The Best Burger Joints In Auckland And Where To Find Them

Lucky Gs

1A Westech Place, Glen Eden, Auckland

Lucky Gs burgers are a fortunate find indeed and have racked up a huge following since they burst onto the scene a few years back. Smashed beef burger patties are their speciality (though they also do a solid fried chicken number, along with a vegetarian option where the patty is replaced with a hash brown—say what?), which you'll find smooshed between locally baked milk buns alongside a selection of simple yet delicious salads and sauces. We likey.

Fat Puku's Smashed Burgers

1/492 Queen Street, Auckland CBD 

Image credit: Fat Puku's Smashed Burgers | Urban List Wono Kim

For a delicious collision of food and retro vibes, you can't beat Fat Puku's Smashed Burgers. Originally a food truck, this CBD gem is responsible for bringing us some of the tastiest damn burgs on the block, once again centred around the deliciousness that is the smash patty, and all served in a fun atmosphere peppered with 70s/80s regalia, and a portrait of Fat Puku himself (actually a cat belonging to one of the owners).

These guys also do a rather noteworthy veggie burger (along with fries covered in sweet 'frost' seasoning) and for that, we reckon they deserve a spot on any list of Auckland's best.

Parade 

252 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

Image credit: Parade | Instagram

Jo Bro's Burgers

Shop 4/490 South Titirangi Road, Titirangi, Auckland

No-nonsense burgers are the name of the game at Jo Bro's Burgers, a venture bought to us by chefs Josh and Brody, who between them have a wealth of industry experience (Michelin-starred restaurants included).

These guys have a simple-is-best approach when it comes to what makes a good burg, and we like the way they think. Expect plump sustainable beef patties, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion, doused in their signature Jo Bro's Original burger sauce (which took approximately five years to perfect), slapped between two freshly baked fluffy potato buns. Brilliant.

Sneaky Snacky

184 Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD

Image credit: Sneaky Snacky | Facebook

Imagine a burger so filthy (meant here in the most complimentary sense, of course) that you needed disposable gloves to eat it... well, that's exactly what you can expect when you visit K' Road institution, Sneaky Snacky, where receiving a pair of disposable gloves with your meal is all just part of the service.

These guys truly do make burgers unlike anyone else in Auckland, and it's not just the glove sitch that sets them apart—stacked with wagyu beef patties, fried chicken thighs and kimchi fritters, their creations are actually served on housemade doughnuts instead of buns, and that's a combo that shouldn't be ignored.

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Harry's Burger Punk

12B Clarence Street, Devonport, Auckland

Let's shine the spotlight on another Harry right now—Harry's Burger Punk in Devonport, to be precise. This joint has nothing to do with the controversial royal, but everything to do with scandalously good burgs aka the kind that could cause you to flatline with a single sniff (Fried Affair, we're looking at you). 150g smashed beef patty burgers are the stars of the show here, along with some hella tasty chicken options and Snickers and Oreo shakes to wash it all down.

Burgernaut

597 New North Road, Morningside, Auckland

Image credit: Burgernaut / Instagram

Once upon a time (right now) in a land not so far away (Kingsland) existed some of the most mouthwatering burgers known to man. In fact, so undeniably delicious were these burgers—found at a place known simply as 'Burgernaut'—that word of them travelled, with folks coming from far and wide in the hopes of sampling these tasty treasures.

Bulging with burgery goodness including crispy smash-style patties, gooey melted cheese and punchy sauces made with beer from their sister business, Urbanaut, Burgernaut's burgers were (and still are) the stuff of legends. Props to these guys for their always incredible vegan offerings, and epic loaded fries.

Smashed As Smashburgers

20 Broadway, Papakura, Auckland

The brainchild of Jamie and Sam (who incidentally, set up the aforementioned Burgernaut), these guys certainly know a thing or two about hitting that burger-craving spot. Smashed As Smashburgers operate from their new Papakura digs. All their burgs are made using only the highest quality, grass-fed and dry-aged Karaka beef mince, lightly seasoned then smashed to perfection. One thing's for sure, you won't come away hungry.

