Burger Theory

Felt like I was eating pure salt. The burger was salty and so were the fries. Wouldn’t recommend.

Half cooked burger.
The chips were dry as if they were cooked ages ago and reheated.
The price is very high for a below average burger.

A burger experience unique to Adelaide! I had never heard of burger theory until I came to Adelaide. Burgers are here are tasty and service is fast and friendly.
The options are not exhaustive: beef and chicken are up there. They don’t offer the restaurant feel of burger joints such as «Grilled». It’s very much a grab and go or eat in with modest but ample space.
Note: beef burgers are cooked a little on the pink side (which give them their juiciness) you can ask if you want it cooked a bit more. Chips aren’t bad either but tend pack punch of salt so be sure to order a drink ;)

I’m really not impressed with Burger Theory. You can get burgers of the same quality much cheaper elsewhere.
Burger Theory claims to sell burgers cooked medium, but every time I’ve gone I’ve received my order cooked rare. Rare ground beef is not really a good idea from a food safety standpoint, and it doesn’t taste that great either. The buns are a too greasy for my tastes, and the combination of a greasy bun and a bloody burger makes a soggy mess. You can get a soggy burger at Hungry Jack’s for half the price. You can ask for a well-​done burger if you want, which I haven’t tried. Maybe that’s better? But I doubt I’ll go back to give it a try.
I also tried a fried chicken sandwich, which was really nothing special even by cheap fast-​food standards. It wasn’t as soggy as the burger, but nothing about it indicated it was worth the $ 11 price tag.

Merry Christmas Unilocalers and have a Happy New Year!
Before things get too hectic, it’s time to post a quick review before I forget yet again. Continuing from the other day, Mazze was a disappointment so we wanted something fast. I love burgers because they’re usually well priced, tasty and most importantly don’t take long to cook. Opinions of Burger Theory have been mixed, ranging from terrible to great. I never tried their food truck but my friends have told me their burgers during the restaurant launch.
It’s a simple place with benches and stalls and some outdoor seating. The menu is simple and not overcrowded. I was surprised to see only a few burgers on the menu but I understand, and if it’s done well then that’s all they need. I ordered the standard burger with lettuce, tomato, cheese and their truck sauce, as well as a side of fries with truck sauce. The order was completed efficiently and quickly, and within 10 minutes we were eating!
What I like about Burger Theory is that they cook the patties medium, something I have seen in Adelaide. I’m sure they would need very fresh high quality beef for this because I wouldn’t try at home unless I ground my own beef fresh from the butcher. The result is a slightly more juicy and less tough patty, which was also seasoned to perfection. The bun is a slightly sweet, soft and pillowy brioche which I think is the bun of choice for burgers. It doesn’t disintegrate due to sauce and burger juices and the glossy shine is so nice. The truck sauce was good, tasted a bit like thousand island with a little wasabi flavour in it (or am I just weird?). Fries were crispy and fluffy but there were quite a few mangled ones but whatever.
We had a total of two burgers and a side of fries which came to roughly $ 25. I’m impressed because both were cooked to medium, the food was simple and the flavours are tried and true, but done well. Fast service, friendly staff. I’m really liking this place! Thumbs up.

I like burger Theory when I bought the first burger from their food truck. Lately, they started new chicken burger. Man, I was pretty excited to try out their spicy chicken burger. Unfortunately, it was a little bit of disappointment. Walked into the shop, not many customers, but staff all seem bit busy, only staff I saw, she was just chilling with her mobile phone. Are you having your break? When her break kinda finished, she served me and she was nice to talk to. Spicy chicken burger please. She told me it has a bit of heat to it. Excited. Waited, waited, waited. Man, you are not even busy. Never mind, just playing with my phone then. Finally, staff brought out my burger and apologised about the wait. All good all good, I’m going to eat this awesome burger. No good no good, man, found a hair right in my burger. Mix feelings: excitement, hunger, disappointment. Went back to staff, they were very sorry about it, offered refunds and a new burger. My replacement is here: do I like it? Not very much. It’s like a Korean flavoured burger. Deep fried chicken patty: not spicy. Korean kimchi (spicy cabbage): not spicy, maybe little bit sweet spicy. Sad, so sad. Maybe I should just stick with their basic range. Nice service tho.

