Top of the Table: The Most Popular Burgers (KL/PJ)

The Grind House Burger (Beef)

In just recent months, there has been a series of "gourmet" burger restaurants/bars sprouting across Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

As one may not have the opportunity to try everything there is out there, I'm lucky enough to have at least visited The Grind Burger Bar and a few others in the list of current talk-of-town burger places below. Click on links for addresses and additional information, and maybe even catch a deal or two.

Then decide on which burger places you want to hunt down and chomp down their house specialties:

• Burger Bakar Kaw Kaw                         • Burger Junkyard
• Chili's Malaysia                                       • Crayon Burger                                     
• Cristang Restaurant (Pork Burger)          • The Daily Grind Gourmet Burgers      
• Fatboy's The Burger Bar Malaysia         • The Grind Burger Bar                          
• J Tean Kitchen (Bak Kut Teh Burger)   • Jackson Burger
• KL Burger Bakar (Ukay Perdana)         • myBurgerLab                                       
• Otai Burger                                             • Ramly Burger
• Smashies Burger 

Finally, do let me know if I've missed out on any of your favourite burger places across Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, and I'll add them on to the list above :b...

Cristang at 8 Avenue.

I'm currently employed under a one month consultancy contract at an advertising agency, which makes me a colleague of a certain June Liew, who is a knowledgeable foodie in her own rights.

This is the first in the 'June' series of expeditions...

Cristang, is a dimly lit restaurant with an expansive menu that is probably more suited for a dinner and beer occasion.

But we're here for one2two, and the sound of a home-style pork and petai burger sounds too good to be true.

They name this 'Urban Legend'.

The potato wedges are real and roasted with skin. The buns are toasted lightly to slightly crispy. The generous portion of minced pork and petai (stink beans) sits comfortably on top the thick and juicy pork patty. The freshly sliced onions, tomatoes and greens complete the masterpiece.

I'd pay RM23++, again and again, for this.

Among the many choices of pork, chicken and fish dishes, the spicy-sounding Bacon Rib Ambila caught our attention. And our instincts were deadly right. RM18.80 well spent. Plus an extra RM1.30 for a complementing plate of white rice.

Tucked away at B-G-19, 8 Avenue, Jalan Sungai Jernih (8/1), PJ, this is a perfect joint for vampires seeking to escape KL's blistering afternoon sun, and an excellent pork and beer one2two.

Number to call: 012 226 2698 (Gerald G. Oei).

The Pink Sage Diner, Solaris Dutamas.

Pink Sage Diner just moved from Jalan Dang Wangi, downtown KL, to this new upstairs lot above Papa Rich, at Solaris Dutamas.

The overall ambiance was one that was minimalist but comfortable.

Read the menu, and Lamb Burger caught my attention.

When it arrived, I was utterly disappointed by the lack of presentation, the fact that they served processed fries, and the unforgivably poor quality buns. The price was not cheap either. It was more expensive than the basic burgers at Chili's. It costs me RM23++.

I expected a whole lot more.

The Mozzarella Pancake however, was (sort of) the saving grace. And I heard from the table the pasta with sun-dried tomatoes was better than expected. And, they served Illy gourmet coffees.

But that was it. Sorry boss, but I left your restaurant feeling half empty.

Betty's Midwest Kitchen.

If you're thinking of pigging out, there are, honestly, lots of fabulous restaurants and amazing kopitiams to go to across KL and PJ.

You can opt for the economical ones, the medium priced ones, and the unashamedly pricey ones. But they're all good ones, I would assume.

Betty's is from the medium priced category, with an added 'value-for-money' tag.

Basically, their pork ribs does not cost an arm and a leg. They cost around RM20 to RM30. The portions, are not small either.

And the quality is consistent throughout. From the starters...

To a variety of burgers...

To the country-style fried chicken...

Right down to their 'Dog Food'. (The pet name for a bowl of dripping wet, cheesy fries).

Their desserts, however, are rather disappointing.

Where is this place? Bring out your Garmin and key in A-G-40, Jalan PJU 1/43, Aman Suria Damansara, Petaling Jaya. Tel:03-7880-0196.

