Top photo credit: Burgeroom

We know the classic burger formula: juicy beef patty, crown of tomato and pickle, bed of lettuce (and a slice of cheese if you’re feeling a little fancy). Everybody and their mother has tried this good, ol’ burger. But we want more in life. We want to kick things up a notch and try out some next-level burgers, so we scouted burger joints all across Hong Kong to find some of the weirdest, the grossest and the dopest offerings.

Hong Kong Island

Beef & Liberty

We look out for the vegetarians in our lives too. Beef & Liberty’s falafel burger ($98) is a package of healthy goodness. Think a chunky, homemade falafel patty with butter lettuce and tomato slathered in harissa-yoghurt-and-tahini sauce. We love the Middle Eastern approach to this very Western staple – and the guiltless and refreshing result.

Central: 3/F, California Tower, 30–32 D’Aguilar Street, LKF, 2450 5778

Stanley: Shop G04, G/F, Stanley Plaza, 23 Carmel Road, 2563 2798

Beef & Liberty burger

Photo credit: Beef & Liberty

Related: Where to find the Impossible Burger in HK

The Big Bite

Not sure what the obsession is with mashing perfectly decent childhood flavours with the indulgences of adulthood, but there’s more than one PB&J burger on offer in Hong Kong and Canadian-style The Big Bite serves one of them. Their chargrilled peanut butter and jam burger ($72) is this: a six-ounce grilled sirloin patty and slice of mozzarella cheese topped with strawberry jam and peanut butter sauce. If that sounds too bizarre for your taste buds, the slightly less outlandish poutine ($36) is also a recommended dish, though there are no cheese curds in sight (shredded mozzarella is used instead). Not quite authentic, but people seem to dig it.

Shop 4B, Kar Fu Building, 196–202 Java Road, North Point, 6979 9690

Big Fernand

French import Big Fernand serves one of the only lamb burgers in Hong Kong; naturally, it stands out amongst the beef patty offerings and is worth a mention for those who long for the taste of autumnal Europe. L’Alphonse ($120) is a gamy masterpiece of pasture-fed Australian lamb leg, a plump slice of grilled aubergine, gooey Tomme de Savoie cheese, coriander and house-made sweet mayonnaise, sandwiched between a crusty sesame bun. Just look at that lamb juice seeping into the bottom bun…

Shop 2017, 2/F, ifc mall, 1 Harbour View Street, Central, 6650 0580

Big Fernand burger

Photo credit: Big Fernand

Burgeroom

With a name like Burgeroom, you can expect a long list of burger-related offerings on the menu. As a matter of fact, there are 36, excluding all the build-your-own options (we counted!). Thus, the only logical conclusion is that, statistically, we’d find some weird ones on there too. Cue: the double foie-gras-beef burger ($238), which sounds more like an ethical foodie’s nightmare than an indulgent delicacy for the high spender. If this reads like your thing, expect two thick-cut foie-gras medallions atop a beef patty, lettuce, tomato, Cheddar cheese and Burgeroom’s homemade burger sauce, which tastes like a ketchup and mayonnaise medley. We also spied a lobster burger ($198), whimsically plated, with Boston lobster and Cheddar cheese blanketing a dollop of guacamole, lettuce and tomato. Bon appétit!

Causeway Bay: Shop D, G/F, 50–56 Paterson Street, Fashion Walk, Food Street, 2890 9130

TST: Shop 207, 2/F, Mira Place One, 132 Nathan Road, 3702 0361

Burgeroom burger

Photo credit: Burgeroom

Burgeroom burger

Photo credit: Burgeroom

The Butchers Club Burger

No burger list is complete without The Butchers Club Burger, which boasts four locations in Hong Kong and has now expanded to Bali and mainland China. We dig the saucy Hogtown ($160), featuring their signature dry-aged beef patty, syrupy pulled pork and Canadian pea-meal bacon for the carnivores in us, topped with pickled shallot, sharp honey mustard and a smoky slice of Gouda. We recommend using two hands to eat it and not to wear anything you care about; it’s a messy one. Praise also goes to the Beyond Classic ($120), a veg-friendly twist on their bestselling burger, which uses a Beyond Meat vegan pea patty, vegan Cheddar, pickled beetroot crisps, caramelised onion, tomato, dill pickle and a vegetarian version of their irresistible burger sauce, all on a buttermilk bun.

