The top 15 best burger joints around Australia

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Order up a double patty, add on that layer of mac n cheese and go ham on that basket of chips, because it’s burger time baby.

 

The burger-craze in Australia is real and the nation is hungry for more. Our desire to tuck into a greasy, cheesy patty sandwiched between two soft and lightly toasted milk buns just refuses to be satisfied. It’s no wonder it feels like a new burger joint or food truck opens up around the corner every couple of weeks.

 

For the true burger fans amongst us, we’ve collated a list of the best burger joints from around the country to aid you in your time of need.

Australia-wide

Ze Pickle

Known for their iconic pickle-topped burgers, Ze Pickle piles up a range of crazy and outrageous burger combinations – with the wacky names to match. You can bet that anything you order off their long menu will be a winner. If you’re up to a challenge, try their Triple Loco and STFU burger. It is guaranteed to test you to your limits. These two biggies are filled with an insane amount of fillings and pushed together with grilled cheese sandwiches instead of buns.

 

The Mash Mash City Bish is another popular choice. The combination of crispy fried chicken, American cheese, truffle-buttered mash potato and mayo will have you praying for it to go on forever.

 

States: QLD & NSW

Chargrill Charlies

That’s right, Sydney’s favourite chicken shop has opened its doors in Melbourne. Let’s hope world domination is next.

 

Known for their moist and juicy chargrilled and Portuguese chickens, crisp salads and crunchy fries and wedges, Chargrill Charlies have been doing this for over 30 years. While they normally change up their salad and sides menus, those classic burgers we all know and love have remained the same after all these years.

 

Order up an Original Chicken Burger for this absolute bomb of flavour. All burgers are made with free-range chicken (except those with beef, duh) and come topped with butter lettuce, tomatoes, Spanish onions and a dollop of their famous secret sauce. And maybe get a side of their chicken mac n cheese if you’re still hungry.

 

States: NSW & VIC

NSW

Paul’s Famous Hamburgers

This joint opened back in 1957 and has been slinging out classic burgers ever since. Paul’s no-frills service, cheap burgers and beach-bum attitude makes this place great for that post-surf or swim refuel. Located all the way down in Sylvania, you’ll find southern Sydney dwellers flock here all year round.

 

The Famous Works burger shouldn’t be overlooked. Layered with lettuce, tomato, raw onion, egg, bacon, cheese and pineapple; it truly is the taste of ‘Straya.

 

Address: 12 Princes Highway, Sylvania

Mister Gees Burger Truck

Mister Gees Burger Truck Sydney australia's best burgers
Dig into the Stoner’s Revenge at Mister Gees.

The Mister Gees Burger Truck has been dishing out the greasiest burgers in the inner west for the last few years. The truck was previously located in a car wash in Haberfield, but after some unfortunate mechanical problems, they were forced to abandon that dream and now operate by taking over kitchens and cafes all over the city.

 

They have a burger special available each week and the best one – in our opinion – is the Stoners Revenge. Filled with grass-fed beef patties, American cheese, malt pickled onions, dill pickles, Dijon, stoner sauce, salt n vinegar crinkle cut chips (yup, inside the burger) and optional streaky bacon.

 

If you can’t find time to spend 45 minutes in line waiting for these bad boys, the owner has also opened up a bricks and mortar store called Happy Endings which is super simple, but just as good.

 

Address: Keep up with their current locations through Instagram

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VIC

Easey’s

Easeys Melbourne australia's best burgers
Stop for a burger at Melbourne’s most iconic sight.

You’ll find Easey’s located in one of the most recognisable spots in Melbourne – five stories up in a rooftop train carriage. The three trains are covered in graffiti and filled with comfy chairs and tables. Grab a pale ale and watch the bright Melbourne lights flicker in the distance.

 

If you’re really about that burger life, then check out the Metropolitan Mayhem. Filled with quad beef patties, American cheddar, bacon, potato cakes, dim sims, pickles, onion and secret burger sauce. Wow, that was a mouthful (just like this burger will be).

 

Address: Unit 3/48 Easey Street, Collingwood

Rude Boy Burger

If you stroll over to Brunswick West, you’ll find Rude Boy Burger. These guys are all about big, obnoxious burgers that’ll have you salivating. If you whisper the words ‘hot cheesy ball’ to the server behind the counter, you’ll get a deep-fried liquid cheese ball that’ll explode with hot melty goodness.

