Slap & Pickle
Winners of countless awards and accolades, Slap & Pickle are now sitting pretty in Society on Barbirolli Square – and if you’ve not already had a burger from them – now is the time. Using the finest 40-day dry-aged beef from Swaledale in Yorkshire, the burgers are ‘smashed’ directly onto the grill – yielding juicy patties with caramelised crusts. They’ve also got an excellent veggie and vegan range too – recreating their main meat menu but for plant-based diets.
Almost Famous
Probably one of the most famous burgers in the city, and certainly up there as some of the best, Almost Famous will be offering 50% off their burgers this Burger Day. Their burgers are a bit mad – with an array of weird and wonderful additions – from pulled pork to Frazzles, to the Awesome HQ qhich comes with both beef patties and buttermilk fried chicken. Add some loaded fries, wings and cocktails and you’re laughing.
Hawksmoor
Recently named one of the best burgers in Europe, the burger at Hawksmoor is out-of-this-world good. Even though it’s likely to be overshadowed by the steaks and lobster, the burger still uses the highest-quality meat that Hawksmoor is so famous for, 100% grass-fed beef from traditional British breeds, with small nuggets of bone marrow. They keep it simple with just a bit of salad, Ogleshield or Stichelton cheese and some sauce.
Patty Queen
Located down at Escape to Freight Island, with such a wealth of food options available down there, you’d be forgiven for not having heard of Patty Queen. But next time you’re down there, you should seriously consider going for one of the burgers here – they’re truly excellent. Promising the “best burger this side of Santa Monica” – it’s very likely that they’re not wrong there – they’re THAT good.
The Pen & Pencil
The Pen & Pencil offer up some superb burgers; from their classic P&P Burger with bacon, Swiss cheese and smoked paprika aioli, to a Halloumi Burger, loaded Mac & Cheese Burger and a lovely Soft Shell Crab Burger. For the real burger lover though, it has to be their ‘Meaty King of America’ burger with two massive patties, red wine caramelised onion, cheese and their signature Catalan sauce. This Burger Day they’re offering 50% OFF all burgers all day too!
Bull & Bear
This Burger Day the Bull & Bear, Tom Kerridge’s restaurant within the Stock Exchange Hotel, will be offering up a decadent Slow-Cooked Short Rib of Beef Burger, topped with Smoked Applewood Cheddar and served with Truffle & Parmesan Fries. It’s £28.50 but it’s well worth it – out of all of the burgers that we’ve been to eat over the last couple of days – this beauty has been the best.
Fat Hippo
Located within Lane7 – Fat Hippo serve up some seriously good burgers – and they’ve all got 20% OFF this National Burger Day. They’re pretty well-known throughout the land for their unique PB & J Burger (topped with peanut butter and jam) and their ‘4×4’ a colossal beast of meat with a whopping 4 patties, bacon and tonnes of cheese.
Dunkin’ Burgers
Located within the excellent Arndale Market, Dunkin’ Burgers have a fantastic hook – gravy. The clue is in the name, as you’re served your burger with a tub of gravy so you can dip-dip away to your heart’s content. The burgers themselves are pretty special, with a full English breakfast one, a jerk chicken one and a new Greek one loaded with halloumi and bacon.
Burgerism
This place has been the talk of the town recently, but they’ve actually been operating from a dark kitchen in Salford for years. Delivery only, Burgerism have pretty much revolutionised the entire concept – and they’re massively popular on the main food delivery apps – at some points filling more than 1000 orders a day during lockdown. The burgers themselves are simple but made using the very best ingredients.
What’s Your Beef
Generally acknowledged by many to be the best burgers available in the city, What’s Your Beef are certainly a very impressive burger outfit. They were actually voted in the top 5 burgers in the county at the National Burger Awards in 2019 – so you know you’re getting something mega here. They’re currently serving up their beefy beauties at the Stretford Food Hall, as well as at the General Store in Media City.
That Burger Place
Universally adored around the north of Manchester, ‘That Burger Place’ have been making serious waves in the burger world since opening a couple of years back, and they’re set to head into Hatch very soon too. Their New Yorker burger is inspired by Burger Joint NYC and was the winner of ‘Manchester’s Best Burger’ Award, voted by the followers of The Burger Reviews. It’s mega.
Lost Cat
New to Oldham Street, Lost Cat have been making a name for themselves with some seriously sexy cocktails – but they’ve very recently started serving up sliders too! Starting from just a quid, there’s some cracking little burgers to be scoffed in here – perfect to keep you going whilst you make your way through the cocktail menu.
Crazy Pedro’s
What? This is a pizza place innit?! Yes, you’re right – how observant. However, Pedro’s offer up a truly wonderful pizza, which is probably my favourite – the Mac Daddy. It’s essentially a Big Mac on a pizza and it’s awesome. Mini hamburger patties, gherkins, shredded lettuce and that all important Big Mac Sauce. Lovely.
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Elnecot
Famed for their brunches and Sunday Roast, Elnecot in Ancoats actually have a fantastic menu of creative and innovative dishes, where you’ll also find their brilliant burger. It’s made using the finest Welsh Wagyu beef, and comes with an umami glaze. It’s simple, with no bells and whistles – just the very highest quality ingredients.
Wholesome Junkies
Vegan junk food located in the Arndale Food Market – who serve up some of the tastiest burgers you’ll ever eat. I don’t know how they make 100% vegan food taste SO good, but I’m happy just to let the science fly over my head – especially when I’m stuffing my face and getting BBQ sauce all over my t-shirt.
Honest Burgers
Honest burst onto the Manchester scene a couple of years back and have been serving up some seriously sexy creations ever since. Their signature beef patties are made using fattier cuts, meaning they’re juicier and extra tender, and they even offer up a Manchester-only ‘local’ burger – a Beef Wellington inspired burger with smoked bacon Owd Yonner Lancashire cheese, béarnaise butter, crispy pastry, bacon gravy, mushroom duxelles, baby spinach and pickles.
The Black Friar
Newly re-opened and with a swanky new menu, The Black Friar in Salford still offers up a range of classic pub dishes – and their burger is an absolute beauty. Paying homage to their roots, the burger comes topped with their very own Boddington’s relish – a genius touch that really sets this beauty apart from your typical bog-standard pub burger. They also offer up a vegan version too – both perfect alongside a frosty pint of lager.
Frank’s
A huge favourite down in and around Ramsbottom, Frank’s serve up some amazing burgers that make the trip out there well worth it in the end. They’ve got some pretty mad offerings, including a peanut butter and maple glazed bacon burger, and a special ‘Ruben’ which comes topped with pastrami, sauerkraut and Russian dressing. Choose any of them though – they’re all mega.
Burgers on Tour
Featuring a range of burgers from different countries around the world, Burgers on Tour offer up some truly eclectic creations. There’s the Brazilian ‘Gaucho Burger’ which comes loaded with fried sirloin steak, and the Surf N Turf burger which comes topped with grilled king prawns and their in-house made ‘Ai caramba sauce’.
Get Chucked
An absolutely fantastic burger joint down in Urmston, Get Chucked initially opened as a 6-week pop-up back in 2016 but has remained open ever since, and are now firmly established in the area as a place to go for a truly banging burger. They do some great specials here too – so it’s always a good idea to keep your eyes on their social channels to see what mad concoction they’ve dreamt up recently.
