Fridays are for treating yourself – without your bank account crying in the corner. Whether you’ve blown the budget on oat lattes or just love a bargain, we’ve rounded up the best cheap eats on the Gold Coast to kickstart your weekend without financial regret.

From drool-worthy steaks to fish & chips that won’t cost your firstborn, here’s where to eat well for less this (and every other) Friday.

NORTH GC

• Paradise Point Bowls Club: Lunch deals aren’t just for pensioners! $13 Lunch Super Saver ($16 for visitors). Choose from a delicious lineup of meals available every day from 11:30am – 2pm. Cnr Sunbird & Thrush Ave, Paradise Point
• The Club at Parkwood Village: Get 1 free kid’s meal (ages 3-12) with every adult main purchase every Friday from 5:30 pm at The Club! Want to sweeten the deal? Upgrade for $6.50 to add a small drink and ice cream. 76 – 122 Napper Road, Parkwood

MID GC

• Coast: It’s not often fancy meets frugal, so enjoy this rare catch! Get a 3-course shared lunch banquet for just $49pp between 12-2:30 pm Friday to Sunday. Level 1, Ocean by Meriton, 86 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
• Waxy’s: Nothing beats fish n’ chips, except cheap fish n’ chips on a Friday! Get beer battered flathead with crispy golden chips and a side salad for only $15! 3206 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
• The Sporting Globe: Kick off the weekend right with Footy Fridays! Enjoy an All-Star Platter for just $29.90 or a Parma & Pint for the same price between 5-7pm. Cnr Cavill Ave & Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise

• The Island: Succulent minute steak frites with bearnaise sauce for just $16, or throw in a Roma tomato and basil salad with aged balsamic for $19 from 11:30am – 3pm Monday to Friday. But wait, there’s more! From 11:30am – 3pm on Fridays enjoy wood-fired sangas for just $16, baby! 3128 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
• Sports Bar: You’ll be praying your next live sports event falls on a Friday with 50% off 1KG of wings at Sports Bar! No matter the score, you’re winging from 11am – 10pm every Friday! The Star Gold Coast, 1 Casino Drive, Broadbeach
• Apres Surf: Friday nights at Après Surf just got an upgrade with their new Steak Frites Baguette – flank steak, house-made herb butter sauce, and crispy fries, all tucked into a freshly baked Burleigh Baker baguette. All that goodness for just $25. Name a better way to end the week… we’ll wait. Shop 1/1837 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

SOUTH GC

• Frida Sol: Friday arvos just got a glow-up—think $25 Corona Buckets, $12 Margs, $6 House Tap Beer & Wine, and a $15 trio of Mexicana dips from 2–5pm. Absolute. Vibe. Activated. Level 1, 1176 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
• Las Palmas: Feelin’ fancy? Head to Las Palmas for $2 Oysters and drink specials from 9-10pm. Upstairs, 1097 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
• Burgster: Fridays are all about chicken at Burgster. Grab a $10 Chicken, lettuce, mayo burger or throw in some fries for an additional $5. 4/10 Philippine Parade, Palm Beach
• Lucia Tapas: Tugun’s happiest hours? More like tastiest hours. From Wednesday to Friday, 4–6pm, snack on a $10 Chef’s Selection Tapas Menu while sipping $15 Margs, $7 Lagers & Wines and $30 Sangria Jugs. Big flavours, small prices. 1/445 Golden Four Drive, Tugun
• Tugun Tavern: Friday nights = Smokey BBQ Rib heaven. Get 350g for $20 or go big with 700g for $30, served with crispy chips and creamy slaw. Available from 5pm. Corner of Toolona St & Golden Four Dr, Tugun

Words by Chelsea Ipsen

Full price meals? Not in this economy. We don’t know what it is about cheap eats, but for some reason food just tastes that much better when you’re not paying full price.

Life’s expensive (you don’t have to tell us twice) so we’ve rounded up the best Thursday cheap eats the Gold Coast has to offer so you can spend less time googling and more time on the important things – eating!

NORTH GC

• Crafty’s: The humble chook is the star of the show with Crafty’s Mother Cluckin’ Thursday, where you can you tuck in to $15 Tenders or Wings, or a classic schnitty for just $22. More of a parmy person? No problem, get yours for just $25 – talk about a seriously good deal. Harbour Town Shopping Centre, 147 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters
• The Club at Parkwood Estate: Thursdays are for steak at The Club. We’re talking a 250g Black Angus rump with chips and salad for just $20.90. 76 – 122 Napper Road, Parkwood
• The Boathouse Tavern: Hungry? Go all out with Ribs and Wings night for $37.90. 101 Dreamworld Pkwy, Coomera