 

But for the veggie fans, the Veggie Queen Burger takes the cake. A spiced veggie burger patty with chickpeas, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, potato, onion and red chilli with lime pickled peppers and coronation sauce.

 

Address: 482 Albion Street, Brunswick West

QLD

Easy Street Diner

Refuel after a dip down at Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast at the Easy Street Diner.

 

This joint has a reputation for the best fried chicken in the area, so why would you order anything else? The Chicken Poboy (a typical Louisiana sandwich) with southern fried chicken, Cajun mayo and slaw will be your go-to favourite in no time.

 

Address: 12/2563 Lower Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

Brooklyn Depot

Brooklyn Depot Queensland australian best burgers
Get an injection of lethal hot sauce at Brooklyn Depot.

In Surfers, Brooklyn Depot is an iconic spot for pork ribs, chicken wings, sweet apple pie and of course, juicy burgers. If you’re not in a hurry to rush out, start this experience off with the bang bang shrimp tacos or the chicken n’ waffles. Their menu is all things Brooklyn-inspired with names running off famous icons and sayings.

 

The real hero at this joint is the Fuhgeddaboudit! That New Yorker slang refers to the lethal hot sauce that they pride themselves on (you can choose mild, medium or hot if you can’t handle lethal). The beef patty comes topped with beef chilli, American cheese, onion rings, chilli relish and the injection of hot sauce.

 

Address: The 4217, 10 Beach Road, Surfers Paradise

SA

Bread & Bone Wood Grill

Bread and Bone SA australian best burgers
Order a glass of pinot with that soft shell crab burger.

Although it’s technically not solely a burger shop, the burgers at Bread & Bone in Adelaide‘s CBD are well worth the mention. If you’re looking for that special somewhere to spice things up on the burger front, you can’t go wrong ordering here.

 

The Soft Shell Crab burger with the tempura crab, chilli kewpie mayo, butter lettuce and watercress is a game-changer. You’ll need to crunch down hard on this one.

 

Address: 15 Peel Street, Adelaide

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ACT

BurgerHero

BurgerHero Canberra australian best burgers
The simple cheeseburger down at BurgerHero

Whipping up burgers by the dozen, these guys truly are heroes – BurgerHeros we mean. Known as the local burger hotspot in Canberra, you won’t find one tastier anywhere else in the region. The menu is full of all the classics you’d expect, but if you want to get creative you can build your own. With so many options to choose from it won’t be easy, but the end result will be worth it.

 

If you’d rather stick to the menu, order the Karaage Ramen burger. The one-of-a-kind burger combines ramen-crusted chicken, rainbow slaw, tonkatsu sauce, kewpie mayo, jalapenos and cream cheese into one delicious meal.

 

Address: 31 Mort St, Braddon

TAS

Jack Greene Bar

Jack Greene is located within Salamanca Place in Hobart. They’ve got regular burgers, mini burgs and a whole lot of sides to choose from. You also get bonus views of Hobart Harbour – and a burger with a view is just how we like it.

 

The Wallaby Burger isn’t one to scoff at! Indulge in this flavour-bomb of a burger filled with braised Tasmanian wallaby rump, lettuce, tomato, Spanish onion, pear and pepperberry chutney and garlic aioli.

 

Address: 47 Salamanca Place, Hobart

Burger Junkie

Burger Junkie Launceston australian best burgers
On the quiet streets of Launceston, you’ll find the bustling Burger Junkie.

One of the best burger joints in Launceston is Burger Junkie. You’ll find them serving freshly grilled beef, chicken and vegan burgers most nights. The shop is splattered in graffiti and has a few vintage arcade games inside, but you’ll tune it all out once you take your first bite.

 

The Buffalo Chicken burger is one to munch on, with buttermilk fried chicken, coleslaw, lettuce, onion, tomato, ranch and buffalo sauce – it’s honestly drool-inducing.

 

Address: 105 St John Street, Launceston

 

Need a little more help on the food and wine front? Don’t worry we’ve got you covered with Australia’s best places to wine and dine.

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This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

(Image: Visit Griffith)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
    With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

    It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

    Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

    Where the vines tell a story

    A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food.
    Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

    Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

    Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

    Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

    At the table

    A flat lay of a steak.
    Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

    Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

    Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

    And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

    Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

    From the source

    A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish.
    Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

    Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

    Mark your calendar

    A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith.
    Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

    Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

    Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.

    The top 15 best burger joints around Australia - Australian Traveller