The Kai Kitchen

The Kai Kitchen is a bakery in Coomera, Queensland, that people drive out of their way for. The draw is the pies, and the Kiwi-style ones in particular. We hear from people who grew up on New Zealand bakery fare that it tastes like home, and more than one made the trip from the Gold Coast just to get their hands on a mince and cheese.

Steak and cheese is the one most people talk about, with a flaky, buttery top and a rich, well-seasoned gravy. The menu runs well beyond that, though. Steak and mushroom, pepper steak, chilli steak and cheese, creamy chicken and fish pie all get a mention, and one family stopping through on the way home from Byron couldn't stop praising the smoked fish. Sausage rolls are a regular add-on, and the odd local reckons the filling has a flavour punch they're still trying to pin down.

Then there's the sweet side of the cabinet. Jam cream donuts, caramel and vanilla slices, custard slice, weetbix coconut slice, ginger slice and choc fudge brownies all turn up in people's orders, and one local called the brownies moist and not too sweet. Milkshakes and coffee are on offer too, along with breakfast, and you can dine in or take it all away.

It isn't flawless to everyone. One local would have liked chunkier steak in the pie, and another found the base a touch too soft to hold the filling. Those are small gripes next to the general mood, which is that the pastry is light, the gravy is generous and the pies are good value for what you get.

The staff come up often, too. People describe a warm welcome and friendly service at the counter, even when the place is flat out. If you're heading in on a weekend, going earlier in the day is the local advice, since it gets busy and the popular pies go.

Parking is easy, with a free car park on site and free street parking nearby, and there's a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted. It opens early, but check the hours before you head over.