The 8 best burgers in Adelaide

There are mighty good burgers over in Daw Park, more specifically, at a 2024 addition to Adelaide’s food scene, Good Burger. The upmarket diner churns out American fare with a flair, from Philly cheesy-fries to hot honey fried chicken, and the burgers are no exception. The Old Blue is bound to appease with its smashed beef patty from Marino, crispy pancetta, caramelised onion, oozy blue cheese and a sharp blue cheese mayo, tucked between a pillowy potato bun. The 28-seater puts on an extensive drinks list too, and welcomes both casual and nicey-spicey diners all the same.

What to order: Old Blue

Motherlode 142 is Hindley Street’s boozy fried chicken joint that takes up residency in former Mr. Kim’s nightclub. Lil’ nods to the cool space’s chaotic past life are scattered around the dining room while roadside seating is a tribute to days spent lining up for entry into the R’n’B hotspot. Truth be told, Motherlode’s bold menu states that ‘we call burgers ‘sandwiches’ here’, for reasons unbeknownst. Do what you will with that information, but the hefty numbers are worthy in our eyes. Opt for the Garlic Parm with none other than garlic butter fried chicken, parmesan, slaw, onion, sweet pickle-back sauce and roasted garlic aioli on a fluffy potato roll.

What to order: Garlic Parm

The long-standing Nordburger is a household name in Adelaide’s burger-sphere. Its Hindmarsh and Norwood locations have stood the test of time and continue to serve up mighty fine burgers and shakes to this day. Nordburger is your typical ground round joint, right down to the fry baskets and yellow and red condiment bottles sat on the tables. Nordburger keeps things fresh with 15 big burgs for the taking, including a legendary All Day Brekky burger that’s stacked with double bacon, American cheese, fried egg, ketchup and mayo. A menu standout that never fails to do the trick is the Big Kahuna, piling together a minced beef patty, bacon, grilled pineapple, American cheese, lettuce, mustard, tomato sauce and a secretive sauce. Orders up!

What to order: Big Kahuna

Did someone say tropical disco diner? 99 Gang Social did! Complete with DJ decks for some seriously good times, along with some proper checkerboard flooring and twirlin’ mirrorballs for all your boogying needs, the Hindley Street cocktail and burger bar is here to take you to funky town. The late-night discotheque is foremost a restaurant, with a menu that covers all of the stops – ‘burgers’ and ‘not burgers’, that is. Don’t skimp on the Fillet’o Gang made up of a lightly-crumbed prawn and barramundi patty, pickles, American cheese, lettuce and a smearing of tartare sauce. It goes down a treat with an ice-cold Ribena mojito.

What to order: Fillet’o Gang 

There’s a new kid on the block in Exchange Place, and it’s Jumbo. The super funky burger bar is retro-reminiscent with quirky artworks and modern homely touches, all thanks to the combined forces of the equally funky Pastel Wine Bar and Pinco Deli crews. Jumbo’s menu is short and sweet, featuring just five burgers, five breakfast specials and a few sneaky sides – ‘less is more’ stands true. Oklahoma-style smash burgers are a Jumbo highlight, with a beefy patty and thinly sliced onions crushed into a homogeneous wafer and married in a steamy, caramelised ceremony with cheese, pickles, tomato and mustard by their side. Pair it with a local wine or a hit of American-style spirits. 

What to order: Cheeseburger

Vegetarians and vegans, this one goes out to you. Two-Bit Villains has been doing its animal-free thing since 2011 with American-style eats and house-made sodas at the centre of their offerings. Burgers are a staple at the old-school-themed diner that looms over Rundle Mall atop the Adelaide Arcade’s historic Grand Ballroom. There are 13 burgers up for grabs at Two-Bit, with the tried and tested buffalo chicken burger topping the ranks. The chicken-like meat is deep-fried in buttermilk and smothered in a tangy-spicy buffalo sauce, alongside lettuce and the creamiest of ranch dressings. Legend has it that they’re some of the best vegan burgers in Adelaide. 

What to order: Buffalo Chicken

Got buns? Port Burger down in Port Noarlunga sure does. With locally sourced ingredients at the forefront of the regional eatery’s ethos, Port Burger’s ground rounds hit the spot every dang time. The magic happens within the steel walls of a shipping container kitchen – an ode to its seaside location perchance – where both inventive and American classics (dare we say authentic) take to the spotlight. Word on the street is that the Oklahoma Smash is one of best burgers in Adelaide, if not Australia for that matter – and in true Oklahoma style, the beef patty is flattened to a crisp atop a wad of thinly sliced onions, melding into one harmonious, juicy affair. A charcoal bun is then stuffed with American and tasty cheese, bacon, jalapenos and pickles over a bed of spicy aioli, too – they’ve nailed it. 

Port Burger also serves as a bit of a community hub with local musicians occasionally taking to the patio, bound by plenty of picnic-y grass where gathering and collective guzzling is encouraged. Alternatively, nab some takeaway and head to the coastline where you can fill the gap as the sun sets over the Saint Vincent Gulf horizon – la dolce vita.

What to order: Oklahoma Smash

The city’s Vardon Avenue is well-known for its hospitality hive, housing pubs and wine bars to cafés and Exchange – an Adelaide coffee institution with a morning menu to boot. The sunlit, minimalist spot has heaps going for it, but their Breakie Burger tops the list in our humble opinion. Exchange plate up a simple yet effective milk bun with crisp pancetta, a splurging fried egg, smooth avocado mash, tomato relish and chipotle aioli. It’s a compact big breakfast of sorts that goes down a treat whether you’re on the go or seated for the long run.

What to order: Breakie Burger