We like them a waffle lot.
We like them a waffle lot.
Waffles. Part breakfast, part dessert – our only criticism is that we want to see more of them in and around our face.
A dish that lived in the shadow of pancakes for far too long, thankfully tides are changing for this once underrated brunch treat. Hailing from Belgium and extremely popular in the US, these days, the crispy, lattice-like slabs are a familiar and welcome sight on our cafe circuit – in both sweet and savoury form.
When you’re craving golden, grill-forged goodies, here are six of the best places on the Coast to get your waffle fix. Pass the syrup!
Bubbo Dessert
As if straight from the streets of Hong Kong and into our hungry gobs, Bubbo Dessert has got our bubble waffle hook-up. If you’re yet to get a taste of this traditional street-style snack, thankfully you don’t have to go far to do so. To-ing and fro-ing between markets across Brisbane and the Coast – from 5-9pm every Friday & Saturday, you can find the Bubbo crew slinging their waffly wares out of their food trailer at the Dreamworld Night Markets. What better way to say ‘hello weekend’ thank with one of these fluffy yet crisp bad bois, rolled into a cone and stuffed with all the things dessert dreams are made of.
Where: Dreamworld Pkwy, Coomera
Cardamom Pod Brickworks
Known for all things nutritious and delicious – whether you’re in the mood for sweet or savoury, Cardamom Pod has got waffle cravings covered. Among their always satisfying selection of vegetarian treats, our stalwart herbivore hook-up also whips up a pretty mean weekend waffle special that’s well worth cancelling plans to get a taste of. Start your day with an Indian Street Food Waffle served with all the trimmings, or go all out with the dessert style Crispy Waffle, served with banana, biscoff caramel and boba espresso ice cream. YUM.
Where: 3/3 Brolga Ave, Southport
Cheeky Waffles
If you’re not yet acquainted with the debaucherous little dessert destination known as Cheeky Waffle, keep an open mind – and an even wider mouth. More than just an out of the ‘box’ presentation, the saucy waffles this novelty nosher serves up are OMG good. Pick your preferred shape, then have it slathered in toppings like caramel chocolate and Biscoff crumb. You might need some solid willy-power to stop at one.
Where: 3189 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise
Elk Espresso
We just can’t elk ourselves when it comes to whatever this Broadbeach fave is whipping up. The nosh, coffee and service never misses, but the waffles will always have a special place in our heart and tums. With variations like Fried Chicken, Violet Crumble and Matcha & Black Sesame gracing the seasonal menu at one point another, you’d batter believe the obsession only continues to grow (at a similar rate to our sweatpants collection… weird.) There’s a reason why Gold Coasters have been flocking to this one for over a decade… and the waffles rank pretty highly #We’reWeak
Where: Shop G044, Oasis Shopping Centre, 12 Victoria Ave, Broadbeach
Pancake Diner
Burleigh’s new home of diner-style all day eats sure knows its stuff when it comes to all things golden brown and syrupy. Sharing a pedigree with a little Surfers Paradise Boulevard icon known as Pancakes in Paradise, Pancake Diner will hook you up with brunch and burgers from 7am, 7 days a week. Which means, along with boozy shakes, spiders and 12+ pancake flavours, you can get your fix of butter-drenched Belgian Waffles almost anytime you like. Pimp them with ice cream, butterscotch sauce or blueberries in syrup – the waffle’s your oyster.
Where: 16/221 Christine Avenue, Burleigh Heads
Oh My, Waffle
If you’re a fan of sweets, walking into Oh My, Waffle will have you weak at the knees. At this one stop sugar shop, you will find almost type of treat imaginable – NY-style cookies, brownies, brookies, cheesecake, loaded gourmet shakes…and, sorry, what were we saying again? Oh yeah, WAFFLES. With the choice of flavours available well into double digits, consider those cravings conquered. Now, sorry to say but it’s really time we split – there’s a mountain of Banana Butterscotch with our name on it.
Where: Shop 6,1837 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
Words by Kellie Leader
In the lead up to Easter, it’s best to consume as much chocolate as possible to ensure you’re fully prepared.
Luckily, San Churro Chocolateria has recently opened a third Gold Coast store in Tweed Heads joining Surfers Paradise and Harbourtown to bring us abundant sweet treats.
It is the ultimate in chocolate indulgence boasting a menu filled with everything from decadent milkshakes including the Peanut Butter Brownie – chocolate fudge, peanut butter, chocolate brownie and ice cream and Salted Caramel to ice cream sundaes and chocolate filled churros.
For something deliciously different try a funnel cake, the lovechild of a doughnut and a pancake.
The Strawberry and White Chocolate Funnel Cake is drizzled in white chocolate, berry coulis and topped with vanilla ice cream and fresh strawberries. It’s San Churro’s version of a jam doughnut (but so much better!).