MID GC

• Gold Coast Tavern: Name a more iconic duo than Gold Coast Tavern and a schnitty… we’ll wait. A local favourite for a reason, it’s all about the waterfront views and $20 schnitz’s here. 150 Bundall Road, Bundall
• Coast: This one really fans the flames of our culinary desires. Tuck into a 250g Angus Rump, crisped to perfection over wood & charcoal, paired with crispy fries and herb butter for only $25. Level 1, Meriton Suites, 86 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
• The Avenue: Finger lickin’ Thursday ribs for $25. 3-15 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise
• The Island: Goldie’s are keeping the hunger pains at bay with daily dinner deals, on Thursday it’s all about Pizza! Any wood-fired pizza for just $18. 3128 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise
• Sandbar Surfers Paradise: Every Thursday night from 5pm enjoy $6 tacos. 52 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise

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• Longboards: Voted one of Australia’s best burger joints get in and try $15 selected burgers and cocktails all day! 9 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise
• Isla Cantina: Pop over to Isla Cantina for Taco Thursday from 5pm. Enjoy $6 tacos, $15 margaritas (classic, coconut, or spicy) and $8 tap beers. Shop 4, G7, Capri on Via Roma, Surfers Paradise
• Montezumas Surfers Paradise: It’s Two up Thursday every week at Monte’s. Buy one Main Meal and receive another Main Meal Free! Aloha Apartments, 8/12 Trickett Street, Surfers Paradise
• Beach Hotel Broadbeach: Thursdays are for feeding the fam without the fuss. Kids under 12 eat for half-price all day, with high chairs for the tiny tots and colouring-in to keep the chaos contained. Easy win. 50 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
• Sports Bar: Rev up your appetite! From 11am to 10pm, grab the $15 Schumacher Schnitzel Burger – stacked with aioli, sweet chilli, lettuce, tomato, onion and a side of chips. The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach
• Bine: The team at Bine Bar & Dining are bringing the goods with a chicken parmy and beer for $20. If you aren’t full by the time you leave, we’ll eat our hats. 1/28 Chairlift Avenue, Mermaid Beach

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• Panchos: Our fave colourful Mexican joint is home of Taco Thursdays. All tacos from $7. Eat your heart out! 581 Springbrook Road, Mudgeeraba
• The Henchman: We’re big fans of the Henchman’s relaxed outdoor vibe, but we’re even bigger fans of their $12 selected burger and drink combo. Get yours from 12pm every Thursday or enjoy it with a side of open mic night fr om 7pm first Thursday of every month! 6/8 Henchman Avenue, Miami
• Apres Surf: The crew at Apres Surf have a special on every weekday so you can save many shiny pennies. On Thursday it’s $1 dumplings. Shop 1, 1837 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads
• Hail Mary: Okay this one feels almost too good to be true. Hail Mary’s Thursday Fiesta is the ultimate (cheap) date night with four tacos or nachos and two drinks for $50. You can also upgrade to a classic marg for $5 – it’d be rude not to if you ask us. 26 James Street, Burleigh Heads

SOUTH GC

• Burgster: Someone once said that cheeseburgers are good for the soul (it was us, we are someone), so excuse us while we get around Burgster’s Cheeseburger Thursdays with $16 singles, $22 doubles and $28 triples with fries. 4/10 Philippine Parade, Palm Beach
• Las Palmas: Indulge in the flavours of Latin America! Enjoy Taco Thursday with $7 tacos. Upstairs at 1097 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach 
• Currumbin Beach Vikings: It’s all about the two-for-one meals on Thursday arvos from 5pm for $35. There’s 180 degree ocean views and cheap beers too. Best. 741 Pacific Parade, Currumbin
• Currumbin RSL: Vegetarians look away. $24 steak night is here. The only catch? This one’s for members only, which will set you back a fiver if you’re not already… watch yourself, centre console coin stash – we’re comin’ for ya! 165 Duringan Street, Currumbin

Words by Belinda Symons

Thank God it’s Monday! … said no one, ever. Let’s face it, the day gets about as much love as peak hour commutes and the Orange Creams (don’t @ us) left lurking in the office bickie jar.

The day gets a bad wrap, but one thing Monday does have going for it is sweet dining deals. So if the prospect of a tasty treat to look forward to is all it takes to summon a modicum of enthusiasm for the day (and week) ahead, ‘tis but a small price to pay, if you ask us (literally, these deals are cheap as chips y’all).

