NY chef David Chang says Aussie burgers are world's worst

The classic Aussie burger with an egg and beetroot is also common in NZ. Photo / 123RF

Momofuku restaurant founder, David Chang, has slammed one of Australia and New Zealand's most classic burgers and one Aussie chef is not happy about it.

New-York based Chang owns the Momofuku restaurant series around the world, including Momofuku Seiobo at The Star in Sydney in 2011.

It was in a post on his food journal The Lucky Peach in which he called the burger the worst in the world, and his issue appeared to be less with the burger itself but more about what goes on top of it.

"You know who f**ks up burgers more than anyone else in the world? Australians. Australia has no idea what a burger is. They put a fried egg on their burger. They put canned beetroot on it, like a wedge of it. I am not joking you. This is how they eat their burger," he wrote.

But his comments haven't gone unnoticed in the Australian restaurant world with one chef, Josh Nichols of Milk Bar by Cafe Ish in Redfern, Sydney, calling Chang out for his taste.

"This is from the guy who likes artificial s**t. He's in favour of MSG," Nichols told AAP.

Nichols' restaurant specialises in American cuisine, including burgers, and he makes his own burger patties and buns.

"Maybe David Chang should come and have my cheeseburgers," he said.

But it wasn't all bad news for the egg and beetroot burger as far as Chang was concerned. The chef did find one acceptable Australian restaurant, in a suburb in Sydney's west, for his specific tastes.

"There are a few notable exceptions to this, like Mary's in Newtown," he said.

The chef also said he doesn't hate all Australian cuisine.

"Australians: I love your country and I love your food, even if your burgers are mostly terrible," said Chang.

- AAP