Wellington restaurant Ernesto's has been booted out of Wellington on a Plate's burger competition after entering a burger that took inspiration from the infamous cocaine trafficker Pablo Escobar.

The 'Pablo Escoburger' was banned from the competition, which Ernesto's won last year, after complaints from the Colombian Embassy of Australia which said it made light of a man who caused the deaths of thousands of people. 

The burger, now sold independently of the competition under the new name 'Censored burger', features a row of white powder made from garlic sprinkled on top and a fake rolled-up $100 bill stuck into the bun.

Ernesto's owner Steve Drummond told Nick Mills he was shocked by the response. 

LISTEN ABOVE