I Could Murder A Burger

Picture it: a beautifully set table complete crisp white table cloth, gleaming silver cutlery, an attentive waiter to do that weird decrumbing thing after a basket of artisanal breads, plate after dainty plate of exquisitely crafted haute cuisine, prepared with incredible skill and microscopic attention to detail. What could be better than fine dining at a top class, swanky-pants restaurant? A massive, juicy, grab-it-with-both-hands-and-get-it-in-ya-face burger, that's what. When that glorious marriage of bread, meat, salad and condiments is just right, nothing beats it. Here are some of the best to sink your teeth into in Queensland.

The Burger Bar
Thomas St, Noosaville & Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba

The Burger Bar are masters of the hallowed art of slapping meat in bread. Every drop of sauce and chunk of relish is made in-house under owner Richard Tan’s discerning eye and their buns are locally baked at the Essential Grain Bakery. In the past they’ve snagged the top prize from both the Lifestyle Food and I Love Food Awards and when your burger comes out with a big blue ribbon on it, you know it’s going to be good. Personally, we’re all about the Top Bun – lamb, brie, lime slaw, piccalilli sauce, lettuce and mayo - but it’s a long menu and you’re going to want to try everything.

Longboards Laidback Eatery & Bar
Northcliffe terrace, Surfers Paradise

The menu at Longboards Laidback Eatery & Bar is as thick and juicy as the items on it, with choices like The Budgie Smuggler, The Fat Ninja and The G-Banger (for the vegos). If you're a proper connoisseur though, it's pretty hard to go past The Phat Bastard. Watching someone try to wrap their mouth around 600 grams of grilled Wagyu stacked with bacon, cheddar cheese, pulled pork, battered onion rings and all of the salad, couched in a brioche bun and soaked in Longboards' house made Phat Ass sauce might be the best show in town.

Miss Kay's
George St, Brisbane

We are suckers for themed meals here at The Music, so knowing we can head down to Miss Kay's for a Ludakrisp (crispy chicken), or an Austin Flowers (spiced tempura cauliflower) makes us very happy campers. The Mac Daddy is a particular triumph in burger engineering, balancing a beef patty, maple bacon, onion rings, American cheese, lettuce and fries in one jaw-unhinging tower. Wash it down with one of their creamy milkshakes: we highly recommend The James Brownie or The Elvis, which you can even get with a shot of giggyup. Somewhere out there Vince Vega just shed a tear.

Burger Urge
Several locations

If you've got the need for feed, Burger Urge has got your buns. They only use premium, free-range produce sourced from local Aussie farmers and their most recent creation, the Mad Mac, combines two of humanity's greatest achievements -  mac 'n' cheese and burgers - then adds War Boy bacon jam, BBQ sauce, aioli and salad. They even stock Burleigh-based brews Big Head and 28 Pale. Think globally, drink locally.