Because Thursdays deserve more than toast for dinner, we’ve rounded up the best cheap eats across the Gold Coast to carry you through to the weekend. Whether you’re chasing tacos, parmis, burgers or a solid steak (with a cheeky beer on the side), this list has your name all over it. From north to south, here we go.

NORTH GC

• Pimpama Pavilion: All-day burger and beer for $25 (or swap for wine/soft drink). Casual, easy and covers all bases. 5 Dixon Dr, Pimpama
• The Boathouse Tavern: $39.90 ribs and wings for when you’re extra hungry (or sharing… maybe). 101 Dreamworld Pkwy, Coomera
• Reds Kitchen & Bar: Premium steaks from $33 for those wanting to level up their Thursday feed without blowing the budget. Shop 46E Sanctuary Cove Village 4601, Masthead Way, Hope Island
  

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• Paradise Point Bowls Club: $14 schnitzel night with $5 toppers: Parmi, Meat Lovers, or Hawaiian. Budget-friendly and next-level satisfying. Cnr Sunbird & Thrush Ave Paradise Point
• Helensvale Tavern: Shank & Shiraz for $20. Coming into the cooler months, this sounds damn fine. 8 Sir John Overall Dr, Helensvale
• Club Parkwood: Sink your teeth into a juicy rump steak, done your way, with chips, salad, and your choice of sauce, for just $25 from 5:30–8:30pm. Classic done well. 76/76-122 Napper Rd, Parkwood

MID GC

• COAST: $25 steak night with a 200g Angus rump steak, fries and herb butter. Terrace only. Ocean by Meriton, Level 1/86 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
• Waxy’s Irish Pub: Any pizza on the menu for $15. No notes. 3206 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
• House of Brews: $19 rump steak day with fries, cooked your way. Add sauces or sides if you’re feeling fancy. 17 Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise
• Hyde Paradiso: $20 burgers by the beach with fries from 4pm. Take your pick of a burger + fries – ocean views thrown in for free. Level 2/8 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
• Steampunk Surfers Paradise: Locals, this one’s for you! Thursday night brings 50% off selected menu items for locals. Wow! Perfect excuse for a midweek outing. L1 3113 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise

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• The Cavill Hotel: Burger night from 5pm with $17 burgers in the heart of Surfers. Easy, affordable and guaranteed to hit the spot. 46 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise
• The Sporting Globe: Classic burgers from $16.9 (or $20.9 for signature), all served with beer-battered steak fries. Oh, yeah. Robina Town Centre, 19 Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina and Cnr Cavill Avenue and Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
• The Island: Pizza & Pasta Amore is calling. Score any wood-fired pizza or pasta plus a select drink for $30 from 5–9pm. Carb-loading never looked so good. 3128 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
• Longboards: Voted one of Australia’s best burger joints get in and try $17 selected burgers and $15 cocktails all day! 9 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise
• Montezuma’s Surfers Paradise: Buy one main, get one free. Two-up Thursday just got delicious (and way less offensive to your bank account). Aloha Apartments, 8/12 Trickett St, Surfers Paradise
• Gold Coast Tavern: $20 schnitzels ($22 non-members) with chips and salad. Make it great with $3 toppers like parmi, Hawaiian or boscaiola. 150 Bundall Rd, Bundall
• Beach Hotel Broadbeach: Taco Thursday = $6 tacos (minimum two- easy done). Choose from mushroom and feta, prawn pork carnitas and beef. Cheap and available all day long. Looks like we’re coming back for a second sitting. 50 Surf Parade, Broadbeach

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• The Lucky Squire: $25 parmy night with chips. Golden, cheesy and perfect. 3 Oracle Blvd, Broadbeach
• Mermaid Beach Tavern: A proper pub feed with option- $26 steak plus your choice of topper (hello garlic prawns, onion rings, grilled mushroom or chicken wings). 2500 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
• Mermaid Beach SLSC: Parmi night done right. $19 gets you a parmi with a range of toppings, plus chips and salad. 172 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach
• Bine Beer Bar: Parmi & Beer night = $20 parmi + $6 tap refills. Say less. 1/28 Chairlift Ave, Mermaid Beach
• The Henchman: We’re big fans of the Henchman’s relaxed outdoor vibe, but we’re even bigger fans of their $12 selected burger and drink combo. Get yours from 12pm every Thursday! 6/8 Henchman Avenue, Miami
• Precinct Brewing: Beer jug and pizza for $40, plus meat tray raffles from 6pm. It’s a win-win (hopefully). 17 Christine Ave, Miami
• Apres Surf: $1 dumplings every Thursday night from 5pm (yes, really). Pork and vegan options available, plus free stand-up comedy from 8pm. Dinner and a show, sorted. 1/1837 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
• Hail Mary: Thursday Fiesta gets you nachos, four tacos and two drinks (beer or wine) for $55 from 5pm. That’s a deal if we’ve ever seen one. Upgrade to Classic Margaritas for $5 extra each (highly recommended). 26 James St, Burleigh Heads
  