Peach's Hot Chicken

2 Queens Road, Panmure, Auckland

Image credit: Peach's Hot Chicken / Facebook 

If you believe that chicken burgers are a cuisine all of their own (yes!), be sure to swoop on by Peach's Hot Chicken. This wildly popular spot is home to some of Auckland's best fried chicken, including burgers stacked with the stuff.

In fact, this is where you'll find what is in our opinion the absolute best chicken burger in the land, aka The Baller. A best-seller since day one, this bad boy is filled with crunchy, boneless fried chicken thigh tossed in your choice of spice, crammed inside a soft brioche bun with coleslaw, American cheese, pickles and lashings of aioli-style sauce. We believe the words you're looking for are 'holy cluck.'

Bunty's

89 Kitchener Road, Milford, Auckland

Bunty's has become a firm favourite amongst Milford locals thanks to their gourmet brand of smash burgers, which you'll find served alongside some classy small plates (pumpkin, mushroom and sundried tomato arancini, for example) and a selection of boozy bevvies, all in an upmarket, diner-style setting.

Personally, we're all about their classic cheeseburger, which features not one, but two 100 per cent pure Angus beef patties made with meat from local butchery Well Hung, smooshed together with grilled cheese, pickles, onions, mayo and mustard. Dang.

RE Burger

123/21 Whitaker Place, Grafton & 548 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland

Like so many great eateries these days, RE Burger began life as a food truck, travelling the streets of Dunedin. However their burgers were always destined for more than four wheels (just look at the pic above), and over the years the brand has expanded into a number of cities around the country, including Auckland.

Jax Burger Shack

2/64 Ormiston Road, East Tāmaki, Auckland

Image credit: Jax Burger Shack | Supplied

If there's one thing to be said about Jax Burger Shack, it's that they don't do things by halves. This East Tāmaki haunt has practically a trillion followers on social (and probably even more in the flesh) thanks to its insane burger creations, which we reckon could give you a food baby, just by looking at 'em.

Case in point? The wildly popular Pablo (pictured), which brings together an Angus beef patty AND sirloin steak along with melted cheddar cheese, mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, red onion, hickory BBQ sauce and Jax's very own secret-recipe aioli. Don't forget to save room for their dessert waffles, if you know what's good for ya. P.S. A little birdie tells us that the team are opening a second store in Westgate—watch this space.

Burger Geek

Highbury Mall, Foodcourt 37 Mokoia Road, Birkenhead, 175 Symonds Street, Eden Terrace & 478 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland

As the name suggests, Burger Geek is a total geek when it comes to burgers, and we love them for it. The team make their patties from a blend of wagyu and Angus cuts that are freshly ground on-site each and every day. All chicken is free-range, bread is sourced from local bakers, and their bacon is cured for seven days before being smoked in-house. The impressive attention to detail doesn’t go unnoticed—Burger Geek’s burgers are undoubtedly some of Auckland’s best.

Real Burger

30 Birkenhead Avenue, Birkenhead, Auckland

Image credit: Real Burger | Facebook

The Flaming Onion

Browns Bay, Northcote & Remuera

Image credit: The Flaming Onion | Urban List Wono Kim

Make sure you arrive hungry when you visit The Flaming Onion for one of their next-level burgers. They’re big, they’re juicy and they’re some of the best in Auckland. The team prides itself on not taking any shortcuts when making their gourmet burgs—every patty is handmade, their sauces are made from scratch, and their buns are brushed with herb-infused olive oil before toasting them.

Choose between the likes of The Smokey One with wagyu beef, manuka-smoked bacon, Swiss cheese, smoked chipotle aioli and smoked bourbon BBQ sauce, or Blue Dream with sharp blue cheese and caramelised onion. Keep tabs on their drool-inducing Instagram feed for regular specials.

BurgerFuel

Auckland-wide

Corner Burger

Level 4/309 Broadway, Newmarket, Auckland

Image credit: Corner Burger / Supplied