The first few months of living in Bangkok were difficult.
Not just because of the heat, the new way of life, or the language barrier, but because after years of building up a collection of my favourite food hangouts in England, moving to Bangkok put me straight back at square one.
Thai food is one of, if not my most, favourite cuisine and I could happily eat it all day (and have actually been known to do just that), but there comes a time when you crave a particular type of food, and for me that food is always burgers. Not cheap crappy generic fast food burgers. But proper. Meaty. Mouthwatering. Burgers.
When I first came to Bangkok I noticed that burgers were sold everywhere, with many restaurants boasting signs of “delicious western cuisine” in a desperate attempt to lure in the tourists with promise of comforting home flavours. But when it came to down to it, the food was more than a little bit bland served with a side of disappointment. But during my time eating my way through the bad, the downright awful, and finally finding the good – I managed to create a list of, in my opinion, the best burgers in Bangkok.
Firehouse
3/26 Sukhumvit soi 11
A burger bar that many have heard of. They have a great range of burgers available, including premium Australian Angus, sliders, and an array of specialty burgers. The burgers are served with a miniature wooden barrel full of chips and the portions are large enough to satisfy even the biggest hunger grumble. The patties are well cooked but in my opinion they could do with a good pinch of seasoning.
25 Degrees
Pullman Hotel, 188 Silom Road
25 degrees is located on the ground floor of the Pullman G Hotel and is a sister branch to its LA counterpart. The burgers here are rich in flavour, price, and the restaurant has a more up market feel to it, with both cocktails and wine available to order alongside your drink. Each element of the burger is given adequate attention with no topping or sauce overlooked and the result is a truly beautiful flavour combination, and… Are you ready for the best part? It’s open 24 hours a day!
Hyde and Seek
65/1 Athenee Residence, Soi Ruamrudee, Pathawum
Hyde and Seek is a gastro bar that sells an array of modern delights, however for me the star of the menu are their burgers. There are four burgers to choose from; Foie gras stuffed beef patty, pork, beef, and veggie but for me the beef burger is something worth celebrating. 6oz of Australian Wagyu beef, cheddar & blue cheese, caramelized shallots all wrapped together in a Parmesan bun. It’s gourmet without being pretentious. It doesn’t try to impress you with fancy presentation and an excess of condiments; instead it’s kept simple. Burger, fries and a small side of sauce. Each patty is cooked to order and when I ordered mine medium, it came out perfect. Slightly charred outers and deliciously pink on the inside. The beef burgers look a little strange when they are served, as they are very round in shape, looking more like a giant meatball, than a burger. However after a quick squeeze the burger flattens to a more appropriate size (Where you don’t need to detach your jaw to eat it). The pulled kurobuta pork with a Worcestershire cola glaze is also delicious and not to be overlooked.
Escapades
Phra Athit
Situated near Khaosan road, you’d expect this place to be full of westerners taking a break from Thai spice and stocking up on a good portion of meat. However that’s not the case. A mixture of both locals and foreigners walk through the doors of Escapades, and for good reason. Their burgers are well flavoured, interesting and they like to experiment. Such as their “lamb patty with chocolate bun” a combination that you wouldn’t expect to work, but the bitter chocolate bun paired against the sweet lamb provides an interesting balance. And with their very own, almost award winning, mixologist behind the bar, their milkshakes are pretty damn special and are not to be missed out on. Get there early though, as although they are a burger bar, they only ale a certain amount of burgers for each day. I actually had to visit three times before I managed to sit down and taste it.
Daniel Thaiger
27/1 Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana
Food stalls are seen everywhere in Bangkok, attached to bikes, mopeds and converted pick up trucks, but Thaiger is bringing the classic food truck back. A risky move with Bangkok traffic, but one that has most certainly paid off well. His short menu (with a few secret items) is made up of high quality ingredients and with a concise menu each patty gets adequate attention ensuring that each burger is delivered consistently well. The menu focuses on classic combinations with a little twist (such as his own version of 1,000 sauce) with specials that are imaginative and well thought out, such as the Greek burger: Beef patty, lemon yoghurt mayo, banana peppers and feta cheese, or my personal favourite, the Mac ‘N’ Cheese: Beef patty, crispy bacon and jalapeños served with a big juicy dollop of macaroni cheese all swaddled inside a perfectly fresh bun. Thaiger’s locations vary but he has just opened a restaurant (location above) and if you’re on the look out for his truck, it’s best to follow his Facebook announcements so that you don’t miss out!
