Jan 31 2014
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Burger reviews, Decent, Hong Kong, Wan Chai

Beef & Liberty

Bacon Cheese Burger

Bacon Cheese Burger

Beef & LibertyThe Bacon Cheese burger is a superbly decent hamburger; Beef & Liberty has certainly done a great job in delivering a rich beef patty, while taking the liberty of disregarding everything else that makes a burger feel and taste so good. The burger isn’t bad, its just that throughout the hamburger experience there’s an impression that something burger is just not quite there.

It all starts with an awkward introduction; the burger, placed on a ‘bedpan like’ metal plate, is seemingly simpler than what is described and expected from the cumbersome menu. As the hamburger arrives a single leaf of lettuce, cut and draped over the inner workings, will have you asking yourself ‘where’s the meat?’; and the few condiments on the side, in an uninspiring presentation, might give you an irked feeling as you think to yourself ‘why doesn’t it all just come as one?’.

Opening the hood to check out the insides will not improve things, and the subsequent consumption makes things only slightly better. If you’re looking to enjoy some greens in your burger, look no further than the desolate leaf of ‘butter’ lettuce, cause there isn’t anything else. The sole piece of fair tasting brittle bordering on dry bacon has been miserably shattered and thinly spread inside; and a fine coating of bland cheese appears to have been almost melted away, a likely sign of an eager entrance during the preparation. The bacon jelly does manage to add a nice sweet zesty flavor, but only as a glimpse. The amount of love for these ingredients is too damn low!

As I mentioned, they certainly did get the beef part right; the patty, a strong companionator for a great burger taste balance, is utterly exquisite. The beef flavor is strong with this one, it feels lean, juicy, and rips easily. The grass fed cattle was sacrificed with all the right intentions, but the results as a burger are plain decent. The bun which is actually itself not bad, with a soft core and crisp exterior, does a good job at holding, and hiding, the scarce amount of fixings; still, as you gaze and demolish, the sour dough roll seems inadequate, almost inappropriate, and becomes too thin for a burger… you’ll end up wishing for a better bun. The french fries are alright.

The patty itself gives this burger the potential to be amazing, but when little care is given to the rest of the components it hard to reach that burger ranking. At 108.00 HKD, not including fries, there are a few other places around handing out better burger experiences. Beef & Liberty, newly opened in Hong Kong, has a nice set up; and I very much enjoyed one of their spiked milkshakes… unfortunately, probably more than the burger.

Beef & Liberty
Star St. Precinct,
2/F, 23 Wing Fung Street,
Wan Chai,
Hong Kong 
+852 2811 3009
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Jan 24 2014
2 Comments
Burger reviews, Exquisite, Hong Kong, Sai Ying Pun

High Street Grill

Wagyu burger

Wagyu burger

High Street Grill

The Wagyu burger, with its magnificent appearance and captivating taste, is an exquisite hamburger. From the moment this burger is placed at your sight you’ll feel the excitement that Jack felt as he gazed upon and drew Rose; but with a happier ending, this burger encounter is one that you should certainly look forward too.

The burger, which looks and feels well proportioned, has been constructed with a set of delicious ingredients. Individually, these ingredients manage to leave their own little mark; but as a whole, as they rumble and tumble inside your lips, they succeed in achieving an exquisitely savory burger taste balance. The Wagyu patty, with its appropriately corresponding girth and vigorous juicy beef flavor, feels just right; lying upon a bed of fresh firm vegetables and covered by a slightly gooey blanket of gently melted mellow delectable Swiss cheese, this patty seems well taken care of. The vibrant bacon, which is perfectly chewy and crispy, provides just the right amount of saltines to complement the beef, and the overall burger balance. All these ingredients, carefully stacked in between the marvelously soft and springy bun, a bun that is crumpled ever so flawlessly, that’ll blissfully absorb any juices without tearing itself apart, make up one of the best burgers I’ve had in Hong Kong – it is simply, exquisite.

