Southern Smokehouse is serving Texas-style takeaway.
Southern Smokehouse is serving Texas-style takeaway.
In this fast-paced world, there are still some things that can’t be rushed. American brisket is one of the great icons of slow-cooked meat, with roots tied deep to Texas barbecue culture. It’s traditionally shared at long tables, backyard gatherings and pit-side feasts where nobody is checking the clock.
But let’s be real. When you’re craving melt-in-your-mouth meat, you don’t necessarily have hours to spare.
Luckily, Southern Smokehouse has carved out its own smoky little corner in Southport, serving Texas-style barbecue in a grab-and-go format so you can get the goods without the wait.
Standing proud under the H2O building on Marine Parade, Southern Smokehouse is the sibling spot of Brisket’s at Pacific Fair. It’s straight-up American BBQ done the proper way: low and slow but fast enough for Gold Coast life. Think pitmaster tradition meets takeaway convenience.
Behind it is Edward Nunez, an 18-year-old Bond University student from Los Angeles, and his father Ivan, who has more than 20 years of experience in hospitality. Together they’re bringing an authentic American smokehouse feel to the coast.
The setup reflects exactly that. There’s no sprawling dining room, just a handful of outdoor tables including a long communal one built for families and groups. A compact interior leans into an American theme, featuring rustic timber textures, exposed brick-style walls and a punch of neon giving it that smokehouse glow.
But the main focus is, of course, the meat.
Everything is smoked locally out of their Broadbeach kitchen at Pac Fair, with time doing most of the heavy lifting (14 hours over smoke to be exact!). That patience shows in every bite.
The smoked beef brisket is the hero. Thick sliced, soft and rich enough to fall apart the second it hits your mouth. The pork pulls clean with that signature smoky edge. The flame-grilled chicken holds its own with a charred finish that still keeps things juicy.
Meals come built for flexibility. You can go rice bowl style with coleslaw, Texas toast and a dill pickle on the side, or load your protein onto waffle fries or mac and cheese. Pitmaster sides keep things interesting too like jalapeño bites with a spicy kick, and mac and bacon bites for something a little extra.
There’s also burgers if you want to get hands-on with your smoke fix.
For the full American experience, we recommend ordering the Basket, with your choice of two (yes two!) proteins, served with waffle fries, Texas toast and pickles. Sauces lean into the Southern theme too: red smoky barbecue, white tangy mayo, blue fruity barbecue and gold tangy mustard, each a perfect match to your meat.
While American BBQ isn’t new to the Gold Coast, this stripped-back Texas takeaway feels just right for our way of life. So slip on a cowboy hat and boot-scoot your way down to Southport.
Just follow the smell of smoke… and you’ll find it.
When: Daily, 11am–9pm
Where: Shop 1c/82 Marine Parade, Southport
Words by Lisette Drew
Images by Liam McDonald
Cooler nights and new season delights.
Autumn arrived and with it came cooler evenings and exciting new hot spots! From a new pizza slinger in Byron Bay and frozen sips in Southport, to tasty tapas in Casuarina and dreamy matcha on Tamborine Mountain, here’s your inside scoop on the latest openings from last month.
If Euro summer isn’t on your calendar this year, don’t stress! La Stradina has you covered. Tucked down a Cooly laneway, La Stradina lets candlelit tables and spinning vinyl set the tone. Mediterranean morsels like Moreton Bay bug skewers, Blue Fin tuna rice cakes, and homemade rigatoni are just the beginning of a moreish menu. Settle in with a signature cocktail and you’ll be saying “Euro, who?”
Where: 16 Griffith St, Coolangatta
What started as a tiny tram-stop coffee spot has now grown into a new neighbourhood hangout. Run by husband-and-wife duo Alberto and Leanne, Origin Cafe’s Broadbeach Waters outpost feels less like a cafe and more like being welcomed into a friend’s house (if your friend made amazing lasagne, tiramisu and really good coffee). Come for a flat white and smashed avo in the morning, come back with the whole fam for pasta night in the evening.
