Dee Den

The Sunshine Coast is full of incredible dining venues, but every now and then a special place pops up which really blows us away. Say hello to Dee Den. Loosely translated as 'the odd one out' or 'standing out', Dee Den does exactly that. This modern Asian restaurant prides itself on community, on creativity and elevating familiar Asian flavours with playful twists. Nestled in a refurbished old Queenslander beside the Buderim Tavern, this gorgeous spot will draw you in and you might just never want to leave. 

Dive into their signature betel leaf wraps with grapefruit, charred eggplant and lotus root chips or start with their kingfish sashimi with grapefruit nam jim and coconut snow. Once you’ve warmed your palate, we recommend the twenty-hour slow-cooked beef cheek massaman and the crying tiger short ribs with Thai ‘e sarn’ sauce. Prepare to have your mind (and taste buds) blown.

Of course, you need to pair your feast with drinks and Dee Den certainly has that covered. They boast an extensive cocktail menu, with an emphasis on locally sourced spirits from small distilleries and family farms. In typical Dee Den style, their cocktails are also shaking things up—order the lemongrass mojito for a refreshing kick or sip your way through the Pot & Still fig spritz, sourced from South Australia. They’re even more delicious than they sound.

If you’re anything like us, you’ll struggle to decide between all these sublime options—order the Chef’s Banquet and you’ll be treated to the best that Dee Den has to offer, in a huge feast that will leave you in a max food coma. Plus, at just $86 the banquet is a finger-lickingly good deal. Dee Den is one of those special places that hits the sweet spot between refined yet welcoming, sophisticated yet laid back and it’s perfect for your next dinner date, girls night…anything really. Dee Den has to be on your Sunshine Coast must-visit list. 

Image Credit: Dee Den