Dubai’s Burger Wars
Over the Christmas holidays, BW and I packed our bags and headed off to Dubai. I know, I know, I’ve been frequenting there quite a bit recently and you’ll probably sigh at the next few Dubai posts BUT I’ve never been more fooded out (my own term for absolute gluttony) than on this trip, and I can’t wait to show you everything! Dubai has to be the marmite of the Middle East – you either love it or you hate it. Some say it has everything, others say its over the top, and me, well I say that it is the Disneyland of halal fooooood. I started it off with a quest to find the best burger.
So out of the numerous burger joints they have to offer, I was able to narrow it down to the three of the best and most recommended establishments, so without further ado I bring you Dubai’s burger wars 2015! For nostalgic purposes, I decided to include Hardees in this post as well.
Hardees
All you burger snobs out there, don’t turn your nose up just yet – hear me out on this one! I know what you’re thinking: 1. it’s pure fast food – on level with mcdonalds, and 2. it isn’t a burger, but the roast beef sandwich at Hardees just brings back so many yummy memories that I had to mention it.
Lying between two soft buns are layers of hot roast beef slices topped with gooey liquid cheddar cheese. As you can expect, the beef wasn’t of amazing quality nor bursting full of gourmet flavour but it really is a classic sandwich, and the combination of the cheese and beef makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The curly fries were cooked great with a good crisp on the outside and made a change to the usual straight cut fries.
This meal costs AED16 so approx £3. Not the most amazing burger/sandwich I’ve had but something different which deserved a mention.
Rating out of 10:
Food: 6
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Total Avg Score: 5
Pork/Alcohol: N/N
Child Friendly: Y
Address: City Centre Mall in Deira
Burger Wars Contender 1: Elevation Burger
The newest chain out of the bunch, Elevation has gathered a respectable cult following with their burgers made of 100% pure organic Angus beef.
I opted for their cheeseburger (for comparison purposes) which came with a single beef patty, melted cheese, pickles, tomatoes, their trademark sauce and lettuce. The first thing that came to my mind when I took a bite was that it tasted really fresh with each of the different flavours distinguishable from one another. The patty had a good amount of flavour and the cheese had been melted perfectly all over. It was then placed in a potato bun which had a great squidge to it and reminded me of Shakeshack.
The fries are cut freshly every day onsite and double dunked into hot olive oil for frying so they have a yummy multiple crunch. I also decided to order some fire sauce on the side for dipping the chips into but turns out this innocent-looking green devil sauce was ridiculously spicy and I ended up diluting it with ketchup.
The total bill amounted to AED48 which is approx £9. Teeny bit pricey for what they offer but I guess their food is organic and freshly made every day so I can’t complain. I have to admit did feel a little bit less naughty after the meal, but sadly, that is what puts Elevation in third place – there wasn’t any of that greasy oomph I had been expecting. The flavour was there, but there was a certain lack of character that would have me craving the burgers once I was back in London. Sorry Elevation lovers!
Ratings out of 10:
Food: 7
Service: 8
Atmosphere: 5
Total Avg Score: 6.7
Pork/Alcohol: N/N
Child Friendly: Y
Address: Dubai Mall, Jumeirah Beach Road, Al Ghurair, Latifa Tower
Burger Wars Contender 2: Shakeshack
Seeing as I have reviewed this establishment before, please read my blog post here on them. From their potato buns to their delicious, mouth watering peanut butter milkshakes, Shakeshack has it all and has excelled in almost all categories. They really serve up some pretty solid burgers here.
You can expect to pay AED57 (approx £10.25) for a single shack meal.
Ratings (Out of 10)
Food: 8
Service: 6
Atmosphere: 7
Total Avg: 7
Pork/Alcohol: N/N
Child Friendly: Y
Address: Dubai Mall, Mall of Emirates, Mercato Tower, DXB International Airport
Burger Wars Contender 3: Fat Burger
A burger joint that has been overlooked by many in favour of Shakeshack or Elevation, yet I will always remain one of their biggest fans. Their menu is straightforward with the option of a single, double, triple or quadruple (!!) fatburger with a small choice of toppings.
A compact-looking single fatburger arrived which was stuffed to the brim with chopped lettuce, tomato, onion, relish, and a patty hidden in there somewhere with gooey melted cheese all over it. Instead of a mayo-based sauce that seems to appear in many burgers, Fatburger rely on their trusty relish which adds a somewhat sweetness and has an element of cinnamon. The bun wasn’t brioche but was still pillowy soft and was able to withstand all the juices coming from the burger.
The patties could have been served a little thicker and maybe next time I will ask them to go easy on the salad, but I WILL be going back.The total bill amounted to AED47 (so approx £8,45) which was pretty pricey considering this was just fast food but this seems to be the new norm.
Ratings (Out of 10)
Food: 8
Service: 6
Atmosphere: 6
Total Avg: 6.7
Pork/Alcohol: N/N
Child Friendly: Y
Address: Dubai Mall, JBR, Mirdif City Center Mall
So which is really the best burger of Dubai? Must it really come down to Shakeshack or Fatburger? After much deliberation and more delicious testing, I have to say neither! as I think I’ve found somewhere better, juicier, and oh so much cooler. Is everyone excited???
My next post will reveal all, make sure to stay tuned!
For more Dubai restaurants, please click here to see my international directory or here to see my international map!
