The third burger restaurant I feel deserves a mention is the famous American burger shop Five Guys. Although it could be argued Five Guys is to Bunsen what Heineken is to Craft Beer, I believe the simple fact that this restaurant made its way onto Irish soil is a true representation of how the burger scene in Ireland is undoubtedly growing and also  being noticed across the water! Five Guys is a well established “burger joint” in America, being a Washington D.C area favourite since 1986. They have since built a cult-like following all across America after offering franchise opportunities which had overwhelming success pretty much immediately. It is now 30 years after the first restaurant opened and Five Guys boasts almost 1,500 units worldwide. In Ireland, the arrival of this burger giant gained a lot of media attention and was eagerly awaited by many. With three restaurants open in the Dublin area already in just over a year it has clearly been welcomed with open arms by the Irish public.

Five Guys has an impressive menu which features different variations of hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, as many as fifteen toppings, fries, milkshakes and Coca Cola freestyle which includes many different flavours of Coca Cola products. However, prices are a little steep, you can expect to pay about €17 for your meal depending on what you order. But of course a trip to Five Guys is a real treat, with massive portion sizes! The most popular option at the restaurant is by far their burgers. Options on the burger menu include: hamburger, cheeseburger, bacon burger, bacon cheeseburger, and a “little” version of each is also available. These can each be topped by as many of the following toppings as you want: Mayo, Lettuce, Pickles, Tomatoes, Grilled Onions, Grilled, Mushrooms, Ketchup, Mustard, Relish, Onions, Jalapeño Peppers, Green Peppers, Bar-B-Que Sauce, Hot Sauce, A1 Sauce. Sides include an option of Five Guys style fries or Cajun style fries. For more information on the Five Guys story or to browse their menu, click here to visit their website.

 

 

 

The second Irish Burger place I would like to bring to your attention is Mad Egg. This is a burger place like no other in the Dublin area, or even Ireland as a whole. If you have not already heard of Mad Egg through their impressive image and video campaigns which have been featured on many of our Instagram and Facebook feeds over the past couple of months, you may be in for a treat. Mad Egg truly gives us a sense of how the burger scene, in Dublin city especially, is growing and diversifying. Fresh to the scene and already with two restaurants in Dublin city, Mad Egg is one to look out for and is only going to grow in popularity and scale. They have taken the loose, new-school approach to marketing and branding to new heights with such slogans as “Get Laid. Get Fed.” Their innovative style paired with undeniable quality and taste has created a not to be missed experience for any burger, fried chicken, or cheesecake lover.

Mad Egg is a chicken orientated restaurant. They are passionate about creating a dining experience you will not forget. Their menu features an impressively creative selection of “Free-Range Irish Birds Served on a Soft AF Toasted Amish Bun”, which includes such creations as “Honey Baby” with cinnamon rock, honey butter, candied bacon, lettuce & pickles and “Hot Chick” with hot dust, house hot sauce, pickles and chipotle slaw. Each burger features a large Irish, free-range, fried chicken breast, cooked to perfection. Some impressive sides are available also in the form of chicken salt fries, charred corn on the cob with jalapeno butter, and mac and cheese with candied bacon. Mad Egg have also put a creative spin on dessert at their restaurant with DIY Cheesecake being the only thing on the desert menu. This is plain vanilla cheesecake which is served with your choice of dressings on the side (for example caramel sauce and crushed crunchy bar), you then dress the cake yourself. Check out Mad Egg’s website by clicking here for information on where they source their food, a look at their food and restaurant, and much more.

 

 

The burger scene in Ireland is without a doubt broadening. With new burger places and franchises opening in cities all over the country every month. Burgers of all different shapes, sizes, variations and tastes are growing exponentially in popularity throughout the country but especially in major cities such as Dublin, Galway, Cork and Belfast. It is a trend that has been cooking for a long time, unlike the doughnut fad which has made a remarkable burst onto the Irish food scene in recent months. Some older burger spots such as the widely loved Bóbós and Ricks on Dublin’s Dame Street are being met with fierce competition from popular, innovative newcomers such as Bunsen, The Counter, WOW Burger, Gourmet Burger, Yeah Burger, Mad Egg and the American franchise, Five Guys, who have recently opened their doors for the first time on Irish soil. This ever-broadening Irish burger scene is just getting started, with competition growing and pressure mounting on each new burger chain to have their own specific quirk and spin on what we all already know and love.

One of such burger chains is Bunsen, who have burger shops open in Dublin, Cork and Belfast. Bunsen is regarded as one of the most popular of the new age burger shops in Ireland with excellent quality burgers at a reasonable price. The Bunsen experience is a simplistic one with the entire menu being fitted to a small business card sized piece of card. In Bunsen it is a beef burger or nothing, with a choice single or double, cheese or no cheese, hand cut, shoestring or sweet potato fries, and then a soda, milkshake or Bunsen Lager. This simple yet effective approach is paired with excellent quality and taste which makes Bunsen the popular shop that burger enthusiasts all over the country know and love today. Check out their website here.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton