Burger Challenge at Langridge Store – Hobart, Tasmania

When I think Chapel Street, I think of glorious electrical substations and flannelette PPE!

When you think of Chapel  Street, it’s more likely to be burgers that come to mind!

There must be something in the water up that way to spawn so many burger joints. Ye olde faithful Hungry Jacks is down on the corner of Chapel and Main, while across the road from HJs is the awesome establishment known as Stevo’s. Travel another 600m up Chapel Street though and you’ll find yourself passing by the bright blue walls of Langridge Store.

Langridge Store has proven elusive to this particular burger fiend over the last 12 months. While the praise has never been effusive, little hints here and there, online whispers and the occasional conversation with a local have all suggested that the burgers created at Langridge Store may just be a cut above the rest. I say elusive though because it actually took me three attempts before I was successful in tracking them down!

I was sure I knew what I was doing the first time around. Cruising up Chapel St looking out for hamburger heaven, I ended up standing in line at Steve Voss Super Value Take Away, waiting for what turned out to be an extremely average bain-marie effort. Never again.

My second attempt was even more pathetic. It must have been more than six months later and by that stage I’d somehow translated Chapel Street into Tolosa Street in my mind…! Random, I know. It goes without saying it was an extremely unfruitful lunch time exploration!

On this latest visit though, like a good little reporter I made sure I did my research! Blue walls? Check! Roundabout? Check! Sign out the front that actually says ‘Langridge Store’ (duh…)? Check!

This isn’t your average pokey little takeaway store. There’s acres of space indoors, and on the day I happened to visit I was their only customer, which simply added to the cavernous atmosphere. As I approached the till, complete with gigantic menu board overhead, a friendly voice sang out from behind the grill that she’d be with me in a second. It turned out to be fantastic timing, because the ingredients for a burger with the lot had just been slapped down on the sizzling hotplate!

Despite the early start, the prep time did take a little longer than Stevo’s, but honestly, who can compete with Speedy ‘Stevo’ Gonzalez for a quick and delicious burger? I reckon it was a touch over 10 minutes between placing my order and feeling its warmth soaking into my chilly fingers through the greaseproof paper bag.

After parking the car and opening the bag, I couldn’t help but give an involuntary snort of laughter…

The construction of this ‘burger with the lot’ was most bizarre!

The bun itself was a fantastic choice. With a solid yet forgiving exterior, there were no worries of a burger breakdown. Yet for some inexplicable reason, it had seemingly been cut not just across, but across and up, giving an extra inch or so of bun base on which the ingredients could sit. What initially seemed like inspired genius, in reality turned out to be a double edged sword, because it left less bun on top to cover the ingredients, resulting in what looked like a leaning tower of meat!

Despite this odd arrangement, it worked surprisingly well. Even the most precisely constructed burger, a la The Standard or Albert Road Store can suffer from slippage out the back. To compensate, some say to eat with your knees apart and, commando style, let it all hang out (the ingredients that is…not the lunch meat..oh, never mind…), but for me I don’t like to let any of it go to waste. This Langridge burger held together really well and actually gave it a point of difference over every other offering I’ve had in Hobart to date.

There’s nothing fancy about this burger. Just honest, hearty fillings that have been proven over the years. Crispy bacon, deliciously caramelised onions, warm egg with a runny centre, a couple of slices of roughly cut tomato and a suspiciously rubbery slice of cheese. Forget your fancy chutneys or relish, at Langridge Store it’s either tomato or BBQ sauce from a squeeze bottle!

And then there’s a slice of beef. And another slice of beef. And yet ANOTHER slice of beef!!! Forget the other ingredients, where else in Hobart are you going to get the opportunity to stuff your face with triple beef?! I wouldn’t go so far as saying they’re the best patties in town (Red Jaffa and The Winston are still tops in that department) but they’re better than average AND DID I HAPPEN TO MENTION THE NUMBER THREE?!!!

Put it all together and you’ve got one very satisfying, artery clogging, deliciously drool worthy burger! If you’re in the area and you’ve already tried Albert Road Store, Red Jaffa or Stevo’s, you could certainly do worse than stopping by Langridge Store and giving their version a try!

Overall?

This burger from Langridge Store isn’t going to win any beauty contests, but with a rather unique approach to ingredient preparation, and the tantalising promise of triple beef, it’s an experience worth trying at least once in your life!

Now here’s the clincher…what I haven’t mentioned yet is the price. Forget $10. Not even $9. $8 is still too much…

What if I told you you could get all that tasty goodness for the measly price of only $6!!!!!

That has to be the best value burger in Hobart, hands down! Sure, there are better tasting burgers out there. Some will look better. Others will have more variety in their ingredients. But for sheer value Langridge Store takes the prize, no questions asked!

Taste – 3/5
Patty – 3/5
Bun – 4.5/5
Ingredients – 3/5
Condiments – 2/5
Presentation – 3/5
Stuffable* – Yes
Value – 10/5 (yes, that is totally possible)

Overall – 3/5

*Can you stuff it in your face without a knife and fork?

White Collar Burgers

1. The Standard – 5/5
2. The Winston – 5/5
3. Tasman Quartermasters – 4.5/5
4. Chrome – 4/5
5. Crumb Street Kitchen – 3.5/5
6. pOp Cafe – 3.5/5
7. Burger Haus – 3/5
8. Burger Got Soul – 2.5/5
9. The Squire’s Bounty – 2/5

Blue Collar Burgers

1. Red Jaffa – 4.5/5 (these guys are my sentimental favourite, so they get the #1 gig, despite the equal scores!)
2. Albert Road Store – 4.5/5
3. Budgie Smugglers – 4.5/5
4. Stevo’s Takeaway – 4/5
5. Devil’s Kitchen Cafe – 3.5/5
6. Argyle Take Away – 3.5/5
7. Langridge Store – 3/5
8. Darcy’s Cafe – 3/5
9. Burger Me – 2.5/5
10. Atlantis Takeaway – 2.5/5

Langridge Store Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato