There’s no denying that Exeter is quickly becoming the go-to place for food, and anyone who is familiar with the city is aware that there is one particular food dominating the scene; burgers.
The might of the meat has taken over the city, and both independent and chain restaurants have been jumping on the burger frenzy in an attempt to become the number one patty. Recently the popular Ruby left the city and headed to Exmouth, but the number of burger joints won’t be diminishing any time soon as the chain Five Guys has submitted a planning application (in the same building that Ruby was in).
Currently there are four main burger restaurants in the city. In the independent corner, we have Hubbox and Urban Burger, and in the chain corner we have Byron and the newly opened Gourmet Burger Kitchen. We’re going to put these four head to head, and let you know what’s on offer at each.
The Independents
Hubbox
Price: Burgers from £5.95 to £9.95, sides between £1-£4.95
Trip Advisor Rating: 4.5
Must try: Chilli Cheese Fries alongside a Classic burger
Hubbox is definitely one of the coolest places to eat in Exeter. With a small amount of indoor and outdoor seating there’s definitely an intimate atmosphere, and if you want a table you’ve got to arrive early! The award-winning burgers are accompanied by craft beers and fries that will make your soul sour.
Urban Burger
Price: Burgers from £7.95 to £12.25, sides between £1.95-£3.95
Trip Advisor Rating: 4
Must try: Build Your Own alongside a Doughnut Delight ‘freak shake’
Locally sourced Devon meat helps Urban Burger make some of the best gourmet burgers in the city. Tucked away near the Clock Tower, this cool restaurant is home to an infamously difficult Man Vs Food challenge – could you eat seven 6oz burgers, 14 pieces of bacon, seven slices of cheese, an organic burger bun, salad, AND two portions of fries in 20 minutes or less?!
The Chains
Byron
Price: Burgers from £6.95 to £12.50, sides between £2.95-£4.75
Trip Advisor Rating: 3.5
Must Try: B-Rex burger and Courgette Fries
Created in London, this super burger chain has travelled out of the big smoke and settled into Princesshay quite nicely. Burgers are made fresh every day, and cooked exactly to your order – they even spent ages making sure that the recipe for their buns was absolutely perfect. As well as this, they support the One Feeds Two project; every time you buy the special, they provide a school meal for children living in some of the poorest places in the world.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen
Price: From £5.35 to £11.95, sides between £1.55-£3.95
Trip Advisor Rating: 5 (but there’s currently only one review)
Must Try: Avocado Bacon burger with Skinny Fries
As the new kid on the block, GBK needs to bring some really good food in order to survive in this burger loving city. Luckily for them, they seem to have done just that. There’s a large range of options, and you can even choose to have a smaller 4oz burger if you pick from the Classics menu – ideal for those with a smaller appetite. It’s also worth noting that you can get free refills on the fresh and fizzy drinks.