From cookouts to fast food joints, the humble hamburger is a cornerstone of American cuisine.
The term hamburger was coined by German-American immigrants in the 1800s. It refers to Hamburg, Germany, which was known for having high-quality beef.
When German restaurants started serving chopped steak, it was dubbed “Hamburg Style”. And once the ground meat was placed between two halves of a bun, hamburgers were born.
While there is some disagreement on whom the original founder of the ground meat and bun sandwich really is, most agree that hamburgers truly came onto the American scene at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.
From that fateful fair to the billions of burgers served each day, the hamburger has come a long way. And while it may be a uniquely American invention, cultures all over the world have adopted it and made it their own.
Here are seven of the most unique hamburgers from around the world.
- Iceland’s Mr. Peanut Butter Hamburger
Iceland’s Reykjavik city is home to the Hamborgarafabrikkan, which translates into the “Hamburger Factory.”
The restaurant prides itself on a wide selection of burgers using 100% Icelandic ingredients, and is popular among tourists and locals alike. Its most unique creation may be the Mr. Peanutbutter burger.
This unique burger features an all-beef patty topped with bacon, caramelized red onions, cheddar, and jalapeno mayo.
Its crowning topping is a dollop of peanut butter and served on one of Hamborgarafabrikkan’s signature square potato buns.
- Japan’s Yakiniku Burger
Japan’s fast-food chain MOS Burgers has one of the most famously unique Japanese-style burgers in their Yakiniku.
Also known as the rice burger, it gets this name from the sticky rice bun used in place of traditional bread.
The filling of the burger is strips of grilled beef that have been marinated with teriyaki sauce and topped with leafy green lettuce.
Rice burgers are so popular in Japan that even McDonald’s recently released their own version there, to rave reviews.
The company cited high demand for more rice options instead of bread as the reason for the addition to the menu.
- U.K.’s Yorkshire Pudding Burger
Take a trip across the pond to find a uniquely English version of the hamburger. The Yorkshire Pudding hamburger, served at the Potting Shed, a London-based pub, puts a twist on the burger with their choice of bun.
This hamburger is made with a beef patty, topped with bacon and Yorkshire blue cheese.
But instead of a traditional bun, it is wedged between two creamy Yorkshire puddings (a baked bread-like pudding that is made from a batter of flour, eggs, and milk).
- The Australian Hamdog
Created in 2004 by Mark Murray and famously pitched on the Australian version of Shark Tank, the Hamdog is a hamburger split down the middle with a hotdog wedged into the center.
What makes the hamdog stand out is its unique bun that pulls the creation together into one sandwich, and keeps things from sliding around.
The hamdog is usually served with traditional American cookout condiments like cheese, lettuce, tomato, mustard, and onion.
While Murray has had difficulty franchising the hamdog, it is often sold at events and in stadiums across Australia.
- Malaysia’s Ramly Hamburgers
One of the most popular delectables of Malaysian street food is the Ramly Burger. This burger is a traditional beef patty wrapped inside of an egg omelet.
The egg wrapping helps to contain the burger juice as well as any condiments that have been added.
And those condiments often include ketchup, margarine, and Maggi seasoning, giving the burger a very distinct flavor. The whole thing is served on a toasted bun.
The original Ramly burger is so popular that the factory that produces the patties pump out over one million burgers a day and ship them all across Malaysia.
- Mexico’s Flaming Hot Doritos Quarter Pounder
McDonald’s is a global powerhouse when it comes to hamburgers, and offers a variety of versions of their popular Quarter Pounder, depending on the locale.
Their Mexico burgers offering includes the Flaming Hot Doritos Quarter Pounder.
The base is their standard quarter pound of Angus beef, but the Mexican version is topped with guacamole and a pile of extra-spicy flaming hot Doritos.
- The United State’s Luther Burger
If you have a hankering for sweet-savory, the Luther Burger, which originated in a pub in Decatur, Georgia, is just the thing.
Credited as a creation of singer Luther Vandross, the burger is a beef patty wedged between a sliced glazed donut instead of a bun.
With a calorie count that ranges anywhere from around 800 calories to a whopping 1,500, this one isn’t for the faint of heart. For an ultimate sinful treat, top the patty with cheese and bacon. We won’t tell your doctor.
As the home to the original hamburger, the United States definitely has a slew of unique options. Read about best burgers and how to make the best of your burger experience at home.
A Hamburger for Every Taste
Since their invention, hamburgers have become a beloved staple of cuisines all over the world. From buns to toppings to the patties themselves, there are plenty of ways each culture has put its spin on the humble hamburger.
No matter your tastes or dietary needs (vegetarian burgers, for example, have grown in sales over the years), there is a unique hamburger for you.
If you liked learning about hamburgers from around the world, and want more food news you can sink your teeth into, check out more of our articles. From salads to chocolate, we bring you the best information on food.
