Backyard Eatery

About Backyard Eatery

Located on Whitaker Street in Te Aroha, Backyard Eatery is a local casual dining spot dedicated to serving comforting meals packed with bold, honest flavour. Their menu centres on crafted smashed beef burgers, crispy fried buttermilk chicken, and tender sous vide meats, alongside loaded fries, warm ciabatta sandwiches, and tacos.

Whether dropping by for a casual lunch, picking up takeaway dinner, or grabbing milkshakes and sweet bakery slices for the family, the eatery offers a warm, welcoming vibe. With quick online ordering and delivery services available, Backyard Eatery brings classic comfort fare and hearty sharing boxes right to the heart of Te Aroha.

Backyard Eatery: Comfort Food, Smashed Burgers, and Local Flavour in Te Aroha

Nestled on Whitaker Street in the historic spa town of Te Aroha, Backyard Eatery has quickly carved out a reputation as a go-to destination for flavour-packed comfort meals. Built around the ethos of delivering food that feels familiar and comforting yet tastes extraordinary, the eatery brings together an extensive lineup of smashed burgers, crisp buttermilk chicken, savoury tacos, and decadent shakes.

Whether locals are heading home from work, picking up a family dinner after school sport, or visitors are exploring the base of Mount Te Aroha, Backyard Eatery serves up hearty dishes made with care and quality ingredients.

Smashed Patties and Big Flavours

At the core of the menu is an ambitious burger selection that caters to traditional tastes as well as adventurous palates. Backyard Eatery leans heavily into the smash-patty technique, pressing beef onto the hot grill to achieve crisp, caramelized edges while keeping the meat juicy inside. Classic cheeseburgers range from the reliable Single Cheese Burger to the heavyweight Triple Cheese Burger, each layered with melted cheese, pickles, mustard, tomato sauce, and crunchy fried onions.

For those seeking homegrown flavours, the Kiwi Burger delivers a beloved New Zealand combination, layering a smashed beef patty with crispy bacon, a fried egg, beetroot relish, and creamy aioli. Seafood enthusiasts can tuck into the house-special Mussel Burger, showcasing a golden mussel fritter served inside a toasted potato bun. Meat lovers will also appreciate the Brisket Burger, featuring sous vide and grilled beef brisket paired with Swiss cheese and caramelized onions for deep, rich savoury notes.

Chicken lovers have plenty of variety too. The fried chicken options feature crispy buttermilk chicken tenders, ranging from the fresh herb notes of the Pesto Fried Chicken Burger to the tangy punch of the Spicy Fried Chicken Burger, which comes tossed in spicy buffalo sauce, drizzled with ranch dressing, and topped with crisp slaw.

Beyond the Buns: Tacos, Boxes, and Sharing Meals

While burgers are a central pillar, the kitchen extends its offerings well into street food and takeaway favourites. Two-taco platters let diners choose between buttermilk fried chicken, battered fish of the day, crispy BBQ cauliflower, or decadent battered pork belly wrapped in warm tortillas with salad and sauces.

Those looking for quick, shareable bites can opt for generous boxes loaded with golden fried chicken, battered pork belly, or fresh battered fish, served alongside house-made dipping aiolis. The fries menu goes well beyond standard sides, providing options like sweet kumara fries, a massive one-kilogram extra-large portion for groups, and loaded fries smothered in salsa, sour cream, melted cheese, and crispy onions.

Rounding out the food menu are toasted ciabatta melts, classic fish and chips, and hearty plates like sous vide brisket served with fried eggs and hot chips.

Shakes, Sweets, and Easy Ordering

No casual eatery experience is complete without sweet treats. Backyard Eatery serves a nostalgic range of thick milkshakes spanning over ten flavours, including salted caramel, butterscotch, Nutella, crushed Oreo, spearmint, and classic vanilla. The front counter cabinet features Kiwi bakery staples such as traditional lolly cake, caramel slices, rich custard squares, chocolate brownies, and ice cream sundaes.

Backyard Eatery operates seven days a week from 10:00 am until 7:45 pm, ensuring Whitaker Street always has a hot meal ready. Orders can be placed in person, over the phone, or smoothly via their dedicated smartphone app and online ordering system, offering hassle-free pickup and local delivery.

Signature items

• Kiwi Burger
• Brisket burger
• Spicy Fried Chicken Burger
• The mussel burger
• Loaded Fries
• Battered Pork Belly Taco

Menu

Boxes

• Small Box of Fried Chicken — Portion of fried chicken.
• Fried Chicken Box — Generous box of fried chicken.
• Small Box Of Battered Fish — Portion of battered fish.
• Battered Fish Box — Generous box of battered fish.
• Small Box Of Battered PorkBelly — Portion of battered pork belly.
• Battered Pork Belly Box — Generous box of battered pork belly.
• Small Box Of Cauliflower — Portion of crispy cauliflower.
• Crispy Cauliflower Box — Generous box of crispy cauliflower.
• combo — Mixed savoury box combo.

