We’re holed up in a dark Wan Chai alleyway, white powder on our noses, drool down our chins, but we feel euphoric. The sound of the beer shot-gunners and raucous singing from the main drag barely registers in our ears. All that matters is our fix – which, in our humble opinion, is one of the best burgers in Hong Kong.
The Butchers Club Burgers is the latest addition to a growing empire that already includes a working butchers, a private dining space and a deli. The space on Landale Street sports a very simple menu – there is only one burger ($100) and one side (duck fat fries, $20) displayed on the boards above the counter. That they dare serve only one type of burger in such a saturated market, and within a 500 metre radius of two well-established burger spots, requires balls of steel. So what makes them so good?
Each burger patty is freshly ground to order from grain-fed Australian angus beef, so a little waiting time is in order. The wait is well worth it though, as the burgers all arrive juicy, tender and almost falling apart. The meat to bun ratio is near perfect – more meat than bun in every bite without being overwhelming. Our buns have a bit too much sprinkled flour on top, which made this already sloppy burger a very messy affair. The duck fat fries pale in comparison to the moreish burger. Cut thick, these were more like wedges than fries.
Those in the know can put in an order from the ‘secret menu’, accessed either from the Butchers Club website or via the mysterious QR codes posted around the restaurant. On here you’ll find four extra burgers, including the calorific Double Happiness ($160) with double burgers, double cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches for buns. There’s also the 500g monster burger called The Chunke ($200), the spicy Wu Tang Style ($120) fried in Sriracha sauce with sweet potato tempura and a vegetarian option, cleverly named ‘What Food Eats’ ($120) made with beans, vegetables and halloumi cheese. It is one of the better vegetarian burgers we’ve had but beware of the disdainful glares from the butchers when you order this secret gem! Val Chan