A man has been arrested after assaulting a police officer with a beloved late-night snack.

At about 3.45am on Sunday, ACT police allege a 20-year-old man threw a hamburger through the open window of a marked patrol car.

The burger allegedly struck an officer in the face, and the man fled on foot.

Officers were able to arrest him after a short chase on foot.

He was arrested for assaulting a frontline community service worker and granted bail.

The man will face court later this month.