Takeaway
Sweet treats, sudsy sips and smoky eats – where to taste test some of Logan's most lip-smacking fare
Food & Drink

Sweet treats, sudsy sips and smoky eats – where to taste test some of Logan’s most lip-smacking fare

Sometimes when you've lived in a city for so long, it can feel like you've wined and dined at every establishment, had your morning cuppa at every corner cafe or had one too many late-night HSP from that trusty kebab shop. If you want to broaden your horizons both from a culinarily and geographical perspective, then we think you should hop in the car and drive to a city not so far away – Logan. Brimming with mouth-watering fare from almost every country you can think of, this epicurean melting pot is worth diving into. Here are some top-notch spots for when you plan on embarking on a self-curated Logan food trail … more

Takeaway
Ming Ming's brings vibrant northern Vietnamese fare to Surfers Paradise
Food & Drink

Ming Ming’s brings vibrant northern Vietnamese fare to Surfers Paradise

If you're the kind of person that goes out of your way to uncover your suburb's hidden gems and believe that sometimes, the best – and most authentic – feed isn't always on the main thoroughfare but in alleyways and unassuming spaces, you need to know about Ming Ming's Express in Surfers Paradise. Nestled in plain sight on Orchid Avenue (across from Cali Beach), the neighbourhood noshery may not boast the flashiest fit-out in town, but the stream of happy faces in and out is your first indication that there's more to this venue than meets the eye. Read on for all of the mouth-watering details ... more

Takeaway
Tarte to-go – Burleigh's famed pastry emporium opens a takeaway window for bagels and brews
Food & Drink

Tarte to-go – Burleigh’s famed pastry emporium opens a takeaway window for bagels and brews

Tarte Bakery & Cafe has become the go-to spot for breakfast basking in the sunshine, lazy brunches and pastry-filled feasts. So popular, in fact, that it's not uncommon to be greeted with a line out the door. Despite the fast-moving nature of the queue, Tarte's owner Chloe Watts, who is a self-professed perfectionist, sought to find a resolution that better catered to both the lingering lunchers as well as time-poor pals that seek to caffeinate on the fly. The solution manifested itself in the form of a dedicated takeaway window that slings brews and bagels. Here's everything you need to know ... more

Takeaway
Sink your teeth into a loaded bagel from Broadbeach's new O Bagel
Food & Drink

Sink your teeth into a loaded bagel from Broadbeach’s new O Bagel

If you’ve spent any time eating and drinking your way around the great U.S. of A., it’s pretty likely that you sunk your teeth into a deliciously doughy bagel at some point in your travels. Schmeared with cream cheese or loaded with an array of cured meat, bagels are big business in America. Here in Australia, or perhaps more specifically, the Gold Coast, it seems we're a little slow on the uptake with croissants and sourdough stealing the limelight. O Bagel has arrived in Broadbeach to rectify this with its range of beautiful boiled and baked bagels. Here's everything you need to know ... more

Takeaway
Popular sushi-slinger Okazu opens a second outpost in Mermaid Waters
Food & Drink

Popular sushi-slinger Okazu opens a second outpost in Mermaid Waters

Dishing up Japanese soul food straight out of Osaka, Okazu first stole our collective hearts when it opened along the bustling Nobby Beach strip in 2017 kicking off a long-standing love affair with its amazingly fresh sushi rolls, poke bowls and okonomiyaki. The only downside to the venue's unwavering popularity is that it's not uncommon to find a line out the door. The limited kitchen space also meant that Michie or ‘Mama Michie’, as she’s lovingly referred to, wasn't able to fully flex her culinary muscles as she simply didn't have the space to create. Thankfully (for our tastebuds) the solution presented itself in a tiny takeaway nook nestled in between The Journal Cafe and Lucky Bao in Mermaid Waters Shopping Village. more


Takeaway
Brews, bites and good vibes abound at The Ranchero – the new home of Morena Espresso
Food & Drink

Brews, bites and good vibes abound at The Ranchero – the new home of Morena Espresso

If you're a Gold Coast local with a penchant for live music, it's pretty likely that you've found yourself grooving away at Mo's Desert Clubhouse on more than a couple of late-night occasions. The Burleigh Heads-based live music locale serves up myriad events each weekend, from vintage markets to local music shows and even the occasional wedding, all with Mo's signature rainbow flair. Well, now it is also host to an equally colour-drenched Gold Coast venue, Morena Espresso's newest outpost. Say hello to Morena at Mo's! more

Takeaway
Stick a fork into thrice-cooked potato at Varsity's new Street Food Cartel
Food & Drink

Stick a fork into thrice-cooked potato at Varsity’s new Street Food Cartel

We’re pretty fond of potatoes in all of their different configurations – mashed, roasted and our personal favourite, in chip form. If you too have a penchant for the pillowy parcels, then you need to know about Street Food Cartel in Varsity Lakes. The cafe is combining all three into one glorious creation called the Loaded C.P.S, or Crunch Potato Squares. The thrice-cooked cubes are topped with seasoned ground beef, pulled chipotle pork or veg, and drenched in smoky barbecue sauce. If your mouth is watering, you need to seek out Street Food Cartel, stat. more

Takeaway
Roll in for a post-surf feed at Burleigh's brand-new Freddy's Chicken Shop
Food & Drink

