Small, XXL, super-sized, stuffed, in brioche, with bacon, extra brie (?), in Brisbane we like burgers any which way. So if you think you’ve seen it all, tackled the metaphorical whales of the Brisbane burger world so to speak, you’d better have tried the absolute best burgers in Brisbane.
All hail the humble burger: it’s not going anywhere fast.
Ze Pickle
Fortitude Valley and Camp Hill
The famed Ze Pickle made their name in levelling up burger chow and now they’ve gone full turbo and cranked their entire operation up to full tilt. The magnificence of this titanic burger haunt is evident in the Ze Pickle’s pecan wood smoked brisket burger. That's smoked brisket, topped with house made mac n’ cheese, maple smoked bacon and corn chips between their famous brioche bun. Not for the faint hearted. If you need a more detailed description of a Ze Pickle experience, click here.
Corona update: Still open for takeaway and delivery.
Super Combo
Bowen Hills
Gaming geeks will recognise the nod to iconic 80’s game, Street Fighter, throughout Super Combo’s menu, but there’s one pattie in our eyes that tops the Brisbane burger hunt: The Sonic Boom. This fried chicken, smokey mushroom sauce, cheddar cheese sauce, candied bacon, pineapple chutney, slaw and aioli mega mash up is well worth the calorie count.
Corona update: Still open for takeaway.
Getta Burger
Various
Where the fries are more than a side, Getta Burger's feasts are proper beasts. Their entire menu holds its own pretty well against the stiffest of Brisbane’s burger competitors, but the standout has got to be the Getta Boss, which is not only a revenue-raising, micro-managing, synergy-promoting juggernaut but is such a daunting prospect that to finish one of these suckers is the burger equivalent of a touchdown.
Corona update: Still open for takeaway and delivery.
Miss Kay’s;
Mitchelton, Springwood and Brisbane City
Food trends may come and go but burgers are forever. Miss Kay’s knows this and now has lodgings in Mitchelton, Springwood, and the CBD to satisfy our burger urges. All of their burgers are pretty fantastic, but our heart belongs to the MK Special. Take a patty, toss in some maple bacon, onion rings, cheese, lettuce, pickles, mayo and BBQ sauce and you’ve really got yourself a burgasm…
Corona update: Still open for takeaway and delivery.
Wing Fix
Morningside And Coorparoo
Thought these guys just did wings? You though wrong. As well as saucy, crispy chicken, Wing Fix are the master of a stacked burger, with both beef and chicken buns on the menu. Go for the truffle cheeseburger, with an Angus beef patty, truffle mayo, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles on a toasty bun.
Corona update: Still open for takeaway.
5 Boroughs
Ascot and Greenslopes
5 Boroughs has created the ultimate New York street-food menu capable of impressing even the most discerning Yankee. Beware, the menu is intense and offers over a dozen burgers alone, not to mention tacos, ribs and sweet treats. The 5B Classic with Cheese will awaken feelings you never knew you were capable of.
Corona update: Still open for takeaway and delivery.
Red Hook
Brisbane City
There's nothing I like more than New York street food. Pride of the menu, Red Hook's Grandmaster Flash burger is a tasty explosion of all the usual suspects: beef, pickles, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and smoky mayo. All dressed up with a wee pickle skewered through the top like a Philip Treacy. A bite off one of these babies is like getting punched in the mouth by a unicorn.
Corona update: Still open for takeaway and delivery.
Just Poppy's
Jindalee
A Jindalee favourite, Poppy’s doesn't mess around when it comes to a patty and a bun. Their compendium of burger offerings is a mind blowing testament to the tenacity of our burger-loving city totalling a whopping 69 different burgers (don’t be so childish) championing everything from standard beef patties and steak to meat free wonders and twisty concoctions. Is there one with pineapple? Of course there is.
Corona update: Still open for takeaway.
