The best burgers in Hong Kong

OK, so The Diplomat is not technically a burger shop, but who cares when their burgers are as good as this. Offering one of the best burgers in Hong Kong, The Diplomat's burger is a quarter pounder perfectly grilled to medium-rare, but with crispy edges, topped with melted cheddar cheese, and sandwiched between two toasty sesame buns. It's served with tomato slices and pickles on the side, which keeps the bun in perfect shape.

We’re talking about the good kind of ‘sick’ here. Specialising in quality homemade burgers, Sick! Burger churns out hearty creations from its venues across town. Its signature eponymous burger sees juicy home-ground smashed beef patties layered with crispy bacon, a creamy house sauce, and a sunny-side-up egg – just thinking about it makes us salivate. Plus, Sick! Burger also allows you to add up to three Angus beef patties to your beef burgers, so you’ll be left completely stuffed and satisfied regardless of how big your appetite is.

A swanky French bistro might seem like the last place to find a hefty burger, but trust us, the folks at Jean-Pierre churn out a mean burger. Aptly named the JP burger, this signature bap sees a medium-rare 200g USDA Black Angus chuck and brisket patty smothered with beaujolais wine-braised onions, gruyère, and sauce au poivre. It's limited to 10 portions per day and only available at the restaurant's bar, so be sure to swing by early if you want to chow down on this bougie burger.

If you can pry yourself away from The Baker & The Bottleman’s baked goods, this British joint offers a mean fish burger that’s just as mouth watering as their sweet treats. With fillings like beer-battered cod fillet topped with melted Red Leicester cheese, pickles, and a smattering of homemade tartare all sandwiched between fluffy brioche buns, The Baker & The Bottleman’s fish burger will definitely rock your socks off. Pair it with a glass (or bottle) of wine from the restaurant’s wine list for a sinfully satisfying meal.

Rosewood Hong Kong’s meat-centric smokehouse and grill restaurant, Henry is every meat lover’s dream come true. Aside from churning out irresistible steaks, the steakhouse offers an exclusive burger during lunch on the weekends. The Henry's Burger consists of a dry-aged beef patty, American cheese, and pickle slices, all sandwiched between homemade brioche buns.

As Hong Kong’s first burger joint with its own pasture, N+ sources premium Angus beef from five different ranches across New South Wales such as Oak Park, Glenrock Station, and more. Aside from serving classic burgers, N+’s menu also features mouthwatering options like Japanese mustard brisket burger, premium Angus brisket and truffle sauce burger, or the juicy grilled Hottie Chicken burger.

If barbeque and burgers sound like a match made in heaven for you, then look no further than Smoke & Barrel’s smokin’ burgers. This American restaurant takes brioche buns and creates sumptuous burgers with fillings like dry aged beef patties with American cheddar and maple bacon, 10-hour smoked pork shoulder and belly, buttermilk fried chicken, and crispy fish fillets.

Shake Shack’s popularity in Hong Kong has grown into nine locations, from Central to Sha Tin and beyond. Unlike other fast food chains in town, Shake Shack consistently shakes up Hong Kong’s burger scene. Aside from their regular menu, they frequently roll out time-limited items to keep things fresh. Make a stop at their branches in IFC, Times Square, Pacific Place, Elements, Harbour City, Citygate Outlets, New Town Plaza, or Metroplaza and get stuck into a solid burger, time after time.

This long-celebrated American fast-food chain has served up iconic burgers, signature shakes, and free peanuts for the past 30 years. With stores in over a thousand cities, Five Guys has become a familiar name worldwide, their food filling and satisfying in a way few others can achieve. Choose between their basic burger options, including cheeseburgers, bacon burgers, or bacon cheeseburgers, and go wild with your desired toppings.

As the brainchild of Johnny Glover, founder of Steak King and Flat Iron Steak, Flat Iron Burger prides itself on its buns, served fresh off the grill to its hungry diners. Its signature
creation, Flat Iron Deluxe, layers six ounces of prime Black Angus with double American cheese, streaky bacon, house pickles and seasoning, crispy onions, and Old Bay mayo, which'll definitely hit the spot if you're feeling ravenous. Still feeling hungry? Flat Iron Burger also offers fries piled high with toppings and sauces, as well as frozen custards and concrete shakes for a sweet ending.

The airport outlet of Beef & Liberty offers meat lovers from around the world the chance to chow down on signature gourmet burgers and creations exclusive to Hong Kong International Airport, such as the char siu burger, Hong Kong Breakfast Toastie – an HK-style breakfast dish with macaroni, cheese, and béchamel slathered between crispy thick-cut toast – and a delicious milk tea crème brûlée.

This all American-style burger joint in the heart of Wan Chai (and somewhat lively red-light district) is known for using soft brioche for burger buns. Their signature double cheeseburger and a milkshake are definitely crowd-pleasers, but their fried chicken burgers – crispy with moist meat – and fish burgers are just as good. For those who are not as carb-inclined as the rest of us, you can even go bunless.

Starting as a small local shop for the Kwai Chung neighbourhood, Mable and her brother have had huge success, winning over the hearts of many with their delicately cooked burgers. Kabo's burgers exemplify how much care is put into their food. The truffle cheeseburger is a prime choice for those looking for extra beef, with the beef patty cooked for at least 90 minutes, sous-vide style.

As its name suggests, Lobster Bar and Grill offers a large range of dishes prepared over the grill, in addition to two indulgent burgers. Sink your teeth into the Wagyu beef burger to savour a juicy Wagyu beef patty, caramelised onions, and cheddar cheese sandwiched in a toasted brioche roll, served with a side of fries and salad. Alternatively, Lobster Bar & Grill offers a decadent fish burger, which sees Alaskan pollock, American cheese, and tartar sauce in between a fluffy brioche roll, served with minted mushy peas. 

Just around the corner from buzzy Star Street, Honbo fits right into the neighbourhood. The blue and white walls give off a Santorini vibe during the day while the neon accent lights scream ‘Hong Kong’ at night. It’s all about quality over quantity at Honbo. From the cheeseburger to the chicken burger, every element – patty, bun, sauce – is made in-house. The beef burgers, featuring a combination of local brisket and US chuck, are meaty with a bit of umami and are flat-out delicious.

Think strawberry milkshakes, candy stripes and bow ties, and you've got Burger Circus in a nutshell. Serving up a range of irresistible burgers, from classic American cheeseburgers made with a juicy 5oz beef patty with Wisconsin cheddar cheese to spicy chicken burgers that crank up the heat, and make your own options with selected ingredients such as fried eggs or jalapeños to make your burger masterpiece.