STARTING off as just a caravan in 1946, Guildford’s historic roadside burger café Alfred’s Kitchen has gone from strength to strength.

Owner Neil Lawrence - who has been running the popular eatery with his wife Jenny for 40 years - said although he has handed the reins over to his son Daniel he still takes a keen interest in the place.

“We are really having a double celebration this year as it is 80 years since Alfred’s first started and 40 years since we took it over,” Mr Lawrence said.

“Alfred’s Kitchen is named after its founder Frederick Alfred Cook, an English migrant who originally wanted to call it King Alfred’s.

“The word ‘king’ had to be dropped as there was of course already a king in England, so it became Alfred’s Kitchen.

“We think the place was first established about May 1946 not long after WWII when the government was offering an early version of a ‘pop up’ licence to encourage small businesses.

“We have had the same manager Lisa here for nearly 29 years and I am pretty sure this is the oldest roadside café in WA as well as the second oldest in Australia after Harry’s Café de Wheels in Sydney.”

Over the years, Alfred’s Kitchen has become a Perth institution with people flocking there for some of the best burgers and hotdogs in WA, as well as to try their famous pea and ham soup.

Mr Lawrence said they had tried to stick to the same recipe for their burgers as when Alfred’s first started, using traditional homemade ingredients of beef patty, egg, bacon, cheese, lettuce and tomato.

Swan View resident Greg Morris said he had been going to Alfred’s for years and particularly enjoyed the steakburger, which he reckons is the best in Perth.

“As a vintage car buff with a particular interest in Riley cars I have been there many times with other vintage car owners to soak up the old-style atmosphere and enjoy the amazing range of food,” Mr Morris said.

He said he particularly liked going along in winter when there was a roaring fire in the courtyard firepit and an amazing atmosphere.

Over the years, the premises has grown significantly with a large 1906 vintage railway carriage installed in 2016 providing comfortable seating for those wanting to dine in.

Mr Lawrence said although there were no plans for a massive celebration this year, 80th anniversary mugs were available on their Facebook page and they had not ruled out some sort of commemoration event in the future.