I probably should write an update, simply because I've been in enough times. Kuan Yin offers a…read morewide-ranging menu of vegetarian Taiwanese dishes with plenty of other Asian offerings mixed in. It is a decent location; not on the beach but accessible and near other useful things. Their menu is vegetarian; it also has separate sections to denote the minority of non-vegan items. I will occasionally get a nice tea or other drink from them, but the highlights of my visits have been food. I am not a big fake meat person, but they do a good enough job of integrating them in that I will eat the various strange products that pop up in their dishes. Their ma po tofu is still probably the best rendition I've had in Australia, and the ground fake meat and black pepper give it a desirable heartiness. I was also impressed with their rich curry laksa, and their dumplings and smaller soups are great appetizers. The hardest thing about eating here is that all the time I spend poring through the menu trying to pick another winner I could be spending on the beach. Note: No longer cash only.

Come and surprise my wife to be at our tea house just around the corner or two from you refreshing…read morehigh quality imported tea so come say hi

This place is an open but sheltered cafe close to the water in Southport, whose appearance greatly…read moreexceeded my expectations, hippie-ish vibe and all. You probably can't do better for a vegetarian brunch. The pancakes I got were vegan, with coconut ice cream on top, and I couldn't tell the difference to regular egg and dairy ones, honestly. A presumably healthier rice and lentil dish is among their other breakfast offerings if you want to be good. This being the beach, I didn't.

I've been vegetarian for over 20 years and have been to countless vegetarian restaurants. This is…read moreone of the better places to eat. Good decor, very open, kind and helpful staff and flavourful food. I ate everything on my plate and enjoyed my time here. Their prices are fair when you see the portions of food they give you. I will be returning for more.

Enjoyed my meal here. It's a Hare Krishna place, which means it's low-cost Indian-inspired food,…read morecooked for the masses and served buffet-style. Lots of curries and things like that. You pay one flat fee and it's all-you-can-eat. Govinda's is a bit more special than most Hare Krishna places, though, in that it's a little bit better quality and has way more of a range of options. It has one bar devoted to salads and their dressings (fresh green mixed salads, couscous salads, quinoa salads, etc.) and one bar devoted to hot foods (pasta, several types of curries, samosas and other fried snacks, and a sweet dessert). Govinda's is also one of the only vegetarian places in Surfers Paradise, and as it is 100% vegan, you don't have to worry about sneaky dairy or egg ingredients when you order. The downside of all this is it is more expensive than most Hare Krishna places -- the ones in other cities tend to be in the $9-12 range (even as low as $6.50 here in Melbourne). We paid $16.90 each here at Govinda's! We were hungry so it was worth it -- we filled our plates once at the salad bar, then went back and filled our plates again at the hot cooked food bar, and then finally a third time for dessert. Some of the options were better than others. I really loved the satay peanut sauce at the salad bar -- I drenched my quinoa salad and green salad in it. Delicious stuff. I also enjoyed the lentil curry, and the fried pakora was super yum. I wasn't as wild about the pasta -- it was very plain. But in general, everything was tasty. The dessert was halwa (semolina pudding with sweet sauce) -- not very pretty to look at, but tasty. If you don't want to spring for the all-you-can-eat, you can also order individual plates of things, but it didn't look like it was as good a value for your money. You can also order at an extra cost any desserts from their display case and any extra drinks as well. (Free tap water otherwise.) Service was a bit blunt as it often is in this type of place. But not too bad. Atmosphere-wise, very similar to lots of Hare Krishna places, although this one had very little religious messaging on the walls, very unobtrusive -- most people would never guess it was a Hare Krishna place. Nice enough seating and decor, and very clean. I loved all the colorful throw pillows against the benches. Definitely recommend if you're in Surfers looking for a healthy, filling meal that won't break the bank.

Excellent food! Very happy every time I go Nice variety of…read moreproducts and very tasty!!

