Mate, these burgers are the best

Popular western Sydney food truck Mate Burger has opened its first restaurant, serving truck favourites along with an expanded offering.

Burger king Henry Paraan at Mate Burger in Mt Druitt. Pictures: Angelo Velardo

Popular western Sydney burger truck Mate Burger has opened its first restaurant in Mt Druitt.

The burger truck launched in June 2016 at the Aussie Night Markets and grew in popularity for its American-style burgers infused with Filipino flavours.

The brains behind the burgers is the ever-smiling, down to earth Henry Paraan, a former financial planner who quit his job after being inspired by the food trucks he saw on his travels in the US.

“I thought, ‘Why can’t we do that in Australia?’,” he said.

The fried chicken Mare Burger ($14) and Abodo loaded fries ($12).

Paraan took his passion for cooking and created a fusion aimed at introducing Filipino flavours to those unfamiliar with the cuisine as well as creating a new dining experience for fellow Filipinos.

“We want to do something different, we want everyone to experience Filipino food in a different way,” he said.

After a couple of years travelling in the truck, Paraan opened the Mate Burger eatery in Mt Druitt in November, picking the suburb because of its many Filipino residents as well as due to a gap in the market.

“Mt Druitt is an area where there’s not much variety in the food,” he said.

The 40-seat venue offers an expanded menu including truck favourites.

Henry tucks into the Mare Burger at his newly opened Mt Druitt restaurant.

Bestsellers include loaded chicken Adobo Fries, a fried chicken burger with crunchy green apple and chilli jam, and the food truck classic, the Ensaymada beef burger with sriracha maple bacon.

Keeping very busy — but always with his trademark smile — Paraan continues to run both the truck and the store.

The truck will be at the Australia Day festivities in Blacktown and the Lunar New Year Celebrations at Nurragingy Reserve in February.

Mate Burger is open at 1 Mt Druitt Rd, Mt Druitt, Thursday to Saturday from noon until 8pm, Sundays from noon until 6pm.