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.
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.
I’m surprised I don’t already have a post up about this place – I recall with some degree of certainty having an expensive but absolutely massive plate of nachos for breakfast after a run of night shifts back in 2021, a similarly massive meal of a burger and chips in a subsequent year, as well as a lamb wrap earlier this year.
I won’t write about those out of respect for the fact that there’s no way that I could even pretend to remember details about a meal eaten as a first year registrar – that’s why this blog exists, after all. What I do want to tell you about today is the secret, off-the-menu item known as the “kid’s meal“.
This Kids Cheese Burger ($12), an off-menu wonder features a very basic cheeseburger with a beef patty, slice of American cheese and some tomato sauce between a seeded bun, and an ample helping of freshly made fries. Those who frequent this establishment will have become wary of their gigantic servings of mains and chips with every order, and yet we find that the simple kid’s meal provides an adequate portion for adults of most shapes and sizes.
There’s nothing particularly kiddy about the Kids Chicken Schnitzel ($12), which again is a delicious, normal amount of food, that can fill up your average adult, especially if they are on a GLP-1RA. The schnitzel comes out fresh, juicy, and piping hot, as do the chips. Ask for a side of tomato sauce in your order notes and enjoy it in front of your workstation whilst discharging patients if you dare. You may be rewarded.
Order via the phone or the website if you don’t want to face the shame of ordering a kid’s meal in person.
Renegade Burgers is one of many burger trucks on my way home from work, visited by my partner and I a couple of times after late nights and late ward rounds.
Strengths first. The Potato & Gravy Chips ($8) are kind of monstrous. Who would’ve thought that potato on potato would be such a game changer? The mash was creamy, the fries were crispy, and the gravy was just gravy. After having this once, my girlfriend did not allow us to come back without ordering it again.
The better of the burgers that I had was The OG ($13), which I got made into a double (no memory as to how much extra this was) because apparently I want Terumo to make money off my stent in the future. It’s pretty hard to mess up a traditional burger of pickles, American cheese, beef, mustard and ketchup, and this was a solid showing but also did not allow Renegades to differentiate themselves.
I have no particular memory of The Drip ($14), which in all honesty must be a good thing, given what I do remember about the next burger.
The Chilli Chicken Smash ($14) was weak in many ways, most problematically of all in terms of its structural integrity. Beef smash burgers tend to work as a layer of caramelisation and searing holds the overall patty together, however attempting this with a chicken burger did not achieve the desired effect of a cohesive patty. This chicken patty absolutely fell apart, and this, together with the copious saucing, made for a disappointing burger, in my opinion. This would’ve been better as a normal chicken burger.
Koku Culture is home to one of the best brunches I’ve had all year. I’ve never been shy about my love of Japanese-fusion breakfast and brunch foods, and Koku Culture’s tiny Ashfield store fits the bill completely.
The Torched Confit Ora King Salmon Fillet with 63 degree egg ($24+$2) was sublime. Ora King Salmon is always a treat, featuring a rich oiliness and delicate mouthfeel far beyond your average grocery store Tasmanian Atlantic salmon. I try to order some Ora King salmon every now and then from the popular online fish delivery services, and even when cooked inexpertly by me at home the difference is noticeable. Koku Culture’s torched confit king salmon fillet definitely lived up to expectations – tender inside with a slight char on the outside reminiscent of aburi sushi. The miso dressing was tasty but not overpowering, and the green tea soba salad surprisingly refreshing, especially with the egg (a $2 supplement but important) and miso mixed in. This has to be a must-order dish from Koku Culture.
This Crispy Rice Cheeseburger ($15) with Chips and their secret sauce was also fantastic, but in a completely different way to the salmon. Where the salmon felt clean and healthful, this was perfect in terms of sheer debauchery. The rice “buns” were perfectly cirspy and fried out the outside, with a light but slightly sticky texture on the inside – a bit “QQ” as we would call it in terms of Chinese food. The seafood was similarly crispy, enjoyable and not merely for decoration. I opted for an extra patty ($5)(probably wasn’t necessary in this case, and I’d just stick with a single patty in the future) , and both beef patties were cooked to a delicious level of juiciness, mixed in with their special sauce and fresh lettuce. Even the chips were good.
The matcha affogato, which I can’t see on their menu any more, was pretty OK. The ice cream was good, the coffee was black. Mixed together it remained a bit black for my taste.
That’s a good Matcha Brownie right there.
COMMENTS I enjoyed Koku Culture. Definitely worth a visit, but make sure you budget in some time for the queue outside.
UPDATE These guys are now closed forever, before the publication of this review. This is part of why I’ve pushed this review far into the future in terms of scheduling – they’re not going to get more dead. Hopefully Kenji Okuda and Donna Chau can bless us once again something good.
Koku Culture 1/355 Liverpool Rd, Ashfield NSW 2131 0402 697 475
