A lot can be said of fast food chains, but in recent years many have made a real effort to distance themselves from the idea that burgers are unhealthy.
New Zealand-born chain Burgerfuel uses organic ingredients and offers vegan and veggie options. You can go low-carb by swapping any bun with iceberg lettuce, and it has reduced the salt and sugar content in its regular menu items – so there’s no need to feel guilty.
Its eatery in Dalma Mall is spotless. We even wonder if they regularly scrub the ceiling, as not a spec of dust is in sight. The service is friendly, too.
The veggie among us opts for the combustion tofu burger, a combination of silky tofu slices, iceberg lettuce, avocado and aioli – garlic mayonnaise.
The meat-eater goes for a BF monster, a beef patty layered with beef bacon, melted cheddar, beetroot, mango and avocado. It’s an unusual mix of toppings but proves an instant hit.
We pair the burgers with a side of spud fries, which are chunky and salted just right, and one of its specials, the jalapeño poppers, spicy battered cheese bites. Try them soon, as a new option will take their place in a couple of months.
We love the chip dips, especially the lemon aioli and yoghurt relish.
The burgers come with paper holders called doofers – they clearly know we’ll make a mess – and tiny wooden forks for the chips.
To wash it all down, we try organic soft drinks from New Zealand; honey cola, a sweeter twist on the classic, and feijoa, which is sometimes called pineapple guava.
The milkshakes are made with ice cream and are also worth a try. Opt for chocolate or strawberry. We defy brain-freeze by slurping them down in seconds.
As the meal ends, we are satisfied but not uncomfortably full – as often happens with fast food – and for that we credit fresh ingredients and perfect portion sizes.
The manager, Marion, is clearly passionate about what he does. He tells us they use recycled paper and edible ink for their packaging, something we wish more restaurants would do.
If you love a good burger, Burgerfuel should definitely be at the top of your list.
Laura Volpi
Details
Location: Various locations, including ground floor near E-Max, Dalma Mall, Mussafah
We say: Guilt-free fast food
Cost: AED 160 for two with soft drinks
Opening times: Sat-Wed 10am-midnight, Thu-Fri 10am-1am
Contact: 02 550 6385 [email protected] www.uae.burgerfuel.com
www.facebook.com/burgerfueluae
