FEASTING TOP FIVE GUIDE · The Weekly Five
I'd skip Brisbane lunch for these 5 Gold Coast spots
Five Gold Coast dining destinations offering Greek feasts, low-and-slow barbecue, interactive hot pot, and aromatic Indian curries worth the trip.
Heading down the highway for a meal only makes sense when the food on arrival completely anchors the day. When a dining room brings distinct personality, generous hospitality, and cooking that you simply cannot replicate at home, the drive down from Brisbane quickly feels like a privilege rather than a chore.
From smoking rotisseries in Burleigh Heads to low-and-slow Texas barbecue in Robina, here are five Gold Coast spots that deliver an experience memorable enough to build an entire outing around.
01 · Gold Coast, Queensland
Thursday night yiros at Manny's, Burleigh Heads
Clinking wine glasses under the neon sign at Manny's Wine & Fish sets an easygoing rhythm right away. Sitting along the Gold Coast Highway in Burleigh Heads, the dining room looks straight into an open kitchen where flames leap as meat spins on the rotisserie. Generosity rules the table here. We started with warm sliced pita, creamy dips, seared saganaki, and lightly cured fish tossed with capers and rocket. The real draw for a midweek trip is Thursday night, when smoking BBQ lamb yiros arrives packed tight alongside spice-seasoned thick-cut chips. Paired with a glass of Sherrah Nouveau Grenache, it is a generous feed built for sharing.
Clinking our wine glasses beneath the neon sign at Manny's Wine & Fish in Burleigh Heads set an immediate, easygoing rhythm for the night. There are plenty of Greek spots along the coast, but walking into this space felt far more like being invited into a friend's home for dinner than sitting down at a standard restaurant.
Manny's Wine & Fish delivers a genuine sense of Greek hospitality with generous shared spreads, energetic open kitchen views, and a Thursday yiros special worth booking ahead for.
What I’d start with: Pita & Dips, Saganaki, Lightly Cured Fish.
Read the full recommendation02 · Gold Coast, Queensland
All-you-can-eat KBBQ and hot pot at Seoul Garden, Broadbeach
Having a sizzling grill and a bubbling broth pot integrated into the exact same table completely changes how a meal moves. At Seoul Garden in Pacific Fair, Broadbeach, you never have to choose between Korean barbecue and hot pot. We stacked raw sliced Angus beef belly onto the central grill while simmering tofu, mushrooms, and greens in the induction soup base right beside it. The buffet adds glazed chicken wings, crisp fried chicken, and cheesy corn to keep the table busy. Just save room for the dessert station: twisting a cool bowl of soft-serve frozen yogurt topped with Oreo crumbs and strawberry popping pearls is the ultimate sweet finish.
Having both a sizzling grill and a bubbling pot of broth integrated into the very same table changes the rhythm of a meal. At Seoul Garden, newly opened at Pacific Fair in Broadbeach, you do not have to choose between Korean barbecue and hot pot, as both run simultaneously right in front of you, with all-you-can-eat prices starting from $21.90 per person.
Seoul Garden delivers a lively, interactive dining experience at Pacific Fair, seamlessly pairing tabletop Korean BBQ with a steaming hot pot buffet and an impressive dessert station.
What I’d start with: Korean BBQ meats including Angus beef belly, Hot pot base with tofu, mushrooms and greens, Hot foods including fried chicken, glazed chicken wings and cheesy corn.
Read the full recommendation03 · Gold Coast, Queensland
Upgraded brisket burgers and smoked platters at Brisket's, Robina
Upgrading a cheeseburger with sliced brisket, melted cheddar, and cheese sauce at Robina Town Centre makes an immediate statement. Tucked inside the shopping centre strip, Brisket's runs a giant commercial smoker right behind the counter, filling display trays with dark, heavily seasoned cuts. Co-owner Stevie smokes Boston butt for up to 14 hours and brisket for 16. I ordered the three-meat basket tray loaded with pulled pork, chicken, waffle fries, pickles, toast, and house-blended gold, white, and red barbecue sauces. Don't skip the side dishes either, the creamy mac and cheese dusted with red spice seasoning became one of my absolute personal favourites of the visit.
