BITE CLUB: BEST BURGERS IN KENT
Who has got the baddest big boy burgers in the county?
Big Boys Fine Burger Co. - Folkestone
There’s something about sticking a load of ingredients in a bun, smothering it in sauce and getting it all round your chops. The popularity of burgers has seen them become the number one menu item in recent years, so much so, that if there isn’t a burger on the a la carte, you are entitled to have a bit of beef about it.
However, what you actually put in your burger is a more fiercely debated topic than whether that viral dress was blue or gold. Brioche or sourdough? Pulled pork or pulled chicken? BBQ or chipotle?
These grill gods and patty purveyors can get pretty feisty about their burgers. They want them to be the best. Competition and burgers go hand in hand. Everyone wants to go bigger, better and more exotic in flavour. In this issue, ‘cene magazine took on the unenviable task of tasting some of the best in the county.
Big Boys Fine Burger Co. - Folkestone
THE FAT ELVIS BURGER
Either at the top of the painfully trendy Old High Street in Folkestone (where they have been for a couple of years), or now in Alberrys in St. Margaret's Street, Canterbury, taking a trip to the Big Boys Fine Burger Co. will leave you more than satisfied.
Putting the “jeez” into “jeez, I don’t think I can move”, owners Gareth and Guy stepped away from a fine-dining past alongside chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Michael Caines and Marcus Wareing to bring outrageous flavour pairings to the world of giant burgers.
The Big Boys brand is all around, from bespoke art pieces to very friendly waiting staff and burger cushions to the cartoon-style menus designed by Folkestone local Elliot Masters (Insta: @ ell85design).
Craft beers from Beavertown Brewery and American softs make up the on-theme beverages, while on the Kent side, the cider comes from Biddenden, Brynhildr light ale comes from Time & Tide in Deal, while the Kolsch lager comes from Boutilliers in Faversham.
Monster shakes brimming with Oreos and chocolate sauce or bannoffee and toffee offer the sweet relief (if needed).
Customers have the chance to get themselves onto the Wall of Fame with a completion of the Defeat the Meat challenge. The £30 challenge offers out those who fancy themselves as proper eaters, to put away 24oz of prime beef, with bacon, cheese, salad, onion rings and Ol’ Mummy’s slaw in a 45-minute period. Do it and you get the whole lot for free. Fail to live up to the beef battle and you are one more face on the crowded Wall of Shame.
Specials have seen the likes of the Cheetos chicken burger, with thigh Kiev wrapped in bacon and coated in a cheesy Cheetos crumb. The Juicy Boy is a cheese-stuffed burger; the El Chico Mexicano is slathered in chipotle ketchup, guacamole and nachos, and the Fat Boy is a beef patty covered in pulled pork, bacon and BBQ sauce.
On our visit we were treated to sides of “Corn Doglets” (cornmeal-battered hot dog bites with a honey and mustard dip) and “Garbage Fries” (house fries smothered with pulled pork, honey onions and American cheese sauce).
On delivery of the goods, Guy said: “We don’t f**k about!” This much is clear.
The signature burger is The Fat Elvis (£12.95). A local beef patty, matured for 28 days, and as the name suggests it has an American touch with peanut butter, raspberry jelly and bacon jam all in the mix with American cheese, lettuce and tomato. All in a brioche bun. Naughty.
If you are completely off your rocker, you can add in another patty for £3.50 and more toppings, but you may need to be carried out. A bit like Elvis.
INSTA: @_BIG_BOYS
The Cow Shed Bar & Grill - Birchington
THE COW SHED JACK BURGER
Head to either the Birchington restaurant or the Herne Bay outlet for a trip back to the old ranch. The décor leaves little to the imagination with wood panelled and exposed brick walls, brass lanterns, old tankards and mounted steer horns above the door.
Thankfully, the burgers do the same. Great looking, great tasting. We went for the Jack, for two key reasons; the sliced chorizo and the melted Monterry jack cheese. The flame grilled brioche bun, still smoking as it came out, houses a patty – minced on-site from a beef chuck steak – pulled pork, gem lettuce, red onion, fresh tomato and relish. It will give you the horn.
INSTA: @THECOWSHEDGRILL
The Burger Bros Diner & Bar - Deal
THE DADDY
Down on the beach-front in Deal, the Burger Bros have been kicking it for a few years. Using the Clarendon Hotel as a base, this buzzy burger bar has previously had outlets in bars and pubs around the county, and you can see why. The menu is littered with signature dishes, like the Amazeballs (pulled pork croquettes served with a BBQ dip), or the honey and yuzu-coated fried chicken.
We have chosen The Daddy burger – a 72-day-aged grass-fed beef patty from Sunnydale Farm near Ashford, topped with pulled pork and smoked cheddar, pickled red onion and BBQ sauce. But the piece-de-resistance is the Bourbon-cured bacon. Who’s your daddy?!?
INSTA: @THEBURGERBROS
Rad Burger - Everywhere
THE RAD CHICKEN
Touring the county’s hot spots and all the top festivals since 2014, Rad Burger is arguably the best known pop-up of any type, in the county.
With all our burgers sourced from free-range cattle and served on a toasted glazed brioche bun, Rad tell us to “believe the hype”. We do.
We chose The Rad Chicken for its flavour combo. Two blackened Cajun chicken thighs with grilled halloumi, sautéed pineapple round, tarragon mayo, rocket and chillichup. As always, it’s finished off with a squeeze of lemon and twist of black pepper. Totally rad. WWW.RADBURGER.CO.UK
INSTA: @RADBURGERCO
Sister Seitan - Folkestone
THE FFS BURGER
“Wicked food for good souls” is on the menu at the vegan Sister Seitan in Sandgate High Street, near Folkestone.
From mac n’ cheese to loaded gyros fries and the BBQ Ribz Basket, this is some naughty shizz for the vegan community and, well, for any community. All created using seitan, which has been dubbed the vegan “wheat meat”, the Sisters’s menu is bang-on the dude and dudette food trend. Though they have the Cheez Burger, Gyros Burger, we have picked out the FFS Burger (Folkestone Fried Seitan). Topped with vegan cheese, gherkin, lettuce and tomato, and housed in a beautiful seeded bun. Keep an eye online because owners Ren and Sam are still looking for the perfect home for their Sister Seitan restaurant.
INSTA: @SISTERSEITAN
