Melbourne’s best burgers to be found in the city’s west

WE like big buns and we cannot lie. From Williamstown to Altona, Werribee to Waurn Ponds — here’s our guide to the best burgers in the west.

ONCE upon a time, fast food chains and fish and chips shops dominated the burger market. Hungry people of the Jack persuasion could get whopping big burgers from their favourite local or, for those not lucky enough to have been blessed with the Jack moniker, the golden arches were never more than a few kilometres down the road.

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Fast forward to now and those meat-filled buns of deliciousness are no longer reserved for American chain restaurants or beachside takeaway shacks.

Melbourne’s burger revolution (burgerlution, if you will) has seen restaurants honouring the gluttonous American staple sprouting all over the city.

SCROLL DOWN FOR OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST BURGERS IN THE WEST

Truck Stop Deluxe in Werribee. Picture: Eugene Hyland

After the first ever Grill’d store opened in Hawthorn in 2004 — paying homage to a bigger, (so-called) better-for-you version of the humble two-handed sandwich — a swath of newschool burger restaurants began to infiltrate Melbourne's casual dining scene.

The Mexican wave, it seems, was over and it wasn’t long before people were swapping burritos for brioche buns, charred corn for chilli fries and margaritas for milkshakes.

Beef and chicken burger from 8bit. Photograph: Chris Hopkins

From burger trucks and trailer parks to diner-themed restaurants, the city has fallen bread over heels for the quintessential, double beef and fried chicken-filled American fast food.

So, to help you on your quest for the perfect buns, here’s our guide to the finest burger artists in the west. Because, to quote Sir Mix-a-Lot, my appetite really don’t want none unless you got buns, honey.

Go on, treat yoself.

MELBOURNE’S BEST BURGER JOINTS: WEST EDITION

ALTONA

BETWEEN 2 BUNS

Now this is what we call stacked. B2B’s finely tuned menu offers fewer burgers, but does them well. Go for The Spicy — beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapeño, hot sauce and B2B sauce — with a side of cheese and bacon fries and wash it down with a double chocolate shake for the ultimate decadence.

Pier St, Altona
O’Shanassay St, Sunbury
Nelson Place, Williamstown
Old Geelong Rd, Hoppers Crossing

BRAYBROOK

BURGERNOMICS

Classic burgers with a modern twist. We love the Bulgogi burger — a delicious combination of beef patty, cheddar, tomato, lettuce, pickles and sweet bulgogi mayo in a masrshmallowy soft brioche bun. The cheesy bolognese nachos are also worth unbuttoning the jeans for.

286 Ballarat Road, Braybrook

CAROLINE SPRINGS

NOTORIOUS BURGERS

Notorious, they got to know that your burgers are always what they seem to be. Words can’t express what you mean to me. Especially you, Al Bacone — which comes loaded with your favourite beef and bacon burger staples. If you’re feeling adventurous, go for The O.G. — a stomach-stretching smash up of beef, fried chicken, cheddar, bacon, lettuce, pickles and Notorious sauce. Bacon lovers — add a side of Piggy Smalls loaded fries for some extra bacony goodness.

5b 13-15 Lake St, Caroline Springs

FOOTSCRAY

BURGER BUSINESS

Feast yourselves silly at this Footscray burger bar. Our hot tip is the Spicy Fiesta (chicken schnitty with herbed mayo, jalapeños, lettuce, Spanish onion and chilli sauce) with a side of sweet potato fries with chilli salt. The cajun nuggets are also a worthy treat. Yeoowwww.

230 Nicholson St, Footscray

OVERLOADED

Fresh, honest burgers that are all about quality over gimmick. The wagyu patty in the Prime burger is mouthwateringly good and comes topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion, jalapeños and smoked tasty cheese. For something classic with a twist, you’ll love the just-a-little-bit-fancy Cheese burger that boasts three different types of cheese on a juicy beef patty with pickles, onion, tomato sauce and mustard.

