There’s always been a huge demand for good burgers in Hong Kong and it’s fair to say that it’s greater than ever – and not just for the classics. Exciting creations and meat alternatives like Impossible burgers are now regulars on HK menus. We decided to give a few of the best burger restaurants our very own grilling – read on for our reviews!
Yamamoto Hamburg
Love a hamburger, but trying to cut down on the carbs? We have a solution, which doesn’t involve cutting back on taste: a Japanese twist on the traditional American burger. The much-beloved Yamamoto Hamburg has newly arrived in Tseung Kwan O – its first international franchise location outside Japan.
We arrived to a queue of diners eager to taste Japanese home cooking. The energetic staff greeted us and offered a free healthy welcome drink, talking us through its ingredients at the same time.
We kicked the night off with the Hamburg Sandwich, a delicious beef patty sandwiched between soft bread with mustard, and covered with gravy. We also tried Yamamoto’s Hamburg Breakfast, featuring delicious, easyto-pull-apart bread and flavourful meatballs.
Our favourites, however, were the namesake Yamamoto’s Hamburg, which had an incredibly moist patty, and the Spicy Mentaiko Hamburg, with a delectable patty and spicy mayo. Both paired well with the accompaniments of broccoli, cheesy potatoes, rice and miso soup. With affordable prices, friendly staff and a tasty yet health-conscious menu, it’s not surprising people are flocking to this new gem!
Shop F23, 1/F, PopCorn Phase 1, 9 Tong Yin Street, Tseung Kwan O
kabu.com.hk
Beef & Liberty – best burgers for quality ingredients and diversity
Here’s a burger chain that champions quality ingredients and diversity across a whole menu. All the buns can be changed to a vibrant pink beetroot vegan bun, or substituted for a mixed leaf salad instead. And all the burger choices can become an Impossible variety. You can also upgrade the 175g Australian grass-fed beef patty to a 220g NZ grass-fed wagyu. Both are hormone- and antibiotic-free – and the Austrian streaky bacon served here is nitrate-free too.
What’s on the menu?
There’s also an ever-changing special guest burger option. On our visit, it was the Japanese Pork Belly, which came slathered in rich teriyaki sauce, a vibrant Asian sesame slaw and ginger mayo all wrapped up in the house bun. Fun, funky and innovative – a wonderful homage to the land of the rising sun.
We also tried the Falafel ($115), crispy and aromatic with plant-based sriracha mayo, sesame sauce, tomato, cucumber and onion. Beautifully fragrant with a lovely contrast of textures, it’s easy to see why it’s such a big seller.
The Bacon Cheese ($148) features raclette cheese, streaky bacon and onion jam. This classic burger is juicy and well-balanced, meaty and sharp, and given the full Beef & Liberty treatment so you’ll be dreaming of the next one.
Another must-try is the Black Pepper ($148), with a double whammy of cracked black pepper and vibrant rocket leaves, tempered with raclette cheese and onion jam. Feisty and wholesome, it’s a peppery Hong Kong beauty!
Other options to seriously consider include: Chicken ($99), featuring seared thigh, slaw, sriracha and romaine lettuce; Notorious P.I.G. ($99), with braised pork, barbecue sauce, crispy bacon bits, slaw and lettuce; and the Fillet-O-Cado ($118), which marries a breaded fish fillet with avocado and tartare sauce. Look out for the latest guest burgers too.
Why we loved it
Beef & Liberty is truly a cut above: outstanding, well-sourced ingredients that come together in a spectacular end product. With the summer holidays upon us, we’ll be sneaking off to the airport an hour earlier for a tantalising pre-flight treat.
Unit 7E138, Departures East Hall, Terminal 1, HKIA. (There is also an outlet at Shop G04, G/F, Stanley Plaza, 23 Carmel Road, Stanley.)
beef-liberty.com
Ruby Tuesday – best value burgers and for dining in big groups
This fab American chain has multiple venues across Hong Kong, each with an extensive burger menu. The membership deal is truly worth it, too. You pay $1,500, and for 720 days you can enjoy half-price food and drinks every time.
What’s on the menu?
One of Ruby Tuesday’s highlights is the Smokehouse Burger ($129), a complete combo of sweet and savoury, juicy and crisp. A generous patty with bacon and cheese is given a sinful splash of barbecue sauce and topped with crunchy onion straws. It’s a winner every time that ticks all the burger boxes.
The Impossible Avocado Burger ($124) is a lighter, healthier choice yet still packs a punch. A juicy umami patty is topped with unctuous avocado, crisp fresh salad and a delightful cheddar sauce.
