Broken Hearts Burger Club, Miami: The Brisbane-born cult burger smashers have expanded to the Gold Coast – much to the delight of true burger connoisseurs. There are just two burgers on the menu here (yes, two) and you just choose whether you want your burger as a single, double or triple stack. The Classic features Broken Hearts’ signature patty that’s smashed ultra thin to deliver that crisp charr on the outside, a slice of American cheese, bread-and-butter pickles, and a dollop of house-made sauce on a buttered and lightly toasted potato bun. The Fancy burger is the same, just with the addition of iceberg lettuce and sliced tomato. If you love a proper smashed patty and appreciate simplicity, this is good gear.

Eddie’s Grub House, Coolangatta: Blues, booze and burgers – yep, Eddie’s is the ultimate. While it’s common to see towering burgers full of fried goodness here, the foundation of it all is the double cheeseburger. With the perfect cheese-bun-sauce ratio – the charred 120-gram brisket-and-chuck patties are blanketed in cheese, drenched with ketchup and special sauce, before being rounded out by slices of vinegar pickles. Don’t get us started on the melt-in-your-mouth buns.

Junior’s Deli, Mudgeeraba: You’ll find some of the Gold Coast’s finest burgers tucked away on Railway Street in Mudgeeraba’s quaint village centre. Alongside its offering of stellar sandwiches, Junior’s serves up a series of top-notch grass-fed beef burgers for all tastes and appetites. There’s a simple cheeseburger with beef, American cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles and diced onion, or for a hearty affair, there’s the Bacon Blue Cheese Burger with Swiss cheese, garlic-thyme mushrooms, truffle mayo, lettuce and tomato. One visit and you’ll quickly see why Junior’s has garnered a legion of fans.

Two Yolks, Burleigh Heads: If you’re yet to experience the perfect, crisp, maillard crust that comes from the smashed-patty technique, then get your toosh over to Two Yolks quick smart. The burger slingers have gone to great lengths to source the best ingredients and hone the best techniques to craft their juicy burgers, ensuring satisfaction in every bite. The menu features seven breakfast burgers and eight lunch-to-dinner burgers – our pick is the Sausage, Egg and Cheese Burger in the AM and the classic Meat Cheese Bun in the PM, stacked with double smashed patties, double ‘merican cheese, house pickles and Two Yolks Special Sauce.

Burgster, Palm Beach: These guys know how to craft a seriously eye-popping burger. Get your paws on the go-to grass-fed beef burger topped with Burgster’s special sauce, or if you like to do it low and slow, opt for the smoked brisket burger, which is smothered with BBQ sauce and topped with pickles, red onion and chili jam. The marinated deep-fried bug-tail burger with lemon mayo is also a pretty wild ride.

Iron & Resin Garage, Currumbin: You’ll need two hands to tackle Iron & Resin’s mouth-watering menu of big, fat, juicy burgers. Each burger is named after popular motorbike rides around town, with The Tomewin (beef, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion rings and a slather of So-Cal sauce) and Bilambil (southern-fried chicken, bacon, cheese, slaw and a splash of Sriracha mayo) among the standouts. The team really goes wild with the weekly burger specials, so keep your eyes on its Instagram for the latest mad creation.

The Loose Moose, Broadbeach: Take your burgers seriously? So does the Loose Moose team. Here, the Cape Byron grass-fed, free-range, hormone-free patties are seared and served pink (unless you request otherwise) on organic milk buns. The burger menu ranges from the Classic with crisp lettuce, American cheddar and secret sauce, to the Pulled Pig with cajun onion rings and smoked jalapeno mayo. There’s also a mighty-fine Philly Cheese Rib creation served with warm cheese for dipping.

Freddy’s Chicken Shop, Burleigh Heads: As the name might suggest, chicken is the hero at Freddy’s. The corner eatery is an ode to the old-school milk bars of the 1970s, serving up good old fashioned, wholesome, no-frills eats (crafted with the utmost care and quality, however). There are five chicken burgers on the Freddy’s menu (alongside chargrilled chooks, handmade hot chicken rolls, salads and carvery-style sides) – our favourite is The Double Cheese with grilled and crumbed chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, cheddar, aioli and Freddy’s comeback sauce.

Easy Street Diner, Mermaid Beach: This longstanding burger joint has been slinging the goods on the highway at Mermaid Beach since 2015. The Double Royale with cheese is a must-try at ESD, or you can wrap your mitts around the Chicken Deluxe with fried tenders and special sauce. Throw in a serve of pork-belly nugs and deep-fried pickle poppers, and you have yourself a mighty fine feast.

Paloma, Burleigh Heads: Ok, so we know this isn’t at all a burger joint, but Alex Munoz Labart’s famous La Burger definitely deserves a mention. What started as a Restaurant Labart lunch special has now become a permanent fixture on Paloma’s menu, and boy, are we glad about it. This succulent beauty features a wagyu beef patty, La Pickles, smoked American cheese, Labart’s Mac Sauce and a side of seasoned fries, which can be delightfully paired with a juicy wine from Paloma’s impressive list. Hot tip – on Wednesdays, Paloma slings its burgs for just $14.