Mains

• Battered Pork Belly Taco — Battered Pork Belly, Two warmed Tortilla with lettuce, Tomato, Onion & Aioli.
• BBQ Cauliflower Tacos — Crispy BBQ Cauliflower, Two warmed tortilla with lettuce, Tomato, onion & aioli.
• Crispy Chicken Taco — Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Two warmed tortilla with lettuce, Tomato, Onion & Aioli.
• Fish Taco — Battered Fresh Fish, Two warmed tortilla with lettuce, Tomato, onion & Tartare.
• Fish & Chips — Battered fish of the day, chips, slaw and tartare.
• Brisket, eggs and chips — Sous Vide & Grilled Brisket with Fries & Fried Egg.

Drinks

• Can Coke Range — Selection of canned Coca-Cola varieties.
• CAN Lemon TeAroha — Locally inspired Lemon Te Aroha in a can.
• GLASS Lemon TeAroha — Lemon Te Aroha served in a glass bottle.
• Coke — Bottle of classic Coca-Cola.
• Coke Zero — Zero sugar Coca-Cola.
• Sprite — Refreshing lemon-lime soda.
• Sprit Zero — Sugar-free Sprite soda.
• Fanta — Bright orange sparkling soda.
• Water — Bottled still water.
• Ginger Beer — Brewed ginger beer.
• Lemon Lime Bitters — Classic sparkling lemon, lime and bitters.
• Old fashion lemonade — Traditional cloudy lemonade.
• Most Range — Assorted Most brand organic juices.
• 250ml Red Bull — 250ml canned energy drink.
• Monster — Monster energy drink can.
• Cold brew — Chilled cold brew coffee.

Shakes

• Banana Shake — Thick creamy banana milkshake.
• Butterscotch Shake — Rich butterscotch flavoured milkshake.
• Chocolate Shake — Classic chocolate milkshake.
• Nutella Shake — Decadent Nutella blended shake.
• Oreo Shake — Crushed Oreo biscuit milkshake.
• Raspberry Shake — Fruity raspberry milkshake.
• Salted Caramel — Sweet and salty caramel milkshake.
• spearmint shake — Refreshing spearmint flavoured shake.
• Strawberry Shake — Classic strawberry milkshake.
• Vanilla Shake — Classic creamy vanilla milkshake.
• White Choc Shake — Sweet white chocolate shake.

Sweets

• Chocolate Mousse — Rich and smooth chocolate mousse.
• Ice Cream Sundae — Classic ice cream sundae with sweet toppings.
• Kids Sundae — Smaller portion sundae for children.
• brownie — Fudgy chocolate brownie.
• caramel slice — Rich caramel slice.
• cookies — Freshly baked cookie.
• custard Squre — Classic custard square.
• Friand — Fresh baked sweet friand.
• lolly cake — Traditional New Zealand lolly cake.
• Single Donut — Fresh glazed or iced donut.

Burgers

• Single Cheese Burger — Smashed Beef Patty, Cheese, Pickles, Mustard, Tomato Sauce, Crispy Onion.
• Double Cheese Burger — Double Smashed Beef Patty, Cheese, Pickles, Mustard, Tomato Sauce, Crispy Onion.
• BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger — Smashed Beef Patty, Bacon, Cheese, BBQ sauce, Aioli, crispy Onions.
• Double BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger — Double Smashed Beef Patty, Bacon, Cheese, BBQ sauce, Aioli, crispy Onions.
• Dufty — Beef Patty, Dufty Bacon, Lettuce, Red Onion, Tomato, Aioli.
• Kiwi Burger — Smashed Patty, Bacon, Fried Egg, Beetroot Relish, Lettuce, Red Onion, Aioli.
• Mexican Deluxe burger — Beef Patty, jalapenos, salsa, sour cream, Lettuce, Red Onion, Tomato, Aioli.
• Brisket burger — Sous vide and grilled brisket, swiss cheese, caramelized, Lettuce, Red Onion, Tomato, Aioli.
• Brodeo brodeo — Double Smashed Beef Patty, Onion Rings, Bacon, Cheese, BBQ sauce, Aioli, crispy Onions.
• Chicken Burger — Chicken Patty, Cheese, lettuce, Aioli & Crispy Onions. No Gluten free.
• Fried Chicken Burger — Fried buttermilk Chicken, Slaw or salad Pickles, Aioli.
• Pesto Fried Chicken Burger — Fried buttermilk Chicken, Basil Pesto, Lettuce, Red Onion, Tomato, Aioli.
• Fish Burger — Battered Fresh Fish, Slaw or salad, Pickles, Tartare.
• BBQ Pork Burger — Battered Pork Belly, Slaw, Pickles, Crispy Onion, BBQ, Aioli.
• breakfast Burger — Bacon, Fried Egg, Hollandaise, cheese, Hash Brown, Tomato Relish.
• Cauliflower Burger — Crispy BBQ Cauliflower, Lettuce, Red Onion, Tomato, Aioli.
• Veggie Burger — Potato & Corn Fritter, Cheese, Aioli, Salad or Slaw.
• Spicy Fried Chicken Burger — Toasted potato bun, fried chicken dipped in buffalo hot sauce, pickles, slaw, ranch dressing, crispy onions.
• The mussel burger — Toasted potato bun, house made Mussel fritter, lettuce, Tomato, red onion, aioli.
• TRIPLE CHEESE BURGER — Triple Smashed Beef Patty, Cheese, Pickles, Mustard, Tomato Sauce, Crispy Onion.

