Long considered the flavourless afterthought of the burger world, veggie burgers have shaken off their “sad patty” status and are now crafted with just as much care and attention as their meat-based brethren. Here’s a few of our favourites.
By Zoe Belhomme.
The Butcher’s Club Burger
The Butchers Club Burger has been serving the Beyond Burger, a deliciously convincing meat-free patty developed in Silicone Valley, for a while now. This innovative burger is served with a slice of beetroot in lieu of bacon, vegan cheddar, tomato, pickles, vegan mayonnaise and caramelised onions. Building on its popularity, the team has now come up with a new Korean-inspired creation: The Beyond Wu Tang-Style burger ($120). Available until the end of April, the burger includes creamy (vegan!) Just Mayo, vegan kimchi, vegan cheese, and of course the burger itself, fried in Sriracha for an extra kick.
Available at Butcher’s Club Burger outlets citywide, including 82 Stanley St., Central, thebutchers.club.
Veggi Monster
Hidden away in Sheung Wan, Veggi Monster is a healthy takeaway shop serving plant-based burgers, salads and wraps. We love their innovative Burger in Black, a hearty handmade patty made from organic black beans, minced mushrooms, truffle sauce and quinoa. The flavours are further enhanced with black charcoal bread (hence the name) portobello mushrooms, non-dairy cheese and kale. At $68 it’s also a steal.
G/F, Shop 1B, Cheungs Building, 1 Wing Lok St., Sheung Wan, 2886-0325, www.facebook.com/pg/veggimonsterhk.
Beef & Liberty
If you love the strong, earthy flavour of beetroot, then this is the burger for you. Sandwiched between a sweet, glazed brioche, Beef & Liberty has created a hearty patty with beetroot as the star, bulked up with brown rice, kidney beans and spices such as cumin and chilli. Fresh lettuce gives the burger a crisp bite, and strong, tart goat’s cheese adds a satisfying savoury note. But make sure you have the wet wipes at the ready; eating this burger can be a messy business. The burger on its own costs $82, a side of fries is an additional $30.
3/F California Tower, 30-32 D’Aguilar St., Central www.beef-liberty.com/hk.
Honbo
Located on Wan Chai’s trendy Sun Street, Honbo is an upmarket burger joint that celebrates local farmers, brewers and artisans. Featuring vegetables harvested in Yuen Long, Honbo’s signature vegan burger ($98) is made with roasted eggplant, mushrooms, pearl barley, cashew nuts and celeriac puree – all pulled together with the restaurant’s custom spice mix. The savoury patty comes between a burger bun topped with black fungus and red onion and a dollop of Honbo’s own sweet and spicy sauce.
G/F New Sun House, 6-7 Sun St., Wan Chai, 2567-8970, www.honbo.hk.
Morrison’s
Casual bar/restaurant Morrison has enjoyed high praise for its veggie burger; in 2017 it was voted the city’s best veggie burger by the SCMP. The restaurant’s signature offering features a sesame-seed-topped bun, crunchy salad and a subtly spiced patty made from potatoes, chickpeas and carrots. Riding high on its success, they’ve also added a vegan-friendly falafel burger with crunchy falafel and copious fresh salad ingredients jammed into a sweet, soft bun. A burger and fries combo comes in at a reasonable $98, but for a real bargain, head to Morrison’s on Wednesday night, when it’s buy-one-get-one-free on all burgers and beers.
284 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, 2310-9777, www.morrisonhk.com.
Burger Circus
For that all-American fast food flavour, just without the meat, Burger Circus’ veggie burger ($98) should hit the spot. The five-ounce veggie patty, made from minced lentils, corn and mushrooms, comes topped with pickles, tomato, lettuce and miso mayonnaise, sandwiched between a sweet brioche-style bun. The lunch set comes with a generous helping of thick and salty crinkle-cut chips and a freshly-made drink. Our pick? The old-fashioned lemonade for true retro credentials.
22 Hollywood Rd., Central, 2878-7787, www.blacksheeprestaurants.com.