Churros, made to an authentic Spanish recipe, are warm and crispy and come with a suitably sized pot of melted dipping chocolate. Order them filled with chocolate or caramel or simply dusted in cinnamon or icing sugar with a side of strawberries and banana.
If you’re feeling fancy, there’s an array of truffles to try and of course, Fairtrade coffee to wash it all down.
It’s the ultimate in chocolatey indulgence and when better to get involved than the week before the bunny arrives.
HOURS: 9am to 10pm daily.
LOCATIONS: Harbour Town – Harbour Town Drive, Biggera Waters
Surfers Paradise – 3184 Surfers Paradise Blvd (next to Billabong)
Tweed Heads – Tweed City Shopping Centre, Minjungbal Drive.
Words by Kirra Smith
If you’ve recently found yourself thinking, “there really aren’t enough bars purely dedicated to desserts in the world” you’re not alone and you’re also in luck.
This weekend Burleigh Heads will welcome, you guessed it, a bar purely dedicated to desserts and get out of our way, we’re first in line.
Oh My, Waffle will soon be dishing up the waffle desserts of your dreams thanks to the sweet, after-dinner-dish loving hearts of two local gals, Jessica and Courtney, who are now our favourite people on the whole Gold Coast (sorry everyone else).
The pair say they got their inspiration from decadent waffle creations in Belgium and wanted to bring the tasty treats to the Coast, with a unique little spin of course.
Plus, as you’d well know coffee lovers, it is a fact that there aren’t too many places to grab a cuppa after 2pm around here so the girls are changing that up too with coffees available from morning until night (seeya sleep).
Coupla favourites on the menu are certain to the be the Let’s Get Lit made up of a golden waffle, toasted marshmallows, crushed biscuits and Maltesers drizzled with Whittaker’s Creamy Milk Chocolate! Seriously, help us.
Also the Drop It Like It’s Hot because it’s red velvet hot chocolate, with red velvet cake crumbs and house-made cream cheese frosting and actual dessert dreams come true.
On the menu there’ll be eight types of waffles plus two vegan ones, six milkshakes, a range of gourmet hot chocolates and the option to build your own waffle. So yeah, you can eat two things every day for a week, rinse and repeat.
We hear the interior is the relaxed, good time atmosphere you’d imagine your happy place to be and it comes complete with sneaky artworks praising those who love a good cheat day (us, every day).
Oh My, Waffle coming to a Burleigh near you this weekend.
LOCATION: Underneath The Ambience Tower, 1837 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads
Words by Kirra Smith. Photos supplied.
Step aside ice cream and chocolate topping lovers, a new dessert has arrived to rock your post-dinner world.
Fresh off the streets of Hong Kong (aka Hong Kong street food) bubble waffles have taken the dessert world by storm and, as of this week, they have landed in Surfers Paradise and you should get there quick smart.
Bubbo Dessert can be found in Elkhorn Ave (the beach end) and the space is an absolute delight for Insta-addicts. Pastel green panels line half of one wall giving way to glossy white tiles that wrap around the back and off-white wood paneling taking up the other side for bulk photo background choices.
Pastel pinks and greens offset the light wooded furniture and a neon pink sign brings the whole vibe together, glowing enticingly in the back corner.
Let’s chat food though, since this is what we came for. As mentioned, Bubbo Dessert are creating bubble waffles topped with the most delicious of sweets and wound into a cone shape, because cute.
The waffles are cooked to absolute perfection, crisp on the outside and soft in the middle and sometimes with little surprises baked into the bubbles.
Toppings vary from ridiculous to slightly more chill so prepare to have your mind blown.
The Devil is a chocolate waffle with chocolate chips in the bubble pockets, chocolate ice cream, Tim Tams, chocolate flakes, topping and Nutella and oh man, is it the goods.
The Galaxy is a charcoal waffle with star lollies in the bubble pockets, RAINBOW ICECREAM, fresh cream, sprinkles, Fruit Loops, chocolate sauce and icing sugar and if that’s not the best thing you’ve ever heard, do you even dessert.
One more. No wait, two.
The Matcha Red Bean is a Matcha waffle with green tea ice cream, fresh cream, red bean paste, wafer topping and Matcha sauce and it’s nothing like you imagine it’s going to be (but way better). That’s all we’re gonna say.
There’s a savoury one for good measure and it’s an original waffle with cheddar cheese pockets (help), salad mix, cherry tomatoes, avocado with mayonnaise and cheese powder on top. So it’s a Mexican waffle for goodness sake.
Did we mention this is our new favourite place?
Bubbo Dessert began in Brissy with a market stall inspired by owners Lee and Rachel’s home country of Hong Kong (and their love of street food) and together with third partner Jennifer, they brought these delicious, delicious treats to us very appreciative Gold Coasters. How good.
Charge your phone and get your best Insta game ready gang, because things are about to get crazy.
LOCATION: Shop 10, 2 Elkhorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
HOURS: Wednesday to Friday from 2pm to 9pm, Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 9pm
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
