The Lucky Chip burgers are worth travelling across London for, located in impossible-to-find pubs or worse still random burger vans with peculiar opening times. I had been intending to visit and try the Lucky Chip product for much too long. I tried to shake the desire out of my system, I mean it is ‘only a burger’ and yet, as with most London fads, once the hype was within my bloodstream I was obsessed, almost possessed, with ticking this burger experience off my to do list.
The Sebright Arms in Hackney is not a particularly charming pub, shabby (not in a stylish way), poorly lit with a slightly unpleasant smell – in short it is your average London pub. However what makes it not so standard is the new menu in residence from Lucky Chip. The tasty American style cuisine has suddenly made this unassuming pub very popular, with west Londoners like me travelling for over an hour just to taste the succulent meat that many suggest is the best burger in London.
We arrived eagerly early evening, neither of us ravenous and yet extremely excited about the dining experience we were about to experience. I will admit… it was our second trip to Sebright – the first time (when we were gasping, starving for food) resulted in an unsatisfactory realisation that they stop serving early on Sunday afternoons, we had been informed incorrectly online. After another brisk walk through Hackney (now becoming increasingly familiar) we were ready for our burgers: the classic Cheeseburger for my friend and the interesting Danny Trejo speciality for me. Along with a pint of lemonade, some fries, plain and onion varieties and a little pot of mayo (preposterously priced at £1 extra!)
There was little talking and a lot of scoffing. The burgers didn’t disappoint – among the best, perhaps THE best I’ve tried… though I’m still deliberating on that one. I didn’t have the chance to try the cheeseburger, my friend was quite possessive. The Danny Trejo was a stunner, a tribute dish for the famous Mexican actor, it was a special combination… bacon chilli cheeseburger with chipotle mayo, tequila salsa, jalapenos and sour cream. Usually I am a simple burger kinda gal but I couldn’t resist this tempting combination of flavours. The meat is akin to Meat Liquor’s offerings, juicy and sloppy beef, blissfully easy to bite into with a moreish taste and lovely aged flavour. The bacon was thick and caramelly, grilled well and melting cheese oozed down the side. All this is mounted onto a light toasted soft bun with generous selection of crunchy iceberg lettuce, sliced tomato and crunchy pickles, with a smear of French’s mustard mayonnaise. I describe it in such detail because I feel it deserves such an explanation.
The menu has a selection of burgers and hot dogs though I believe we chose the most appealing. The newest addition is the Bill Murray Life Aquatic Surf and Turf Burger, combining beef with soft shell crab within one bun… though I can’t understand why anyone would order this over an original divine beef patty.
Coming down from my burger high I’m afraid there is bad news. The fries were a major disappointment, arriving sloppy, wilted and poorly flavoured – we tried the classic and onion fries (misinterpreting the onion fries – thinking they were onion rings)… they were a little like soggy Monster Munch. I’d rather have thin crispy fries any day.
Our burger experience at Lucky Chip was over in a flash, the service though a little clueless was super speedy, as was our eating, it being too good to savour. There is no doubt about it, Lucky Chip burgers are a must try, whether they are the best in London… I’ll let you decide?
Visit the website here for more information.
