Wahlburgers opens first Aussie restaurant in Circular Quay

The popular US fast food chain is opening its first franchise here – here’s what you need to know about the celebrity-run restaurant.

Burger lovers rejoice with cult US chain Wahlburgers finally opening its doors Down Under.

The burger restaurant, founded by actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg with the expertise of their chef brother Paul, has opened the first of several planned Wahlburgers in Circular Quay, Sydney.

Wahlburgers Australia CEO Sam Mustaca told Good Food they plan to open more Wahlburgers restaurants in Warriewood, Surfers Paradise and Byron Bay.

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Wahlburgers will open in Sydney on Thursday. Picture: Supplied

While the menu includes typical US burger fare, they’ve also included a Aussie Schnitty Burger along with some other local delicacies.

“Paul [Wahlberg] came up with the Vegemite aioli. And I remember the look on his face (via Zoom) when he tried his first Aussie burger with beetroot,” Mr Mustaca told the publication.

While Wahlburgers celebrates its official opening this Thursday, some burger fanatics have been able to get in early to sample the menu.

Food blogger @issac_eatsalot shared his review of Wahlburgers on Instagram saying the menu was “much broader than your average burger place – think of it more as a diner with a stacked burger menu”.

Wahlburgers Australia CEO Sam Mustaca. Picture: Christopher Khoury

US actor Mark Wahlberg in a promo shot for his burger chain, Wahlburgers

“Buns could be a little smaller imo – each to their own but I’m all about the scale aesthetic,” he wrote.

“Fries and fried pickles were solid sides to share. HEAPS of taps of local craft beers and they’ve got locally sourced coffee beans on machine as well … I’ll be back ASAP to try more!”

Issac’s post sparked plenty of food envy in burger lovers, many of whom commented that they “need to get here ASAP” as the meals “look epic”.

Wahlburgers opened its first restaurant in the famous family’s hometown of Boston back in 2011.

Food blogger Issac has been among the first to try the burgers. Picture: Instagram/@issac_eatsalot.

He said he would be coming back to try more off the menu. Picture: Instagram/@issac_eatsalot.

Interest was so high in the celebrity-run restaurant that they even got their own reality series Wahlburgers, which ran for 10 seasons from 2014 to 2019.

They opened their first franchise location in Toronto, Canada, in 2014 and now have more than 50 locations worldwide, as well as a range of clothing (Wahlgear) and sauce (Wahl Sauce) sold in supermarkets.

While their burgers have proved a cult favourite, Wahlburgers was forced to close its only UK restaurant in 2020 after just one year due to the pandemic.