Jun 8, 2018 Cheap Eats
We’ve rounded up the best burger spots around town, from Metro’s Top 50 Cheap Eats 2018 list.
Burger Burger
As a slew of new burger joints pop up around town, Burger Burger’s original offering still comes out on top. A recently extended menu includes six “jazzy burgers”, tacos, and new sides. The McFly with crispy chicken and cheese is well worth the guilt over the calories, and we also love the fish burger and… everything else, actually. Also at 3B York St, Newmarket, and 40 Hurtsmere Rd, Takapuna. Line-caught fish.
Ponsonby Central, 4 Brown St, Ponsonby
Big J’s
The rising tide of regulars at weekend lunchtimes is testament to the allure of Big J’s, a humble takeaway joint with a few tables thrown in, on an ordinary suburban street corner. It’s the burgers that are the drawcard — generous, juicy, flavoursome beasts you’d easily pay double for in Ponsonby. Warm counter service and spare change to boot.
4/1 Melton Rd, Mt Wellington
Tiger Burger
Esther Jeong and Matt Shephard are sticklers for detail, going so far as to ferment their own kimchi and gochujang (Korean chilli paste) — the latter takes three months to make — for their Korean-inspired burgers. The couple’s short menu of oozy, drippy, free-farmed burgers makes for great hang-over reading; the $20 double kimcheese burger with double patty and double cheese is hard to resist. Line-caught fish.
549 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
Flaming Onion
There’s something old-school about this gourmet-burger specialist, and we like it. Maybe it’s the ’90s Street Fighter video game begging to be played once you’ve chosen between the 20-plus burgers on offer (we struggle to get past the premium NZ wagyu beef options). Eat at the window-side bench for a harbour view, washed down with a bottle of Jarritos Mexican soda pop.
1 Lydia Ave, Northcote
The Bearded Clam
Clam boys Ryan Kneebone and Adam Crickett are aiming for burger nirvana at their city-trawling pop-up and we think they’re pretty close. Think American diner style: Double smash patty cheeseburgers, Doritos crusted fried chicken and the chilli-cheese fries.
Keep an eye on @beardedclamnz to find out where they’ll pop up next.
For more cheap eats, see Metro’s Top 50 Cheap Eats 2018 list.
