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Just Open: Royal Stacks, Brunswick

Nola James

The menu at Melbourne's Second Royal Stacks outlet is halal.
The menu at Melbourne's Second Royal Stacks outlet is halal.Supplied

We didn't think we'd be covering another Melbourne burger shop any time soon, but Dani Zeini​ of Royal Stacks (Collins Street, CBD) just gave us a reason to change our minds.

Zeini, who helped bring Grand Trailer Park Taverna, Easey's and Truck Stop Deluxe to Melbourne, has opened a second American-style burger joint on Sydney Road and he promises us that, for now, the whole shop meets halal requirements: no booze, no pork and GMO-free halal certified beef from Vic's Meats.

Zeini says lots of customers had been asking if he could do a halal burger and the Brunswick store is a test case. "We'll just see if this is something people really want."

Say cheese: Cheeseburger and cheesy potato gems.
Say cheese: Cheeseburger and cheesy potato gems.Supplied
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He's unsure where the concept is headed, but he'll be listening closely to customer feedback in the coming weeks. If it's successful, he is looking at expanding Royal Stacks to Indonesia and Malaysia.

The full range of burgers is available – seven beef-based and one vegetarian – including their famous King burger, which is stuffed with a mac and cheese croquette.

They've changed the names of a couple but the ingredients are the same, with the exception of the Bacon Bacon burger – it's now called Action Bronson with fake bacon (made from beef) subbed in for the real thing.

Action Bronson burger with beef bacon.
Action Bronson burger with beef bacon.Supplied

Exclusive to the Brunswick store are new frozen custard flavours by Mark Mariotti of 7 Apples such as rosewater and pistachio, baklava and knafeh (a Middle Eastern cheese pastry soaked in sugar syrup).

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Zeini may be experimenting with the Brunswick offering but he says there's no chance the Collins Street store will adopt a halal menu too: "For me, personally, I can't have a burger without a beer."

Open Wed-Sun 11.30am-10pm.

800 Sydney Road, Brunswick, royalstacks.com.au

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