This morning marked American burger chain Wendy’s long-awaited return to Australia, as the iconic fast-food giant opened its first store on Cavill Avenue in Surfers Paradise. After pulling up stumps in 1986, Wendy’s has been absent from the Australian market for 39 years.
By 8 am, a short line had already formed outside Wendy’s new store in Surfers Paradise, but the excitement didn’t stop there. As word spread, more customers began arriving, and by the afternoon, the wait time had stretched to almost 40 minutes.
Wendy’s Burger Opening Hours
Monday 10:00AM – 10:00PM
Tuesday 10:00AM – 10:00PM
Wednesday 11:00AM – 9:00PM
Thursday 10:00AM – 10:00PM
Friday 10:00AM – 10:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM – 10:00PM
Sunday 10:00AM – 10:00PM
Wendy’s Menu & Price
For its return the chain’s Australian menu focuses on the essentials, including fan favourite items like the Classic Single (known as Dave’s Single in the US), and Baconmator ( Baconatorin the US). In terms of the prices, they are really competitive, with most items ranging between $10 and $15, depending on the size and combo options.
The price of ordering all iconic items in Wendy Burger: 5 Pack Spicy Chicken Tenders ($13.90); Classic Single medium combo ($13.90); small Vanilla Frosty ($4.70); Chili ($6.50). Photograph: Kiki AC
Wendy’s Burger Australia Reviews
Gold Coast local Kiki lined up to try Wendy’s on opening day, she ordered all the popular items, and here’s her detailed reviews.
Classic Single Burger Combo:
Compared to a McDonald’s equivalent burger, the Wendy’s single beef burger comes out on top! It clearly feels less greasy, with more vegetables inside. The onions and tomatoes help balance the flavour, making the burger less heavy overall.
Compared to McDonald’s, Wendy’s chips are thicker, saltier, and still have the potato skin on. If McDonald’s fries are a 3 out of 5, Wendy’s fries might at least deserve a solid 4 (with one point deducted for being slightly too salty).
Chili
Chili is one of the iconic sides in Wendy’s, slow-cooked beef with a moderate level of spiciness. It’s made from minced beef, kidney beans, tomatoes, chili, and a mix of other vegetables. Kiki thinks this was the most surprising side she ordered at Wendy’s. The amount of beef seemed even higher than what’s shown in the menu photo. It had a rich, hearty flavour. However, this side doesn’t come with any chips or bread, so you’ll need to order extra chips if you want to dip or enjoy them together!
Spicy Chicken Tenders
The spiciness of these Spicy Chicken Tenders was completely beyond Kiki’s tolerance level! The overall texture was quite similar to KFC’s Tenders but with less oil and noticeably larger pieces of chicken.
Vanilla Frosty
The Frosty is a cold, thick, and creamy vanilla-flavoured dessert (although Wendy’s insists it’s not normal ice cream, Kiki thinks it’s quite similar to McDonald’s vanilla ice cream). Try Wendy’s recommended pairing from the menu—the sweetness of the dessert balances out the saltiness of the fries perfectly!
A Gift from Wendy’s
On the first day, as a surprise gift for customers, Kiki received a cute little badge at Wendy’s entrance.
What happened to Wendy’s Australia?
I totally agree that this almost 40-year-long wait deserves a badge of honour. Wendy’s first entered the Australian market in 1982, opening its inaugural store in Victoria. Over the next few years, the chain expanded to 11 locations across the country. However, despite its initial success, Wendy’s struggled to maintain momentum in Australia’s competitive fast-food market and ultimately pulled out in 1986.
Interestingly, if you search Wendy’s on Google Maps now, there are still many results in Australia. This is because many Australians associate the name ‘Wendy’s’ with Wendy’s Milk Bar, an Australian brand that started in 1979.
Wendy’s Milk Bar is often confused with Wendy’s . In fact, Wendy’s Milk Bar is a homegrown Australian chain specialising in ice cream, hot dogs, milkshakes, and smoothies. Despite their similar-sounding names, Wendy’s Milk Bar and Wendy’s have no connection—neither in ownership nor in menu offerings.
Missed Opportunity: No SpongeBob Combo in Australia
I’m incredibly excited about Wendy’s return to the Australian market, yet it feels like we’re still missing something, the Wendy’s SpongeBob Combo that was available in October 2024 in the US! It looks like Australian customers won’t get a chance to try this adorable meal, as I checked the local menu and found no sign of it. It’s a bit disappointing; we can only hope Wendy’s introduces similar themed meals in Australia in the future!
While Wendy Burger’s previous stint in Australia was short-lived, this comeback has fans truly excited. With classic menu items like the Baconmator and Classic Single, Wendy’s is ready to win over Aussie taste buds and prove it’s here to stay this time!
