7 Great Burger Restaurants In Newcastle
Our guide to the best burgers in town
Burgers of various kinds have been a popular fast food choice for decades but in recent years there’s been a real elevation of your humble patty to something much more sophisticated and inventive, with pop-ups and restaurants all over doing fascinating things with beef and chicken (and plenty of vegetarian options too).
Newcastle is something of a haven for burger lovers with several outlets offering all kinds of delicious buns, and we've gathered up some of the best in town to satisfy your craving.
Fat Hippo, Shakespeare Street
There’s good old-fashioned, roll up your sleeves and get it all over your face food to be had over on Shakespeare Street. Nestled in an old bank vault, this hidden gem is renowned across the region for their sensational array of stacked, patty perfection that arrives with incredible toppings such as smoked bacon, potato waffle, sticky caramelised pulled pork and all the special sauces you could ever dream of.
Meat:Stack, Bigg Market
There’s a reason why Meat:Stack always has a queue out the door! One of the standout names in NE1’s vibrant indie scene, the burger pros over on the Bigg Market are one of the region’s biggest names when it comes to knocking out some seriously tasty goods. Smashed, steamed and served up fast, here you can dive into cheeseburgers that arrive bursting at the buns with the likes of baconnaise and griddled jalapenos. They often introduce specials too - take note burger lovers!
Smashburger, Eldon Square
Let us set the scene; imagine a steaming-hot grill lathered in butter as juicy beef patties sizzle away and two slices of American cheese ooze over the sides. Sounds like burger paradise doesn’t it? Well thankfully for you, you can sample this burger utopia with a quick hop, skip and a jump over to Smashburger inside Eldon Square! From their smashed-to-order burgers and artisan buns, to their tender chicken sandwiches, signature sides and hand-spun shakes and plenty of veggie and vegan options, you can count on sensational scran and high-quality food at this brill burger joint.
Lola Jeans, Market Street
The home of award-winning burgers, Lola Jeans are arguably one of the North’s finest burger bosses and they know how to serve up a storm. Having opened with a bang on Market Street a few years back, Lola Jeans lit up NE1’s foodie scene with their Battle of the Burger prize-winners and they’re utterly incredible. From their ‘Clancy Wiggum’ that features two signature beef patties, smoked streaky bacon, American cheese, red onion jam and bacon frazzles, to the iconic ‘James P Sullivan’ that’s dripping with mature cheddar, prime rump steak, shoestring onions and pickled onion Monster Munch, Lola Jeans don’t do half-measures and these patty perfections aren’t for the faint of heart. An absolute must visit for burger fans!
Hard Rock Cafe, Sandhill
This rock ‘n’ roll mecca sits on two floors of the Grade I listed Guildhall and they’ve made a mighty start since opening a few years ago. Featuring classic American fare with that signature Hard Rock twist we all know and love, the eatery has rocked socks off with their completely unique Hog On The Tyne, a Geordie take on the local Legendary burger, served with Northumbria smoked cheese from Blagdon, ‘Newcy Brown’ onion jam, hand-pulled smoked BBQ pork and chipotle aioli. It’s a definite favourite with a local flavour.
Five Guys, Northumberland Street
A fan-favourite for Geordies everywhere, Five Guys is another bright burger business providing seriously good grub at the bottom of Northumberland Street. An American fast-food icon, Five Guys’ burgers arrive in the form of two tender patties, two lush slices of American cheese and a choice of 15 free toppings to slap on top of your beefy creation. That means you have more than 250,000 possible combinations to choose from! So change it up or stick to your favourites - regardless of your choice, you’re in for a taste sensation at Five Guys.
Dream Burger, Clayton Street
A recent arrival on Clayton Street is Dream Burger, whose big USP is their sliders, which they love so much they serve them up in a Dream Slider box with two signature sliders, a drink and fries. They offer a dizzying range of beef and chicken burgers from the traditional – smoky BBQ bacon burger, for example – through to the more inventive like the chili cheese chicken burger. There’s a host of sides, dips, drinks (including mocktails!) and various boxes and offers.
Burgers can fit any situation - a snack-on-the-run before a night out, a fun informal sit down meal, something to soak up the drinks on the way home - and Newcastle really does have a LOT of different burger joints to give you the patty satisfaction you need.
