‘Glorious, crispy, charry’: Ashgrove burger restaurant reveals clever secret to amazing patties

A rapidly expanding Brisbane chain is making its mark with delicious burgers, quality ingredients and great value.

Hashtag Burgers and Waffles at Ashgrove. Picture: David Kelly

‘These really are the best burgers we’ve had,” claims my regular dining companion, borrowed stomach and burger enthusiast. The bun creations he’s referring to are those at Hashtag Burgers and Waffles in Ashgrove – a franchise that began in Fortitude Valley and is expanding fast, with more stores in Capalaba and South Brisbane and big goals to take on the rest of the state and the country next year.

It’s an ambitious plan, but if they can maintain the current level of quality, it may just succeed. The recently opened Ashgrove eatery sits just off busy Waterworks Rd, with the space split into two – the counter area with bar stools and some lounges for customers to wait for their takeaway, and a casual dining room with banquette and bar seating, bi-fold windows, fans and airconditioning to cater to a Queensland summer, an abundance of potted plants and a fun red neon sign that welcomes guests with the phrase “Hello beautiful”.

Hash Tag Burgers and Waffles, Ashgrove. Picture: David Kelly

Diners can order using a QR code on the table or at the counter, with the latter the better choice if you need help navigating the broad menu that moves from classic options such as the “Simple Sally” with beef, cheese, bacon, lettuce, onion, pickle mayo and ketchup to the extreme with a version including peanut butter and jam. There’s also a section of the menu featuring creations from defunct Brisbane burger business Mac From Way Back, from which Hashtag franchise founder Matt Rollo bought the recipes because he loved the dishes so much.

Each burger comes with its own creative title, and I instantly regret ordering at the counter and not using the QR code with our picks of “Morning wood” ($16.50) and “Your dirty uncle” ($14.50). Luckily, the smiling and beyond helpful staff member ignores any awkwardness and ensures our selection hits the table in good time.

The difference between Hashtag and most of its competitors in the market is not only the quality ingredients but, most importantly, the smash-style beef patties, which are smooshed into the hotplate allowing the meat to caramelise and develop glorious, crispy, charry edges that cartwheel with flavour.

Hash Tag Burgers and Waffles’ Your Dirty Uncle Burger. Picture: David Kelly

The Morning wood includes one such patty veiled with two slices of melted cheese, alongside bacon, pickles and onion rings. It errs slightly on the sweet side with barbecue sauce and a honey mayo, but still remains staunchly savoury, with those onion rings delivering just the right level of crunch.

It’s terrific, but arguably even better is the Your dirty uncle, which loads up another one of those smashed patties with melted cheese, maple bacon and chips. Douse it all with a sensationally bitey pickled mayo and ketchup and you’ll want to order a second before you even finish the first.

For the ultra brave, there is also the aforementioned peanut butter and jam concoction ($17.50), which adds a surprisingly generous glug of both to two beef patties, cheese and smokey bacon. It’s a little wild for me, but my burger enthusiast date declares “I love it”. Next time I’d be keen to try it with one of the other four bun options, such as a waffle or perhaps “cheezy toast”.

Cheezy toast at Hash Tag Burgers and Waffles in Ashgrove. Picture: David Kelly

The latter can also be ordered on its own as one of the many sides, which also include the likes of chicken nuggets and wings, mac ’n’ cheese balls, and loaded fries.

What you won’t want to miss out on, though, are the milkshakes, with options like toffee apple, Milo and Oreo crumble and a Nutella marshmallow number ($8), which is a steal for the price and tastes like a liquid version of the hazelnut Italian spread.

There might be more burger places around than you can poke a French fry at and the idea of expansion may seem ludicrous in such a saturated market, but when it comes to Hashtag and its top-notch offering, I say, the more the merrier.

delicious.com.au/eatout

HASHTAG BURGERS AND WAFFLES

10 Stewart Pl, Ashgrove

3366 9025

hashtagburgersand waffles.com.au

Open

Sun-Thu 11am-8pm,
Fri-Sat 11am-9pm

Verdict

Food 4.5 stars

Service 4 stars
Ambience 3.5 stars

Value 4.5 stars

Overall 4 stars