Sonny’s Fried Chicken and Burgers, the diner inside the Curtin Hotel, has been quietly doing its thing for years now. The fried chicken is excellent – and the spicy option is very spicy, be warned – but the cheeseburgers have been steadily gaining traction among Melbourne’s burger circles as the standout. Sonny’s is open for pick-up (pre-order here) and delivery is available on Door Dash and Uber Eats.

Turn your home into a house of love with Leonard’s greatest hits. That famous fried chicken, brisket-and-short-rib cheeseburgers and a host of veg-friendly options are all available for pickup and delivery, plus you can throw in a slab of the house pale ale for good measure.

Melbourne’s only burger joint in a train carriage on a rooftop (that we’re aware of) is pushing its takeaway trade right now. Pickup is recommended, but if you’re not in a position to do so, delivery is available via most of the major apps.

If you like old-school fish’n’chip shop burgers, this is the one for you. We’re talking about lettuce, a fried egg, bacon, tomato, cheese, tommy sauce and the crucial addition of griddle-cooked onions. Pre-order for pickup here or tee up delivery via Deliveroo.

Go for the 8bit burger with cheese, then level it up with a side of loaded fries and an ice-cold milkshake. Pick-up is available from 8bit’s sunny Footscray digs, or the sequel over in Taylors Lakes. It’s also on the big delivery apps.

Burgers, booze and bands – that’s been the premise here since day dot. And years on, the B.East is still delivering. Every ingredient in these burgers is made on-site (except the potato buns). There’s a big range to choose from too, including a very respectable plant-based selection. Order here for pick-up or get delivery via Menulog.

These Shake Shack-inspired burgers are franchise-worthy on their own. The double-stacker beef burger is the clear headliner here, but don’t overlook the perfectly crisp fried chicken. Potato heads: you can get your sprout fix in gem, shoestring or waffle form. Be sure to get some frozen custard, too. All locations are open for takeaway.

From humble St Kilda beginnings Fat Jak’s is now spreading like crazy, taking over everywhere south of the river, one bun at a time. We can see why: Fat Jak’s very satisfying American-style cheeseburgers, Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, New York hotdogs and more are a takeaway no-brainer. Head in for pick-up, or delivery is available on the apps.

Kustom is one of the best takes on the American diner genre in Melbourne. This hot-rod-themed burger joint is the place to go to if you enjoy a tall, old-fashioned milkshake with your burger. Or if you’re just a big Grease fan. Stop by for pick-up or find it on any of the big delivery platforms.

You wouldn’t know it from the outside, but the kitchen in this nondescript warehouse is churning out some of the Bayside’s best burgers. Pillowy buns and smoky, pink-centered patties are the stars – backed up by a roster of Southern diner sides. Pre-order your meal here.

In a town full of plus-sized burgs, the ones at this retro-steeped joint still manage to come in well taller than the average. But size isn’t everything, and these burgers have the quality to match their quantity. There’s baby back ribs and fried chicken, too. Order ahead here.

Pulp Fiction fans will dig the name, but anyone can get around the wares at The Pantry’s epic hole-in-the-wall side hustle. The ratio of filling to bun is on point, which means you’ll have belly space for thickshakes and ice-cream. (Probably. Only one way to find out.) Takeaway is available, and delivery is via Door Dash.

This well-known lunchtime all-rounder puts burgers in pride of place. For fillings, you can choose from grass-fed beef, Southern-style fried chicken or a plant-based Beyond patty. If you’re going for beef, our pick is the Texan: a 150- or 250-gram beef patty with melty cheese, tomato, pickles, lettuce and Ziggy’s sauce. Available for pick-up and delivery.

The extensive menu at this American-style diner is packed with classic options, as well as a few zanier ones. Beef, fried chicken and plant-based patties are all represented, and there’s a killer line-up of sides and desserts, too. Order here for pick-up. Delivery is on all the big platforms.

Danny’s is the second oldest burger shop in Melbourne, after Andrew’s. But it’s kept up with the times – these old-school fish’n’chipper-style burgs are available on Deliveroo. If you live nearby, it’s open for pick-up, too.

Huxtaburger arguably kick-started the Melbourne burger renaissance when it opened in 2012, and it’s still a go-to for many. Better still, there are now five locations dotted around town, so there’s probably one nearby to satisfy your burger cravings. Order pick-up or delivery here.

You can order Juanita’s fried chicken, burritos and renowned brisket cheeseburgers, which we can’t stop thinking about, for pick-up via its pastel-pink website. Delivery is available on all the major apps.

This compact Northcote burger joint and its Coburg spin-off are still serving beef and plant-based cheeseburgers, Southern fried chicken and vegan Cocowhip sundaes all through lockdown. Pick-up is available from the restaurants and delivery is via Uber Eats.