Roll up your sleeves, grab a stack of serviettes and tuck into these burger joints for International Burger Day.
It’s one of the most important days of the year. International Burger Day is going down this weekend on Saturday, May 28, worshipping the food of the Gods.
Whether you’re into chicken, Wagyu or veggies, there’s not much that beats getting your hands wrapped around a burger, making a mess and finishing the last piece with sticky fingers and a full stomach.
If you’re around Geelong this weekend and are looking for a delicious burger (or five) to celebrate this holy day, then we’ve got you covered!
Here are our top picks:
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King Of The Castle – Geelong West
King of the Castle cafe has long been elevating the brunch experience in Geelong with its refined and elegant interior, delicious made-to-order coffee, a stack of brunch and breakfast options and infectious enthusiasm for many years now.
With a loyal customer base, a stunning refurb-ing from the ground up and a killer vibe on a busy Saturday morning, new owners Nick and Gemma Watts have ensured KOTC remains the most aesthetically delicious cafe around town.
Better still, the food and drink reflect the space—this isn’t about scoring points or looking cool. It’s about good times and good coffee. Here, the menu follows the typical brunch format, but with welcomed British twists. And while their hotcakes and avocado on toast will always have our hearts (trust), it’s their succulent chicken burger that delivers big on size and substance time and time again.
Dubbed the ‘Spicy Fried Chicken Burger’, this juicy, indulgent beast is stacked high with buttermilk marinated chicken, crunchy slaw, cheese, sriracha mayo and pickles served in a brioche bun with handcut wedges on the side. Pro tip: add grilled bacon to your burger for just $5. No regrets.
Wash it all down with one of their addictive shakes and you’ll be having a very happy International Burger Day indeed.
Where: 24 Pakington Street, Geelong
Burger Plus – Geelong
A Geelong mainstay within the burger community, Burger Plus has been at it for a while now and cemented itself as one of the best burger purveyors in Geelong, voted Geelong’s best burger in the past.
Tucked away at the northern end of Mercer St, right under the Belmercer Hotel, Burger Plus have been slinging juicy, stacked creations and satisfying our hunger cravings and undying affection for meat in a bun since 2017. Expect to find the finest ground beef burgers (from your regular beef, to double beef), chicken schnitzel burgers, pulled-pork burgers, and even juicy vegan and veggie burgers that have you licking your fingers for days.
Standouts include the Fyre Chicken Burger, made with chicken schnitzel, cheese, jalapeno, coleslaw and spicy mayo; as well as double beef No 1, which somes stacked with double beef, double cheese, tomato, lettuce, caramelised onion and homemade sauce.
While they absolutely nail the classics, their inventive and testing nature that has led to some of the best burgers our region has ever seen, like the truffle beef burger packed with beef, cheese, lettuce, caramelised onion, fries and truffle mayo; or the chorizo beef burger with beef, cheese, chorizo, lettuce, salsa fresca, chipotle mayo and caramelised onion. Their plant-based burgers are also known to make our tummy rumble, featuring a plant-based meat patty, cheese, lettuce, caramelized onion, tomato, pickle and homemade sauce, pulled off with flawless execution
If you’re not feeling like a burger (infrequent, but possible), they’ve got you covered with a selection of beef and chicken wraps, chilli-cheese fries, bacon cheese fries, chicken schnitty strips, hard and soft shell tacos, sweet potato fries and even macho fries – complete with Japanese style seasonings and spicy mayo. Save room for their sugar-filled selection of shakes for the full burger experience.
Tip: Don’t forget sauce on the side – they’ve got 13 to choose from.
Where: 14A Mercer Street, Geelong.
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Pistol Pete’s Food N Blues – Geelong CBD
Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues is the Southern feast you’ve been looking. It’s the only place in the Geelong region where you can taste, smell, hear and actually feel like you are right in the middle of the Southern States – minus the travel fare.