I can't believe this place doesn't have a review yet - I've eaten at some amazing and expensive…read morerestaurants on this trip but this place is actually the BEST food I've had in Australia... I would venture to say that their garlic dip is not only the best food I've had on this trip yet but probably on my top 10 of food I've ever had. Just about every vegetarian dip (and falafel) they had was good and the cheese pastry puffs were amazing - my son even want to do use his own money to buy the second plate of them! The service was great too - given to American standards

I've been back a number of times, and as much as it seems like I am just starting to give every…read morevegetarian restaurant the highest rating, this one earned it. They fill a niche. It's not a fancy place, but it's comfortable and clean. The food isn't farm-fresh vegetables with a ton of accoutrements like some of Gold Coast's newer offerings, but they cook up some basic fried rice and noodle dishes very well, and it's a great value. The owners are nice and at least recognize me as a regular (which is remarkable in that I do not live here and I go to a lot of other restaurants in the area when I do travel). They offer a fridge full of vegan ice creams and such if you want to take some to go, which I imagine is helpful for the locals. From their menu, I've enjoyed most the first noodle dish I tried; the mee goreng is a just-noticeable spicy, tomato-y flavor that is distinctive (this is not a common dish in America) and likely to please most. I've found their fried rice dishes one of the most filling things for the money you can get, and certainly tasty enough to finish even when you're feeling full before the end. They offer a range of fried appetizers which are so cheap I can't believe I ever don't order one (once I didn't), and they are very appetizing. I don't really like fake meats that much (which they have plenty of variety of if you do) and there are some other things that just aren't to my taste, and yet there are still plenty more things on the menu that I'd want to try. Keep doing what you're doing, Tian Ran.

What can I say but bloody excellent!! Delicious vegan food that was thought out and well conceived…read more. All the dishes I had were on point, flavorful. Spiced well and absolutely delicious. The service was excellent and they answered all your questions. I highly recommend this amazing vegan restaurant to any one visiting the Gold Coast.

Fantastic food. Very busy , but it was Saturday night. There is seating to wait for a table…read more Definitely worth it. Service was excellent for a busy period. Food is delicious. Vegan. Creative. Very tasty. Quite large mains. Good pricing. Licensed , nice surprise. I had the lemon myrtle iced tea with a shot of gin Our party of three had the nachos and two serves of the 'pulled' jackfruit enchilada... I can't wait to go back. 'Raw' desserts yummo

We got takeaway, delicious! The cauliflower wings were the BEST! So nourishing. Thank youread more

Nice vegetarian hare krishna food on Coolangatta's main street. $9 gets you one curry or salad with…read morerice, $14 gets you two curries or two salads with rice, $19 for three curries or three salads with rice. The lasagne/moussaka and kofta balls are priced differently. Most things here are vegan except for the moussaka, kofta balls, a couple of the desserts, and the mango lassi. I had a yellow curry, a lentil dahl, and rice for $14, and it was mild and somewhat bland, but hearty and warming nevertheless. I also had a vegan samosa with chutney for $6, which was honestly overpriced. (The chutney was really nice but the samosa was too heavy and greasy.) My boyfriend had the kofta balls and a quinoa salad thing with rice. The quinoa salad was AMAZING and easily the best thing on either of our plates. I would honestly go back just for that. Decor was nice in a rich, heavy-handed sort of way -- pleasantly dark with typical Indian pictures and accent pieces, including a cheesy ornate door frame with a man seated in the lotus position. Tall sturdy wicker-inset chairs. In spite of the cheesy touches, it actually seemed classier than a lot of the hare krishna places I've been. Service was nice but she seemed pretty tired. It was just her and the cook running the whole show. It was empty when we got there, but got busy with sit-down and take-away customers shortly after. Nice place, nice food, decent value for money, although some of the menu items are hit or miss.

OMG, The best... YUMMOOOOOOO This is the second time we have been to "Bamboo Flute" and we loved…read moreit. Loved every dish, The Curry Lasagne, Moussaka and salads are beautiful. Now the kids are older we will start going out to dinner a little more and The bamboo Flute will be on the top of our list.