SOUTH GC

• Burgster: Someone once said that cheeseburgers are good for the soul (it was us, we are someone), so excuse us while we get around Burgster’s Cheeseburger Thursdays with $16 singles, $22 doubles and $28 triples with fries. 4/10 Philippine Parade, Palm Beach
• Las Palmas: $7 tacos bringing the flavour every Thursday. Options of haloumi, beef, chicken, prawn, pork belly or flathead. Upstairs 1097 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
• Currumbin RSL: Members can tuck into a $25 steak night, with free trivia kicking off from 7pm. Steak, smarts and prizes- not a bad combo. 165 Duringan St, Currumbin
• Tommy’s Taco: $39 all-you-can-eat tacos. Go hard or go home. 140 Duringan St, Currumbin
• Tugun Tavern: $17.50 parmy night from 5pm. Reliable, affordable and always a crowd-pleaser. Corner of Toolona Street & 437 Golden Four Dr, Tugun

Words by Chelsea Ipsen

Tuesday sits in a funny spot. The grind of Monday has worn off, but the weekend still feels a lifetime away. Motivation is… questionable. Energy levels? Also questionable. Appetite? Present, but not for the meals we just spent Sunday prepping…

The good news is that Tuesday is pulling its weight with a lineup of cheap eats across the Gold Coast that make getting through the week a whole lot more enjoyable. We’re talking tacos, parmis, pizzas, schnitties and everything in between, all at prices that feel like a small win in today’s world.

NORTH GC

• Pimpama Pavilion: A parmi and a pint for $30 keeps things simple in the best way. It’s a classic combo that does exactly what it needs to do – push us through to Wednesday.
  Where: 5 Dixon Dr, Pimpama
• Boathouse Tavern: If your word is reliable, then Tuesdays at Boathouse Tavern is where you should be. Pizzas for $15 – a simple crowd pleaser saving wallets and family arguments since… well, forever.
  Where: 101 Dreamworld Pkwy, Coomera
• Reds Kitchen & Bar: This is no ordinary Tuesday special; it’s a 50% off your food bill special! Yep, you read that correctly. All you have to do is book a table of 2 or more (up to 14) and choose 3 courses from the Super Tuesday Menu, and you will score 50% off your bill! And this is no average nosh – they’re offering pan-fried barramundi, 250g Angus Rib Eye of the Fillet MB5+, oysters, Matcha Panna Cotta and more! Surely you don’t need convincing.
  Where: Sanctuary Cove Village, 46E/4601 Masthead Way, Hope Island
• Paradise Point Bowls Club: Grab a drink at the Paradise Point Bowls Club bar and unlock a stacked meal deal – $17 for members and $19 for non-members – with everything from schnitzels and burgers to curries, pastas and prawns on offer. It’s got variety, it’s got value and it’s available from 5:30pm–8pm every Tuesday (and Monday, just FYI).
  Where: Cnr Sunbird & Thrush Ave, Paradise Point
• Crafty’s: Parmageddon is in full swing at Crafty’s on a Tuesday with $25 classic parmi and house beer or wine from 5pm. It’s flavoursome, filling and ticks all the boxes for a solid midweek feed.
  Where: 147/189 Brisbane Rd, Biggera Waters
• The Club at Parkwood: Two-for-one pizza and pasta is the kind of deal that makes Tuesday instantly more appealing. Mix and match your favourites and bring someone along to share, because this one is better enjoyed together. Available for both lunch (11:30am-2:30pm) and dinner (5:30pm-8:30pm). Bonus! Where: Parkwood Village, 76/76-122 Napper Rd, Parkwood

