Would you like a boozy milkshake with that?
Would you like a boozy milkshake with that?
Born in Byron Bay, it’s no surprise Main Street Burger Bar, newly opened in Broadbeach, is making burgers with as many good vibes as they can muster.
The Gold Coast version brings a trendy beachside diner vine with both indoor and outdoor seating, ceiling greenery, a copper bar top and walls lined with murals featuring classic images of Broadbeach in its heyday. The tunes are pumping and it’s the perfect place to chill out and people watch.
Oh, the food’s good too.
Think organic soft rolls, 100% organic grass fed beef, free range pork, happy chooks, local eggs, and fresh seafood, all sourced close by and all as fresh as can be.
The Harissa Roasted Lamb Shoulder burger is a fave with smokey-spiced lamb shoulder, mint and kale slaw, garlic hummus, aioli and red onion. If one simply isn’t enough go with Joe’s Got The Blues because a) it’s got blue cheese and b) there’s also double beef, double bacon, truffle aioli and lots of salad (for balance guys).
Vegans and vegetarians never fear, you too will be well looked after at Main Street. There’s a Vego Pattie burger made from beetroot, quinoa and halloumi and a Vegan Jackfruit burger with peanut satay, bean sprouts, carrot, spring onion, coriander, sesame soy dressing and sriracha hot sauce (we have it on good authority, it’s delicious too).
That’s not all though, there’s milkshakes and not just any old milkshakes. Caramelised Banana with a (optional) shot of Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey or Vanilla & Malt with Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur. It’s all the fun of your childhood mixed with one of the best things about being an adult. Cheers to that!
So, if a balanced meal in the form of burgers and boozy milkshakes is calling your name, look no further than Main Street Burger Bar in Broadbeach. It’s the perfect addition to the newly renovated restaurant strip.
You can park for three hours for free at the Oasis Shopping Centre, which is plenty of time to down a burger and a craft beer or two.
LOCATION: Shop GO.53, Oasis Shopping Centre, Victoria Ave, Broadbeach
HOURS: 11.30am to 9pm daily
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
Burgers, buns and big portions.
We here at Inside Gold Coast have a soft spot (very soft in fact – also known as our love handles) for super-sized, greasy American eats, so it only feels right to share the lowdown on where to get your fix.
Devouring burgers, wings, hot dogs, ribs, Reubens and pretty much anything fried within an inch of its life is a common guilty pleasure, particularly after a night on the sauce, or at the end of a juice diet when you declare “never again”.
Here is a round-up of the Gold Coast’s top spots to get your hands (and your love handles) around some American eats and yes, you’ll have fries with that…
Few things go better together than live sport and a side of sticky ribs. Carolinas Bar & Grill in Southport delivers with an expansive bar serving up American-style food and handcrafted cocktails. With seven large screens tuned to live sport and weekly entertainment, every visit feels like you’ve stepped into the buzz of a big-time American game day.
Our pick: Southern Style Pork Ribs Rack with house slaw and chips.
Where: 410/1 Como Street, Southport
American eats with an Aussie twist – The Yankee’s Restaurant and Bar has knocked it out of the park in Surfers Paradise. From American hotdogs, loaded fries and pizzas to steaks, wings, ribs, nachos and tacos, this NYC-inspired spot is a hearty portions heaven. Pair your feast with a classic cocktail or beer paddle while soaking in the steakhouse-style vibe.
Our pick: The Yankee’s Platter stacked with cheesy garlic bread, fried wings, pork ribs, fried calamari rings, sliders, onion rings, sausage, dipping sauces, served with fries, mixed salad and soft drinks.
Where: 4 Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise
Looking for a place where it’s always Friday and if this isn’t a rhetorical question…?! Add your favourite American dishes right off the grill, plenty of beer on tap and drinks that are always a’flowin and you’ve just described TGI FRIDAYS! With over 931 restaurants in 60+ countries, you know it’s a guaranteed an All-American home run, seven days (and nights…) a week!
Our pick: FRIDAYS Signature Whiskey Glaze Chicken Strips featuring a crispy, Southern-fried chicken, glazed up in their famous FRIDAYS Whiskey Glaze and tossed in a spicy sesame chilli crunch.
Where: Robina Town Centre, Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina and Paradise Centre, 2 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Got buns, hun? Benny’s American Burger landed in Surfers Paradise last year, bringing the best buns to your plate! With juicy Angus beef burgers, spicy Buffalo wings and loaded poutine, this Adelaide-born franchise serves classic American comfort food with a twist. Decked out with retro diner vibes and LA-inspired murals featuring Snoop Dogg and Tupac, Benny’s is the perfect spot to chow down and soak up the swagger.
Our pick: Bigger Than Texas Burger, featuring Angus beef patty, crispy chicken tenders, eight hours slow-cooked pulled pork, bacon, double cheese, ranch, tomato sauce, caramelized onion, tomato and lettuce.
