VIVIAN YUEN | 4 September 2020
Let’s be honest – nothing brings more comfort than a juicy burger patty sandwiched between two soft, fluffy buns. We’re talking best burgers. If you’re like us, you may have wondered at some point where this divine subsistence came from.
While there’s much contention on the origins of the burger, here’s what most sources on the Internet are saying:
– The idea of mincing beef and forming it into patties first originated from Hamburg, Germany, famed for their high quality, free-range beef.
– German immigrants arrived in America in the 19th century and set up food establishments in major cities like Chicago and New York. To cater to local taste buds, the beef patties were combined with salt, pepper, garlic and onions. At this point, the burger concept was still uninvented, and the patties were eaten as steaks.
– During the Industrial Revolution, many Americans found jobs in factories. Food cart owners would park outside the factories to cater to workers that needed a quick coffee or meal. While the Hamburg steak was a popular menu item, many found it difficult to eat while standing. This was when the idea of placing the patty between two slices of bread was born.
– Over the decades, an endless variety of burgers have been created to suit palates from around the world, from rice burgers to lettuce wraps.
– Much like the burger that was created out of convenience, french fries proved to be a suitable, fuss-free companion for a hearty meal. Speak about the perfect pairing!
Craving for a burger yet? Below are some of our favourite American burger joints in Singapore that also have vegetarian and vegan options on their menus.
Be transported back in time to 80s America as you step foot into the FIVE GUYS restaurant at Plaza Singapura. With iconic red and white tiles lining its walls and classic rock playing in the background, the brand has largely kept its store aesthetic from when it first opened in 1986 in Arlington, Virginia.
With excellence ingrained in Five Guys’ philosophy, the brand prides itself for having perfected how they make burgers. With no freezers, microwaves or timers at all in their stores, its grill cooks are trained to produce the perfect beef patty merely by experience and sight.
With four burgers and 15 toppings to choose from (See here for full list of toppings), Five Guys proves to be the go-to place for individuals who have specific requests given the highly customisable menu. Also, if you like, ask for your mushrooms, onions or jalapeños grilled. Vegetarians and vegans may try their veggie sandwich or grilled cheese sandwich that are also deliciously customisable. There’s a reason why foodies think it’s one of the best burgers in Singapore.
Hailing from The Big Apple, and in the running for one of the best burgers in Singapore, Black Tap was first put in the local spotlight for its delectable, towering, ‘monster’ milkshakes. Beyond its beverages, the burger joint serves up unique burgers such as The Cantonese BBQ Burger, which comes with distinctly Asian ingredients like black bean and sambal. A worthy mention would be their Falafel Burger that comprises a falafel patty, tahini, pickled onion, greek feta, and hummus.
With an impressive Quad Burger that comprises four beef patties stacked between brioche buns, this Hollywood favourite caters to the one whose mantra is ‘go big or go home’. All burgers also come with complimentary condiments such as crisp lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, mustard, relish, onions and pickles. Besides the Skinny Fries and Fat Fries, FatBurger’s made-from-scratch onion rings are also a popular burger pairing. Non-meat eating friends may be happy to note that they also serve a customisable veggie burger here.
NYC import, Shake Shack, is probably no stranger to Singaporeans. What’s interesting is that we’ve heard most individuals raving about their ‘Shroom Burger above anything else on its menu. A crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheese topped off with its signature Shack Sauce, the meat-free burger is an experience in itself.
Tucked inside Hotel G at 200 Middle Road, Los Angeles-based establishment 25 Degrees boasts of a deceptively simple menu, with its burgers being named simply as Number One, Number Two, Number Three, Number Four, and Veggie Burger. Burger One to Three are beef burgers with different combinations of toppings while Burger four features seared yellowfin tuna.
With plant-based burgers being all the rage now, Mos Burger has recently brought back the Classic Impossible Burger alongside a brand new addition – the Pumpkin Mushroom Impossible Burger. One of the more affordable Impossible Burgers on the market, Mos Burger adds to the patty sliced cheese, fried onions and a BBQ glaze.
