10 best gourmet burger spots in Singapore

For those craving much more than a meal, Black Tap recreates the electric energy of  ‘80s and ‘90s SoHo it was born into, giving diners the full New York City experience. Black Tap’s raison d’être calls for a full-on experience of award-winning food and great energy with amazing craft beers that grant the restaurant its name. Black Tap sets its burgers apart by cooking the patties on a griddle—no grills allowed! While a grill has grates that give patties the iconic grill lines, the griddle is a flat cooking surface that distributes heat evenly throughout.

The Wagyu steakhouse burger is a clear choice in the order with its deliciously smoky patty and crispy onions that give the burger just the right crunch. Don’t just take it from us, this burger also won the 2021 Judge’s Choice award for the NYC Wine & Food Festival’s ‘Burger Bash’.

Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beers
Address: 10 Bayfront Ave #L1-80, Bay Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, S(018972), +65 6688 9957

Helmed by chef-owner David Pynt, Burnt Ends in Dempsey Hill promises an elevated experience of authentic Australian barbecue. And the burgers match the demands of a Michelin star. Since attaining a star in 2018, Burnt Ends has not faltered in maintaining its standard of serving succulent grills by harnessing the power of cooking with wood.

With a wide variety of smoky meats on the menu leaving diners spoilt for choice, be sure to not miss its ‘Between the buns’ offerings. In this Australian barbecue spot, diners should consider its signature, the BBQ burger where they can choose their preferred smoked meat.

Burnt Ends
Address: 7 Dempsey Rd, #01-02, S(249671), +65 6224 3933

Those seeking a refined classic burger can head down to Honbo, located along Chijmes’s charming corridors. Honbo takes a no-frills approach to burgers, focusing on perfecting the classic components that have given burgers their international fame. By importing its beef, grinding it fresh daily, and baking its own buns, Honbo takes full control of the flavour and texture profile of its burgers, making the gourmet expense worth it.

With something for everyone, light eaters can choose the classic Honbo burger, while those ready to feast can opt for the Honbo 2.0 which sandwiches four crispy beef patties between its in-house potato milk buns.

Honbo
Address: 30 Victoria Street, S(187996), +65 8081 3785

The patties at Burger Labo are certainly leading act material. There are no secret ingredients needed, the beef patty does its job at flavouring the whole burger. Using a plancha to cook ensures a crispy seal on both ends of the patty, keeping all the meaty juice in, ready for that first bite. Burger Labo makes the meat the star of the show by adorning it with minimal vegetables. The buns, made by artisanal bakery Bakery Brera, are also praised for not being too overwhelming and heavy. An ode to restauranteur Ken Loon’s former restaurant concept 2280, one that endeavoured to create a gourmet version of MacDonald’s revered burgers, the 2280 beef burger is not to be skipped. 

Be sure to double up with 2 grass-fed Aberdeen Angus patties to make the most of Burger Labo’s rich meat. Burger lovers who need their pickles will love the pickled red onions that deliver the indispensable sour zing in each bite.

Burger Labo
Address: 213 Henderson Rd, #01-10, Henderson Industrial Park, S(159553), +65 6694 0940

Those who know will know that while loved for its surf and turf, a trip to Luke’s is only complete with a taste of its delicious burger—if you can get your hands on it. Served only at lunchtime, the limited, but delectable blue label burger is everything you could ask for in a gourmet burger, plus more. It’s no wonder Luke’s keeps its secret ingredients off the menu, saying simply that the blue label burger is composed of a secret blend of meat, special sauce, and house-made bun. When you finally get your hands on it, be sure to add all the extras–cheddar cheese, house-cured bacon, and a fried egg.

Luke’s Oyster Bar & Chop House
Address: 22 Gemmill Lane, S(069257), +65 8125 5256

The wood-fire elevation grills say enough about the beef patties to expect in Meatsmith’s burgers. Meatsmith brings good old American barbecue to Singapore with a focus on approaching the cooking style holistically by considering different types of flavours and cultures. In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the “Guest Burgers of the Month” campaign keeps the goodness coming by featuring burgers curated by the Singapore dining scene’s favourite personalities and professionals. But seasoned burger fans would know that in a menu of mouth-watering roasts, the Meatsmith Wagyu burger stands out with its double patty served alongside cheese, burger sauce, and pickles. Simple, but oh so delicious.

Meatsmith
Address: 167-169 Telok Ayer Street, S(068620), +65 6221 2262

See also: Katong Food Guide: The best restaurants and cafes to visit
 

Three Buns brings attitude-packed burgers to the table with meats suited to all palates. Serving its food in Potato Head on trendy Keong Saik Road its beef, lamb, and chicken meats are served between artisanal fluffy buns. Three Buns garnishes its burgers with house-made slow-cooked sauces that add all the flavour you didn’t know you needed. All these details reflect chef Adam Penney’s years of work in creating the perfect gourmet burger.

Immerse yourself in Potato Head’s eccentric and laid-back energy and sink your teeth into the Smokin’ B-Boy. The burger features a Tasmanian vintage beef patty crowned with smoked applewood cheddar, bacon, barbecue ketchup, smoky mayonnaise, and crispy fried shallots adding that perfect crunch.

Three Buns
Address: 36 Keong Saik Road, S(089143)

Lil’s Taproom has the perfect pairing for a spirited evening with friends—craft beers and stacked burgers. In the confines of a shopping mall, former cult-favourite gourmet hawker Hambaobao serves its famous burgers in a space buzzing with youthful energy and a side of anarchistic charm from the flavour development. And attempts to modernise classics are not taken lightly either. Now, a visit to Lil’s Taproom promises the twisted version of a classic cheeseburger coated with dark chocolate demi-glace and made extra cheesy with cheddar and laughing cow cheese. Who knows what will be created next?

Lil’s Taproom and Kitchen Playground
Address: 11 Sam Leong Rd, Trio Building, #03-08, S(207903), +65 9475 1457

The social media burger star Black Goat Burgers has been making waves with its burgers. Helmed by young chef Fikri Rohaimi who certainly doesn’t lack experience following his stints in the Michelin-starred kitchens of Burnt Ends and restaurant Zen, Black Goat Burgers brings gourmet burgers to the hawker scene. The burgers, made of a formidable combination of Australian grass-fed beef, chuck steak, and flank steak, are seared then smoked over open coals for that distinct smokiness that could rival some of the best smokehouses in town. The iconic rich black pepper sauce drenches the meat, black pepper crab style, and is certain to be a Singaporean favourite.

Black Goat Burgers
Address: 4A Jalan Batu, #01-05, S(432004)

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