Various locations around Hong Kong

Butchers Club Burger

Photo credit: @miszeto

The Diner

Now, when was the last time that the humble cheese was the star of the burger show? For this beast of a burger that barely fits on the serving board, wander down to The Diner and order the skirt burger ($189). We’re howling with longing at the enormous, crispy grilled-cheese skirt. Take a peek underneath to see what else makes this burger phenomenal: a grass-fed Angus beef patty, caramelised onion, lettuce, tomato, dill pickle, smoky mayonnaise and a slick brioche bun. For the daredevils with bottomless bellies, the epic skyscraper burger ($349) will set you back a pretty penny and have you rolling out the door clutching your stomach and saying Hail Marys. Imagine this: four six-ounce patties piled high along with five slices of Monterey Jack cheese. Add pulled pork, bacon, caramelised onion, dill pickle, tomato, lettuce and The Diner’s signature sauce. Good luck, soldier.

4–8 Arbuthnot Road, Central, 2562 3181

The Diner burger

Photo credit: @hungrysu

The Diner burger

Photo credit: The Diner

Electric Ave

Electric Ave is an eclectic hole in the wall in Sai Ying Pun that true believers tout is home to one of the best burgers in Hong Kong. We know it as the place that serves up the unparalleled chicken carbonara burger ($140), a hot, sloppy mess of hand-chopped chicken, smoked pancetta, taleggio, smoked paprika, a bulbously yolky Japanese egg, rocket leaves and a peppery cream sauce, all inside an egg wash bun. All right, but does it taste like chicken carbonara? You bet it does, in all its dribbling, juicy glory. Hot tip: their hand-cut bone-marrow chips ($70) are the bomb.

Follow them on Facebook to get periodic deals and vouchers

LG/F, Tai Yik House, 27–29 First Street, Sai Ying Pun, 2858 8883

Electric Avenue Burger

Photo credit: Electric Avenue

GoodDay Cafe

GoodDay Cafe’s homemade peanut-butter-and-cucumber beef burger ($85) is straight up WTF. If you’re daring enough to try it, please report back. We’ll wait…

12 Haven Street, Causeway Bay, 6310 9268

GoodDay Cafe HK

Photo credit: 小詩

High Street Grill

Moo! Sai Ying Pun’s High Street Grill has thrown their burger contender into the ring and this one boasts a Tex-Mex flourish. The Moo Cha Cha ($180) rises sky-high, with layers of grilled beef patty, Monterey Jack cheese, chilli con carne, scrambled egg, jalapeño pepper, red onion, lettuce and sour cream, served with sides of guacamole and tomato salsa. ¡Ay, caramba!

54–56 High Street, Sai Ying Pun, 2559 2638

High Street Grill burger

Photo credit: Castelo Concepts

Honbo

What the f*** is a QQ burger? You’ve got our attention, Honbo. Named after the Taiwanese vernacular for al dente food, the QQ burger ($138) is a limited-time collaboration between this hip Wanchai burger joint and Chef Max Levy of Okra. Here’s what it actually is: Honbo’s signature beef patty topped with Okra’s deep-fried local oyster patty, slathered in a slightly spicy pollock-roe sauce, all on a bed of lettuce and held together with Honbo’s silky, light potato bun. It’s pretty dang tasty, guys.

Shop B, New Sun House, 6–7 Sun Street, Wanchai, 2567 8970

Honbo burger

Kinson Burger & Bar

Low-key Quarry Bay restaurant Kinson Burger & Bar has created a East-meets-West burger for the masses. Check out the Japanese-style curry burger ($65). A seven-ounce Brazilian beef patty is stacked with a fried egg, onion and thick Japanese curry sauce, bedded between a toasted, fluffy bun. Now that’s one way to kill two birds with one bite.

Shop 4, Stanhope House, 738 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, 2668 1237

Opium Snack Bar

Well, with a name like that, we imagine the owners of this place must think outside the den. Kennedy Town’s Opium Snack Bar’s burger menu is influenced by different global cuisines, from Spain, to Korea, to Thailand and more. We think their most curious creation is the homemade crab-cake burger ($73), which plays on traditional local flavours to produce a breaded and deep-fried crab cake patty, the ubiquitous duo of lettuce and tomato and a crown of sunny-side-up egg. Did we mention the bun is a 菠蘿包 (Hong Kong–style pineapple bun)?