Small Eats

• Chicken Nuggets — Crispy bite-sized chicken nuggets.
• GARLIC BREAD — Toasted bread infused with garlic butter.
• Little Cheese Burger — Kid-sized cheeseburger.
• Little Chicken Burger — Kid-sized chicken burger.
• Little Fish Burger — Kid-sized battered fish burger.

Fries & Sides

• Small Fries — Crispy golden fries.
• Large Fries — Large serving of crispy golden fries.
• XL FRIES 1KG — 1kg portion of crispy fries.
• Small Kumara Fries — Sweet kumara fries.
• Large Kumera Fries — Large portion of sweet kumara fries.
• loaded fries — Crispy fries, Sour Cream, Tomato salsa, cheese, Aioli and Crispy Onions.
• Mozzarella sticks — Golden fried cheesy mozzarella sticks.
• Small Aioli — House dipping aioli.
• 100ml Aioli — 100ml tub of aioli.
• 1000ml Aioli — 1-litre bottle of house aioli.
• Crumbed Onion Rings — Crispy crumbed golden onion rings.

Mexican Month

• Chipotle Chicken Tacos — Two warm tortillas loaded with crispy fried chicken tenders, lettuce, tomato and onion, finished with creamy chipotle aioli.
• Jalapeño Poppers — Jalapeños stuffed with a spiced cream cheese filling, wrapped in crispy golden spring roll pastry and fried until crunchy.
• Mexican Deluxe burger — Beef Patty, jalapenos, salsa, sour cream, Lettuce, Red Onion, Tomato, Aioli.
• Mexican loaded fries — Crispy fries tossed in Mexican seasoning, then topped with sour cream, tomato salsa and jalapeños.
• Spicy Beef Nachos — Corn chips loaded with spicy premium beef mince, melted cheese and liquid cheese, topped with jalapeños, tomato salsa and sour cream.
• Mexican beef pie — Mexican beef pie.

Warm Sandwiches

• BLT Sandwich — Toasted Ciabatta, Crispy Bacon, Tomato & Lettuce.
• Pork Melt Sandwich — Toasted Ciabatta, pork belly, Bacon, Swiss Cheese, Pickles & Aioli.
• Smoked Chicken Sandwich — Toasted Ciabatta, smoked chicken, bacon, red onion, cheese.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Backyard Eatery located?

Backyard Eatery is located at 176 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha, Waikato.

What are the opening hours?

The eatery is open seven days a week, Monday through Sunday, from 10:00 am to 7:45 pm.

Can I order online for pickup or delivery?

Yes, customers can place pickup or delivery orders directly through their online ordering website or mobile app.

Does Backyard Eatery cater to vegetarian diets?

Yes, the menu includes vegetarian options such as the Veggie Burger made with a potato and corn fritter, the Cauliflower Burger, and BBQ Cauliflower Tacos.

What kind of burgers do they serve?

They offer smashed beef cheeseburgers, buttermilk fried chicken burgers, sous vide brisket burgers, pork belly burgers, fish burgers, and house-made mussel fritter burgers.

Do they serve desserts and shakes?

Yes, they offer thick milkshakes in over ten flavours alongside sweets like custard squares, caramel slice, lolly cake, brownies, donuts, and sundaes.

Tips

• {"body":"Backyard Eatery has dedicated iOS and Android apps available, allowing you to easily browse the menu, earn rewards, and place pickup or delivery orders.","title":"Download the Mobile App"}
• {"body":"Pair your burger with a can or bottle of Lemon Te Aroha, a refreshing nod to the town's mineral heritage.","title":"Try the Local Refreshment"}
• {"body":"If dining with family or friends, grab a large sharing box of fried chicken or battered pork belly alongside the 1kg XL fries portion.","title":"Feed a Hungry Group"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Offers vegetarian burgers and cauliflower tacos; gluten-free buns are not available on all chicken burgers."}