The best wagyu burgers in Cape Town

We’re big fans of IRON Steak and Bar, and their range of flame-grilled fare is among the best steaks in Cape Town, but look a little closer at their chalkboard menu (where you’ll be tempted by the tomahawk) and you’ll find the IRON wagyu burger calling your name. It’s a double 100g patty of 100g wagyu, so there’s plenty of meaty richness, but the magic here is in what’s around it. Truffle mayo and piquant cheese,  just melted, add extra layers of flavour. A soft yet sturdy potato bun has the structure to hold it all together. The burger comes with a side of their cult wagyu-dripping fries (you’ll smell them before you see them) and pairs neatly with a cold draught or classic cocktail from the buzzy Bree Street bar.

114 Bree Street, Cape Town

Part butchery, part deli, part casual eatery, LA Farms sources certified Wagyu from its family-owned West Coast farm straight to the streets of Green Point. Your starting point for Wagyu deliciousness is the Wagyu Classic: a 180g patty with garlic aioli, rocket-BBQ sauce, melted Cheddar, red onion and house pickles on a seeded bun. Or level up with the Wagyu brisket burger, stacked with sliced, smoked brisket and a lick of Mississippi sauce. Whichever you choose, it’ll come with fries cooked in beef tallow, and a side salad... come hungry!  If you fall properly in love, you can even buy patties to take home. 

105 Main Rd, Green Point

This tiny burger joint on buzzy Kloof Street nails it when it comes to flavour-packed patties. That’s thanks to the 100 %-certified Wagyu beef that comes from the owners’ family farms in the Eastern Cape. It’s all grass-fed and free-range, and keeping it in the family allows Zuney Burger to control the quality of every patty. And you can taste it.

The menu keeps things simple, starting with the classic Zuney Burger: a 150g patty on brioche bun, with house pickles, sauce and onions caramelised in Wagyu fat. While it’s not the tower-of-burger style that’s become popular, it’s a burger that packs in the flavour and punches above its weight. If you want to upsize, you can add cheese or slices of ‘Wacon’; Wagyu-brisket cured and cold-smoked for six hours. Fries – cooked in Wagyu fat, of course – are superb. If you’ve got a hunger after a night on town, remember Zuney stays open until 1am Thursday to Saturday.

69A Kloof St, Gardens

Two wagyu smash patties topped with cheddar and grilled onions. A soft, buttery brioche bun. Simple, yet utterly delicious. This burger slaps harder than Danie 'The Pitbull' van Heerden and had me questioning why I hadn't visited Hudson's in Muizenberg sooner. It is exactly what you want from a Wagyu smash burger: crispy edges complementing the juicy, umami flavours of the beef, with the melted cheese and onions cutting through the richness of the creation. I had to grab this bad boy as a takeaway as I was in a bit of a rush. Usually, food doesn't travel very well, but this burger held up perfectly and had me considering whether I should hop back in the car to grab seconds. Then I considered the petrol price. Anyway... While I imagine all the Hudson’s serve up wagyu burgers of the same standard, if you're ever in the deep south, Hudson’s Muizenberg is well worth a visit.

Beach Rd, Muizenberg

The name gives the game away here: as Burger & Lobster promises, this is a solidly upscale take on your average burger bar. If you’re not up for the lobster roll – deshelled meat pan-fried in lobster butter, served with a Japanese mayo on a brioche roll – then there’s no shortage of meaty options. The classic B&L burger is superb, but the Wagyu burger shoots the lights out. With patties from LA Farms sandwiched between a buttery brioche bun, you’re starting out proper. But then comes the subtle hit of dill and jalapeño mayo, topped with pickles and onions. If you can wrap your jaws around this tower, you’re a braver diner than I am.  Burger & Lobster has also built a loyal following for its cocktail menu, and you won’t regret pairing his with the bacon and maple Old Fashioned.

105 Bree St, Cape Town

This is the spot where your self-respecting burger obsession meets the buzz of the Waterfront. And while many people come to Gibson's for the legendary selection of milkshakes and freakshakes, it’s the Wagyu burger that’s earned it a spot on this Time Out list. It’s easy to miss on the extensive menu of meaty feasts, but seek it out. Here, the 200g prime Karoo Wagyu patty is char-grilled with a secret basting, then tucked into a home-baked bun with lettuce, tomato, your choice of caramelised or fresh red onion, Collette’s famous deli pickled cucumber and a secret creamy sauce. Fries are hand-cut (or go baked potato), and every patty is made in-house—no binders, fillers or preservatives—hand-pressed by their own butcher. Respect.

 V&A Waterfront

From humble beginnings in the Makers Landing incubator hub at the V&A Waterfront, Conscious Carnivores has evolved into a destination in its own right, with the late-2024 opening of a standalone eatery and ‘meat purveyor’ on the fringes of the Waterfront. Here, this Halaal-certified eatery has become famous for its cuts of meat with a conscience. But it’s the burger we’re most interested in, and the star of the show – The OG Burger – does not disappoint.

This hefty creation features a 200g Wagyu beef patty grilled over coals, stacked with melted cheddar, maple-glazed ‘macon’ (it’s Halaal, remember), horseradish aioli, and paprika tomato sauce on a brioche bun. Open your jaws wide to pack all of that in!

8 Dock Road, V&A Waterfront

There are so many good reasons to pay a visit to TTK Fledgelings, from the social-minded ethos to the elegant surrounds to the darn-fine food. But let’s throw the burger onto that list too. Because while there’s plenty of skill in the kitchen evident in the inspired upscale bistro food, arguably one of the best things to eat here is the humble TTK Fledgelings Burger. There’s a patty of ground Wagyu and superb milk buns, but Head Chef Nathan Clarke says it’s the house-made pickles and mustard/truffle mayo that are the secret ingredients. Throw in triple-fried chips and you have a banger of a burger.

Old Biscuit Mill, Victoria Road, Woodstock

Looking for Wagyu out north? Copper Club is your best bet, with a trio of outlets in Durbanville, Plattekloof and Belville, as well as a coastal outpost in West Beach. And while the menu at each is extensive, the Wagyu is the headliner amid the burger options. Expect a juicy, well-seasoned patty seared for crust and stacked with melted Cheddar, house pickles and a lick of smoky sauce on a toasted bun. Add bacon or chilli if you like it louder, but we think it’s best to keep it classic.

Imperial Bank Terraces, Carl Cronje Drive, Bellville

104 Sandown Road, West Beach

The Pink House, Village Square c/o Oxford and Queen Street, Durbanville

Plattekloof Shopping Centre, Plattekloof