Longboards, Surfers Paradise: If you’ve got a big appetite, Longboards is here to fill the gap. With 16 or so different burgers on offer, you’re guaranteed to find something to make your mouth water. The Cheezus of Nazareth is a vibe with a wagyu beef patty, crispy bacon, crumbed cheese patty (um, hello!) lettuce, tomato, pickles and the venue’s own secret sauce. Those up for the challenge can go for the hefty 1.8-kilogram monstrosity known as The Phat Bastard – featuring 600-grams of wagyu beef with literally all of the trimmings and comes in at a round sum of $69.

Ze Pickle, Burleigh Heads: When it comes to epic burgers on the Goldie, it’s hard to go past Ze Pickle, which was undoubtedly one of the pioneers in this space. Keep it simple with the Chee-zee burger or prepare thyself for a mouth bang with the Pablo featuring beef, cheese, guacamole, queso, smoked jalapenos and corn chips. Alternatively, go all out and order the STFU burger – quadruple everything, served between two grilled cheese sambos – good grief.

Custard Canteen, Tallebudgera: Talle Creek dwellers can get their burger fix just a few sandy-footed steps from the water at Custard Canteen. The popular Bob’s Burger is the go-to, with a juicy free-range beef patty, American cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and both barbecue and chipotle sauces – best enjoy with Custard’s extra-crispy fries. For something a little lighter, the Grilled Korean Prawn Burger comes loaded with freshly grilled prawns, pickled veg, chilli, coriander and a punchy gochujang aioli. Save room for a Portuguese custard tart.

Milky Lane, Surfers Paradise: There are burgers, then there are Milky Lane burgers. When the Sydney-born burger joint opened its first Queensland venue in the heart of Surfers Paradise, locals went crazy for the drool-worthy big-as-your-head creations. Those who prefer beef with their burg will love the Lil Weezy with a double smashed patty, double cheese, diced onions, pickles, garlic aioli, Americal mustard, ketchup and cheese gravy, whilst meat-free mates can chow down on The Drake.

2 Bros, Southport: The SoPo locals 2 Bros reckon they sling the best-fried chicken in Australia, and we’re not going to lie – it’s dang delicious. With a range of burgers including The Original (crispy chicken, lettuce, American cheese, pickles and lashings of special sauce), through the food-coma-inducing Triple Double.

Apres Surf Kitchen & Bar, Burleigh Heads: A measly $6.50 doesn’t get you much these days – but it will get you a cheeseburger at Apres on a Monday night. Known for its elevated pub grub and post-surf snacks, Apres is a go-to for booze, bites and cheap (but very delicious) cheeseburgers. If you’re not there on a Monday, there’s still plenty of choose from, including a beef-and-bacon burger, a crispy buttermilk-chicken burger and a tasty vegan schnitzel burger for the plant-based folk.

Crafty’s, Harbour Town: If you’re yet to experience this reimagined sports bar, then let its burgers lure you there. You’ll find a range of well-made burgers here, from the classic Angus beef to crispy fried chicken with cheese with hot-sauce mayo – and there’s even a chickpea and corn burger for the plant-based eaters. All of the burgs come with French fries dusted with spiced salt, and are best enjoyed with a schooner on the side.

Palm Springs, Burleigh Heads: The pastel-hued wonderland that is Palm Springs is also a top-notch burger joint, with crowd favourites including the Fried Hot Chicken Burger with a drizzle of hot honey, and the smashed cheeseburger with an optional pot of cheese for dipping. Palm Springs is licensed so you can team it with a bloody Mary or just dive right in with three different kinds of margarita (chilli, coconut and original).

Last Night On Earth, Southport: If it really was our last night on Earth, spending it sipping beers and devouring epic burgers at this much-loved Southport institution sounds like a pretty solid action plan. The Apocalypse Cow is a simple-yet-delicious choice with housemade beef patty, lettuce, tomato, cheese and sauce, but if you really want to go all out (it is your last night on Earth, after all) go for the Total Annihilation (aka the Vinnies burger) with a hefty stack of beer-braised pork, streaky bacon, pickles, pineapple and slaw. It’s a food coma of the best kind.

Betty’s Burgers, various locations: A juicy Angus beef patty, lettuce, tomato, onion cheese and Betty’s special sauce – so simple, but so damn tasty. If you’ve experienced the deliciousness that is Betty’s Burgers, you’ll know what we’re harping on about here. If you haven’t, you’ve got five locations to get yourself acquainted with Betty – Surfers Paradise, The Kitchens, Coomera, Harbour Town and Pacific Fair. Betty’s also has plenty to suit vegetarian, pescatarian and gluten-free eaters – plus, there’s a brand-new plant-based spicy vegan burger that’s well worth your time.

Did we forget your fav? Feel free to shoot us a line at [email protected] and give us a hot tip!