Belles is best known for their Nashville hot chicken, so if you love heat, this is the place for you. They have a signature spicy chicken sandwich, which is a favourite, but you can also get a spicy mushroom sandwich crumbed with polenta and has a generous drizzle of good sauce. The prices are affordable too, with a chicken sandwich setting you back $14.50 or the mushroom version for $14.

Voted Australia’s favourite burgers, Paul’s Burgers are a must-try, especially the Famous Works. You can choose from an extensive menu of hamburgers with different toppings, including pineapple. They also offer chicken burgers and a chilli chicken burger with Paul’s homemade hot chilli dollop.

Mister Gee has been known to throw together some outrageous stacks including a burger with doughnut buns. No matter what you get, it’s going to be good. Double the patty, the cheese, and bacon, or keep it simple with a smashed patty, and classic toppings. You can find the truck at Haberfield and North Strathfield.

Butter’s burgers are where you go if you’re hungover and need something greasy, or just want a $15 burger that you know is going to be good—every time. Pick up a fried chicken sandwich with dashi butter, and pickled cucumber or try the spicy version with fire hot sauce.

No one does a dirty burger better than Bar Luca, the burger bar known for creating some of Sydney’s tastiest and craziest burger stacks. They’ve stacked their chicken and beef burgers with everything from fried enoki mushrooms to mozzarella sticks, and a spoonful of mac and cheese. Burgers start around $14 and only go up to $22 for the Mac Daddy, which features a double BL beef patty, double the cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, and BL sauce on a triple BL milk bun.

If you haven’t had a Mary’s burger, you’re missing out on a vital part of Sydney’s nightlife. Mary’s is where you go to listen to live music, drink beer, and chomp down on a Mary’s burger, which is nothing fancy, just good meat, and a good milk bun, for that indulgent, chewy, melt in your mouth experience. Mary’s burgers are legendary and deserve a spot on any best burger list in Sydney.

While Bar Ume, unfortunately, closed its doors, you can still get their crowd-favourite burgers at their Barangaroo and Haymarket outposts, including the Ume Burger. You can also fill your orders with pork katsu, juicy pieces of boneless karaage chicken, and a hand-crumbed fish fillet. Get a side of housemade kimchi and some renkon chips to munch on.

This little burger bar in Crows Nest had a previous life selling lobster rolls but rebranded as Johnny Bird to sell big ol’ dirty American-style burgers. While you can enjoy some wings and tenders, as well as loaded fries, their burgers are the main event. Most of their burgers feature a thick, crispy chicken fillet, or you can get a beef burger. The ‘lost in translation’ is a take on a katsu burger, with kewpie mayo, Tokyo slaw and of course, katsu fried chicken.

Five Guys has cult status in the U.S. and the world, and now it’s made its way to Sydney, and will soon make its way to Melbourne and other major Australian cities. The burgers are simple, and you can choose free toppings such as caramelised onions. They use quality ingredients to make their juicy burgers and don’t forget to add a side of fries. Their claim to fame is filling the bag with fries, every time. Who doesn’t want a handful of free fries at the bottom of the bag?

You can always count on a sports bar to serve a good, big burger. Chubbs Bar offers an American sports bar vibe and a menu with six different burger variations. You will find three different wagyu burgers with smoked bacon, fried onion strings and other favourite toppings. If beef isn’t your speed, try the southern fried chicken burger, Texas fried chicken patty, and a grilled halloumi patty.