Don't be fooled by the names on the menu at Soul Burger, such as Pulled Pork, Just Beef or BBQ Bacon, as you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a meat lover’s paradise. In fact, it’s not! Vegan burgers are the ‘new meat burgers’, according to the folk at Soul Burger, where everything on the menu is derived from plants. The chain – there are now four in Sydney – is at the forefront of a global movement to keep animals off menus and move more people to a vegan diet. Their argument is convincing: plant-based foods reduce your risk of chronic disease and are lower in calories than your typical burger, and by shifting to plant-based foods we cease contributing to inflated grain prices used to feed livestock, creating stronger food security in developing countries. It’s thought that a global shift to a vegan diet could cut food-related greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70 per cent. But if the science doesn't convince you, then the taste just might. Combine hip-hop, champagne and sneaker culture with fried chicken and what do you get? Butter, of course. Originally established in Surry Hills, the hybrid concept store has opened its second outlet in Parramatta, targeting the western suburbs capital as the next logical place to establish itself. Butter spans two levels, the first selling its deep-fried goodness, and the second its lifestyle store, which offers a range of the hottest streetwear in town. While chicken is the only type of burger you’ll get here, Butter’s menu provides a clever array of vegetarian and side options including crispy fried mushroom, cauliflower salad, fries and collard greens. Of course, you can wash that deep-fried feeling down with a range of bubbles from top-shelf MV Krug Grande Cuvée at $450 a bottle down to a glass of domestic Moscato for $9. After polishing off a burger, customers can walk upstairs and browse the range of streetwear from labels such as Wood Wood, Daily Paper, and Carrots by Anwar. The third addition to the growing burger brand founded in Bondi, Milky Lane Parramatta brings its own unique take on the classics to serve monstrously meaty burgers and over-the-top milkshakes. Their burgers range from the traditional beef, cheese and pickle combo to the cholesterol-raising Big Poppa that comes with a Wagyu beef pattie, brisket, maple-smoked bacon, a mac and cheese pattie, onion rings and even more cheese. There are healthier gluten-free and vegetarian options available, but with the focus on greasy goodness, why would you? The restaurant has a gigantic 12-metre art mural that features some of the world’s most renowned rappers and musical artists and includes arcade games that add a touch of nostalgia. The Parramatta restaurant’s claim to fame is that it catered for British pop star Ed Sheeran while he was on tour in Sydney. Word on the street is that he and his team ordered the Chic-Kayne (fried chicken), The Drake (vegetarian), a signature Milky Lane and a range of sides, just in case you’re looking for suggestions. SEARCH ENGINE 15