Burger Urge

Burger Urge was started in 2007 by the brothers Sean and Colby Carthew as a small burger restaurant on Brunswick Street in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane’s nightlife district. It grew into a franchise chain of about 30 restaurants in Australia.

It became known nationally less for its burgers than for its advertising. A syringe-themed campaign in 2011 drew complaints, a condom promotion in 2012 was reported as far away as the United States, and ahead of the 2013 federal election the chain launched a joke “Burger Urge party” led by the former AFL player Warwick Capper. Topical burgers followed the news: a “Big Bad Vlad” for the G20 summit in Brisbane and a Donald Trump burger that drew a customer protest on the Gold Coast.

The menu itself is a straightforward gourmet line-up: beef, fried and grilled chicken and plant-based burgers on soft buns, with smashed-beef burgers added more recently, plus craft beer and shakes. The Australian touch is the Big Boppa, with beetroot, pineapple and a fried egg.

About 30 restaurants in Australia, grown from a single shop in Brisbane.

• Ribs & Burgers (Australia, since 2011). An Australian grillhouse chain started by butchers: flame-grilled burgers, Wagyu doubles and racks of slow-cooked ribs. Also built on beef, egg, pineapple and barbecue sauce.
• Lord of the Fries (Australia, since 2004). A Melbourne chip van that became Australia’s all-vegan burger chain. Also built on beef, egg, pineapple and cheese.
• Grill'd (Australia, since 2004). Australia’s “healthy burger” chain, where your change goes to a local cause. Also built on beef, egg and cheese.
• BurgerFuel (New Zealand, since 1995). New Zealand’s cheeky burger chain, with beetroot, pineapple and a burger called the Bastard. Also built on beef, pineapple and cheese.