This burger could very well attain the heights of a majestic burger, and there isn’t much to say in terms of the bad… but for a burger to be majestic, care has to be given to all aspects of the burger and the experience. Without a chance of disappointing the burgnivore – as the flavors caress your tongue the adventure should be mesmerizing; when you request a temperature medium expecting a pink center and instead receive a temperature well done with a gray-brown center, a disruption will occur. On top of that, a few meagre bits of rubbery meat were encountered in the Wagyu patty, while unimportant, and I hope a one-time incidence, you’ll still stop for a second before continuing in on this grand endeavor. The steak fries are good, but could use a little extra salt.

At 155.00 HKD dollars this burger is well worth the price, and 8.00 HKD for additional toppings won’t break your wallet. High Street Grill, a comfortable restaurant in Sai Ying Pun, is a nice place to enjoy a burger that feels even better when you realize how homely the neighborhood appears.

High Street Grill
Shop 4&5,
G/F, Hang Sing Mansion,
48-78 High Street,
Wester District,
Hong Kong
+852 2559 2638
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Jan 11 2014
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Burger reviews, Causeway Bay, Decent, Hong Kong

Brunch Club & Supper

Marie's home burger

Marie’s home burger

Brunch club & supperMarie’s home burger is an exceedingly decent hamburger. There isn’t much to say about this boring burger, and it doesn’t particularly stand out in any way. The ingredients in the burger aren’t exceptionally rich, and together they don’t amount to great heights; its juicy but not all that tasty, the burger taste balance is just… satisfactory. The patty, a little too thin for the hamburger, doesn’t convey an exceptional beef taste; and the bacon, with a rubbery chew to it, doesn’t dispense the saltines or fat needed for that divine breakfast bacon burp. I can only hope that the Angus cow and the pig enjoyed beautiful lives full of passion and excitement; cause in death, they sure tasted dull.

Breakfast, I mention breakfast because if anything, and if it’s any indication from the restaurant’s name, the burger feels like it could be a breakfast hamburger; the fried egg, the only one to leave a mark, makes it so – unfortunately, it’s not a burger special enough to be a worthy first meal of the day. The cheddar is so weak, you can’t enjoy a cheesy brunch; and the brioche bun so soft that it’ll give you a sense that it’s crumbling the instant you caress this burger. The vegetable salad is fair, but its purpose, indicated by the dressing and cherry tomatoes, is to be a salad, not a condiment. The potato wedges, a little hard on the inside, were just acceptable.

At 118.00 HKD I would expect the burger to have a much better taste; you are better off ordering a different breakfast option, or getting a burger elsewhere. I think Marie has to reconsider how much care she puts into her burger, at least she got the temperature right.

Brunch Club & Supper
First Floor
13 Leighton Road,
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
+852 2890 2125
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Jan 04 2014
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Burger reviews, Exquisite, Florida, Orlando, Out of town, USA

LongHorn Steakhouse

Primetime burger

Primetime burger

LongHorn SteakhouseThe Primetime Burger, with meat piled on top of more meat, is an exquisite burger; served with glorious prime rib shavings on top of a half pound beef patty, it’ll satiate any meat cravings you had the moment you walked into LongHorn.

As you bring the hamburger towards your burgerhole the first thing to notice is a delightful scent, a surrounding burger waft that will protrude beyond your lips and nostrils allowing you to flavor the burger before the sweet embrace of your tongue, an embrace that culminates in a well balanced burger taste that for a moment made this exquisite burger a majestic one. However, as I moved forward I began to be confronted by a series of snags, that with each bite, belittled that majestic instant. The wonderfully juicy and tasty prime rib, a graceful winner in the battle of two meats, is a tender beefy avalanche that melts in your mouth, greatly adding to this burger; but it ain’t enough to make up for a dry patty that has been well done overcooked. The greens, fresh tomato and regular ol’ iceberg lettuce, played their parts well; the fried onions however, went beyond, not too strong, they were perfectly cooked to that spot were they begin to sweeten up.