Shop 3, Timley Court, 99 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town, 2612 2699

Opium Snack Bar burger

Photo credit: CKCK612

Shake ’em Buns

A quick perusal of the menu will leave you wondering which burger at Shake ’em Buns isn’t outrageous AF. A special mention goes to the unfortunately named Gang Bang House Party ($165). Tasteless name aside, this one will knock your socks off: we’re looking at two Galician and Angus beef patties, American and pepper Jack cheeses, hickory-smoked bacon, a fried egg, roasted garlic mayo and all your regular onion, lettuce and tomato fixin’s. ’Tis a neat package sandwiched in between two chilli, Cheddar and caramelised onion melts. My poor arteries are clogging up…

UG/F, 76 Wellington Street, Central, 2810 5533

Shake 'em Buns burger

Photo credit: @hulky.gastronaut

Veggi Monster

Vegetarian Veggi Monster saw a gap in the burger market and made a hasty move to fill it with more vegetables. Their most popular burger right now is the Burger in Black ($78): charcoal bun, black-bean patty, kale, soy-based cheese, truffle sauce and portobello mushroom. Just enough green buzzwords to get your plant-based stomach growling.

Shop 1B, Cheung’s Building, 1 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan, 2886 0325

Veggi Monster burger

Photo credit: Veggi Monster

33. Kyoto

Now for something completely off the charts: rice burgers! A relatively new addition to the Wanchai scene, 33. Kyoto is keeping the hype alive. Almost certainly not the best way to keep your carb intake under control, but definitely the best way to keep your belly happy. Just look at that grilled rice ”bun” and nori wrap… Fancy an eel-and-cheese rice burger ($33)?

1A Wood Road, Wanchai, 2947 7333

Kyoto burger

Photo credit: pandayan88

Kowloon

Baofanji

Come for the whimsical branding and menu design, stay for the burgers (and everything else). Prince Edward’s Baofanji is the underground scene’s dream spot to wind down and grab a bite. Expect lots of cool kids lingering around here. The stars of the show are definitely the confit duck-leg burger ($62) and the deep-fried chicken-and-caramelised-pineapple burger ($62). The tartness of the pineapple is just the thing to cut through the crispy chicken and the confit duck leg is paired with Welsh onion and refreshing cucumber. Don’t forget to shop for Baofanji merch and postcards after your meal.

254 Tung Choi Street, Prince Edward, 2656 5605

Baofanji burger

Photo credit: Baofanji

Baofanji burger

Photo credit: @himmy_food

BLT Burger

Frequenters of TST’s Harbour City will be familiar with BLT Burger, which has stuck around the area since 2009, seemingly an eternity in Hong Kong’s dining scene. We’ve got our eyes on the eclectic pork-based Canton Road ($88), a Chinese-inspired medley of pulled pork, plum sauce, herb salad, Chinese chilli, cucumber and sriracha mayo, and the salmon burger ($92), replete with an Atlantic salmon patty, smashed avocado, red onion, rocket and a zesty cayenne tartare sauce. It comes on a fragrant, salty onion bun too.

Shop OT301–301A, 3/F, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, TST, 2730 2338

BLT burger

Photo credit: @nicocoooo

Burger Factory

This tiny corner shop is whipping up some fresh buns for the Whampoa foodie district. Burger Factory’s menu may be small, but there are some whoppers on there; the braised beef-cheek burger ($60) comes highly recommended, loaded with marinated, tender beef cheek, crunchy, bitter rocket and a bouncy sesame bun. Heat-seekers should try the Inferno ($55), made up of a beef patty, lettuce, tomato, bacon, onion and Burger Factory’s secret ”devil sauce“. Hot diggity!

Shop F3, Tak Man Building, Whampoa Estate, 29 Man Tai Street, Hung Hom, 3702 1307

Burger Factory burger

Photo credit: @hilarylali

Burger Factory burger

Photo credit: ElvanTam

Burgerman

We’ve not spoken about many burgers that feature delights from the sea, but that’s because we haven’t got to Burgerman yet. This highly popular Sham Shui Po burger joint cooks up a mean mermaid burger ($82), featuring plump, deep-fried shrimp wrapped in a breading of octopus meat (whaaaaaat?), with lettuce, tomato, Cheddar cheese and tartare sauce. Dat shrimp tho!

