Beyond McDonalds: 10 International Burger Chains (Slideshow)
JumboKing, India
Established in 2001, this Indian fast-food restaurant recently spread out to 18 different cities across the country. JumboKing's menu has no real burgers — in the sense of burger being made of beef — but offers a menu of vada pav, a popular vegetarian Indian sandwich, consisting of a spicy fried potato patty sandwiched between a bun. At JumboKing, the vada pav comes with different toppings like a slice of cheese or spicy sauce. You can also substitute the potato patty with fried cheese, paneer, or a vegetable patty.
Burgs, India
With several locations in Mumbai, Indian chain Burgs serves a gourmet version of the typical American burger menu, with burgers such as BBQ Lamb and the Mac n Cheese Bomb. Traditional menu combos, including a burger, french fries, and a milkshake, are offered, and if you're looking for a healthy twist, the menu also mentions the option of a whole-wheat bun.
MOS Burger, Japan
MOS Burger has spread out to have locations in eight different countries besides Japan, including Singapore, Taiwan, and Australia. Options like teriyaki chicken, ebi (shrimp) burgers with rice patties replacing the traditional bun, and butterflied prawns as a side, make the menu at MOS well-suited for people looking not to replace the traditional red-meat burgers.
Freshness Burger, Japan
Operating in Japan since 1992, Freshness Burger's concept concentrates on fresh ingredients and handmade burgers. A bacon omelette burger, SPAM burger topped with a fried egg, and a traditional beef burger with sliced avocados are a few of the menu items. For a drink, customers can choose from homemade ginger ale and organic tea.
Burger Ranch, Israel
The Israeli burger chain opened its first location in Tel Aviv in 1972, and has since expanded to even buy up Burger King, consolidating both chains under the Burger Ranch brand. According to their webpage, a popular item is the "Spanish ranch" burger. Other menu items are the grilled chicken burger and healthier meal combinations, in which a chopped salad works as a french fry substitution.
Hesburger, Finland
In Finland, the local burger chain Hesburger is even more popular than McDonald's, with 227 locations around the country, and branches in Russia, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The menu features a list of classic burgers, fries, and soft-serve ice cream. To add a Finnish twist, customers can choose a burger with organic rye bread as a bun substitution.
Quick, Belgium
Started in Belgium, and now with additional locations in France and Luxembourg, Quick is one of the biggest fast-food burger chains in Europe, ranked just after McDonald's and Burger King. In the summer of 2013, the chain launched a Homer Simpson-themed donut burger menu, with a donut-shaped bun for their burger, and sides like "cheesy donut rings."
Max Burgers, Sweden
Sweden's biggest burger chain, Max Burger, was established in 1968, and with recent expansions to Norway and Denmark, 96 restaurants[cg1] are now open. The restaurant offers a "Deli Fresh" line of items with low glycemic index, such as a burger without a bun and a bean salad. Max also highlights the use of only Swedish beef in their patties.
Gourmet Burger, United Kingdom
Burger chain Gourmet Burger was started in London in 2001 by three friends from New Zealand, and has since then become a popular burger destination around the U.K. The specialty Kiwiburger is an interesting combination of beetroot, egg, pineapple, aged Cheddar, salad, mayo, and relish, and the buyer is suggested to donate an additional 25 cents to a charity for the kiwi bird. The menu also offers side snacks such as haloumi cheese bites and mixed olives.
Steers, South Africa
Steers is South Africa's leading burger brand, which, according to its website, has won the Leisure Options Award for the Best Burger for the past 17 years. The burgers, grouped into categories like "the royals" and "the kings," are 100 percent beef and flame-grilled, and served with a side of handmade "chips," or french fries. The biggest burger on the menu, the Mighty King Steer, consists of three 100-gram patties and three slices of cheese.