The swiss cheese, not leaving a strong mark, its hardly worth mentioning. The bread, one of the main letdowns, tasted burned, not from the proud LongHorn brand mark, but from inside the bun; a sign, just like the patty, that it might have been carelessly left a little too long on the grill. Even more of a let down was the moment when it became apparent that the burger would not hold its shape to the last straw; as the bun began to tear, the burger began to fall – a struggle to keep the burger together ensued a few bites before the end. The french fries, sprinkled with parmesan cheese, were amazing.

LongHorn steakhouse, a spot where you can act out your texas cowboy rancher fantasies, is a great place to visit, a place with good food and good steaks. I’ve been there enough times to know that the minor drawbacks I encountered shouldn’t have happened… it’ll have to be seen on the next encounter.

LongHorn Steakhouse
3118 Daniels Rd
Winter Garden,
FL 34787
U.S.A
+1 407-654-0272
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Dec 27 2013
1 Comment
Burger reviews, Exquisite, Florida, Orlando, Out of town, USA

The Crooked Spoon

The crooked spoon burger

The crooked spoon burger

The Crooked Spoon QR

The crooked spoon burger, found near Orlando in Florida, U.S.A. is a fine hamburger. Its meagre presentation; with its kettle chips, crumpled bun, petit patty, and single green leaf, has little to say about the overall burger taste balance – which is, on its own quite exquisite. Yet, as welcoming as your taste buds might be to this burger, the greatest flaw, at least in my experience, comes from the beautiful story that the menu tells, artfully depicting the burger, which is, in the end, imperfectly delivered.

The Florida angus beef patty, with a delicious untouched beef taste, has a torrent of meat juices that flow from the patty to the absorbingly soft and delightfully chewy brioche bun. Accompanied by the buttery textured and richly palatable aioli, the beef the bun, and its tasty juices, adeptly spread through your tongue in a well balanced burger taste that is further enhanced by the fresh ‘spring mix’ – lettuce in layman’s terms. If only… if only the swiss cheese was a little more sharp, or if the chipotle aioli had a little more sting, or the sweet onion marmalade a little more lush, this might be a richer burger affair.

The crooked spoon burger is a sturdy hamburger albeit it crooked proportions; the angus beef patty, with a nice tear to it isn’t properly portioned to last until the end, and the meat juice soaking bun will hold its shape throughout but will at times engulf the burger with a feeling of too much bread. Additionally, perhaps more lavish portions of each of the terrific sounding ingredients would raise the level of this burger, providing a more consolidated burger experience. The kettle chips, are actually quite great. Be that as it may, when the blessed bond between a burger and its french fries is disrupted, you can’t fight a feeling of longing for the latter; especially when there is an extra charge (1.50 USD) to re-unite the two.

The crooked spoon is a good place to visit for a burger, although if you’re not near the Central Florida area it might be a little out of your way. Still, 12 bucks its not a bad deal for this exquisite burger, and i’d be interested in trying some of their other burgers.

The Crooked Spoon
200 Citrus Tower Blvd.
Clermont, FL 34711
U.S.A.
+1 352 4004 7808
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Dec 17 2013
1 Comment
Admiralty, Burger reviews, Decent, Hong Kong

Dan Ryan’s (closed)

Chicago chophouse BBQ burger.

Dan Ryan's quick reviewThe Chicago Chophouse BBQ burger… made a chophouse out of my insides, for a whole night it put me in a situation in which every suffering moment was an anxious toilet game of ‘should I sit or should I kneel?’. Regardless of this terrible endurance, as this might have been a stand alone occurrence, i’ll attempt to give a neutral review to this ordinary burger.