MID GC

• Waxy’s Irish Pub: $15 Irish meals mean hearty plates without the hefty price tag. Think comfort food with a side of good value lunch and dinner every Tuesday.
  Where: 3206 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
• The Cavill Hotel: $19 gets you pasta and garlic bread from 5pm at Cavill Hotel, which feels like stealing. We love carbs, and on Tuesdays, apparently, carbs love us too. Where: 46 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise
• House of Brews: $15 nachos that are built for sharing, or not, depending on how the day’s gone. Either way, it’s a win. Think: crispy corn chips with melted mozzarella cheese, tomato-onion salsa, jalapenos, beans, sour cream, and guacamole. Make it better with pulled pork, chicken, pulled beef or BBQ jackfruit. Where: 17 Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise
• The Sporting Globe: Half-price rump steaks take centre stage (served with beer-battered steak fries and a selection of sauces), with kids eating free alongside every full-priced main. A solid option, whether it’s a family dinner or a catch-up with friends. Where: Cnr Cavill Ave & Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise and Robina Town Centre, 19 Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina
• The Island: Parmi and schnitty night?! Try passing that one up without a fight. A $20 schnitzel or a $22 parmigiana keeps things firmly in comfort-food territory. Which one’s better?! No one can ever decide. Both come with a Parmesan and herb crumb, slaw and fries. Every Tuesday, 5-9pm. Where: 3128 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise

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• Gold Coast Tavern: $18 pizzas keep things affordable and easy to share ($20 for non-members). It’s a no-fuss option that delivers exactly how it needs to. From 5:30pm every Tuesday.
  Where: 150 Bundall Rd, Bundall
• Lucky Squire: $3 tenders keep things light on the wallet and easy to keep ordering. You need to order a minimum of four, which we have absolutely no issue with. We’ll be just getting started.
  Where: 3 Oracle Blvd, Broadbeach
• Beach Hotel Broadbeach: $20 schnitzels keep it classic. No overcomplication, just a well-priced meal that does the job every time. Served with chips and a house garden salad, available all day! Add a Classic Parmi topper for only $2. Option to swap to a plant-based schnitzel too! Where: 50 Surf Pde, Broadbeach
• Mermaid Beach SLSC: Steak night at $19 is a strong contender for best value of the week. It’s a 200g Steak served with chips, salad, and a choice of gravy. Where: 172 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach
• Mermaid Beach Tavern: Another $20 schnitzel situation, and honestly, we’re here for it. For an Aussie, there will never be enough pub snitty specials. Ever. Where: 2500 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

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• Bonita Bonita: $6 tacos and $20 jugs of sangria are a combination that shouldn’t be ignored. Perfect for rounding up a group, because who doesn’t love tacos and sangria?!   Where: 2460 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
• MexiCali: For those in Nobby’s, Mexicali has an amazing $6 taco special going on. It’s an easy midweek go-to. Get in before they sell out! Where: Level 1/2223 Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby Beach
• Bine Beer Bar: You’re not just bringing your appetite for this special, but your brains as well. Bine’s Taco Trivia Tuesdays offers $6 tacos (five options to choose from). Weekly from 7pm, bookings essential. Where: 1/28 Chairlift Ave, Nobby Beach
• Hail Mary: From 5pm, find $6 tacos in many a flavour; choose from fish, chicken, beef, haloumi, cauliflower, pork or just plain ol’ beans. You can’t go wrong with tacos baby. Where: 26 James St, Burleigh Heads

SOUTH GC

• Frida Sol: Classic tacos for $6, washed down with a jug of sangria for just $20. ​The only answer is yes. Bookings are essential. 12pm until late. Dine in only.
  Where: Level 1, 1176 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
• Currumbin RSL: A lil’ members-only special here: $15 tacos from 5pm. Get 2 x tacos (beef, chicken, fish or cauliflower) plus $16 margaritas (classic, coconut or spicy) and/or $10 Coronas. It might be time to get a membership if you don’t already have one. Where: 165 Duringan St, Currumbin
• Tommy’s Taco: $8 tacos that hit the mark when you’re after something quick and satisfying. And Tommy’s tacos never disappoint.Where: 140 Duringan St, Currumbin
• Tugun Tavern: Get 50% off seafood mains with any drink purchase from 5pm. Choose from dishes like Atlantic salmon, Chilli Prawn Linguine, whiting and chips and more! Perfect for those chasing something different from your usual specials.Where: Corner of Toolona St & Golden Four Dr, Tugun

Words by Chelsea Ipsen

Thank God it’s Monday! … said no one, ever. Let’s face it, the day gets about as much love as peak hour commutes and the Orange Creams (don’t @ us) left lurking in the office bickie jar.

The day gets a bad wrap, but one thing Monday does have going for it is sweet dining deals. So if the prospect of a tasty treat to look forward to is all it takes to summon a modicum of enthusiasm for the day (and week) ahead, ‘tis but a small price to pay, if you ask us (literally, these deals are cheap as chips y’all).

