TJ's Kitchen Invercargill is the original branch of a Southland business that began in 2017, with a name inspired by the founders' dog, TJ Friendly. The Saint Andrew Street restaurant keeps its format deliberately relaxed: families can dine in, while takeaway remains available for a meal at home. Food is cooked to order on the flat-top, matching the venue's emphasis on fresh burgers, fish and chips and generous combinations rather than preassembled fast food.
The burger list draws heavily on Southland ingredients. Beef, lamb and venison patties appear alongside crumbed chicken, beer-battered blue cod and a house-made onion bhaji option. The Crispy Cod layers fish with salad, pickles, fried egg and tartare, while the TJ's Signature pairs double-dipped chicken with cheese, bacon, buffalo sauce and buttermilk ranch. Relishes, chutneys and sauces give each build a character beyond simply changing the protein.
Loaded fries form a second substantial part of the menu. One version combines chopped beef with cheese, slaw, bacon and barbecue sauce; another uses grilled chicken, bacon and ranch. Southern fried chicken brings buffalo sauce, while the vegetarian plate crumbles onion bhajis over fries with masala seasoning, tamarind and avocado ranch. Gravy fries provide the most direct comfort food route, topping the chips with crumbed chicken, cheese, onions and gravy.
Traditional fish-and-chip choices remain available beside the more elaborate burgers and fries. Diners can order blue cod or fish of the day with chips, then add wedges, kumara wedges, onion rings or familiar fried sides. A smaller burger gives younger diners a simpler choice, and cinnamon doughnuts or pineapple rings offer a sweet finish. Together, these sections make TJ's useful for a quick solo meal, a family table or a mixed takeaway order.
Address: 112 Saint Andrew Street, Richmond, Invercargill 9810, New Zealand
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