The burger starts of on a great note, as the plate settles in front you, before you can lay eyes on it, you receive a pleasant waft of hamburger in your nostrils, suggesting that this might actually be an enjoyable burger. However, once you get a good view you begin to realize that this burger looks pretty common; and just as it looks, it tastes – nothing really stands out. Not that there is anything wrong with a standard burger, as this burger actually has a decent burger taste balance, but you can get better ordinary elsewhere.

Most of the ingredients in the burger feel a little boring, non of them make a great entrance. The patty, which is dry, will leave you craving for something with a stronger beef taste. The lettuce, the same old iceberg lettuce, this time stacked as thick as a deck of cards; the red onion, with its profuse taste; and the simple tomato slice, don’t provide a real sense of freshness in the burger. The pleasant caramelized onions which are further complemented by the tangy sweetness of the BBQ sauce, appear to be the main actors in this hamburger; while the grilled bun, which might actually be nice if it didn’t taste like a smokey grill that hasn’t been washed, is to be the main offender. The cheese, which one hopes will make its american cheddary tangy presence, remains unnoticed throughout most of the burger.

The burger, imperfectly constructed as the bun begins to tear and the whole falls apart before the finale and poorly proportioned with some overbearing ingredients, can pass as a decent burger. The french fries are alright. Dan Ryan’s feels and is like an american joint, the Americana on the walls will make this burger feel like a typical american burger, but at 178.00 HKD, if you’re looking for an American burger there are better places.

Dan Ryan’s Chicago Grill
112 Pacific Place, 88 Queensway,

Admiralty, Hong Kong
+852 2845 4600
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Dec 11 2013
2 Comments
Burger reviews, Central, Decent, Hong Kong

Bloom, Lily & Bloom

Bloomberg-er

Lily & Bloom review

The Bloomberg-er, a decent burger, is one filled with ups and downs; from when you first lay eyes on it to the last bite, from its assembly to its flavor. At first, with its round bun and enticing inner workings, the burger looks attractive; an appeal that is soon diminished as you consider how structurally unstable the hamburger seems. The hastily piled ingredients and the top heavy feeling the burger gives to the eye, create a sense that the burger might collapse at any moment – if it weren’t spiked through.

As you begin to endeavor through this burger, initial bites bring a sense of satisfaction that soon turn into dismay as you notice the taste imbalance within. The patty, a minefield of flavors that combines great use of herbs to accentuate the beef taste with peppery patches that overwhelm the burger, is further sabotaged by a thick dry patty that breaks off into robust chunks. The truffle mayonnaise, a high point for this burger with its rich and luscious taste, is given in glimpses that create a desire to proceed with the burger in an attempt to palate the condiment; bites that soon turn into alarm as an abundance of onions dominate and drown the whole Bloomberg-er. The Gruyere cheese, which passes without leaving a mark; the vegetables, which feel ordinary; and the bacon, which tastes good but is too hard, don’t add anything special.

The bun, fried and warm, tasted great as it held its shape throughout the burger. Yet, the disproportionate construction that leaves you with too much bread at the end of the burger, produces a sense of distress as you’re forced to not enjoy every bite with an equal part of the key ingredients. The french fries are awesome.

The Bloomberg-er was a let down, even more at 175.00 HKD, but I believe it has the potential to be great if more care is involved, and I would give it another chance. Lily and Bloom is a great place, one that I’ve become a regular to, a place with a stylish atmosphere, where people know my name, and where the drinks are magnificent; and if you have the chance visit Lily and Bloom, but not for the burger. Perhaps my expectations for this burger were too high, and you know what they say about expectations – they make an ass out of you and me.

Bloom, Lily & Bloom
5/F & 6/F LKF Tower
No. 33 Wyndham Street,
Central, Hong Kong
+852 2810 6166
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Dec 03 2013
4 Comments
Burger reviews, Exquisite, Hong Kong, Sheung Wan

The Press Room (closed)

Le press room burger.

Le press room burger.

