Champion Burgers Under $20 – Go BIG or Go Home

HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY. I WANT BURGERS. HUGE ONES.

Burgers have a special place in my food. It ain’t the most photogenic, ain’t the easiest to manage, ain’t the most gorgeous, but that’s whats’s unique about them. I wanna dig into them with my bare hands. I wanna stretch my jaws so wide to get a huge mouthful. I wanna be left speechless when the amazing flavours hit me time and time again. It’s so simple, yet it’s one of the heartiest and most and filling meals. There’s a reason why burgers never cease to exist in this world.

Burgers… The bigger, the better. And if they are under $20, all the better. But then again, there are probably a million different kinds sold all over this island. And not all of them will turn out great, it’s unfortunate but it’s true. So, right here are 16 XL burgers which stole my heart. Burger up, and let’s zoom right in.

Disclaimer: We’re not responsible for the potential food babies and love handles that might make an uninvited appearance.

Bergs Gourmet Burgers

Our first contestant – a ginormous monster bigger than my hands. The BERG with Cheese features the classic BERG patty topped with fresh vegetables and Aioli & BERGS sauce. Choose from cheddar, swiss or blue cheese to cheese that handsome up! The lack of strong seasoning allowed the beef to shine, though some might find it a tad bland. If you’re a beast and that burger is still not enough to fill you up, the thick-cut fries dipped in the spicy BBQ sauce will finish off the job for you. Now, we know that Haji Lane ain’t just about OOTDs, fashion and cafes yeah?

Burger Joint

Pssss, I’m gonna let you in on a hidden gem smack right in the middle of CBD. You may have walked past it so many times, without notice it at all. Burger Joint, a heaven of burgers and booze all behind the façade of an ordinary-looking door. Love it or hate it, Burger Joint insists on offering you the true flavours of their premium beef patties by cutting out any seasoning. The beef might be a tad plain on its own, but trust me, the entire burger will have you smiling for hours.

Candour Coffee

I bet just the name Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Burger ($13.90++) will set off thousands of fireworks in your brain. Ooohhhh, what you don’t know is that even more will go off once this 5-inch burger makes its alarming entrance into your mouth. In between two brioche buns lies a whole chicken thigh wrapped with mozzarella cheese and smoky bacon strips, and some sassy BBQ sauce. Thankfully, the taste matched up to its appearance. And not to forget, the sweet brioche bun was a pleasant change up from the regular burger buns. I’m swiping right for you, Mr. Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Burger!

Dojo

Dojo refers to a formal training place for Japanese martial arts practitioners. Inspired by Japanese culture, Dojo has set itself apart by creating an array of pork burgers. Unleash your inner cravings and go for the Hadoken ($13) which comprises a juicy pork patty, layered with spicy chilli meat sauce, cheese and bacon. It feels like a twist to the Rendang burger, with the crunchy, smoky bacon taking it one notch higher. If you’re somehow not feeling the local flavours today, you have 13 other equally delicious burger options as all of them are under $20 whoo! PS: No GST and service charge!

Fat Boys

Oh boy, I would have so regretted it if I missed out on this glorious burger – “The Yolo” ($19.80++). A well-seasoned beef patty cooked to a medium (with lamb and pork options available), is joined by a sunny side up, fried spam, fried onion strings, mozzarella cheese sticks and smoked chipotle. All that in between warm sesame seed buns. Yes, I know, it literally sounds like a potential heart attack. However, once you jump on the Fat Boys bandwagon, you’ll understand why the truckload of calories are worth it. Let’s face it, it is pretty impossible for this to taste bad, but nevertheless, the entire harmony of flavours surpassed our expectations. The beefy goodness, the all-so-familiar saltiness of the luncheon meat, plus the oozy magma-like cheese… I hear the crowd going mad already.

Grit @ Pek Kio

Rock those masculine guns and pans! 4 young, promising chaps have taken the route of a new-gen hawker, and have continuously impressed us with their creations. If classics float your boat, simply get the Double Cheeseburger ($9.90). Man, those well-executed beef patties and fragrant, fluffy buns! Although the binding of the ground beef could be improved on, for $9.90, it would be a crime to whine. In addition, the buns were toasted perfectly, providing a nice warm pillow for the patties to rest on. Not to forget, the addictive cheese fries deserve a honourable mention! The hard work that goes into Grit’s homemade cheese concoction of cheddar, nacho cheese sauce and cream totally paid off in our opinion.

