The best burgers in Brisbane

On Mondays, Bar Miette swaps its usual Euro-leaning fare for Brisbane’s best burger night – the kind worth rearranging your week for. From 4pm, the kitchen flips into burger mode, turning out a perfectly crumbly-juicy Angus patty layered with cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato and crisp Westmont pickles, all stacked on a Martin’s potato bun and glossed with the house Miette sauce. Each burger lands beside a golden pile of fries with a moreish house aioli. You’ll come for the burger, stay for the martini and sweeping views of the Story Bridge. Suddenly, Monday doesn't feel so bad. 

Address: 443 Queen Street, Brisbane CBD

Price: Burgers from $26

What to order: Bar Miette Burger 

Some places just get it, and Dumbo is one of them. Created by the team behind the acclaimed Red Hook (who also happens to have an incredible lineup of burgers), Dumbo sits at Portside Wharf in Hamilton and brings a tuned-up take on authentic New York street food. Their namesake burger is piled high with Oklahoma smash patties, grilled onions, American cheese, pickles and an addictive signature sauce. Consider it your bite of the Big Apple, right here in Brissie.

Address: 37C Harbour Rd, Hamilton 

Price: Burgers from $16

What to order: Dumbo Burger

Tucked down a little lane in Fortitude Valley, this American-style burger joint proves that less truly is more. Take their signature cheeseburger. It’s not one to overthink: beef patty, cheese, pickles, mustard and ketchup. That’s it. No frills, just flawless execution. Vegos can swap their beef patty for a veggie option at no extra charge, and wash it down with a house-made cherry cola or ginger ale. 

Address: 5 Winn St, Fortitude Valley 

Price: Burgers from $14

What to order: Classic Burger

From the team behind Morning After comes Yolk – a minimalist café in Newstead that might read breakfast on paper, but in reality, does everything exceptionally well. Case in point: the burgers. There’s the buttermilk-fried chicken burger layered with coral lettuce, American cheese, house ranch and pickles; and the smashed wagyu cheeseburger stacked with diced onion, pickles, tomato sauce and dijon-egg mayo on a pillowy bun. Everything from the sauces to the hash browns is made in-house, cooked to order and proof that when this crew puts something on a plate, it’s always worth a visit. 

Address: 76 Skyring Terrace, Newstead

Price: Burgers from $16

What to order: Chicken Burger 

The Broken Hearts team went from pop-up to permanent fixture, and for good reason. The Classic Smash here is a tribute to the art of smashing meat, featuring a patty blend that reads like a who’s-who of beef cuts (chuck, porterhouse, sirloin, oyster blade and bacon), topped with American cheese, bread-and-butter pickles, and a house-made pink sauce that flirts with addiction. You’ll almost always spot a line out the door, but the payoff is one of Brisbane’s fastest and most delectable burgers. 

Address: Multiple locations

Price: Burgers from $12 

What to order: Classic Smash

The Remy’s Special is designed to hit you with fast-food nostalgia but with a serious upgrade: a smashed patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and a special sauce that’s actually, you know, special. Simple? Sure. But in the best way. If you’re looking to spice things up a bit, the Jerk Chicken or Big Philly burgers are worth a go –but we’re betting you’ll come right back to the classic. 

Address: 106 Latrobe Ter, Paddington

Price: Burgers from $12

What to order: Remy’s Special

If you’re after the best veggie burger in Brisbane, look no further than Dicki’s New Farm – a plant-based café that even the most die-hard of carnivores will fall for. The standout is their Kimchi Burger: a house-made 'meat' patty layered with tangy, house-fermented kimchi, melted vegan cheese, crisp cos lettuce and a swipe of creamy mayo, all on a toasted bun and served with a side of tarot chips. It’s punchy, flavourful and perfectly balanced – spicy, sour and savoury in every bite. 

Address: 893 Brunswick St, New Farm

Price: Burgers from $24 

What to order: Classic Burger 

Let’s get this out of the way: SK Steak and Oyster isn’t your run-of-the-mill burger joint. This is where you go when you’re ready to flex a little and spend a few extra bucks. The Wagyu burger here is all about understated perfection – premium juicy Wagyu, melted cheese, pickles, a swipe of American mustard, ketchup and a side of fries. For those with commitment issues, extra toppings like lettuce, tomato or a fried egg are on hand. This burger isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel; it’s simply here to remind you that the wheel was perfect to begin with. If you’re out to impress a date or just splurging solo, SK is the place to do it.

Address: G.12/48 James St, Fortitude Valley 

Price: Burgers from $34

What to order: Wagyu Burger

A burger and a waffle had a love child at Hashtag, and it’s as glorious as it sounds. Their famous Spicy Chook burger is about as subtle as a sledgehammer – a messy-but-worth-it masterpiece featuring a crispy chicken patty coated in Nashville spices, mac ’n’ cheese, pickles and chilli mayo between two waffle buns. Sweet? Check. Savoury? Check. Unlikely to be eaten neatly? Absolutely. Whatever you do, do not sleep on the waffle sticks.

Address: Multiple locations

Price: Burgers from $10

What to order: Spicy Chook

Whether you’re going for the basic, spicy, standard, bacon, southern fried chicken or towering grand burger, these guys keep it real, delivering uncomplicated, satisfying burgers with zero pretence. Pair it with a Kit-Kat or peanut butter shake, kick back in a booth, and let the sweet sounds of Sam Cooke on the speakers transport you. There’s a purity to Soul Brothers – sometimes, all you need is a great burger and a good song. Lucky for you, they’ve got both. 

Address: 1/1220 Sandgate Rd, Nundah

Price: Burgers from $12

What to order: Grand Burger

Known for their expertly smoked meats and birria tacos, this Coorparoo barbecue joint occasionally graces us with a smash burger that’s both stripped-down and ridiculously good. Their minimalist version features a brisket-blend patty, pickles, melted cheese and house sauce. It’s everything you want, nothing you don’t, and photogenic enough to go straight to your feed, if that’s your thing.

Address: 33 Birubi St, Coorparoo

Price: Burgers from $15

What to order: Double Smash Cheeseburger