Where is the Best Burger in Dublin?

LirW · 13-06-2018 4:44pm

From a picky burger eater that basically thinks only a Cheeseburger is a good burger:

Another gold medal for Bunsen. Their burgers are amazing, their skinny chips are amazing, I just can't stand the unreal amount of obnoxious Yanks in there whenever I'm there. But the food is so good, that I can live with it.

Second is Box Burger in Bray for me, they do some really nice burgers and nachos too. Not mad about their loud music though that they play the whole day.

Haven't had a Wowburger yet and will probably give Chili shack a shot too.

I also think that besides its greasy reputation, Eddie Rocket's do some good burgers. Definitely better than in most places. The downside is that you need to spend time in Eddie Rocket's with bazillion children (I take my own there though, it's easy and good enough) and not a single one seem to have a toilet worthy Western society 2018 standard.

The very best burger is flipped by my lad though, you can taste the passion he puts into.

McGrath5 · 13-06-2018 4:50pm

LirW wrote: »

The very best burger is flipped by my lad though, you can taste the passion he puts into.

Which "lad" are you referring to?

LirW · 13-06-2018 4:54pm

McGrath5 wrote: »

Which "lad" are you referring to?

The guy I'm sharing my bed with :pac:

TheShow · 13-06-2018 4:56pm

Bunsen are the best I've had in a very long time and I've not had better since.
very tasty burgers with no fuss.

EagererBeaver · 13-06-2018 5:07pm

Feisar wrote: »

Foxhound38 wrote: »

Bunsen is the gold standard - it's absolutely perfect, it blows the competition away so thoroughly that in my opinion it's closer to the best burger in Europe than the best burger in Ireland.

Failing that, Wowburger is probably second best. Five Guys is also very tasty in fairness - a bit expensive, but tasty.

I'm not a huge fan of the likes of GBK and that - too many options, and the burgers they serve tend to emphasize pure size and a million toppings over quality ingredients and actual taste. There's no point in a burger you can't even fit into your mouth - or one dripping in BBQ sauce or with a black pudding crowbarred in to make it more Oirish for the tourists.

I'll start by saying I haven't has a Bunsen yet however Byron Burger in Cambridge is epic!

Byron is a big chain in the UK. They love poisoning.

Going to be home in Belfast in a few weeks and I see Bunsen have opened there. Hopefully they don't have the same queuing issues as Dublin.

valoren · 13-06-2018 5:08pm

Must try the Bunsen in Cork so.

eldamo · 13-06-2018 5:42pm

TheShow wrote: »

Bunsen are the best I've had in a very long time and I've not had better since.
very tasty burgers with no fuss.

I appreciate Bunsen's hiring policies.

I messed up the first time I went there, they cook your burger to order, I ordered rare like I would have a steak.
It was mush.
I order well done now, burgers need a bit of char.

13-06-2018 5:44pm

eldamo wrote: »

I appreciate Bunsen's hiring policies.

I messed up the first time I went there, they cook your burger to order, I ordered rare like I would have a steak.
It was mush.
I order well done now, burgers need a bit of char.

Medium is the.... Happy medium

In a place where you can trust the quality.
Would definitely not go rare or medium rare. It's not steak, it's mince.

13-06-2018 5:52pm

EagererBeaver wrote: »

Byron is a big chain in the UK. They love poisoning.

Going to be home in Belfast in a few weeks and I see Bunsen have opened there. Hopefully they don't have the same queuing issues as Dublin.

they will most likely. that's the business model - keep it full in peak times and get people through fairly quickly. you go there, they take your number and text you when you have your place. on non-peak times (e.g. mid afternoon) you would be ok probably

JohnnyFlash · 13-06-2018 5:56pm

glasso wrote: »

Medium is the.... Happy medium
In a place where you can trust the quality.
Would definitely not go rare or medium rare. It's not steak, it's mince.

Well done is also perfectly acceptable, especially with the high fat content of the mince they use there. There’s this narrative these days that ordering your beef rare is a sign of a sophisticated gourmet with class and refinement. It’s sometimes just not the right option if you want the tastiest outcome.

Was in FX Buckley’s recently and was aghast to see a table on a fixed price menu almost all insist on getting their rib-eye steak cooked rare - despite the waiter gently persuading them that medium or well done would work better for the particular cut as it allows the fat to render and for the heavy marbling to melt. Got their steaks anyway and proceeded to start muttering about how chewy it was. Can’t please some people.

