Founded in 2018, Truffle Burger is relatively newer than some of its competitors – and what really sets it apart is all in the name. Five of the six burgers on the short but certainly sweet menu are centred around the indulgent ingredient, from a truffle and parmesan glaze which coats the buttermilk chicken thigh burger to the truffle mayo that accompanies the chain’s signature 90-day aged rare-beef and smoked bacon patty dish.
The distinctively nutty and earthy-flavoured funghi, with its famously rich umami undertones, is used expertly here – complementing the ingredients it’s paired with but not overpowering them. The truffle-fest continues when it comes to the sides. The triple-cooked loaded fries, which are delicious but dense, come with “truffalo” sauce – a mix of truffles and buffalo sauce – along with crispy chicken skin, blue cheese mayo and pickled red onions. It’s a must-order dish, but one well worth sharing between two, or perhaps three, four or five…
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Each beef patty at Haché – the Parisian-inspired chain located in Shoreditch, Clapham, Camden, Chelsea, Balham, Holborn and Kingston – is precisely handcrafted to feature the perfect meat-to-fat ratio for maximum flavour, with all beef and chicken sustainably sourced from the family-owned Select Butchery in Ilford, Essex.
The showstopper here is the gourmet Steak Le Fumé, which is presented in a dramatic smoke-filled dome and features caramelised onions, smoked bacon, Gruyère, slaw and a sharp Bloody Marie ketchup which offsets the burger’s soft cheesy gooeyness. As well as several 6oz “hachéd” beef patties to choose from, guests can opt for chicken and plant-based burgers. The Aspen Fries (which are generously garnished with grated Parmesan and black truffle) are a must-order.
Alongside a varied range of mouth-watering burgers, snacks and sides, Haché serves several “sweets”. All this can be washed down with expertly made classic cocktails – as well as indulgent twists on old favourites, like the Espresso Martini Creme Brûlée.
If beef’s not your thing, then Chick ‘n’ Sours, in Haggerston, Seven Dials and Whitechapel, might tempt you with a chicken burger. Large, flamboyant and understatedly listed as “sandwiches” on its menu, these are not your limp chicken shop fare.
The vegan burger, which features green slaw, ginger miso, kimchi and sriracha mayo, certainly has the wow factor, while The General takes the classic cheese, lettuce, pickle and mayo-laden approach. First prize, however, goes to the K-Pop burger. Luscious fried chicken thigh is topped with gochujang mayo, chilli vinegar, Asian slaw and sriracha sour cream for an exotic burger that bites back.
If it’s depth of flavour that you’re after, look no further than Patty & Bun. The former upstart food van has set down roots with rather more traditional restaurants around the country, but the 35-day aged Aberdeen Angus beef remains the same. The ageing process adds flavour to the patty, while the glazed brioche bun pulls everything together and – despite its softness – is sturdy enough to hold in even the sloppiest of fillings. Nevertheless, it is still best to prepare to get very messy and make sure you make good use of the greaseproof paper it all comes wrapped in.
While Patty & Bun boasts a range of meaty and plant-based burgers, the “Ari Gold” remains the prime cut. It’s the team’s answer to a cheeseburger, and it’s “very hard to beat”, said The Londonist. “Sloppy, bright-coloured American cheese” is “slathered” over rings of red onion which have been steeped in vinegar, smoky-flavoured mayo and some light refreshment in the form of juicy tomato slices and crisp lettuce.
A pair of enterprising brothers working with a first-class brewery under the arches of Peckham Rye station sounds like just the kind of set-up for pitch-perfect street food, and it duly delivers. Richie and Alex Calver have set up shop in the courtyard of Brick Brewery, where they offer a small but delicately-designed menu.
The Classic Beef is the highlight – a punchy, spicy burger topped with lightly charred, honey-glazed pork and finished with a tangy lime and chilli dressing. Slow Richie’s also offers a veggie and a vegan option, both featuring “chicken” by the British plant-based company Meatless Farm, as well as sweet potato slaw.
Bleecker’s tagline is “commitment to the burger” – and you can tell. Founder Zan Kaufman, a New York native, said that the sublime burgers at Zaitzeff, an East Village burger joint, inspired him to set up his own burger-centric food van when he moved to London in 2012. Three years later, Kaufman and his team opened their first permanent spot – a kiosk in Old Spitalfields Market. In the years that followed, Bleecker has added eat-in joints in Victoria, Bloomberg and Westfield White City, with delivery-only options in four additional locations.
The chain won Time Out’s coveted “Best Burger in London” award in 2015, 2016 and 2017, as well as similar accolades from Eater, The Infatuation and Foodie Hub. GQ has awarded Bleecker five stars, describing its standard cheeseburger – an uncomplicated combination of beef, American cheese, lettuce and house sauce – as “mouth-wateringly good”.
With locations all over London, including take-out-only stores, Honest Burgers has become one of the capital’s favourite burger joints. The outlet’s “sturdy patties” are ideal for “those who find the American-style pink-middle offerings too sloppy”, said Conde Nast Traveller, and the chips are “bloody good”.
The Fritter is one of the vegan and vegetarian burgers on the chain’s menu, and it proves that a great burger does not require beef. The patty is a tasty southern-fried fritter spiced with smoked paprika and cayenne, giving it a little warmth. Cheddar, chipotle mayo, a crunchy slaw, red onion and pickles complete the flavourful dish. In 2022, Honest Burgers opened its first dedicated vegan restaurant, V Honest, in London’s Leicester Square, demonstrating the chain’s commitment to providing top-notch plant-based creations.
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