Where: 11/1 Kalimna Drive Broadbeach Waters
Looking for somewhere to curb those late night dessert cravings? Look no further than The Petite Crepe! By day it’s My French Pastries, serving up flaky croissants and buttery cakes, but by night it turns into The Petite Crepe where paper-thin crêpes take centre stage. With sweet or savoury toppings like Nutella, strawberries, chocolate, chestnut, mushroom or cheese, there’s something for every after-dark desire. It’s a little bit of Paris, right here in Robina.
Where: Shop 5, 361 Robina Pkwy, Robina
Day Off in Southport is serving up the coolest coffee in the city, literally. Drinks are poured into frozen glasses (chilled to -86°C to be exact) so your coffee or matcha turns into a soft and creamy dessert-like situation as you stir it. Couple your sip with a loaded sourdough slab like the Steak and Cheese or Peach and Honey, and you’ll be asking your boss for an RDO.
Where: 2 Short Street, Southport
Hidden in Byron Bays’s industrial estate, Attaboy Pizza is all about really good pizza without needing to venture into the busy town centre. The brainchild of the crew behind Ciao Mate! and You Beauty, this casual takeaway joint is slinging New York slices for lunch, and full 13-inch rounds and Detroit deep dish for dinner with three-day fermented dough and toppings like Byron Hawaiian and Spicy Pepperoni that don’t mess around. It’s pizza night done right.
Where: 4/20 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay
Carb lovers rejoice! Sicily by Fratello is serving pasta, pizza and all the Italian comfort your stretchy pants can handle. Think fresh handmade pasta, wood-fired pizzas, Aperol spritzes and Nutella gnocchi that should probably be illegal. It’s warm, welcoming and made for long lunches that turn into dinners. Arrive hungry, order too much and roll out happily planning your next visit.
Where: 193 Gemvale Road, Mudgeeraba
Sunset sips just got a upgrade at Bar Bruto in Casuarina. This Euro-style wine bar is made for date night, girls night or any night that starts with one glass and ends with a bottle. The menu celebrates Spanish tapas and Euro-inspired small plates designed for sharing while the wine list is small but mighty too, with a focus on natural drops. It’s late-night Barcelona vibes just over the border.
Where: Shop 3/480 Casuarina Way, Casuarina
There’s a dream combo waiting for you up on Tamborine Mountain. Clay Temple Co. and Muddy Matcha have teamed up where pottery wheels spin and matcha is whisked for the ultimate day out. Get your hands muddy, make something wonderful, then reward yourself with a perfectly frothy sip of green goodness. It’s creative and calming, especially as you soak up the mountain vibes.
Where: Shop 2-3 / 161 Long Road, Tamborine Mountain
Note-worthy brews are hitting all the right chords at Coffee Note in Robina. This micro roastery is all about small-batch beans and flavour-packed coffee that feels a little bit like a science experiment. Sip, savour and maybe learn a thing or two about your brews while you’re at it. Add house-baked treats like Banana Bread or Chilli Mushroom Omelette, and suddenly your quick caffeine fix turns into a full-blown brunch. Consider this your new go-to for seriously good sips.
Where: 1 Parnell Boulevard, Robina
Words by Lisette Drew
Ember’s charcoal-fired Sunday Roast brings fire, flavour and connection.
Listen up, folks – Sundays are about to change around here (hint: in the most cosy, delicious way possible). They’re slowing down, warming up, and stretching out – or, at least it will feel that way – and Fire Baby is who we have to thank for it. From March 1, the fire-fuelled favourite is giving locals a brand new reason to linger longer over lunch with the launch of Sunday Roast at Ember. It’s their all-new charcoal-driven, share-style experience designed to turn your boring (sorry) weekend lunch into a mouthwatering Sunday ritual.
Set inside Ember, Fire Baby’s flame-led dining space in Southport, the Sunday Roast leans fully into what the venue does best: letting fire lead the way. This isn’t your classic roast with white tablecloths and stuffy vibes – let us all say a collective ‘ew’ to stuffy vibes. Instead, it’s relaxed, generous and downright delicious. The new weekly event is all about long lunches spent passing plates, topping up glasses and catching up properly. The atmosphere is premium but never pretentious, welcoming families, groups of friends and couples alike, and encouraging guests to settle in and make an afternoon of it.
