by Sarah Wong
Burgers! We’ve lovin’ ’em aren’t we? But I’m not just talking about the average fast-food chain. I’m talking next-level, tummy-tantalising goodness, and here in Borneo, we’ve got plenty of that. While Borneo is known for her exotic Asian cuisine, that doesn’t stop us from coming up with our own burgers, right here in SouthEast Asia. These burger joints are surely the bee’s knees!
THE FORK, BRUNEI
Stuck in Batu Bersurat and don’t know what to eat? Here’s something for your truffles, I mean troubles: the Truffle Maker from The Fork at Little Soho. A tender, filling cheeseburger seasoned with truffles and topped off with truffle mayo. Truffle-licious!
IG: @theforkburgers | Opening Time: 10AM – 10PM (Saturday to Thursday), 2.30PM – 10PM (Friday) | Little Soho, Batu Bersurat, Bandar Seri Begawan
MINCE SEAR SHACK, BRUNEI
If you want some good ol’ American-style burgers, right here in Brunei, look no further than the Mince Sear Shack. Choices range from the hearty Return of the M.A.C. to the cheesy American Pie to…Chuck Norris??? Sacré bleu ! That’s amazing!
IG: @mincesearshack | Opening Time: 12PM – 8PM (Saturday to Thursday), 2.30PM – 8PM (Friday) | In front of Hiland Clinic, Simpang 58, Kampong Serusop, Bandar Seri Begawan
LIPAKLU, BRUNEI
Looking for burgers in KB? Lipaklu would be a great place to start! Check out their BagaHayamBeef, a giangatic combo of crispy fried chicken and juicy beef patty, with two slices of melted cheese and sandwiched between a pair of fluffy buns. Who says you need to choose between chicken and beef burger, when you can have two in one/ It’s the best of both worlds!
IG: @lipakli.bn | Opening Time: 4PM to 10PM (Monday), 11AM – 1PM, 4PM – 10PM (Tuesday to Thursday), 3PM – 12AM (Friday), Closed Sunday & Public Holiday | Unit B1, Block 2, Pekan Belait, Industrial KB, Kuala Belait.
DANNE BURGER, BRUNEI
Ever heard of blue burger buns? Green burger buns? How about a burger cake? Danne Burger really takes the cake with their creativity. Every burger looks as unique as it tastes, and is slathered on with Danne’s signature homemade sauce. There are even burgers for your birthday as they specially prepare each burger cake to be as colourful and surprising as your special day.
IG: @danne_burger | Opening Time: 9AM – 9PM (Monday to Sunday) | No.8, Simpang 31, Jalan Haji Halus, Kg Bunut, Bandar Seri Begawan
THE BUD, BRUNEI
Get ready to satisfy your taste buds at The Bud! Here, they have beef, chicken and (Roti) John. If you’re extra hungry, you can have a double or triple cheeseburger or crispy chicken burger. Want something extra special? Go for the Oklahoma Beef (super hearty!) or the Double Spicy Chicken Thigh (spicy and crunchy!).
IG: @thebudbn | Shop 2, Simpang 320, Jalan Pasir Berakas, Opens: 11AM – 7PM (Monday to Saturday), 3PM – 10PM (Friday) | Yayasan Food Street No. 16, Opens: 4PM – 10PM (Tuesday to Sunday)
AHOA BURGER, BRUNEI
A burger by any other name would taste just as delicious. “Ahoa” actually stands for “Awang Haji Omar Ali”. They’ve got chicken, lamb, beef and even satay burgers. They also provide food truck pop-up events for special occasions. Fun!
IG: @ahoa.burger | Opening Time: 2PM – 9PM (Sunday to Friday), 2PM – 10PM (Saturday) | No.8, Simpang 66-19-33, Kampong Bengkurong, Bandar Seri Begawan
TOP FOLK, BRUNEI
Who says Bruneians can’t come up with burgers of their own? Meet Topfolk, Brunei’s very own halal burger restaurant! It’s all your favourite burgers, but with a Bruneian twist. They even have their very own signature Beribi Burger that is a combination of their beef patty, a layer of salty corned beef, the good ol’ egg and their special Top Sauce. Definitely a must-try!