GRUB

Didn’t think that a fish burger will make the cut? Well, maybe that’s because you haven’t seen this big burly fellow yet. Let’s take a moment to thank GRUB for a fish “patty” twice the size of a burger bun. Oh my…. This Crispy Fish Burger ($12) is an absolute beauty. There you have a golden XL crumbled fish fillet and remoulade in between the glistening brown cushions. If you are wondering, GRUB uses sustainable fish produce and avoids MSG, artificial preservatives and additives. Another perk of dining at GRUB! After diving into the fish, let’s not forget the chips which certainly did this cafe proud as well.

Half Pound

It’s time to loosen your belts and “crack” some knuckles. This Half Pound Burger ($18++) may be a newbie in the scene, but it is deserving of its seat here on our list. Let me tell you why. Look forward to a juicy 220g Angus beef patty, candied bacon, truffled Gouda, Monterey Jack and pickled daikon. The burger will capture your heart the moment you set your eyes on it. The thickness of the patty, which weighs half a pound, added to the burger’s towering height. We only wished for more truffled gouda atop the patty. On a side note, someone please just stop us; we simply couldn’t stop reaching out for the crispy fries. Pair that with their signature butter-based sauce and I betcha gonna say you never want to leave the restaurant.

The Quarters

Inspired by Singaporeans’ love for salted egg yolk, The Quarters’ The Real McCoy ($16) is a game changer. The thick and juicy chicken is oat-battered and infused with spiced buttermilk to get that tenderness and crispiness. It is accompanied by the homemade legendary salted egg aioli, a golden rich sauce that flows. This, is definitely better than McDonald’s.

Jinjja Chicken

A Korean casual restaurant has set its sights  on taking fast food far beyond fried chicken and fries. Browsing the menu, you will find an ample number of staples like burgers, rice and noodles that will entice all ages. The Chicken Burger ($7.90) consists of a whopping fried chicken fillet marinated identically to the soy sauce Korean fried chicken. The batter was crispy, flavourful and did not become soggy from the sauce. Jinjja Mashiseoyo! A burger isn’t complete without its long-time buddies – soft drink and fries, which will cost you a top up of just $2. The next time I’m looking for a quick meal in Bugis, Jinjja Chicken will be my first stop!

Kaw Kaw SG

Nestled in Aliwal Arts Centre, Kaw Kaw SG contains a lovely arty-fartsy vibe which is not commonly seen. After some annoyingly indecisive moments, we finally decided on The Permaisuri ($16.30) which was cooing to us. Here comes the attack of the upsized, upsized and upsized chicken! What stood out most was the generous amount of chicken floss tucked under the bun, as it added a unusual hint of sweetness. If you’re interested in furniture or art pieces, this place is literally your ecstasy as all the furniture and art pieces in the eatery are actually up for sale!

LOOF

Vegetarians, this Kimcheeseburger was born for you! Even without meat, a burger can still be equally impressive. Watch the grilled haloumi patty, kimchi and caramelized onions steal the show, even from the bulky meats. As expected from the ingenious pairing of kimchi and cheese, this spicy-salty combination will take you way higher than Loof rooftop bar. Cheese lovers are bound to go crazy over the bountiful block of cheese. Just like the icing on a cake, the caramelized onions enhanced the whole stack with its slight sweetness! After your sumptuous meal, make a dash for Loof’s Mama Shop which evokes nostalgic childhood memories. 

Third & Sixth Bistrobar

Diet? What is diet? Throw that idea away for a day and simply indulge in the beautiful things life has to offer, such as this Messy Mexican burger ($14). As the name suggests, expect to get your fingers and even palms dirty. A 150g beef patty topped off with cheddar cheese and chili con carne will brighten your day instantly. Although the protein was cooked to a good medium rare, the exterior of the patty could have been less dry. I particularly enjoyed the chili con carne, which lent the beef patty a lovely heat. While you chomp down mercilessly, treat yourself to some booze at Third & Sixth if you need a short “getaway” from life.

Wolf Burgers

Next in line, we have the artery-clogging Alpha Burger ($14.90). Truly worthy of its name, this is THE alpha male in the wolf pack at Pasarbella. So, what will you be receiving? Two 100g Australian grass-fed beef patties stacked up, caramelised onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and American cheese sandwiched between two airy brioche buns. Wolf Burgers has managed to nail the seasoning in its protein, allowing the beef to taste divine even on its own. With no GST and Service Charge, the Alpha Burger is undoubtedly one of the best quality burgers below $15! Just an extra note, Wolf Burger does its meat medium unless requested otherwise.

Wew, this is it. You can’t help but salivate right? Instead of just dreaming of them burgers, show us how beastly you can be too. Despite chugging down so many of these giants, I can safely say that I am still up for more burgers. I CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH OF THEM.

Long live burgers.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid for its own meal at the places featured here.

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