Burger Burger at Kaiwaka — listed here as Burger 1849 — brings the full Burger Burger line-up to 1849 State Highway 1. The kitchen is built around 170g New Zealand grass-fed beef patties, with the Beef & Cheese as the house benchmark, the bacon-and-BBQ Old Smokey for smoke lovers, and the beetroot-topped Kiwi Classic for purists. Alongside them sit free-range chicken burgers, a Gisborne fish burger and solid vegetarian territory, from a mushroom & quinoa patty to an Impossible™ upgrade and vegan swaps.
There is plenty beyond the burgers: shoestring, curly and kūmara fries with house-made aioli, popcorn chicken, tacos, three chicken salads and thick shakes made with Duck Island ice cream. The drinks list runs to Sawmill beer on tap, classic cocktails — many available alcohol-free using Lyre's spirits — and a wine list pouring by the glass and bottle.
Meal bundles, kids' meals and lil' combos make it easy for families and groups, and catering plus events and functions can be arranged on enquiry. Bookings, delivery and pick-up are all handled through the Burger Burger website, and an allergen sheet is published for anyone with dietary questions.
Burger Burger's Kaiwaka restaurant — listed here as Burger 1849 — sits at 1849 State Highway 1, making it an easy stop along the highway. It is part of a New Zealand burger group whose other restaurants you'll find at Commercial Bay, Eastridge, Ponsonby, Takapuna and Torbay in Auckland, in Hamilton, and at The Mount. You can book a table, order delivery, or arrange pick-up online, so whether you're passing through or settling in for dinner, the burgers are never far away.
The kitchen builds its burgers around 170g New Zealand grass-fed beef patties. The Beef & Cheese is the house benchmark — pickles, aged cheddar, mustard, tomato jam and mayo — while the Old Smokey layers on bacon, caramelised onions, smoked cheddar and BBQ sauce. The Kiwi Classic is the one for purists, stacking bacon, a fried egg and beetroot alongside the patty.
Chicken gets equal billing: the Chicken burger uses Cajun-grilled free-range thigh with red pepper salsa and rocket aioli, and the McFly pairs fried chicken breast with bacon, Swiss cheese and BBQ sauce. The Fish burger stars East Rock fish from Gisborne, cooked beer-battered, panko-crumbed or pan-fried. Vegetarians and vegans are well looked after too — a mushroom & quinoa patty comes as standard, you can upgrade to an Impossible™ plant-based patty or swap in marinated organic tofu, and a gluten-free bun is available. The team is upfront that while the bun is made with gluten-free ingredients, they can't guarantee any burger is 100% gluten free — the online allergen sheet has the details.
Snacks cover all the classics: shoestring, curly and kūmara fries with house-made aioli, popcorn chicken with green aioli, potato skins tossed in truffle oil, charred broccoli with garlic butter and almonds, and guacamole with corn chips. If you want something lighter, there are three chicken salads — a crispy kale Caesar, a Green Goddess with herbed quinoa and pesto vinaigrette, and a Punchy Chicken Avo Toss — plus fish and pulled pork tacos.
Save room for the shakes: the BB Shake packs in three scoops of Duck Island ice cream in flavours like peanut butter, raspberry and salted caramel. Desserts run to mini donuts with salted caramel sauce, a vegan brownie and pomegranate cheesecake. The drinks list is similarly considered, with Sawmill beer on tap, classic cocktails — many available alcohol-free using Lyre's spirits — and a wine list pouring by the glass and bottle from Marlborough to Central Otago.
Meal bundles do a lot of the work here. The Student Saver and the Green Vibes Lunch Club run Monday to Friday from 11.30am to 4.30pm, Date Night pairs two burgers or salads with a snack and two house drinks (Monday to Thursday, in restaurant), and the Family Feast feeds the household with burgers, a snack, drinks and two kids' meals (Sunday to Thursday). Kids can also build their own meal from a main, side and drink — and upgrade the drink to a kids' shake — while lil' combos pair mini burgers with fries and a soda. A nice touch: your first burger garnish, from toasted seeds to chilli punch, is free.
For bigger occasions, the team hosts events and functions and offers catering, either brought to you or cooked on location — availability is limited, so it pays to enquire early. Signing up to the BB VIP club gets you weekly specials, new drops and other perks.
However you order — at a table, on delivery or as pick-up on a drive — the formula is consistent: generous, well-made burgers built on good New Zealand produce, with enough range, from vegan swaps to Gisborne fish and Duck Island ice cream, to keep everyone at the table happy.