Every Sunday from 12pm to 2:45pm, the kitchen will serve a rotating roast, with proteins changing weekly – think golden, charcoal-roasted chicken, slow-cooked pork with crispy crackling, tender beef cuts and more – all paired with a spread of house-made sides like duck fat potatoes and seasonal greens in garlic butter designed for sharing. It’s comfort food at its finest – where second helpings seem (are**) impossible to resist, and the meal inevitably ends with a happy, unbutton-your-jeans moment. For those wanting to build out their own feast, Ember’s à la carte menu remains available, allowing guests to layer in additional Ember favourites as they go.
At the heart of the experience is Ember’s new Josper Rotisserie, which uses live charcoal to slowly and evenly roast proteins on the spit. Cooking over charcoal enhances flavour and introduces natural smokiness, creating that unmistakable smoky aroma that fills the room and has you salivating well before anything reaches the table. Don’t worry, you won’t be waiting long.
Priced at $40 per person, Sunday Roast at Ember strikes that perfect balance between special and laidback. It works just as well for milestone birthdays and relaxed celebrations as it does for spontaneous Sundays when plans are made mid-morning. More than anything, it’s the perfect excuse to bring your favourite people together around a table to enjoy the simple (yet greatest) things in life – good food, good wine and good company.
So, if you’re looking for a way to reignite your Sundays (pun intended) or start a new ritual with friends or family, Sunday Roast at Ember is here to transform ordinary weekend lunches into something worth planning your weekend around.
Where: 8-10 Welch Street, Southport
When: starting the 1st of March, every Sunday from 12pm to 2:45pm
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
See more from Ember in our reel here.
SPONSORED STORY BY FIRE BABY
Good coffee, great food and city vibes.
Our sweet, sweet So-Po. There’s something we just love about Southport, maybe it’s the fact that they’ve got bulk bars and restaurants so hunger never has to enter our vocabulary again. Or maybe it’s how you can get a coffee hit and hit of golf done in half a day and then soak up those Broadwater views for the rest of it – shall we go on?
All we know is that there are so many goodies in this CBD gem we couldn’t list them all or you’d be here all day and we know you’re all about less reading and more doing! (same). Here’s our round-up of local approved must-do’s!
The retailers in Southport get that you’re busy – it is the CBD after all – so time is of the essence and efficiency is the word over here. Brickworks Ferry Rd has everything from the Standard Market Co to get those dinner essentials or to make the perfect charcuterie boards, to Cardamom Pod, bring those ‘gram-worthy acai bowls and a brunch menu that will have you coming back for more.
Upping the ante with a little bit of everything, Queen Street Village is just off the Smith St Motorway, so you can pop in for the essentials from gourmet grocer Jones & Co IGA. No time to meal prep? Grab some Asian eats at Wu Kong with peckish plates to keep you going, or a classic pub feed from The Queen’s Arms for your parmy fix. When all that eating has got you zonked, get your caffeine hit at Sens Coffee and pop into DENDY to catch the latest flicks and a moment of peace and quiet.
Now, did we hear you say retail therapy? Enter: Australia Fair. With the big names in fashion all in one spot, along with our biggest vice Kmart, on the store list, say goodbye to your savings, but hello to a fresh new look. Once you’ve shopped till you dropped, it’s time to start your Tour-de-Food at Australia Fair Metro, think pho, dumplings and desserts by the dozen.
No man is left behind at Made With Love who delivers on 100% vegan cakes, pies and pastries– because you know what they say, a doughnut a day keeps the doctor away…or something like that. And why should our vegans not be part of the action?!
Keeping the Euro-bakery vibes rolling is 5B2F Ciabatta, the Southport spin-off from the cult-fave Chirn Park bakehouse, slinging everything from flaky croissants and glossy danishes to ciabatta sandwiches stuffed with all the good things (hello truffle ham and cheese toastie). It’s a grab-and-go carb paradise where sourdough, dreamy pastries and show-stopping cakes are baked fresh daily – basically your daily bread, but make it boujee.
