When three Gold Coast-bred craft-brew-drinking burger-lovers opened Ze Pickle in 2012, they were pioneers. Now with six locations across Southeast Queensland, they are leading the pack. Would you like fries with that? Ze Chips are freaky fries loaded with maple bacon, ZP’s sauce and a saucy IPA beer cheese. Or build them into your Ya Mum burger with Angus Beef, American cheese, and truffle butter. Pulled Pig incorporates BBQ sauce and Mum’s slaw. Pecan Wood Smoked Brisket has Mac ’n Cheese and fried onion straws built in too. Besides a rotating selection of twelve craft beers, there are punchy cocktails galore and a well-considered wine list. 37 Connor St, Burleigh Heads; zepickle.com.

You will be spoiled for choice at Miss Kay’s. Thirteen burgers with a head-spinning range of add-ons and variations join wings and loaded fries on an action-packed menu. Start with 140 grams of Angus. Or don’t. There’s crispy fried chicken (LudaKrisp, Get Clucked, or New Chick), pulled pork (you guessed it – Porky Pig), or you can swap out the meaty bits for a Love Buds plant-based patty. Finally, try Poutine or Mac’ n Cheese in or out of your burger. To wash it all down? Whipped cream-topped milkshakes, cocktails, nine wines and bottled and on-tap beers. 30-34 Fitzgerald Avenue, Springwood; 40 Blackwood Street, Mitchelton; 12/190 Birkdale Road, Birkdale; misskaysburgers.com.

In beautiful downtown Nundah, Soul Brothers believe in keeping it simple. Burgers, Cheese Kransky hotdogs, fries, beer and cider. Fresh, fast and affordable is their mantra. They start with a brisket rump patty, potato buns, and Brisbane’s own Picklehead Pickles. Next, take the spicy route with chilli mayo and jalapeños. That spicy duo make a reappearance on the chicken burger too. Finally, there’s a Veggie burger as well as Doritos Fries. Yes, I said Doritos Fries. Did you even know you needed crushed Doritos on your fries? All with a delicious backing track of soul classics. 1/1220 Sandgate Rd, Nundah; facebook.com/soulbrothersaus.

The name says it all. American Diner Co comes closer than most to the retro US diner. While they offer Atlanta-style ribs, buttermilk buffalo wings, and philly cheesesteak, 11 Angus burgers run from basic to ballistic. The Juicy Lucy sports cheese in the middle, and the Smashed New Orleans is double patties and double cheese, with maple streaky bacon, mozzarella sticks and house-made fry sauce all on a potato bun. Vegans and vegetarians rejoice! vEEF burgers, Honey Cheddar cornbread, beer-battered onion rings and more carb-stacked goodness awaits. And there’s a sweet list of American desserts too. 1/318 Wardell Street, Enoggerra; americandinerco.au.

Ruby Chews Burgers takes its cue from the famed West Coast favourite In-N-Out Burger. However, at Ruby Chews they’re fresher, with extra crisp lettuce and more generous with their mayo-based Ruby sauce than the American burger conglomerate. Of course, the Elvis doubles the beef and the cheese with bacon, pickles and a hit of sriracha mayo. There’s a veggie option, gluten-free buns are available, and for the burger averse, there’s fried chicken, loaded tater tots and three hot dogs. Drinks run from soft to beer, cider and shakes. Riverlink Shopping Centre, Cnr Downs &, The Terrace, North Ipswich; rubychews.com.au.