This was my first visit to Burger Theory and judging by the experience received, I shall definitely return! The service was fast, friendly and efficient and both my Cheeseburger and Chocolate Shake were fabulous! My only complaint, however, was the loud and intrusive background music. Well done, Burger Theory and thank you!

Their chicken sandwich is a favourite of mine, if I’m feeling lazy after work and don’t want to cook tea I’ll come past here for the chicken sandwich. I think they use breadtop buns here which are pretty good.

I am surprised I waited this long to try what is widely regarded as being some of the best burgers in SA. Originating from two Flinders University students, Burger Theory has blossomed into a neat set of stores in the Adelaide metropolitan area.
When I tried it first, I came across their «shipping container» store at Flinders Central. I decided to try their original #1 burger. There was around a 10 minute wait, but it was definitely worth the wait. The cook their burgers medium to medium-​rare, which make the patty incredible juicy and moist.
The #1 burger was $ 10, but I decided to grab it with fries and a drink for an extra $ 6. Apart from the patty, the burger was served on a nice burger bun that wasn’t quite as soft as most brioche I have tasted however was soft and fluffy. There was fresh lettuce and tomatoes inside with tasty cheese. Perhaps the key standout though was what they called «truck sauce». It was a light orange-​red colour and provided a small amount of tang whilst also being quite creamy.
The fries were quite nice but perhaps a little bit too salty for my liking. Burger Theory was a good as I was expecting it to be and I look forward to trying some of their other burgers in the future.

Basically a poor imitation of an american burger restaurant that costs twice as much as any other fast food restaurant. In summary: a chicken burger so small and lifeless that is took only four bites to eat. A thimble full of sauce with limp/​lifeless fries… and a flat dark ale in a plastic cup. You would be better off going to the hungry jacks up the road, and far far better off going to Fancy Burger. If you’ve read this far and you’re thinking of frequenting this place, go to Fancy Burger instead.
There were more staff in the «restaurant» than there were customers and yet it still took them what seemed like forever to get any food or drinks our way. We seemed to have interjected into their session of bitching about other girls so loudly that it was quite rude to hear.
A general grief I have with burger places in Australia is the lack of napkins/​serviettes they provide. You get one each. Try to take another, and you will usually be met with angry looks or words to the effect that the one extra napkin you’re taking may be responsible for global warming. Really?!? Well make your burger a bit less shitty and I won’t need to mop up the filthy juice that pours out of it will I.
The location of this joint will likely mean they keep the numbers up to stay afloat but I wouldn’t recommend it.
I decided to change from 1 star to 2 stars simply because of the fact that they do serve beer, Vale Ale in fact. But for $ 20 for a deal with a beer you can invest that money better elsewhere

Overall a good greasy burger — similar to something you would get in USA.
Fires are fresh and crisp (honey mustard dip is great)
.Slightly pricey from r what you get.

I stopped eating burgers after too many rubbish experiences. But, after eating at Burger Theory I am mad for them. I actually download Unilocal for the purpose of writing this review — they are THAT good. I could only have a child’s size burger because the meals are too big for me full sized but it was fucking amaze. I’ve since returned with friends (who ordered a variety of burgers) and each one has left as satisfied as I. They deserve every star and every cent in tips I have given. Love! Love! Love! #MeatyGoodness

Since my last review, Pearl, the Burger Theory Truck has pretty much stopped it’s regular road trips (they’ve opened their store in the City’s East End.
The thing is they’ve lost that big thing they had when they were around.
Though the burgers are still good. there are other options that are as good/​better and the trucks are still on the road.
I do still love the #2 burger.