Drawing from passions of both blues music and the cuisine of the Southern States, owner, Geelong chef and Blues lover Pete Raimondo has aimed to create a true American experience since opening back in 2014, now creating a place you can go late at night for a full dining experience with a side of amazing live music, or for quality food takeaway while experiencing the true flavours of southern Louisiana.
If you are craving a burger from the Southern States this International Burger Day, Pistol Pete’s has you covered with more than 12 burgers, Po Boys and Rolls on the menu.
Spoil yourself with the Mojo Burger (complete with a 125g beef patty, smokey bacon, baloney, pulled pork, double cheese, cajun onions and BBQ & Creolaise sauces, crowned with a whole pickle), the Cajun Burger (Cajun seasoned 125g beef patty, andouille sausage, cajun onions, cheese, creolaise and Louisiana hot sauce), or treat yourself with a Cheese & Bacon BBQ Burger, Tofu Burger or your classic Cheese Burger. There’s also a Southern Chicken BLT, jammed with crispy tender fried breast, smokey bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo.
It’s the triple cheeseburger though that has earned Pistol Pete’s its stripes as a cult figure in Geelong’s burger world. This beast is stacked high with three 125g beef patties, triple cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion and BBQ sauce, which packs just the right amount of punch.
All burgers are made using 100% Angus Beef with La Madre Buttermilk Bun’s holding the goods together. Gluten-Free rolls are available though if you need them.
Where: 93A Little Malop Street, Geelong.
Boss Burger – Various Locations
From humble beginnings on Pakington Street back in 2016, Boss Burger Co. has been spreading like crazy, taking over the state – and even Tasmania – one bun at a time. We can see why too: Boss Burger’s very satisfying, greasy, cheese-filled, dripping with delicious-goodness burgers are a takeaway no-brainer and are sure to be at the top of your list when it comes to the best burgers in town.
Dishing out pure, unadulterated deliciousness, these burger gods is renowned for its sensational menu and, in a nutshell, kicks ass with its offerings of chicken and beef burgers. If beef is your jam, the ‘Boss’ or the ‘Boss Deluxe’ is a taste of heaven if you like it simple but delicious. The adventurous can step it up with the Sonny Red, which is packed with beef, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, cheese, jalapenos, ketchup, sriracha mayo and hot sauce. Oooftt. A decadent delight, there’s also the Bobby Alelrod which is loaded with peppered Wagyu beef, swiss cheese, pickles and truffle aioli.
If chicken is more your style, it’s their Tommy the Chook that kicks the burger experience up to the next level. Complete with crunchy, southern fried chicken, cheese, creamy slaw and sriracha mayo, this burger is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. They’ve also got great vegan burger options for you to tear into as well if you’re more of a plant-based persuasion. You’ll find a ‘Don Veggio’ with a veggie patty, the ‘Vegan’ with a black bean and carrot patty, and even an ‘Imbossible’ with their special beyond meat plant patty.
Obviously, sides are a must too. You can’t go past the boss fries, which come complete with bacon, cheese sauce, boss sauce and chives; the mac n cheese ballerz and of course, their famous shakes, which range from Salted Caramel, Nutella, Snickers, Oreo and Milo to your standard vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and blue heaven.
Food comas are encouraged, so wear elastic pants and arrive with an empty stomach.
Where: Waurn Ponds, Geelong West, Leopold, Lara, Ballarat, and Torquay.
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Kaldero Cafe – Geelong
Having been open for just shy of a month, Kaldero is the latest cafe to land in the Geelong CBD, gifting locals and visitors a new central relaxed brunching destination. Serving up speciality coffee and a hearty all-day brunch menu inspired by Modern Australian and Asian Fusion flavours, this little gem is sure earn a permanent place on our cafe rotations.
Previously operating as Cocco Café, the new owners have worked their magic, transforming the venue with a fresh palette and overflowing greenery bringing a light, inviting feel to the space. Not just a pretty face, the refreshed new all-day eatery has an sublime menu of breakfast and lunch dishes freshly baked to perfection – think smashed avocado, spicy chilli con Carne, crispy chicken bao buns, and some amazing Halo-Halo waffles (complete with berries, coconut jelly, jackfruit coulis, ube ice cream, pearls, stick-o and creme caramel).
