You may have missed National Burger Day on 27 Aug, but you most certainly would have found it hard not to notice that over the last decade the humble hamburger, once regarded, somewhat derided, as nothing more than an unhealthy meat sandwich and binge food, has been the centre of a food revolution and renaissance that has seen it elevated to something that should be savoured and appreciated. Chains like Byron Burger, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Five Guys have reinvented the “burgerverse”, creating “better” burgers, premium burgers, “posher” gourmet burgers, creating a super-sized multi-billion-pound industry and denting the dominance of old fast-food giants McDonald’s and Burger King.
From Wagyu beef burgers and veggie burgers to vegan and plant-based Impossible Burgers designed to mimic the taste, texture, and even bloodiness of real meat. You can get your hands on almost any type of burger you can imagine. But where can you get the best one? Where in Manchester holds the secret to turning a handful of minced beef (or something else) and a bread bun into a magical and memorable delicacy?
Here are five of the best burgers to grab in Manchester…
1. Almost Famous, Northern Quarter and Great Northern Warehouse
The legendary Manchester-born trailblazer kickstarted the burger revolution in Manchester when it first opened on High Street in heart of the Northern Quarter in 2012, quickly cementing itself among a self-generated burger earthquake, with a appetite stimulating marketing campaign, ‘no reservations’ policy, as the go-to place for no-nonsense super-juicy burgers, serving up 100% prime cuts of beef on pillowy soft charred bun, topped with melty cheese and creamy tangy sauces, to eager punters who were literally left queuing out of the door and round the corner.
The Phoenix Burger which consists of a double beef patty with cheese, crispy bacon, shoestring fried onions, bacon frazzle crisps, sliced red chillies, and topped with a trip of sauces, including redneck BBQ, bacon bacon mayo, bacon ketchup, and sitting between a toasted buttery brioche, has been described as the “crack cocaine of burgers.”
https://www.almostfamousburgers.com/
Almost Famous, 49-51 Edge Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1HW
2. Burgerism
Salford-born Burgerism has been serving up premium smashed burgers, fried chicken, wings and fries from it’s dark kitchen via a inconspicuous hatch on a industrial estate just off Eccles New Road since April 2018.
From humble beginnings Burgerism has become a a cult burger brand across the region and has now grown to 6 sites, including one in hip Shoreditch in London.
A cult as grew up around Burgerism, with fans sharing videos of how they unopening their burgers. One fan he went so far to have the Burgerism logo tattoed on his leg.
Burgerism is renowned for their straight up, no frills premium burgers; Cheshire beef patties (firstplace to sell them in Manchester), single double, classic cheesys, with bacon, deep fried chicken variety, veggie or all of the above. The BBQ, Buffalo wings and chicken burgers and skin-on fries and secret spice mix have also been lauded. Mana’s owner and Michelin-starred Head Chef, Simon Martin proclaiming Burgerism make ‘the best burgers in Manchester’.
In 2021, Burgerism had the most delivered burger on Deliveroo, before the restaurant went on to secure the award for Food Trader of the Year at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2022.
Commenting on the opening of it’s , Burgerism owner Mark Murphy commented: “We’re building the future of takeaway. Our goal is to become the go-to delivery burger across the UK, almost like Domino’s is to pizza.”
https://www.burgerism.co.uk/
Burgerism, 18 West Ashton Street, Salford, M50 2XS
3. Honest Burgers
Honest Burgers is a British burger chain, which opened it’s first branch in Brixton, London in 2011, with the mission to produce the best burgers across the UK.
Similar to Almost Famous, Honest Burgers continues the no-nonsense candid philisophy, offering mainly beef burgers made from Honest’s own butchery. There’s one chicken option and two possibilities for vegetarians, including a Beyond Meat vegan patty that has been described by some as an “absolute sensation.”
Fitting for Mancunians, everything comes with chips, and not just any old chips, these are chips that have been showered in praise, notably described by Guardian food critic Jay Rayner as ‘the edible equivalent of crystal meth’. Despite the simplicity of the burgers, you can add all sorts of accompaniments, including black pudding, mini roast potatoes, bacon gravy, beer cheese sauce, rocket and pickles.
https://www.honestburgers.co.uk/
Honest Burgers Manchester, 36 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BT
4. Wholesome Junkies
Established in 2017 by Chelsea Campbell, who starred on the BBCs My Million Pound Menu, Wholesome Junkies is a vegan restaurant renowned for its 100% plant-based beefless burgers, buddha bowls and bites.
Wholesome Junkies started life on street food markets up and down the UK, before opening a restaurant behind Victoria Station at 4 Mirabel Street.
Look out for Thai tater tots, BBQ beefless burgers, Thai fries, truffle corndog which is 100% plant-based and made from sunflower seeds that go through a natural smoke process surrounded by crispy panko crumb topped with truffle mayo, caramelised onion chutney, crispy shallots, parmesan and parsley. KFC aka Kentucky fried cauliflower, which resembles a fried chicken patty but made with cauliflower. The Kimchi burger which involves Korean glaze kimchi, mature cheddar cheese, potato rosti, spicy mayo, lettuce, crispy shallots and a toasted brioche. They also serve up Korean chicken boxes, mac ‘n’ cheese, sides, desserts, and gluten free dishes.
https://www.wholesomejunkies.co.uk/
Wholesome Junkies, Unit 4 Mirabel St, Manchester, M3 1PJ
5. That Burger Place
Cult burger flippers, That Burger Place restaurant opened at 327 Bolton Road in Swinton, Salford in 2017. The brainchild of burger specialists Ryan McDermott and his partner Megan, it quickly earned legendary status among Uber Eats fans who heaped praise on their drool-inducing Los Angeles-inspired smash burgers. Despite a rocky road to success, including the devastating impact of lockdown, their award-winning burgers are now local and city-wide favourites.
Similar to Burgerism, That Burger Place have utilised dark kitchens, specially Jacuna Kitchens located in Ardwick, to expand their reach and to offer door-to-door delivery service of their mouth-watering burgers.
Check out for their 100% beef patties, super smashed straight onto the grill for a tender yet crispy sensation. Fan favourite California Dreaming Triple XL burger, consists of triple beef, American cheese, diced onion, bacon mayo, and their infamous Big Bob’s sauce, named after Ryan’s grandad. Served on a sesame seeded brioche bun and cooked medium. It’s their signature burger but bigger. Kevin bacon fries, lightly salted french fries topped with their secret recipe cheese sauce, bacon rain and bacon mayo. Their secret sauce has been described as “Big Mac sauce on steroids.”
https://linktr.ee/thatbgrplace
That Burger Place, 160 Bolton Road, Walkden, Worsley, Manchester, M28 3GA
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