Edinburgh restaurant in running to be named 'Britain's…

Edinburgh restaurant in running to be named 'Britain's Best Burger'

A top Edinburgh restaurant has made it into the final in the bid to be named Britain's 'Best Burger'.

Now in its ninth year, the 2023 National Burger Awards event will see chefs from across the hospitality sector – including restaurants, pubs and street food traders – face off in a live cooking competition to see whose signature burger recipe will be named best in the UK.

And former two-time champion Nick Watkins from El Perro Negro, who claimed the National Burger of the Year title in 2019 and again in 2021, is back competing for this year's title.

The top burger maker has a restaurant in the Bonnie & Wild Scottish Marketplace in St James Quarter as well as a venue in Glasgow, and is going up against big chains such as American casual dining chain and former finalist Fridays and independents from across the UK, with his creation ‘The Big D’.

El Perro Negro is in the final with the Big D burger (El Perro Negro)

Taking place in London on February 22, the event will see the chefs go head to head to be crowned the very best in the country, with winners chosen by a hand-picked panel of esteemed industry judges, including former winners of the competition.

In addition to the signature round, chefs will take part in a technical show-down that will see them create a burger from a specific selection of ingredients supplied by event sponsors, in a bid to be crowned Burger Chef of the Year.

They will also participate in a meat-free burger round sponsored by The Vegetarian Butcher.

“Fluffy buns, succulent patties and condiments galore – what’s not to love about the beloved burger?” says Genna Ash-Brown, editor of Dine Out Magazine, which organises and runs the event.

“With so many stellar entries flying in for this year’s National Burger Awards, narrowing it down to just 16 finalists really was a painstaking (and hunger inducing!) task. But we got there in the end – and what an exceptional line-up it is, packed with former winners, past competitors and feisty new entrants looking to leave their mark on a revered national stage. We can’t wait to get stuck in!”

The 2023 National Burger Awards Finalists:

Bleecker - Double Cheeseburger

Eat the Bird- Dirty Ronald

El Perro Negro - The Big D

Fattso - Royal with Extra Cheese

Flying Cows - The Shiitake

Fridays - Wagyu Talkin’ ‘bout Burger

Haché - Paris Smashburger

Leytonstone Tavern - The Bone Daddy

Liberation Group - The Butcombe Burger

Lou & Joe’s Burger Company - The Holme Boy

Please Sir! - The Limitless