Overview
After years of roaming the streets in a food truck, Wise Boys Burgers finally has a forever home in Auckland. Brothers Tim and Luke Burrows set up the vegetarian venture three years ago when, tired of eating mediocre veggie burgers, they hit upon the idea of creating next-level plant-based ones themselves. From there, they hit the road in a food truck built out of recycled scrap metal and pallets. It turned out they weren't the only people wanting quality and choice when it came to plant-based burgers, and Wise Boys quickly became the pop-up food truck to look out for.
Fast forward to 2019 in an unassuming space on Great North Road, and this is where you'll find the brand's new outfit. The space predominantly operates as a takeaway joint so has a no-frills feel about it, but there's a handful of wooden tables for those eating in, some plants to make it feel homely and their slogan "Make Burgers Not War" stencilled on the wall. The menu is still perfectly streamlined with just four classic and four fancy burgers, plus sides and shakes. And in keeping with their 100 percent sustainability ethos everything comes in compostable packaging.
We ordered the Crispy Fried Chick ($14.50) and the Classic Cheese ($13) with fries ($5) to share. It was a short wait for food, and an even shorter eating experience. The fries were cooked perfectly with just the right amount of seasoning. The Crispy Chick (made with a chickpea patty) was delicious, with the same texture you'd expect from a chicken burger and a light spice in the coating. The sriracha mayonnaise was a nice addition, while the generous serving of pickles added the perfect amount of tang. The Classic Cheese burger was equally enjoyed with a thick spread of American mustard really highlighting the kidney and black bean patty.
This corner of Great North Road might seem like an odd choice of location, but the brothers have cleverly situated themselves in a vegan hotspot, with Tart Bakery directly opposite and The Vegan Shop just around the corner on Williamson Ave. Wherever you're based, it's worth making the trip to Wise Boys for a mouthwatering plant-based feed.