Time Out’s list of the world’s best burgers shows how today’s chefs have taken fast food to the next level, making it a true culinary art form. It’s interesting that the top spot wasn’t taken by the U.S. or Europe, but by Japan. The Triple Bacon Cheese Classic Smash Burger from the Tokyo restaurant Smash Things (in the Komazawa-Daigaku district) was named the best burger in the world. Magazine editor Kayla Imada says the secret to its success is how simple the recipe is, which highlights the high quality of the meat: three ultra-crispy patties made from Japanese Wagyu beef, bacon, onions, cheddar, and a signature sauce served on a soft white or black bun. The Classic Zuney Burger from Cape Town, South Africa, took second place, and the Nolita Burger from Madrid, Spain, took third.
Beef patties have been a favorite for culinary experimentation for a long time, but a new ranking from Time Out, a magazine dedicated to the world’s best burgers, has once again shown that modern chefs can take fast food and turn it into something special.
The list’s got all kinds of options—from burgers with Gruyère cheese in pretzel buns to patties with shrimp and sweet-and-sour sauces. But according to Time Out, the first place spot went to a real hit from Japan.
The Triple Bacon Cheese Classic Smash Burger from Smash Things in Tokyo was named the best burger in the world. The dish has three patties made from Japanese black Wagyu beef, which are seared until crispy on a hot griddle. We layer bacon, onions, and American cheddar between two slices of bread and serve it on a soft milk bun.
Time Out Tokyo editor Kayla Imada says that while there are a lot of good burger places in Tokyo, Smash Things in the Komazawa-Daigaku neighborhood has the city’s most delicious smash burgers. She says the recipe is kept simple to really highlight the quality of the meat. You just need onions, a homemade Thousand Island-style sauce, cheese, and a bun of your choice—either a standard white bun or a black bun.
The Classic Zuney Burger from Zuney Wagyu Burgers in Cape Town took second, and the Nolita Burger from the Madrid restaurant Nolita took third.