EagererBeaver · 13-06-2018 6:35pm

glasso wrote: »

EagererBeaver wrote: »

Byron is a big chain in the UK. They love poisoning.

Going to be home in Belfast in a few weeks and I see Bunsen have opened there. Hopefully they don't have the same queuing issues as Dublin.

they will most likely. that's the business model - keep it full in peak times and get people through fairly quickly. you go there, they take your number and text you when you have your place. on non-peak times (e.g. mid afternoon) you would be ok probably

Entirely dependent on demand. Bunsen is an institution in Dublin. In Belfast it's a new player.

Muahahaha · 13-06-2018 7:20pm

LirW wrote: »

I also think that besides its greasy reputation, Eddie Rocket's do some good burgers. Definitely better than in most places.

I agree that Eddies can do good burgers but personally I find them inconsistent. I always sit at the counter to stay away from the hoardes of children and what Ive noticed is that the grill cooks are snowed under cooking so many different dishes from the vast menu. Because of this its not uncommon for your burger to be forgotten about, overcooked and then lashed together in a hurry. Ive often seen the cooks up to their bollix trying to prepare stacks of all day breakfasts with ten items on each plate.

The advantage the likes of Bunsen, Wow and others have over Eddies is that the only thing they sell is burgers and chips. By specialising and keeping things simple theyve really upped the quality of burgers available in Dublin.

saintsaltynuts · 13-06-2018 7:27pm

Was in Five Guys twice since it opened in George's St. and have to say I don't mind paying the extra.Really nice burger in fairness.

EagererBeaver · 13-06-2018 7:27pm

Eddie's can certainly be hit and miss, but when they get it right, a double smokestack with that sauce can be very hard to beat.

LirW · 13-06-2018 7:34pm

Muahahaha wrote: »

I agree that Eddies can do good burgers but personally I find them inconsistent. I always sit at the counter to stay away from the hoardes of children and what Ive noticed is that the grill cooks are snowed under cooking so many different dishes from the vast menu. Because of this its not uncommon for your burger to be forgotten about, overcooked and then lashed together in a hurry. Ive often seen the cooks up to their bollix trying to prepare stacks of all day breakfasts with ten items on each plate.

The advantage the likes of Bunsen, Wow and others have over Eddies is that the only thing they sell is burgers and chips. By specialising and keeping things simple theyve really upped the quality of burgers available in Dublin.

Oh yeah, I totally agree about Eddies. A good Eddies is amazing, a bad Eddies makes you run a mile, except for the milkshakes.

I do appreciate the simple concept of Bunsen and I think this is why it works so well. They sell one thing: Cheeseburgers and they do them damn well. When you go there you know what you gonna pick, a burger with or without cheese and one of the sides and a can. Simples. No fuss. I hate extensive menus anyway.

Feisar · 13-06-2018 7:41pm

EagererBeaver wrote: »

Byron is a big chain in the UK. They love poisoning.

Going to be home in Belfast in a few weeks and I see Bunsen have opened there. Hopefully they don't have the same queuing issues as Dublin.

Poisoning?

FixdePitchmark · 13-06-2018 8:09pm

I know there are lots of burger joints.

For the lower end / fast food / late night. Ricks have been doing this for a good 20 years now.

Was in Bunsen last week - and yes still very good and simple. Good to be in out an done in an hour on a night out.

With the combination of a beer or two - it still is 25 quid for a meal that at the end of the day is a simple burger. Accepting that eating and drinking at all in Dublin is nuts these days.

Anyway Bunsen very good - some of them places loose their edge when they become chains and are around for a while. Was at it a few months ago - and was before word was out. That is the best time of a new restaurant.

italodisco · 13-06-2018 8:17pm

Baffled as to how bunsen is so popular?

Basic simple 1 dimensional burger.

Hipster heaven it is, maybe that's the driving force behind all these reviews of the place.... Or the reviewers have never had a decent burger lol

yogi37 · 13-06-2018 8:20pm

I am going to go against the grain here and say that I am just not that blown away by Bunsen. The burgers are nice but I would not consider them anything like the best burgers in Dublin. I work close to the Bunsen on Camden St and prefer to get a BoBo's just a few doors up.

And their chips are not great.