Where: 40-42 Hanlan St, Surfers Paradise
Fried chicken lovers, this one’s going to ruffle your feathers (in the best way). Fricken has officially landed on the GC, bringing with it a cluck-tonne of flavour and a cheeky side of attitude. What started as a humble food truck in Canberra has hatched into a full-blown fried chicken haven, with juicy tenders, golden fries and house-made dipping sauces that’ll have you questioning your life choices in all the right ways. The fit-out? Retro surf shack meets street-style diner. The vibe? Im-peck-able. The flavour? Next-level crispy goodness that’s way too tasty to be called fast food.
Our pick: The Fricken Box – think crunchy tenders, fries, thick-cut toast and their signature sauce. One bite and you’ll be hooked.
Where: Shop 2/89 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
Now this is a tad controversial because The Loose Moose is a proudly Canadian-themed joint, but like we embrace our mates over the ditch, we figured it was okay to include this Prohibition Tap & Grill House. They specialise in ‘dirty food made clean’, offer 25 varieties of craft beers on tap and stock 160 whiskeys from all over the globe. Sign us up!
Our pick: Buffalo Wings with Sweet Jesus Sauce (maple and smoky BBQ).
Where: Oasis Shopping Centre, Broadbeach
Serving up some of the tastiest, juiciest, most authentic American-style nosh you’ll find this side of Texas, Easy Street Diner is a no-brainer for epic USA-inspired cuisine. Winning a tonne of awards over the years, you can devour your dinner in a traditional diner-style booth (did someone say “Happy Days”?) and sample their mighty fine cocktails. How ya’ll like that?!
Our pick: Southern Fried Chicken Burger with fried chicken tenders resting on a bed of house-made coleslaw, smothered in Cajun mayo and served on a toasted milk bun.
Where: 2563 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
What’s more American than a pancake diner? The Pancake Diner dishes up thick, juicy American-style stacks in a retro diner setting. Think buttermilk pancakes, burgers, ribs, and all-you-can-eat pancake deals. Add cherry cola spiders, spiked shakes and old-school tunes, and you’ve got yourself the brunch of champions, served all day, right by the beach.
Our pick: Black Forest Pancakes starts with two chocolate pancakes served with fresh strawberries, blueberries, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream drizzled with chocolate fudge and sprinkled with chocolate chunks.
Where: 16/221 Christine Avenue, Varsity Lakes
Opening in 2012 and decorated with cool American number plates, this rustic-chic restaurant and bar quickly became famous for its quirky menu loaded with interesting takes on dishes hailing primarily from the US of A. Respect! With an army of devoted followers (us included), it’s a must when you’re craving a burger, wings, chips, shrimp…and a mighty fine craft beer or cocktail.
Our pick: Baja Fish Taco Burger with beer-battered whiting, pineapple coriander salsa, Baja sauce slaw and crunchy tortilla chip.
Where: 37 Connor Street, Burleigh Heads
With a name like Burgster, it’s only natural they deliver the goods in the burger department – American style. It’s absolutely one of the best burger joints on the Gold Coast so it’s well worth returning to eat your way through each and every option. Now, while you might’ve come for the burgers you seriously need to stay for the Bubba Gump Shrimp, brie bites and margs. A match made in burger heaven.
Our pick: Buffalo Chicken burger featuring fried chicken tossed in Franks buffalo sauce with pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion and blue cheese mayo.
Where: Shop 2 & 3, 4-10 Philippine Parade, Palm Beach
It’s always cheat day at Luckie’s Diner, one of The Collective’s fave eats offerings! Their American-style menu with an edge never disappoints, and you can’t go wrong with the ambience at this Traveller’s Choice award-winning collection of five restaurants under one roof. Oh and PS – the cocktail list is equally swoony. Bonus!
Our pick: Philly Cheese Steak featuring rib fillet, onions, peppers, cheese and jalapeños.
Where: The Collective 1128 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
It’s the place to go for a finger-lickin’ good all-American nosh up on the far southern Goldie – with a hearty side of blues and rock n’ roll! Eddies Grub House is known for its bigger than Memphis portions, and food just tastes better when there’s live music involved, no?! Side note: the impressive American whiskey collection is all-time and well worth a sip.
Our pick: The Grizzler with two Southern fried chicken tenders, bacon, cheddar, Eddie’s chicken gravy and shallots.
Where: 171 Griffith Street, Coolangatta
Words by Bianca Trathen and Lisette Drew
Did someone say happy hour?
The Gold Coast Highways most renowned beach shack, you can’t miss the striped awning and white picket fence, everyone knows Alfred’s. But some exciting news about this all in one shop, diner and barber… It’s now open for dinner.
Perch your toosh on one of the signature park benches and admire the astro turf whilst waiting for one of your mouthwatering favourites such as the Pulled BBQ Pork Burrito or Alfred’s Royale with Cheese. Or wrap your lips around some of the new stuff like the Roasted Pumpkin & Haloumi Salad served with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, red onions, snow peas and a tangy herbed yoghurt dressing (add chicken if you’re after the protein), or Alfred’s Steak Sandwich with seasoned steak, caramalised onions, cos lettuce, wasabi aioli and cheese served on a french stick.
Waiting for the crew to arrive? Make the most of Alfred’s happy hour, any beer, wine or basic spirit for $5 between 4pm and 5pm .. cheap as chips!
Open Thursday – Sunday
5.30pm – 9.30pm (Happy Hour 4pm – 5pm)
2389 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
