These Burleigh Heads restaurants can’t afford to be missed
List
By Sarah Bristow
Let your inner glutton loose with an edible foray through the eateries that call Burleigh Heads home. This suburb on the southern end of the Gold Coast boasts quite the reputation when it comes to food thanks to the growing population of restaurants, cafes, and bars, emerging within the relaxed neighbourhood. Experience them for yourself with a visit to the following stand-out Burleigh Heads restaurants - just don’t forget to arrive with an empty stomach.
Rick Shores
Tuck into heaped Pan-Asian dishes alongside the iconic Burleigh Beach at Rick Shores. This is one of the most beloved of Burleigh Heads’ restaurants, thanks in part to its fresh, zesty flavours, and in part to its unrivalled view of the waves from its beachfront location. Must-eat dish? The Instagram-friendly bug rolls.
Jimmy Wahs
Modern Vietnamese eats bursting with fresh local ingredients, excellent service and seriously good cocktails are all on the menu at Jimmy Wahs. The Burleigh institution is the perfect spot for a long lunch or a dinner with friends. While you can’t go wrong with anything you order here, the Betel Leaf and condensed milk espresso martinis are nonnegotiable.
Restaurant Labart
Restaurant Labart
Husband and wife duo Alex and Karla Munoz Labart are the talent behind Restaurant Labart, a strong contender for one of the best options among Burleigh Heads restaurants. Alex’s ample experience in Sydney’s fine dining scene has created a menu awash with sophisticated fare, like the barbecue prawns served with garlic prawn butter and kombu.
Mr Hizolas
Under a canopy of Chinese lanterns, with spices wafting out from the kitchen, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported overseas at Mr Hizolas. Boasting a menu brimming with tasty Pan Asian eats, tuck into sizzling honey lemon chicken, pork pot stickers, fresh sashimi and mushroom bao. If you can’t decide, opt for the Emperor’s Feast and let the chef decide for you.
Rabbath
Satisfy your cravings for Middle Eastern cuisine with a visit to Rabbath. Lunch and dinner is catered to here at this casual offering among the Burleigh Heads restaurant population. Picture piles of falafel, labneh, tabouleh, fattoush, and kibbeh among more that can be enjoyed in-house or takeaway.
The Tropic
The Tropic
Say hello to another of the beachfront Burleigh Heads restaurants. The Tropic is the Burleigh Pavilion’s slightly more sophisticated food offering, an eatery led by revered chef Guillaume Zika in a celebration of local seafood - enjoy plates of fresh oysters, seared market fish and pastas piled high with king prawns among more.
Rosella’s
Embrace Australiana at Rosella’s, the eccentric Gold Coast eatery merging native cocktails and tasty bites to eat. Alongside oysters and cheese plates, you’ll be able to gorge on the creative jaffles available, like the Surf & Turf Jaffle (Cape Grim rump cap, garlic butter prawns, puff pastry and the Vegemite Jaffle (red Leicester cheddar, pepper, parmesan, and white bread).
Paddock Bakery
If you have a penchant for day dining then we have just the spot for you. Paddock Bakery has become an institution among Burleigh Heads’ restaurants. The award-winning eatery is (as its name suggests) well-versed in pastry and breakfast, but don’t discount its lunch offerings. Until 3pm each day, you’ll be able to enjoy the hefty plates of salads and baguettes available, alongside a popular selection of toasties.
Justin Lane
Get to know one of the most famous of the Burleigh Heads restaurants with a visit to Justin Lane. This pizzeria and rooftop bar in one is often overflowing with patrons week-through thanks to its lengthy list of fruity cocktails, not to mention its 100% sourdough bases and homemade pasta.
Hail Mary
Get your fill of tacos at Hail Mary, the Mexican restaurant in the middle of Burleigh Heads. This pink-hued eatery serves up all your Mexican favorites, from burritos to margaritas, but it’s particularly famous for its bottomless lunch on Sundays (imagine two hours of tacos joined by all-you-can-drink margaritas, tecate and sangria jugs).
Maman
Among the population of Burleigh Heads restaurants sits the particularly stylish Maman. Pronounced Ma-Mo, this white-washed eatery overflowing in chic Jai Vasicek artwork and pottery was founded by two mums eager to serve up a slew of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired bites. Expect sustainable wines and no-nonsense cocktails on top.
Local
This open-air gastro pub is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it serves great food, drinks and vibes all day long. Devour plates of prawn buns, classic chicken parmy, Black Angus steak and seafood linguine. Then, wash it all down with local craft beers and expertly shaken cocktails.
People watch with a high table out the front, or soak up the sunshine in the beer garden out the back - wherever you perch, you're in for a great time.
