10 Best Burgers in Melbourne

There’s nothing like the first bite of a great burger.

Gripping the toasty, golden bun in two hands as you desperately attempt to keep each delicious layer intact (but inevitably spilling the juicy remains of your sliced tomato and beetroot on your plate…or lap).

Guiding the over-stacked tower to your mouth as you salivate at the wafting smell of grilled meat and melted cheese.

The joy of wiping leftover sauce from the edges of your mouth (and having no shame in licking said sauce from the back of your hand).

It’s indulgent. It’s celebratory. It’s your Everest. Exciting, challenging and ultimately so, so satisfying.

Now excuse me while I prepare to hike and conquer the 10 best burgers in Melbourne.

1. Grand Trailer Park Taverna

Where: 87 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD

Step inside this trailer park themed burger joint-cum-bar and immediately be transported to rural Amurrrica, where caravans are acceptable dining spaces and mirror balls, chandeliers and fairy lights cluster together in all their tacky glory.

Alas, the mood is simultaneously fun and cool, and the burgers are some of the best in the city. Savour The Francis Underwood— featuring a Premium Aussie beef pattie, American cheddar cheese, tomato, butter lettuce, potato mac ‘n’ cheese croquette, special burger sauce and American mustard on a lightly toasted brioche bun.

Trailer parks have never looked so chic.

2. Andrew’s Hamburgers

Where: 144 Bridport Street, Albert Park After 75 years of flipping patties, it’s pretty clear these guys have the art of burger making down pat. When ordering Andrew’s Burger With The Lot, expect just that: an old-school burger with slightly toasted buns, grilled beef, bacon, double cheese, lettuce, onion, egg and tomato sauce. Pretension, excluded.

3. Dandenong Pavilion

Where: 55-61 Princes Highway, Dandenong

When a restaurant has a secret burger menu, you just know it’s gotta be good.

Ask specifically for this baby or you’ll only be presented with a chipper waitress awaiting your order from the regular menu. Dig into the Tsar burger, with a Premium Aussie beef patty, melted double cheddar cheese, bacon, beetroot, black Russian tomatoes and a pickle, shallot and horseradish sauce in a brioche bun.

The thrill of the mysterious menu just adds to the fun.

4. Fat Bob’s Bar & Grill

Where: 80A Cochranes Road, Moorabbin Turns out, Bob isn’t all that fat. But he does craft a delicious gourmet burger, so I’m content with that. Wrap your hands around the Jackie O featuring a grass-fed beef pattie, tomato, Spanish onion, fontina cheese, cos lettuce, mustard, tomato and Fat Bob’s sauce. Note: your eyes may need to adjust to the abundance of vintage neon signs adorning the walls.

5. JD’s Burger & Café

Where: 85 Willsmere Road, Kew

As home to the biggest burger in the city, JD’s certainly packs a punch.

Recently the Kew-based burger joint challenged diners to consume the $50, 1.5kg Legendary Super Saiyan in less than 15 minutes to get it for free—but as I write, no one has yet to succeed.

If you’re lacking an iron stomach, enjoy the demure JD’s Mighty Beef Burger with a premium brioche bun and JD’s Special Sauce, instead.

6. Spitfire Restaurant and Grill

Where: 1181 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud  If clocking up the kilometres for a decent burger doesn’t bother you, venture down to the Mornington Peninsula for Spitfire’s mighty B17 Flying Fortess burger*. Decked out with a marinated grilled chicken breast, cheese, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, caramelised onion and tomato relish on a toasted Turkish bun, this sizable feast is worth every minute in the car. *Two-hands required.

7. 8bit.

Where: 8 Droop Street, Footscray

This little Footscray burger joint, which acts as a nostalgic nod to the retro arcade games of our youth, also happens to offer some of the best burgers in town.

Tuck into the Double Dragon burger with double beef, double cheese, double bacon, pickles, mustard, lettuce and 8bit sauce.

Wash it all down with a salted caramel milkshake and a round of Pac-man.

8. Sister Of Soul

Where: 73 Acland Street, St Kilda “A burger that’s healthy and delicious?” I hear you ask? That’s right. Enter, the Soulburger at Acland Street’s Sister Of Soul. A tall stack of goodness filled with lettuce, tomato, thinly sliced pumpkin, fresh Spanish onion, cheddar, a free range egg, beetroot, balsamic, relish and a crumbed tempeh burger. Perfect for vegetarians and those with working taste buds. Oh, and it comes with chips—so chill out, man.  

9. Parlour Diner

Where: 64 Chapel Street, Windsor

Boasting a laidback American-diner interior, eating at the Parlour is like stepping on to the set of Happy Days— with a Melbourne twist.

Order the drool-inducing Chicken Burger complete with crispy fried chicken, slaw, pickles, tomato, cheese and chipotle, and relish the top service and signature Melbourne smell of coffee beans brewing. 

10. Hammer & Tong

Where: Rear 412 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Representing the seafood division of this well-rounded list has to be the Soft Shell Crab Burger at Hammer & Tong, right? The tastiest of all bar snacks, this crispy-battered crab burger encased in a buttery-soft brioche bun, complete with sriracha mayonnaise and ‘slaw will keep even the most disciplined eaters coming back for more. And who could blame them? This little beauty rivals the best of the best.

Featured image by eat8bit.com.au