The contents of this blog are matters of opinion formed over one more visits. There has been some artistry applied and metaphors and similes should not necessarily be taken literally. All meals are independently paid for - the author has no conflicts of interest to disclose.
It’s been three years since I’ve ordered from John Belvedere, but I’ve only now found these photos on my hard drive and realised that I’ve never written anything about them online.
Unlike the majority of my long-forgotten meals, I can remember my specific feelings about John Belvedere’s burgers quite clearly. They are very good. The cheese burger ($10) – a simple affair of a smash patty, American cheese, onion, pickles and bread was absolutely perfect. The beef patty was tasty and juicy, the cheese American, and the pickles tangy. The bread was soft and compressible, not at all overpowering or bland, making this burger the perfect snack to consume either by itself or with another one (they were running a 2 for 1 special back in 2021).
The beef rib burger ($13) was honestly less good, and it’s probably no great shame that its price has ballooned to $19 over the last three years and it’s fallen off the daily menu. I remember it tasting just a bit drier than the excellent cheese burger, possibly too sticky from the sauce but not moist in the meat.
I’ve only ever ordered delivery from Chicha Burgers in Petersham, so there’s not much I can tell you about the structural layout of what is essentially a food truck in a permanent location on Parramatta Road.
Over a couple of occasions I’ve taken advantage of delivery platform discounts to order their Classico Burger ($12), featuring a single smash patty, American cheese, ketchup, onion and pickles in a seeded bun.
This is actually almost a perfect little cheeseburger with a very generous serving of tomato sauce and pickles giving it a nice tang as well as moistness which balances out the cheese and the oily meat. The fillings cover the majority of the surface area of the bun with no useless empty buns left round the sides.
Its only problem is its compact size which makes $12 a bit of a difficult ask given Chicha Burgers’ close proximity to more value conscious places on Parramatta Rd offering similar fare, for example Cheeseburger Factory which offers double patty burgers for $13.
Luckily the delivery platform deals meant that I was able to get two of these burgers delivered for $17.70 making it cheaper than going in person and thus an attractive value option.
One of the first meals we had in our new place was from Yum Burger, a convenient 0 minute walk around the corner from the Five Dock Coles, and a relatively price-conscious choice for two new mortgagees.
The Classic Aussie Burger ($12) does what it says on the tin. It features a single beef patty, a slice of American cheese, red onions, lettuce, tomato, and some barbeque sauce all sandwiched between a bun. It was of adequate size and flavour for the price – definitely a solid budget pick, but did not do anything to astound.
The hot chicken burger ($14.50) was a bit tastier, owing to the inclusion of jalapenos, chilli mayo, and hot sauce, which all matched well with its healthfully grilled chicken breast fillet. I would not mind having another right now (he says, as he has chicken in the air fryer going in the next room).
The hot chips ($4.50 – small) were thick cut and crispy but ultimately difficult to judge as I didn’t have them immediately after they were cooked (I finished my shop first).
Thoughts The fit out is sleek, clean, and modern, clearly updated in the last few years comparing its current appearance to old photos from Google Maps, though a bit of the pictorial information has been lost from the backlit menu board.
Unfortunately there’s no double patty option on the menu – even the even the “man burger” option announces its manliness through a lack of vegetables and the addition of bacon, but no extra beef patty. Though the portions of meat in the burgers were adequate, a bit of extra meat often goes a long way, and something I feel many wouldn’t mind paying for.
The people working there seem to be the owners however so I suspect they have a bit of latitude when it comes to off-menu additions.
I’ll probably be back.
Update October 2025
I was walking buy and saw an ad out for fried skewers. I had 5 lamb skewers for $7, not really knowing what they would be like. They ended up being less Chinese than I expected them to be (to be fair, there was nothing really indicating Chineseness apart from the guy who runs the store being Chinese), though not completely non-chinese.
The meat was juicy and mostly lean, with one fatty bit but overall less fatty than most Chinese skewers. The flavour was umami with a slight hint of sweetness and saltiness – difficult for me to put my finger on, but definitely not the chilli and cumin that I had hoped (with no good reason to). Not the best, but definitely inoffensive and good value.
Yum Burger Shop 5/133 Great N Rd, Five Dock NSW 2046
I don’t remember the exact set of circumstances that led to me getting an $18 burger and fries right after spending like $100 at the slightly upmarket grocery store across the road, but I did it and didn’t regret it.
The dirty bird ($18), with two pieces of fried chicken, bacon, onion, pickles, peri aioli and a maple glaze was fat, delicious, and juicy. Potentially could only be optimised or ruined (you’re welcome to your opinion on this one) with the addition of pineapple, which I do not believe was on offer.
What really wowed me, even outside of the really good burger, were these chips. I don’t know how or what they did, but they were just so good. So crunchy, and not just immediately crunchy, but even crunchy after a 10 minute drive home. Absolutely delicious, I can still taste them six months later.
I actually had a great Portuguese style grilled quarter chicken here like a year ago that I clearly forgot to write about, but let me now tell you about this excellent burger I had recently.
This Fried Chicken Slaw Burger ($13) was one of the best chicken burgers that I’ve had in recent memory. The chicken was thick and juicy, deep fried fresh to order, which is the only way that you can achieve such a perfectly crispy exterior. The slaw was your average mix of carrot and cabbages, but swimming in a rich creamy mayo that seemed to amplify the creaminess of the slice of American cheese which melted under the heat of the chicken patty soon after this photo was taken. The buns were oiled and grilled on the outside, making it a mess on the hands to eat, but absolutely delicious and probably awful for those watching their macros, as well as anyone a mere five days after their laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The pickles were present and yummy but not out in force today. I will ask for extras next time.
Very solid.
Flame House Co. Clemton Park Shopping Village. 60 Charlotte St, Campsie NSW 2194 (02) 8084 7314
