After scouring through the Wellington On A Plate Burger Guide, I’ve narrowed down the 116 contenders to this shortlist of 22. My mission will be to try them all over the two weeks of WOAP! At an average price of $22, I’m going to need over $1000 to try these all (assuming I let my wife join in the fun too!). Maybe I should start a kickstarter, or get Visa to sponsor it? Either way I’m going to give this list my best shot!

I’m excited to try all of these, but these are my top 3 mouth-watering favourites:

My Top Three Burger Picks

DINE WELLINGTON LOCATION

DINE WELLINGTON LOCATION

And now in no particular ranking (just alphabetical), the other 19 equally as tastebud tantalising treats!

ANNAM RESTAURANT – Boa Burger “De la sauce”

Preston’s beef patty with Capital Produce Vietnamese pickled vegetables, red onion, roasted sesame seeds, coriander, mango and three homemade sauces in a steamed ‘Bánh bao’ yeast-rice cake bun (DF, NF)

BACKBENCHER GASTRO PUBA – Little Pork & Rum

Scotty’s Meats pulled pork with sweet ‘n’ sour pickled beetroot and Jamaican rum mayonnaise on a Pandoro ‘Beer & Barley’ bap, with handcut skin-on fries

BEACH BABYLON – No Smoke Without Fire

Chargrilled Angus beef patty with Kāpiti Pakari aged cheddar and jalapeño fondue, Harringtons bacon, Huffman’s Crafty Sauces chilli jam and habanero mustard, with handcut chips. Matched w Garage Project Hakituri

BEBEMOS – Joined in Holy Macrimony

Harrington’s chorizo & Preston’s short rib burger, cheese, bacon aioli, chipotle slaw, on a housemade Mac & Cheese bun w/ sweet & spicy tomato chutney. Matched w Garage Project Hakituri

BIN44 RESTAURANT + BAR – ParrotDog’s BitterBitch Burger

Malt-infused marinated chicken breast with bitter and hop flavour-basted pork sausage and aromatic ‘hopped sea salt’ chips. Matched w Garage Project Hakituri

CARRELLO DEL GELATO – It’ll be sweet!

Carrello del Gelato chocolate patties with Bohemein white chocolate cheese, passionfruit mustard and raspberry ketchup, in a Clareville Bakery doughnut

CHARLEY NOBLE EATERY & BAR – Charley’s Trap

Wagyu beef patty with trashcan gypsy-smoked Preston’s bacon, chimichurri, On Trays gruyère, truffled mayonnaise, cucumber pickle and salad (GF)

COENE’S PROVISIONS – The Krabby Patty

Salt and pepper soft shell crab with razor tooth coriander, iceberg and garlic chives with a chilli, lime and palm sugar dressing, in a Zaida’s black seed milk bun. Matched w Garage Project Hakituri

DRAGONFLY – Canton Burger

Cantonese Char Siuflavoured pork patty with ginger, garlic and ground bean barbeque sauce on a Pandoro sesame bun, with glutinous rice chips and kimchi dip. Matched w Garage Project Lola

FURNACE RESTAURANT – Crackle and Hide

Roast pork with gravy, caramelised onions and wilted spinach in a Yorkshire pudding bun, with crispy pork rinds

LOUIS SERGEANT SWEET COUTURE – Le Canard Du Roy

On Trays duck confit and duck liver parfait with Capital Produce zucchini, citrus and micro-herb salad, prune chutney and truffle mayonnaise in a truffle brioche bun. Matched w Garage Project Aro Noir

MUNCHEN FOOD HALL AND BIER HAUS – The Blitzkrieg Burger

Thick-cut Cabernet Foods Bavarian meatloaf with apple sauerkraut and beer mustard on a Brezelmania onion roll, with fat chips and goulash salt (DF). Matched w Garage Project Pils ‘n’ Thrills

QUEEN OF JACKSON – Hong Kong Handover

Bidvest beef patty with duck liver mousse, pickled fennel, cucumber, Kāpiti Pakari smoked cheddar, and cashew and chilli sauce in a Hong Kong milk bun, with Harringtons pork scratchings

THE ARBORIST ROOFTOP BAR & EATERY – The G.C.B.

Chilli garlic grilled chicken thigh with lime-spiked yoghurt, almondcrumbed tomatillos, iceberg lettuce and housemade tomato relish in a croissant bun, with kumara chips. Matched w Garage Project Persephone

THE BANGALORE POLO CLUB – Vietnamese Burger

(Bánh mì) Preston’s chicken with crisp bacon, fresh coriander, pickled radish and jalapeño mayo, with shoestring fries

GASWORKS – Summer Sandwich

Preston’s mince patty with a smokey whiskey barbecue sauce, avocado and mango salsa with Six Barrel Soda Co. ginger soda battered pineapple fritter in a brioche burger bun (GF option, DF)

THE GREEN MAN PUB – The Hurricanes Bus Burger

Inspired by Julian Savea: Meat Direct pulled pork and finger licking coconut milk ‘fried’ chicken with pineapple slaw and chilli mango salsa in a black ’n’ yellow Brezelmania bun

THUNDERBIRD CAFE – ThunderHog Heaven

Island Bay Butchery ‘thunderspiced’ pulled pork with grilled pineapple, jalapeño relish and slaw in a Pandoro ciabatta bun (DF). Matched w Garage Project Pils ‘n’ Thrills

TI KOUKA – TKFC burger

Organic crispy fried chicken with kimchi salt, smoked cheese slice, tomato jam, Longbush Pork ‘tasso’ ham, and Wairarapa Eco Farm coleslaw ranch dressing in a Leeds Street Bakery bun (NF)