Rainbow Beach Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Rainbow Beach

November 9, 2017 Esmeralda Fenner

Discover the best restaurant in Rainbow Beach, Australia including Rainbow Beach Sports Club, Frying Fish Cafe, Arcobaleno on the Beach, Rainbow Beach Hotel, Rainbow Beach Surf Life Saving Supporter's Club Restaurant, The Pavilion Restaurant & Bar, Royal Palace Indian Cuisine, Creme de la Creme, Cafe Jilarty at Rainbow, Eds beach bakery rainbow beach
Things to do in Rainbow Beach

1. Rainbow Beach Sports Club

7 Kurana St, Rainbow Beach, Queensland 4581, Australia Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Credit Cards Australian, Bar, International, Contemporary, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Brunch +61 7 5486 3191
Excellent
31%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
4%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 145 reviews

Rainbow Beach Sports Club

Reviewed By Gerard R - Brisbane, Australia

IN a hurry for dinner this was a great place to visit good food nice cold beer it with great service.

2. Frying Fish Cafe

Carlo Road, Rainbow Beach, Queensland, Australia Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible Seafood, Fast Food, Australian Lunch, Dinner +61 7 5482 7755
Excellent
40%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
5%
Terrible
15%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 91 reviews

Frying Fish Cafe

Reviewed By rogeria l - Brisbane, Australia

We were returning home from a week on Fraser Island (a must go place) and had crossed to the Mainland on the ferry arriving at Rainbow Beach around lunchtime. We decided to have lunch before continuing, and the Flying Fish Café had been recommended to us, so that's where we headed.
Two double Cheese Burgers...A Steak Burger with real steak, and lots of it.... A Big Barra (barramundi fish) Burger, and a serve of chips...all for less than $40. The Burgers were "BIG" and all very tasty. Friendly staff and service made it a very Peasant Lunch Stop and fuelled us up well for our drive home. A great choice.

3. Arcobaleno on the Beach

Rainbow Beach Road | Plantation Courtyard Next to Post Office, Rainbow Beach, Queensland 4581, Australia Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch HK$63 - HK$165 +61 7 5486 8000
Excellent
59%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
5%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 349 reviews

Arcobaleno on the Beach

Contemporary Italian/ Mediterranean Restaurant situated in the heart of beautiful Rainbow Beach. Excellent service and gorgeous food, genuine woodfired Italian pizza and pastas, tapas and antipasto. The smoothest coffee in town, daily specials and all served in a unique and charming atmosphere. Open 8am till late, dine in or takeaway. BYO *located at the very end of the alleyway between the pub and the hairdresser*

Reviewed By Amy D - Sydney, Australia

I had dinner and breakfast here a couple times in my one week stay. It’s the best food in Rainbow beach (no seriously, please don’t eat anywhere else). Sarah the waitress is awesome, she gave great recommendations.
It is kind of pricey, but not out of the range in rainbow beach.
Def get the pappardelle and pesto bruschetta.

4. Rainbow Beach Hotel

1 Rainbow Beach Rd, Rainbow Beach, Queensland 4581, Australia Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar Bar, Pub, Australian, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Late Night HK$181 +61 54869090
Excellent
27%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
19%
Poor
7%
Terrible
8%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 257 reviews

Rainbow Beach Hotel

Rainbow Beach Hotel is a beautiful two story refurbished Queenslander styled hotel. Boasting large outdoor verandahs with open dining areas around The Plantation Bar. A broad range of food is available from the bistro style menu with your classic pub meals to finer foods. Open from 10 am The Rainbow Beach Hotel is the place to visit in Rainbow Beach. Kids are welcome, Live music every Friday night, large function areas and bars on the second floor perfect for weddings or corporate groups. Rainbow Beach Hotel truly is a must in Rainbow Beach

Reviewed By Linda B - Norwich, England, United Kingdom

Went for curry night. The chicken curry was excellent but the beef curry was not enjoyed. Childrens meal was freshly cooked with good size portions. Also went for pizza night. They were really nice as we're the chips and garlic bread. All freshly cooked

5. Rainbow Beach Surf Life Saving Supporter's Club Restaurant

Wide Bay Esp, Rainbow Beach, Queensland 4581, Australia Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar Bar, Australian, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch +61 7 5486 3249
Excellent
32%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
8%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 371 reviews

Rainbow Beach Surf Life Saving Supporter's Club Restaurant

Reviewed By schatzieNoosa - noosa

You could not find a more amazing view over Rainbow Beach! Perfect design to capture the ocean view. The service was pleasant. Drink prices reasonable. BUT...MY OH MY!
Paying $54 for killing a beautiful piece of GOLBAND Snapper to death and using compressed chicken for a Parmi? Does this chef have no pride? Such a shame. This place has so much potential.

6. The Pavilion Restaurant & Bar

12 Rainbow Shores Drive, Rainbow Beach, Queensland 4581, Australia Highchairs Available, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Takeout, Television, Accepts Credit Cards Australian, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options Dinner HK$118 - HK$196 +61 7 5486 3777
Excellent
54%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
4%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 44 reviews

The Pavilion Restaurant & Bar

Open for dinner 7 nights a week from 5.30pm. Coffee, cakes & muffins from 8am daily.

Reviewed By Tim D

Sooooo, I had read the previous reviews and was dubious how it would turn out. Given the restaurant we attended in the area the previous night had better reviews, and was ATROCIOUS, I will be honest..... I was worried to say the least.
When I rang to make the booking well in advance on the day, they did say it was quiet and worth arriving prior to 7pm. Well done for managing expectations!
When we arrived and were seated, they immediately advised what meals were not available (only two, but the one I wanted was on the list ) but points for being upfront.
We chose alternate meals and were VERY impressed!. The steak, seafood, sauce, vegies etc were all cooked to PERFECTION!. Nothing out of step on plate or pallette. Staff were pleasant, down to earth and engaging.
Size of portions and price were spot on!
Would definitely go again if in the area!

