Blowfish Ocean Grill + Bar, Broadbeach: The owners of Broadbeach’s longstanding Moo Moo The Wine Bar + Grill turned their attention to high-end seafood with their latest venture, Blowfish – an impressive two-storey, 150-seat restaurant where sea-based eats shine bright. While the menu is driven by the best local catches, mainstay highlights include Moreton Bay bug rolls, caviar bumps, a fresh oyster and sashimi bar, and a show-stopping seafood tower. Plus, you’re sure to find a perfectly matching drop on Blowfish’s 320-strong wine list.

The Tropic in Burleigh Pavilion, Burleigh Heads: Given its location, it’s no surprise seafood takes pride of place on the menu at The Tropic. Make your way through the ‘on ice’ selection, which includes kingfish tartare and fresh prawn, or just dive right into mains of goldband snapper or go all out with the eastern rock lobster and fries.

Pipi’s, Coolangatta: Perched atop Point Danger overlooking Rainbow Bay, Pipi’s stellar seafood selection jostles with the spectacular ocean views for your attention. The sophisticated dining spot, which is first Gold Coast restaurant by Brisbane hospitality family Gambaro Group, boasts a Mediterranean lean and there’s plenty of trawler-fresh seafood across the menu, including snacks like swordfish skewers, seared scallops and crispy prawn rolls. Entrees include the likes of chargrilled squid and Mooloolaba king prawns, but if you’re keen for a little taste of everything, the Pipi’s Seafood Platter is the way to go.

Rick Shores, Burleigh Heads: Served just metres from the sandy shores of Burleigh Beach, Rick Shores’ famed Pan-Asian menu is brimming with some of the region’s best seafood – and we’re not just talking about the iconic bug rolls. Start with crispy battered oysters with ginger caramel and umeboshi jelly fish, or the lobster-and-prawn har gow, before leaning into larger plates like the Alaskan king-crab yellow curry and the whole baby barramundi with sweet pickled prawns.

Kōst Bar & Grill, Broadbeach: With everything from caviar bumps and freshly shucked oysters to deluxe seafood towers, newcomer Kōst has quickly become a go-to for top-tier seafood on the Gold Coast. The snacks menu feature small plates like fancy fish fingers with smoked salmon roe and tartare, a bay lobster roll, and a fresh prawn cocktail. The Over Embers part of the menu sees the likes of whole market fish, octopus and king prawns cooked over flames, and for seafood lovers keen to splurge, there’s also a whole Australian wood-fired lobster, which you’ll need to pre-order 24 hours in advance.

The Lazy Lobster, Labrador: This is the ultimate seafood spot on the northern end, priding itself on quality produce and the best seafood catches. Think dishes like bug-tail pappardelle, fried-panko scallops, lobster mornay, and the must-try barbecued platters with bugs, tiger prawns, mussels and more. We’re salivating just thinking about it.

Kiyomi, Broadbeach: While not a dedicated seafood restaurant, Kiyomi is well known for serving up some of the finest sea-based fare in the city. Here you’ll find a top-flight offering of fresh oysters and melt-in-your-mouth sashimi, fine caviar, delicate sushi and nigiri, izakaya bites and more. If you’re yet to experience Kiyomi’s hiramasa kingfish miso ceviche with crispy potato, you haven’t lived.

Omeros Bros, Marina Mirage, Main Beach: This longstanding family-run waterfront seafood restaurant is an institution on the Gold Coast, so it goes without saying that Omeros Bros made the list. The extensive menu covers all of your favourite seafood dishes, from Tasmanian smoked salmon, Moreton Bay bug tails and live mud crabs, to towering fresh-seafood platters, fresh prawns and oysters, chowders and more.

George’s Paragon, Sanctuary Cove: As far as fun and affordable seafood restaurants on the Gold Coast go, you really can’t go past George’s. Its northern Gold Coast location serves a mammoth menu, covering smaller plates likes barbecued baby octopus and fresh oysters, through to whole lobster thermidor, live mud crab and seafood pastas.