Roll in for a post-surf feed at Burleigh’s brand-new Freddy’s Chicken Shop

There's something inherently romantic about taking something from yesteryear and reinventing it for an entirely new generation to fall in love with all over again. This is certainly the case for Freddy's Chicken Shop, the brand-new eatery perched on the corner of James and Connor Street in Burleigh Heads. The former realty office has been transformed into a light and bright eatery that throws a nostalgic nod to the site's original incarnation as a bustling corner store. Freddy's Chicken Shop is an ode to the old-school milk bars of the 1970s with a particular emphasis on chicken, obviously. more

Takeaway
Wine and cheese – yes please! Wrap your mitts around a gourmet toastie from Mermaid's newbie Cheese Me Baby
Food & Drink

Wine and cheese – yes please! Wrap your mitts around a gourmet toastie from Mermaid’s newbie Cheese Me Baby

A mantra we Gold Coasters tend to live by, particularly as we head towards the steamy months, is that happiness is best served melted. And that's precisely what you'll find at Cheese Me Baby in Mermaid Beach – gooey, melty happiness in sandwich form. Sitting pretty on the corner of the Gold Coast Highway and Tamborine Street, in the same complex that also houses Poké Poké, Goccia Italian and Som Tam Gai, the converted container kitchen has transformed a previously underutilised grassy knoll into a vibin' coffee slinger. Let's be honest, they had us at wine and cheese but there's plenty more to love about this nifty newcomer ...  more

Takeaway
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a Croffle from Southport's Croffee
Food & Drink

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a Croffle from Southport’s Croffee

Cronuts and cruffins, take a seat. Fellow sugar fiends, may we present the Croffle –  a glorious croissant/waffle hybrid that is guaranteed to spark joy. The decadent dessert or sometimes savoury snack starts with a base of buttery croissant dough before being cooked to crisp, golden perfection in a waffle iron and adorned with your choice of toppings. It's happiness, plain and simple.  more

Takeaway
Say ciao to Al Chiosco, a little slice of Italy in Kingscliff
Food & Drink

Say ciao to Al Chiosco, a little slice of Italy in Kingscliff

There's something special about Italian food. Often served from a no-fuss establishment and created using traditional methods passed down over generations, there's a reason the fare is so loved across the world. Inspired by these hole-in-the-wall-style servers of unbeatable pizza is newcomer Al Chiosco. Opening only a couple of weeks ago to crowds of people lining Kingscliff’s Ocean Avenue to get a taste of the perfect slice, Al Chiosco translates to ‘little kiosk’ – referring to the small in space, but big on personality pizza purveyor. more

Takeaway
Get the scoop on Sanctuary Cove's new frozen dessert den Rosé Gelateria
Food & Drink

Get the scoop on Sanctuary Cove’s new frozen dessert den Rosé Gelateria

Just because winter has set in doesn't mean we suddenly stop craving cones overflowing with deliciously creamy gelato – no siree. If you too are fond of frozen treats all year round, say ciao to Sanctuary Cove's newest sweet-treat dispensary, Rosé Gelateria. With dreamy rose-hued French-washed walls juxtaposed against crisp white bench seating, brushed-gold accents and plush velvet cushions, the space is awe-inspiringly beautiful. Aesthetics aside, we all know it’s what’s inside that counts and trust us when we say – this place is the goods. Here's the scoop on this pretty and tasty newcomer ... more

Takeaway
Bun Lee brings banh mi, bao buns and cold-brew coffee to Burleigh Heads
Food & Drink

Bun Lee brings banh mi, bao buns and cold-brew coffee to Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Heads is a melting pot of global flavours with fare from all around the world represented within the beachside hub. The latest to take up residence within the bustling James Street strip is Bun Lee Bun + Brew – a light and bright takeaway nook that is dedicated to beautifully fresh banh mi, baos and cold-brew coffee. Here's everything you need to know about this small but mighty newcomer ... more

Takeaway
Easter feaster – dial up the decadence this year with QT's at-home Easter box
Food & Drink

Easter feaster – dial up the decadence this year with QT’s at-home Easter box

We're just going to say it, Easter 2021 has a lot to make up for. This time last year, Australians spent their entire long weekend in lockdown with only essential shopping trips allowed – no lining up at the trawler for fresh prawns and seafood, no buttered hot-cross buns fresh from the bakery oven, no gathering with friends and family over a meal. Thankfully, this year's festivities are looking a little more positive. Make up for the year that wasn't with a sensational spread at home courtesy of Easter by QT at Home.  more

Takeaway
Experience deliciously authentic Italian gelato at Coolangatta's new gelateria Ottimo
Food & Drink

Experience deliciously authentic Italian gelato at Coolangatta’s new gelateria Ottimo

There are some locales that have an unspoken reputation – when you know, you know. Ottimo on Marine Parade in Coolangatta is one of those places. The sweet gelateria opened its doors in December 2020 next door to Xenia Bar & Restaurant and is dishing up amazingly authentic gelato, flaky croissants, delightful danishes and top-notch brews of the caffeinated kind. Italian for 'excellent', Ottimo is firmly establishing itself as a bonafide local gem and once you get a glimpse of the goods, you’ll see why. more

Takeaway
Macca's is giving us a taste of New Zealand with its new Cookie Time McFlurry
Food & Drink

Macca’s is giving us a taste of New Zealand with its new Cookie Time McFlurry

When it comes to sweet treats, our Kiwi friends sure know what's up. Plenty of New Zealand's cult-status confections have made their way to our shores, from Whittaker's Peanut Slabs and Cadbury Perky Nanas to Pascall Pineapple Lumps and of course, Cookie Time. In a tastebud-tantalising twist of events, McDonald's is taking your favourite baked beauty, mashing it up and pouring it over its universally adored soft serve to create a new ice-cream flavour – the Cookie Time McFlurry. more