Sham Shui Po: 65–71 Yen Chow Street, 23611330

Tai Kok Tsui: Shop C, G/F, 95–97 Ivy Street, 2331 3973

Burgerman burger

Photo credit: @jsmmak

Fast Taste

What, you want more seafood-based burgers? Fear not; Fast Taste in Cheung Sha Wan serves up an eel-and-cheese burger ($76), which seems to be becoming a theme amongst the weirdo burgers of Hong Kong. This one takes it to the next level with added scrambled egg, lettuce, tomato and cucumber. It probably tastes a lot better than it sounds.

Shop 4, Golden Jade Heights, 482–492 Un Chau Street, Cheung Sha Wan, 9123 3262

Fast Taste burger

Photo credit: bigbellyfoodie

New Territories

Backyard

If you’re a burger fan and willing to travel to the New Territories, you’ll be getting to know Tsuen Wan as a bit of a burger hub. Backyard is set in a modern, open space, channelling the same clean lines of interior design that most new and hip restaurants seem to be adopting these days. Their menu boasts a kimchi-and-soft-shell-crab burger ($118) served on a squid-ink bun and a blanket of lettuce. It’s got a bit of a spicy, tangy kick to it.

Shop G1, CDW Place, 388 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, 2388 0883

Backyard burger

Photo credit: siumaigor

Burger Jobs

Let’s face it – we’re just here for the ’gram. Burger Jobs has put together a duo of possibly the most picture-perfect buns we’ve seen so far, with bright colours taking the lead. The Tiffany Blue cordon-bleu burger ($88) and the avocado soft-shell crab burger ($66) are a duo of bite-sized guys, just enough for a quick snack. We spied deep-fried chicken fillet, lettuce, tomato and a bit of cheese on one and soft-shell crab, lettuce, tomato and bonito flakes on the other (not to mention the perfectly smooth avocado ”bun“).

Shop 7A, Cheong Tai Building, 2–8 Tsuen Hing Path, Tsuen Wan, 6599 9199

Burger Jobs burger

Photo credit: siumaigor

Burger Jobs burger

Photo credit: siumaigor

Cafe Swan

Tsuen Wan’s Cafe Swan not only boasts one WTF burger but three WTF burgers on their surprisingly small burger menu. What a solid find for us weirdos. We present: the sea-urchin-and-black-truffle burger ($158), which comes with molten cheese, a Wagyu beef patty and an appropriately WTF price tag, the cheese-grouper burger ($88) for that ”mmm, cheese and fish fillet“ combo you never knew you needed and the Japanese-inspired teppan-cheese-chicken burger ($88), which we think actually looks the best out of the bunch. Umami bonito flakes…

Shop 30–33, Kolour Phase ll, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan, 3481 1883

Cafe Swan burger

Photo credit: him321

Cafe Swan burger

Photo credit: Icetouch

Mr & Ms Burger

Lemme guess, this burger joint’s also in Tsuen Wan… Mr & Ms Burger’s pride and joy is the golden black Wagyu burger ($188) – and an indulgent one at that. We’ve seen squid-ink burger buns, but this one’s topped with edible gold leaf for that extra mile of decadence. Finish that off with a Cheddar-topped Wagyu beef patty, an Australian tenderloin patty, mesclun salad and the shop’s homemade secret sauce and you’ve got yourself a next-level burger.

77 Hoi Pa Street, Tsuen Wan, no phone

Mr & Ms Burger burger

Photo credit: siumaigor

Urban United Burger & Bar

Aloha! Yuen Long burger joint Urban United Burger & Bar brings a slice of tropical island life to the New Territories with the Hawaii Aloha ($68). We dig the chicken patty, the grilled pineapple and the eclectic addition of Thai chilli paste to spice things up. But that’s not all there is to this restaurant. The Alaska Special ($78) is a favourite amongst regulars, with its comically oversized fried fish fillet doused in tangy Caesar sauce. Their eponymous burger, the Urban United ($198), probably wrote the book on WTF burgers. We present to you a crown of foie gras and deep-fried onion rings, soft-shell crab, a beef patty with Cheddar cheese, tomato, red-leaf lettuce, Caesar dressing and balsamic vinaigrette.

Shop 8–9, Full Yau Court, 37–51 Yau San Street, Yuen Long, 3708 8493

Urban United burger

Photo credit: Urban United Burger & Bar

Urban United burger

Photo credit: chongjacky

Urban United burger

Photo credit: Urban United Burger & Bar

Try any weird or next-level awesome burgers lately? Tell us more and we’ll add ‘em to the list.

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