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Curries, cocktails and coconuts – Sticky Rice spins Thai cuisine on its head in Tugun Curries, cocktails and coconuts – Sticky Rice spins Thai cuisine on its head in Tugun Curries, cocktails and coconuts – Sticky Rice spins Thai cuisine on its head in Tugun Curries, cocktails and coconuts – Sticky Rice spins Thai cuisine on its head in Tugun Curries, cocktails and coconuts – Sticky Rice spins Thai cuisine on its head in Tugun Curries, cocktails and coconuts – Sticky Rice spins Thai cuisine on its head in Tugun Curries, cocktails and coconuts – Sticky Rice spins Thai cuisine on its head in Tugun

Curries, cocktails and coconuts – Sticky Rice spins Thai cuisine on its head in Tugun

We'll let you in on a secret – there is more to Thai restaurants than cashew-nut chicken, spring rolls and golden Buddha statues. Okay, you're forgiven if you don't believe us – some of the Thai restaurants from the days of old may have skewed your view. Though, there's a newbie on the Gold Coast foodie scene that is putting Thai cuisine back into the limelight. Forget everything you thought you knew about Thai food and get to know Tugun's newest eatery, Sticky Rice.


The details
Sarah Romruen and Monty Schmidt are no strangers to the Tugun hospitality scene. About a year ago they sold Cafe Caribou on Golden Four Drive, which they owned and ran for more than three years. After a year off the tools, the duo were keen to sink their teeth into something new – and so modern Thai restaurant Sticky Rice was born. Funnily enough, they haven’t ventured far at all – Sticky Rice has taken over the space formerly occupied by long-standing Mexican joint Crazy Bull, which is nestled directly above Cafe Caribou. Armed with Sarah’s Thai heritage, a passion for food and a delicious history in the seaside hub of Tugun, the duo are aiming redefine Thai food without straying too far from tradition.

The food and drink
The Sticky Rice menu has been designed to be progressive while staying true to the authentic flavours and respectful to the ingredients. Start with smaller share places like the marinated fried-chicken drumsticks with satay and sweet pickle or the barbecued pork neck with sticky rice and nam jim jaew. You’ll find classic dishes with a hint of modern flair like the Pad See Ew, prepared with charred hand-cut rice noodles, alongside the full rainbow of rich curries – red, green, yellow, massaman and Penang – all best scooped up with slabs of pan-fried roti bread. Spice up your life with the Crying Tiger featuring a marinated and grilled wagyu sirloin, or keep your eats sea-based with the whole fried barramundi served with a crunchy Thai green-apple salad. Everything is made in house, from the noodle to the dipping sauces, and the majority of dishes can be altered to be vegetarian and vegan. The food is underscored by an equally eye-catching cocktail list (hello, Tom Yum Collins), alongside a well-balanced wine offering, a bunch of Thai beers and fresh young coconuts.

The space
Sticky Rice is a far cry from your traditional Thai restaurant. Instead of the old-school Bangkok-style furnishings with dark timber and gold statues that we’re used to seeing, Sticky Rice is inspired by the southern islands of Thailand (where Sarah hails from) and adopts more of a fun, eclectic and tropical vibe. The venue is tucked away up an unassuming set of stairs, but once you swing open the doors you’ll be greeted with a quaint space that’s full of thatched bamboo, living palm trees, vibrant wallpaper, a little touch of neon and a lot of personality.

Keen to get sticky? Head to our Stumble Guide for opening hours and location.

The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.



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