Hunting Bangkok's biggest burgers
As incredible as Thai street grub is, sometimes it's hard to resist the lure of a big, juicy burger.
Fortunately, Bangkok delivers these too, and in huge proportions. We went out, scale in hand, to search for the biggest burger Bangkok can offer. Here they are, from smallest to biggest:
McDonald's Double Big Mac
Burger weight: 270 grams
Cost: 99 baht
Baht per gram: 0.37
Time between ordering and eating: About the same amount of time as it takes to think, “I should have ordered a salad.”
The gold standard when it comes to mass-market hamburgers, this is the largest burger on Mickey D’s menu. There are no surprises here: tired-looking meat, almost-fresh veggies, etc. However, its sinister ubiquity makes it a good metric to base the others on.
Black Swan Tower Burger
Burger weight: 610 grams
Cost: 450 baht
Baht per gram: 0.73
Time between ordering and eating: 10 minutes. It’s basically a regular burger just taller, so no extra cooking required.
This compact little pub underneath the Asok BTS station is a nice stopover during the afternoon rush hour and makes a pretty decent burger to boot.
Their special menu literally dares you to try to finish the Tower Burger, so I did. Not as big as I was expecting and a bit greasier than average, but still a damn fine burger.
326/8-9 Sukhumvit Road. Tel: +66 (0)2 626 0257. www.blackswanbkk.com
Woodstock Big Bastard Burger
Burger weight: 970 grams
Cost: 600 baht
Baht per gram: 0.62
Time between ordering and eating: About 30 minutes. Takes time to cook this patty all the way through!
This well known bar/restaurant/hotel on Thong Lor soi 13 serves some pretty decent food all around, so it’s no surprise that their "Big Bastard Burger" edged out the others on this list taste-wise (but just barely).
The bun is solid but thin, giving you more room for the main ingredients. Bonus touch: a thick layer of mushrooms.
44 Soi Thonglor 13, BTS: Thonglor. Tel: +66 (0)2 715 0202 3. www.woodstockbkk.com
Le Fenix Jumbo Burger
Burger weight: 1,520 grams
Cost: 1,000 baht
Baht per gram: 0.66
Time between ordering and eating: About 30 minutes.
I wasn’t expecting much from this swanky hotel across from QBar on Sukhumvit 11 given my last burger meal there wasn't anything special. But this time I was pleasantly surprised with the size and taste of this monster.
You have to call ahead to let them know you’ll be eating it, as it needs to be specially prepared. It was pretty good, all things considered.
Our table ordered two and finished both -- right down to the olives stuck on top. Bonus: staff brings out giant steak knives to help you carve it up.
33/33 Sukhumvit Soi 11, Bangkok +66 (0) 26 54 6935. www.lefenix-sukhumvit.com
Café Europe
Burger weight: 2,500 grams
Cost: 900 baht
Baht per gram: 0.36
Time between ordering and eating: About 45 minutes. Assembling this thing must take an entire family.
This little café on Sukhumvit 20 gets the top prize. They officially make the biggest, most ridiculous burger in the whole city.
The deal is this: if you eat the whole thing by yourself in three hours, it’s free. No problem, you say? Yeah, that’s what I said too, and then this Flintstone-sized hunk of meat was brought out to the audible gasps of other diners. It is huge. And delicious.
Of the 36 people who have tried the challenge, only two have succeeded. Your turn.
64/1 Sukhumvit Soi 20. Tel: +66 (0)84 342 0190. www.cafeeuropebkk.com
Have you had a ridiculously large Bangkok burger that deserves a spot on this list? Tell us where it is in the comment box below.
