In search of the best burger in Melbourne? Let us start you off with the pick of our favourite burgers for all culinary persuasions, with vegan and vego, fish, chicken and meat eaters represented.
Beef & Cheese Burger at Chargrill Charlies
Legends of the Sydney food scene, Chargrill Charlies is now serving their famous fare in Camberwell where roast chicken is a big feature of the menu. But keep on walking past those sizzling chickens and you’ll find a big range of mighty delicious burgers. With 12 to choose from including the New York, Chicken Schnitzel and Portuguese Chicken burgers, there’s plenty of options to stave off those hunger pangs. Our pick of the list is the old school classic Beef and Cheese burger with butter lettuce, sliced tomato, a sliver of Spanish onion and a slice of melted cheese in between a fresh toasted bun. Check out their locations here
Bacon Bacon at Royal Stacks
Royal Stacks serve up the kind of burgers that you’d request as your last meal on death row. The Bacon Bacon lives up to its name. Packing two juicy beef patties, double bacon, cheddar, caramelised onion, mustard, tomato sauce and pickles. Add a side of fries covered in gooey cheese and you’ve got yourself a meal to remember. There are four different Royal Stacks stores in Melbourne plus two more in China should you find yourself craving a burger while there.
Royal Stacks locations here
The Harlem at Southside Central
A standout on an already intriguingly delicious menu, The Harlem burger consists of southern fried hot chicken, American cheddar, white bbq sauce and maple mayonnaise nestled in between two buttermilk waffles lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Order an all-day $12 espresso martini to wash it down with.
Southside Central, 34 Chapel Street, Windsor.
Mt Fuji Vegan Burger at Burger Boys
Burger Boys at Saving Grace, 32 Church Lane, Melbourne CBD
Soft Shell Crab Burger at Miss Katie’s Crab Shack
We can’t go by Miss Katie’s Crab Shack when searching out the best soft shell crab burger. Soft and crispy in the same bite, it’s served with fresh seasonal slaw, mayo and hot sauce and cushioned by a sesame bun. Order a side of veggie chill cheese fries if you’re extra hungry.
Miss Katie’s Crab Shack, 325 Smith Street, Fitzroy
8BIT with Cheese at 8bit
Keeping the Westies fed, Footscray’s 8bit doesn’t mess around when it comes to burgers and hotdogs. We can’t go past the 8BIT with Cheese which is a delicious seeded bun with a beef patty, tomato, lettuce, red onion, pickles, mustard, cheese, ketchup and a squirt of 8bit sauce. Add some potato gems or cheese and bacon fries to make a meal of it.
8bit, 8 Droop Street, Footscray
The Riviera Vegetarian Burger at L’Burger
With five options on their growing vegetarian and vegan burger menu, L’Burger in Hawthorn is a Mecca for burger lovers of all kinds. Our pick is The Riviera, a mixed bean, mozzarella, sweet potato and secret spice vegetarian patty served with grilled mushrooms, corn and avocado salsa and crisp salad.
L’Burger Shop 1, 672 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
The L.A.X Burger at California Burgers
Owner Theo Tzavaras has made a second home of California since his first visit in 2002 when he fell in love with the state and it’s varied and cult-like burger scene. Cue a menu that’s authentic, always fresh and bursting with flavour. The L.A.X Burger gets a thumbs up for it’s two smashed beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles and pink mayo. But the hallmark of a Californian Burger is one thin slice of raw onion that adds a zingy punch to the flavour.
California Burgers, 42 Chapel Street, Windsor
Fried Chicken Burger at Sunshine Social
Housed in a old converted service station, Sunshine Social serves up fresh local produce cooked on a barbecue of smoking hot charcoal. The Fried Chicken Burger is served with fresh slaw, jalapeños, pickles, mayo, ,mustard, tomato sauce and cheese. It goes well with a cold crafty brew so make sure to check out what’s guesting on the taps or the local bottles in the fridge.
Sunshine Social, 64 Glengala Road, Sunshine West
Whykickamoocow Falafel Burger at Straight Six
This vegan burger from Straight Six is brimming over with fresh ingredients including a falafel patty drizzled with tahini and lemon sauce and packed with house-made pickles, lettuce and tomato inside a fresh, soft bun. Add some onion rings for extra flavour and texture or if you’re vegetarian, stack it with haloumi for salty cheesy goodness.
Straight Six, 336 Racecourse Road, Flemington
The Heart Attack at Rockwell and Sons
The name alone dares you to take on the challenge of wrapping your lips around this bad boy from Rockwell and Sons. Bite into a double patty, Kraft, maple onions, fried pickles and chipotle mayo at Rockwell and Sons. Add bacon and you’ve got yourself a Double Bypass!
Rockwell and Sons, 288 Smith Street, Collingwood
Spiked Burger at Tommy Ruff
The under represented fish burger takes pride of place on Tommy Ruff’s menu with this outstanding serve of southern fried fish with chilli slaw and smoked chipotle mayo. If fish is your fancy, this is a menu worth exploring.
Tommy Ruff has three locations at Windsor, Elsternwick and Mordialloc
Torn Pork Burger at Meatworks Co
MEATWORKS co. 28-30 Ross St, South Melbourne