7 July 2014

Best of Canberra: Burgers

| Canfan
Join the conversation
39
burger-take-away

Following up from our recent Pizza to go question (we’re road testing the two most popular and will have a decision for you ASAP), we’re on to the next staple in takeaway – burgers.

I have a friend who includes ‘Find the worlds best burger and eat it’ on her bucket list. She also has a very specific approach to eating a burger, which must be served with chips. She is my go to girl on burgers in town. She will be watching this post eagerly for future dining ideas.

What do you think? Are you a fan of the local takeaway burger, beetroot or none? Or do you prefer the gourmet variety?

Whatever your burger desires, where do you get the best burgers in Canberra?

Join the conversation

39
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest
batmantrilogy2:10 am 10 Nov 15

Brodburger produces one of the finest burgers in canberra without any doubts !

KnifeForkSpoon1:13 pm 21 Oct 14

I haven’t tried Phat Burger yet but I agree with “excession” with their call on Torrens takeaway (called Better Burger). Their chicken burgers are really good.

Though the best burgers are from Johnno’s takeaway at Southlands in Mawson. Outstanding!!
Their pizzas are fkn awesome too! Old school and easily the best in town!

bigfeet said :

Raging Tempest said :

Erindale takeaway. They will slap on bacon, egg, pineapple and beetroot for a proper burger. Or you can have your pineapple frittered, as nature intended.

At least if they fritter the pineapple it won’t contaminate your burger and you can safely throw it away!

what bigfeet said…

Best tasting burger I’ve had in Canberra is the beef burger at Shorty’s, hands down. Pulled pork burger from the same establishment is a close second. Southern fried chicken burger is up next – I’m working though them all!

Their chips are also stellar, but that’s not what we’re talking about here!

Raging Tempest said :

Erindale takeaway. They will slap on bacon, egg, pineapple and beetroot for a proper burger. Or you can have your pineapple frittered, as nature intended.

It’s food central for the epicure bogan. My favourite takeaway also.
Potato scallops and chips are the best intown and the potato scallop in a bun with gravy is real man tucker. Pizza is fresh and good as well.
One of their hamburgers with the lot will feed a family of four.

Raging Tempest said :

Erindale takeaway. They will slap on bacon, egg, pineapple and beetroot for a proper burger. Or you can have your pineapple frittered, as nature intended.

At least if they fritter the pineapple it won’t contaminate your burger and you can safely throw it away!

Raging Tempest6:16 pm 08 Jul 14

Erindale takeaway. They will slap on bacon, egg, pineapple and beetroot for a proper burger. Or you can have your pineapple frittered, as nature intended.

HiddenDragon5:51 pm 08 Jul 14

Some appealing suggestions here, and also interesting details about prices. Before I’d ever heard of the Big Mac Index, I developed the theory that the price of a traditional hamburger in Canberra, and the rate of increase (usually cunningly implemented during the two to three week Christmas-New Year close down which is standard for purveyors of such fare), was a very good guide to the true state of the Canberra economy.

From my extensive experience (one visit) Brodburger wins hands down for presentation, taste and price. We didn’t have to wait long, about the same time as you wait for meals at the Hellenic Club and Belco Labor Club bistros. And talking about the latter, my brother-in-law came with us for lunch there last weekend and he ordered a burger. It looked terrible and would have tasted even worse.

Canberroid said :

Wilbur’s in Hackett is decent. Good pizzas too. I’m yet to try the burgers at the new-ish joint at Watson shops.

don’t try the ‘newish joint’ at watson – over-priced [mai oui] and meh, and the takeaway next door is the business, with pretty good chips and will often throw in an extra potato scallop when you order a few – just like a real chippie!

Durham Castle Arms in Kingston does a variety of great $10 burgers at lunch with a half pint of any (craft) beer for an extra $3.

And they don’t take anywhere near as long as Brodburger…

Wilbur’s in Hackett is decent. Good pizzas too. I’m yet to try the burgers at the new-ish joint at Watson shops.

+1 for Brodburger.

Evatt shops takeaway does old school burgers that are great. Best pizza in Canberra too. Ainslie takeaway was the best place for burgers until they changed hands I agree.

In Canberra, it’s the Wanniassa shops takeaway – miles ahead of anywhere else taste wise, just order a serve of chips as well for the kind of meal the OP is looking for. However, be prepared to take it away to somewhere nicer to eat…

Though I wish we had a branch of BenBry burgers here (only in Manly), they are just sublime…

Kalliste said :

Never been to Brodburger, their menu seems limited and doesn’t really entice me and I can’t be bothered dealing with the wait to find out.

And the pay parking about to come into force there.

nicnacvb said :

How about the best vege buger?

*Dons flame proof suit*

None of the burger joints seem to take veggie burgers seriously. It’s all dissapointing and uncreative.
I have my own recipe that beats everything on offer.

Oven baked sweet potatoe chips. – Cut 1 sweet potatoe up into chip sizes, lightly dress in olive oil, sprinkle of mixed herbs and roast vegetable herbs. Bake at 200 in lined tray for 30 mins

Burger – Buy wollies macro organic morrocan burgers, Byron bay coconut sauce, One cape seed roll from bakers delight, lettuce, grated carrot and tomotoe.

So many options, where to begin.

