Where to Find the Best Vegan Burgers Christchurch

A Bacon Bros feed always comes to mind when you can’t decide what to eat. This is a popular burger joint for Cantabrians whether or not you have carnivorous tendencies. Luckily for us plant-powered babies they offer us four vegan burgers, all dripping with Andy’s mum’s vegan aioli (who is Andy? We’ll never know) and rich BBQ sauce.

With combinations like the Bryan the Fireman burger (jackfruit, pineapple and avocado with a hash brown), or more of a classic chicken burg like Big Jim’s Ex GF (vegan fried chicken, hashbrown, DF cheese, lettuce and avocado). You’ll find one you love.

When we crave a burger, Bonobo makes the ones we fantasize about. Crispy, soft buns with the perfect amount of sauce-to-filling ratio. While they have three on the menu, the Boss Burger is our favourite. The hashbrown adds that perfect crunch alongside the cheese-covered “meat” patty. Then it’s topped with a generous-sized pickle. We’re frothing.

They also have their classic “Bonobo Burger” which is built with basic (but perfected) ingredients. Tomato chutney as the base, then their “Bonobo Patty” topped with cheese sauce. On top of that is gherkin (we love pickles here), beetroot and some greens. Finished with that sweet, caramelised onion and of course, vegan aioli – essential to any vegan burger.

Barefoot Eatery is for you if you’re more into health and whole foods, refined sugars and all that jazz.

They have one burger on the menu as well as a toasted sandwich (which we’ll consider burger-ish). Their burger is a Barefoot staple. Using chickpeas for the patty, satay sauce for a point of difference, slaw and roast pumpkin, you’re eating goodness! Their buns are fresh, gluten-free (you can’t tell), kumara sourdough.

Even if you’re not a ‘health vegan’, this eatery makes tasty food that leaves you and your conscience feeling good.

If your meat-eating-mates insist on eating at Black Burger, do not fear. They have one vegan burger on their menu, especially for us plant-based folk.

It’s pretty basic, but basic is sometimes all we need! Soft bun, crispy lettuce, gooey cheese, pickles, and The Brothers Green Vegan Patty. The patty is hemp-based, made from hemp hearts and hemp protein powder, along with mushrooms, nuts, seeds, and spices. It’s really yummy, even more so drenched in cheese!

When we visited, they cleaned the grill specially for us. However, it was towards the end of the night so we’re not sure if they do that every time (you’d have to check!).

Fully plant-based restaurants excite us, which is why we regularly find ourselves coming back to Grater Goods! Whether it’s for family dinner outings, date nights, or just catching up with old friends. Grater Goods burgers are always on the menu.

The Fricken burger is our favourite. However, the KFT burger is super popular too! The Fricken is made with their very own crumbed “chicken” patty (seitan), with lettuce, tomato, pickles and cheese (we always add the facon…you’ve got to do it!). And the KFT (Kentucky fried tofu) burger is a little more basic, with juicy spiced tofu, lettuce, dill pickles and vegan aioli.

Grater Goods also always has a burger special which changes regularly. You’ll have to find out yourself by going in!

Now, we’re going to admit it. Portershed probably serves some of the best burgers Christchurch has in town. Genuinely, we’ve witnessed vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike all eat one of these burgers and watch their minds be blown.

They’ve got a variety of hot, fresh burgs (all vegan!). Like their Quarter Pounder (if you like faux meats then you really can’t tell the difference!). There’s the Breakfast burger which has hash sticks, a water chestnut and oat patty, some greens, and cheese baked onto the bun. The Hash Attack burger (Gabby’s favourite) not only has hash sticks, but a rosti, with melted cheddar, gherkin and sriracha mayo.

Then they also have fresh subs from the cabinet. With options like “chicken” and pineapple, corn pattie and salad, a BBQ jackfruit sub and even a sub with cauliflower nuggets. There are so many more, so start making your way through them!

Food trucks that serve food so good and so realistic that meat-eaters can’t tell the difference between a vegan burger and a beef burger get points in our books. Saucy Kiwis make a vegan quarter-pounder burger dripping with cheese that has the carnivores begging for a bite.

Pictured is the Western burger, which is perfect if you want something smokey, meaty, and filling. A “beef” patty with facon, onion rings, cheese and BBQ sauce. Basic. Beautiful. Mwah.

They also have done a vegan variation of a KFC burger, with plant-based “chicken”, pickles and aioli. Find Saucy Kiwis at your local market or festival, as they can pop up with their food truck anywhere!

Shaka Bros offers four vegan burgers Christchurch can pick from when you’re hunting for fresh, wholesome eats. Nicely priced too, with the plant-based selection ranging from $14-18.

They use coconut bacon as their bacon substitute, which is interesting! Different to facon, it’s got a very subtle coconut taste but the texture is like coconut chips. The flavour is brilliant, and actually, the little crunch is perfect in the Hakuna Matata burger. This burger also has roasted kumara, beetroot, and other salads like lettuce, avocado, and tomato topped with apricot sauce! A bit different, but fresh and nutritious.

They also have a burger with fried pickles, a hashbrown and kumara (Pickle Rick…so good!), and one with a veggie patty and jackfruit (Boom! Boom! Nutriboom! … that’s the name of the burger).

Slick Burger offers a range of vegan options from their takeaway restaurant. The buns are large and fluffy, and there’s plenty of sauce and cheesiness to cover the patties.

Slick uses a selection of vegan cheeses like cream cheese, mozzarella and colby which is essential in any burger!

They have two different vegan patties. One is a house-made kumara-pumpkin-potato patty, and the other is potato and herb. Then with guacamole or cranberry jam alongside fresh veggies and greens, you’ve got yourself a decent burger.