253A Barkly St, Footscray

8 BIT.

This place is pretty much what happiness looks like. Get around the Golden Axe (crispy fried chicken, cheese, sriracha mayo, slaw) or, if you’re more of a dog fan, the Wonder Boy (smoked frank, bacon, grilled onion, cheese sauce, BBQ sauce and spring onions) is a taste sensation. Whatever you choose, a side of potato gems is a must.

8 Droop Street, Footscray

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149 GRILL

While the burgers here are pretty epic, their buffalo wings have garnered an almost cult following. Start with those, followed by the Tex-Mex Tango burger because it really doesn’t get much better than grilled chicken breast, chilli jam, lettuce, sauteed onion and peppers, Monterey Jack, guac and jalapeño relish. If you’ve got room for dessert, the fried, beer-battered brownies are out of this world. Be prepared to roll home.

149 Geelong Rd, Footscray

KENSINGTON

MR GRIFFITHS

Nothing beats a classic, except maybe Mr Griffiths’ Mac ‘n’ G’s burger. That’s right — a beef patty, mac ‘n’ cheese croquettes, more cheese, lettuce, pickles, ketchup and G sauce sandwiched between perfectly toasted buns.

524 Macaulay Rd, Kensington

MARIBYRNONG

ST BURGS

St Burgs is a relatively new addition to Melbourne’s burger scene but, thanks to Instagram, it is already famous for two things: it’s Krispy D Doughnut Burger filled with melt-in-the-mouth smash patty beef. If you haven’t tried it — the smash patty is gloriously glossy, crispy-edged and succulent in the centre. Word on the street is the Krispy D could be Melbourne’s best burger.

Shop 4, 41-45 Edgewater Boulevard, Maribyrnong

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GORILLA GRILL

It’s all about the Chicken & Waffle burger at Gorilla Grill. What’s not to love about fried chicken, cheese, bacon, spicy mayo and golden syrup sandwiched between two house-made waffle buns? Because waffles make everything better.

36 Edgewater Blvd, Maribyrnong

POINT COOK

LAMBURGERGHINI BURGER BAR

Give a damn about your lamb patty. This is where to go if you want the best lamburgers in town.

1 Main St, Point Cook

SMOKEY DEN

A charcoal chicken shop that does insanely delicious healthified burgers? Yes, please. The Fowl Play chilli chicken burger is fresh, succulent and packs a flavour punch. Add a sidechick of fries with chilli sea salt and gravy.

​Shop 219 / 4 Main Street, Stockland Point Cook

SOUTH KINGSVILLE

BURN CITY TEST KITCHEN

You definitely want to risk it for this brisket. Burn City’s 14-hour smoked beef brisket burger with pickles, BBQ sauce and French mustard is seriously sublime. We repeat; the juiciest 14-hour smoked beef brisket. In a burger. With pickles. *Insert love heart eyes emoji here*. Add a side of mac ‘n' cheese bake and some jalapeño poppers for extra heat.

31A Vernon St, South Kingsville

SUNSHINE

FOUND 401

You’ll be clucky for the Chicken Little at Found 101. Crispy fried thigh fillet coated in a tantalising mix of secret spices, American cheese, slaw and a punchy house-made sweet chilli mayo. Expect to make a mess while eating (see: shovelling into your mouth hole).

Corner Hampshire and Foundry roads, Sunshine

WERRIBEE

TRUCK STOP DELUXE

Forget grubby roadside service stations. Truck Stop Deluxe — from the burger masters behind Grand Trailer Park Taverna, Dandenong Pavilion, Jimmy’s Burgers and Easey’s — is a trucker-themed burger bar with all the trimmings. The Route 666 exemplifies what this joint is all about. Two premium Aussie beef patties, American cheese, caramelised onions, jalapeños, pickles, mustard, tomato sauce and Changz Hot Sauce on a lightly toasted brioche bun. Pimp your potato and opt for the Trucker Fries, which come pimped with caramelised onions, pickles and special sauce. And wash it all down with a spiked Crunchie milkshake (served in a Champagne flute). Yep, that’s a Wild Turkey, butterscotch schnapps, caramel and chocolate syrup shake. Drool.

