Once synonymous with soggy buns and grey meat patties, London’s burger restaurants have shed their greasy reputation.
Now they’re serving everything from gravy-dipped patties and rosemary-infused fries to tarragon mayonnaise and braised field mushroom. Oo-er.
From Honest Burgers finger-licking-good rosemary fries to south-west London’s gravy-soaked Dip & Flip, here are our favourite London burger joints. Trust us, you’d be a fool to miss out on these gems.
Hache Burgers
Forget everything you know about burgers, because until you have one of Hache’s beauties served on a fresh brioche bun, you’ve seen nothing yet.
The burger meat is hachéd prime steak - juicy, full of flavour and impossible to eat even with two hands.
The menu is food porn of the highest order - there are so many amazing variations including smoked Bavarian cheese and fresh chilli, as well as two respectful options for veggies. Add onion rings.
Patty & Bun
In the interest of equality, it’s important to have a strong veggie contender in the burger round-up. Look no further than Patty & Bun, whose mushroom burger is one of the “best in the world” (we have it on good herbivore authority).
The Portobello ‘Dig It’ Mushroom burger contains a braised field mushroom fritter with garlic parsley butter and cheese sauce, sandwiched between a brioche bun with coleslaw, lettuce, tarragon mayo – and for just £9.
Sounds like it could sway even the most dedicated meat lover.
Hawksmoor
You might know Hawksmoor for its steak and legendary Sunday roasts, but it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to burgers either.
The Big Matt, created by head chef Matt Brown (who has a Michelin star under his belt), comes highly recommended. With two double-aged beef patties, secret sauce, onions, pickles, shredded iceberg and sesame bun.
Honest Burger
Two words: rosemary fries. Forget the burgers, these are worth a visit alone. Actually, don’t forget the burgers or the Bloody Marys. All deserve top marks.
You can’t go wrong with The Honest Burger (Ginger Pig beef patty, smoked bacon, mature cheddar, red onion relish). We tried the bleeding plant burger, made with Beyond Meat, which is “a great way to appeal to the growing number of flexitarians or part-time vegetarians in Britain”. Read our review here.
The Joint
The Joint’s original Brixton market restaurant is heaving on a weekend and after 6.30pm on most weekdays, and once you bite into a pulled pork burger, you can see why.
Full of flavour and slow-cooked to within an inch of its life, it’s served alongside fresh, creamy coleslaw with a generous dollop of BBQ sauce. The buns are toasted and tasty, although seriously filling. If you can leave space, order the spicy chicken wings served in a paper wrap with an onion and chilli garnish - sticky, chilli and moreish.
Dip & Flip
This is a get-your-fingers-dirty kind of joint, with side dishes of gravy to dip your burgers in. Trust me you’ll need plenty of napkins.
If you’re really hungry (or hungover), try the signature Dip & Flip which is a cheeseburger with a choice of gravy-soaked roast meat, cabbage slaw and a toasted brioche bun. If you like your burger spicy, go for the green chilli burger.
The Oreo and Kahula hardshake is great if you fancy hair of the dog.
Dirty Burger
No list of London’s best burgers would be complete without mention of Dirty Burger.
If you’re partial to a chicken burger, look no further than the Dirty Bird. With buttermilk fried chicken burger and the juiciest breast meat – let’s just say you’ll never look at a Chicken Legend in the same way again.
For veggies or those trying to cut down their meat intake, check out the Dirty Cop Out – a juicy portobello burger with cheese and rocket. Yum.
Kua ’Aina
For a burger with a difference, why not try Hawaiian burger and sandwich bar Kua ’Aina? Based on the original restaurant on Hawaii’s North Shore, which opened in 1975, the London branch is the only in Europe. So count yourself lucky.
We recommend the half-pound Kua ’Aina bacon and avocado burger. Juicy and sweet, it’s an excellent all-around and unusual burger. It is served on golden seeded bun, with tomato, crisp lettuce, grilled onions and mayonnaise. Mmm.