Mapo handmade burgers with double patties: Quokka Bite

Where is Quokka Bite?

Quokka Bite (쿼카바이트) is an Australian-style handmade burger restaurant between Daeheung and Gongdeok stations in Mapo-gu. Its address is 1F, 11 Baekbeom-ro 24-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, about a 7-minute walk from Exit 3 of Daeheung Station.

It was on a quiet alley lined with small restaurants and cafés. I liked the calm feel of the alley, and the large quokka painted on the exterior stood out.

What are the size and atmosphere like?

The compact interior had about four tables. There was a kiosk at the entrance, and behind it I could see the staff making burgers.

When I visited, the cooking area looked clean. I also liked being able to watch the burgers being made.

Quokka dolls, cups, bowls, and other small items were placed around the restaurant. They were fun to look around at before or after eating, and I heard that some items were also available to buy separately.

The owner's Australian culinary school diploma was also displayed on the wall. Knowing that the owner, who graduated from an Australian culinary school, runs the restaurant made me curious about the food.

What is on the menu and how do sets work?

The menu was divided into burgers, sides, drinks, and bottled beer. Burger choices included the Grilled Quokka Burger and Double, Quokka Crispy Chicken, Nashville Quokka Hot Chicken, and Quokka Shrimp Burger.

Sides included French fries, butter garlic fries, handmade chicken tenders and hot chicken tenders, sweet potato fries, and onion rings. There were soft drinks and milkshakes, and bottled beer was also available.

According to the information at the time of my visit, adding ₩2,000 to an individual burger turned it into a set with a side and drink.

I ordered the Grilled Quokka Burger set and the shrimp burger. I paid an extra ₩500 to switch the set's fries to onion rings.

How did the double-patty and shrimp burgers differ?

Was the Grilled Quokka Double too rich?

Of everything I ate, the double-patty burger was my favorite. The bacon, patties, cheese, tomato, and lettuce came together rather than feeling separate. The slight heat of the chipotle sauce cut through the richness, so the thick patties felt less heavy than I expected.

Compared with American-style burgers I have tried, it felt less rich, with a good balance of meat and vegetables.

Does the shrimp burger have whole shrimp to bite into?

The Whole Shrimp Quokka Shrimp Burger was introduced at ₩11,900. Its shrimp patty was thick, but rather than having springy bites of whole shrimp, its texture was closer to finely chopped shrimp, like menbosha (fried shrimp toast).

The shrimp flavor and aroma came through quite strongly. The red cabbage salad inside was crisp, which kept the burger from feeling too heavy or becoming tiresome quickly.

How were the ₩500 onion rings?

The set's standard fries could be changed, for an additional charge, to large fries, onion rings, sweet potato fries, or butter garlic fries. Since I am not especially fond of fries, I paid an extra ₩500 for onion rings.

The onion rings were crisp outside, with gently sweet onion inside. The batter was neither too thick nor greasy, so they worked well alongside the burger.

What kind of meal is it suited to?

The burgers were thick and fairly substantial, so one burger alone was enough for a full meal for me. I thought it would suit a date or a meal with a friend in a quiet alley.

When I visited, some guests were enjoying only fries and beer without burgers. The atmosphere felt relaxed, so I thought it could also work for stopping by for a casual beer. There is outdoor seating as well, so eating outside could be nice on a pleasant day.

On a weekday afternoon, I was able to visit without a reservation. Parking is available, and there is a restroom.