Pretty Handsome, Miami: As a general rule, any venue that slings a delicious brekkie burrito and a large coffee for $10 has our complete and undivided attention and friends, Pretty Handsome is one such place. Formerly a takeaway joint on the corner of Christine Avenue and Lemana Lane in Burleigh Heads, the quaint coffee nook has expanded to become a cafe-by-day and dive-bar-by-night. The burgers with fries range between $12–$14 and on Thursdays you can chow down on two tacos and fries for a cheeky $10.
Happy Endings, Broadbeach: Happy Endings is Broadbeach’s new home of late-night snacks and curious sips – some of which are made for those on a budget! On Sundays you can stroll in for $17 Japanese curries from 5:00 pm. There’s even vegetarian options for our meat-free mates.
Little Mermaid, Mermaid Beach: As they say, the early bird gets the worm – or, the $12 bacon, egg and cheese roll with a coffee to boot. Head down to nab this brekkie special from 6:00–9:00 am from Monday to Friday.
BOBs Beer, Surfers Paradise: A $20 note doesn’t go far nowadays, but at BOBs Beer in Surfers Paradise sampling a seasonal menu of top-notch nosh won’t tug at the purse strings. From 12:00–3:30 pm Friday to Sunday, diners can lap up an array of lip-smacking eats from the cheap feed menu, which starts at $17. You can wrap your mitts around a beef or chicken burger and chips, stick a fork into a 120-g Angus rump steak served with potatoes, or try the slow-cooked beef cheeks cooked in Tim, Tam & Tom beer and served with mashed potatoes. Plus, your cheap-as-chips meal comes with a pot of BOBs’ beer too. There’s also a couple of pizzas for a cheeky $10, too.
El Camino Cantina, Robina and Surfers Paradise: Put the supermarket noods down and make haste to El Camino Cantina to take full advantage of 10-cent wings on Wednesdays. Yes, you read right, ten. flipping. cents. The catch? You have to buy a drink and you’re limited to 20 wings per drink – we’ll take 100 wings and five margs, thanks. Hot tip, if you enjoy tacos (who doesn’t, really?) be sure to check out the $2 Taco Tuesdays.
Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Burleigh Heads: If you love that kind of dive bar vibe, you’ll dig the cut of Wahoo’s jib. It may not boast the fanciest fit-out in town but if you’re on the hunt for a solid feed with change from a $20, this is your place. The majority of the menu hovers around $15, which leaves just enough cash left over for a bev. Our pick? The California burrito special.
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The Bavarian, Coomera: Plant-based eaters, look away now. On Wednesday, The Bavarian is luring carnivores to its All You Can Meat for $35 per person. Here, you can devour huge platters loaded with pork belly, golden crumbed chicken schnitzels, German sausage, barbecue wings, sauerkraut and gravy. The best part? It just keeps coming until you get the meat sweats and pull-up stumps.
Burgster, Palm Beach: This beloved neighbourhood burger joint dishes up daily specials throughout the week. On Monday you can wrap your mitts around a simple-yet-delicious chicken burger for $11 and on Wednesday, it’s all about the $1 wings. Thursday is our personal fave as it’s cheeseburger night! Quash any pesky pangs with a single for $15, a double for $20 or go all out with a triple for $25. Coming in a very close second is oyster happy hour on Friday and Saturday from 3:00–5:00 pm, where you can slurp back natural oysters for $2, and tempura and Kilpatrick for $3. The specials change on the reg so we suggest checking Burgster’s ‘gram for the latest info.
Zephyr Kitchen & Bar, Nobby Beach: From Tuesday to Thursday, bargain hunters can pull up a seat at this much-loved watering hole and fill their belly with $5 tapas plates. Thirsty? Sip a house cocktail for $12 between 4:00–6:00 pm.
Tokoh, Mermaid Beach: It’s no secret that we love a budget-friendly feast, even more so when it comes with the word unlimited. If you too enjoy feeding your face for a $20, get along to Mermaid’s new Indonesian restaurant Tokoh where every Thursday you can enjoy its signature nasi goreng with chicken and prawn, seafood or vegetarian for $19.99. The best part? You can munch on unlimited prawn crackers (or puffed veg crackers, for the veg option) ’til your heart’s content. More money for Bintang.
Harajuku Gyoza, Broadbeach: Lovers of pillowy gyoza (aren’t we all?) can chow down on a $15 gyoza set plate on Mondays which includes a plate of five gyoza, miso and a drink, two-for-one gyoza plates on Tuesdays and 50c wings on Wednesdays – not technically gyoza, but who’s complaining?
