Welcome to Burger Watch, where we acknowledge the constant creativity bursting from all sides of the epic burger wave that regularly sweeps Australia. The highest-of-high demand is reserved for this timeless food staple and just about every interpretation of it, whether it to be an over-the-top glutton-fest or a focus on simple burgers done well. We acknowledge that it’s not just enough to compile a list of the best burger joints for each city, because we all know the cream of the crop have space on their menu for revolving specials. That’s why every now and then we’ll be paying close attention to some of the absolute best burger joints across the country and picking limited edition specials we feel you need in your life, so you’ll never have to miss out again.
This time around we enter Darlinghurst’s Guilty, an open-air burger bar located in Palmer Street’s Republic 2 complex courtyard. Leading the kitchen is Jimmy Hurlston, the man who literally wrote the book on burgers, and the brains behind both Guilty and Melbourne’s multi-level Easeys. His Sydney venue has been met with huge acclaim since it opened about a year ago, offering Sydneysiders and visitors an indulgent combination of no-fuss American-style burgers, loaded hot dogs, and even tater tots. Then you’ve got the specials, and this latest one ain’t no joke.
After first making its way onto the menu for Easeys, demand for the Chicken Sandwich No. 3 unsurprisingly reached boiling-point, forcing Jimmy to bring the special to Guilty’s already fine menu. Why’s it a big deal? Well that’s simple, it’s a god damn Indomie Mi Goreng Fried Chicken Sandwich. Let that sink in for a second.
The burger, which is the third (hence the “3”) in a series of inventive chicken sandwiches, is centered around a juicy piece of fried chicken which has been brined in both hot sauce and soy sauce before being crumbed in house-made mi goreng mixture, then placed in between a bun with kecap manis mayo (sweet soy), pickled wombok, carrot, house-made chilli jam and hot sauce.
“Mi Goreng is a food that we can all relate to. Most people have eaten it at least once”, offered Hurlston. “Some, like myself, used it to get through the darker financial times (read: university)…it was a great staple, add some veggies for a healthy element or have it straight up if you couldn’t even afford veggies”.
While nostalgia no doubt plays a big part in this, the flavour combo has been working incredibly well by all accounts, seeing as the burgers sold like hot cakes down at Easey’s. Hurlston plans to have this heavenly creation on the Guilty menu for the next two weeks, but isn’t opposed to bringing it back depending on sales, in which case it’ll make it’s return at the completion of the four-part chicken sandwich series.
Guilty
Address: 248 Palmer St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Website: www.facebook.com/GUILTYSYDNEY
Hours: Mon-Wed 5:30pm-10:30pm; Thurs 12pm-10:30pm; Fri-Sat 12pm-12am; Sun 12pm-10pm
Image: Guilty
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