Burger Round-Up: Supernova vs. Five Guys vs. Black Bear Burger

Time for a burger Round-Up, starting with one of the most hyped places in London right now, Supernova burger. Keeping it simple with two burgers on the menu, Supernova are known for two things: their super-smashed LA-style patties and their long wait times.

I experienced both of these things as I visited the small burger joint on a weeknight, waiting around half an hour to get my hands on their double patty house burger. The patties are flattened to be wafer-thin, resulting in a crispy sear on both sides. The verdict? Yeah, it's a damn fine burger, and the best of the three presented here. But...it is, after all, just a burger. Ease off with the old hype machine fellas. Simplicity is key, and the burger came with some pickles for a pop of acidity, melted American cheese, and house sauce, all in a toasted brioche bun. Good quality for £9, but gone too soon unfortunately.

Then comes Five Guys. It's been a while since I visited Five Guys, and I remember when first visiting that the burgers were big but not exactly great. Not much has changed in that regard. There is little elegance to the burgers, as they are loaded with vegetables and the double patties that makes eating it messy work. The patties are cooked past the point of medium rare, so what you end up with is a weighty burger that is none too satisfying.

Finally, I recently went to Black Bear Burger in Canary Wharf (there is another in Exmouth Market), and had the titular Bear Burger but doubled up (with an extra patty). The most expensive of the burgers was also the worst - a seeded bun holding two patties that were far beyond the point of any rareness, the burger was unsatisfying and just not worth the money. A disappointment.

For now, Honest is still the way to go, though I would recommend Supernova as soon as the hype dies off and they're able to cut those wait times down.