International Cafes 2021

August was Multicultural Queensland Month and to celebrate we bought back our signature International Café event to celebrate the diversity of our amazing Gold Coast community.

This year we did things a bit differently to be COVID-safe... we asked local businesses to partner with us to promote cultural diversity within the community while supporting their small businesses!

We shared stories and special deals throughout the month that allowed you to (virtually) try delicious foods and learn more about different cultures while supporting local businesses. 

Although Multicultural Queensland Month has come to a close, we wanted to make sure all the incredible restaurant information was readily available for your next fancy dinner, casual takeaway or date night!

Sen Lek Thai:

Taking over the already established Southport restaurant Sen Lek Thai with his wife Ai, Paul is intent on putting his own mark on the menu with the goal of serving authentic Thai street food.

Paul is intent on making the flavours and presentation of his dishes a more authentic reflection of his Northern Thai homeland.

Address: 1/77 Scarborough St, Southport QLD 4215

https://www.senlekthaicafe.com.au/

 Little Itoshin: Little Itoshin, literal younger sibling to one of the Coast’s most-loved venues, Itoshin in Mermaid Beach.

Itoshin gave owner Hibiki the perfect background to open his own restaurant in May 2019, naming it Little Itoshin in honor of his parents’ restaurant.

Hibiki has created it with the intention of making every dish both healthy and (of course) extremely tasty.

Check out Little Itoshin at Shop 6/110 Mountain View Ave, Miami.

https://www.litoshin.com/

Maman Bar & Kitchen: Maman (French for mum) was founded by two of the sweetest mum’s, Lizzy and Karen, to bring delicious Mediterranean & Middle-Eastern bites, sustainable wines and no non-sense cocktails to toast all those near and dear.

Each dish is served with love from local and organic ingredients that have been nurtured from the ground up, giving every customer handmade, simple dishes – the way only mamans’ know-how.

Address: 49 James St, [Entry via Laneway] Burleigh Heads, QLD 4220

https://mamanbarkitchen.com/

Naami Banh Mi: 47 James Street has had a makeover, we call it NAÂMi and it serves nothing less than the freshest takeaway bánh mì in Burleigh. But there’s more to NAÂMi than meets the eye.

Find the door and step inside to be welcomed by an immersive journey in this speakeasy-inspired by the back streets of Vietnam. The perfect escape and Burleigh’s first Vietnamese-inspired experience.

Address: 47 James Street, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220

https://bit.ly/3mpS11e

Gemelli Italian: Gemelli Italian is a testament to the young Carney brothers who introduced some of the most authentic Italian fare to the Gold Coast. Gemelli, translating to ‘twin’ in Italian and is somewhat of an institution among pizza and pasta lovers.

Coming from a family of Italian heritage, Gemelli owners were brought up to appreciate good food and more importantly, how to cook it!

All the items on the menu are the brother’s favorite meals and prepared by the handpicked Italian chefs. The wine menu has boutique wines from around Australia as well as Italian varieties.

Address: 2/2685 Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach

https://gemelliitalian.com.au/gemelli-broadbeach/

Goukai Ramen: Ready to take a trip to Tokyo? Yeah, we are too but unfortunately, we can’t get there JUST yet.

A traditional Tonkotsu-style broth of both pork and chicken is used as the base for Goukai’s signature flavors – spicy ramen, miso, black garlic and the ‘meat lovers’ bowl, which is topped with extra slices of chashu (braised pork). There’s also a prawn-broth ramen and a colorful vegan option.

There’s also plates of chicken karaage, rice bowls, and pork and vegetable gyoza on offer.

Where: 3/1837 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

https://m.facebook.com/goukairamen/

The Kai Restaurant: Located just behind Dreamworld, The Kai Kitchen boasts the best of New Zealand’s slices, pies and doughnuts dubbed the best ‘Kiwi-style’ bakery on the Gold Coast. It’s easy to see why, with Peanut Brownies and Custard Squares regularly on the menu.

This family of Kiwi’s have been providing NZ culinary delights since 2014- bringing a ‘slice’ of home to the GC. BUT, what The Kai Kitchen are really known for are their pies. With a 5-star rating on TripAdvisor – they are an absolute must try.

Address: 7 Waterway Drive, Coomera, QLD, 4209.

https://www.facebook.com/TheKaiKitchenCoomera/

Sandrino Kitchen & Bar: Broadbeach local duo Nenad Miljkovic and Sandra Ostojic opened Sandrino Kitchen & Bar in late 2019 – serving up dishes boasting a Serbian cuisine.

Sandrino Kitchen & Bar are best known for their Meza Board complete with a selection of cured meats & salami, traditional cheeses, olives & ajvar (red pepper relish) served with lepinja (flatbread) or Sarma - Traditional serbian pickled cabbage leaves stuffed with mixture of mince, rice and traditional spices served with lepinja.

