Queensland Food

Cairns is overflowing with dining options, from all-night stalls on the Esplanade to upscale seafood restaurants. Shields Street is known by locals as “eat street.” Some of the pricier restaurants offer discounts of up to 40% if you are seated before a certain time, which is normally 7pm. Most of the hostels in town hand out meal vouchers for one of the local watering holes, though you’ll likely leave hungry unless you spring for one of the optional upgrades ($5-8 for full meals). Diners on a budget visit the Night Markets food court, 71-75 the Esplanade, for a variety of quick and cheap takeaways. (☎07 4051 7666. Open 5pm-late; full plates as little as $3.50.) Doing your own cooking is often the most economical dinner option. For basic groceries, try Woolworths, on Abbott St. between Shields and Spence St., Bi-Lo and Coles, in Cairns Central (both open M-F 8am-9pm, Sa 8am-5:30pm, Su 9am-6pm), or the smaller IGA, at Florence St. and the Esplanade, for latenight necessities (open 24hr.). You can also get wraps and sandwiches at their deli for less than $10.

• Cafe Melt, 189 Bunda St. (☎07 4031 6754). This hip, airy restaurant next door to Dreamtime has good prices and one of the best deals in Cairns: huge “nightly revolving feature meals” featuring cuisine from around the world. Vegetarian options available. Wraps and salads $7.50. Pizzas $10. Internet access $3 per hr. Free Internet and discounted food for Dreamtime guests. Open daily 7:30am-late.
• Tiny’s Juice Bar, 45 Grafton St. (☎07 4031 4331). This cheap, popular stop serves some of the healthiest food in Cairns. Try one of the refreshing energy drinks ($3-5.50), such as the soothing apple, papaya, orange, and watermelon. If you’re confident in your creative abilities, order your own blends. The same goes for wraps, salads, and sandwiches made with ingredients like avocado, feta, cucumber, chicken, and hummus ($7-10). Tasty vegetarian and vegan options such as the Feta Avocado Salad ($8) and Tofu Pattie Salad ($7). Open daily 7:30am-4pm.
• Sushi Express, 79-87 Abbott St. (☎07 4041 4388), in Orchid Plaza. Tasty sushi at unbelievable prices. $2.70-5.70 per plate (transported to you by sushi locomotive). Most won’t need more than 2 plates. Try the popular tuna Express Roll ($4.70) or stop in for their happy hour (daily 5-6pm; all plates $2.50). Ask about their frequent diner’s card if you’re staying in Cairns for a while. Open M-Sa 11:30am-3pm and 5-9pm.
• Little Aussie Bum, 29 Spence St. (☎07 4051 2100). In case its name leaves any doubt, this trendy new eatery flaunts its Aussie attitude with racy decor befitting a football team’s locker room and a staff saucy enough to make its grittiest players blush. Stop in for a good time and a delectable Aussie Bum Burger ($13.50), a Chook Mango Salad ($14), or a True Blue Rump Steak ($21.50), and wash it all down with a Little Aussie Bum Margarita ($9). Theme nights abound: leave your inhibitions at the door and grab your skimpiest swim suit for Bikini and Budgy Smuggler Su ($12 for a meal and 2 drinks), or on Saucy Single Sa try a Love Pack ($25 for a meal and 4 drinks) and play Wheel of Love to win Reef trips with your new sweetie. Happy hour daily 5-7pm. Open M-F noon-late, Sa-Su 5pm-late.
• Meldrums, 97 Grafton St. (☎07 4051 8333). A fixture in Cairns for over 30 years, Meldrums maintains a casual atmosphere, low prices, and a delicious menu. Try a focaccia sandwich ($6.50-8.50) or one of their signature gourmet meat pies—which won them the gold medal in the 2004 Great Aussie Meat Pie Show. Pie options include everything from steak or spicy Moroccan lamb to eggplant and zucchini or gnocchi pumpkin and sour cream. Finish off your meal with 1 of their irresistible, bakery-style desserts from behind the counter (pear and apple crumbles $4, mud cake slice $4). Order to go and save a few bucks. Open early-late.