Burgers are the most popular fast food in the world. There are however gourmet versions too and in Bangladesh, you get to sample the best of both worlds from home grown talent.
Everyone has their own favourite joint but for the sake of this review, we picked three of the most popular places, American Burger, Madchef and Holey.
The Beef Cheese burger at American Burger: The OG grilled smashed burger has been around for almost 20 years and still occupies a soft spot in people’s hearts. Serving from the same small space in Gulshan two, you can smell the burgers being cooked when you pull up to the lane.
What makes them standout is the simple offering of properly seasoned and grilled patties, with just tomatoes, lettuce and cheese, just as a burger should be.
Although the homemade buns' softness and the smoky beef patty's continual enjoyment are undeniable, we were left wanting more of the cheese flavour from the slice. It was only a hint, and we were left wishing we had more than just a hint.
The burger is priced at Tk280, but if you have a bigger appetite, you can always go for the Double Beef Cheese, which will cost you around Tk400.
The Madam Lucy at Madchef: There has been a devoted following for the burgers at Madchef which is located in Banani but has since expanded to other areas. We opted to sample one of their gourmet burgers, Madam Lucy, because it is a fan favourite.
A garlic-crusted brioche bun tops their madam lucy with beef bacon, cheese, sausage gravy and a beef patty. The gravy was special, but we couldn't have been happier with the beef bacon's unexpected crispness.
We didn't like the housemaid patty or the bread very much because of all the unnecessary toppings, including gravy and cheese. If the patty and bread had been topped with more cheese or sausage gravy, it would have been much better. The adage "less is more" is spot on when it comes to their madam Lucy.
At Tk449, it's in the middle of the pricing range, so if you're in the mood for an indulgent burger, it's a good choice.
The Holey burger at Holey Artisan (oro) Bakery: Holey Bakery, located on North Gulshan Avenue, is well-known for its excellent baked goods as well as its breakfast, brunch, and lunch offerings. Since its establishment in Dhaka, holey has been a leading contender in the baguette and sandwich markets. However, what takes the cake is their Holey burger hands down.
Their burger recipe is a well-guarded secret. All of the fixings for this gourmet burger are created in-house: the beef patties, the brioche buns, the mustard, and the mayonnaise.
With a slice of lettuce, a carefully seasoned beef patty, mustard, mayo, and long, soft brioche buns, this burger is a perfect combination of salty and savoury flavours. Succulent at its finest, the patty manages to keep the beef's natural tenderness.
The burger is enhanced by the mustard-mayo combination, which lends a unique savoury-sweet flavour to the patties. The addition of grilled onions and a large slice of cheddar cheese makes it irresistible, and you can't help but appreciate every bite.
You will truly appreciate a well-made burger when you try the holey burger. Accompanying it are some freshly cut fries and ketchup. You may be sure that this meal will satisfy your hunger and your spirit.
Despite its exorbitant price tag of Tk800 (including VAT), the holey burger more than justifies its cost. Make sure you savour every piece of the burger and the fries by nibbling on them. And yet, the burger is so delicious that it's tempting to devour it just by itself.
Verdict
After sampling a wide variety of burgers, how could we possibly offer you a rating? Although the flavour was passable, we felt that the excessive amount of sausage gravy and cheese detracted from the burger, making Madchef's Madame Lucy the least impressive of the three.
The burger was overly ambitious, trying to accomplish too much at once; as a result, the buns and patty—which were supposed to be the show stoppers—were overshadowed and earned the lowest possible rating of 6 out of 10.
Up next, is the original American burger, or OG burger. The beef cheeseburger has stayed true to its roots in terms of both simplicity and flavour; we loved the consistently tender buns and patty; it's unpretentious but a classic; the burger's simplicity is its strength; our only complaint is that the cheese wasn't more flavorful; the American burger comes in at number two. And we do think nostalgia has a big part to play in people still craving the beef cheeseburger.
Lastly, but certainly not least, our favourite is the holey burger from Holey Artisan Bakery. All of the ingredients, from the homemade brioche bun to the mayo-mustard-cheddar cheese combination to the unforgettable salty-savoury delicious beef patty, have a winning flavour. It was so flavorful that the aftertaste stayed long after the bites had gone.
We will definitely be back for the Holey Burger, which takes first place with a score of 9 out of 10.
And remember, everyone’s allowed to have a choice, especially when it comes to burgers.