IG: @topfolk | Opening Time: 11AM – 8PM (Saturday to Thursday) | For Catering & events contact +673 829 8826 | Unit 7, Block D, Beribi Industrial Complex, Kampong Beribi, Bandar Seri Begawan
BYRDHOUSE.FOODS, BRUNEI
A little byrdie once told me that a certain Byrdhouse has some of the tasties burgers in Brunei. here at Byrdhouse, they’re called byrd burgers. Try their Signature Byrd, fresh, juicy beef marinated in special seasoning with a gooey, cheesy surprise inside. You can also have it with Jalapeño if you like it hot. or you can have the Spicy Chook, marinated and spiced with chilli flakes and a hot pepper coating. Ooooh, that byrd is spicy !
IG: @byrdhouse.foods | Opening Time: 4PM – 6PM (Tuesday to Sunday), 4PM – 6.15PM (Monday) | No.9 Simpang 133, Kampong Burung Pingai Berakas | 24 hours notice pre-order basis.
CHUBBS & CHILL, KUCHING
Established in 2018, Chubbs & Chill provides a hearty meal that is anything but average, with titles like Sour Taurus, Dirty West and The Shroom. A signature delight named after the bull constellation, the Sour Taurus comes with double the beef patty and double the cheesiness. That’s moo-tastic!
IG: @chubbsandchill | Opening Time: 5.30PM – 11PM (Sunday to Thursday), 5.30PM – 11.30PM (Friday and Saturday) | No. 64, Carpenter Street, 93000, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
SMASHED BURGER, MIRI
Why settle for one beef or chicken patty when you can have a whole stack of ’em? Smashed Burger gives you options like Single Smashed, Double and Triple Tower. Whether you want the juicy beef or the crunchy chicken, these Smashed Burgers are guaranteed to be a smashing success!
IG: @smashedburgermiri | Opening Time: 3PM – 10PM (Tuesday to Sunday). 3PM – 7PM (Monday) | Lot 76, Jalan Adong 3, Pujut 2, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
BUNTUK BURGER, MIRI
A Muslim-friendly neighbourhood stall, Buntuk Burger provides a variety of sauces to go with your burger, like Honey Mustard, Black Pepper and Spicy Sesame. There’s even a secret (shh!) burger option that’s not on the menu; the Hash Brown Burger. To get it, all you have to do is go up to one of the Abang Buntuk and “whisper” for it. But don’t tell anyone I told you!
IG: @buntukburger | Opening Time: 5PM – 11PM (Wednesday to Monday), closed on Tuesday | In front of Kingwood Boutique Hotel, Stall 4, Zone B, Wireless Walk, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
DON’S BURGER, MIRI
(Non-Halal)
Love Texas-style barbecue? Then you’ll love Don’s Burger! Specialities include the Meaty Favo Streaky Burger, which is a tower of juicy beef patties and streaky bacon strips, all slathered in gooey cheese. Then there’s the Monyeng Burger, the ultimate definition of messy eating. Bad mood today? The Grumpy Streaky Burger will cheer you right up! Come here for the chicken? Don’s got it KRISPY!
IG: @donsburgermy | Opening Time: 9AM – 12AM (Monday to Sunday) | Lot 6123, Ground Floor & 1st Floor, Jalan Astana, Bandar Baru Permyjaya, Phase 6, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
BIG AL’S DAMN GOOD BURGER, SABAH
Think you can take on this bad boy? You can find this towering Apocalypto eighth-wonder-of-the-culinary world at Big Al’s. All the beef or lamb patties in every burger are super juicy, not to mention loads of melt-in-your-mouth cheese! The burgers here are so damn good, you’ll be thinking they’re straight from the United States!