Address: Shop 1, 1 Naranga Ave, Broadbeach Waters.

https://bit.ly/3kcZIoM

Temple of Spices: It’s been dubbed one of the Gold Coast’s FAVOURITE authentic Indian food being recognized in the Top 3 Indian Restaurants Gold Coast by ThreeBestRated.com 2021...Temple of Spices Indian Restaurant + vegan restaurant!

You just can’t beat that overwhelming sense of satisfaction that comes with ripping apart some garlicky naan and dunking it into a delicious Saag or Vindaloo. Are we right? You know we are.

They dish up a flavour-packed menu dotted with both traditional street-style and contemporary Southern Indian cuisine.

If you’re vegan, you’re in the right place – there’s a separate and entire plant-based menu that just happens to be mostly gluten free!

Address: 2468 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach.

https://templeofspices.com.au/

The Polish Place: The Polish Place on Tamborine Mountain was first built just over 36 years ago, and still owned by Phil & Ania today, the restaurant was awarded "Best European Restaurant" on the Gold Coast in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Owner Ania has brought out from Poland the best homemade recipes, perfected them and created a menu for which The Polish Place is famous for- enjoyed by many who stopped by to watch the sunset and rainbow lorikeets, as well as sneaking in some delicious homemade Polish cake!

The Polish Place is located at 333 Main Western Road, Tamborine.

http://www.polishplace.com.au/

Mr. Hizolas: this is not your typical Chinese eatery…owners Jon and Scott wanted customers to go on a food journey, one that will delight all five senses.

Portholes that take you to the other side of the world and hanging lanterns that will brighten your day. Dinner at Mr. Hizolas has dishes from the land to the sea and everywhere in between, there is something for everyone and every taste bud, dumplings, duck – as well as vegan/vegetarian options. Treat yourself to traditional food with a modern twist…

Address: 1730 Gold Coast Highway Burleigh Heads, 4220

https://www.mrhizolas.com.au/

Izakaya Midori: Izakaya Midori delivers a vegan version of traditional Japanese favorites, with everything from ramen to katsu, karaage curries and gyoza all creatively reimagined with a carnivore-fooling plant-based spin.

Izakaya Midori is more about taking Japanese cuisine back to its roots and has extracted its culinary ethos from their Buddhist ancestors, who historically only ever ate a plant-based diet.

Vegan or not, we are SURE this post has got you intrigued to have a meal at Izakaya Midori ASAP.

Address: Shop 7/50 Woodland Dr, Reedy Creek QLD 4227

https://izakayamidori.com.au/

Bistro Lamp Japanese Restaurant:

Bistro Lamp offer a raft of dishes that step away from familiar Japanese fare to offer diners a more unique take on Japan’s traditional flavours- and it does not disappoint!

With a menu swimming with flavour, customers can expect handmade prawn gyozas, wagyu-beef tataki, free range pork-belly kakuni and an intriguing truffle-infused spaghetti tossed with edamame and a house-made shoyu butter...just to name a few.

Address: 2375 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218

http://www.bistrolamp.com.au/

Jasmine Room Chinese Restaurant: Known as one of the coasts most loved authentic Chinese/Cantonese Restaurant- Jasmine Room Chinese Cuisine 百莉軒 is guaranteed not to disappoint!

With most of Jasmine Room kitchen staff from Hong Kong- you know you’re going to get some top-notch Dim Sims (with a large variety made daily in house).

Barbeque is another of Jasmine Room’s specialties, including excellent crispy skinned pork belly, Peking duck, and specially bred roast pigeon. Like many of the best Chinese restaurants, there’s also a strong focus on seafood at the Jasmine Room. Live seafood including abalone, Alaskan king crab and lobster can be seen in tanks awaiting purchase, all highly prized by Chinese diners.

Address: Sundale, level 1/2 Como Cres, Southport QLD 4215

http://www.jasmineroom.com.au/

Aux Fines Bouches:

At Aux Fines Bouches, Richard handcrafts every element – fillings, glazes and toppings – crafting his own praline, roasting, caramelizing and grinding nuts, even making the chocolate leaves to complete his creations. In total, Richard makes 64 desserts. About one third of them are traditional French pastries, the other two thirds are Richard’s own creations.

Aux Fines Bouches have won best Pâtisserie 2015 South Australia by the Restaurant and Catering Awards, Instructor and Mentor at Le Cordon Bleu since 2015, and South Australia’s Pastry Chef Of The Year awarded by Gault & Millau in 2018.

Address: Unit 2, 43 Taree Street, Burleigh Heads, Queensland 4220

https://www.auxfinesbouches.com.au/

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