Closed on Mondays. Business as usual from Tuesdays to Fridays: 11am-10pm. Saturdays and Sundays: 10am-10pm.

No frills Ninja.

Ninja Joe may just be the unstealthiest ninja ever. It stands out in bright red on the Lower Ground of Tropicana City Mall. You'll no doubt see it as you walk in from the car park. Address: LG18, Tropicana City Mall, No.3 Jalan SS20/27, PJ. Tel: 603-77250834.

Apparently, Ninja Joe has something special lined up for anyone named Joe – RM1 off any Ninja meal (valid for non-promo items only).

And, Ninja Joe do have remarkable powers to reel you in with 6 types of frill-free mini pork burgers (sized much bigger than White Castle's, thank goodness): Original, Teriyaki, Black Pepper, Oriental, Sweet & Sour and Spicy.

On the side, there are the 'pork and mash' nuggets shaped like deadly Shurikens (which unfortunately didn't quite cut it for me) and/or lightly salted crinkle cut fries. Plus you get a choice of Green Tea, Lemonade or Coffee to wash them down.

For dessert, you have the Mango or Green Tea ice-cream that comes in a small paper cup.

The one I had was over-the-temperature frozen, and it took more than half an hour to thaw.

But, the Ninja bosses (TJ Tee & Janz Tan) did assure me that it'll be set right, plus the Shurikens will be fresh and piping-hot, on my next visit.

I'll be looking forward to it.

This is really it.

It was the day of Michael Jackson's This Is It movie premiere in KL.

Appropriately, the one2two crew made a unanimous decision to drop by SS14/29, PJ, for some Jackson's Burger.

I've eaten here before, but it was really a long time back.

And not surprisingly, what used to be just a small stall is now a well-equipped van that still sits under a really tall tree, outside the house they used to rent in 1973 - 5 years after they started this lucrative business at another residential garden - Taman Jaya, PJ, in 1968.

Yes, do bring out your calculator and start pressing those buttons.

Almost 41 years ago. That's how long it has been since they've grilled their first self-made burger patty.

Unlike the patties you get at the homegrown Ramly chain of burger stalls, the Jackson's patties are freshly made and preservative-free.

So, instead of shrinking in size when grilled, they kinda like expand and break apart slightly. And they get really crispy rather quickly.

Without a doubt, you can easily gobble down 2 or 3 beef or chicken or fish burgers, and still have room for another hotdog or 2. Not because they're small in size, but because they're super delicious. And they cost only RM2.80 a burger, and an additional RM0.70 for a 'special'.

And you get to enjoy your one2two alfresco-style, or wait in your car for takeaways. And don't forget to ask for mustard, if you fancy mustard, or you won't get any.

At the end of it all, I was totally satisfied but, there was still a looming question: "Who is this Jackson guy?" The aunty at the grill gave a slight grin and answered coolly: "He was nobody. Jackson was just a name cooked up by some customers in the early days."

Now, come on. I don't buy that. Do you? In 1968, Michael Jackson would've been 10 years old. How old would Billie Jean be? Maybe...

A&W forks up.

It's utterly disgusting that A&W resorts to such a disgraceful marketing ploy of coming up with an excuse of a new edition to their classic Coney Dog with a White Castle sized Coney Sate. Will you just look at the size of that dog? It's about the same length as the pack of French Fries (which by the way was too tough to chew, and mind you I have still a full set of real teeth, not dentures).

The promotional tentcard displayed a picture of Coney Sate that's Coney Dog sized, with 2 chunky sticks of chicken satay sticking out from the bun. Now, do you see any chunky sticks of chicken satay anywhere in the picture? Hell, no. I returned them their pathetic dog (if you can call it one) and told them, for the betterment of mankind and humanity, to put it to sleep immediately.

And, in the midst of anger and disappointment, I think I actually swallowed some broken pieces of their plastic fork too. What do you say to that? It's "What the fork," right?

If A&W keeps this up, I'd say they'll be keeping White Castle company in failed fastfood heaven, pretty soon.