This might be a bit of a stretch, I certainly haven’t eaten everywhere, not even in every country. I’ve not tried the best burger bars in London, but I have had a lot of burgers in my time.
From McDonalds and Burger King, up through the ranks to some of the highest rated burgers in the World, I’ve tried more than my fair share I’m sure. So here we go:
- Ferg Burger, Queenstown, New Zealand
This is one of the most hyped up burgers places in the world. From Auckland to Christchurch, no matter how you travel through NZ, people will always talk about how good Ferg Burgers are. It’s an amazing store, with a queue up to an hour long at times, stretching out the door and far down the street. In fact, the shop is so small it’s rare that the queue isn’t out the door. The buns are excellent, cooked next door in their bakery, and the burgers are pumped out damn fast by the slick team of pros behind the counter. A good selection and excellent meat, a little tricky to customise though.
- Bunsen Burger, Dublin, Ireland
These guys keep it simple, just four options: Burger, cheese burger, double burger or double cheese burger. I think most people chose the last option. It comes with the basic salad inside and it’s a very tasty burger. Simple and well put together, just the right amount of sloppiness while holding together enough to get it into your mouth. It’s juicy and very meaty, riding on the strength of the patty which does it proud.
- Devil Burger, Queenstown, New Zealand
The second Queenstown entry, and the underdog to the powerhouse that is Ferg Burger, Devil don’t have the same quality of bun and their patties are a little smaller, but what they lack there, they more than make up for in well thought out topping combinations and extras. Burger customisation is much more acceptable here, which means you can have the burger you really want, and not the closest option on the menu. My favourite was the Yankee Devil with extra pineapple and egg. A large patty in a small bun also makes the ratio even better.
- The Oyster Catcher, Polzeath, UK
Perhaps listing the bar I work in is not the done thing, but the burgers here are really something to make a thing of (I’m trying to get them to pump their reputation) The burgers are handmade on site (sometimes by me) and it’s pure, high quality local beef. The toppings are freshly prepared each day and the buns are… adequate. They’ve got some great menu options, but the fun really comes when you get creative. It’s not cheap to add extras here, but if you’re willing to do so, you can craft some incredible burgers. One bad point – No pineapple.
- Counter Burger, Dublin, Ireland
By now you’ll have noticed I’m a big fan of customisation, and Counter burger caters for me perfectly. Instead of a list of pre-designed burgers you are given a selection sheet of meats, cheeses, toppings and sauces and a pencil. This is a dream come true for me, as this means I can create those ridiculous and wonderful burgers I’ve dreamt at night. It’s important to think of your theme before you pick any options so each works, otherwise you could end up with mild aioli and jalapeños, which just aren’t going to work together. This restaurant changed is the current home of my favourite burger, having swayed me from my American style, beef, mustard/ketchup based burger. It’s now all about grilled chicken with chilli and pineapple.
I think it’s important to let people have their burgers the way they want them. There’s plenty of trendy new places popping up that offer really nice sounding burgers with cool new toppings and fancy ingredients. But when actually put together lead to a rather naff burger. I’m all for hummous and avocado on a bit of crusty bread or in a wrap, but on top of a slab of minced beef and grilled it just seems wasted. Keep it simple, and let the punters have what they want!
Verses Travel 