Mad Burger is a rising local franchise with five outlets around town and counting. In Redcliffe, West End, Capalaba, Southport and Fortitude Valley you can get an "American-style" burger on a soft bun in a dozen different varieties. Mostly it’s about prime Australian beef, but there’s also a few chicken burgers as well as vegan versions of chicken and beef. Think an elevated Hungry Jack’s, with plenty of fresh ingredients to balance the grease quotient, and you’ll get the picture.
Mad Burger in the Valley is part of the food court near the entrance to the train station and it stays open till midnight every night except Fridays and Saturday when the team don’t bring down the shutters till 5am. This is excellent news to anyone partying late and needing a lifesaving feed in the wee hours.
Our menu pick? An alpha male's delight named the Bull. There’s no doubt that this is a hefty, hearty burger. Happily, though, it’s been designed in such a way that jaw dislocation is not required to enjoy it to the full. A beef patty is topped with a fried egg, and this protein-packed duo lords it over the accoutrement below: zingy pineapple, beetroot, and the classic burger triumvirate (lettuce, tomato, onion), with dollops of aioli and tomato relish. As anyone who’s ever enjoyed the co-mingling of chocolate with salty peanut butter knows, sweet plus savoury is a tantalising combo, and this one gets it just right.
Apart from burgers you can get a box of chicken nuggets here – a large one, or an extra large one – but don't be put off, because these nuggets are large, addictive pieces of breast meat in a well seasoned batter and you're not going to be able to stop at one or two.