Love anything stuffed in a bun? Here are the state’s finest burgers to keep you satisfied.
The Perth burger scene continues to evolve, with new venues presenting excellent alternatives and styles diversifying and changing. The smashed patty trend has firmly taken hold, even appearing in pub burgers; the fried-chicken obsession continues; and more venues are interrogating their sides and drinks to separate themselves from the pack.
Of our long-standing venues, Short Order (3 William St, Fremantle) continues to offer the best all-round dining experience in its licensed restaurant. Hoodburger (Mandurah Forum; 848 Beaufort St, Inglewood; and others) expanded south to Mandurah and opened an excellent wine bar next to its Inglewood location. RoyAl’s (258 William St, Northbridge; and others) continued its transformation into a group of small bars, notably occupying the Northbridge space left by the Hummus Club, while Meet & Bun (7/609 Beaufort St, Mt Lawley; and others) quietly closed its Fremantle restaurant.
Bad Love Burger Co. (4/39 Harrogate St, West Leederville) doubled its physical size, continuing to provide a mix of smashed patty perfection and sophisticated sauces, and excelling in chicken (even if it lacks a vegetarian option). Right with them is last year’s newcomer Local Bird (1/91 Wanneroo Rd, Tuart Hill), where simplicity is king. Its “The LA” (make it a double) is close to cheeseburger perfection, and the hefty chicken burgers are crowdpleasers. When it comes to chicken, however, pop-up Archie’s (instagram.com/archieshotchicken) still rules the roost. But then of course, Drasko’s Hot Chicken (148 Scarborough Beach Rd, Mount Hawthorn) has its own deserved following for its hot chicken sandwiches, made with a from-scratch ethos.
Christo’s (1/20 Christable Way, Landsdale) has completed its transition from lunch bar to serving some of Perth’s best beef and chicken burgers. HomeRun (376a Oxford St, Mount Hawthorn) launched a second store. Big Dog’s Burgers (54 Walter Rd, Bedford) in Morley shows promise, Two Stacks (1 James St, Fremantle) and Smash Grill (FOMO Fremantle) specialise in smash burgers, while Big Rigz Burger Co (1/231 South Terrace, South Fremantle) continues to go large in South Freo.
For fancier fare, Le Rebelle (676 Beaufort St, Mount Lawley) offers a bistro-style burger with its own legion of fans, and the versions at Rockpool Bar & Grill (Crown Perth, Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood) focus on provenance, simplicity and precise execution. Meanwhile, it’s worth checking on La Lune (73 George St, East Fremantle) for a refined cheeseburger with frites and Casa (399 Oxford St, Mount Hawthorn) for their spin topped with remoulade shot through with beef fat.
The best burgers in WA? Surely it’s still Burger Bones (55 Queen St, Busselton) in Busselton, with a dedication to sourcing and a precise approach meaning every part of the burgers are spot on. It still doesn’t get any better than the Habanero Smack Patty. Nearby, Normal Van (Surfers Point, Surfers Point Rd, Main Break, Prevelly; Rotary Park, Bussell Hwy, Margaret River) is making waves of its own on Tuesdays in Prevelly and Saturdays in Margaret River, while it’s always worth keeping an eye on where Big Don’s Smoked Meats (bigdons.com.au) pops up. He may specialise in barbecue, but anything he puts in a bun is something you want to be around.
