Smash Burgers, Loaded Burgers & More: What Aussies Are Eating Right Now

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At a glance

Smash and loaded burgers continue to dominate the market as diners seek bigger flavour and visual impact.
Global flavours and creative toppings are replacing traditional builds, offering new taste experiences.
Sliders and breakfast burgers are growing in popularity as venues expand across multiple dayparts.
Innovative bun formats and presentation-focused builds are helping venues stand out while aligning with customer preferences.

Australia’s burger scene is rapidly evolving, shifting from a classic fast-food staple to a culinary showcase. Diners today are seeking premium ingredients, bold flavours and visually impressive builds that deliver both comfort and excitement.

In response, burgers have become one of the most profitable and innovative menu categories in the foodservice industry. Operators are using customisation, global influences and presentation-led builds to capture demand and deliver premium value in a competitive market.

This article explores leading burger trends that are shaping Australian menus right now, from smash burgers to breakfast builds, and how operators are using flavour, format, cheese and presentation to meet rising expectations and drive revenue.

Smash Burgers

Smash burgers have quickly become a defining feature of Australian burger menus, driven by their intense flavour, crispy caramelised edges and unmistakable visual appeal. The cooking technique relies on pressing a thin beef patty onto a hot grill to create maximum surface contact and a golden crust in under a minute.

Because the patty cooks so quickly, every element of the build must perform under high heat, especially the cheese. A fast, even melt is essential to lock in flavour, enhance juiciness and create the signature laced cheese edges that have made smash burgers one of the most sought-after styles nationwide.

The Burger Cheese Hi-Melt slices are designed for exactly this application, delivering edge-to-edge coverage and achieving that distinctive cheese lacing effect that consumers now associate with the smash burger experience.

Loaded Burgers

Loaded burgers are the pinnacle of indulgence. These builds feature multiple patties, layers of crispy bacon, fried chicken, mac and cheese, onion rings and sauces that spill over the edges of the bun. Diners are choosing loaded burgers for the spectacle as much as the flavour. These are dishes designed to be photographed, shared and remembered.

The success of a loaded burger depends heavily on its structure and visual impact. Cheese is the ingredient that ties everything together, both physically and visually. It acts as a binding layer between proteins and toppings, creating a cohesive burger build where each bite delivers a combination of flavours.

Thick Hi-Melt slice formats offer strong melt coverage and hold, helping operators achieve the cheese overflow that defines this trend while still maintaining stability for both dine-in and takeaway service.

Creative Toppings & Gourmet Additions

Australian diners are becoming increasingly adventurous with flavour, as reflected in the rise of gourmet burger toppings. Ingredients like kimchi, truffle mayo, smoked jalapeños, brisket, caramelised pineapple and house-pickled vegetables are replacing basic lettuce and tomato as the flavour drivers of modern burger builds.

With these toppings introducing bold and sometimes contrasting flavour notes, the role of cheese becomes even more strategic. Cheese is not only a topping anymore but a balancing element that rounds out acidity, enhances umami, and adds a creamy mouthfeel.

Hi-Melt cheese slices offer a clean, creamy profile that supports, rather than competes with, gourmet toppings, making them ideal for operators looking to build depth of flavour without overpowering hero ingredients.

Burgers with Global Influences

As Australia’s dining culture becomes more diverse, so do its burgers. Menus feature Japanese-inspired teriyaki burgers, Mediterranean lamb burgers with tzatziki and olives, and Indian-style burgers with curry spices and chutneys. These flavour-forward builds allow venues to differentiate their offering and appeal to culturally curious consumers.

Globally inspired burgers rely on thoughtful ingredient pairings, and cheese plays a subtle yet essential role, adding richness and enhancing texture. Hi-Melt slices offer consistent melt and a neutral base flavour that complements spice-heavy patties and sauces. While the patty and toppings carry the global identity, cheese adds the texture and richness needed to complete the experience.

Sliders & Mini Burgers

Sliders and mini burgers are gaining popularity in catering, events, bars and casual dining venues. Presented in trios or tasting sets, they allow diners to try multiple flavour combinations in one sitting, tapping into the modern desire for variety and shareability. Their small format also offers operators better portion control and menu flexibility, making them a profitable addition without increasing food waste.

Sliders allow venues to test new burger concepts and global flavours without committing to a full-sized menu item. As Australian consumers continue to embrace casual, communal dining and grazing-style menus, sliders are expected to remain a high-margin format across multiple service categories.

All-Day Breakfast Burgers

Brunch culture has become ingrained in Australian dining, and burgers are now part of that movement. Breakfast burgers featuring eggs, bacon, hash browns, avocado and sausage patties are appearing on all-day menus in both QSR venues and cafés. They bridge the gap between comfort food and convenience, capturing traffic from both the breakfast and lunch dayparts.

Cheese is essential in breakfast burgers for its ability to bring together ingredients with different textures and moisture levels. Hi-Melt cheese slices evenly coat ingredients like bacon and egg, preventing the burger from drying out and delivering the indulgence that consumers expect from a brunch-style burger. The consistent melt behaviour ensures a visually appealing result across dine-in and takeaway service.

Unique Buns & Alternative Carriers

Buns have evolved into a point of difference in their own right. Traditional sesame buns are being replaced with brioche and potato buns for a richer, more premium eating experience, while pretzel buns offer a textural contrast that enhances savoury flavours. At the same time, lettuce wraps and gluten-free buns are gaining popularity among diners seeking lighter or low-carb options.

In these burger bun variations, presentation becomes crucial. When the bun is minimal or intentionally simple, the burger’s internal layers, such as caramelised patties, fresh produce, and melted cheese, become the hero elements. Visual stacking and colour contrast play a big role in enhancing perceived value, and Hi-Melt cheese adds texture and gloss to the overall presentation.

A blend of indulgence and innovation is shaping Australia’s burger landscape. Smash burgers deliver nostalgia and speed, loaded burgers redefine visual appeal, and global flavours expand what a burger can be. At the same time, operators are using format shifts, such as breakfast burgers, sliders, and gourmet buns, to increase menu relevance across multiple dayparts.

Cheese remains one of the most powerful tools in the burger category, playing a central role in flavour delivery, visual appeal and burger build performance. For venues looking to stay ahead, using a cheese specifically designed for commercial kitchens, like The Burger Cheese Hi-Melt slices, can help maintain consistency and elevate every burger style trending right now.

Want to execute burger trends with confidence? Explore burger cheese slice formats designed for high-volume service and commercial kitchens.

FAQs

How do I choose the right Hi-Melt slice size for my burger build?

Different burger builds require different cheese thickness. For thin patties like smash burgers, operators often choose thinner slices (200 or 160-count SKUs) for rapid melt. For loaded or premium burgers, thicker slices (120 or 96-count slices) provide fuller coverage.

What makes Hi-Melt cheese different from regular burger cheese?

Unlike generic cheese slices, Hi-Melt is engineered specifically for foodservice use. It melts evenly and doesn’t split, blister or oil off under high heat, which gives operators consistent plating results and faster service times.

Can Hi-Melt slices be used across different cuisines and burger concepts?

Yes. Hi-Melt slices have a neutral, creamy flavour profile that complements spices, sauces, and global toppings without overpowering them, making it suitable for everything from American-style smash burgers to Mediterranean or Asian-inspired builds.