Restaurants in Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour has 41 restaurants serving a population of roughly 75,000 — that's one restaurant for every 1,829 residents. On the surface, that looks manageable. But restaurants compete for dining dollars against 38 cafes, 46 fast food outlets, 3 bars, and 9 pubs, bringing the total food and drink business count to 137 across the area.

The cuisine mix leans heavily Asian. Chinese and Thai each account for 4 restaurants, followed by Pizza (3), Vietnamese (2), Japanese (2), and Seafood (2). There are 16 cuisine types in total, which shows genuine variety, but Asian dining options are noticeably concentrated. Pizza also holds a solid foothold with three dedicated spots.

One number stands out: only 8 of 41 restaurants — just 20% — have a website. That means the vast majority rely entirely on walk-ins, word-of-mouth, and third-party platforms like Google Maps to capture customers. In a coastal town where tourists drive seasonal demand, that's a significant missed opportunity. The gap is wider than in most similar-sized Australian towns.

The restaurant market isn't overcrowded by population standards, but the broader food sector — particularly 46 fast food outlets — creates price and convenience pressure that sit-down operators need to actively account for.