Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring
Slim's Quality Burger's first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring

Slim’s Quality Burger’s first retro-inspired Queensland location is now open in Kippa-Ring

In September, Kippa-Ring welcomed the arrival of Slim’s Quality Burgers – a flourishing Sydney-born burger concept that is bridging past and present with a nostalgia-laced offering and technological conveniences. Specialising in sensational West Coast-style burgers and sides, Slim’s is giving locals the chance to dine amongst retro surroundings, cruise into the drive-through and then peel out with your order in tow, or put it in park and chow down al-dash-co in their car.

When we prompt Slim’s Quality Burger co-founder Michael Tripp to give us his quintessential burger experience, he can’t help but think back to his roots. Growing up in Southern California – the epicentre of America’s contemporary burger scene – Michael was no doubt exposed to a broad spectrum of ground rounds, from the swiftly smashed patties of the city’s street-side pop-ups to the thick ‘n’ juicy pub-style burgers of higher-end steakhouses. His favourite, however, sits somewhere in between – the old-school diner-style two-hander that was popularised in the mid 20th century at joints like Bob’s Big Boy, which was founded in 1936 and became a progenitor for the modern burger franchise (and where McDonald’s allegedly first got the inspiration for its Big Mac). These drive-in eateries, which reached their zenith in the 50s and 60s, remain an iconic snapshot of America’s early fast-food culture. The holy trinity of burger, fries and a shake popularised during this period also endures as an evergreen staple of fast-casual comfort cuisine worldwide. It’s this early stage of burger history that Michael David Hales and Nik Rollison have tapped into with Slim’s Quality Burger, a rapidly expanding player on the scene that revisits the vintage American diner model and delivers a product that harkens back to the sweet simplicity of a bygone era. “To me, simple, fresh and delicious means just going back to the origin, really,” says Michael, when discussing the Slim’s ethos. “We just wanted to take it back to when burgers were first coming out. We wanted to bring it back to that nostalgic time period and what resonates from the era.”

Slim’s Quality Burger has grown by leaps and bounds since launching in 2021, firmly entrenching itself in Sydney with locations in Marrickville, Westfield Sydney and Mount Druitt. The Queensland incursion has started in Moreton Bay at Kippa-Ring, an under-serviced residential suburb with plenty of car traffic that proved ideal for Slim’s to launch its first drive-in location, which marries its nostalgia-laced aesthetic with modern conveniences. “We always envisioned we’d do drive-throughs,” says Michael. “We did a couple of shopping centre stores just to sort of test the model and to get the supply chain under control.” Slim’s blue-and-red exterior (complete with distinctive neon signage) is easily spotted from Elizabeth Avenue, with a glass facade giving passers by a glimpse into the retro-inspired interior dining space, which boasts cherry-red banquettes, vintage light fixtures and a gleaming open-plan kitchen. The restaurant is hemmed in on two sides by nose-in parking spaces, while a conventional drive-through lane cuts around the back. A strip of parking spaces have been given over to Slim’s park-and-order QR system, allowing motorists to have their meals brought out to their car, if desired. “We’ll bring it out to your car, you can use the drive-through, you can obviously dine in or you can web order and pick up and takeaway,” says Michel. “I think people really like convenience, nowadays. Some folks might be on a phone meeting that they don’t want to interrupt – they just want to order from their phone and they can do it right there.”

As for the menu itself (which is overseen by local chef Greg Engelhardt), diners are able to enjoy the full Slim’s menu, which drills down into the simplicity defined by Slim’s retro inspirations and perfected by modern operators such as iconic Los Angeles institution In-N-Out Burger. The team is looking to circumvent contemporary fast-food connotations by going the extra mile – from the farm-grown potatoes that are cut and cooked in the restaurant and the ice-cream churned in-house to the Angus beef patties that never touch a freezer, it’s all about freshness. “We base our foundation on those sort of key brand pillars,” explains Michael. “We’re trying to compete with the massive chains where everything’s frozen and preservative laden. What we’re trying to do is bring a fresh product to a space that hasn’t seen freshness in a long time.” The Slim’s menu reads much the same as its classical inspirations. Leading the pack is the Slim’s Original, a classic cheeseburger boasting a no-frills assemblage of a sizzling smashed Angus beef patty topped with LTO (that’s burger lingo for the standard configuration of lettuce, tomato and onion), pickles and Slim’s spread. Guests can upgrade that bad boy to make it a double (our personal recommendation) or opt for the Bacon Works (with maple smoked bacon), Veggie Burger (boasting a plant-based patty) or the Crispy Chicken Burger. Sides are a must – the hand-cut fries are terrific (and are exceptional when loaded with bacon, cheddar cheese and grilled onion), as are the chicken tenders, sundaes and shakes. Rounding out the Slim’s offering is a range of breakfast items like bacon and sausage breakfast burgers, freshly squeezed OJ and healthy chia puddings, which are currently exclusive to Queensland.

Slim’s Quality Burger is now open to the public, with another site in Slack’s Creek expected to open soon. Head to the Stumble Guide for more information.

The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Brisbane dining guide with more than 2400 places to eat, drink, shop and play.

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