best prawn toast and maybe a tasty rejig of mapo tofu featuring whipped tofu, shiitake mushrooms and spring onion oil. Be warned, E & W isn't easy to find but you'll be glad you took the trouble.

Shop 12, 44 Commerce Drive, Robina, eddyandwolff.com.au