NORTH GC

• Pimpama Pavilion: Two-for-one meals and drinks from 5pm-8:30pm? That’s not a special, that’s a strategy. Grab a mate (or don’t) and make the most of a deal that’s double the fun without doubling the spend. 5 Dixon Drive, Pimpama
• Boathouse Tavern: Steak night done right for $23. The Boathouse delivers a solid, no-nonsense feed that pairs perfectly with a waterfront breeze and a long exhale after big Monday. 101 Dreamworld Pkwy, Coomera

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• Paradise Point Bowls Club: Don’t let Mondays be a drag: grab a drink at the Paradise Point Bowls Club bar and unlock a stacked meal deal – $17 for members and $19 for non-members- with everything from schnitzels and burgers to curries, pastas and prawns on offer. Big variety, even better value, and available from 5:30pm–8pm every Monday (and Tuesday if you’re backing it up). Cnr Sunbird & Thrush Ave, Paradise Point
• Crafty’s: If your Monday calls for a succulent steak and zero restraint, Crafty’s has you sorted. Steak night comes in hot from $25, stacked with bottomless fries to keep things dangerously indulgent. Carb loading? Absolutely! It’s called living your best life. 147/189 Brisbane Rd, Biggera Waters

MID GC

• Cavill Hotel: Slide into the week with a cheeky little power move at The Cavill. From 5pm–7pm, food is half price. We hear you thinking, nah, chicks, you’ve got it wrong, that can’t be right. And to that, we say- go find out for yourself. We promise we won’t say we told you so… 46 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise
• The Island:There’s nothing like a long list of $18 daily lunch specials (yes, Monday included) to lure you out of the office break room to the sublime rooftop at The Island. With everything from chicken parmis and steak frites to burgers, fish and wood-fired sangas on the lineup, it’s too good to turn down. Available 11:30am–3pm. 3128 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise

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• Waxy’s Irish Pub: An $8 chicken schnitzel almost feels illegal in this economy. Thankfully, we’re rule breakers. Waxy’s keeps it old-school, no frills and very easy on the wallet. 3206 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
• Sporting Globe: Game on. Half-price wings and ribs headline the night, with plenty to keep the whole crew happy. It’s all fun and built for a proper Monday session. Robina Town Centre, 19 Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina and Cnr Cavill Avenue & Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
• Gold Coast Tavern: Monday Mayhem lives up to the name with $20 dinners ($22 for non-members) that don’t mess around. They’ve got it all, from salt and pepper squid and a crispy skin salmon bowl to prawn linguine and chicken tikka curry. It’s hearty, it’s satisfying, and it’s every Monday from 5:30pm. 150 Bundall Rd, Bundall

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• Beach Hotel Broadbeach: Keep it classic at Beach Hotel with a 250g rump steak, chips, house garden salad, and a choice of sauce, for $27. It’s hearty, reliable and hits the spot when cooking feels like a personal attack. 50 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
• Mermaid Beach SLSC: Seafood lovers, this one’s for you. Barramundi Monday clocks in at $19, and if you’ve got little mouths to feed, kids eat free with any main. Dinner sorted, no drama required. 172 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach
• Bine Beer Bar: Simple pleasures done right. Bine is slinging $12 cheeseburgers with fries, making it dangerously easy to say yes. Craft beer is optional, but an obvious choice. 1/28 Chairlift Ave, Mermaid Beach

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• Precinct Brewing: Margy Monday is calling. Lock in a Margherita pizza and two margaritas for $40, then keep the good times rolling with $14 refills if you’re not quite ready to call it a night. It’s casual, it’s dangerously easy to settle into, and exactly how Mondays should be done. 17 Christine Ave, Miami
• Apres Surf: Cheap, cheerful and exactly what you want post-beach or post-work. $6.50 cheeseburgers make this a no-brainer Monday pit stop that feels almost too good to be real. 1/1837 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
• Burleigh Pavilion: Turn Monday into a full Italian affair with Burleigh Pav’s Mamma Mia Night. Think arancini, cheesy gnocchi, prawn pasta and a proper lasagna moment, plus a sweet pistachio ganache and Nutella pizza to finish if you’re doing it right. We know you never choose wrong. 3a/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

SOUTH GC

• Tugun Tavern: Steak night for $16.95? That’s a 200g rump steak with chips, salad and your choice of sauce, mind you. Tugun Tavern is quietly winning Mondays with a deal that punches well above its weight. No fake news, just a seriously good price. From 5pm.Corner of Toolona Street &, Golden Four Dr, Tugun

Words by Chelsea Ipsen