3 Middle Eastern Restaurants in Gold Coast

Great for novices and aficionados alike, there are a number of Middle Eastern restaurants in the Gold Coast that provide a relaxed, modern take on the region's cuisine. With its clean-cut décor and extensive outdoor seating, the Mecca Bah on Broadbeach has a laid-back, welcoming vibe, while its menu features crowd-pleasers such as pizzas with Middle Eastern-style toppings of lamb and feta cheese. But make no mistake, such places are the real deal, as you'll find out when you try their spicy lamb boreks or their grills of salmon and calamari.

Several of the Gold Coast's Middle Eastern restaurants specialise in Persian dishes. At the Shiraz in Surfers Paradise, an interior decked out with traditional Iranian craftworks sets the scene for a menu fragrant with saffron, cinnamon and other Persian spices. After waking up your taste buds with a choice of dips, you can feast on platters of mixed skewers or hearty slow-cooked lamb and chicken stews such as the fesenjoon, made with walnuts and pomegranate syrup, or the ghormeh sabzi, which comes in a sauce steeped in local herbs.