7. Royal Palace Indian Cuisine

U -1 48 Rainbow Beach Rd, Rainbow Beach, Queensland 4581, Australia Delivery, Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts Credit Cards Indian, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options Dinner, Lunch +61 7 5486 3452
Excellent
49%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
9%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 75 reviews

Royal Palace Indian Cuisine

Reviewed By Damion M - Brisbane, Australia

An old Indian doctor once told me that if you want to order the best on the menu in an Indian restaurant, ask where the chef is from.
Indian food is tremendously diverse geographically, with hundreds of locales that go back to the dawn of time. The food of each locale is influenced by what's available and local tradition - the people close to the Deserts in the north lean heavily on spice in their food and their food is economical on sauces etc, while other regions may have richer sauces and creamier flavours. So while there may be consistent dishes on the menu of each restaurant you dine at, there will almost certainly be a cultural and geographical lean on what you order. A customer who has only experienced Indian food from one restaurant may be alarmed when they order the same dish from another restaurant as the flavour profile can be dramatically different. Some misinterpret this as unauthentic or just wrong and for the less adventurous who are already somewhat confronted by what they are eating this is an unexpected and at times unwelcome change in direction. Go straight to the chef's specials page and Google what you see on your phone to get an idea of where the dinner may be heading. The biryani suggests the chef may be cooking from the style of the southern sub-continent.
It's a very small restaurant next to a bottle shop, modest on the inside but immaculately clean. Effort has gone into creating two beautiful table settings. They employ a young local Aussie girl to create a welcoming first impression although I found the young Indian lady working there articulate and very aware of the needs of her diners. A small girl is peeking from behind walls while two young Indian men work the kitchen in what is a very narrow space that can be seen on the other side of a small dividing wall. They use traditional earthen ovens which explains the low volume of cooking sounds in such a tight space which is both clever and authentic. The owners, despite the limited canvas they have, are working hard to paint something.
We are an Indonesian lady with a very high tolerance for heat, an eleven year old girl, an elderly lady raised on true blue Aussie cooking and myself so finding something on the menu that will please all is a challenge. We order a mild butter chicken and a medium chicken korma. We are served with complimentary pappadums while we wait which are perfectly cooked and lightly flavoured with lightly cumin seeds. We also order garlic naan.
We were impressed by the generosity of the portions, the texture of the sauces, the bold but clever flavours and the aromas. Heat is clearly by western standards (I've learned to ask 'when you say heat do you mean by Aussie standards or your own?'). Rice is free before 7pm. The sauce is perfect for mixing through rice and eating with naan and there is a delicious raisin taste in the butter chicken from the slight burn in the sauce which is intentional and masterful. Our elderly guest is cleaning up the chicken Korma which has a beautifully smooth texture and has lovely cinnamon notes mixed with an almost butternut pumpkin taste. Four of us - fed to the gills for $50 and change. After dinner we decide to walk home two blocks away.
Two nights later we order the Korma again with a rogan josh for our Indonesian lady and we ask for it hot. We take advantage of their BYO license, opening a bottle of Tooheys extra dry. The rogan josh has a wonderful depth of flavour which is contrasted by hits of fresh cut coriander and interestingly, when you follow the Rogan Josh with Korma the cinnamon is strongly emphasised. The balance and understanding of spice is impressive.
Our elderly guest has other visitors staying with her in a few days and she excitedly says she'll bring them to The Royal Palace. This little restaurant would thrive in the city in a culturally diverse or food savvy suburb like Brisbane's West End or Underwood/ Sunnybank.
To find it here in Rainbow Beach is an unexpected pleasure.

8. Creme de la Creme

U 2 1 Rainbow Beach Rd, Rainbow Beach, Queensland 4581, Australia Takeout, Wheelchair Accessible, Seating Gluten Free Options +61 7 5486 8889
Excellent
51%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
0%
Terrible
10%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 59 reviews

Creme de la Creme

Reviewed By Alanna52 - Sunshine Coast, Australia

The gelato at this shop is divine and the young girl who served me was very happy and pleasant. It is a must go to place for me when I visit Rainbow Beach.

9. Cafe Jilarty at Rainbow

1 Rainbow Beach Rd, Rainbow Beach, Queensland 4581, Australia Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Free Wifi Pizza, Cafe, Australian, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options, Vegan Options Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch +61 7 5486 3277
Excellent
33%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
7%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 224 reviews

Cafe Jilarty at Rainbow

Reviewed By NickyP54 - Bargara, Australia

Quirky establishment offering a mixture of delicious gourmet pizzas, backpacker specials to dine in or take out, good coffee in pretty mugs and selection of arts and crafts. Visited a couple of times during our weekend visit and would have returned again if our stay was longer.

10. Eds beach bakery rainbow beach

36 Rainbow Beach Rd | Qld, Rainbow Beach, Queensland 4581, Australia Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible Cafe, Australian, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch +61 7 5486 3080
Excellent
48%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
19%
Poor
5%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 67 reviews

Eds beach bakery rainbow beach

Reviewed By nannaccazza - Brisbane, Australia

Monday & Tuesday this week between 12:20 & 12:40 I tried to get a chunky beef pie but they were already out. Not good enough. So we settled for curry mince (average). We also had sweet chilli chicken pastie which was all pastry, little filling and no sweet chilli taste.

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