From a local who probably eats out too much.

Burgers have had something of a renaissance in the last 10 years. No London suburb, food market or high street is complete without a gourmet burger bar. However, with great hype comes great responsibility. And sadly, many places in London simply do not live up to the hype.

This is my guide to those places that are as good as we are told – from the heart of the city to the suburbs, you will not be disappointed by these!

Yen Burger

Yen Burger fuses two things which are hot in London right now – burgers and Bao Buns. It sounds like it shouldn’t work to start with, but think about it. A nice juicy burger patty. A soft bao bun. BOOM.

I went to Yen Burger for the first time in 2025, so very late to the party. It was magnificent. I had the pumpkin patty and iced team. This was amazing. The sweet potato fries were lovely. What I didn’t like as much was the paprika chips. They just didn’t work and I am not totally sure why.

Burger & Beyond

With six locations across the city, Burger & Beyond really is a treat for the tastebuds.

Every detail with these exquisite burgers is thought through – the chicken (for example) is rolled in Rice Krispies. The potato tots are melt-in-the-mouth, cut to the perfect size, and cooked to perfection.

Honest Burgers

Honest Burgers have come a long way, from a pop-up in Brixton village they now adorn the city with their signature rosemary salted fries and juicy beef patties. Their burgers melt in the mouth, and really are worth the trip out. As they’ve expanded you can now do things like book at some locations, however for the authentic experience, just rock up!

MEATLiquor

Heavy, Industrial and simply delicious. MeatLiquor is cool. The raw metal and neon lights make it a venue which is not for the faint hearted.

I visited the branch in Angel, where the restaurant is hidden down a back alley. It feels a little like you’re in a club, but the burgers are to die for!

Burgercraft

Located in six hostel pubs in London, BurgerCraft is something special. Whether it is the charcoal-bun Christmas Pudding Burger (turkey patty, cranberry sauce, cheese sauce… perfection) or a juicy hamburger after a couple of glasses of wine, Burgercraft is one of the best.

Nandos

Nandos is the UK’s largest Portuguese chicken chain. It’s also something of a national institution, a “cheeky Nandos” is often slang for a better-than-McDonalds or Burger King-meal you need to get you through a hangover. Personally, I would ALWAYS recommend a Fino Pitta in Medium – the caramelised onion melts into the butterfly chicken breast. The halloumi gives it extra texture and stodge that hits every spot. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, then a sunset burger is for you!

Hawksmoor

An exceptional steak restaurant has recently turned its hand to the humble burger. But the burgers, like everything at Hawksmoor, are anything but humble. Exceptional quality beef, sides to die for (get the creamed spinach, just trust me) and a great atmosphere.

THE GREEN ROOM

The Green Room, a social enterprise located near Waterloo Station and behind the South Bank is not famed for its burgers however take it from me, they are some of the best around. Perhaps it’s the ethos of the place, or perhaps it is the wine I have often consumed there, but if you’re looking for a burger, this is one to watch.

The Grey Horse, Kingston-upon-Thames

Kingston-upon-Thames isn’t always thought of as a foodie hot spot. There are a lot of restaurants, but many are your standard chain eateries. The Grey Horse exists to challenge this. On the surface, it looks like a standard pub with a lot of whiskey, however walk through and you find the dirtiest of BBQs you would ever wish to find. Meat that comes off the bone, juicy burgers and fries to die for. This one is worth trekking out to the suburbs for.

Band of Burgers

Band of Burgers is a relatively new small chain. With six locations across the London suburbs, the tiny and very hipster restaurants serve an eclectic range of burgers. From the above, which was essentially pure vegetables to a meat madness, they’re one to try, especially if you like your burger with a bit of a kick. One warning, the nachos look good, but are a bit of a miss – stick to what Band of Burgers does best – the burger!

So, where have I missed? Are you offended that Lobster & Burger, Street Burger or Dip & Flip is missing from my list? There’s a reason – often thought they’re a tad overrated or, just overpriced for what they are (eep).