Broddogs & Brodburger

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Posted 2015-08-18 by Sue W ⇒ follow

The original red Brodburger food caravan used to be an iconic feature in Bowen Park on Lake Burley Griffin until it closed in 2009. Locals say there used to be long queues for their huge, tasty burgers at the red caravan and people didn't mind the long wait - it was worth it.

The owners - Sascha Brodbeck (hence the name) and Joelle Bou-Jaoude - were hoping with such popularity and a big following they would find equal success in opening up their Brodburger business in 2012 in the historical Canberra Glassworks building nearby.

They shouldn't have worried - it was an instant hit!

Word soon got around and there were lines out the door when they opened, and they are still there today. The success of both Brodburger and Broddogs (more about Broddogs later) is simply they are both based on using fresh and tasty ingredients served with delicious accompaniments at a reasonable price.

Every time I have been past there have been queues out the door and almost every inch of communal seating inside and out has been taken. In particular, Sundays are extremely popular there when the Old Bus Depot Markets are held next door and people wander up from the Kingston Foreshore .

As you place your order you feel like you are in an old American diner with red décor and cute plastic baskets for your meal. Each burger is made fresh so there tends to be a bit of a wait, so make sure you aren't too starving when you arrive.

To keep the kids entertained there are boardgames including Chess, Guess Who, Uno, Connect Four, Trouble….all the old school favourites.

If you can't wait for your order however, there is now a new phone app to order beforehand or order online, see here.

When our burgers arrived we realised we didn't need to order the chips as well - the burger was going to be a meal in itself!

The flame grilled burgers range from $13.50 for either a half pound hamburger patty burger (The Brodburger) or a flame grilled vegetarian burger (The BrodVeg) to the $19.50 Brod Deluxe. In between the two prices there are chicken, salmon and lamb burgers as well as the favourite cheeseburger.

You can see why locals flock to Brodburger - once you have had one it won't be your last. When you order you can choose between Blue, Brie, Swiss or Cheddar cheese and the sauces made us look at each other and say simply, "Yum".

They have little burgers for the kids at around $9.00, as well as special burgers for pregnant mothers-to-be (Brod Mama Burgers) with a well-done beef pattie, egg free aioli, and a choice of Swiss or cheddar cheese (not the blue).

This burger restaurant is a real find - a "must-do" for any burger lover.

Now back to their other venture, the updated red caravan "Broddogs"...

The original red van used by Brodburger in Bowen Park was repurposed and turned into Broddogs in 2014. Originally situated in Belconnen Westfield Carpark, it has since moved to
The Hamlet in Braddon - an area on trendy Lonsdale Street, which consists of other food trucks, pop up shops and markets.

As I visited with our (very excited) daughter Miss Four, we both went with the "puppy" sized roll - plain hotdog for her (called the Aussie Sizzle for $5, larger version is $6.50), whilst I had a hotdog with pickles, corn relish, onions, ketchup and mustard (called the American Dog for $5.50. A larger version would have cost $7.50).

When you place your order you can choose between the plain Vienna Frankfurt or the tasty Spicy Kransky.

There are nine hotdogs to choose from including Chilli Dogs, New Yorker style, Vegetarian dogs or hotdogs without the dog! Ranging from $6.50 for a plain full sized hot dog to $10.50 for a full sized, jam packed hot dog heavy on the toppings, there is something for everyone in your group.

Due to the nature of The Hamlet being a temporary space for a few years for food trucks, Broddogs may move location in the future, so keep an eye on the Brodburger and Broddogs facebook . Also please note the opening times below, as both outlets are closed on Mondays and have varying hours.

I, like the rest of Canberra, will see you in the line at both "Brod's"!