Verdict: Fast, affordable, and authentically Japanese, Mos Burger is my favorite burger chain in…read morethe Brisbane/Gold Coast area next to Grill'd (http://www.yelp.com/biz/grilld-healthy-burgers-st-kilda-2), and you should absolutely give it a go. This needs to come to the US! Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere? With a fast, friendly, and authentic staff, Mos Burger is quick and easy regardless of where you're from thanks to the simplicity of their menu. With roughly 16 or so staple options that span Beef, Chicken, Lamb and Vegetarian, just point to what you want and you're good. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? With $10 being the average price for even a quick meal out in Australia these days, it's a huge relief to see a menu at Mos Burger that's so affordable. No, the burgers aren't huge (roughly equivalent to a McDonalds cheeseburger), but at prices ranging from sub-$5 for a regular burger to only $7 for a double patty burger ($9ish for a full combo meal), Mos Burger is one of the most affordable options in the area. Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? Without a doubt, Mos Burger has some of the most unique and tasty options I've had at a fast food joint. On my first visit, I decided to go with the Spicy Cheeseburger, which was very good thanks to a unique spicy sauce. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=MBjBLiGo9pW2-fSsus9Myw&userid=OKX-V5j_qfuOebeHeWGrHg However, I was in for a real treat on my second visit, where my Kimchi Beef Burger on a rice bun was unlike anything I've ever had. Properly spicy, the sandwich was excellent, and the rice burger bun was fantastic. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=1UYMQKDAglIRrrQjPUa97Q&userid=OKX-V5j_qfuOebeHeWGrHg Finally, on a third visit (yes, I went on a Mos Burger rampage while in Australia), my Teriyaki Chicken Burger was excellent. Honestly, it's hard to go wrong here. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=KQfGwRiJa12CJX6uOTJGJw&userid=OKX-V5j_qfuOebeHeWGrHg Dual Stars Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Yes! While I'd always crowned the United States king of the Hamburger, the rest of the world really is catching up, and fast food chains such as McDonald's and Burger King better watch out if Mos Burger arrives on US shores. It's no wonder Mos is the second most popular burger chain in Japan behind McDonald's. Star Granted.

This place is just incredible, I had the best burger in my life and I've had a lot of burgers. I…read morewas sooo impressed, plus the staff were really nice. Overall THIS PLACE IS FANTASTIC

The staff was so kind and helpful. They provided was a heater because we wanted to sit outside. Our…read morefood came out fast and was very yummy. The food portions were greatly sized and the presentation was amazing! Best food I've had during my time in Australia!! Also great gluten free options too :)

This is a truly authentic Persian Restaurant and the amazing customer service from the owner is one…read moreof the main reasons why my partner and I keep coming back here. They have such a huge menu with all different variations of salads, kebobs, soups, stews, drinks and many other items. My favorite is the Joojeh Kebob which is a boneless chicken skewer. This dish is offered among several different options however we try to avoid rice as much as possible so our favorite plate is the Noon-O-Kabob. The dish usually comes with a side salad but we can't eat the dressing due to dietary restrictions so the kind owner has always been willing to accommodate. The Shirazi salad is also a favorite and is full of delicious flavors. The food quality is fantastic and I know this first-hand as I grew up having a Persian best friend and her mom's cooking is something I always miss. I'm so glad they have reopened as we were able to dine at their restaurant for lunch today. My partner has very limited days off but the time he does have off he always requests we get Shiraz for lunch or dinner. Definitely recommend this place to others! Plus if you're visiting as a tourist their prime location in Surfers is super convenient. We commute from Robina but it is definitely worth the drive!

This is a great vegan spot. Great food. I ordered the "Macho Nachos" ($18), it was good. I am not a…read morecapsicum fan and didn't realise there was capsicum in it... it was diced so couldn't take it off (it didn't say there was capsicum on the menu either). The nacho chips were amazing, the sauces and toppings were all fresh and tasty. I also ordered a Banoffee Espresso Smoothie which was great. Would be good to see some more eco-friendly packaging though. I think being a trendy little vegan cafe it would be handy to have photos of the items on the menu. It's located in Southport and tucked away just by Flannery's. Overall, has great options and I would return. I am excited to try some other items on the menu! Great Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Afternoon Snack and Dinner options! Meals are filling and worth the price. Inside outside seating is also a plus to get some fresh air!

Absolutely the best place for a vegan breakfast! The meals are very flavoursome and filling, The…read moreprice is well worth the quality.