Is there anything more satisfying than a big juicy burger? After compiling my list of the best burgers I had this year I’m having trouble coming up with ideas for foods I crave nearly as much.
My Best of 2018 series continues with a look at the most scrumptious burgers had in London, as well as in Basel, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Denver, Dublin, Edinburgh and Liverpool.
Please note, this list merely reflects how I chose to spend my time during the year and is comprised of well established and brand new venues as well as businesses that are somehow related to where work and play took me.
Items appear in alphabetic order, not ranked.
Best Burgers in London
Bleecker
Outlets across London
Juicy, greasy, oozy cheeseburgers that are flipped quick and go down easy: Bleecker’s beefy treats are something to cherish. Why this small indie burger biz removed its Bleecker Black double cheeseburger with black pudding from the menu is beyond me. It was arguably the tastiest in town.
Five Guys
Several outlets across London
Five Guys’ Little Cheeseburger isn’t all that little and, made with a 3.3 ounce chuck and sirloin blended patty, is certainly full of big flavour. It’s also one of my favourite things to eat.
This is the second year in a row Five Guys has made my ‘best of’ list for Burgers in London.
Halo Burger
Pop Brixton, 49 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ
So a quality burger isn’t just a stack of beef. Worth trekking across London to devour (I’ve done so twice), Halo’s vegan burgers with Beyond Meat patties are delish! I predict this newbie fast food eatery’s outpost in Brixton will soon spread across town – and that would be a great thing (and the nearer to my neck of the woods the better)!
Joanna’s
56 Westow Hill, SE19 1RX
This 40 year-old Crystal Palace stalwart serves one of the best burgers I’ve had in London (beef patty, smoked bacon, mature Cheddar, club garnish and mayo on a glazed bun, with coleslaw and fries) in a charming and warm setting.
Shake Shack
Several outlets across London
When a burger craving hits, it’s hard to beat a ShackBurger (100% Aberdeen Angus beef cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce). The Yard Burger – exclusive to the Cambridge Circus location and featuring an Aberdeen Angus patty topped with Neal’s Yard Hafod Cheddar, Wiltshire cured smoked bacon and a horseradish sauce – is a treat as well.
This is the second year in a row Shake Shack has made my ‘best of’ list for Burgers in London.
Tommi’s Burger Joint
Outlets across London
Proust had his madeleines. I’ve got charred medium rare cheeseburgers. And an entrepreneur from Iceland brought those memories back to me in a Marylebone restaurant? I’m glad to see Tommi’s going strong and maintaining a high level of quality with a handful of outlets since launching back in 2012.
Best Burgers Beyond London
1777 Kaffee Restaurant Bar
Im Schmiedenhof 10, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
This Basel all-rounder appeals immensely to my sensibilities. Indeed, this year was not the first time I made time to dine there when in Basel. After trying 1777’s limited springtime Season-Burger. I love the place even more. Check it out: veal with strawberry ketchup, asparagus, wild garlic mayo, beer washed cheese, radishes, sprouts, rhubarb chutney, and rocket on a sesame bun. An Unfiltered Blonde by the restaurant’s sister brewery paired perfectly with the burger.
Armando’s
1814 East Main Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37404, USA
I grew up eating Armando’s no nonsense hamburgers thinking they were the best. Having now travelled the world, I reckon I was right all those years ago. There are a number of Armando’s in the Chattanooga area. Quality can vary between locations. I vouch for the one of Main Street (with the one in East Ridge not far behind).
Bunsen
Outlets across Dublin, Ireland
Go to Dublin and eat a burger that’s not a Bunsen burger and you’ll be doing your taste buds a disservice. Consider if you will the double cheeseburger: two 150g patties of Black Aberdeen Angus reared in Ireland and supplied by local butcher FX Buckley) was cooked medium rare, stacked high, and smothered in a gooey blend of melt Comte and Jack set between two halves of a classic American style bun – served with all the toppings. I was satisfied mightily.
BurgerChief
Food truck parked at various locations throughout Denver, Colorado, USA
This Denver food truck grilling sirloin and brisket burgers caught my eye. And boy am I glad it did. Awesome robustly flavoursome meat!
Free State Kitchen
1 Maryland Street, Liverpool L1 9DE, UK
Wow. Dinner at Free State Kitchen was one of the most memorably yummy of the year for me. Who know Liverpool was such a great place for burgers and American nosh? Most Scousers I suppose. But it was news to me. I hope to make it back to there to explore its underrated food scene more thoroughly, and I’ll be sure to revisit FSK when I do.
Holyrood 9a
9A Holyrood Road, EH8 8AE
Edinburgh’s best burger? I submit Holyrood 9a’s Original Two-Hander (6oz beef patty of Scottish beef sourced from Simon Howie butchery with fried onions, house burger sauce, gem lettuce, beefsteak tomato, and dill pickle on a brioche bun with sides of coleslaw and fries. Nuff said?
Original Patty Men
9 Shaw’s Passage, Birmingham B5 5JG, UK
Balti schmalty! Birmingham, you’re a burger city in my book. After my moment with OPM, I’m going to start calling you Burgerham. OPM’s Cheezy-E is choice, and the house Boss Man sauce is boss indeed!
Honourable Mentions
- The American Bar, The Stafford London, 16 St James’s Pl, St. James’s, London SW1A 1PE, UK
- Café Feynsinn, Rathenauplatz 7, 50674 Köln, Germany
- Radio Rooftop Bar, Me Milan il Duca, Via Marco Polo 18, 20124 Milano, Italy
- Udo Snack, Calwer Strasse 23, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany
More of the Best of 2018 to follow!
