Our Brisbane friends first got a taste of Carl’s Jr. when it opened inside Brisbane Airport in 2016, which was followed by the Redbank Plains restaurant earlier this year. The new Pimpama site marks Carl’s Jr.’s first foray into the Gold Coast, which is set to be further bolstered later this year with a second restaurant to open in Hope Island by November. For those a little green to the Carl’s Jr. goodness, the chain is famous for its Angus Thickburgers (they are legitimately thick) served in a range of mouthwatering combinations – we can’t go past the Original though, which comes piled high with a thick beef patty, melted American cheese, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, lettuce, mustard, mayonnaise and ketchup.

If you can’t cop the Thickburgers, go for the chargrilled range where you can keep it simple with the Famous Star with cheese (aka a cheeseburger) or lash out with the Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger with double beef and cheese, crispy bacon, fried onion rings and tangy barbecue sauce. There’s also a hefty range of fried and grilled chicken burgers, salads, fries (including the chilli-cheese variety) and plenty of sweet sides like super-thick ice-cream shakes and sundaes. Carl’s Jr. also serves a moreish breakfast spread featuring a series of gigantic bacon and egg burgers, sausage and egg burgers, and breakfast platters brimming with pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash rounds, bacon (or sausage), all lovingly drizzled with syrup. Yes, you should wear your stretchy pants.

Jump over to our Stumble Guide for Carl’s Jr.’s opening hours and location.