Guaranteed to make the return to the office just that little bit easier, here you’ll also find a mouthwatering Wagyu burger which delivers big on size and substance thanks to chef Sugar Ray.
This absolute mammoth creation is a steal at just $20, and comes loaded with a juicy 160g Wagyu beef patty, pico de gallo (AKA salsa fresca), greens, tasty cheese, cucumber, sriracha mayo, maple bacon and chips on the side. Topped with a pickle, there’s a lot of love that goes into this burger and the servings of fries are some of the biggest you’ll lay eyes on.
Arrive with an appetite and get stuck into it. Better still, it can even be made gluten free, winning the hearts and stomachs of burger-lovers city-wide.
Where: 206-208 Ryrie Street, Geelong.
Morgan’s Bar and Grill – Anglesea
From towering cliffs and sprawling white beaches to abundant flora, native wildlife and coastal walking trails, Anglesea is a true celebration of life by the water. Located just ten minutes west of Torquay on the Great Ocean Road, this quaint surf town is the perfect spot for all your natural adventures.
If hunger strikes you while exploring this beautiful town, you’re going to need a venue that can fill you to the brim—Morgan’s Bar and Grill is exactly that place.
Housed in a weatherboard building just minutes from the beach, this energetic pet-friendly venue offers a relaxed and authentic coastal dining experience, elevated by the beautiful bayside views. With inviting alfresco space with umbrellas, bench tables and stools awaits, regular live music, delicious cocktails and an interior reminiscent of a light and airy timber beach shack, Morgan’s likes to do things big, so your appetite will feel right at home.
An institution of Anglesea and specialising in all things meaty, Morgan’s knows a thing or two about the humble burger, establishing themselves as the place to go for premium meat in a bun.
Currently, you’ll find two burgers on the menu. The signature is the ‘Not A Big Mac’ bursting with with double beef, cheese, lettuce tomato, onions and housemade burger sauce.
The second is not for the faint-hearted, standing strong as Morgan’s pimped up, supersized version of our favourite meal. Dubbed The Big Kahuna, this stomach-busting eating challenge burger is stacked with three beef patties, three bacon rashes, cheese, jalapeno coleslaw, caramelised onion, onion rings, lettuce, tomato and aioli, chutney and mustard, served in a cob loaf.
A true test of one’s burger obsession, conquer the beast in the quickest time and win your money back.
Where: 87-89 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea
Box Office Cafe – Geelong West
If you’re after a vibe and an aesthetic that stacks up against the edible beauty that is their dishes, then Box Office Cafe is what you need.
Most definitely the most exciting shipping container in Geelong, this cafe-slash-wine-bar has transformed a simple shipping container and an unconventional space into a colourful and airy destination, with upbeat staff, a love for dogs, walls of wine, a killer playlist and a kitchen that’s dishing out a whole host of café classics and international-themed dishes.
Serving coffee from Axil Coffee Roasters for the caffeine addicts, the best part about this venue is the menu makes it explicitly clear exactly where your ingredients are coming from, which is not only great for local business but better for you, the diner, as you’ll know exactly what you can expect – and you really can expect top-tier dishes here!
Speaking of top-tier, sitting pretty smack bang in the middle of their all-day dining menu is the Fried Chicken Burger: a burger, moist, filled with zest, and one that leaves that oily taste back in the fryer. A simple burger to the naked eye, but arguably one of the best burgers we’ve experienced.
Made with fried chicken, a soft milk bun, cheese, wombok slaw, pickle, chilli jam and thick-cut vinegar chips, this is a burger to satisfy the soul. Looking to elevate this go-to even further? Add bacon for just $3.
Delicious. They often run burger specials over the weekend too so be sure to check out the chalkboard.
Where: 77 Preston St, Geelong West
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