A food truck in The Catlins has taken out the title of best burger in Aotearoa!
Peake’s Kitchen, a food truck and country store owned by husband-and-wife team Nicole and Tom Peake, has been pronounced the Supreme Winner of Burger Nation, the nationwide hunt for the best burgers in the land.
New Zealanders ate more than 100,000 burgers during the month-long celebration of burgers, and voted for their favourites in four categories: The winners are:
- Supreme Winner | Meat category Winner – Peake Beef Burger, Peake’s Kitchen, Papatowai: Hand-ground juicy prime Hereford steak patty, McClure’s Pickles, double cheddar cheese, Pinot Noir-pickled beetroot, fancy lettuce, creamy garlic aioli and a mustard blend, slathered generously on a grilled fluffy bun.
- Chicken category Winner – Buffalo Chick, Sumner Social, Christchurch: Crispy chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch, smoked cheese, lettuce, McClure’s Sweet & Spicy Pickles
- topped with onion rings on a brioche bun.
- Plant category Winner – The Gypsy Toast Smashed Burger, 507 Eatery, Auckland: Plant-based bacon, Impossible burger patty, Angel Foods cheddar, McClure’s Sweet & Spicy pickles, secret sauce and maple syrup on a potato bun.
- Seafood category Winner – Soul Batter Fish Burger, Soul Batter, Auckland: Two pieces of fresh gem fish, shredded lettuce, tartare sauce and McClure’s pickles on a brioche bun.
The Peakes sold 640 burgers during Burger Nation and encouraged all visitors to their Papatowai spot to order and vote for their burger. That enthusiasm resulted in 591 votes; more than any received for burgers in big cities like Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
“Burger me, what a result!” says Burger Nation co-founder, Nick Brown. “Over 100,000 burgers were served up by our nation’s best burger makers over the competition: good honest burgers made by some proper good people and loved by their punters. It really doesn’t get any better! It was awesome to see my social feeds filling up as people enjoyed some sensational-looking and better-tasting burgers. We’re very grateful to everyone who entered, everyone who supported their local, and everyone who voted.”
Each of the winners will receive a trophy and a supply of McClure’s Pickles.
2025 was the second year of Burger Nation, which celebrates local burger joints, food trucks, bars, cafes and restaurants, and the very special burgers they create, and eateries from the Far North to the bottom of the South island participated. Burger Nation was supported by delivery partner Delivereasy and category sponsors Angel Bay (Meat) and United Fish Co.
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