The difficulties of last year forced a lot of local foodie businesses to pivot and hustle to stay afloat. Thankfully for Hashtag Burgers & Waffles’ co-owners Kate Macauley and Matt Rollo, their casual dining outlet was built on hustle. The duo started the concept as a side business in March 2019, launching as a dark kitchen operating in Newstead before demand escalated to the point that Kate and Matt ditched the day jobs and made the brand legit. After opening its first hole-in-the-wall burger joint on Brunswick Street in January 2020, Hashtag Burgers & Waffles rapidly cultivated a cult following thanks to its gob-smacking burger stacks – many of which were spotted sandwiched between a pair of waffles. Perhaps more central to Hashtag’s success than the burgers themselves was Kate and Matt’s passion for the craft. An overall aversion to mass-produced shortcuts and an ethos based on giving back to local charities cemented the crew as a local favourite, and soon opportunities to expand further came knocking.

Kate and Matt opened Hashtag’s second site in West End last Thursday April 8, bringing its hand-smashed patties, house-made waffles and sauces and range of extras to Boundary Street. The space, formerly home to Grill’d, is a decidedly more spacious venue, with room for interior, street and laneway seating as well as cosy neon-lit nook at the back for group hangs. For Kate and Matt, this is the dream Hashtag setting – a laid-back hangout space for the community to enjoy on a consistent basis. Of course, a burger joint is only as good the burgers it slings, and Hashtag has 13 sublime options to choose from. Two-handers such as the Morning Wood (beef patty, cheese, bacon, pickles, onion rings, honey mayo and barbecue sauce), P–BJ (two patties, cheese, smoky bacon and a dollop of crunchy peanut butter and jam) and the Lucky Chicken (slow-cooked pulled chicken, slaw, chilli mayo) are available on regular buns, waffles or crispy cheesy toast. If just a burger isn’t enough for you, a string of sides include the likes of loaded fries, onion rings, mac ‘n’ cheese balls, cheesy toast and potato gems covered in maple bacon, cheese, shallots and pickle mayo. Waffles can be enjoyed outside the burger configuration with a dusting of cinnamon sugar, a scoop of ice-cream, strawberries, and a collection of chocolatey confections, though sweet seekers can sip on Hashtag’s range of thick shakes, if preferred. Matt and Kate will soon add fried chicken to the West End menu as well as some lunch deals for locals to take advantage of regularly. While Hashtag’s Fortitude Valley haunt stocked craft-beer tins, its West End sibling is upping the ante with a set of beer taps pouring brews from Big Shed Brewery (a sour, lager, IPA and pale ale) plus ciders, boozy ginger beer and some rotating drops.

Hashtag Burgers & Waffles is open to the public for dine-in and delivery – hit the Stumble Guide for all the delicious details.