This Tokyo burger has just been named the best in the world

The humble beef patty is a succulent blank canvas for chefs all over the planet, and Time Out’s brand-new roundup of the world’s very best burgers proves just how creative they can be. 

From Gruyère-doused burgers sandwiched between pretzel buns to ‘frilly’ shrimp adorned patties covered in sweet and tangy dressing, there’s plenty of a delicious variety out there – but none can quite compare with the absolute lip-smacker that we’ve just crowned number one. 

Sink your teeth into the triple-bacon cheese classic smash burger from Smash Things in Tokyo. Three 100 percent Japanese black Wagyu patties, pressed to blissful crispiness on a blazing griddle, have bacon, onions and American cheddar wedged in between two pillowy halves of a milk bun. 

‘You’ll find great burgers across Tokyo, but the smash burgers at Smash Things in Komazawa-Daigaku might just be the most delicious of them all,’ writes digital editor of Time Out Tokyo, Kaila Imada. ‘The burgers are kept simple to highlight the outstanding beef, with just onion, proprietary thousand island-style sauce, cheese and your choice of a milk or charcoal-coloured bun.’

Drooling? Same. But there’s plenty more where that came from – claiming second place on our list, handpicked by city editor of Time Out Cape Town Selene Brophy was the Classic Zuney Burger from Zuney Wagyu Burgers, and in third was the Nolita Burger from Nolita in Madrid, as per the recommendation of the city’s food and drink editor Gorka Elorrieta. 

How was Time Out’s list ranked?

We rely heavily on the expert recommendations of local city editors who know better than anyone else about the top spots to eat and drink where they live. 

For this list, we compiled their nominations and ranked them all based on which restaurants had the most glowing Google reviews. Read the entire mouthwatering menu of burgers below.

🍔 Check out the full list of the planet’s best burgers, all tried and tested by our international editors. 

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