Beatbox Kitchen, Melbourne’s very own burger truck

There’s been a lot of buzz in the United States about food trucks and so forth but I never considered it to be something I should be concerned with. Although there are many kebab trucks around but I was never all that interested in the concept. Until that is, when I found out about Beatbox Kitchen. Beatbox Kitchen is a mobile food truck that serves delicious burgers and only burgers.

Like any food truck, they drive around to different locations everyday for lunch and dinner but it’s usually in the Inner North such as Carlton, Fitzroy, Brunswick and Northcote. The location will be tweeted and posted on their Facebook page everyday without fail.

You might snicker at the menu on offer (just 2 types of burgers, one beef and one mushroom along with fries) or even at the mere concept of a food truck, but you won’t be snickering (rather you’d be salivating and craving) once you tried them for yourself. I too have joined the bandwagon that’s looking out for their next location at every possible opportunity.

The beef burger is officially called the Raph Burger ($11) which was named after the owner of the truck. It’s a very juicy, flavourful and absolutely delicious burger, albeit being a little on the small side. The ingredients consisted of “grass fed beef, cos lettuce, cheese, tomato, onion and stereo sauce” although I wasn’t too sure what stereo sauce was. The secret of the burger lies in the great beef patty and the classic, no fuss ingredients which everyone loves. It’s just a good old burger that you will want to go back for time and time again.

Yuye had wanted the Raph Burger which I knew he would so while he ordered that I decided to order a Shroom Burger ($10) like a good foodie would. There was only 2 burgers on the menu so of course I had to. I was a little apprehensive in the beginning because I’ve never had a burger with no meat inside but it turned out to be quite delicious. The large portabello mushrooms were fragrant and well cooked, I don’t think I’d mind being vegetarian if I got to eat food like this every day. Although with that said, I still preferred the Raph Burger just because it’s quite irresistible.

We both ordered $5 fries and my it was a lot of fries. I think the wiser option would have been to order 1 portion of fries and throw in another burger as well, half of each burger (especially the beef) was just not enough to satisfy my taste buds and belly! Lesson learnt for next time. :)

There were also a few homemade sauces you could purchase for the chips including mayo, tomato relish, stereo sauce & spicy tomato relish. We got a mayo and tomato relish while I also tried my friend’s spicy tomato relish. They were all fantastic but my favourite is still the mayo.

The owner Raph Rashid also owns another mobile truck called Taco Truck, although I haven’t yet had the chance to visit. Hunting them down is all part of the fun!

One thing I did gather from the experience though is that food trucks will make your food go cold very quickly in winter, so I’m sure there’d be a lot more people lining up during the warmer months. It can also get quite messy as there are no tables, many of our chips ended up feeding whatever animals scoured the floor once the truck left.

Question time: Do you like the idea of eating from food trucks or do you prefer to sit down and eat?

Beatbox Kitchen
Phone: (03) 8060 6664
Various locations – check http://www.beatboxkitchen.com/

Beatbox Kitchen (Food Truck) on Urbanspoon

17 comments… add one

  • Libby @ theveryveryhungrycaterpillar.com September 7, 2012, 4:57 pm

    I love the idea of food trucks and in some American colleges, they apparently have them lined up outside or inside campuses to feed hungry students. I wish they had that sort of thing at my uni!

    I’ve tried Beatbox Kitchen (when it was a permanent fix at Rooftop cinema) but haven’t had the chance to try the other trucks – they’re always too far away! *shakes fist*

    Reply
  • Ming @ sweetandsourfork September 7, 2012, 7:49 pm

    It’s a shame there isn’t more cheap and delicious street food available in Australia. I’ve been meaning to check beatbox kitchen out for a while but they unfortunately roam around the far side of town for me. Is it really as amazing as they say?

    Reply
  • Adam September 7, 2012, 10:21 pm

    This is AWESOME news!!! There is more than a buzz about food trucks in America, it IS America!!
    I love American food and excitied to see more of this style coming to this bland food country of ours!!

    Reply
  • yummychunklet September 7, 2012, 10:23 pm

    I have yet to try any food from a food truck, though burgers could tempt me.

    Reply
  • Parsley Sage September 9, 2012, 3:11 am

    I’m down with a food truck! The gourmet food truck concept hasn’t made it to Cayman yet but you can always find some guy serving jerk out the back of his jitney :) Great review!

    Reply
  • Ali September 9, 2012, 7:37 am

    Food trucks are really popular in America. They haven’t really made it to Adelaide yet, but can’t wait until they do! Sometimes the less there is on the menu, the better!!

    Reply
  • dishcoveryapp September 9, 2012, 1:13 pm

    Love Beatbox Kitchen! This food truck first appeared in December 2009 for festival crowd at Meredith Music Festival and we think its one of the best burgers in Melbourne. Had it many times and still love it.

    Great news is they’ve started going to other areas for lunch:
    :: Docklands (Harbour esplanade, opp. Etihad)
    :: St Kilda (Fitzroy St near Punt Rd corner)
    :: Melbourne CBD! (McIntyre Alley off Little Lonsdale/Melbourne Central)

    Hells yeah.

    Reply
    • Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake September 14, 2012, 3:29 pm

      I agree that’s it’s one of the best burgers in Melbourne! Lipsmackingly delicious. :)

      Reply
    • Brendan September 29, 2012, 10:23 pm

      I would rate the mushroom burger up there with Andrew’s. I would take mushroom over meat every time though.

      Reply
  • Ames September 9, 2012, 8:04 pm

    Ah, I’ve been following Beatbox on Facebook for a while but never seem to be in the right place at the right time… hopefully one day soon since I’m now totally sold on the Ralph burger :D

    Reply
  • Daisy@Nevertoosweet September 10, 2012, 1:07 am

    Ohhh I think I’ve heard of this burger truck before but I haven’t had the chance to try it :) Only 2 burgers and fries on the menu WOW it must be AMAZING for people to go and line up ~ I can’t wait to try!

    Reply
  • kitchenriffs September 10, 2012, 5:28 am

    Food trucks can be really great – there is some incredible innovation going on in some of them. Although typically I’m the sort that likes to sit and be served in a restaurant. Portabello mushrooms are amazing – whenever I’m cooking for vegan friends, I try to sneak them into the menu – they have so much umami flavor that you really don’t miss meat. Fun post – thanks.

    Reply
  • Tania @ A Perfect Pantry September 10, 2012, 12:25 pm

    The burger looks so good. What a fantastic place to discover. I’d go back too.

    Reply
  • Nami | Just One Cookbook September 10, 2012, 5:00 pm

    Food trucks have been really popular, and I haven’t taken the kids to eat (it’s too cold in SF too). You take such amazing photos at night, and now you make me really hungry with your burger photos… :)

    Reply
  • Marta@What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today September 11, 2012, 3:33 am

    What an amazing burgers! They should have one of this trucks in Berlin.

    Reply
  • ChopinandMysaucepan September 11, 2012, 9:19 am

    Dear Jenny,

    Looks like food truck are taking in the dining opportunities in Sydney and Melbourne. I have yet to try any of the ones in Sydney and I think I would only do it if I happened to be within the area and looking for a fast bite.

    Reply
  • Choc Chip Uru September 11, 2012, 4:00 pm

    I am absolutely loving the burger truck idea, it is so cool :D

    Cheers
    CCU

    Reply

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