The press room

The Le Press Room burger is one of the more enjoyable hamburgers in Hong Kong, it has a great appearance and even better performance. The first impression this hamburger gives is that it’s heavy; the top bun rises above the plate like a giant dome, it’s thick patty topped with bacon and Roquefort cheese rest on a copious amount of vegetables, all supported by a robust bottom bun, and crowned by a cherry tomato on top. Before taking the first big bite, one has to gently compress the whole burger just enough to be able to bring it in between the lips. Immediately after the initial encounter you’ll realize two things; that you’ll want to hold the burger above your fries to cover them in all the fine juices that cascade from the beef, bacon, and cheese, and more importantly, that this burger has a pleasing burger taste balance.

The beef patty, which was requested medium and arrived medium rare, has a good undisturbed beef taste that is well accompanied by the not-too-crispy-not-too-soft flavorful bacon. As you effortless tear, chew, and combine both meats, each one will clearly make an appearance before harmonizing into one another. The Roquefort cheese, a strong oozing cheese which at times does overpower the burger taste, moves from a mild to smoky flavor, before continuing into a salty finish which fades into the burger giving it a gratifying tangy taste. The vegetables, while crispy and fresh, did feel a little boring – contributing little, other than some greens, in making this burger slightly more distinguished. One of the best features of this hamburger has to be the delightful burger bun with a great taste and sensation; soft to the touch, it’ll hold this moderately husky juicy burger till the end – making it a well-structured hamburger. The coleslaw, a nice addition, is great, and the thin French fries taste good.

The Press Room, located in Sheung-wan, has a nice environment to it, although it might feel a little cramped during peak eating hours of the day. And while the burger might not be the highlight of the place it is apparent that they have put some care in the burgers they offer. At 128.00 HKD Le press room burger has a reasonable price, and is well worth a try.

The Press Room
108 Hollywood Road
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
+852 2525 3444
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Nov 30 2013
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Burger reviews, Decent, Hong Kong, Tai Hang

Peace square (closed)

Homemade burger.

Homemade burger.

Peace square

The homemade burger is decent. There isn’t anything too special about this hamburger in terms of taste. However, you’ll notice that most of the ingredients in the burger feel fresh, and as the restaurant’s name suggests, once the burger lightly falls into your stomach it’ll make you feel some peace after the show is over. Unlike most burgers, your stomach won’t feel too brimming – and thus, if you’re in the area, it’s a decent burger to enjoy during lunch on those ‘lean’ days. The whole wheat bread is fluffy and light with a pleasant taste, the fresh vegetables crunch, and the fried egg, bacon, and beef patty seemed to have been cooked with ‘lean’ in mind; all these ingredients, together with a tiny amount of spillage from oil and juices, create a burger that will certainly give you a ‘healthy’ sensation – one that’ll allow you to go back to your office with a content stomach to carry on working.

As wholesome as this burger is, the taste is somewhat off-balanced. The cheese, which appears to be a slice of Kraft’s singles, and the bacon pass almost unnoticed – in the background without an indication of their presence. The beef, overwhelmed by certain herbaceousness, loses its strength from what I believe is an attempt to give a more ‘green’ presentation. Perhaps the best addition to this burger is the sunny side up egg with a runny yolk, once the top bun is in place the yolk bursts covering the inside with that delicious baby chicken juice. Chips with the burger are always a let down.

Peace square, in Tin Hau, is a quiet and relaxing restaurant with a homely feeling. Probably all the food, like the burger, has been prepared with a hearty purpose. At 78.00 HKD, the burger is quite affordable. Still, I wouldn’t recommend you to go out of your way to much for this burger, but if you’re in the area and want a light lunch might as well try it.

Peace Square
G/F., No. 146-146A Tung Lo Wan Road
Tin Hau, Hong Kong
+852 2508 6369
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Nov 25 2013
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Admiralty, Burger reviews, Decent, Hong Kong

Simplylife Bakery Cafe

Beef burger with blue cheese and bacon

Beef burger with blue cheese and bacon

Simplylife bakery cafe

The first impression from this burger is that its visually quite appetizing, glaring over the counter at a couple of burgers one can hardly wait to take the first bite. The burger, which properly reflects the restaurant’s name, appears simple, enticing, and well proportioned. However, as good as the burger looks, as one proceeds to chow down, its possible to notice that the perfect burger taste is not quite there – the balanced aesthetic slowly crumples at the almost unbalanced taste.

