Wahlburgers is the creation of the Wahlberg Brothers: film star Mark, once of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (put it into YouTube if you’re too young to remember), Donnie, formerly of New Kids on the Block (again, YouTube ’em), and Paul, who as far as we know has never been in a band, which has us thinking he missed out on something growing up. However, he is the man behind the menu and probably the most crucial brother since he is a certified chef.
The doors to their first restaurant Down Under opened in Opera Quays in Circular Quay on Thursday 16 February. According to Good Food, the menu features some of the chain’s signature, cinema-centric burgers but it’s also got a bit of Aussie flavour with Vegemite aioli and a Chicken Schnitty burger. There are also cocktails on the menu, too.
Wahlburgers in Australia is all thanks to the Mustaca family, owners of United Cinemas, who sweet-talked the brothers into the $50m deal to bring Wahlburgers Down Under. We’ll be seeing stand-alone restaurants, as well as in-cinema locations, pop up with up to 20 planned across Australia and New Zealand.
Other locations are already being scouted, like Warriewood on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Byron Bay and further afield in Surfers Paradise. Melbourne will follow with the most likely location being at United Cinema’s Cragieburn location and then Brisbane. Perth’s Rockingham cinema will likely see Western Australia’s first Wahlburgers.
The menu is stacked and loaded with burgers, obviously. Mark’s favourite burger is the Impossible Burger, so there’s something on the menu for plant-based eaters.
The cinema-themed burger chain regularly releases exclusive cinema content back in the US with access to movie trailers ahead of the rest. You can expect something similar here in Australia. At least, we hope so.