NewsBite

Best of the Gold Coast 2017: Top 10 burgers

OUR best burger category was so popular there was almost a bun fight. Here are the top 10 burger joints as voted by you.

Lester and Earl have given 'cheese burger' a totally new meaning

OUR best burger category was so popular there was almost a bun fight. Here are the top 10 burger joints as voted by you.

A big knife in a big burger at Longboards Laidback Eatery & Bar.
A big knife in a big burger at Longboards Laidback Eatery & Bar.

10 Longboards Laidback Eatery

LOCATION: Q1, Corner of Hamilton Avenue & Northcliffe Tce Surfers Paradise

When you order a burger named the Phat Bastard you know you’re in for an experience that’s fully sick. We dare you to take the challenge and try to keep down 600 grams of grilled wagyu topped with layers of streaky bacon, melted cheddar cheese, slow roasted barbecue pulled pork, crispy fried beer battered onion rings, lettuce, tomato, coleslaw and special sauce inside a super–sized brioche roll served with a pile of fries.

The Good Wolf imports their pickles from the US.
The Good Wolf imports their pickles from the US.

9 The Good Wolf

LOCATION: 3/110 Mountain View Ave, Miami

If choosing where to eat your next burger has left you in a pickle, may we present to you The Good Wolf. While those of you with healthy yearnings can eat your fill from the “good wolf” menu, the fun really starts when you make your selection from the “bad wolf”. Owner Helen Pope says the drool–worthy double cheeseburger is the most popular by far. “It’s got two hand–pressed beef patties, bacon, American cheese, onion, mustard relish, ketchup and pickles,” says Helen. “We make the ketchup in–house and import the pickles from the USA. It’s a stand out and it’s what people come here for. We are proud to be a small family business. When you come here you’re not going to have 10 people touching your burger.”

Soak up those beers with a House of Brews burger. Picture: Luke Marsden.
Soak up those beers with a House of Brews burger. Picture: Luke Marsden.

8 House of Brews

LOCATION: 17 Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise

Drinking your way through the Gold Coast region’s finest local brews is bound to work up an appetite so it’s a good thing the burgers are plentiful here. Try something different like the salt and pepper calamari creation which is accompanied by a Caesar salad between the buns. There’s also the bar’s signature, the Redneck burger, which contains not only beef patties but slow cooked brisket, barbecue mushrooms, vintage cheddar, bacon, smokey barbecue sauce and crispy onion rings.

Easy Street Diner owners Erin and Lucas Schranz. Picture: Glenn Hampson
Easy Street Diner owners Erin and Lucas Schranz. Picture: Glenn Hampson

7 Easy Street Diner

LOCATION: 12/2563 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

The only thing cheesy about Easy Street are the local produce stacked burgers. Husband and wife team Lucas and Erin Schranz believe clean and simple burgers result in maximum flavour.

“They’re just so freaking delicious,” Lucas says. “I still say ours are the best in the world and I believe that because I’ve had a lot of burgers. We have awesome staff who love the customers and love being there and we don’t muck around – you get what you ordered and it's the same every time.” Easy Street burgers contain free-range meat and locally sourced bread.

Try a hangover curing breakfast burger at Burgster.
Try a hangover curing breakfast burger at Burgster.

6 Burgster

LOCATION: 4 Philippine Parade, Palm Beach

When you count the original burger kings, the Americans, among your loyal Instagram followers you must be doing something right. Burgster co-director Jarome Smith says their American beef and fried chicken burgers are top sellers including with their international fans. “We know customers are spending their hard earned money with us so we want to give them the very best,” Jarome says. “So on our American beef burger we’ve got our famous sauce, 120g of special blend Byron Bay beef, lettuce, white onion, tomatoes, house-made pickles and jack cheese. We’d love to give a big shout out to all our crew and the loyal customers who voted for us.”

Vanessa Boyle enjoys a burger at Betty's Burgers. Picture: Regi Varghese
Vanessa Boyle enjoys a burger at Betty's Burgers. Picture: Regi Varghese

5 Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co Robina

LOCATION: Robina Town Centre, 19 Robina Town Centre Dr

If you’re sick of worrying about how your buns looked in the jeans you tried on in Robina Town Centre, we’ve got just the place to help you eat your feelings. As well as all the favourite Betty’s burgers (we recommend the mushroom-filled Shroom burger) the Robina store also serves their famous concrete – custard ice cream combined with decadent ingredients such as peanut butter brittle.