I remember when the Union Street store opened; I’d been on a technology free holiday on a houseboat. I returned home to read about the *soft opening* and I dragged my eldest niece along straight away to see what the place was like.
The décor was still a little dull – they’ve spiced things up now with a few fun drawings over the place – but we were interested in the food.
Since then I’ve been back quite a few times to try both the new offerings that are unique to the new location, and the old favourites that I’ve had a gazillion times before.
The verdict: I’m still a huge Burger Theory fan.
One thing to clarify: the buns
— I like the sweeter style of bun that these guys get from Breadtop. Quite a few burger places use these; quite a few don’t. I love them; others don’t. It’s a personal preference but I don’t think it has a huge influence over the overall burger.
The menu at the Burger Theory store expands from the regular truck menu. You’ll find the number 1 & number 2, but there’s also a chicken burger, a vegetarian burger, and their special burger of the moment.
Generally I’m a number one. The patty is juicy and cooked medium – just the way I like it. There’s a bit of added freshness thanks to the lettuce and tomato and the truck sauce adds a bit of tang.
Yes. The number 2 is salty. It’s not salty in the way that when you add salt to something and you shake that shake too far, or when the lid falls off of the salt shaker and you’re faced with a little salt mound on your plate. But if you enjoy salt this is the way to go. The pancetta adds all of the salt, but there’s a bit of sweetness from the onion and the blue cheese cuts through it all. It’s not the burger for everyone, and even though I love it it’s much more of a ‘sometimes’ burger for me.
The chicken burger was well received by my niece, but I still prefer the beef patty. I might like it more if it was crumbed in someway, or something more exciting. But my niece liked the variety of having it on their menu.
Burger Theory still feature in my list of top 3 favourite burgers. The one thing that keeps me coming back is the actual beef patty – in my opinion it’s the most important part of a burger. If you’re not cooking and seasoning your patty right there’s no amount of additions that can save you.

I am grasping to understand why this place is so well liked.
Visited the place today, had #2, partner in crime #1.
We were both disappointed with the quality of the burger — #2 was extra salty and had no greens or tomatoes to compensate; #1’s sauce was overpowering and undercooked.
Both were extra greasy to the point that stomachs were unhappy.
If this is the epitome of a good burger, I fear for Adelaide.

I don’t mean to sound like a b***h but really… I was expecting more.
The team behind Burger Theory were the first and up until now, the best when it came to creating first class, indulgent and tasty burgers with flair. Kicking it off from their truck, expanding to Pearls and now parking themselves down union street they truly wow-​ed the Adelaide food scene. Sadly it seems that expansion may not have served them well and the end of their reign as the burger kings of Adelaide may be nigh…
Having sampled their wares in the past, I was IN LOVE, even ranking Pearls as my favourite location for a burger fix — what with their funky décor, their friendly staff and service and their unique offerings in a quirky manner.
Eating from the truck had edge, appeal and it was a unique experience with a whole series of somewhat abnormal rituals — hunting down the truck, waiting in eager anticipation in a line, while chatting with other burger lovers, before basking in the sun (or rain) while enjoying the treat which you had pretty much hunted and gathered — albeit with a modern twist.
Burger Theory on Union Street seems generic. The décor is clean and modern which is nice, but I’m a fan of all things eclectic and unique — this store feels like a product of mass design, created to look how a fast food store ‘should’ look — in theory. Incorporating the beeper system in adds a little excitement to the process however it takes away a human element and so in my mind, the quirk kinda fails.
The menu has expanded somewhat and includes a few more options but it’s all a little blah now. The burger was good — I tried the burger of the month with crispy chicken bits but I now feel that it is over priced; for $ 11 I can get a whole lot more burger at many other great burger bars around town. The burger, however was the standout factor, still pretty delicious but no longer ‘the best’.
The fries were an epic let down — they tasted like oil and cost more than they should — nothing to write home about at all. The burgers are premium and a HUGE step — up from maccas or HJs and the fries should match. The prices certainly do.
Guys, I think you got too big for your shoes — I understand growth and all that biz but it just doesn’t feel right for me (but maybe I’m in the minority). I feel like some heart and soul has been lost in the process — imagine your favourite boutique corner café being replicated on every street corner, it wouldn’t translate. It seems these guys are trying to make themselves replicable — but please, perhaps it’s better if you don’t?
All that being said — bring on the frozen custard!!!