FixdePitchmark · 13-06-2018 8:24pm

italodisco wrote: »

Baffled as to how bunsen is so popular?

Basic simple 1 dimensional burger.

Hipster heaven it is, maybe that's the driving force behind all these reviews of the place.... Or the reviewers have never had a decent burger lol

What are you on about - a burger is a burger and Bunsen is staying true to that fairly simple concept.

Other places try turn a burger into a meal / haute cuisine.

A burger is a burger and the fact it is just that - is fairly the opposite to hipster.

If you think a burger can have another level - you haven't eaten in real restaurants.

LirW · 13-06-2018 8:38pm

A burger is a burger and the fact it is just that - is fairly the opposite to hipster.

A hipster burger would be more a thing with lamb patty, rocket, beetroot relish and something that I can't even spell.
I always end up either ordering a cheeseburger or a fried chicken burger, because nothing beats a great simple back to basics burger for me.

EagererBeaver · 13-06-2018 9:34pm

I still pray for In-N-Out to set up properly after they did the pop up in Dublin a few years ago. No better simple, tasty fast food.

13-06-2018 9:51pm

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Well done is also perfectly acceptable, especially with the high fat content of the mince they use there. There’s this narrative these days that ordering your beef rare is a sign of a sophisticated gourmet with class and refinement. It’s sometimes just not the right option if you want the tastiest outcome.

Was in FX Buckley’s recently and was aghast to see a table on a fixed price menu almost all insist on getting their rib-eye steak cooked rare - despite the waiter gently persuading them that medium or well done would work better for the particular cut as it allows the fat to render and for the heavy marbling to melt. Got their steaks anyway and proceeded to start muttering about how chewy it was. Can’t please some people.

I should have said fillet steak. rib eye I always ask for in-between medium-rare and medium

would never order rib eye rare. even fillet medium rare is probably best.

TheShow · 13-06-2018 10:15pm

italodisco wrote: »

Baffled as to how bunsen is so popular?

Basic simple 1 dimensional burger.

Hipster heaven it is, maybe that's the driving force behind all these reviews of the place.... Or the reviewers have never had a decent burger lol

thats the beauty of it, simple burger, no fuss. no need to cover it in all sorts of ****e.
The burger speaks for itself.

Outlaw Pete · 13-06-2018 11:25pm

EagererBeaver wrote: »

I still pray for In-N-Out to set up properly after they did the pop up in Dublin a few years ago. No better simple, tasty fast food.

Amazing to think that they don't even have a place on the east coast given their popularity. Bourdain always said it was his favourite place to get a burger. Must have heard him mention the place a dozen times or more on his shows over the years. Even if he was somewhere like Mozambique he'd somehow manage to shoehorn in a mention.

Last time I heard him talk about the place was on last year's Parts Unknown show about LA which Nick and Nate Diaz where guests on and they start talking about being vegan and Nate says he loves Cafe Gratitude (famous Vegan restaurant) and I think maybe the lads were expecting him to start talking about his favourite vegan food or restaurant but instead he just started talking about how much he loves In-n-Out Burger. The interview then moves away from food but I've often wondered if maybe they felt he was trolling them

Anyway, here's a clip of him eating one. Have to say, they look great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4J1seTHAMU

14-06-2018 10:13am

Outlaw Pete wrote: »

Amazing to think that they don't even have a place on the east coast given their popularity. Bourdain always said it was his favourite place to get a burger. Must have heard him mention the place a dozen times or more on his shows over the years. Even if he was somewhere like Mozambique he'd somehow manage to shoehorn in a mention.

Last time I heard him talk about the place was on last year's Parts Unknown show about LA which Nick and Nate Diaz where guests on and they start talking about being vegan and Nate says he loves Cafe Gratitude (famous Vegan restaurant) and I think maybe the lads were expecting him to start talking about his favourite vegan food or restaurant but instead he just started talking about how much he loves In-n-Out Burger. The interview then moves away from food but I've often wondered if maybe they felt he was trolling them

Anyway, here's a clip of him eating one. Have to say, they look great:

Wowburger copied in-and-out in the burger style with 2 smaller patties with cheese in-between - same.

Padraig Mor · 14-06-2018 10:20am

glasso wrote: »

Medium is the.... Happy medium
In a place where you can trust the quality.
Would definitely not go rare or medium rare. It's not steak, it's mince.