Ze Pickle gets creative with its burgers.
Ze Pickle gets creative with its burgers.

4 Ze Pickle

LOCATION: 1/37 Connor St, Burleigh Heads

The guys at Ze Pickle know their customers have a beef with them when they take old favourites off the menu. Which is why director Aaron Wilson now keeps the core menu the same and introduces seasonal specials once a quarter. “There’s three of us in the kitchen always trying to outdo each other with new menu items but we really couldn’t take anything off there – would be an uproar,” Aaron says. “Our collaboration with Doughnut Time started out as a special but even then people wouldn’t allow us to take it off.” For the ultimate sweet and savoury experience try the pressed Wagyu beef patty, Nutella smoked bacon and double jack cheese between a grilled Doughnut Time original glazed doughnut.

Janey Nielsen and Kc Ng as Brooklyn Depot gave away burgers to celebrate its birthday Picture: Richard Gosling
Janey Nielsen and Kc Ng as Brooklyn Depot gave away burgers to celebrate its birthday Picture: Richard Gosling

3 Brooklyn Depot

LOCATION: The 4217, 10 Beach Road Surfers Paradise

When it comes to American inspired burgers, Brooklyn Depot’s creations are chips off the old block. Co-owner Michael Rose says for the past two years they’ve prided themselves on hand–crafting burgers made of the freshest ingredients. “We love designing American inspired burgers and menu concepts which are unique to Brooklyn Depot,” he says. “Maintaining outstanding service and value is also our passion. Best-selling burgers included FUHGEDDABOUDIT with our famous spicy lethal injection, The Brooklyn Classic Burger and of course our Flip the Bird Burger. They are best complimented with our mac and cheese balls, spicy buffalo wings, award winning handspun milkshakes and skinny fries which you must Brooklynise.”

Fill your belly at Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co.
Fill your belly at Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co.

2 Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co Surfers Paradise

LOCATION: Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre, 12-14/3240 Surfers Paradise Blvd

Locals are flipping about how great the patties are at Betty’s. For those wanting to stick with what’s tried and tested you can’t go past the Betty’s Classic – Angus beef, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese and a generous dollop of Betty’s special sauce. There’s also a luscious pork belly creation that we firmly believe refers not only to the tender meat contained between the buns but your appearance as you exit the restaurant.

Brittany Partridge with a burger with the lot and a cheese burger at Feed the Earthlings. Picture: Richard Gosling
Brittany Partridge with a burger with the lot and a cheese burger at Feed the Earthlings. Picture: Richard Gosling

1 Feed the Earthlings

LOCATION: 6/2723 Gold Coast Highway Broadbeach

The best burger is all about the beef pattie, the softly oozing cheese – or is it?

That’s right folks, our vegan mates at Feed the Earthlings have decisively topped the poll with nary an animal product in sight.

But don’t worry there are no limp lettuce leaves being waved around here.

A video of former NRL player Ben Hannant being trolled by his Sea FM breakfast co-hosts has gone viral with more than 100,000 people watching as the dedicated carnivore was clueless he wasn’t actually eating meat.

The Coast’s best burger is vegan! Cristina Martel and Brittany Partridge show off their meat-free marvels. Picture: Richard Gosling
The Coast’s best burger is vegan! Cristina Martel and Brittany Partridge show off their meat-free marvels. Picture: Richard Gosling

Owner Teaki Page says when non-vegans accidentally wander in and attempt to back-pedal she has no trouble winning them over.

“We get customers who get lost in traffic sometimes and come in not realising we’re vegan,” Teaki says.

“We say, ‘Just give it a go and if you don’t like it we’ll give you your money back’ but we’ve never had to give anyone their money back.

“Our burgers are just like the burgers you used to have when you were a kid from the local takeaway shop before fast food became a thing. Loaded with beetroot and pineapple and they take two hands to eat.”

Teaki says while she is a vegan for ethical reasons she doesn’t believe in preaching to her customers.

And with meat, cheese and bacon which looks so much like the real deal we’re certain she’s not ramming anything down anyone’s throat.

“The thing is they’re great burgers which just happen to be vegan,” Teaki says.

The chilli burger challenge showdown

NEXT WEEK: DOGGY DATES

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/best-of-gold-coast/best-of-the-gold-coast-2017-top-10-burgers/news-story/6a5d36f7adb3a6548734a57a165297d5