For a few months now rumours have been flaring that one of the undisputed champions of Sydney’s brimming burger scene, Jovan Curic, will be opening up a new joint in Western Sydney; turns out they were true. The mastermind behind almost every burger aficionado’s reference point, Pub Life Kitchen, has went and gifted the Western Sydney suburb of Wakeley (it’s near Farfield) a little shop going by the name of Superior Burger. The name is a bold statement when paired with the neon purple and yellow sign claiming “Best Burgers in the West” – it’d seem hyperbolic if it weren’t for Curic’s reassuring presence.
Superior Burger is located in the drab Wakeley Shopping Centre on Bulls Road, settling into a modest strip of shops and taking over the space that was once Wakeley Takeaway, a business that is commemorated on the walls with an epitaph reading “gone but not forgotten”, a reverence extended to some of the features which have been kept in tact. Though don’t go expecting a dusty old interior, Curic and his team have kept it simple but smart, with one half of the space taken up by a sturdy open kitchen and counter, the only colour coming from a playful Australiana garden complete with fake galahs perched next to a large photo of cows grazing on a farm.
The cow photo is nothing random, it speaks to the central philosophy that drives Superior Burger, being that Curic has focused on naturally raised pasture fed beef with complete produce traceability. The patties are hand-made daily and their unique salt aging process allows the kitchen to cook the beef with maximum flavour in mind. Similarly, the chickens used are hormone and chemical free, with poultry being just as present on the menu as beef.
Along with curious locals, Pub Life Kitchen’s many fans have already been flocking to Superior Burger, which quietly opened over this past weekend and officially launches today, 31st October 2016. It’s the beginning of something special for those in Wakeley and the surrounding suburbs, continuing the great push of high quality burgers out west now that the city and its surrounds overflow with top picks.
Past the IGA is where one will find Superior Burger, led by the nose into a space filled with smoke held off with powerful air conditioning above the entrance. The giant menu that looks over diners reads similar to PLK, although a key difference is the pressure cooker found in the kitchen. There are six burgers on the menu, the beef options starting with Hamburger ($15) which has beef, beetroot, tomato, caramelised onion, lettuce, and smoked BBQ sauce; Cheeseburger ($16) with beef, cheese, McClure’s pickles, onion, tomato, sauce, and mustard; the signature Superior Burger ($16) with beef, cheese, tomato, lettuce, and a secret ‘superior sauce’. Then you’ve got The Bird ($18) which is massive with a large dorito fried chicken, cheese, slaw, jalapeno, and mayo, and the sole vegetarian option Magic Shroom ($15) with a confit field mushroom, cheese, slaw, mayo, and smoked BBQ sauce. Add-ons include double smoked streaky bacon, extra beef patty, extra sauces, and real gravy.
There’s no question to the quality here, Curic has focused on big, strong flavours without relying on anything other than the meat which remains the star of each burger (excepting the vegetarian of course); the other ingredients are there to add texture and flavour. For those making the pro choice of the Superior Burger, it’s wise to ask them to hold a few leaves of lettuce (though fresh, they can overindulge) because you’ll really want to taste that beautiful beef and sauce combo without any distracting crunch.
Aside from burgers, there’s the Hot N’ Sticky Wings ($12 for four pieces) making their way over from PLK’s menu. The spice isn’t all that, but the flavour is incredibly addictive, thick maple glaze teasing the tongue with gooey caramelised skin before the steaming hot, tender flesh hits the palate hard. There’s also Fried Chicken N’ Pickles ($6 for two pieces) which seems underpriced for the size you get, bigger and crunchier than your standard serving of fried bird, with flavour dripping all over the place (eat these over some Fries [$4/$7] or Beer Battered Potato Scallops [$2 each]).
For dessert there’s a soft serve machine and the very indulgent Ice Cream Sandwich $7), where the flavours seem to change regularly. As of right now it’s a snickers gelato in Anzac biscuit sandwich.
It’s tricky to get to Superior Burger if you aren’t coming by car. The closest station is Canley Vale, a 10 minute drive which would amount to around 15 bucks in an Uber. There should be a bus (804) direct from Farfield Station too, but as it stands driving is the best options with ample parking available for the open-air shopping centre. However you get there, just know that Superior Burger is well worth the trek, with Curic making great use of his farm-to-burger approach to bring some real flavour to Wakeley.
Superior Burger
Address: Shop 5/30 Bulls Rd, Wakeley
Website: superiorburger.com
Hours: 7 days 12pm-10pm
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