The Flaming Onion in Cromwell is a gourmet burger takeaway at 12 The Mall, tucked behind the old Stirling Sports building in the middle of town. It is one of three Flaming Onion shops in New Zealand, alongside Northcote on Auckland's North Shore and Alexandra in Central Otago, all built on the same promise: bold flavours and burgers crafted to satisfy every craving.
The menu is proudly burger-first. It features premium Wagyu beef burgers, juicy chicken burgers, fresh fish options and delicious vegetarian burgers, all made with high-quality ingredients, with the house Special Burger sitting at the top of the board. Sides, a dedicated Kids Burger and drinks round things out, so a single order can cover the whole family.
Ordering is easy — order online for pickup and takeaway, or call the shop directly. The Cromwell store opens at midday every day, serving until 8:00 pm Sunday to Thursday and until 9:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, making it a handy stop for a relaxed lunch or an easy dinner in Cromwell.
The Flaming Onion in Cromwell is a gourmet burger takeaway tucked behind the old Stirling Sports building at 12 The Mall, right in the middle of town. It is the Central Otago branch of a small New Zealand burger group that also runs shops in Northcote on Auckland's North Shore and in Alexandra, and it trades on the same simple idea that built the brand: premium ingredients, bold flavours and burgers crafted to satisfy every craving. There is no restaurant fuss here — this is burgers done properly, built for pickup and takeaway.
Burgers are the heart of the menu, and the board reads like the classics done well. Beef lovers choose between the Beef Burger and the larger Large Beef Burger, with the range featuring premium Wagyu beef — a genuine step up from the standard takeaway patty. The Chicken Burger is there for the juicy-chicken crowd, the Fish Burger brings fresh fish options into the line-up, and the Vege Burger makes sure vegetarians get a proper burger rather than an afterthought. Sitting at the top of the menu is the Special Burger, the house special and a sensible first order for first-timers. The phrase the Flaming Onion keeps returning to is high-quality ingredients — quality in, flavour out.
The menu rounds out with Sides and Drinks, so a single order can cover the whole table. A dedicated Kids Burger keeps younger diners fed without fuss, which makes the shop an easy call for families, and the sides fill the gaps when a burger alone will not quite do it. It is a compact, focused menu rather than an encyclopedia — everything on it is there because it earns its place.
Ordering is built around convenience. The Flaming Onion takes online orders for easy pickup and takeaway, so you can order from your phone, time it right and collect at the counter without the wait. The Cromwell shop opens at midday every day of the week — 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm Sunday through Thursday, and an hour later, until 9:00 pm, on Friday and Saturday. The later weekend finish makes it a practical option for an easy end-of-week dinner, while the everyday midday opening means lunch is covered too. Prefer to talk to a person? The shop takes calls on 022 063 5266.
Cromwell is one of three Flaming Onion locations. The same gourmet burger format runs at Shop 6/1 Lydia Avenue in Northcote, Auckland; at 27 Ennis Street in Alexandra; and here at 12 The Mall in Cromwell. Each shop serves the Wagyu-backed beef burgers, chicken, fish and vege burgers, kids burgers, sides and drinks, with online ordering available at every location. The group stays in touch with customers through its Facebook and Instagram pages, and there is a feedback channel on the website for anyone keen to pass on a compliment or a complaint.
Come hungry for burgers and you will leave happy. The Special Burger is the house calling card, the Wagyu beef burgers are the point of difference, and the chicken, fish and vege options make sure nobody in the group misses out, while the kids burger, sides and drinks keep the whole table sorted. Expect a casual, quick, takeaway-first experience: order online if you are in a hurry, or turn up, order at the counter and settle in at one of the shop's tables. For locals it is an easy midweek dinner; for visitors passing through Cromwell, it is a proper gourmet burger without the restaurant wait — behind the old Stirling Sports building, from midday, seven days a week.