98 Watton St, Werribee

WILLIAMSTOWN

BURGER CULTURE

As the old saying goes, red and yellow catch a fellow. That couldn't be more true for the Willy Culture burger at this Williamstown stalwart. American-inspired fillings the likes of cheddar and mustard make way for tasty cheese and tomato relish. This is the quintessential ‘Straya burger; the two-handed sandwich we grew up eating, starring Aussie burger staples lean beef, trim bacon, fried egg, pineapple, beetroot and some salad for good luck. The mini chicken Kiev balls — hello, garlic breath — are a tasty sidekick.

3 Cole Street, Williamstown

BURGERS WORTH DRIVING FOR

GEELONG

BURGER JOHNNY

If you like working on your rig, the Big Rigg burger at Burger Johnny will do wonders for it. Double beef, cheese, double bacon, lettuce, aioli and house-made relish. We love the cheeky menu (and the fine burgers) at this Geelong local. The Brass Coq — with grilled, free-range chicken, Jacks cheese, lettuce, grilled pineapple, onion, aioli and satay sauce — is about as epic as it gets.

141 Ryrie St. Geelong

BURGER PLUS

Get a little pork on your fork. Or, in this case, in your brioche bun. The pulled pork and slaw burger is simple but beautifully executed. Ditto the hella popular Big Eat burger, with double beef, double bacon and double cheese layered with lettuce, tomato, egg, caramelised onion and homemade sauce.

14A Mercer St, Geelong

BOSS BURGER CO

Who needs brioche when you can have double chicken and no bun? This Boss Burger special is actually the greatest.

206 Pakington Street, Geelong West
Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre
Leopold Gateway Plaza

BURGER INC

Fact: burgers = happiness. Because how can you be sad when you’re wolfing down a chargrilled beef burger with brie cheese, salad, relish and aioli? Or how about a chargrilled chicken burger with spicy salsa, sour cream, avocado and salad? Exactly. It’s impossible.

328 Pakington Street, Newtown

SETHROS BBQ

You don’t know burger heaven until you’ve tried the Texas Brisket Sandwich at Sethros BBQ. Hot, pecan wood-smoked, ridiculously tender Angus beef brisket piled high with cheese and pickles in a soft roll. Warning — may cause addition.

2/156 Surf Coast Hwy, Grovedale

OCEAN GROVE

PIPING HOT CHICKEN SHOP

This Ocean Grove institution is known the world over for its southern-inspired soul food and live music. Enjoy a Stripper Burger (two breast strips, cheese, lettuce, tomato & mayo on a brioche bun), a Smoke Rings burger (pattie, cheese, bacon, onion rings and smoky BBQ sauce on a brioche bun) or go all out with a PB (pattie, double cheese, pulled pork, bacon, onion rings, house special sauce and BBQ sauce). Special shout out to Piping Hot Chicken Shop’s bacon marmalade, which we recommend adding to everything you eat for the rest of your life.

6/63A The Terrace, Ocean Grove

TORQUAY

BOTTLE OF MILK TORQUAY

Burgers and beach. Isn’t that the Great Australian Dream? The addition of coriander to their Fire Engine burger was a controversial move, sparking anti coriander rallies along Torquay’s normally laid-back strip. Jokes. But seriously, though. If you’re in the pro coriander camp, get your gob around this genius creation: Prime beef, tasty cheese, grilled pineapple, coriander, lettuce, tomato, onion, chilli paste and mayo. oh, and don’t be soft; add the jalapeños. The tofu burger also rates highly. With marinated grilled tofu, lettuce, tomato, onion, carrot, mayo, homemade chilli paste, satay and avocado, it’s a veggie lover’s green dream.

24 Bell St, Torquay
53 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne