#FtLionAwards 2022 Burger of the Year shortlist

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Burgerize in Bradford, though a virtual kitchen, had one burger which, although only one of two available on their carefully conceived menu, which was amazing. Their chicken burger called Jailbird was introduced after meticulous months of perfecting the overnight brining process of the poultry, before being glazed with their unique spicy sauce. The result was a succulently moist interior encased in an uber-crispy exterior that was topped with pink onions, crispy lettuce, American cheese, house sambal mayo, and served in a soft potato bun. Little wonder it trumped its smashed beef cousin.

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Chick Chick in London’s Canary Wharf may be a small food vendor in Cargo Market Hall, but that didn’t stop them serving us their best selling Korean Chick burger. These large pieces of beautifully enveloped chicken were covered in a sweet and sour Korean sauce superbly complimented by the gentle heat and tanginess of the kimchi slaw. And with plenty of Kimchi sauce, coupled with an uber-crispy batter giving way to moist and succulent chicken, this was a deliciously messy eat.

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If you don’t recognise them, then that’s because our 2021 FtLionAwards ‘Best Burger’ winner Eggoland was forced by Legoland to rebrand to Eggland (if you can believe that). As such, professional boxer Sohail Ahmad had to oblige. What hasn’t changed, of course, is the quality of their burgers, because here we had an egg and muffin with Halal bacon unlike any we’ve had. It was the sum of these outstandingly good parts that made this such a memorable little sandwich. A lightly toasted, nicely buttered and pillowy-soft muffin that housed a sunny side up egg, which practically popped when bitten down upon to envelop those slightly chewy rashers, whose smoky-cum-saltiness was wonderfully tempered by the hint of tanginess from the creamy chipotle mayo.

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Eggland then served us this Smash Burger which reinforced their uncompromising approach to quality ingredients. With double the quantity of American cheese, this one, though simple-sounding, was executed with absolute precision. With patties expertly seasoned, and copious sloppy cheese to boot, the balance of the sweetness and the subtle tanginess in this brilliantly constructed burger was as good as any smashed burger we’ve ever had.

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Now for those who don’t know, Honest Burger we’d fully Halal with their chicken only across all their branches. The move was justified because they they ended up pairing tender chicken of exceptional quality, which boasted a crispy-cum-crunchy buttermilk exterior, with a fragrantly tangy buffalo sauce. This was a symphony of harmony, with plenty of American cheese to add that distinct piquancy, and the combination of the ranch mayo and pickles playing their respective parts in dampening the zinginess of that lip-smacking buffalo sauce.

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Honest Burger then gave us this completely different Pesto burger. Covered in all that vibrantly fresh basil pesto – was an experience in itself, with everything exquisitely balanced.

In the end, this was made memorable by the mellow bitterness of the mustard mayo working in tandem with the gentle pepperiness of the rocket leaves to compliment the fresh earthiness of the pesto; while all the while allowing one to actually enjoy the natural flavour of the juicy chicken breast.

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Rated 5/5, Pitmaster, who were part of our Manchester Tour 2022, don’t just have a shake and a starter nominated, but served us this Smoked Brisket Melt containng 16-hour smoked premium brisket. Premium brisket indeed! When you’ve nailed the most important element in this burger, everything thereafter’s a formality. Here the tangy gherkins combined with the heat of the jalapeños and that deliciously gooey cheese sauce to elevate this Smoked Brisket Melt to unsurpassed heights. We even appreciated the touch of brilliance in leaving the slice of Monterey Jack cheese uncooked so as to ensure that its distinct sweet-piquant taste filtered through with every bite.

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Again with the 16-hour smoked premium brisket, Pitmaster’s Smoked Brisket Slaw with the mustard and chilli mayo sauce working in tandem to deliver that occasional hit to the palate. This was ultimately defined by the addition of the aforementioned inhouse coleslaw, whose zingy edge contrasted perfectly against the charred, smoky goodness of the meaty beef. Very addictive.