Let Us Recommend Where You Should Eat In London This Week

Eat the best burgers in town at MeatLiquor.

The story of MeatLiquor, street food star turned bricks-and-mortar burger mecca, is the story of the London food revolution.

MEATLiquor

They also happen to serve the best burgers in town. Here's what you need to know.

In The Beginning, there was Meatwagon.

Helen Graves / Via helengraves.co.uk

Inspired by food found during trips across the States while working for the Royal Ballet Company, Yianni Papoutsis sets up in a car park in Peckham in 2009, and almost immediately is a local hit. A couple of years later, after his van is stolen, he is offered a space above a pub in New Cross owned by Scott Collins and they call this new venture #meateasy. London falls in love, the queues snake down the road, a food cult is born.

#meateasy burned bright and fast, and before long it was obvious more permanent (and bigger) premises were needed.

So in late 2011 the gang –and their legions of fans – decamp to a strange dark spot under a multi-story car park near Bond Street. MeatLiquor is finally where it needs to be.

They serve bloody brilliant burgers.

Instagram: @hfj___

So why all the fuss? Simply the one thing that had them queuing in the rain in Peckham in 2009 and has them queuing down Wellbeck St today – the food. Firstly, the burgers, made from never-frozen beef, seared to order and with semi-sourdough buns steamed under a cloche for that glistening, meaty glow, lubricated with yellow cheese.

They are the benchmark West Coast USA style burger, a masterclass in burger craft.

And dish up wonderful wings.

Instagram: @nalharmoodi

Also on the "must have" list are the Bingo Wings. Inspired by the American diner classic Buffalo Wings, these instead use a sauce made in Peckham for extra London cred. You get a huge pile of them for £7 and the blue cheese dip is thick with chunks of proper cheese.

Be sure to get stuck into the cocktail list.

Instagram: @hervanishedgrace

The drinks at #meateasy were always just as much of a draw as the food, and MeatLiquor continues the tradition with a fine list of interesting (and occasionally surprisingly strong) concoctions. Try the Game Over – so dangerously potent (and tasty) it's limited to two per person.

Up for a challenge?

Instagram: @gemma_thomas__

If you think you can handle it, take the Triple Chili Challenge. Eat a Green Chili Cheeseburger, a Chili Dog and a portion of Chili Fries in under 10 minutes, and they're free. A leaderboard on the wall lists impressive recent times – astonishingly, under 4 minutes is not uncommon.

And you can stay all night.

Instagram: @paoladesantis

Thanks to the dim lighting and neon, it always feels like midnight at MeatLiquor even when it's midday. And once you're a few cocktails in, hours pass by like minutes. It is possible to stop by for a (signature burger) Dead Hippie at midday (Mondays are quiet), but much more fun to make a night of it with a bunch of friends.

What's the damage?

MeatLiquor

A Dead Hippie, fries and a cocktail should make your bill about £20, so pretty reasonable considering. MeatLiquor, then, template for a thousand other street food heroes made good (see also: Patty & Bun, Lucky Chip, Burger Bear) and as much filthy, grease-soaked fun as you can have with your clothes on. A true London institution.

Every week we’ll recommend a new place to eat in London. Let us know in the comments where you think we should feature next!

Rebecca Hendin/BuzzFeed

Previously featured:

Silk Road, Camberwell

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