Beatbox Kitchen Brunswick

Beatbox Kitchen is Melbourne’s original burger truck. The fleet has been cruising around since 2009. The shop (established in 2017) serves a slightly different purpose. Yes, you can still get the substantial Raph, Chilly Billy and Shroom burgers that Beatbox is known for.

But now there’s the Cheeseburger (with pickles and onions) and the Veg Supreme (pickles, onion, lettuce); two squishy, savoury, dinner-roll-sized burgers priced at $6 apiece. They’re great as a snack, or a kids’ meal.

The Veg Supreme took 12 months to develop. The patty’s exact ingredients are “a bit of a secret”, but we know it contains legumes and vegetables cooked to varying degrees to mix up the texture. The patties are cooked on a separate grill to avoid cross-contamination. All the beef is halal in deference to the local Islamic community.

Lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños can be had for free in any burger; and there are fries or steamed green beans on the side. Drinks include cans of Coke, Rockies sodas and classic milkshakes.

Like Juanita Peaches, owner Raph Rashid’s other burger joint nearby, the setup is disarmingly simple. One long, bare white room, some plants and a table-tennis table. There are two places to sit: picnic tables, or on a stool at the gleaming stainless steel bar, where you can banter with the cooks.