National Burger Day: Top 10 Vegan Burgers in Australia
National Burger Day is almost upon us. And 2016 is ALL about the vegan burgers. Just recently, Michelin-starred celebrity chef David Chang of Momofuku fame raved about this unbelievable realistic plant-based burger:
And in late 2015, GQ magazine in the US famously named a vegan burger as the “year’s best burger”:
Although neither of these beauties are available Down Under (yet!), check out this guide to the top 10 vegan burgers you can munch your way through in Australia right now:
1. Sumo Burger – Soul Burger, Sydney
After Soul Burger’s Plant-Based Disgrace went viral on April Fools’ Day, the restaurant kept it as a regular fixture on the menu for the whole of April. Sadly, it’s now just a distant memory – but never fear! The Sumo Burger will satisfy even the mightiest burger craving.
2. Classic Cheese Burger – Bonta Vera, Newcastle
A new fixture on the Newcastle café scene, Bonta Vera is the first place in town to offer a menu that’s 100 per cent plant-based! With a heap of vegan burgers to choose from, including the Fillet o’ Fishless and the Classic Schnit Hit, it’s this bad boy that has us contemplating a flight to Newcastle.
3. Kaos Legendary Tofu Burger – Kafe Kaos, Lorne
Even in this small seaside town, you can find an epic vegan burger to fuel you as you journey along the Great Ocean Road. It’s marinated tofu on multigrain toast with peanut butter, heaps of salad and house-made sweet soy dressing. You’re welcome.
4. Veg Head Burger – Pâtissez, Canberra
Best known for its vegan FreakShake, Pâtissez also serves up a pretty mean Veg Head Burger. With an herbed chickpea, corn and sweet potato patty, along with heaps of roasted veggies and a vegan aioli, it’s sure to satisfy. What’s that? You want to see a photo of a FreakShake, too? Oh, go on then:
Image © Sonja Barfoed
5. The Morrissey – The B.East, Melbourne
Named after everyone’s favourite animal rights activist, The Morrissey is a mock chicken burger with sweet corn relish and jalapeño salsa on rye. Check out Monday nights at The B East for “Mock the Casbah” – a weekly event featuring a rotating fully vegan menu, vegan-friendly beer on tap, punk tunes and spirit specials.
6. Mind Body & Soul and You Gotta Have Soul – Burger Got Soul, Tasmania
Tasmanians don’t miss out when it comes to vegan burger options – and these offerings from Burger Got Soul have been keeping Tassie customers happy for some time. Ask for no cheese, mayo or tzatziki, and you have a fully vegan meal! Stores in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport.
7. The Hungry Vegan – Sugar Shack Diner, Adelaide
The name says it all. Make sure you’re hungry before you attempt this tower of deliciousness. The list of ingredients is impressively long, but make sure you hone your taste buds in on the barbecue jackfruit. It has to be tasted to be believed.
8. Cheeseburger Pizza – The Reverence Hotel, Melbourne
OK, so it’s not technically a burger (The Reverence Hotel also serves a ton of those, FYI), but this pizza gets an honourable mention for its uncanny resemblance to a Big Mac, with none of the cruelty of the original dish. With live music and heaps of unbelievably good vegan options (try the chocolate nachos!), The Rev is not to be missed if you’re looking for a great night out in Melbourne.
9. Berinjela Burger – Mandala Organic Arts Cafe, Gold Coast
There are plenty of mouth-watering dishes to choose from at Mandala, but our personal favourite has to be the Berinjela Burger. Named after the Portuguese word for “eggplant”, this masterpiece includes a delicious eggplant patty and comes complete with roasted mushroom, chunky pesto and pink aioli. The tofu Brunch Burger with smoky coconut bacon and chilli jam is another menu highlight.
10. New Guru – Lord of the Fries, Various Locations
All hail Lord of the Fries! A fully vegetarian (and soon to be fully vegan) fast-food chain, it’s been serving up tasty burgers, shakes, hot dogs, hot chips and more since 2004. All its shakes are also vegan, so why not try washing down your burger with a peanut butter chocolate shake?
Of course, heaps of national and local chain restaurants also offer awesome vegan burgers.
Try Grill’d if you live anywhere but the Northern Territory or Tasmania.