During our trip to Cairns, Australia in our 60s,
we ate steak at two different restaurants.
Both were relatively affordable by Cairns standards!
So in this article,
I'll compare the two
and share what we liked about each one.
The first was a
time-limited $10 steak special
at the pub on the ground floor of the Grand Hotel when we visited in 2024.
The second was
HOG'S BREATH CAFE,
famous for its slow-cooked Prime Rib.
We had read reviews saying people wanted to come back for the steak,
so we decided to try it too!
If you're looking for
an affordable steak in Cairns
or want to
save a little on food while travelling,
I hope our experience helps.
We stayed at Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns during this trip.
Read our Shangri-La Cairns review here.
Grand Hotel Cairns｜We Tried the Time-Limited $10 Steak Special in 2024
We went to the
pub on the ground floor of the Grand Hotel
on our first day in Cairns.
We didn't make a reservation.
When we visited in 2024,
there was a
time-limited $10 steak special.
The current regular menu lists a 300g rump steak at
AUD 32,
but the Grand Hotel still runs
Daily Specials.
There have also been reviews in 2025 and 2026 mentioning
AUD 12 steak specials.
The price, menu and available times can change,
so I recommend checking the latest specials before visiting.
When we visited,
we had to order in English.
But these days,
even if you don't speak much English,
translation apps or AI tools such as Gemini and ChatGPT can help.
The pub had also been introduced by Japanese YouTubers,
so there were quite a few Japanese customers.
(And if you're really stuck, asking another Japanese traveller nearby is always an option.)
Our Honest Review｜Plenty of Food for $10, but a Little Chewy
Here it is:
the famous $10 steak!
(It had somehow ended up at the edge of the plate.)
It came with
fries
and coleslaw.
- Doneness: Medium
- Sauce: Mushroom sauce
We don't see mushroom sauce with steak as often in Japan,
but
mushroom sauce is popular in Australia.
This photo makes it easier to see.
The steak was sitting right on top of the fries.
Even though it was only $10,
the portion was quite generous.
I'm not a particularly big eater,
so for me,
the $10 steak plus a drink was just right.
It tasted good too!
And the fries were delicious.
The flavor was good,
but to be completely honest...
the steak was a little chewy.
For travellers in their 60s,
I recommend cutting it into smaller pieces
and eating it little by little.
With the weak yen,
being able to enjoy steak and a drink at this price in Australia
was very welcome.
It is a pub,
so alcohol is a big part of the menu,
but soft drinks are available too.
We also ordered pineapple juice.
It had a rich flavor
and was delicious.
At the time we visited,
the $10 steak was also a great option for keeping food costs down.
For someone with a small-to-average appetite,
this was plenty.
How to Get to Grand Hotel Cairns
The Grand Hotel is close to Cairns Central,
so it is also convenient after shopping.
Grand Hotel Cairns
34 McLeod St, Cairns City QLD 4870
HOG'S BREATH CAFE｜Tender Prime Rib That Was Much Easier to Eat
For our second steak,
we went to
HOG'S BREATH CAFE
on the fourth night of our trip.
We asked the staff at the Shangri-La Hotel
to make a reservation for us,
but the restaurant itself wasn't very busy when we arrived.
During our stay in Cairns,
we noticed that many people seemed to gather around the Night Markets area for dinner.
Outside that area,
some restaurants felt surprisingly quiet.
Read our Shangri-La The Marina Cairns review.
There was a staff member who could speak Japanese,
but the person who took our order couldn't,
so we ordered in English.
We had seen reviews saying there was a Japanese menu,
but
there wasn't one when we visited.
The Prime Rib Was Tender, Easy to Eat — and Kind to the Gums（笑）
We ordered the
Prime Rib Natural.
It came with
salad and mashed potato.
- Doneness: Medium
- Sauce: Gravy
When we visited,
it was
AUD 33.95.
Current prices may be different.
I could choose between fries and mashed potato,
and I chose
mashed potato.
Compared with the $10 steak we ate on our first day,
this one was more expensive,
but
it was much softer and more substantial.
The steak we had had very little visible fat,
so it was easy to eat too.
And this is important.
When you're in your 60s, a steak that's kind to your teeth and gums matters.
I didn't even need to order bread.
This plate alone left me
absolutely stuffed.
The mashed potato had a nice buttery flavor,
and there was plenty of it.
I ordered red wine to go with the steak.
The restaurant wasn't crowded,
so we could relax
and enjoy the steak and wine.
It was a lovely evening.
How to Get to HOG'S BREATH CAFE Cairns
The restaurant is also close to Cairns Central.
HOG'S BREATH CAFE Cairns
39 Shields St, Cairns City QLD 4870
Which Cairns Steak Did We Prefer?
Both steaks were relatively affordable,
but between the two,
I preferred the steak at HOG'S BREATH CAFE.
The reason was simple:
it was softer and delicious.
And...
when you're in your 60s, being kind to your teeth and gums matters too.
The fries in Cairns were good,
but the
mashed potato was delicious too,
so I definitely recommend trying it.
Both restaurants gave us a way to enjoy steak
without going to an expensive fine-dining restaurant.
The Grand Hotel steak we had was excellent for saving money,
while HOG'S BREATH CAFE cost more
but the meat was much softer and easier to eat.
So if I had to describe them very simply:
Grand Hotel = easier on the wallet.
HOG'S BREATH = easier on the teeth and gums.
If you want another casual meal in Cairns,
the Night Markets are convenient too.
