Christmas burgers have taken on a life of their own in recent years, so here at SquareMeal, we’ve decided to take on the arduous task of actually going out and trying four festive burgers across the capital – I know, we are truly dedicated to our job. Read on for our pick of the juiciest, tastiest, bites in London that would have Rudolph’s nose shining oh so bright.
Additional words: Hannah Gendler, Lizzie Frainier, Millie Milliken
Butlers Wharf Chop House, South Bank
What: Training our stomachs for the big day is this burger from Chop House restaurants (Butler’s Wharf, Paternoster, South Place). Packed with a juicy chicken breast, bacon, salad, mayonnaise and crammed into a brioche bun, it’s the festive sidekicks that really make this burger Christmassy. Generously sized bowls of pigs in blankets with a honey and mustard glaze (who needs ketchup?) are available to order throughout December, alongside cranberry sauce.
Food-porn rating: 3/5
Where: 36e Shad Thames, SE1 2YE
How much: £15
Chick ‘n’ Sours, Haggerston
What: This may be the least traditionally festive option we tried, but the everything-goes-whack-it-all-together-it’s-Boxing-Day mentality of its ingredients merited it a place on our nice list. Props to anyone who can eat this gracefully – it’s piled high with the restaurant’s trademark fried chicken, a ham fritter oozing with melted cheese, punchy pineapple kimchi, lettuce and a good slathering of kewpie mayo. And you know what? It works.
Food-porn rating: 4/5
Where: 390 Kingsland Road, E8 4AA
How much: £14
Dirty Bones, Shoreditch
What: Dirty Bone’s Holiday Burger features a venison and pork mince patty with hazelnut brown butter, smoked bacon, caramelised shallots and red cabbage marmalade on a seeded brioche. We found the patty to be delicious and it wasn’t too gamey thanks to the pork. We also appreciated that the burger wasn’t too messy to eat, but reckon Dirty Bones could have upped the Christmas factor with the addition of some cranberry sauce.
Food-porn rating: 4/5
Where: 1 Club Row, E1 6JX
How much: £10.50
MeatLiquor, King’s Cross
What: A leader in the ‘dirty’ food world, MeatLiquor has gone all out with its festive collaboration with Tom Kerridge. The Burgducken combines five different types of bird (turkey, duck, chicken, pigeon, and pheasant) which is maybe a bit much, but it sure does create an explosion of flavours. All of which are helped along by a smothering of punch brandy and cranberry mayonnaise – a delicious and decadent Christmas treat.
Food-porn rating: 5/5
Where: 6 St Chad's Place, WC1X 9HH
How much: £12.50 (£1 from each sale goes to hospitalityaction.org.uk)
If you like burgers all year round, check out our list of the best burgers in London, or for all things food porn, check out our Instagram page.