We Went to Try It: Burger Joint, a Palermo Classic That Became a Meeting Point

As soon as you walk through the doors of Burger Joint in the heart of Palermo Soho, just a few meters from Plaza Serrano, you step through a portal into classic urban American style. Since 2013, under the direction of Pierre Chacra, the project has aimed to capture the essence its founder brought back from New York, where he worked at Les Halles alongside legendary chef Anthony Bourdain.

The atmosphere is almost as important as the food, and it is overseen by Alex Chacra, Pierre's brother. The space has a lively, artsy aesthetic, with graffiti, signatures and messages from the community covering the walls. You can also spot posters of iconic bands, as well as a screen that plays episodes of the cult series Seinfeld on a loop.

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The food follows a 100% homemade philosophy, under the watchful eye of chef Visney Pintado. Here, there is no room for standard burger patties: the burgers are made from whole cuts of chorizo steak. The bun, a crucial supporting player, is kneaded and baked throughout the day to ensure freshness and flavor. And no good combo is complete without fries, which are triple-cooked to achieve the perfect balance: creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

We went for a house classic, the American, a burger with crispy bacon, melted cheddar cheese and a touch of barbecue sauce. Just as perfect as it sounds. The menu, however, offers a wide variety of options to suit every taste. For those who like things spicy, we recommend the Mexican, which comes with jalapeños, guacamole and hot sauce, and has been recognized among the best burgers in the world.

Other must-tries include the Machete, with double meat, melted cheddar and crispy onions, plus a pronounced spicy kick, and the 420, which features brie cheese, caramelized bacon and an original jalapeño and mango sauce. If you're looking for something more gourmet, there's the Bleu, with sautéed portobello mushrooms, fresh arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions and Roquefort cheese. And we could go on: the clear takeaway is that no one is left out, with chicken and vegetarian options also available, the latter made with quinoa and chickpeas.

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To go with your burger, there's a well-curated selection of drinks, including non-alcoholic options, as well as craft beer from Bierhaus and wine. Thirteen years after opening its doors, Burger Joint makes it clear that it wasn't just a passing trend during Buenos Aires' burger boom, but that it built an identity of its own, creating a cultural experience that always leaves you wanting to come back. You can check out the full menu at this link.

Where: Jorge Luis Borges 1766, Palermo.