Sensational International Burger Inspirations
Bite into a McDonald’s burger in New York City and it will be dressed with ketchup, onions, and pickles. But if you are in Detroit, you’ll taste mustard in there, too. Even the fast food chains serve their standard menu items with regional variations.
Burgers have become a global phenomenon. Large American fast food chains like McDonald’s can be found around the world (with a few exceptions including Greenland, most African nations, and some Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries.) But if you are traveling, even within the United States, and have a hankering for a hamburger, be sure to check the fixings before you place your order.
While you can find some interesting regional specialties at the fast food chain restaurants, the most unusual offerings are usually found at local eateries. For example, here are five burgers we’ll bet you haven’t tried yet; and better yet, you can get some topping and combo inspirations to try at home with your Sizzle King burgers!
Philadelphia, PA’s PTY’s restaurant offers the Garlic and Spaghetti Burger, featuring a grilled beef patty stuffed with mozzarella cheese and served in a “bun” made of spaghetti.
Boston, MA blogger Dan Whalen (“The Food Behind My Beard”) is said to be the inventor of the S’Mores Burger, now available at restaurants in many parts of the country. This sweet and savory treat consists of two grilled beef patties, stacked with chocolate squares in between, a toasted marshmallow on top and a graham cracker on the bottom, and served in a grilled hamburger bun.
Louisiana Cajun-style burgers combine ground beef chuck with andouille sausage for sizzling smoky-flavored patties. Topped with the “NOLA trinity” (bell peppers, onions and celery), crumbled blue cheese, and a spicy remoulade sauce, they’re a taste of New Orleans on a bun.
If you like your burgers hot, check out the “4 Horsemen Challenge” at CHUNKY’S BURGERS in San Antonio, TX. Adam Richman (“Man vs. Food”) dubbed this burger the spiciest challenge he’s ever taken on. The 4 Horsemen are jalapeño, serrano, spicy habañero sauce, and ghost peppers! You must be 18 years old to order one or have an authorized guardian to sign a liability waiver. If you can eat it in less than 25 minutes, you get your photo on the wall.
A sweet Oregon treat is the Donut Burger at THE ORIGINAL, A DINERANT in Portland. Served as an appetizer, these mini beef patties are topped with local Tellamook Cheddar cheese and their house aioli (garlic mayo) sauce on small split glazed donuts.
And those are just in the United States. Here, a burger “with the works” would likely have lettuce, tomato, mayo, onion, and pickle on it. In Australia, a burger “with the lot” often includes pineapple, sliced beets, fried egg and bacon, and altogether you’d have “one ace sanger, mate!”
Here are some samples of burgers you’ll find in other countries, starting with Germany, where the Hamburg Steak, granddaddy to our American burgers, originated. Frikadelle is a popular German entrée made with ground beef (or half beef and half pork), an egg, moist bread crumbs, finely chopped onion, parsley, and seasoned with salt, pepper, and paprika. These ingredients are kneaded until well mixed, formed into thick round patties, and coated with dry bread crumbs. They are fried in clarified butter, 5 to 10 minutes per side, and served with hot or cold potato salad and mixed greens.
See the complete recipe here.
Canada – The Hot Hamburg Sandwich is made with a grilled beef patty topped with hot brown gravy and served on a pretzel bun with a side of steak fries.
Mexico – Hamburguesas are grilled beef patties with slices of ham and cheese (or chicken or pulled pork) on top and garnished with jalapeño peppers or avocado slices.
Brazil – A popular bunless variation on the hamburger is made with beef patties stuffed with mozzarella cheese topped with a runny poached egg, with sweet potato fries and a big healthy julienned cucumber and beet salad on the side.
England – Liverpool’s Nolita Cantina offers the Hot Mess – a cheeseburger topped with peanut butter, bacon, and popcorn crumbs. Served up with a combination of white potato and sweet potato fries and a serving of red cabbage slaw, it is a favorite with Liverpudlians.
Denmark – The Bøfsandwich is the National Dish of Denmark. The ground beef patty on a bun topped with gravy is often served plain, but some restaurants embellish the recipe with ketchup, mustard and three kinds of onions – raw, grilled and crispy baked.
France - Saint Julien Restaurant in Versailles offers sliders! The beef burgers on small nutty buns are dressed with melted nacho-style cheese, a slice of tomato, and bacon. [One cautionary note, most French restaurants serve meat rare or medium rare. If you prefer your burger cooked medium or well-done, be sure to ask specifically or they may assume you want the rare burger.]
Turkey – Many countries along the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and in the Middle East use lamb for their meat patties and pita bread for sandwiches. A tasty twist on the hamburger is the falafel and lamb burger. Falafel is a vegetarian patty with a chickpea base. The grilled lamb and falafel patties are stuffed into pita bread and garnished with traditional spices and sauces.
India – While American-style beef hamburgers are available in Indian restaurants, we looked for a non-beef offering that would appeal to Hindu patrons. The Black Bean Burger at The Nutcracker in Mumbai is made of chunky spiced black beans with a garlic aioli. Satisfying and delicious even without meat.
China – The traditional Chinese “burger” isn’t a burger. In Xian, you will find what is often labeled the world’s first burger, Rou-jia-mo, which was first made around 2,500 years ago. The handmade bread looks like an English muffin, with a crispy outside, soft on the inside, and the filling is tender shredded stewed pork.
Korea – Korean Barbeque Burgers create an explosion of flavors with scallions, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame, ginger, and garlic mixed in with the chopped beef. The grilled patties are topped with a miso-sriracha mayo and sharply pickled vegetables.
We hope that you have enjoyed your world burger tour and you will be able to adapt some of these ideas to your home grilling. Sizzle King’s line of quarter pound burgers, with traditional beef and turkey patties joined by three tasty blends, are available in two-pound packages in the frozen food section of your local grocery store or supermarket. Why not pick some up today and start creating!