IG: @bigalsdgb_kk | Opening Time: 12PM – 10.30PM (Monday to Sunday) | (Across Syarikat Sabanah) Lot 36, Ground Floor, Bandaran Berjaya , Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
EL CENTRO, SABAH
Just opposite Nook Cafe stands a chilled-out restaurant and bar that” make you feel at home. El Centro offers a wide range of delicious choices, like pizza, nachos and … burgers! Choices includes Spicy Chickpea, Chicken Breast and the New Zealand Ground Beef.
IG: @centro_el | Opening Time: 8AM – 12AM (Monday to Sunday) | Lot 32, Jalan Haji Saman, Pusat Bandar, 88000 Kota Kinabalu
SHAMROCK IRISH BAR, SABAH
Wanna have dinner while jamming to the hottest hits? The Shamrock Irish Bar in KK regularly invites Malaysian bands to perform for you while you dine. And while everybody’s jamming away by the sea (it’s beautiful at the KK Waterfront), don’t forget to check out their Spiced Lamb Burger. It’s simply tantalising with every bite!
IG: @shamrockirishbarkk | Opening Time: 12PM – 2AM (Sunday to Thursday), 12PM – 3AM (Friday & Saturday) | The Waterfront Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
MUNCHIES, SABAH
Got a case of the munchies? Munchies can fix that for you. Their signature Jucy Bae Burger consist of a mouth-watering beef patty with garlic aioli, topped with melted cheese and smoked beef bacon. Or you can try their Mushy Burger, smothered in creamy beauty in honour of Sabah’s heritage, topped with Sambal Tuhau? Can’t decide between all these delicious burgers? Well Munchies KK offer the Premium Platter, where you can have 3 burgers of your choice, with a side of CZ fries and meatballs.
IG: @munchieskk | Opening Time: 12PM – 9PM (Tuesday to Sunday) closed Monday | Lorong Goldie, Mile 6.5, jalan Nosoob Hungab, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
UNCLE BOB, SABAH
Feeling peckish? Uncle Bob’s crunchy fried chicken is sure to be a treat! Whether it’s chicken popcorn, plant-based chicken, or the Bobbie Bun Chicken Burger, there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy.
IG: @unclebobsabah | Sabah Branches: Imago Shopping Mall, Lorong Centre Point, Kinarut, 1 Borneo, Megalong Shopping Mall.
BANTAS BURGER, KALIMANTAN
It’s time for a Proper burger. I kid you not, that’s the name of Bantas’ signature item; smoky ground beef straight from the grill, topped with mayo and veggies lovingly sandwiched between a puffy brioche bun. Looking for some recommendations? Well, you definitely can’t go wrong with the Cheese Hunt; a generous heap of melted double cheese all over the succulent grilled beef. And we can’t forget the crispy Chiky Burger: a big helping of chicken topped with mayo and Bantas’ signature sauce.
IG: @bantas_burger | Toko No. 3, Hal R.M H Fauzan, Jln. Sultan Adam, Surgi Mufti, Kec. Banjarmasin Utara, Kota Banjarmasin, Kalimantan Selatan 70122, Indonesia.
SEKALA BURGERS, KALIMANTAN
Grab a bite at Sekala Burgers! Stop by their roadside stall and try out their crazy creations like the Carbonara Burger, a load of the creamy sauce slathered over a savoury beef patty. And here’s something for those who like it ooh-la-la spicy: the X-tra Spicy Chicken Burger is a crunchy party in your mouth. Hear your tummy rumbling extra loud today? Watch out, the Trouble Big Mac comes with triple the patty, for triple the threat.
IG: @sekalaburgers | Jl. Klamono, Muara Rapak, Kec. Balikpapan Utara, Kota Balikpapan, Kalimantan Timur 76123, Indonesia.
BURGER BANGOR, KALIMANTAN
Burgers that come with a big bang! Fuel up with the double-decker Ningrat Cheeseburger but why stop at two patties when there’s the triple-royal treatment in the Sultan Cheeseburger. Not into beef? That’s okay, Burger Bangor has other great hits like the Pitik (chicken) Cheeseburger and the Fish Cheeseburger. They’re crunchy, crispy and calling your name, right now.