Brooklyn Depot
South Bank
Brooklyn Depot is your one-stop shop for all foods ‘Americana’. I’m talking Philly-style hot dogs, Hershey’s chocolate shakes, signature slaw and caramel pecan brownies… You’re probably already drooling and we haven’t even started talking about the burgers. Do yourself a favour and try the Nashville (the Southern-fried chicken will blow your mind), or take a chance on whatever's going for Burger of the Month.
Corona update: Still open for takeaway and delivery.
Betty's Burgers
Newstead and Chermside
A beloved Noosa institution, Betty's Burgers finally made their way south to Brisbane and goddamn if we aren't bloody grateful. Their burger menu is uncomplicated perfection, with plenty of sides and extras to customise your meal. But the prowess is not limited to the grill, Betty's also prides themselves on some incredible thick shakes and concrete sundaes.
Corona update: Still open for takeaway and delivery.
Fritzenberger
Petrie Terrace
Fritzenberger’s pillowy soft, sweet buns are the key here. Their burgers are jam-packed with flavour and yet you never walk away with that, ‘gee I really over did it again’ feeling. We dig on their classic cheeseburger; grass-fed beef pattie, lovingly draped in aged cheddar, with house-made organic ketchup, mustard, Spanish onion and house-pickled pickles. Drool.
Corona update: Still open for takeaway and delivery.
Milky Lane
Newstead
You might want to plan your post-feed nap ahead of enjoying a burger at Milky Lane. Part 50s diner, part dude-food heaven, Milky Lane piles just about everything one can hope for into their loaded burgers—think mac 'n' cheese patties, cheese gravy, smoked maple bacon and chargrilled pineapple. Of course, you can just get a standard crispy chicken or cheese burger too, but why would you?
Corona update: Still open for takeaway and delivery.
GrassfedVegan
South Brisbane
Vegans and vegetarians, prepare yourselves, because Grassfed is the burger joint of your dreams: plant-based burgers AND ice cream. Swapping meat patties for vEEF, Chick'en, felafel and even shredded 'pork,' you can pair them with buffalo cauliflower and a soy milk feast for the ultimate vego feast.
Corona update: Still open for takeaway.
Charboys
Bulimba
Beloved Brisbane burger joint Charboys are known city-wide for their fluffy buns and perfect patty, and after closing their CBD location they opened new digs in Bulimba so we can still wrap our hands around their cheesy goodness. Sticking to the classic recipe, Charbiy's cheeseburger is straight up wagyu beef patty, special sauce, melted American cheese, tomato and lettuce. Why mess with perfection?
Corona update: Still open for takeaway.
Currently Closed (But Not Forgotten)
Ben’s Burgers
Fortitude Valley
Shaved meat grilled in flatbread is not a burger. Raw fish on rice is not a burger. Fermented grape juice in a box is not a burger. If you can’t tell where I’m going with this, check out Ben’s Burgers. They teach one lesson and the lesson is this: a burger is a beef patty with sauce, cheese and potentially crunchy accoutrements between a fluffy sesame seed bun. Don’t get it confused. Our pick? The Cheezy: a beef pattie, American cheese, pickles, onion and their special sauce.
Lucky Egg
FORTITUDE VALLEY
And look, while we're on the topic of the chiky burg, check out Lucky Egg’s Buffalo Crispy Fried Chicken burger, where your hefty serve of crispy fried chicken is topped with cheddar and pickles. They've even got vegos covered too with a tempura fried eggplant burg, complete with cheddar, pickles, and slaw, and a moreishness to rival its meaty cousins.
Remy's
PADDINGTON
When Paddo locals get the burger itch, there's only one place they trust to hit the spot, and that's Remy's. Their deck area is the perfect spot to down a Bloody Mary and a cheeseburger in the company of someone else's dog, and if you come by on a Sunday arvo you can get your burgs 2 for 1 with a side of free beats.
Prefer your carb-loading Italian style? Check out Brisbane's best gnocchi here.
Image credit: Urban List Photographers