Overview
You no longer need to trek to the end of the Hutt Valley to wrap your mitts around one of Dirty Burger's chunky beef creations. The reincarnation of Jackson Street Burger Co has set up a new neighbourhood burger joint in the heart of the city on Cuba Street.
The Dirty crew opened the doors to its second New York hip hop-inspired spot as the country entered Alert Level 2. Just like the Petone version, this no-nonsense burger joint serves up neon lights, walls of graffiti and deliciously dirty towering creations. But what makes them so good? The beef patties are a mix of ground brisket and chuck, with the default griddling to 'chef's medium' and an 80/20 meat-fat ratio creating that juicy drip-down-your-arm goodness. They always use two slices of cheese to make sure it doesn't get lost, and fluffy brioche buns provide a slightly sweet profile to the savoury fillings.
The flavour-packed menu is led by the namesake 'Dirty Burger' ($14.90), featuring ground beef, cheese, tomato, lettuce, pickles and the signature 'Dirty' sauce. Elsewhere, the 'Coqfighter' ($12.90) packs a thick slab of buttermilk fried chicken, alongside slaw, pickles, jalapeños and 'Dirty' sauce; and the 'Peanut Butter Bacon' ($16.90) is a beef-led creation featuring double bacon, pickles and Pic's maple-infused peanut butter.
On the rest of the menu you'll find popcorn chicken and crinkle-cut fries loaded with everything from rich brown gravy to cheese sauce and diced bacon. Is your mouth watering yet?
Find Dirty Burger Cuba Street at 245 Cuba Street, Te Aro. It's open from 4–9pm, daily.