Let’s be honest, eating out in 2025 can add up quickly, especially when you're trying to keep an eye on your spending. But if you’re anything like me, you still want to enjoy good food, great vibes, and the occasional night off from cooking without blowing the budget. So I made it my mission to track down the best cheap eats across the Gold Coast/Kombumerri Country, where flavour doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
From tacos that are cheaper than your morning coffee to happy hour oysters that almost feel a little too fancy for the price, there’s a whole lot of deliciousness hiding behind small price tags. Whether you're a local trying to stretch your weekly spend or a visitor wanting to taste the city without torching your travel fund, I’ve rounded up the ultimate list of wallet-friendly feeds.
Scroll on for my favourite bites under $10, $15, and $20, plus some seriously underrated daily deals you’ll want to bookmark. Trust me, your tastebuds—and your bank balance—will thank you.
Want to skip to the good bits? Go ahead:
Cheap Eats Under $10
Daily Deals | Hail Mary
26 James St, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
No matter what day it is, you’ll score an el-cheapo deal at Hail Mary in Burleigh. This Mexican restaurant hosts Margarita Monday from 5pm for $14 margs and cocktails of the month. Plus, daily and weekend lunch specials of two tacos and a drink for just $19. Navigate midweek the right way with $20 burrito night on Wednesdays from 5pm, and save some pennies with $6 Taco Tuesdays. All hail a good deal.
Daily Deals | Apres Surf
1837 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Cheap eats don't get much better (or cheaper) than at Burleigh neighbourhood bar, Apres Surf. We're talking $6.50 cheeseburgers on Mondays, $1 dumplings on Thursdays, $15 parmy and chips on Sundays and regular happy hours. Check their Instagram for more details.
Daily Deals | Bine Craft Beer Bar
1/28 Chairlift Ave, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
Jumpstart your week at Nobby Beach’s Bine Craft Beer Bar on Monday’s for $12 cheeseburger with fries, tuck yourself in with $5 tacos on Tuesday with a side of trivia, and smile through Happy Hour with 75c wings with $6 tap beer any day of the week (between 3pm to 6pm). For something a bit more substantial, $20 parmies and beer on Thursdays have got you covered. Plus, $6 tap refills of your coldie. There’s nothing we don’t love about Bine.
Daily Deals | Burgster
Shop 2&3 4-10 Philippine Parade, Palm Beach QLD 4221
Image Credit: Burgster | Instagram
Burgster has you covered for cheap eats with $1.50 wings every Wednesday. Otherwise Cheeseburger Thursdays has you sorted with $16 single cheeseburgers, $22 doubles and $28 triples. Can’t make it on Thursday? Saturdays have a $2 oyster happy hour from 3pm to 5pm, or $3 oysters if you're after tempura or kilpatrick oysters. Burgster is guaranteed to leave you (and your wallet) full with these impressively succulent deals.
$6 Taco Tuesdays | Frida Sol
1176 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach QLD 4221
Frida Sol invites you to dig into your pockets for some spare change for $6 tacos, then wash it all down with their delicious $20 sangria jugs. They also dish up a $15 nachos deal on Wednesdays and daily sunset specials (2pm to 5pm), which will have you happily sipping on $12 frozen margis, $6 house wine and tap beer while you snack on a $15 trio of dips.
Looking for a lunchtime deal? Drop by from 12pm to 3pm Thursdays for $6 tacos when you dine in.
Half Price Oysters | Holy Ship
Marina Mirage, Seaworld Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217
It doesn’t get much better than the daily Holy Hour at Holy Ship, where you can score $8 house wines and Great Northern Beers paired with half-price oysters. By our calculations, that roughly comes to $2.25 per natural oyster. Running from 3pm to 5pm daily (and all day on Wednesdays), you can soak up Broadwater views from the impressive seafood restaurant and bar.
$3 Oysters | Maman
49 James St, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Score $3 locally sourced oysters on Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 6pm at Burleigh Heads’ beautiful Maman. And if you weren’t already convinced, Wednesday offers $10 sandwiches, and Thursday is pasta and wine night for $25. Are we dreaming?
$5 Tacos | Stingray Lounge
7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
$5 tacos at an upscale lounge? Yes please. Or go all in with unlimited tacos for just $30. We’ll race you to Stingray Lounge.