Coffee addicts, Southport’s got you covered with experiences like SupermarCat Cat Café, which – you guessed it – comes with a side of kitty cuddles with your caffeine fix, it’s so good we won’t judge if you start purring along with your furry friends.
For the more traditional café vibe, Humble Café might be humble by name, but they’re big on variety from classic cold drips to matcha espresso.
Joining the caffeine crew, but with a twist, is Yellow & Butter. Tucked neatly inside Cloud 9 Car Wash, they’ve officially upgraded your car washing experience with a side of brunch. Our advice is to start with the cheesecake!
Cheek Café serves up wholesome bites, knockout coffee and top-tier banter, all wrapped in a peachy-pink, personality-packed space. While Broadwater Café is a local fave for its stellar brews and arguably the most scenic sip spot in Southport. Coffee with a side of waterfront wow.
If you prefer your coffee topped with cold foam, or paired with a sweet treat on the side (hello, Dubai Mochi Cookie) Milestone should be at the top of your hit list.
You already know we’re partial to a cold beverage to round out the day, but if you’re after a side of live music with that, then Vinnies Dive is the only place to get your fix and an ice-cold brew all in one.
Just across the tram line, nothing says Southport more than a cocktail (or 5) on Mr PP’s rooftop, perched above Nerang Street so you can people watch till your heart’s content. Keeping the rooftop vibes going strong, Aviary Rooftop at Southport Sharks have an epic cocktail menu that talks a big game, and luckily for us, it doesn’t just live up to expectations – it’s even better.
Also at Southport Sharks, Kaktus Bar is your go-to for a vibrant cocktail. Yep, this place delivers a thirst-quenching margarita as you’ve never tasted. One of those (or a few), paired with live music and a lineup of tacos, and you have yourself a fiesta!
Carafe Wine is an eco-conscious space offering top-notch wine from all the most renowned vino regions and zero-waste practices, plus a unique menu of sharing boards.
Hello foodies, thought we forgot about you? We could never! Kicking us off is the Japanese eatery, KatsuCo which churns out iterations of its namesake dish – traditionally coated in crunchy panko crumb and slathered in curry sauce.
For those on-the-go looking for the ultimate grab-and-go, Shiro Gelato & Snack knows what’s up with a selection of Japanese market eats like housemade Onigiri to get you fueled up and ready to tackle the day and gelato to finish because there’s always room for a sweetie treatie.
River House brings waterfront dining to the table with relaxed Broadwater views and a modern menu that works just as well for long lunches as it does for sunset dinners.
A bit of a two-in-one is Fire Baby & Ember. Upstairs, Fire Baby serves up comfort by the slice; wood-fired pizzas crafted from premium ingredients. Downstairs, Ember is where you can get flame-licked steaks and charcoal-grilled seafood.
Since we’re on a food journey around the world, you’ll be happy to know that Southport is pretty much THE place to get your Korean BBQ fix – yep, we found and 6 smokin’ hot Korean BBQ spots on the GC and would you believe 5 of them call our humble CBD home. Yep, Southport officially has a license to grill.
So, you’ve got your coffee fix and tum full- now you’re looking to get at one with nature? Obviously, your next stop has to be Broadwater Parklands. It doesn’t matter if you’re just there for a hot girl walk or trying to find a way to keep your tribe occupied, the shared pathway makes it the ultimate for everyone, whether you’re in your running era or just keen to take in the Broadwater views while you bike and play.
Fancy a bit more adventure, we hear you say? We got you. Tee off for a full day of fun at Southport Golf Club so you can let your inner Tiger Woods run wild on the green. If land has got you feeling like a fish out of water, then pop on over to the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre for a mermaid moment with things like group fitness classes – hello aqua aerobics – as well as Olympic-length swimming pools for the pros and splash pads for the little tackers.
If you’re keen to try something a little different, the Gold Coast Indoor Shooting Centre and The Shooting Centre both deliver a high-adrenaline experience with a strong focus on safety and guidance, making them approachable for first-timers and seasoned shooters alike.
If switching off and resetting is more your vibe, Vikasati Bathhouse is Southport’s answer to full-body bliss, offering hot and cold pools, saunas and spa-style experiences designed to melt stress away without ever leaving the city.
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
