The Gold Coast has long been famous for its surf, its skyline and its sunshine, but for much of its history, the dining scene played a supporting role to the beach lifestyle rather than starring in its own right. Rick Shores changed that equation. Perched at 3/43 Goodwin Terrace in Burleigh Heads, with the Pacific Ocean stretching to the horizon through panoramic windows, this restaurant marries bold Asian-inspired flavours with the relaxed coastal energy of one of Australia's most beautiful beach suburbs. The result is a dining experience that feels simultaneously sophisticated and effortlessly casual — a combination that is fiendishly difficult to achieve and which Rick Shores makes look easy.
The Beachfront Setting
Location matters at Rick Shores, and the restaurant makes the most of its position on the Burleigh Heads esplanade. The dining room is oriented to capture the full sweep of the coastline, from the rocky headland of Burleigh Heads National Park to the north, past the wide arc of golden sand, to the distant shimmer of Surfers Paradise towers on the horizon. At sunset, the entire room bathes in warm, amber light as the sun drops toward the hinterland behind, painting the ocean in shades of copper and rose.
The interior is sleek and modern without being cold. Light timber, white surfaces and plenty of glass create a sense of openness and air that mirrors the coastal setting outside. There is a long bar area where you can sit with a cocktail and watch the waves, a main dining room with well-spaced tables, and a few coveted window seats that offer uninterrupted ocean views. The overall feel is relaxed — smart enough for a special dinner, casual enough for a spontaneous long lunch after a morning swim.
Asian Flavours, Australian Soul
The menu at Rick Shores draws broadly from the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, China, Japan and the Pacific, filtering them through an Australian sensibility and a commitment to local produce. This is not fusion for the sake of novelty. There is genuine depth and understanding behind the flavour combinations, and each dish feels like a coherent expression of a particular idea rather than an awkward collision of disparate traditions.
The bug roll has achieved near-legendary status on the Gold Coast and deservedly so. Moreton Bay bug meat, sweet and delicate, is wrapped in soft rice paper with fresh herbs, vermicelli and a punchy dipping sauce that balances sweet, sour, salty and spicy in perfect proportion. It is a dish of deceptive simplicity — light enough to eat several, flavourful enough to make each one an event.
Beyond the signature dish, the menu rewards exploration. A green papaya salad, bright with lime and chilli, works beautifully alongside a plate of crispy-skinned barramundi dressed with a fragrant coconut and lemongrass broth. Larger sharing plates might include a whole roasted duck with plum sauce and steamed bao buns, or a red curry built on a base of house-made paste so aromatic that it perfumes the table before you take your first spoonful. The kitchen handles heat and spice with confidence, building layers of flavour rather than relying on raw chilli intensity.
Drinks with a View
The drinks programme at Rick Shores leans into the coastal Asian theme with intelligence and creativity. The cocktail list features tropical ingredients — lychee, yuzu, coconut, pandan, kaffir lime — blended with quality spirits into drinks that taste like a Gold Coast sunset feels. A lychee and gin number, served tall over ice with a splash of soda and a twist of lime, is dangerously refreshing on a warm afternoon and vanishes with alarming speed.
The wine list is compact but carefully selected, with a focus on aromatic whites and lighter reds that complement the kitchen's emphasis on fresh, vibrant flavours. Riesling, pinot gris and verdelho feature prominently, sourced from Australian producers who understand that wine destined to accompany spicy food needs bright acidity and restrained oak. A small but thoughtful selection of sake and Japanese beer rounds out the offering for those who want to stay within the Asian idiom.
The Burleigh Heads Experience
Dining at Rick Shores is inseparable from the broader experience of Burleigh Heads itself. This is a suburb that has evolved from a quiet coastal village into one of Australia's most desirable lifestyle destinations, and the restaurant reflects that transformation. The clientele is a mix of local surfers in clean linen shirts, visiting foodies from Brisbane and Sydney, and tourists who stumbled upon the place and cannot believe their luck.
The best way to experience Rick Shores is to build your visit around the sunset. Arrive an hour before dusk, claim a spot at the bar, order a cocktail, and watch the sky change colour over the Pacific. Then move to your table as the light softens and work your way through a parade of shared plates with someone whose company you enjoy. By the time you step back out onto Goodwin Terrace, salt air in your lungs and the sound of waves in your ears, the Gold Coast will feel less like a holiday strip and more like a place you could imagine calling home.
Prices are reasonable for the quality and the location. A generous shared dinner for two with drinks typically lands between $180 and $240. Lunch is lighter on both the menu and the wallet, making it an excellent option for visitors who want to combine a beach morning with an afternoon of excellent eating. Bookings are essential for dinner, particularly on weekends, and a table on the ocean side of the room is worth requesting specifically.