Okay so lunch in the CBD. You know how it goes. You’ve got maybe half an hour, sometimes less if a meeting’s run over, and there are literally a hundred places within a five minute walk and somehow you still end up standing there scrolling your phone deciding nothing. So we made a list. Nothing fancy, just the spots people around here actually go to on repeat, plus our own place too obviously, Better Burger Auckland CBD on Custom Street East. Would be weird to write this and not mention it.
The city centre honestly has a ridiculous amount of good food crammed into not that much space. Little cafes down side streets, dumpling counters, burger spots, restaurants right on the water. We’re not going to pretend to be unbiased about the burger thing, we obviously think ours is worth your lunch break, but we tried not to just turn this into an ad for ourselves either.
Why Everyone Fights Over Lunch Tables in the CBD
Queen Street, Britomart, Commercial Bay, the Viaduct area, all of it packed close together. Around 12:30 every day it’s basically a small war for tables, office workers, students, tourists, all of them wanting the same seat at the same time. And honestly that competition is a good thing for you as the person eating. If a place is mediocre it just doesn’t survive here, there’s too much else on offer, people won’t bother coming back twice.
So whatever you’re after, quick and cheap, sit down and take your time, or just the best burgers in Auckland without waiting forever, there’s something for it here.
The Spots Worth Knowing About
Better Burger, Custom Street East — gonna start with this one since it’s the whole reason you’re on this page. Our better burger auckland cbd store sits right in the middle of everything, and everything’s cooked fresh to order, 100% New Zealand beef, buns baked that same day (not shipped in weeks ago, actually baked fresh), sauces made in house. It’s quick enough to fit an actual lunch break but doesn’t feel like you just grabbed whatever was closest. Open 11am to late, every day of the week, so it doesn’t matter if lunch happens at noon for you or gets pushed back to 3 because your meeting ran long again.
Ekiben is a little spot tucked in next to The Civic doing Japanese bento style boxes, and the specials rotate day to day so you’re not stuck eating the exact same thing every single Tuesday like some people end up doing. Bibimbap, yakitori, that kind of thing. Cheap too.
If you want something a bit lighter, Zeta Greek Kitchen does souvlaki wraps and Mediterranean salads, still filling, won’t put you to sleep at your desk after though which is always a risk with a big lunch.
Sumthin Dumplin, dumplings, does exactly what it says. Honestly one of the more underrated lunch moves in this whole area, cheap pack of dumplings and you’re sorted, decent range of fillings too.
Sandwich person? Fitzroy Deli does actual house made bread, none of that plastic wrapped stuff, fillings like salted beef and vintage cheddar. Simple but done properly, which is more than you can say for a lot of sandwich places honestly.
For the days lunch turns into more of a thing, client meeting or catching up with someone, Mr Morris down in Britomart is relaxed but still feels a bit put together, works either way.
And Soul Bar right on the Viaduct, been around for years now, works for a birthday lunch just as well as it does for trying to look good in front of a client.
All good options honestly. But if what you actually want is something fast and filling and made properly instead of just thrown together in two minutes, the best burger auckland cbd has to offer still holds its own against everything else on this list, no contest really.
Why People Keep Coming Back to Custom Street East
We’re definitely not the only burger place around, so here’s the actual reason people keep choosing this one over the others, not just us talking ourselves up.
It’s real New Zealand beef, not something frozen months ago and shipped over. Buns are baked fresh daily, and yeah it sounds like a small detail until you actually taste one, then it’s obvious.
Service moves fast too, which matters more than people give it credit for on a lunch break. Everything’s made fresh but you’re not stuck standing there watching the clock while it happens, which nobody wants.
There’s a solid vegan and vegetarian range sitting right there next to the regular menu as well, so a group lunch doesn’t turn into some whole debate about where everyone can actually eat, that’s happened to all of us before.
And the packaging’s fully compostable. Small thing maybe, but if you’re ordering takeaway a couple times a week it does add up, and it’s nice not having to think too hard about where it all ends up after.
Basically if you’re trying to work out where to grab the best burgers in Auckland on your lunch break, this is exactly what it’s built for. Fast enough for half an hour, good enough you’d come back on your day off too, which people actually do.
Better Burger Auckland CBD: Location & Hours
- Address: 22 Custom Street East, Auckland CBD
- Phone: 09 283 0888
- Hours: Open 7 days, 11am – late
- Order online: Order now, or through Uber Eats and DoorDash if you’d rather it just turned up
FAQs About Lunch Spots in Auckland CBD
What’s the best area in Auckland CBD for a quick lunch?
Queen Street, Britomart, and around Commercial Bay all have a decent cluster of places within about five minutes of each other, so that’s usually your best bet if you don’t want to wander too far from the office.
Where can I find the best burgers in Auckland CBD?
Better Burger’s Custom Street East store is probably the easiest option in town for a proper burger, fresh local ingredients, and service that actually moves during the lunch rush instead of leaving you standing around.
Is Better Burger Auckland CBD open for lunch every day?
Yep, seven days, 11am until late. Works whether it’s a weekday lunch break or you just want one on a Saturday.
Are there vegetarian or vegan options at Better Burger Auckland CBD?
There are, right alongside the regular beef range, so a group with different preferences can still sit down together without it turning into a whole thing.
How do I order from Better Burger Auckland CBD?
Through the website or the app directly, or Uber Eats and DoorDash if you’d rather it just showed up at your desk instead of walking down.
The CBD’s never been short on lunch options, it’s short on time, and that’s basically why a fast, honest burger wins out on most weekdays. Next time you’re stuck deciding where to eat between meetings, just walk over to Better Burger Auckland CBD on Custom Street East and see for yourself. Short walk, easy order, and it’s pretty clear pretty quickly why people around here keep putting it near the top when it comes to the best burgers in Auckland.
Order now or just drop by the Custom Street East store today.
