There’s something irresistible about a perfectly crafted burger. Although a simple dish in theory, no two burgers are the same and can be influenced by the quality of the meat, and the combination of condiments and toppings.
Cardiff is a fantastic place to grab a burger. Wales is prime farming real estate, with its livestock sector being world-leading in many regards. With some of the best native-breed beef farms, such as Gower Meadow Beef, plus plenty of game shot wild in the valleys, supplying the various restaurants within Cardiff, the city is filled with both traditional and innovative burgers for you to try.
Cardiff has multiple options to suit various tastes, whether you’ve got a hankering for beef, prefer some out-the-box vegan options, or wish to sample something a bit more upmarket.
Here are some of the best places in Cardiff to sink your teeth into a ridiculously good burger.
Honest Burgers, Church Street
Boringly predictable, predictably boring or just plain, well, honest? Though it’s a country-conquering chain, there’s no denying the quality of the burgers here. Taking up residence in the heart of Cardiff’s Castle Quarter, Honest Burgers has brought its critically acclaimed burgers to Wales with the same commitment to quality that made them famous in London, Brighton, Bristol et al. Their Cardiff branch maintains their signature style of serving medium-rare British beef patties (unless requested otherwise) alongside their rightly regarded rosemary salted chips that come with every burger.
What sets each Honest joint apart and helps the brand rise above those ‘chain’ accusations from a paragraph previous is their dedication to local collaboration – they’ve created a Cardiff-exclusive burger featuring (for some reason) Thai fried chicken and spicy accoutrements, in collaboration with local restaurant Brother Thai. The restaurant space itself perfectly suits Church Street’s historic character, with simple wooden furnishings and exposed brick walls creating a relaxed, contemporary atmosphere. Their bacon gravy – glossy, viscous and saltier than the sea – always hits the spot if you’ve enough cold beer to hand.
Address: 10 Church Street, Cardiff CF10 1BG
Website: honestburgers.co.uk
The Smoke Haus, Mary Ann Street
Although these guys are located in the heart of Cardiff on Mary Ann St, there’s nothing Welsh about The Smoke Haus. Instead, the burger joint specialises in burgers influenced by the traditions of American BBQ culture in the South, with all their meat slow-cooked over wood fires. This not-so traditional burger technique punctuates each burger with a distinct smokey flavour, accenting the beef, adding depth, as well as making it a more texturally intriguing burger than we’re generally used to.
To lean into the American theme – stetsons, cowboy hat, Stars’n Stripes and all – order their Baby Bertha burger, a fully loaded option topped with stretchy cheese, streaky bacon, fried onions, jalapenos, and special burger sauce. It’s a rich burger with deep tastes unlike anywhere else in Cardiff.
Another all-American creation here is the donut burger; two beef burgers topped with melted cheese, smoked streaky bacon sandwiched between two glazed donuts drizzled in ‘sweet sauce’. It sounds like a strange, sickly sweet combination and a cardiac arrest waiting to happen, but this sugar-in-savoury burger somehow works. You’ve simply got to try it to believe it!
As expected, the restaurant has an urbanised American diner aesthetic, with iconic red leather booths alongside faux brick walls covered in graffiti and street art. Oh, and they do a mean fried chicken, too. Well, it would be rude not to, right?
Address: Mary Ann St, St Davids Centre, Cardiff CF10 2EN
Website: thesmokehaus.co.uk
Spit & Sawdust, Rhymney River Bridge Road
Spit & Sawdust is more than a burger joint; it’s a community hub that offers an incredible place not only to eat but to hangout, too. With a skatepark and art studio on site, it’s clear that this is a buzzy place where you can spend the entire day (and evening) if the mood suits you.
Thankfully, if you’re not into skating (or hanging out, for that matter), the burgers alone make it worth a visit. Served out of their small cafe adjacent to the skatepark, they offer affordable options starting at just £7.50. Their classic option uses organic beef and positively drenches the patties in a beautiful house burger sauce that has a pleasantly tangy taste. If you don’t like the taste of McDonald’s gherkins, this one won’t be for you is all we’re saying…
Anyway, Spit and Sawdust is a bit out of the way from the city centre but is well worth the trek for its cool vibes and simple yet tasty burgers.
Address: Unit B, Rhymney River Bridge Rd, Cardiff CF23 9AF
Website: spitandsawdust.co.uk
SLAMBURGER, City Road
Despite being a reasonably big burger chain, with its origins in Birmingham, SLAMBURGER still delivers by offering an authentic burger experience from its Cardiff outpost, with every meal being crafted by you, for you.
This is because each order is created at the point of ordering, Subway style, allowing you to add extras and customise your toppings to unlock new taste combinations… Get you, Heston.
The base of each burger is their grilled patties, which you can have either thick or smashed, and is made from 100% local British beef, all of which is Halal.
The interior has a distinctive hot-red colour palette that is reminiscent of the old McDonald, but SLAMBURGER is head and shoulders superior to its faster-food siblings.
Address: 149-151 City Rd, Cardiff CF24 3BQ
Website: slam-burger.co.uk
Got Beef, Whitchurch Road
Taking pride of place on Whitchurch Road, Got Beef has evolved from one of Cardiff’s first street food ventures to become a proper burger institution that has punters making the pilgrimage to the city’s north western suburbs. Their commitment to quality shows in every aspect – from their locally-sourced Welsh beef patties to their house-made sauces. Each burger is cooked to order, allowing diners to specify their preferred doneness.
The restaurant maintains its street food roots with an edgy, urban vibe featuring graffiti art and industrial styling. Their signature Dirty South burger has achieved local fame, featuring a beef patty topped with American cheese, maple bacon, whiskey-caramelised onions, and their secret recipe burger sauce. They’ve also earned praise for their loaded fries and impressive selection of local craft beers.
Address: 83 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff CF14 3JP
Instagram: @gotbeefco
Fat Hippo, Church Street
If you’re looking for large portions (hey, who isn’t?), Fat Hippo has you covered, as every menu item comes with not one but two patties of either beef or buttermilk chicken. Size isn’t everything, though, as Fat Hippo also comes through on flavour, offering some quirky options such as their Born Slippy beef burger, filled to the brim with a double patty, garlic mayo, American cheese, braised pork rib, chilli jam, and jalapenos.
Eating at Fat Hippo is a messy experience, as their burgers ooze with juice – best wear black for this one, we think. Their monochrome tiled interior adds to this vibe (game of chess, anyone?), with the restaurant spilling out onto Church Street, slap bang in the Castle Quarter, until the early hours, bringing that party atmosphere which the thoroughfare is so well known for.
Those steering clear of beef will be pleased to hear that Fat Hippo is one of the best burger joints in Cardiff for lovers of chicken burgers. Not only are their options stacked with the good stuff, but the fillets are double-fried, locking the juices inside and ensuring a golden, crispy finish. Each meal also comes with a generous portion of hand-cut fries, too, making this a mammoth, massively satisfying meal.
Address: 17 Church St, Cardiff CF10 1BG
Website: fathippo.co.uk
Incidentally, the guys at Fat Hippo contributed to our guide on how to cook the perfect burger at home. Do check it out, but not before checking out some of the entries on our best burgers in Cardiff list!
