Top 10 Burgers for National Burger Day

London’s obsession with burgers needs no introduction.  For some time, the long queues outside burger restaurants have been a regular feature of the city streets.  It’s difficult to remember a time when the only burgers you could get were dry pub offerings or late night fast food.  However partial I am to a Big Mac, the competition has vastly improved the quality of burger offerings in the capital.

Today, in celebration of National Burger Day, I have put together a list of my top ten burgers of the past year.  Eight of these are in the capital, but this is mainly because I haven’t travelled that much this year.  One is from my hometown of Southampton, and one is the most perfect homemade burger I have ever tried.

The List:

10.  Hamburger with added cheese and bacon at Kua’Aina, Soho
A perfectly decent and well-seasoned burger from London’s only Hawaiian burger bar.  I was too much of a naysayer to add the pineapple, but apparently it is an excellent choice.
£9.75 for a ½lb hamburger with cheese and bacon.  Standard ½lb hamburger is £6.25
Kua’Aina, 26 Fouberts Place, London W1F 7PP 

 

9.  Chilli Burger at Byron, various locations
Burger-chain Byron has made it much easier to get a decent burger in many parts of London (including shopping centres!) My favourite is the chilli burger, which comes with a blisteringly hot topping of green jalapenos.  Cooked medium-rare, obviously
£8.95 for a chilli burger.  Classic 6oz hamburger is £6.95
Byron, various locations across London and major cities in the UK

 

8.  Burger with added cheese and béarnaise sauce at Tommi’s Burger Joint, Marylebone
The best thing about this Icelandic burger bar is the help-yourself condiments table, which has the all important element of Reykjavik fast food: cronions (freeze-dried onions to you and me).  The burgers are pretty damn good too.
£6.90 for a standard burger, add 60p for cheese and £1.00 for béarnaise
Tommi’s Burger Joint, 30 Thayer Street, London W1U 2QP

 

7.  The Jose Jose Chilli Burger at Patty & Bun, Marylebone
There seems to be a theme emerging here – I do love a good chilli burger.  This one combines cheese, chorizo and smoky mayo in a ball of deliciousness.  The burgers at Patty & Bun are all-round top-notch.
£8.50 for a Jose Jose Chilli Burger, £7.50 for the cheeseburger (more on this later)
Patty & Bun, 54 James Street, London W1U 1HE

 

6.  A special mention for Claire Chapman…
A bit of an anomaly for this list as you can’t actually buy these burgers in London.  If you are lucky enough to be invited to her house for one, you will see why they made the list. P.S. She makes her own candied bacon
www.instagram.com/claire_chappers

 

5.  The Flat Iron Burger at Flat Iron, Soho
There isn’t much not to like about this burger: chopped flat iron steak, béarnaise sauce and chopped shallots.  It isn’t on their main menu, but is available as a lunchtime special.  Have the baked aubergine on the side if you can manage it.
£10 for the Flat Iron burger.  £10 for a steak (you get the idea)
Flat Iron, 17 Beak Street, London W1F 9RW

 

Photo by Claire Chapman

4.  The Double Candied Bacon Flipper at Mother Flipper, Brockley Market
No trip to Brockley Market is complete without one of these enormous creations. Double patty, cheese and candied bacon.  It is impossible to eat one without making a mess, but it is so so good.
£6.50 for the candied bacon heaven, £5.00 for a standard cheeseburger
Mother Flipper, at Brockley Market on Saturdays and at KERB during the week.  Check website listings for details.   

 

3.  The Prince Charles is Overrated at 7Bone, Southampton
The only non-London restaurant to make it to the list, 7Bone is well worth a visit should you find yourself on the south coast.  This burger is a classic cheese and bacon burger with sauce, lettuce and pickles, just done very well.  Order medium-rare.
£6.50 for the Prince Charles is Overrated (not entirely sure where this name came from), £6.00 for a standard cheeseburger
7Bone, 110 Portswood Road, Southampton SO17 2FW

 

 

Photo by Claire Chapman

2.  The Ari Gold at Patty & Bun, Marylebone
The second Patty & Bun entry in this list.  The Ari Gold is Patty & Bun’s standard cheeseburger.  It is one of the best cheeseburgers I have ever eaten, with the smoky mayo and pickled onions setting it apart from the crowd. I see at least one of these on Instagram a week.
£7.50 for the Ari Gold
Patty & Bun, 54 James Street, London W1U 1HE    

 

1.  The Dead Hippie at MEATLiquor, Marylebone
It should come as no surprise that this burger tops the list as it is the best burger in London.  My love affair with the Dead Hippie has continued through #Meateasy, a short stint at The Rye in Peckham and now on to the vast MEAT empire.  What more could you wish for than a two mustard-fried patties, cheese, minced onions and outrageous burger sauce? Never change, MEATLiquor.
£8.50 for the Dead Hippie, £6.50 for a standard hamburger
MEATLiquor, 74 Welbeck Street, London W1G 0BA