
1. Burnt Ends
Using modern Australian barbecue techniques with custom-made grills and two-oven brick kilns fired by coal, applewood or almond wood, this is definitely one of Singapore’s best burger joints and a hot spot that has earned the 10th place on the 2019 Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list – and it’s no surprise. Try the signature burger, Sanger – a generous amount of tender pulled pork shoulder mixed with chipotle aioli and coleslaw, sandwiched between two fluffy brioche buns and melted cheese – for a mouthwatering meal. Burnt Ends’ open-concept kitchen has counter seats where diners can strike up a conversation with founder and head chef Dave Pynt. They can also choose to sit at the bar, which is right by the entrance.

2. Three Buns, Potato Head Singapore
As the first international outpost of the Indonesian franchise, Potato Head Singapore on Keong Siak Road – opened in 2014 – lives up to the acclaimed Balinese beach club outlet’s reputation with its whimsical façade, tropical cocktails and hearty burgers. Three Buns, the brand’s burger concept, occupies two levels of the building, and also operates a stand-alone restaurant in Robertson Quay which opened in 2018. Try the delicious plant-based Impossible burgers, which were introduced in March this year. Both The Impossible Dream and The Impossible Chedda burgers feature a char-grilled medium-rare Impossible patty between two slices of toasted demi brioche buns. Guests can enjoy their meals at the rooftop bar.

3. Shake Shack
The famed New York burger joint arrived at its first Southeast Asian outpost in Jewel Changi Airport with much fanfare (and snaking queues). Signature menu items like the ShackBurger – grilled Angus beef patty topped with American cheese, sandwiched between two pillowy potato buns – and the vegetarian ‘Shroom Burger, with crispy fried portobello mushrooms and a tangy blend of melted Colby cheddar, Monterey Jack and Tilsit cheese as its patty, are a must-try. The double-storey outlet is Shake Shack’s flagship in Asia, and opens until 10pm, with last orders taken by 9.30pm. They have expanded and can now be picked up at Great World, VivoCity, Suntec City malls, as well as in stylish settings along Orchard and Neil roads.

4. Burger Bar New York
With nothing but a neon-lit display of a burger at the entrance beside a heavy iron door, this “secret” burger shack found in a back alley of Amoy Street has a casual American diner vibe within, a throwback to its original outpost in the lobby of New York’s Parker Meridien Hotel. Burger Bar New York’s menu is scrawled on torn cardboard boxes – the eatery offers burgers, thick fries and drinks such as frosty milkshakes and craft beer. What makes this one of Singapore’s best burger joints is the freshness of its burger patties – Bitt flies its meat in from Nebraska. Expect all-American burger classics such as the bacon cheeseburger and the double cheeseburger, which both come with five-ounce medium-rare beef patties between melted cheddar cheese and two toasty buns. Be sure to order “the works” for toppings such as pickles and onions, at no additional charge.

5. 25 Degrees Singapore
The Singapore branch of the swish Los Angeles burger and wine bar is named after the temperature difference between a raw and well-done burger. 25 Degrees Singapore’s main menu features six burgers, four of which are named numerically. A must-try is the signature Number One, which has a 200g USA Angus beef patty and strips of smoky bacon, topped with creamy Crescenza cheese and Thousand Island sauce. Number Two and Number Three contain beef patties with various fillings such as burrata or Mezzo Secco Dry Monterey Jack cheese, while Number Four consists of seared yellowfin tuna topped with fresh lettuce, fried onions and spicy aioli. The burgundy-walled restaurant gives off a swanky Hollywood lounge vibe and is definitely worth the trip to Bugis.
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6. CARNE
This shining new restaurant opened in February 2021 along Amoy Street. The restaurant is headed up by Mauro Colagreco, an Italian-Argentine chef who ranked first in the world according to the World 50 Best Restaurants 2019. All of their burgers contain natural grass-fed beef that is aligned with their sustainability goal. Take a bite into their beef and chimichurri burger, one of their signatures on the menu. Cushioned between two soft butter buns are the grass-fed beef, with smoked scamorza cheese, pickled jalapeño, onion, tomato salsa, local arugula, and of course the refreshing chimichurri sauce. Looking for a veggie option? Instead of taking the mock-meat route, CARNE uses portobello mushrooms to replace the meat. The smoky and earthy taste is delightfully balanced with sweet turmeric buns and tangy halloumi cheese.
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7. Wolf Burgers
With five locations spread across Singapore, Wolf Burgers offer value-for-money wholesome, quality burgers. They have made a name for themselves despite starting out humbly from a gourmet food hall stall. Living up to their “Feed the pack, for the people” motto, they have a menu for kids on top of family bundles to feed the family pack with sliders as an option. The burgers in their menu are aptly named after different traits of a wolf, such as Alpha, a double beef patty burger stacked with double cheddar and pickled onions, oozing with their original specialty WOLF sauce between Brioche buns. Another must-try is their original WOLF burger. Nestled between brioche buns is a beef patty topped by cheddar cheese, resting on a bed of sautéed onions, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. There is nothing better than to sit back and relax with a big, hearty burger and some refreshing beer on the side.
Please check the establishments’ respective websites for opening hours as well as booking and seating requirements before visiting, and remember to adhere to safe-distancing measures while out and about.
The information is accurate as of press time. For updated information, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.
To learn more about Singapore Airlines flights, visit singaporeair.com.
SEE ALSO: 4 Michelin-starred sushi restaurants to try in Singapore
A version of this article was originally published in the June 2019 issue of SilverKris magazine and updated on 11 July 2021.