An American fast-food chain noted for its raunchy ads and unconventional culinary combinations will launch a front in Australia's burger wars when it opens the first of a planned 300 local stores on Tuesday. Carl's Jr operates in over 30 countries and will start serving chargrilled burgers, hand-churned milkshakes and bottomless cups of soft drink at its first Australian store at Bateau Bay, on the NSW Central Coast. It will be the first of about 300 stores to open in Australia over the next 10 years, according to Ned Lyerly, Carl's Jr president of international. "It's a $16 billion market today and will continue to grow, so I think the market itself is large enough to sustain that ..." Mr Lyerly said. There are 900 McDonald's and 390 Hungry Jacks restaurants in Australia, meaning Carl's Jr will be taking a sizeable chunk of the fast-food market if it reaches that target. Mr Lyerly said Carl's Jr offered premium products and that efforts by McDonald's to present a more sophisticated menu was it playing catch-up. Its flagship Angus Thickburger costs $8.95 - more expensive than a Big Mac ($5.35) but cheaper than homegrown "premium" burger joint Grill'd ($9-$13).