Black Bear Burger
Our verdict · London's independent world-beater: named the world's second-best burger for 2026 and the UK's Burger of the Year in 2025.
Go if
You want a world-ranked, award-winning independent burger at a fair price without the higher per-head spend of the sit-down chains.
Skip it if
You want a consistently polished, full-service restaurant experience at every site.
Plan your visit
Black Bear Burger
From ~£11 (burger, indicative)
Indicative price at the time of review.
Run by husband-and-wife team Liz and Stew Down, Black Bear Burger started as a Broadway Market stall in 2016 and grew into one of London's most decorated independents on a 'quality beef, no gimmicks' philosophy: grass-fed, dry-aged British beef and scratch-made toppings around a short, focused menu. World's 101 Best Burgers ranked it the world's second-best burger for 2026 — behind only Bleecker — and its Miso Bacon Burger (two dry-aged patties, smoked bacon, miso butter mayo and onion in a sesame bun) was crowned Burger of the Year at the 2025 National Burger Awards. Reviewers consistently describe the burgers as juicy and well cooked, with honest pricing and a warm welcome. It trades from its Boxpark Shoreditch origin plus proper restaurants including Brixton Market Row, a 45-seater in Exmouth Market and Canary Wharf, with burgers from around £11 (indicative). It ranks second here on the strength of that world ranking and award pedigree, edging Honest on outright burger quality while Honest wins on bookings and dietary range; versus Bleecker's dry-aged classic it offers comparable quality at keener prices, but its casual container units make for a less consistent sit-down experience.
The good & the bad
Pros
- Ranked the world's second-best burger for 2026 and named the UK's Burger of the Year in 2025
- Grass-fed, dry-aged British beef with scratch-made toppings, widely praised by reviewers
- Honest, independent pricing makes it strong value for the quality
Cons
- Its best-known Boxpark Shoreditch site is a casual container unit rather than a full restaurant
- Some reviewers find the fries over-seasoned
How it compares
| Pick | WATTB Score | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Bleecker | 90/100 | From ~£10 (cheeseburger, indicative) | overall |
| 2.Black Bear BurgerThis pick | 89/100 | From ~£11 (burger, indicative) | independent |
| 3.Honest Burgers | 87/100 | ~£16 burger with unlimited chips (up to ~£20 with a beer, indicative) | all-rounder for groups and dietary needs |
| 4.Dumbo | 86/100 | From ~£10 (smash cheeseburger, indicative) | smash burger |
| 5.Patty & Bun | 84/100 | From ~£11.50 (Ari Gold cheeseburger, indicative) | signature burger |
Good to know
Black Bear Burger has several branches — address, opening hours, phone and ratings vary by location, so check your chosen branch before you go.
- Locations
- Multiple branches
- Price
- From ~£11 (burger, indicative)
- Signature
- Miso Bacon Burger (dry-aged patties, miso butter mayo, smoked bacon)
- 2026 accolade
- World's 2nd-best burger (World's 101 Best Burgers)
- 2025 accolade
- UK Burger of the Year (National Burger Awards)
- Locations
- Boxpark Shoreditch, Brixton, Exmouth Market, Canary Wharf
- Ownership
- Independent, family-run (Liz & Stew Down, est. 2016)
Insider tip · Details vary by branch — the Boxpark Shoreditch unit is counter-style and casual, so head to the Brixton or Exmouth Market restaurants if you want a proper table.
Researched by WATTB
- Published
- 15 September 2026
- Updated
- 15 September 2026
- Last verified
- 15 September 2026
- Sources
- 11 sources
We research and rank options from public data, official information and published reviews. How we research →
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