Longboards Laidback Eatery and Bar, Surfers Paradise: Having a big appetite isn’t a problem at Longboards Laidback Eatery and Bar. Tuck into $10 cheeseburgers on Cheesy Tuesday, $1 wings on Wednesdays, and on Thursdays the burgers are a measly $13. Oh, and if you’re there on a Sunday the margaritas are just $10.
Hail Mary, Burleigh Heads: Want to fill your belly with Mexican? Hail Mary does $12 burritos and bowls on Wednesdays, then on Thursday grab a pal and feast like kings for just $25 each with its Pineapple Thursday meal deal – nachos, six tacos and two drinks for $50. On Saturday and Sunday you can get two tacos and a drink for just $17 at lunch, and on Sundays can share a large nachos and a jug of sangria for just $35.
Burgster, Palm Beach: This beloved neighbourhood burger bar slings eats on the cheap all throughout the week. On Cheeseburger Monday get $11 cheeseburgers with fries, then on Taco Tuesday you and a mate can feast like kings with a $45 mega taco pack (four tacos, chips, guac, chicken skins, and two beers). Wings are just $1.50 on Wednesdays and on Fridays it’s all about oysters – $2 natural, $3 tempura and $4 kilpatrick.
Bine, Nobby Beach: No matter what day it is, Bine has a banger deal for you. On Mondays you can get $8 burgers and chips, on Tuesdays tacos are $5 and margaritas are $12, on Wednesdays you can get $1 dumplings and $20 chicken or mushroom parmies (and a small beer!). If you’re there on the weekends for lunch, you can grab a burger and a beer for just 18 bones. How good.
That’s Amore, Miami: This neighbourhood Italian has your mid-week lunches covered. You can get a pizza or a pasta (choice of four different varieties) with garlic bread and a can of drink for just $10. Yes, $10. If you’ve got an extra $2 to spare, you can grab cheeseburger or a buttermilk chicken burger with chips and a drink for just $12. What a delicious bargain.
Pretty Handsome, Miami: We know $10 doesn’t get you much these days, but if you take your crisp tenner to Pretty Handsome cafe (nestled in along Christine Avenue opposite the Ugg shop) you can score a towering burger and fries from Tuesday to Sunday nights. The Southern fried chicken burger is quite the mouthful.
Salt Meats Cheese, Surfers Paradise: Anything that comes in bottomless quantities is a great vibe. Foodies can eat until they burst at Salts Meats Cheese at The 4217, with bottomless authentic woodfired pizzas for just $25 (with a drink purchase) on Mondays. Bellissimo!
The Cambus Wallace, Nobby Beach: Don’t feel like a burger? Overdid it on the tacos? This popular local watering hole will get you through Hump Day with eats that are a little more substantial while remaining wallet-friendly. Swing down each week for Whisky Wednesday – for just $19 you’ll get a grilled scotch fillet or a slow-braised lamb shank with fries and salad, or for just $15 you’ll get four tasty arancini balls with fries and salad. You’ll have a few dollars spare for a dram while you’re at it.
Miami Marketta, Miami: It took out the Best Place for Tasty Cheap Eats category of the 2019 EAT/drink Awards for good reason! Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, locals arrive in droves for a street-food feast on the cheap 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 cheap and cheerful night out.
Mount Lebanon Deli, Nobby Beach: This long-standing Nobby Beach is famous for falafel, and you’ll find lunchtime particularly busy here as the locals line up for the well-known falafel wrap, which start from just $7.50. You’ll even have a few acorns left over for a sneaky baklava and a couple of kourabiedes to go.
Betty’s Burgers, Various Locations: The hugely popular burger joint has four locations across the coast (Westfield Coomera, Pacific Fair, Surfers Paradise and Robina) and boasts a menu packed with inexpensive nosh. Grab yourself a Betty’s Classic burger for just $10, french fries for $5 or snack on some onion rings for $6. Wash it all down with a Peanut Butter Brittle milkshake for $8 – yum!
La Diosa Mexicana, Surfers Paradise: For salty margaritas and Mexico City-style tacos, La Diosa Mexicana is where it’s at. Located in the Circle on Cavill precinct, this Mexican eatery serves up tacos (of the chicken and pork variety) for just $3 on Tuesdays so you can enjoy an affordable lunch on the run, or make it a proper feast and add some margaritas or Mexican beers.
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 $10 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 $9.
