5 Favourite Gold Coast Food Courts Shared By Pure Milk

Gold Coast indie charmers Pure Milk have delivered a new EP that hearts frontman Lewis' love of food courts, borne from his teenage years spent hanging at Pacific Fair.

From twee-flavoured garage rock and shoegazey alt country to bruised yet sparkly indie folk, the 'Food Court Days' EP could easily be filed for fans of Elliott Smith, Gomez and Wilco.

"'Food Court Days' is an ode to the place where I spent my teen years," shares Lewis. "As a teen, all I knew about the world probably came from Pacific Fair food court.

"Those memories – for better or worse – shape who I am today."



Here, Lewis digs deeper into his affinity for the classic food court and associated feels that's brimming with a healthy dose of nostalgia.

1: Stockland's Burleigh Heads

A classic to the south suburbs. Stockland Burleigh Heads was your quintessential food court, before the original spot was taken from us. A beautiful kebab was always available, not to mention the Hungry Jacks/ Guzman's that grace the carpark.

2: Chinderah BP Southbound

Yes, we are aware this is not a food court. No, we don't care. Anyone driving south of the border stops here for some of the best KFC in the business. Primetime is 2pm on the Thursday of Splendour; it's a spectacle that has to be seen.

3: Nerang Centro

Nerang Centro has two things that make it third place on this list. The first is Luv a Coffee, which I dare say is an institution of the Gold Coast. If you stop by here, be sure to try the scones.

The second is Euro Foods, an eastern European deli in the heart of Nerang. Why does Nerang sell authentic Hungarian salami? Who knows, but it's been there since I was born, and it is a must see.

4: Pacific Fair Food Court (Old Section)

A classic, but it has to make the list. The old food court is past its prime, but in a sense, it's just reaching its peak. McDonalds, KFC, kebabs, Subway, assortments of deep friend Chinese cuisine. Boost! This place had it all as a kid; a meeting point for many after a morning surf. I hope it never leaves.

5: Australia Fair Australia Fair.

Gracing the streets of Southport this must be the best food court in Australia. First, let's discuss its structure. An elongated, one-sided strip of food spots, with a large, singular window looking out to the broadwater, Sea World a mere speck in the distance. It's a sight to behold.

The food is what makes it, however. East and central Asian buffets fill the food stalls here, old relics of the past still delivering some of the best lunchtime food imaginable in this microcosm of Australian society. A true titan of the food court scene, thank you, Australia Fair.

 

 

 

 

 

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Honourable Mentions

1: Ashmore Plaza

Less of a food court and more of a single café, I had to include this one. We used to go here with Nonno on a Wednesday morning for coffee and to cash out his pension from the bank. Pension day at Ashmore Plaza is the busiest day of the fortnight by far. Beautiful place.

2: Tweed City

Is this the Gold Coast? I'm not sure. But it's got a lovely little food court. It's a rarity to make it that far south, but when we do, you know where we are heading.

3: Paradise Point/ Runaway Bay Shopping Centre

I remember as a kid there was this McDonalds that you could go to via boat. Like, you could dock at a jetty and walk in and get McChicken. I just googled it, and it doesn't seem to exist anymore, but points for novelty.

Dishonourable Mentions

1: Robina Town Centre

The band strongly disagrees with me here, but I hate this place. The giant circle, food stalls going out in every direction, lacks variety and uniqueness. There's no sense of adventure here, no uncertainty on what food can be bought. It's food court purgatory and that's not something we want to see.

2: Pacific Fair Food Court (New Section)

Like above, what they've done to the new section of Pacific Fair is a disgrace. Boujee coffee shops, expensive Asian fusion, basically unaffordable to the teens who would typically fill a place like this. Food courts should not look like a resort. Poor form Pacific Fair.