Where to get the best burgers in Newcastle

If a big juicy burger is for you, then you'll not be disappointed with a visit to the restaurants of NewcastleGateshead. From independent street food experts to flipping good burgers which are so packed with accompaniments that you'll struggle to get your chops around them.

Whether you opt for a classic cheeseburger, crazy flavours stacked with off-the-wall ingredients, or delicious veggie or vegan burger (which are just as good as the real thing), you’ll never be short of options for a top burger in the North East.

Read on to find out where you can find the best burgers in NewcastleGateshead, tried and tested by our team…

Let's start off with a legend amongst burgers. Brand-new to Newcastle Quayside, Hard Rock Cafe proudly serves up their legendary steak burgers stacked high with toppings like onion rings, applewood bacon and homemade BBQ sauce. Vegan burgers can also be found on the Hard Rock Cafe menu alongside their famous steak creations. The Hard Rock Cafe burger is touted far and wide as 'award-winning' and now is the chance to see for yourself, although these hefty burgers are not for the faint hearted! In honour of their new home, Hard Rock Cafe Newcastle have also created a bespoke Geordie version of their legendary burger - the Whey Aye Burger which features Northumberland cheese and pease pudding beignet! Get yourselves along to the latest edition of the international restaurant giant and find out what all the fuss is about. 

Ask anyone in Newcastle where to get a good burger and you're guaranteed to hear Fat Hippo mentioned. Fans of a juicy burger will find a Fat Hippo restaurant in Jesmond, Durham and Fat Hippo Underground in Newcastle city centre - you will more than likely find the Fat Hippo Fleet on the road too at your next foodie festival as well as takeaway options! This mega burger independent chain has a strong reputation and a pretty hardcore following among North East burger-lovers, and it’s easy to see why.

Their burgers are anything but basic. In fact, they're a combination of great meat (or veg) and quirky toppings. Let's take the PB+J, for example, an 8oz patty topped with peanut butter, cheese and bacon jam. It sounds crazy but trust us, it's amazing!

Fat Hippo regularly update their menu and it includes a number of great meat options with unusual combo’s, chicken burgers and the best veggie burgers to boot; all served with a selection of tantalising fries and hearty sides. Add great happy hour offers, seasonal specials, an array of drinks ( think creamy shakes and locally sourced ales) plus Fat Hippo’s own brand of sauce, and you’re on to a winner.

Lola Jeans regularly comes out on top when a battle of the burger is at play and there are no shortage of places to go to enjoy a Lola Jeans award-winning burger. The bar and restaurant can be found in Newcastle city centre and Tynemouth as well as a residency at outdoor street food hotspot, Hawker Market at By the River Brew Co.

What's great about Lola Jeans is that their burgers are so fresh in taste, with some amazing combos. If you’re looking for a place that serves their burgers pink as standard, Lola Jeans is the place for you!

For somewhere that doesn't focus solely on burgers, they have an impressive selection on their menu. On your next visit be sure to check out the 2019 Battle of the Burger winner the Clancy Wiggum which dresses its two signature beef patties with smoked streaky bacon, American cheese, red onion jam, baconnaise, Tennessee BBQ, bacon frazzles. There is also a vegan burger on the menu as well as a number of chicken breast burgers too.

Lane 7 has it all - bowling, beer, burgers and bants making it a great place for a night out in NewcastleGateshead. If the retro surroundings weren’t enough to impress, their delicious burgers will blow you away.

Think solid, meaty burgers with crunchy pickles and onions. Then there's the bacon! Treacle cured bacon and pulled pork are just as amazing as they sound. Lane 7 burgers are packed with flavour and the venue has an unrivalled atmosphere, especially for those looking for a more casual dining experience. Plus, it makes the perfect victory meal after a game of bowling or mini golf!

Meat : Stack is on a roll! It is a popular choice on the Newcastle burger scene having built a reputation as a pop-up visiting many North East food festivals and outdoor street food events. The burger aficionados have a permanent home at their Bigg Market restaurant in central Newcastle as well as a presence in Grainger Market and local pub, Dog & Parrot. Proudly declaring themselves as sellers of ‘Real American Cheeseburgers’, these ultra-juicy meat burgers are made with freshly ground, 100% salt aged beef before being smashed with house seasoning and then served in a fresh home-made bun with steamed gooey cheese and tangy homemade relishes. 

Ever wondered what the ‘Dirty Thoughts Of Cheryl Cole’ might taste like? Fancy a bite of ‘Angry Susan’s Letters From Colombia’? Or maybe you’re a fan of ‘Beef Chegwin’? If delicious burgers with innovative names are your thing, then head to The Brandling Villa in Gosforth. These off-the-wall creations are famous in the North East, with Burger Thursday’s regularly marked in the calendars of many Geordie’s. The names, of course, are only part of the appeal!

Whether you like your burgers with a sausage roll (The famous ‘Cheryl’), grilled halloumi and Baba Ganoush (The ‘Greeky Blinder’) or topped with mushrooms and blue cheese (‘David Dickinson's Real Deal’), you’ll have plenty of fun trying the crazy combos at the Brandling. Jesmond-based sister pub, The Punch Bowl, also serves up a brilliant array of burgers with an 'order to table' service now available.

Some of the messiest burgers to eat can be found at The Forth in Newcastle a stone's throw from Central Station. Once you've figured out how to tackle the mammoth burgers, you'll never look back. The city centre pub is always bustling with people enjoying post-work drinks or catching up over lunch. Choose from an array of beef burgers including the Big Cow which is made up of British beef patty, hand pulled beef brisket with cheesy sauce and tobacco onions or try out the more upmarket Posh Pollo which is crispy coated chicken breast with sliced avocado, smokey bacon and Barbers cheddar. Vegan dinners can also enjoy a plant-based burger at The Forth complete with tobacco onions and melted Gouda alternative.

Ouseburn-based independent brewery, Brinkburn Street Brewery is well known for its excellent Sunday Lunches but their 'burger' reputation has also gained momentum and was a staple for many as a takeaway option during the lockdown. Tuck into their Hot Mess burger which includes locally sourced patty from Gosforth butchers, Charlotte's Butchery - and yes, it will be messy! 

Tell us your best burger experiences by tweeting us at @altweet_pet. Do you agree with our best North East burger choices, or have we missed any off the list?