Written by Harriet Sleath
MID CityBeat has been out and about trying burgers in town and we have come up with five great restaurants where the burgers are totally worth a visit!
Hennessy’s Irish Pub
If you’re a resident here in Merida you will certainly have heard of Hennessy’s Irish Bar. Famous for classic pub food, locals sitting with a pint at the bar and its St Patrick’s Day shenanigans, you might be surprised to see this on our list. Well, we are here to tell you that this is the home of some of the best burgers in the city.
Owner Sean comes from Ireland and prides himself on his welcoming Irish charm. His mission is to share a little bit of his Irish culture with the people of Merida and it is a true delight.
If there’s anywhere that you can feel at home (even if away from home), it’s here. In an old colonial building with high ceilings and archways, Hennessy’s is a true Irish bar. From the shelves of liquor bottles behind the bar to the pictures of the Irish countryside, from the chunky pub-like menus to the Guinness signs above the tables, from the Irish writer’s room to the framed newspaper clipping of when the Titanic set sail, I could go on…
The menu is large but we will focus on all things burgers. The Ranch Hamburger is simply incredible. It is the most popular burger on the menu and it’s evident why. It’s a tower, a shrine to the burger community, a beast if you will. Some of the best meals involve figuring out how to eat your food and what approach to take. This is a great example of working out how best to eat your burger and you will be enthusiastically licking your fingers when you’re done. The Teriyaki Hamburger uses the same meat but with an entirely different combination of flavours. It’s another mammoth burger, busting and literally oozing with so much flavour. The teriyaki sauce gives it an edge over the traditional Ranch burger if you’re looking for something a bit different!
We also recommend the sandwiches (distant cousins of the burger), particularly the Reuben sandwich; chunky rye bread with generous helpings of sliced corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese!
Other options at Hennessy’s are wonderfully Irish including fish n chips, Balti chicken curry, beef Guinness pie, bangers and mash – this is true comfort food. There’s always someone to talk to here and there’s live music at the weekend so come on down!
Need to know info:
Price range: $$$
Opening hours: Daily 12:00-00:00
Address: Paseo de Montejo, #486, Centro
Contact: 999 923 8993
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hirishpub/
Flamante Burgers and Friends
Everything at Flamante Burgers and Friends is made with love – “hecho con amor” – and you will instantly feel at home in Merida’s newest burger restaurant in the centre of town. Owners and food enthusiasts Eduardo and Aremy recently moved from Mexico City and immediately noticed a gap in the market for excellent artisanal burgers. It didn’t take too long before Flamante was born!
The burger menu at Flamante offers something for absolutely everyone! You’ll need some time to choose your burger from the many different options! We highly recommend the classic and most popular Lucy in the Sky, a gorgeous beef burger with cheddar cheese, caramelised onion, crispy bacon, lettuce and tomato. The Hawaii Bombay offers a tropical twist with pineapple accompanying Monterey Jack cheese, ham, tamarind dressing and lettuce on a beautiful beef burger. There are also 3 great vegetarian options which is fantastic news for vegetarians! The Magic Mushroom is a mouth-watering Portobello mushroom burger with blue cheese dressing, caramelised, rocket and pickled onions. What’s not to like?
And for the non-burger lovers (it pains us but we know you’re out there), the salads are epic, particularly the fruity yet sweet Honey Bee, created by Aremy herself. And the desserts are just as good! The carrot cake is worth popping in for and the panacotta is the perfect way to finish your burger meal. A really nice touch is you can eat your food here with a silent black and white movie on the wall in the background!
Many of the high quality ingredients are locally produced and they make their own sauces on site. The meat in the burgers is a mixture of sirloin steak, brisket and chuck steak which helps to control the grease – there are no soggy burger buns in sight!
Eduardo and Aremy have found a way to express their personalities in Flamante. In doing so they’re bringing new ideas, a great variety of flavours, tasteful and cozy design and old classic movies, into the heart of Merida.
Need to know info:
Price range: $$
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 13:00-22:00
Address: Calle 64 #403, on the corner with 47, Centro
Contact: 999 490 9191
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/flamanteburgers/
MU Smoke House
On a quiet street in Campestre, just off busy Prolongacion Montejo, you may not be expecting to find MU Smoke House. This is a small restaurant consisting of a decking area and two transformed shipping containers. One has become the kitchen and the other is an inside restaurant space. It’s a cute and simple, almost romantic spot with a rustic feel.
Owner Max will welcome you with the biggest smile while he throws himself into providing the best service possible. He has been working with chef Luis since MU Smoke House opened a couple of years ago and between them they’ve created something really special.
Here it’s definitely not about quantity or extensive menus. It’s all about top quality. The simple menu can be found written on a chalk board which Max will bring to your table. You’ll find some great BBQ inspired dishes such as ribs, macaroni cheese and, you’ve guessed it, 2 incredible burgers. There is the Hamburguesa Clasica and Hamburgesa Bourbon – both burgers are the same except for the addition of a whiskey bourbon salsa in the latter. Tasty and juicy meat, crispy bacon, melt-in-the-mouth cheese and fresh veg equals a pretty darn good burger. Both are served with a baked potato which is a nice change to the regular fries or onion rings. It’s creamy and soft and a perfect addition to your burger. MU Smoke House is not about fanciness, just simple burgers with really great ingredients.