Starting with a cheeseburger upgraded to sliced brisket, smothered in cheddar cheese and melted cheese sauce, makes an immediate case for low-and-slow barbecue at Robina Town Centre. The soft bun gives way to tender meat stacked with pickles and dripping sauce, proving right away that upgrading from a standard patty is well worth it.
Upgrading to sliced brisket in the cheeseburger delivers deep smoke, while the house-made mac and cheese and three-meat basket show off Brisket's low-and-slow craft in Robina.
What I’d start with: Cheeseburger upgraded to sliced brisket with cheddar and cheese sauce, Mac and cheese, Basket tray with pulled pork, chicken, and brisket.
Read the full recommendation04 · Gold Coast, Queensland
Frozen mocktails and pet-friendly dining at Sandy's, Pacific Pines
A frozen Mixed Berry Daiquiri crowned with a dried citrus wheel sets a refreshing scene before any food hits the table at Sandy's Bar & Grill on Pitcairn Way. Tucked away in Pacific Pines, this relaxed suburban spot delivers serious portion sizes in a pet-friendly outdoor setting where dogs can join. We tucked into slices of cheesy garlic bread, a bowl of Greek salad topped with thick feta, and a generous plate of penne pasta in rich tomato sauce. The Greek Lamb Pizza comes piled high with lamb, feta, olives, and oregano seasoning. Between the slushie-style mocktails and hearty Mediterranean plates, it is a proper local find.
A frozen dark red berry mocktail crowned with a dried citrus wheel sets a welcoming scene before the first plate arrives at Sandy's Bar & Grill. Tucked away on Pitcairn Way in Pacific Pines, this local spot quickly makes a case for being one of the Gold Coast's best-value dining options, driven by standout drinks and generous portions.
Sandy's Bar & Grill in Pacific Pines delivers generous portions, standout refreshing mocktails, and hearty Mediterranean-style mains in a casual, pet-friendly setting.
What I’d start with: Greek Salad ($13), Vegetarian Napoli ($20), Cheesy Garlic Bread ($8).
Read the full recommendation05 · Gold Coast, Queensland
Aromatic mango curry and cheesy naan at Shere Panjab, Surfers Paradise
Starting with a chilled mango lassi at Shere Panjab on Thomas Drive opens a meal focused entirely on spice complexity over raw heat. The Surfers Paradise dining room feels warm and unpretentious with its simple timber tables. We began with crispy onion bhajis dipped in bright mint chutney, followed by an eight-piece tandoori platter loaded with chicken tikka, malai tikka, lamb botti, and seekh kebab. The real standout for me was the velvety mango curry spooned over coconut rice, balancing rich sweetness against savoury spice without any harsh sting. Pulled apart hot, the cheesy garlic naan makes every drop of sauce count before finishing with green pista kulfi.
A glass of chilled mango lassi is quickly becoming one of my favourite starts to a meal, and the smooth, creamy pour at Shere Panjab Indian Restaurant set a welcoming tone right away. Tucked along Thomas Drive in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, this dining room feels relaxed and unpretentious with its simple wooden dining tables and patterned wallpaper.
Shere Panjab Indian proves that rich, comforting Indian food does not need blistering chilli to stand out, offering a memorable Surfers Paradise spread led by velvety mango curry and cheesy garlic naan.
What I’d start with: Mango lassi, Crispy onion bhaji, Loaded non-veg meat platter.
Read the full recommendationWhether you are chasing smoky Texas platters or interactive table barbecue, these five Gold Coast destinations offer plenty of delicious reasons to hit the M1.
Visit details
Manny’s Wine & Fish: Gifted and paid collaboration with host Manny Patunas.
Seoul Garden Pacific Fair: Gifted/paid collaboration invite via Chou Chou Media.
Brisket’s Robina: Gifted/invited collaboration.
Sandy’s Bar + Grill: Gifted/paid collaboration with @cloudwiselabs.
Shere Panjab: Gifted/paid collaboration