The arrival of the beef, which’s entrance looks superb, is hindered by a hard to distinguish, heavy presence of herbs; while herbs can greatly enhance flavors, in this case, it is my opinion, that this ‘herby taste’ takes away from the ‘beef’ savor – one that is so important to a good burger balance. The overall performance of the beef is also lessen by a dryness that doesn’t allow the meat to tear, but instead break into chunks. The burger is accompanied by a hunky fried tomato, which feels a little too big, and soused red onions; both which are quite sour and overpowering, further add to the burger’s imbalance. The bun, which is of a good bakery’s quality, is cushiony and fresh; the bread is soft without tearing apart. The burger is well built, but there are some faults. The bacon, while good in taste, is a little too tough as it pulls itself out from between the bun and the patty on certain bites. Which leads to either tearing the bacon with your fingers and tucking it back inside or eating the rest without that sweet bacon inside. The blue cheese in enjoyable, and the french fries are great.

The restaurant has a clean simple environment, and inside Queensway Plaza there isn’t much of a view except for all the different pastries at the counter. At around 100.00 HKD the burger has a moderate price range. If you are in Queensway Plaza and want a reasonably priced burger you might as well try it, but don’t go out of your way for this hamburger.

Simplylife Bakery Cafe
Shop B05-06, 1/F, Queensway Plaza,
Admiralty, Hong Kong
+852 2529 6602
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Nov 20 2013
1 Comment
Burger reviews, Central, Hong Kong, Majestic

MO Bar at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental

Traditional burger with blue cheese and hickory smoked bacon.

Traditional burger with blue cheese and hickory smoked bacon.

MO BarThe traditional burger is definitely one of the most satisfying burgers I’ve had in Hong Kong. The burger has a rich balanced flavor, which makes it possible to enjoy both the ‘burger’ taste and the individual ingredients; because of the distinct sharp and salty characteristic of the blue cheese this ingredient does stand out more than others, but not to the point that it takes away from the beef or drowns the burger down. The beef, Wagyu beef, is cooked perfectly – properly seared with a well-cooked outer layer and a warm delicate pink center, and has a strong clean beef taste undisturbed by the addition of other ingredients.

Throughout the experience the burger maintains its shape, it’s sturdy, tender, and easy to eat – which is one of the great qualities of this burger. Every mouthful tears into the whole burger with the smallest amount of force, it feels like your teeth glide through each bite and the taste gently lands on your palate. I’m sure that this patty is massaged properly, and good care is given to the patty as well as the rest of the ingredients. The bread is a soft multi-cereal bun, fresh and toasted, that holds the burger together until the end. The vegetables also enhance the burger, the lettuce is finely shredded and in addition to having fresh tomatoes the burger is accompanied by a tomato and red onion relish; which adds a semi-sour but pleasant tomato/onion tang. The softly crispy bacon also makes a distinguished appearance. This all culminates in a well build burger that has an incredibly good and balanced taste, a flavor that is strongly accentuated by the tenderness of the whole burger. The french fries are also great.

MO Bar has a nice ambiance to it, it is and it does feel like a hotel bar, and at the ground level of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental you’ll get a view of Queen’s Road. It does feel like a place to sit back and enjoy a drink and/or dinner – I had a pretty good man-date with a friend there. At 258.00 HKD for the burger, and 33.00 HKD for each additional topping, the burger is a little pricey – after you’ve tried it once the price might keep you at bay for only special occasions, but its worth at least one try.

MO Bar at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
15 Queen’s Road Central,
The Landmark,
Central, Hong Kong
+852 2132 0188
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