Daily Deals | Las Palmas
1097 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach 4221
At Las Palmas, you’ll be privy to $2 oysters and drink specials Thursday through Sunday, from 4pm to 6pm, and Friday and Saturday 9pm-10pm. Thursdays are for $7 tacos and Sundays give $2 oysters an encore, with a side of $15 margaritas. It’s budget in price but not flavour—and dangerously satisfying.
$6 Taco Tuesday | Bonita Bonita
2460 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
Image Credit: Bonita Bonita | Instagram
Mermaid Beach's ever-bustling Mexican restaurant Bonita Bonita will have you in coming back for more with their weekly Taco Tuesday deal. Rest assured, Taco Tuesday comes in peace to your wallet; these tempting tacos are only $6 each. Come Wednesday, it’s $15 Nachos in their intimate Bon Bon Bar from 5pm. Thursday through Friday, you’re in for a real treat with $14 margaritas and $10 chilli con queso with corn chips 5pm til late.
Half Price Oysters | Surfers Pavilion
30/34 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Make tracks to the waterfront Surfers Pavilion any weekday from 4pm to 6pm and you’ll score half price freshly shucked oysters. We did the math—that’s $2.75 per oyster. Choose from Kilpatrick, tempura wakame and wasabi mayo and Mignonette oysters. Or, enjoy 50% off the bill regardless every Monday.
Daily Deals | Loose Moose
75 Surf Pde, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Penny-pinching deals can sometimes lure you in with sweet savings, then leave you ordering a main to actually fill up. Not at Broadbeach’s moody bar-meets-feasting joint. Drop by for $7 tacos, $7 tap beers and half price buffalo wings at Loose Moose on Tuesdays through to Thursday, from 12pm to 5pm.
Daily Deals | House of Brews
17 Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
On Mondays, treat your inner child to $1 nuggets and opt to upgrade to a side of fries for an extra $5. Tuesdays are for $15 nachos, and Wednesdays are for $1 wings. Then drop by Thursday for $5 sliders with pulled pork, beef or jackfruit. Come Sunday, you’ll be treated to $12 pizzas at House of Brews. It’s basically cheaper than cooking for one.
$2 Oysters | Cora
50 Surf Parade, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Cora is dishing out $2 oysters from 4pm to 6pm, Thursday to Sunday—grab a glass of wine to pair it with and treat yourself without blowing the budget.
$7 Temakis | Oi Izakaya
Shops 4 - 6, 30 James St, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Slinging half-price Temakis every Tuesday from 5pm, Oi Izakaya is your midweek sushi fix without the price tag—just $7 a roll. Come back on Wednesdays for their legendary Japanese Sandos, with your pick of wagyu, pork, chicken or tamagoyaki for just $15. Cheap, cheerful, and seriously delicious.
Cheap Eats Under $15
$10 Tapas | Lucia Tapas
1/445 Golden Four Dr, Tugun QLD 4224
Image Credit: Lucia Tapas | Instagram
Lucia Tapas is nestled in the heart of Tugun and pays homage to the dreamy tones of northern Spain with European-style aesthetics and an authentic Spanish menu. Pay this indoor-outdoor tapas bar a visit between 4pm and 6pm on Wednesday to Friday and you'll score $10 tapas and beer and wine specials.
$11 Pizza | That’s Amore
1/110 Mountain View Ave, Miami QLD 4220
That’s Amore lets you save a pretty penny on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, selling their intensely cheesy traditional pizzas at half of the original price (pick up only). And if that’s not enough for specials, bring the whole family to That’s Amore for a Tuesday night dinner—much to the relief of your wallet, kids eat free after 4:30pm.
$14 Cheeseburgers | Paloma Wine Bar
1/12 James St, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Image Credit: Paloma Wine Bar | Instagram
Paloma Wine Bar is slinging out $14 cheeseburger and fries every Wednesday (4pm to 8pm), until sold out, with the occasional late-night weekend feature. Keep your eyes peeled on their Instagram for the latest. We'll see you there.
Daily Deals | Montezuma’s
8/12 Trickett St, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Mexican food might be on the less expensive end of the spectrum when it comes to eating out and Montezuma’s in Surfers Paradise is a prime example. On Thursdays, they dish out buy one main, get one free. $10 Margarita Mondays have our heart, Tuesdays kids eat free, then come Wednesdays you can score a small nachos and drink for $15.
