THINK a burger is a meat patty between two slices of bun?
No chance.
10
Food chains are competing to come up with the wackiest versions of the fast food staple, from burgers filled with mac and cheese or lasagna, to baps replaced with waffles.
But can any of the crazy creations really beat a classic cheeseburger?
Hayley Minn tastes bonkers burgers available on Deliveroo and rates them out of ten for taste, innovation and value for money for a total out of 30.
If the chain has the number of calories on the menu we bring you that, too.
BIRD’s London Original Waffle Burger, £14.95
TO the American who decided to put fried chicken thighs in between two waffles then smother it in maple syrup, cheese and barbecue sauce – thank you.
The taste of this burger was incredible.
10
And while this is the priciest of the bunch, you do get TWO burgers after forking out £15.
It was far too much for me to eat in one sitting.
Taste: 9
Innovation: 9
Value: 8
TOTAL: 26
Burger & Beyond’s Krispie Fried Chicken Burger, £11.95
THIS is a standard chicken burger and coated it in Rice Krispies – and it works.
The coating was a delicious surprise, giving the succulent chicken a crunchy coating.
10
The added combination of shredded cabbage and gherkin was also a nice twist.
However, I was hoping to get a snap, crackle and pop but it never came!
Taste: 8
Innovation: 7
Value: 6
TOTAL: 21
Shake Shack’s Chilli Crispy Chicken Burger, £10
I WAS worried this limited edition with a topping of spicy Sichuan chilli crisp would blow my head off.
But it had a really lovely heat that meant I could still taste all the delicious burger flavour.
10
The pickled cucumber added a really nice freshness, too.
However, while it tasted good, there are more inventive burgers on the market.
Calories: 680
Taste: 8
Innovation: 3
Value: 6
TOTAL: 17
Byron Burger’s Elizabeefan Burger, £13.79
THIS limited edition burger was a bite of all the best British ingredients, including slow-cooked roast beef brisket, Red Leicester cheese and horseradish mayo.
The burger seriously tastes like a roast dinner in a bun.
10
All that’s missing is the Yorkshire pud and roasties.
You only get a burger, so this is not cheap.
Calories: 840
Taste: 8
Innovation: 6
Value: 5
TOTAL: 19
Stacks’ Jalapeno Popper Stack Burger, £9
SEEMS like your standard beef burger topped with cheese and bacon but it’s got some added deliciousness with breaded jalapenos filled with cream cheese.
A favourite in the taste stakes and the cream cheese takes some of the heat out of the jalapenos.
10
Not too pricey but beware, chips are not included.
Calories: 1,243
Taste: 9
Innovation: 5
Value: 7
TOTAL: 21
Frankie and Benny’s Cheesy Mac ’n’ Cheese Burger, £14.90
SIX-ounce burger with crispy mac ’n’ cheese bites.
As a mac ’n’ cheese fan, I was very excited about combining cheesy goodness with a burger, but I don’t think this quite works.
10
Despite having gherkins, BBQ sauce and cheese sauce in the burger, it tasted quite dry.
On the plus side, burger includes chips.
Calories: 1,355
Taste: 5
Innovation: 4
Value: 5
TOTAL: 14
MEATliquor’s Parma, £11.75
SOMEONE at MEATliquor head-quarters clearly loves cheese, as the restaurant serves up chicken, parmesan, a tomato sauce and a SLAB of breaded mozzarella in its Parma burger.
Having heard lots of rave reviews of this burger, I was very excited to try it.
10
But unfortunately I found it a little bit dry and lacking in the tomato sauce it promised.
Calories: 692
Taste: 5
Innovation: 6
Value: 6
TOTAL: 17
The Breakfast Club’s Lasandwich, £14
TECHNICALLY, The Breakfast Club’s Lasandwich – as the name suggests – is more of a sandwich than a burger, but the makers have managed to put an entire lasagna in between two slabs of bread.
It really doesn’t sound like it should work – but oh boy it does!
10
Although with two burgers for the price of one, you’ll need a lie down after this carb-on-carb action.
Taste: 9
Innovation: 9
Value: 9
TOTAL: 27
Honest Burger’s Singapore Special £14
LIKE Burger & Beyond’s, this limited-edition chicken burger is coated in cereal – and it tastes so good.
The chicken was juicy but crispy on the outside, and the black beans, chilli, mayo, cheese and cucumber pickles all added to the flavours and a host of different textures.
10
Honest Burger also includes gorgeous rosemary fries with all its burgers, which were a big hit with me.
Calories: 716
Taste: 9
Innovation: 7
Value: 6
TOTAL: 22
