Wahlburgers has officially opened its doors to Aucklanders, and while Marky Mark isn't here to commemorate the New Kid On the Block in-person, it hasn't deterred hungry customers keen to sample the famous family's menu.
Wahlburgers opened at Shed 22 - the former site of Euro - on Princes Wharf at 11am on Wednesday, marking the international chain's first-ever restaurant in Aotearoa. More are in the works, with two additional sites to be opened in Tauranga and Queenstown.
Inside, the venue is spacious with an open kitchen, a bar area and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, including cosy, diner-style booths. There's also a larger seating area named after the Wahlbergs' late mother, Alma, which features photos of the family sealed beneath a glass table-top.
A number of television screens line the walls, and Mark and brother Donnie's acting credits are emblazoned across the ceiling. A photo of the three smiling brothers - Mark, Donnie and chef Paul - greets customers as they arrive at the door.
The burgers are around $20, with fast-food classics such as loaded fries, chicken wings and crispy calamari also on the menu. Salads are available, as are R18 alcoholic milkshakes.
The Our Burger, Wahlburgers' most basic burger, is priced at $18 and made with beef, government cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and Paul's signature Wahl Sauce, while other offerings include the Double Decker (two beef patties), the BBQ Bacon Burger (beef, bacon, avocado and jalapeños), and the Your Aotea Burger for $23 - a Kiwiana-inspired beetroot, pineapple and egg burger with beef and salad. There's also an Impossible Burger, made with a plant-based Impossible Burger patty.
Starters and sides include bruschetta, fried pickles, calamari, kumara fries and loaded fries, which can be teamed with a vegemite aioli. Aside from the adult-only milkshakes, beverages on offer include coffees, tea, draught beers and cocktails.
The Auckland branch will be operated by the Mustaca family, which owns Australia's largest independent cinema chain, United Cinemas. Upon opening, newly minted owner Sam Mustaca was seen circulating the restaurant to check up on and chat with customers.
"We had been following the concept for years and with its natural ties to the entertainment industry, bringing Wahlburgers into the experience at United Cinemas just seemed like a perfect fit," Mustaca said in a statement to media earlier this week.
"We think it's going to be a big hit."
Meanwhile in the capital, the popular American fast-food chain In-N-Out opened for one-day only, with a staff of six flown out from California to prepare classic Americana burgers for hordes of hungry Kiwis. The pop-up was open from 9am to 3pm at St Johns Bar and Eatery on the waterfront.