Takeaway burgers – Watson and Palmerston takeaways, unfortunately neither have both pineapple AND beetroot, have to ask, but no big deal.

Pricier burgers:
I like Central Burger District in Braddon, the ‘In Vogue’ is awesome – chicken burger with sundried tomato, baby spinach, bacon pesto and pineapple – but all of their burgers are pretty good

London Beer and burgers – Haven’t been there in soo long, but love the burger with the lot (plus you get the chips) and their thick shakes are pretty decent too

Grill’d is pretty decent for a chain. I haven’t tried too many but they’ve been good each time, plus their chips are quite delicious.

Never been to Brodburger, their menu seems limited and doesn’t really entice me and I can’t be bothered dealing with the wait to find out.

I’ve never eaten at Brodburger and I find the London burgers disgusting.

My fav place for a burger is either Central Burger District in Braddon or a Pulled Pork Burger at Shorty’s.

How about the best vege buger?

*Dons flame proof suit*

Phat Burger (? I think) at Farrer Shops. Pretty well perfect hamburgers, with beetroot and tomato relish that’s way better than plain old tomato sauce.

Torrens Shops does excellent Aussie Burgers, they’re $10 each, but really great. We get take-away every week or so from Torrens, their fish and chips is very consistent quality (and quantity), well worth a visit if you’re in the Woden area.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

I had a brodburger once and thought it was ok, but no better than one with the lot from my local takeaway.

It took me 4 attempts to get my first Brodburger (either “just sold out” or “closing now”).
It was underwhelming and overpriced. It sort of looked rustic but styled by a metrosexual.
The taste hasn’t convinced me to attempt a return visit.

Despite a few early teething problems post opening, I reckon that the burgers at the London Burger and Beer (correct name ?) in Tuggeranong are great. Huge.

Ellena’s Pizza, Calzone and Burgers – Platypus Centre, Ngunnawal.

Lonsdale Street Roasters’ Royale with Cheese

Warning: It’s fairly rich.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back12:50 pm 08 Jul 14

I had a brodburger once and thought it was ok, but no better than one with the lot from my local takeaway.

Maya123 said :

“good burger and chips”
How can one fit in both in the same meal? Sounds like a recipe for obesity.

Or part of a balanced diet as the Scottish restaurant is wont to say

Brodburger is only delicious because you have to wait an hour to eat it.

Poppa’s at Kingston Hotel is hands down the best burger I’ve had in Canberra. Cheap, reliable and quick. I can order and pick it up within 15 minutes, and they have a drive through window so it saves finding a park. Blue cheese errythang.

“good burger and chips”
How can one fit in both in the same meal? Sounds like a recipe for obesity.

what sort of un-australian question is ‘beetroot or none’??

local takeaway is usually best, often country towns’ chippie doing a fine meal of it, as long as the chips are up to par. ainslie takeaway used to be great; now i find watson takeaway pretty good.

why is it these purveyors of such excellence in takeaway food are closed the one night you need them [sunday]?? where can you get a decent hamburger with the lot on a sunday?

Holden Caulfield11:45 am 08 Jul 14

Gourmet: Brodburger, Grill’d.

Old skool: Watson Take Away.

Well it’s not quite in Canberra, but I bet many Canberrans drive past it without realising it is there. Best hamburger I have found in a long time would be from the Mobil at Braidwood.

Mess said :

Brodburger can certainly lay claim to the most overrated burger in Canberra.

Central Burger District in Braddon is fairly decent, and London Burger is pretty good as well.

agree Brodburger is overrated IMO for the price. Its no better than a takeaway burger.

i don’t mind paying $15-20 for a good burger with tasty chips. I like the variety at London burger.

What is the difference between a burger and a hamburger?
About $15 is probably the best answer I can think of.
The local geasy spoon takeaway usually identifies their freshly prepared product as a “hamburger” and when the extras like egg, cheese etc. (beetroot is standard) are added in expect to pay $9.00.
The Scottish “hamburger restaurant” around the corner sells something that tastes like cardboard and is half the size (no egg) for about the same price with “fries” which without salt are tasteless.
Anywhere you sit down and get a burger on a plate with knife and fork expect to pay anywhere from $19 to $29 and if you are lucky you may get chips.
Hamburgers are best consumed eaten with both hands in the wrapping that they are in.
There is no such thing as a “gourmet hamburger”.

Brodburger can certainly lay claim to the most overrated burger in Canberra.

Central Burger District in Braddon is fairly decent, and London Burger is pretty good as well.

neanderthalsis10:21 am 08 Jul 14

The burger joint in the Canberra Centre food court, can’t recall the name, but it’s a small franchise (NOT McDonalds…) does a fairly good burger and chips for a food court meal. Not as w*nky or as expensive as Brodburger, but still has real meat, i.e once identifiable as a living creature, fresh salad and chunky, well seasoned chips.

Your gourmet burger joints are way over-priced and under-good (relative to the $$). But they’re a trend now, so they’ll thrive for a little while, then start to die off.

Better off with one with the lot from Hawker or Kaleen or Kippax takeaway. Or pretty much any other.

James McMahon9:25 am 08 Jul 14

Sure this will be mentioned a bit, but minus the queue time Brodburger is hands down the best , and a far distant 2nd Cream Cafe Bar as they tend to inconsistent.

Mine has to be the Filet o Fish extra sauce hands down.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.