MELBOURNE | Almost a year ago to the day, I was discussing Macedonian food with a colleague of mine. I was lamenting the fact that it was so hard to find burek/pita/zelnik/cora, or whatever you want to call it, that came close to what my baba made. Having Macedonian heritage himself, my colleague enthusiastically recommended Kings Fresh Burek. I excitedly added it to my “Melbourne food” list on Google maps, and as these things often go, didn’t manage to visit until last weekend.
Kings Fresh Burek are a family business, with locations in St Albans (the one that I visited), and Epping. They specialise in Macedonian-style burek (in this case the large, pie-like version) and zelnik (their coiled version). If you want the latter, you’ll need to get in early or pre-order, but there’s always burek available either by the slice, or as a whole pie. You can get your burek baked to order, or buy it frozen, to bake fresh at home.
Fillings include things like beef mince, sirene (soft, ricotta-like white cheese), feta, sirene and spinach, leek, and spinach. I was too late for the zelnik, but got a whole pie of meat burek, and the sirene. It was instant nostalgia when I saw it and took that first bite. The flavour, the texture, the crispiness, and the level of oiliness – all just right.
You might think that it’s the same as the Greek spanakopita, or Turkish borek that you’ve tried, but it’s not. Very similar, of course, but the fillings are spiced differently, and the oiliness and crispiness is different – greater than in the south, less so compared to the north. The closest that I’ve had on my travels is the version that I had at Bougatsa Bantis in Thessaloniki, with a sprinking of the burek I ate at Pekara Trpković in Belgrade. Which isn’t surprising given North Macedonia’s geographic location.
Beyond burek and zelnik, there’s also a few other things like gevrek (sesame bagels), cheese or jam kifli (scrolls), and other Macedonian baked treats. You’ll also find a few shelves of Balkan pantry items, and bottles of ayran (drinking yoghurt) and Prilepska Gazoza (pear soda) in the fridges.
Kings Fresh Burek
58 Kings Rd
St Albans
Victoria 3021
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9364 3752
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Tue – Sat: 5:30am to 4:00pm
Sun: 7:00am to 12:00pm