Buns at the ready: The UK National Burger Day returns on Thursday 27 August 2026, bringing the UK’s annual celebration of one of the nation’s best-loved dishes to the table just before the August Bank Holiday weekend. Across London, three top spots are marking the occasion in deliciously different ways – from fine-dining decadence and a social-media smash hit to a fiery Moroccan reinvention.
The Unique One: Tagine & Grill | The Atlas Burger, £12.50
For a North African spin, Tagine & Grill – chef Yassir Chair’s Moroccan residency at The Sun & 13 Cantons in Soho (21 Great Pulteney Street, London W1F 9NG) – brings the heat with The Atlas Burger. A prime beef patty meets melted cheese, house-pickled dill gherkins, sliced onion and a lively harissa burger sauce, all tucked into a toasted fresh brioche bun. Bold, bright and satisfyingly messy, it channels the open-fire energy and generous flavours for which the kitchen is known.
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The Classy One: Galvin Bistrot & Bar | The Signature Burger, £22
At Galvin Bistrot & Bar, the relaxed Spitalfields bistro from Michelin-starred brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin (35 Spital Square, London E1 6DY), The Signature Burger arrives dressed for dinner. A rib steak patty is crowned with slow-cooked short rib, caramelised onion and gorgonzola, turning the familiar pub favourite into a gloriously rich, knife-and-napkin affair.
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The Viral Hype One: Hanbaagaasuuteeki | The Shrimp Kong Burger, £14
In Victoria, Hanbaagaasuuteeki (36 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0RE) has built a cult following around its Asian-inspired smash burgers. The headline act is the Shrimp Kong Burger: a lacy-edged smashed beef patty piled with crispy fried shrimp, melted cheese, tangy Thousand Island-style dressing and crisp seaweed. Part surf, part turf and all spectacle, it is easy to see why this towering creation has become a social-media sensation.
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Whether the craving calls for Michelin-pedigree indulgence, a camera-ready smash burger or a harissa-spiked Moroccan twist, National Burger Day 2026 has it covered. Together, these three creations show just how far the burger has travelled – and how much fun London’s chefs are still having with it.