There’s this thing going around Adelaide where everyone is crazy about all things burgers. Not that I’m not complaining because all these new burger joints are springing up promising to deliver great American style burgers. One of the most famous providers of such things is of course Burger Theory. Until recently they only had a food truck which would be parked at various locations during lunch time where city regulars could grab a feed. But now much to high demand they’ve finally got a fix premise on Union street just off Rundle Street.
So far out of the burger joints I’ve ventured to I would say Burger Theory has the best burgers. I had the classic Angus beef burger with the American cheese and Truck sauce, and the patty was well seasoned, the veggies were fresh which gave the burger that extra crunch, and the sauce just tied it all in nicely. The bun was really nice as well.
The service is kind of similar to Maccas in the way that you go up to the counter to grab your order after you wait a few minutes for your food to be ready. But the customer service is a lot more friendlier, and there’s just this really casual, cool vibe that atmosphere of the place gives off.
Five stars! I’ll sure to be back!

Just an FYI based off some reviews for here; Pearls Diner at Felixstow has been serving Burger Theory fare for over 12 months. There’s been an alternative to the food truck for some time. Check it out here;
…which is an important point because based on my experience at the new namesake store I’d recommend people head to Pearls if they hail from the North/​East side of town for now.
I’d also recommend if you’re new to the Burger Theory concept to sneak a look at one of the burgers as they come out before ordering. My mates expectations were of a typical fully-​stacked burger ala. Burger Foundry, Burgastronomy, or your typical pub variety burger — he described the number 1 as a ‘novelty’ burger. I can see where he’s coming from — if I was seeing one of the burgers here for the first time; compacted, palm-​sized, and on a sweet bun I’d come to the same conclusion.
They aren’t though. The blue cheese and cheeseburger are still sensational. Somehow a sweet bun, wallops of meat, and truck/​blue cheese sauce just works.
The downside though. The buns were soggy and sodden with sauce and the meat not cooked uniformly. The wait was also unacceptable given the final product. Just over 20 minutes. This is still fast food with minimal prep/​presentation work there should still be a ‘fast’ component to it.
As I’ve said in my Pearls Diner review — if you want the patty cooked through I’d ask. You could get something near medium-​rare otherwise.
The liquor license is a good move.
We both agreed the overall experience here was marginal. The product was good, the prep, cook of the meat, sauce overdose, and wait time let it down.

Remember those times where you had to chase The Burger Theory food truck, wait in line for half an hour, only to stand and awkwardly eat a burger? Yeh, I do too.
Thankfully those days are over with the new Burger Theory store on Union Street!
Burger Theory has by far, some of the best ol’ fashioned burgers around. They offer a few simple menu items, but this is simplicity at it’s best. The simplistic menu flows out into the stores overall design. It has an overall Chic, clean Modern design — polished floors and wooden chairs/​tables. There is no fancy whizz bang pop that you get in other restaurants, but frankly, it works.
My friend and I came in at around 12:30, fully expecting a lunch time rush, and to wait for our meal, but the store — whilst being busy wasn’t full and we were served within minutes — our orders were ready around 10 – 15 minutes later. I was surprised at how quickly they prepared our meals.
I ordered the #1 — Probably the most basic burger of the lot, with meat, cheese, truck sauce and a good ol’ slice of tomato.
My friend ordered the #2 with Blue Cheese
We both got these as part of a meal, with milkshakes!
The Chips — hot and fresh, everything you’d want in a strip of friend potato. Crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and ever so slightly seasoned, sticking them in my mouth made me feel like I was eating little golden rays of sunshine!
The Burger, the bread was the sweet roll from BreadTop (A delicious bread store) as usual it wasn’t dripping or soaked in liquid — it wasn’t dry, and overall a great compliment to a great burger.
The Lettuce was fresh and green — none of that processed shredded jazz, but actual leafs of lettuce! The Tomato wasn’t soggy nor was the sauce overbearing!
The meat, oh what can I say about the juicy and most important ingredient of this burger? Cooked to a medium rare perfection, the cost is well worth the taste sensation that is Burger Theory!
Eat up!
No really… go eat there.

I love burger theory! follow them on twitter to find out where they are each day,
Even though they don’t have a veggie burger I get a bun with relish and salad. It sounds boring but is soooo good. They even usually charge me less for it.
My friends have had the blue cheese burger and love it! The chips are always cooked to perfection, and I haven’t had it but i hear the combo of vegemite, spices and mayo is amazeballs.
The guys at the truck are friendly, and the food is quick. But like with all food trucks avoid 12−1pm if you can. They usually open 11ish and go until 2pm.
lastly, those buns are so good, weirdly sweet but it works somehow.