What’s cooking at Pablo’s Burgers? We asked chef Hasan Al Musawi and owners Ali Al Battaat and Karrar Mousawi.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Drug kingpin Pablo Escobar always had beef with someone, whether it was the Colombian police, the Cali Cartel, or Los Pepes.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Little did he know that over 30 years after his death, there would be beef with his name on it.
Pablo’s Burgers opened on April 18 at 16 Fraser St, Shepparton, promising a tasty twist to the burger scene with smashed burgers, chicken burgers, loaded fries and more.
The new eatery is run by cousins Ali Al Battaat and Karrar Mousawi, self-described “local boys” with an insatiable appetite to succeed in the hospitality industry.
“We’re two young people who have always loved food,” Mr Al Battaat said.
“We come from a family and a culture that’s full of food — celebrating food, embracing food — and we’ve always wanted to do something in the food world.”
Inspired by their favourite Sydney spots, Burger Cartel and Chubby Buns, the duo combined the distinct gangster style of the former with the ridiculously flavourful feed of the latter, seasoned with their own unique idea.
Karrar Mousawi, Ali Al Battaat and Hasan Al Musawi stand under a trio of rap titans.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“We thought, what does Shepp have in terms of burgers at the moment, and what do they need?” Mr Al Battaat said.
The answer? Smash burgers.
On the menu, Pablo’s Special reigns supreme for its juicy beef, smashed thin and burnished on its edges, topped with finely shredded lettuce, onion rings and sauces, all enveloped by a perfectly crisped bun.
Grilly Chook is undoubtedly the most popular choice for loaded fries.
For this dish, the chefs blanket fries with cheese, grilled chicken and beef rashers, splashed with Pablo’s signature sauce.
The result is a perfect composition of flavour, texture and temperature.
“We’re also still finalising our menu,” Mr Al Battaat said.
“There’s going to be more stuff coming ... like mac and cheese, rib burgers, cheese syringes in your burgers, tenders.”
Perhaps more distinctive than the food itself is the ’90s theme of the shop, charged with unique interior design elements.
Tucked at the back, a trio of rap titans — Snoop Dogg, Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur — adorns the wall.
However, it’s the solitary portrait of Pablo Escobar at the front of the shop that demands the most attention, gazing at passers-by on the pavement outside.
As he should be, since he is the name of the brand.
Pablo Escobar is featured at the front of the shop, observing passers-by on the pavement outside.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“We liked the sound of Pablo’s, and good old Pablo was quite well-known in the ’90s,” Mr Al Battaat said.
“Obviously, for two different things: being one of the biggest drug lords in history, or what he stood for, what he did for the Mexican people and how good of a person he was to his family and his country.”
Since opening, Pablo’s Burgers has garnered enthusiastic support for its customer service, food quality and consistency, and the vibe and culture of the shop.
“The numbers have been crazy — we had easily over 5000 customers in the first week,” Mr Al Battaat said.
“A huge thank you to the community for their love and support.
“To see locals supporting locals, spreading the word, showing up and trying our burgers has been amazing.”
Pablo’s Burgers is open daily, from 4pm to 11pm at 16 Fraser St, Shepparton.
Follow Pablo’s Burgers on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTokto stay updated about its expansion into online food ordering, new menu items and more.
The burger kings of Shepparton — Hasan Al Musawi, Ali Al Battaat and Karrar Mousawi.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
12°C