Bar Leo, Sorrento: This popular neighbourhood snacking and sipping spot has a strong focus on fresh, local seafood. Snack on South Australian octopus with sauteed potato and pickled chilli to start, before diving in bigger share plates like cuttlefish-ink risotto with local calamari and the whole grilled market fish, served simply with lemon and olive oil.

Nineteen at The Star, Broadbeach: Enjoy your seafood with a side of exceptional views sky-high at Nineteen at The Star. For a truly fanciful feast, start with a caviar tasting experience and if you can rally a seafood-loving pal, the seafood platter for two is loaded with Moreton Bay bugs, Clarence River king prawns, oysters, Hervey Bay scallops, Yellow Fin tuna and smoked mussels.

Tommy’s, Currumbin: The Italian hot spot makes the most of its absolute beachfront location by serving up some of the best sea-based eats on the coast. We’re talking starters like kingfish crudo with finger lime and seaweed, plates of local king prawns with chilli, garlic and lemon, and mains like rainbow trout with aquapazza, capers and olive. Love a seafood pasta? You’re in the right place. Twirl your fork into the handmade spaghetti with Moreton Bay bug, capers, basil and Napoli sauce.

Surfers Pavilion, Surfers Paradise: It’s pretty hard to go past Surfers Pav’s interactive oyster and champagne station without stopping to slurp back a couple of freshies. If you do manage to find your way past the entrance, the Oceanside Seafood Platter is a culinary gift from the sea and is loaded with an assortment of oysters, smoked salmon, whiting, char-grilled bugs, kingfish sashimi, garlic king prawns, fried calamari, white-wine mussels and lobster thermidor served with thick-cut chips. That, fish-loving friends, is a damn fine feast. Hot tip, the venue slings half-price oysters Monday to Friday from 4:00–6:00 pm.

Siblings, Kirra: It truly doesn’t get any better than sipping a crisp glass of sparking while savouring a fresh prawn cocktail as you watch the waves roll in. The salt-and-pepper calamari is an absolute must-try on the Siblings snacks list, as is the Ora king salmon with pickled ginger, crispy rice and firecracker mayo. Seafood fans will be licking their fingers are they work through the platter of Moreton Bay bugs and chargrilled king prawns with kombu butter, dill and lemon.

Glass Dining & Lounge Bar, Main Beach: If you’re a fan of elegant dining, it’s pretty hard to go past Glass Dining & Lounge Bar’s stunning views. Start with a serve of tempura-battered bugs and sashimi before moving on to mains of seafood linguine, grilled New Zealand whole sole, Moreton Bay bugs and a taste-bud tingling Portuguese seafood stew.

Seascape Restaurant + Bar, Surfers Paradise: Found on the shoreline of Surfers Paradise, watch the waves roll in as you tuck into a decadent seafood spread at this superlative beachfront restaurant. Only the freshest catch awaits you at Seascape, with at least six fish species on offer every day.

Miami Fish Market, Miami: If you fancy yourself a bit of a whiz in the kitchen, Miami Fish Market is unlike anything the Gold Coast has seen before. This upmarket retail space will satisfy your penchant for prawns, lust for lobster and cravings for crustaceans. The incredible range of responsibly sourced seafood from Australia and New Zealand (as well as some show-stopping selections from abroad) will have you salivating in seconds. Any fish market worth its salt prides itself on freshness, but the team at Miami Fish Market takes things to another level by shucking live oysters onsite and steaming all of the bugs and lobsters fresh daily. The fare is all hand-selected and graded to ensure only the best of the best make its way to the display cabinet, especially for its standout sashimi selection, which goes well beyond the standard salmon and tuna we’re used to.

Keen for something a little more casual? Here’s where to find the best fish and chips on the Gold Coast.

Did your favourite make the list? If not, give us the hot tip at [email protected]