The secret behind the pub crowned home of NSW’s best burger
The secret to the best pub burger in New South Wales comes down to house-made patties, premium cuts of beef, and frying chips in cottonseed oil.
Oran Park Hotel took out the fiercely contested Best Burger title at the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) NSW Awards for Excellence, also securing the coveted Metropolitan Hotel of the Year crown.
Oran Park Hotel took out the fiercely contested Best Burger title. Oran Park Hotel
Sam Youngs from Oran Park Hotel said their award-winning creation stands out from the pack because the kitchen prioritises using quality ingredients, and focusing on value for money.
“A big part of it is that we 100 per cent make our own burger patties,” Youngs told nine.com.au.
Oran Park Hotel also secured the coveted Metropolitan Hotel of the Year crown. Oran Park Hotel
“The burger itself, we use Wagyu topside and brisket. We mince it all ourselves, and you really get that flavour from the brisket.”
The pub’s flagship Deluxe Burger features two house-ground patties, aged cheddar, maple bacon, truffle mayonnaise, onion rings, tomato, and lettuce, all stacked inside a soft potato bun and served with chips for $32 for members. The venue dishes up between 40 and 50 burgers every day.
The side of chips receives just as much attention to detail, fried in cottonseed oil rather than standard oils to achieve maximum crunch.
“Most places will use canola, but with cottonseed you can get it a little bit hotter, so you get the fries a little bit crispier. We also have our house seasoning blend that we put on our chips.”
Judges from the AHA visited the venue incognito to decide on this year’s winners.
The pub’s flagship Deluxe Burger is a towering meal featuring two house-ground patties. Oran Park Hotel
The accolade caps off a remarkable run for the venue, which opened in December two years ago.
On top of winning Best Burger and Metropolitan Hotel of the Year, the pub also finished runner-up for its rooftop bar, which opened roughly 18 months ago.
The Deluxe Burger sits alongside a diverse burger and sandwich selection designed to cater to every appetite.
“We have our standard OP burger if you’re not too hungry, the Deluxe Burger, and then a triple bacon cheeseburger,” Youngs said. “Then we go into a Philly brisket cheesesteak on a long roll, a massive club, and an Italian sandwich. We have quite a range in that category.”
The Deluxe Burger sits alongside a diverse burger and sandwich selection. Oran Park Hotel
Despite cost-of-living pressures, Sam noted that local pubs continue to hold a special place in patrons’ budgets.
“In the past, when you have economic times where people are struggling a little bit more, pubs seem to be less affected than some places just because you do get that value for money,” he said.
The AHA NSW Awards for Excellence drew more than 850 nominations across 47 categories, highlighting the resilience and scale of the state’s hospitality sector.
AHA NSW CEO John Whelan praised the calibre of this year’s field, noting the immense social and economic footprint pubs leave across New South Wales.
The AHA NSW Awards for Excellence drew more than 850 nominations across 47 categories. iStock
“These hotels range from mum and dad operations in the most remote parts of the state to multi-level entertainment precincts in our nation’s greatest city,” Whelan said.
“They directly employ 72,000 people, raise millions of dollars for charity each and every year, and add $6.8 billion in value to the NSW economy. I would like to congratulate all our hotels for their work throughout the year, particularly today’s award winners.”