Bine, Nobby Beach: No matter what day it is, Bine has a banger deal for you. On Monday you can you can get cheeseburger and chips for $10, on Tuesdays tacos are $5 and on Wednesdays you can down a steak and sides for $25. Thursday is dishing up a parmi and beer for $20. Oh, and did we mention there’s 75-cent wings from Monday to Sunday between 3:00–6:00 pm? How good. It’s sister spot Tank Bar & Dining in Palm Beach also offers some equally as delicious daily specials.
Precinct Brewing Co., Miami: If you’ve overdone it on taco Tuesday and fancy yourself a bit of a smarty pants, book a table at Precinct for trivia night, where pizzas are $20 all night long. Rally six of your friends and split the $15 team entry.
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SPEC, Miami: If you’re partial to a cheeky bevvy and spend a significant portion of your day thinking about nachos and tacos, you’re going to love SPEC. On Wednesday you can feast on $7.50 tacos and sip $12 margaritas. That’s a winning combo in our books.
TupeAloha, Kirra: This southern gem is luring locals with $5 tacos on Tuesday and coconut chilli, cauliflower and buffalo wings for $1 on Thursdays along with $5 Young Henrys schooners. Best book a table because it’s got quite the fan base.
Miami Marketta, Miami: It took out the Best Place for Tasty Cheap Eats category of the 2019 EAT/drink Awards for good reason! On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, locals arrive in droves for a street-food feast at Miami Marketta. There’s everything from Mexican to Italian, Hungarian (hellooo langos), Greek, Japanese and more all under one roof. Plus, there’s always toe-tapping live beats to set the tone for a fun night out.Hail Mary, Burleigh Heads: Keen to fill your belly with Mexican? Of course you do, because no one said we Mexi-can’t! Hail Mary fangs $6 classic tacos on Tuesdays, $18 burritos on Wednesdays, then on Thursday grab a pal and feast like kings (and/or queens) for $60 with its Thursday meal deal – nachos, six tacos and two drinks. On weekends, you can get two tacos and a drink for $19 between midday and 5:00 pm. Holy guacamole!
Salt Meats Cheese, Surfers Paradise: Anything that comes in bottomless quantities is a great vibe. Foodies can eat until they burst every Monday at Salts Meats Cheese with bottomless authentic woodfired pizzas for just $29 (with a drink purchase). Go ahead and don your stretchy pants for this date night because there’s a food coma heading your way.
Muso, Robina, Mermaid Beach and Chirn Park: There’s something deeply satisfying about slurping back a bowl of soul-warming ramen and with Muso’s Tonkotsu bowls starting at just $21, it’s not too shabby on the old purse strings.
Longboards Laidback Eatery and Bar, Surfers Paradise: Having champagne tastes on a beer budget isn’t a problem at Longboards Laidback Eatery and Bar. On Thursdays you can nab $15 burgers and cocktails, while beers are $6 each.
Govindas, Burleigh Heads: If you’re after a meat-free day then scoot down to James Street in Burleigh Heads where you’ll find seriously tasty vegetarian nosh. The menu changes on the regular and for just $13 you’ll get a choice of two hot dishes with rice (make sure one of those is the potato bake) or you can get a hefty slice of vegetarian lasagne for just $12.
Marilyn’s, Broadbeach: Nestled at the base of the Phoenician Resort, Marliyn’s dishes up a serious dose of vintage glamour, top-notch tipples and Spanish tapas at an affordable price. On Tuesdays tacos are $5 from 6:00 pm, Wednesdays spell $25 steak, chips and salad meals and Thursdays mean business with $20 burgers (with a side of musical bingo).
The Oasis, Broadbeach: For the months of August and September (2023) there are plenty of bargain bites on offer across the centre’s range of eateries for its annual Your Plate is your Passport promotion. Those who are craving Italian can rustle up a couple of friends and enjoy a free bottle of Campo Viejo Rosé (for bookings of four or more, valid through August 2023), while those with a hankering for Mexican can tuck in to taco plates, nachos (regular size) or California fries at California Tacos for only $19.90 through August and September. Fancy a little midweek madness? Make haste to The Loose Moose from 12:00–5:00 pm from Tuesday to Thursday throughout August and September and treat yo’self to half-price wings, $7 tacos, $6 cheeseburger spring rolls, $7 tap beer, and more. Lunch lovers, Elk Espresso is dishing up a delightful $29 two-course lunch offer, which includes a croquette starter followed by a main and wine of your choosing. This cheeky little deal is only available Monday to Friday. Check out all of the deals on offer at The Oasis here.