As the kitchen is one of the shipping containers it’s very open, so you can watch your food being expertly prepared on the grill. It can be very enchanting to watch the layers come together to form an incredible burger.
We were actually here when it poured with rain and it was really nice to be super cosy in a shipping container eating piping hot food and watching the rain come down outside. They also do takeaway but we highly recommend coming and eating here. Take some time to enjoy the environment, watch your food being prepared and savour the flavours. It’s like being invited to the best BBQ in Merida!
Need to know info:
Price range: $$
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 19:00-00:00, Mondays closed
Address: TO BE ANNOUNCED: They have closed for June and will reopen at a new location in July.
Contact: 999 406 9276
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/musmokehouse/
Backyard 44
We’re really excited to share one of our favourite burger joints, Backyard 44, a small food truck in Los Pinos. Named after the street you’ll find it on, this outside space full of picnic tables, a food truck, and an ice cream machine is one of the best places to find a burger in Merida. It’s refreshing and not as stifling as the centre of the city can be on hot evenings.
There are currently 6 hamburgers on the menu at Backyard 44, which is regularly evolving to add to new creations. We recommend the Backyard Burger, the house special and the most popular on the menu. This is a true masterpiece and possibly one of the biggest burgers we’ve seen in Merida. It’s piled high with sirloin steak, sausage, bacon, cheddar, and gouda cheese. The Crunchy 44 is a new burger and will be joining the menu soon. It’s another piece of food art with a double portion of crunchy bacon giving it its name. We also recommend the Special Hot Dog which is served with a more than generous topping of bacon and beans!
You can create your own burger at Backyard 44 which is great for the fussy eaters out there! Coming soon will be a chicken burger and a new veggie option.
And for a dessert, choose your own curly ice-cream creation and watch it being made from scratch at the ice-cream station. You may have seen the curly ice-cream phenomenon on social media as it’s a super fun new form of ice-cream art!
Everyday there is a serious behind the scenes production that goes on in order to produce the highest quality food. All the sauces are handmade and the brioche bread is freshly baked each day in next door’s kitchen. Owners Alejandra and Tony have perfected the meat recipe after spending time in the USA. Tony has Cuban routes and has used this influence mixed with a Mexican touch to experiment with flavours and style.
It’s simple and fast, just what you’d expect from a food truck. But there’s something that may surprise you and that’s the quality. Customer service comes first here at Backyard 44 to provide you with the best experience possible – you won’t be disappointed!
Need to know info:
Price range: $$
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 19:00-00:00, Mondays closed
Address: Calle 44 #492, Los Pinos
Contact: 999 224 6162
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/backyard44/
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Billy O’s
This is a fantastic little American Diner in Francisco de Montejo in the north of Merida. Walking through the front door is a bit like walking onto the set of Grease before everyone starts singing Beauty School Dropout; red chairs, metal tables, black and white tiles on the floor, a giant Elvis mural and other memorabilia on the walls with a nod to 50s, 60s and 70s rock n roll. Plus, there’s usually an old movie on the TV! It’s a really fun place to eat and great for families with young kids!
The menu succeeds in giving a true representation of the style of the period – real American Diner food. There’s an extensive list of burgers for whatever you fancy plus hot dogs, sandwiches and other great fast food classics. The Classic burger is fail proof and really tasty, with great beef, a good bun and crispy fries on the side. If you’re feeling adventurous, we recommend the Heavy Bacon burger, packed with cheese, beef and bacon and a real treat to eat. We challenge you to eat it without making a mess! But who doesn’t love food with you can pick up off your plate after? For a side, or a dish to share with the family, you can’t go wrong with the chilli cheese fries, an amazing bowl of chilli con carne (minced meat) with fries and covered in so much melted cheese!
The milkshakes here are amazing. In fact, we’d go so far as to say they are amongst the best in Merida. Even if you just pop in for a milkshake, it’s totally worth it (2 for 1 on Thursdays)!
Billy O’s has been on the scene since 2015 and the idea came to owner, Alex, when he realised there was a lack of great burgers in the city of Merida. They are taking what can be classed as ‘junk food’ and turning it into something more enjoyable and healthier to eat. It’s still a treat but you don’t feel bad after!
You know exactly what you’d getting when you come to Billy O’s, it’s classic style American burgers with simple ingredients and excellent service in a nostalgic and fun space!
Need to know info:
Price range: $
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 17:00-23:00, Saturday 13:00-23:00 and Sunday 13:00-22:30
Address: Calle 42 #229, Francisco de Montejo
Contact: 999 195 0425
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hamburguesasbilly.osmerida
Photos by Harriet Sleath
Video by Tin Castro