NORTH GC

• The Club at Parkwood: Serving up an absolute, finger lickin’ steal of a dining deal, scrape together some shrapnel and scoot over to The Club at Parkwood to start your week. Every Monday from 5:30pm, smash half price ribs and 69c wings – which are available in four different flavours to rotate between. Do we smell a new weekly ritual? 76-122 Napper Rd, Parkwood
  
• Crafty’s: Noshers that pull off genuine fun for all ages can be hard to come by, and Crafty’s Sports Bar #NailIt every time. And it gets better, because on Monday’s, the ‘nugs and cheese pizzas are on the house! From 11am till late, get any kids meal free when you order a full priced adult meal. So if the fam is in a funk and the week has barely started – get it back on track with six simple words: ‘Kids! We’re going out for dinner!’ Dining kid-free? Score big every Monday with Crafty’s NEW sizzling $20 steak night! Wash it down with their MVP Lager or house wine for $6 (exclusively with the steak offer). Harbour Town Shopping Centre, 147 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters

MID GC

• Cavill Hotel: Tell Monday to pound sand and get yourself down to Cavill Hotel for a mega parmi, pronto. This Surfers fave has nosh specials going down nightly, and starting your week off with a bang – aka, a heaping, plate-sized portion of Parmi and requisite sides, will only run you $20 bucks (and perhaps your pride, if you can’t finish it). You beauty. 46 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise
• The Island: Goldies offer a different penny-pinching deal for every day of the week – and Mondays are all about getting your pub grub fix on the cheap. It’s impossible to be sad whilst tucking into the gloriousness that is a golden chicken schnitty with all the trimmings – and doubly so when it’ll set you back one crisp lobster for your trouble. Or grab the Parmi for just $22. 3128 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise

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• Salt Meats Cheese: Curing Mondayitis one slice at a time, Salt Meats Cheese is serving up an all-you-can-eat, handcrafted pizza feast for a spectacular start the week… and honestly, what price do you put on happiness? As it happens, about 30 bucks (and some change) – slide on in to Surfer’s wood-fired pizzeria and stuff yourself silly on their rotating selection for only $29 with a drink purchase. Plus, upgrade to the pasta menu for an extra $5pp. The 4217, Beach Road, Surfers Paradise
• Harajuku Gyoza: If you’re a sucker for bargain eats (and who isn’t) you’ll beerly believe the value on offer over at The Oasis every Monday. Head on in to Harajuku Gyoza to give Cossie Liv a swift kick in the… dumplings, with a mean meal deal indeed – for $15 they’ll hook you up with five juicy Gyoza and a Japanese craft beer. Sayonara, Monday blues, we beerly knew ye. The Oasis Shopping Centre, Victoria Ave, Broadbeach
• Beach Hotel Broadbeach: Monday blues? More like Monday steak dreams. The Beach Hotel Broadbeach is dishing up a juicy 200g rump with chips, salad and a blue cheese and black pepper gravy situation that’ll have you drooling, all for just $20. It’s available all day, so you can steak your claim whenever the craving hits. 50 Surf Parade, Broadbeach

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• Mermaid Beach Tavern: All hail the almighty twofer deal! Every Monday, the absolute mad lads at the swish, new look Mermaid Beach Tav are bunging on 2-4-1 meals with any beverage purchase. So round up a willing participant to go splitsies with, and chow down on downright tasty pub classics to shake off the Monday monotony (without the shakedown for your wallet). 2500 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
• Mermaid Beach SLSC: So Monday kicked your butt, the dishwasher’s on the fritz and you cannot muster the motivation to rustle up a meal that’s bound to be rejected by your broccoli-dodging brood, anyway? Say no more, says Mermaid Beach SLSC, because Barra Monday is here to save the day. $19 buys you your pick of battered or grilled barramundi, served with chips and salad – and the kids eat free with every adult meal purchase. Love that for us. 172 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach
• Bine: There’s no denying Nobby Beach is home to some cracking noshers – and Bine is one of the best whenever the hankering for frosty craft beer, wings and burgers hits. They’re also the MVP of cheap weeknight eats, and as Monday rolls around for another week, a Cheeseburger and Chips will set you back just $12. Happy wallet, happy tum… happy days. 1/28 Chairlift Avenue, Nobbys Beach

SOUTH GC

• Apres Surf: Along with frosty beer, super tasty food and good vibrations, Burleigh’s friendly neighbourhood bar also dishes up a mighty irresistible cheeseburger deal to kick off the week. Just like a classic cheeseburger, the rub here is pretty simple – just head on down to Apres Surf and bliss out with some good ol’ fashioned $6.50 Cheeseburgers every Monday from 5pm. Shop 1/1837 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
• Burleigh Pavilion: Enjoy delicious Mussels and Fries Mondays from 4pm. Single and Share serves available from $38, but that’s not the only news for Mondays at Burleigh Pav… kids also eat free with any main meal purchased! 43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads
• Tank Bar & Dining: It’s Hospo Night at Tank. Grab yourself $8 burgers, $7 Black Hops or a $15 Burger & Tap Beer combo. 1166 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
• Currumbin RSL: If you’ve got little ones, Currumbin RSL has news for you and it’s allll good. Kids eat FREE*, yes you read that correctly.  The only catch? This one’s for members only, which will set you back a fiver if you’re not already… watch yourself, centre console coin stash – we’re comin’ for ya! 165 Duringan Street, Currumbin

Words by Kellie Leader.