A day dedicated to burgers? Well, it would be rude not to… 

It’s International Burger Day on Sunday May 28, and with millions sold across the city every year, it’s no surprise that some chefs have come up with more than just the standard patty/cheese/ketchup combos. From burgers topped with lobster to patties made from noodles, nearly every corner of Dubai boasts its own unique take on this fast food staple. Here are some of the latest and greatest to try this month

1. The monster

Beast Burger, Burger & Lobster
Price: Dhs145

How do you combine the two main components of a limited-repertoire menu, in the most epic way possible? This is how. Take your signature burger, with juicy 10oz patty, throw in some brie, a hefty slathering of decadent truffle mayo, and top it all off with a slab of lobster tail. Then, serve it with your coveted fries, and two monstrous lobster claws. The result? A delicious beast of a burger you absolutely cannot wrap your mouth around. This one is a force to be reckoned with.

Burj Daman Building, DIFC, Sat to Wed noon to midnight, Thur to Fri noon to 2am. Tel: (04) 5148838. Metro: Financial Centre. More info on website.

2. The weird

Ramen noodle burger, Yakitate
Price: Dhs28

Plenty of fusion’s going on in the culinary world today but a burger made out of noodles has got to be up there as one of the more unusual. In this eclectic take on fusion Japanese, Yakitate café serves up a ground beef patty, cheese and salad placed between – you guessed it – buns made from fresh ramen noodles. The result is surprisingly delicious.

Ground Floor, Al Ghurair Centre Extension, Al Rigga, Dubai, daily 8.30am to midnight. Tel: (04)4551683. Metro: Union. More info on website.

3. The new kid on the block

Steak Au Poivre, Black Tap
Price: Dhs85

Okay, so technically it’s the shakes that are the most social media-worthy components to Black Tap’s menu, but their burgers are pretty camera-ready too (and side-by-side, you’ve got a winner). But superficial reasons aside, the Steak Au Poivre can actually hold its own in the taste test stakes – it’s a juicy stack of patty, crumbled blue cheese and green peppercorn sauce. The burgers are big, but not as monstrous as the shakes, and you’ll want to actually consume them after you’ve finished taking photos.

Jumeirah Al Naseem, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, daily 11am to 12.30am. Tel: (04) 4229904. Taxi: Jumeirah Al Naseem. More info on Facebook.

4. The tallest (and most expensive!)

Burger Khalifa, Firebird Diner
Price: Dhs450

If you’re going to name a burger after the tallest building in the world, you’re going to want it to stack up – literally. Enter, the Burger Khalifa: a towering, Dhs450 behemoth of double beef patty, lobster tail, foie gras and truffle aioli stuffed between two buns – and if that’s all not enough, there’s another burger (an All-American Slider) fixed to the top. The result is somewhere between truly admirable and horrifying.

Four Seasons Hotel DIFC, Gate Village 9, DIFC, Dubai, daily 7am to 1am. Tel: (04) 5060000. Metro: Emirates Towers. More info on website.

5. The artery-clogger

The Beast, Claw
Price: Dhs295

It all sounds so unassuming: a meat patty, topped with lettuce, tomato, fried onion rings, pickles, and served with cheese fries– until we tell you that this seemingly failsafe meal option is 2.4kg, and the wait staff are going to dare you to eat it in under 45 minutes. Succeed in your mission, and you’ll not only get it for free – but you’ll also be inducted into their wall of fame, complete with triumphant picture hanging on the wall. Fail, and you’re just ridiculously full with jeans that don’t fit and seated across from an unimpressed date.

Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, daily noon to 2am, Tel: (04) 4322300. Taxi: Souk Al Bahar. More info on website.

6. The oriental

Crispy Thai Chicken Burger, Fuchsia
Price: Dhs32

Ever wanted all the intricate and light flavours of Thai cuisine, wedged between two hunks of bread? Luckily, Fuchsia has taken that niche request and come up with a delightfully Thai-infused take on the humble burger. You’ll get a juicy, panko-crumbed chicken patty, slathered in sriracha mayo, placed between crispy wonton wrappers and a buttery brioche. It’s served with a side of crunchy papaya salad and sweet potato fries, all for the princely sum of Dhs32. It’s the cheapest trip to Bangkok we’ve ever taken.

Two Towers, Barsha Heights, Dubai, Sun to Wed noon to 11pm, Thu to Fri noon to midnight, Tel: (04) 4573759. Taxi: Two Towers. More info on Facebook. Also: Business Bay, Bay Square.

7. The healthy hipster

The Kamehameha, Single Fin
Price: Dhs48

Sure, you could go to The Surf House, pick up a paddleboard and not step foot inside the new café. You could also quit your job, abandon all your responsibilities in order to wait for the wave set in Dubai in May, but that probably wouldn’t be a very good idea either. So yes, you’re going in for The Kamehameha, a (surprisingly good) vegetarian burger with hickory potato, caramelised onions and and an aduki beans patty and sauté onions topped with tempura kale and signature tahini yuzu sauce in a turmeric infused bun.

Surf House Dubai, Umm Sequim Park, Dubai, Sun to Fri 7am to 7pm, Sat 9am to 7pm. Tel: (04) 3211309. Taxi: Surf House Dubai. More info on Facebook.

8. The smokin’ burger

The Charcoal Burger, Seafire
Price: Dhs98

Seafire has kicked its tableside theatrics up a notch, with a smoking alternative to their Seafire Classic – a stalwart on the best burger scene (and previous title-holder of What’s On’s best burger crown). The new Seafire Charcoal Burger comes complete with black brioche bun, beef patty, cheddar, pickled coleslaw, colossal onion rings, a side of loaded steak fries, a glass of smoking dry ice – and then the whole thing is impaled by a bone.

Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, daily 5pm to 11.30pm. Tel: (04) 4262626. Taxi: Atlantis The Palm. More info on website.

9. The golden goodie

Billionaire Burger, At.mosphere
Price: Dhs375

The world’s highest restaurant, At.mosphere, has a brand new burger on its menu that’s fit for royalty, and it’s called the Billionaire Burger. Expect all of the fanciest ingredients including wagyu, foie gras, wild mushroom and truffle, finished off with a light sprinkling of gold dust. Juicy, hearty, shimmering in gold, and, at Dhs375, it has a kingly price tag, too. Take a bite and wave to the groundlings below.

At.mosphere, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, daily 5.30pm to 2am. Tel: (04) 8883828. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. More info on website.

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