But where can you really trust the quality of beef mince? I'll take my steak rare every time, but a burger - well done every time, it's a basic food safety issue. Son of a Bun in Cork made a big play to the hipster crowd in Cork by serving pink burgers - and ended up giving a bunch of them severe food poisoning. Ironically, they're still in business yet the similarly themed burger gaff next door - which didn't nearly kill its customers - closed recently.

maximoose · 14-06-2018 10:26am

yogi37 wrote: »

. I work close to the Bunsen on Camden St and prefer to get a BoBo's just a few doors up.

I've never had a BoBo's that wasn't a sloppy mess. Hate when the bun gets soaked through and it just kind of falls apart.

Token had a simple bacon and cheeseburger as their weekly special a little while ago, and I think it's the best I've had in Dublin.

brainfreeze · 14-06-2018 10:43am

Never tried a burger at Token.

That looks tiny though, is it tiny?

Subcomandante Marcos · 14-06-2018 10:45am

brainfreeze wrote: »

Never tried a burger at Token.

That looks tiny though, is it tiny?

I think they're sliders?

Ush1 · 14-06-2018 10:50am

What is this, a burger for ants??

maximoose · 14-06-2018 10:53am

Haha yes - two sliders for €9 I think it was.

brainfreeze wrote: »

Never tried a burger at Token.

Genuinely great. They have their standard burger plus a different special every week.

gmisk · 14-06-2018 10:54am

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

What are you on about - a burger is a burger and Bunsen is staying true to that fairly simple concept.

Other places try turn a burger into a meal / haute cuisine.

A burger is a burger and the fact it is just that - is fairly the opposite to hipster.

If you think a burger can have another level - you haven't eaten in real restaurants.

Totally agree.

I had a burger in cleaver east....it was called a pornburger bizarrely...

It had an upside down top bun with a load of bits of batter on it....the actual burger was fine..no need for all that messing plus I needed to eat it with a knife and fork or put it back in normal order to eat it!

Foxhound38 · 14-06-2018 1:36pm

italodisco wrote: »

Baffled as to how bunsen is so popular?

Basic simple 1 dimensional burger.

Hipster heaven it is, maybe that's the driving force behind all these reviews of the place.... Or the reviewers have never had a decent burger lol

You'd be hard pressed to find a better one in Ireland anyway

Subcomandante Marcos · 14-06-2018 1:42pm

Bunen, In-n-Out, Shake Shack, basically all the best loved burger places have one thing in common.

They keep it simple and don't pretend they're reinventing the wheel and don't let some 24 year old just out of DIT cathal brugha streettry to be "cheffy" with it.

A burger is a simple thing, and when done right the simple things are brilliant.

Bunsen is as close to a perfect burger as you'll get.

Foxhound38 · 14-06-2018 2:39pm

Padraig Mor wrote: »

But where can you really trust the quality of beef mince? I'll take my steak rare every time, but a burger - well done every time, it's a basic food safety issue. Son of a Bun in Cork made a big play to the hipster crowd in Cork by serving pink burgers - and ended up giving a bunch of them severe food poisoning. Ironically, they're still in business yet the similarly themed burger gaff next door - which didn't nearly kill its customers - closed recently.

Is that why they ended up making this?

Padraig Mor · 14-06-2018 3:57pm

Foxhound38 wrote: »

Is that why they ended up making this?

Probably. Son of a Bun had actually claimed beforehand that the Food Safety Authority (or maybe the HSE?) had approved them to undercook burgers - the only problem was that they just made it up.

14-06-2018 10:09pm

Padraig Mor wrote: »

But where can you really trust the quality of beef mince? I'll take my steak rare every time, but a burger - well done every time, it's a basic food safety issue. Son of a Bun in Cork made a big play to the hipster crowd in Cork by serving pink burgers - and ended up giving a bunch of them severe food poisoning. Ironically, they're still in business yet the similarly themed burger gaff next door - which didn't nearly kill its customers - closed recently.

I've had probably 30 bunsen medium (not medium rare) burgers over the years and enjoyed every one with not a case of even the mild trots.

so I trust Bunsen.

also it's not the colour that matters - it's the temperature that the meat has reached for the requisite time to ensure no bacteria could survive.

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/burger-safety-101-browner/story?id=23797840

“With ground beef, color is not a reliable indicator of doneness,” said Marianne Graveley, a specialist at the USDA’s meat and poultry hotline.

