Not your average burger – wrap your mitts around the Gold Coast’s most indulgent restaurant burgers
Once the domain of drive-thrus and late-night takeaways, the burger has found a new home on restaurant menus across the Gold Coast. Some sporting premium wagyu beef, decadent toppings and chef-driven technique, these stacked creations prove the humble burger can be just as at home in a dining room as it is in a paper bag. Here’s a few bougie burgers to add to your hit list.
Labart, Burleigh Heads
When La Burger quietly disappeared from the menu at Labart, regulars feared the worst. Thankfully, it was only making room for a new and improved cheeseburger from chef Alex Munoz Labart. The lunchtime-only offering keeps the spirit of its predecessor but sharpens the details – a wagyu beef patty layered with house-made bacon from Meat on James Street butcher, aged cheddar from Tasmania’s Bay of Fires, tarragon pickles and caramelised onion, finished with American mustard, garlic aioli and tomato sauce. Served with fries and available Friday through Sunday lunches, it’s the kind of burger that proves a restaurant kitchen can elevate a classic without losing its soul.
Lars Bar & Grill, Nobby Beach
The Double Wagyu Burger at Lars Bar & Grill leans into the philosophy that when the ingredients are exceptional, restraint is a virtue. Made with Stockyard wagyu that’s ground in-house and hand-pressed into patties, the burger is cooked over a wood fire, giving the exterior a gentle char while the centre remains juicy and medium-rare. American cheese and mustard provide a nostalgic flavour pairing, while house-made dill pickles cut neatly through the richness. It’s a classic composition, executed with the kind of care that reminds you why burgers became beloved in the first place. It’s the kind of burger best enjoyed with a dirty martini.
Bar Leo, Sorrento
Bar Leo’s burger is unapologetically generous, beginning with a 180-gram patty of Stone Axe full-blood wagyu tucked inside a soft brioche bun. From there, it’s layered with house-made burger sauce, pickles, cornichons and red onion, plus a slice of melted cheese for good measure. Rather than piling everything inside, the kitchen serves a crisp lettuce and tomato salad on the side so diners can assemble the burger exactly as they please. Add a serving of chips and it becomes the sort of indulgent plate that quietly steals the spotlight.
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Paloma Wine Bar, Burleigh Heads
At Paloma Wine Bar, the burger takes on a smoky edge thanks to the kitchen’s hibachi grill, where wagyu patties are kissed by open flame before being tucked into a bun with pickles, bacon, onion, cheese, ketchup and mustard. It’s a confident, unfussy build that lets the wagyu do the talking – charred, juicy and deeply satisfying. Served with fries on the side, it’s the sort of burger that feels right at home alongside a glass of something interesting from the wine list.
The Exhibitionist Bar, Surfers Paradise
At The Exhibitionist Bar, the burger exists in a slightly more mysterious realm – an off-menu offering reserved for those in the know. Regulars who ask for it are rewarded with a chef-driven take on the classic that has quietly built a following among the bar’s loyal crowd. The team is currently working on bringing the burger further into the spotlight, but for now it remains one of those insider dishes that feels like a small victory when it lands on the table.
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