A Filipino-inspired burger from Wellington’s Lazy Juan has been crowned the winner of Burger Wellington 2026 after a record 35,645 public votes were cast.
The Marites, created by chef and Lazy Juan co-owner Archie Juanta, beat four other finalists in a live cook-off at Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand.
More than 245 burgers appeared on menus across the Wellington region during this year’s competition, with organisers estimating about a quarter of a million burgers were eaten between August 3 and 23.
The public vote determined the five finalists before the winner was decided by judges George Motz, Dominique Fourie McMillan of Floriditas, Papa’s Smashies founder Piripi Baker and Dustyn Ford of Double Vision Brewing.
Juanta and his wife Maru opened Lazy Juan on The Terrace in December 2022.
“We were finalists alongside some incredible chefs, so we weren’t expecting to win,” Juanta said.
“We want to thank everyone who voted for us for their support, which is helping us bring Filipino food to the fore in Wellington.”
The winning burger features a smashed beef tapa patty with ube cream cheese, baby rocket, sinamak balsamic reduction and calamansi honey aioli in an Arobake brioche bun. It is served with garlic fried rice noodles and buttered corn.
Its name, Marites, comes from a Filipino term for someone who always knows the latest news and helps spread it.
Bellbird Eatery’s Lamb-da Rassa Pao finished second, while Porirua’s Elemental Eats took third place with What’s The Buzz?
