Bleecker Burger: What’s The Hype Behind This Cult Favourite?

There’s nothing like sinking your teeth into a really great burger. But we all know not all are made equal. Of course everyone has their preferences – some love a brioche bun, others consider pickles essential – but a selection of London spots rise above the rest when it comes to mastering the fundamentals of the dish. One in particular is often mentioned among foodie circles: Bleecker Burger. 

The burger joint is regularly named on TikTok’s TOPJAW account, which sees chefs selecting their favourite London eateries – with Bleecker fans including MasterChef judge Monica Galetti. And this week the restaurant upped its status even further, having scooped up the Burger of the Year title at the 10th National Burger Awards. The event sees burger chefs from across the country joining up in London to take part in a live cook-off – and this year, Bleecker Burger’s signature cheeseburger secured the top award. Judges described being ‘unanimously floored’ by the burger, so what’s the secret?

The Story Of Bleecker Burger

After trying the best burger she’d ever eaten in New York, Zan Kaufman was inspired to set up her own food stall. In 2012 she quit her job as a lawyer, moved to London, bought an old van and converted it into a burger food truck – which quickly gained a loyal fan base. 

Then, in 2015, the first bricks-and-mortar outlet of Bleecker Burger opened in Old Spitalfields Market, with four more to follow across the capital. Over the years it has gained a reputation as one of the best burger spots in London, often winning awards.

Alongside creating excellent burgers, Bleecker has a strong emphasis on supporting charitable causes. On 1 March 2024, for the seventh year running, the restaurant will donate all its profits from that day to homelessness charities, The Outside Project and Stonewall Housing.

 

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What’s On The Menu?

It’s all about the beef here – specifically, rare-breed, grass-fed beef sourced from small farms in the UK. On the menu you’ll find a concise selection of burger variations, including a cheeseburger, a bacon cheeseburger and a blue burger (made with blue cheese). There is also a plant-based offering, made with naturally fermented mushroom, onion and beetroot. 

Bleecker Burgers don’t look like anything fancy, but they are perfectly constructed and taste high-quality: you can tell the ingredients are top-notch. They are juicy, flavoursome and simply delicious.

Tristan O’Hana, chair of judges at the National Burger Awards, said they picked the winner because ‘the patties were seasoned and cooked to perfection, the bun was soft but stable, and the onion, bacon, and house sauce brought all of Bleecker’s trademark flavours together in a flawlessly delivered way.’

The menu also includes a range of fries, plus shakes for dessert – the Oreo is particularly popular, if you have space.

Where To Try It

There are Bleecker Burger branches in Victoria, Spitalfields, Bloomberg Arcade and Westfield. It’s also available to order on Deliveroo. bleecker.co.uk