EVER since Wimpy Burger closed down (it's not closed?), ever since Wimpy Burger closed everywhere but Borehamwood and Dorking, man has been searching for that next great burger.

The burger is big, ten ounces; it bloody needs to be for £20 English. You heard

Ronald had a go, as did The King, later came Lord Byron and a bunch of twizzly-tached have-a-goes with a pipe dream, a van and a shit load of brioche.

Now, to mark National Burger Day or week or whatever, myself and Gordo have spent roughly the last 37 hours rolling around Manchester cramming burgers down our, well, er, burger-holes, to bring you some of the best burgers Manchester has to offer...

...we'll be on the sofa watching Bake Off.

(Don't agree? Good. Give us your favourites in the comments box below and help us compile a bigger, fatter, juicier list in the future - you could win £50 worth of burgers on us)

 

THE CHEESE | Byron | £7.95 

For £7.95 this is a great budget burger that bats well above its weight. The bun is manly; none of that soft brioche stuff some more famous burger houses use. This means that the bottom of the sandwich (in the case of Byron) doesn’t fall apart in your hand. The garnishes work, good lettuce, great juicy tomato and tangy red onions flying about. The patty comes cooked medium; it tastes of, well, er, beef. Proper beefiness, well sourced, which is pretty hard when you must be serving the equivalent of three barns full of moo-ers. Gordo

 

FILTHY BEAST | Filthy Cow | £7.50

When Filthy Cow's giddy PR bod whipped us over a press release in January announcing how the burger joint was to 'change the face of dining in Manchester once and for all', well, we took the piss. And so we should. Regardless, this little burger gaff hidden up Tib Lane in the old Lounge Ten bar does a belting burger. The Filthy Beast (£7.50) with a juicy, pink, ground chuck patty, bacon, pickled gherkin, beef tomato and lettuce comes oozing a unctous, golden melt of cheese and 'filthy sauce'. Oh Happy Day, Oh Happy Daaaay. DB

 

HAMBURGER | Hawksmoor | £12.00

Gordo gave a speech at a recent bullshit awards ceremony, telling the assembled food and drink workers they'd better pull their socks up as the Southerners were coming. Don’t let these southern softies take your jobs, was the theme. Gordo was a bit surprised to get booed off the stage, until he sat down and his pal said, "Bloody hell, when did you become a xenophobe." Gordo was pissed on the night and every time he meant to use the word ‘southerner’ instead said ‘foreigner’.

However, there is a serious point; Hawksmoor arrived from That There London with some big claims about its beef. Gordo wanted to warn the room that these Southerners were good and they'd better up their game to compete.

The burger Gordo got stuck into was certainly a case in point. A big thick patty, with ground beef, well aged, tasting of the outdoors. Brilliantly seasoned. The garnish was understated and charming, whilst the bun, although having a small affair with brioche dough, was suitably sturdy. A classy affair. Gordo

 

MANC-HATTEN | Solita | £11.90

Don't you know? Solita owner Franco Sotgiu invented the burger. He also invented paper money, twitter, Gore Tex and the pyramid tea bag. Needless to say, Solita take their burgers very, very seriously. It's all about size and arthrosclerosis at Solita, where punters stream in daily by the hundred to devour one of Franc's famous Ronald 'tributes' (rip-offs); the Big Manc. For something a little off-piste order the Manc-Hatten: six ounces of minced beef topped with gooey Lancashire cheese, an earthy, fried black pudding burger, pastrami (abit shit), more cheese, mustard and a splash of Grandma Entwistle's super secret, slightly spicy Lancashire sauce. Bread needs a look but holds this farrago together admirably. Eat half and give the other 40 ounces to a drifter. DB

 

NOT THE LOBSTER | Burger and Lobster | 20 Big Ones

The burger is big, ten ounces; it bloody needs to be for £20 English. You heard. At that price Gordo was going to give it a right good thrashing. But he can’t. It’s really good. It has a girly bun, but apart from that it sits side-by-side with Hawksmoor’s beauty. Is it worth it? Well, capitalism dictates that something’s worth is measured by the willingness of people to pay the price. And, Gordo will be going back. They've won. Gordo

 

STRAIGHT-UP BURGER | Home Sweet Home | £9.00

I know, I know, no Almost Famous? Man alive. But stick with me. A purist's burger is a thing of simplicity, it is a slightly crusted burger with a hint of pink inside a soft but sturdy bun, two slices of processed cheese (yes processed, orange and plastic preferably), shredded lettuce, tomato, onion (fresh and pungent), a slither of dill pickle and a special burger sauce that you know damn well is just ketchup mixed with mayo and all the better for it. Most important, a purist's burger will always allow you to get your sodding mouth round it without cutting your gums on a razor-sharp poptart wedged in the top. And that, my friends, is why little milky 'ole Home Sweet Home has trumped its bigger, brasher brother Famous. DB

 

 

THE 100% BEEF (you'd hope so) | Grill on the Alley | £11.50

Ever since Aldi started flogging Wagyu beef burgers for £2.99 (86% Wagyu, granted, but still, £2.99!), GOTA's £19.50 Wagyu burger seems a little, well, excessive. Still, no matter, because their straight-up burger for £11.50 is one of the most underrated in the city. Good 'ole 100% British ground beef, oversized, juicy with a touch of pink (ask for pink or you'll get brown - 'elf'n'safety init), with all the key components: crisp lettuce, strong onion, tommy, gherkin and a sharp relish. Add a blob of stilton for edge. Bread could do with rethink, mind. DB.

 

Have we missed your favourite burger in Manchester? If so let us know below or via @mcrconfidential for your chance to WIN £50 of burgers on us...