For something fun, the Sliders Trio ($159) is a tasting platter of mini burgers. They include crisp Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, indulgent BBQ Pulled Pork and classic Cheeseburger. The variety of tastes and textures is refreshingly different. There are lots of other burgers on the menu, which are also available to customise as you wish with an array of add-on ingredients. You can even take these burgers up a notch by upgrading to the wagyu range.
Why we loved it
All the burgers come with fries, and Ruby Tuesday’s special seasoning is available on your table. You’ll also find vegetarian dishes dotted throughout the extensive menu. (Prices quoted are member prices.) Ruby Tuesday’s burgers are truly outstanding! These restaurants are perfect for big groups, and with wine, cocktails and everything else half-price with membership, they’re also good value. The $1,500 outlay pays for itself in just a few visits.
Various locations
IG @rubytuesdayhk
Flower Years – best for choice and value
This foodie haven is alive with exciting choices at very reasonable prices, right in the heart of Kowloon. As you head to the basement of the Eaton Hotel it’s like walking into a vast yet forbidden underground dining speakeasy.
A wide range of outlets awaits, and one level deeper down is an extensive buffet that’s equally appealing to all palates. We headed to Flower Years in the corner where display fridges of craft beers and sodas were well stocked and there’s an inviting bar.
The new burger menu has four well-thought-out burgers that all come with fries and buns baked in-house. There are also pasta dishes for only $68, and for the quality it’s easy to see why this is a popular spot.
But back to those enticing burgers… Although it features an Impossible patty, the Not (Meat) Burger ($128) is so tasty that it’s also popular with meat eaters. The patty is nicely enhanced with caramelised onion, sundried tomato and salad. With fresh flavours and a generous size, it’s a burger that makes forgoing meat a breeze.
The FY Signature Burger ($128) is extremely well crafted, allowing the Angus beef to take centre stage. Cheddar, onion, pickles and salad are all refreshing and the tarragon mayo is a perfect accompaniment; bacon and fried egg are optional extras. It’s a signature burger that speaks volumes of Flower Years.
Meanwhile, the Ocean Catch Burger ($108) is absolutely first class with succulent barramundi encased in the lightest tempura batter, with fresh salad and dill mayo. These heavenly morsels magically transported us to Sydney Harbour. The Spicy Chicken Burger ($108) will have to wait until next time – but with fried chicken, avocado, salad and chipotle mayo on offer, we’ve decided there will definitely be a next time.
Why we loved it
The house wines are very good, too, and it’s a welcoming space for a casual meet-up. There are also other vendors here in the Eaton Food Hall, with something for everyone and at affordable prices. A total win-win.
L/G, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei
eatonfoodhall.com
Honbo – American-style burgers in Hong Kong
Our final burger destination was Honbo, which goes against the grain and instead focuses on doing the classics very well, largely ignoring the bells and whistles. There’s a scaled-back menu of various cheeseburgers with no-frills popular ketchup and mustard on each table. The restaurant touts itself as “A homegrown classic cheeseburger joint that celebrates simple and straightforward American-style burgers through honest cooking and careful sourcing of quality ingredients” – and it truly delivers!
The patties are Double Gold American beef from Wisconsin (in 2oz and 4oz sizes), which are coupled with unique potato milk buns from their own artisanal baker, and a few slices of good ol’ American cheese. Add pickles, onion and house sauce, and we’re off to the races! Most of their burgers consist of all these same ingredients in varying amounts (bacon is another option); you simply choose your patties, and how many, and the number of slices of cheese.
The Gold Standard ($178) is a half-pounder of two 4oz patties, double cheese, bacon and the fixings above. It’s generous and benefits from a good glug of mustard.
Another great option is the Grilled Chicken Burger ($98), with moist teriyaki chicken thigh and kewpie – good flavours and a welcome alternative to the Honbo range of classics. The Chilli Cheese Fries ($78) were a big hit, too – wonderfully crispy with a deep rich welcoming chilli.
Why we loved it
More intriguing options on some Honbo menus include the Scallop Burger with Hokkaido scallops, Japanese rocket leaves and wasabi pico de gallo, and the Soft Shell Crab Burger with ginger slaw and old bay tartare sauce. The Impossible Burger comes with Vegan XO sauce.
Honbo, Shop 2, G/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
IG @honbo.burger
Enjoyed our article on the best burgers in Hong Kong? Find more foodie inspiration in our Wine & Dine section.
This article first appeared in Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue!