Meat that’s still pink may be well-done, Graveley said, and meat that’s brown may need more heat.

“We used to have different campaign: It’s done when it’s brown in middle,” she said. “Now we say to use a meat thermometer. It’s the only way to know that it’s safe.”

youtube! · 16-06-2018 2:43pm

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/restaurant-reviews/catherine-cleary-my-worst-ever-meal-as-a-restaurant-reviewer-1.3521284

She ordered a feckin Veggie burger FFS ! I mean your in 5 guys arguably the tastiest burger on the planet and you get a veggie sandwich and give it a 1 star review on the strength of it! Stupid bint. Everyone knows what to expect in five guys, not table service just eat and leave but you get an amazing burger,world renowned in fairness yet she chooses to focus on service rather than taste, I mean at the end of the day it is a burger joint not a gourmet restaurant , somebody should tell her.

dreamers75 · 16-06-2018 2:44pm

Bunsen

Shred · 17-06-2018 12:21am

youtube! wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/restaurant-reviews/catherine-cleary-my-worst-ever-meal-as-a-restaurant-reviewer-1.3521284

She ordered a feckin Veggie burger FFS ! I mean your in 5 guys arguably the tastiest burger on the planet and you get a veggie sandwich and give it a 1 star review on the strength of it! Stupid bint. Everyone knows what to expect in five guys, not table service just eat and leave but you get an amazing burger,world renowned in fairness yet she chooses to focus on service rather than taste, I mean at the end of the day it is a burger joint not a gourmet restaurant , somebody should tell her.

Yep, that's pretty ridiculous alright.

Subcomandante Marcos · 17-06-2018 12:33am

youtube! wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/restaurant-reviews/catherine-cleary-my-worst-ever-meal-as-a-restaurant-reviewer-1.3521284

She ordered a feckin Veggie burger FFS ! I mean your in 5 guys arguably the tastiest burger on the planet and you get a veggie sandwich and give it a 1 star review on the strength of it! Stupid bint. Everyone knows what to expect in five guys, not table service just eat and leave but you get an amazing burger,world renowned in fairness yet she chooses to focus on service rather than taste, I mean at the end of the day it is a burger joint not a gourmet restaurant , somebody should tell her.

Five guys is Meh.

J Mysterio · 17-06-2018 12:57am

Eddie Rockets Smokestack
/

Fox Hound · 21-06-2018 2:16pm

Hey All, just thought I would update everyone,

As this thread seems to be overwhelming in favour of Bunsen, I had my first Bunsen today, and good golly miss molly it was Top Notch! I just sampled the Hamburger, and it was great, Next time I will work my way up the menu,:-)....But yes I can agree with so many Posters, this spot is the real deal when it comes to no nonsense burgers,..so where should I go next?

Brian? · 21-06-2018 2:27pm

Keyzer wrote: »

Bunsen is hands down the best burger I've ever tasted... absolutely exquisite.

You poor bastard.

Brian? · 21-06-2018 2:28pm

Bunsen is grand. It’s well cooked but poorly seasoned. A bit of salt and it’s be a great burger, the lack of seasoning really let’s it down. It’s a problem with most burger places though.

VinLieger · 21-06-2018 2:32pm

J Mysterio wrote: »

Eddie Rockets Smokestack
/

With you here, had 5 guys for the first time last week though and im adding it to my favorites list along with Bunsen and an Eddies Smokestack.

The key difference between bunsen and 5 guys is without a doubt the bacon 5 guys have

Sabre0001 · 21-06-2018 2:33pm

VinLieger wrote: »

With you here, had 5 guys for the first time last week though and im adding it to my favorites list along with Bunsen and an Eddies Smokestack.

The key difference between bunsen and 5 guys is without a doubt the bacon 5 guys have

What style of bacon is it?

VinLieger · 21-06-2018 2:41pm

Sabre0001 wrote: »

What style of bacon is it?

Crispy and delicious streaky bacon, none of this half cooked back rashers you get with most burgers in ireland

Buford T. Justice XIX · 21-06-2018 7:26pm

Mod note: This is one for the Dublin forum I think, so please be patient while the thread is locked and moved.

Also, please note the new forum and forum rules.

Buford T. Justice

Where is the Best Burger in Dublin?

Comments