$10 Small Plates | Eska
17 Lavarack Rd, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
Yet another exciting addition to The Oxley in Miami is Eska Seafood, and they’ve surpassed an already impressive menu with the addition of $10 small plates every Wednesday from 4pm. Getting some of the best seafood on the coast for this good of a price seems barely legal, and we’ll be there.
$14 Pasta Night | Moustache
17 Lavarack Rd, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
What’s better than handmade, $14 pasta at Mermaid’s new Euro-inspired wine bar, Moustache? The answer is nothing, nothing is better. Head over on Wednesdays from 4pm til late and pair your creamy pasta of choice with an excellent wine.
Daily Deals | Harajuku Gyoza
2/26 Victoria Ave, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Image Credit: Harajuku Gyoza | Instagram
You’ll need a big appetite and not much spare change when you head to Harajuka Gyoza in Broadbeach. Watch gyoza fly out the door every Monday and Tuesday with their 2-for-1 gyoza plate deal, and $15 donburi bowls on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3pm.
$10 Chicken Parm | Rosella’s
6/1730 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads, 4220
Long-term Burleigh staple, Rosella’s is giving back with a Thursday night special that’s almost too good to be true. Head over from 4pm for a chicken parmi at just $10–enough said.
$14 Pizza | Bridges Pizza & Tapas
3/36 The Esplanade, Paradise Point QLD 4216
Grab a seriously good $14 pizza at Bridges (we’re talking value picks), or level up with their signature range from $22—perfect for a cheap-and-cheerful night out.
$10 Taco Tuesdays | Kirra Beach House
4 Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Taco and Tequila Tuesdays are calling our name at Kirra Beach House. Nab any two tacos—like melty birria, baja fish or spicy cauliflower—for just $10, then wash it all down with a rotating margarita special, $15 tequila cocktail or the infamous $6 Spicy Gringo shot (chilli tequila, mango, lime and tajin).
Cheap Eats Under $20
Daily Deals | Precinct Brewing
17 Christine Ave, Miami QLD 4220
Image Credit: Precinct Brewing | Instagram
The buzzing local Precinct Brewing offers good times and $20 pizzas on Tuesdays. Then, Thursdays call for bites and brews. Think: a crispy starter and beer for just $15.
$20 Pizza and Plonk | The Island
3128 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
A mere dawdle from Cavill Avenue you’ll find a seriously cheap deal at The Island’s Goldie’s . Thursdays offers any wood-fired pizza off the menu for $18. Tasty, easy, done.
$18 Oysters | The Lounge Paradise Point
44 The Esplanade, Paradise Point QLD 4216
Steak lovers, Mondays at The Lounge mean a juicy rib fillet with chips and salad for just $27.50. Swing by on Sundays for 6 oysters at $18 or schnitty night on Wednesdays for $25.50.
$18 Pasta | No Name Lane
16 Charles Ave, Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland 4218
Mondays just got a whole lot tastier with No Name Lane’s $18 pasta night every Saturday and Monday—big portions, big flavour, minuscule wallet damage.
$17 Nacho Wednesdays | Agave Rosa
Shop 2/74 Musgrave St, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Nacho Wednesdays at this popular restaurant and taqueria, Agave Rosa deliver the goods with a loaded plate for just $17. Just pair it with a marg and that’s a Wednesday night sorted.
$15 Pizza and More | The Beach Hotel
50 Surf Parade, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Score pub faves for less at this trendy, sun-drenched bar spot—$20 steak Mondays, $18 parmi Tuesdays, and $15 pizzas every Wednesday. Cheap eats, done right at the Beach Hotel.
Weekly Deals | Big Papi’s
140 Griffith St, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Big flavour, small prices—Big Papi’s weekday deals are unmatched. Mondays and Tuesdays are all about 2-for-1 completos (aka Spanish hot dogs), Wednesday brings a three-for-$30 empanada mix-and-match, and Thursdays are locked in for $40 steak night. It’s all on from 5pm, so come hungry.
Looking for more? Check out:
- The Gold Coast's Best Oyster Happy Hours
- The Gold Coast's Best Happy Hours
- Broadbeach's Best Restaurants
Main image credit: Hail Mary | Instagram
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