Melbourne pop-up cafe 'Pablo Escoburgers' sparks offence

The "infamous patron burger that people are lining up for" has seen scores of people lash out at the business for its poor taste. Photo / Facebook

A pop-up burger cafe located in Melbourne's hipster district, Prahan, is copping major flak online over its burger post.

Pablo's Escoburgers, named after notorious Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar, uploaded an image of a controversial burger to its Facebook page last Wednesday.

Since uploading the image — with the caption that read "infamous patron burger that people are lining up for" — scores of people have lashed out at the business for its poor taste.

It's an image of a hamburger topped with a line of a white powder (garlic flour garnish) and a rolled up, fake $100 note.

Escobar led the Colombian cartel that supplied most of the world's cocaine in the late 1980s.

While many claim the business has poor taste, others have commended the pop-up on its creativity. Photo / Facebook

"Not really sure how to feel about this," someone posted, while tagging her friends.

"What's that white powder sprinkled on top of the bun," another commenter else asked.

"How can we explain (to) you people that IT ISN'T FUNNY? Try to do that with Hitler and see what happens. Use your brain folks," another user added.

Others went on to say it was "glorifying drug use".

But not everyone was offended and came to the defence of the burger business, even commending it on its creativity.

"Love it. Great play on words. Lighten up peps," one person said.

"Hells yes! Dramas aside! These burgers are delicious! Everyone needs to stop being hangry! Go eat a burger already," added another Facebook user.

"Looks amazing! Love all the princesses complaining haha."

On Saturday, Escoburgers co-owner Vaughn Marks took to his own Facebook page saying the restaurant had received a lot of hate from the Colombian community, "bless their souls".

The name "Pablo Escoburgers" has reportedly offended the Colombian community in Melbourne. Photo / Facebook

"If you can take 2 mins to review us to reverse the 2 star rating we now have that would be great! Thanks for the love. You can clearly see the difference between the people who have tried our delicious burgers and the Colombians who just don't like the name. Thanks."

Due to the outrage over the image, the pop-up issued an official statement on the Escoburgers Faebook page the next day, titled "Not here to Offend".

"We are very proud of our burgers but we do also understand that Pablo Escobar was a horrible man who destroyed the lives of thousands of Colombians," the statement read.

"We do not condone, idolise or promote Pablo Emilio Escobar or his actions in anyway. We are however Australian and know how to have a laugh about a good play on words.

"Its just a name of a pop-up burger bar not really a theme. Hard not to offend someone in 2019."

The Facebook statement went on to claim lots of Colombian people had enjoyed the burgers.

"Take the high road people, put it to rest and learn to forgive and forget! Either way we love you all the same in a very "unpablo" way and know you will love our burgers. enjoy!"

Escobar rose to infamy as head of the Medellin drug cartel that supplied most of the world's cocaine in the late 1980s. The cartel wars saw Colombia become the world's murder capital and Escobar paid hitmen to target police, executing hundreds. He was shot dead in 1993.

Mr Marks said he has no plans of changing the pop-up's name.