Abu Dhabi Showdown Week is here and there’s loads to be excited about.
There’s a massive UFC event and two huge concerts by Red Hot Chili Peppers and J Balvin taking place at the all-new purpuse-built arena on Yas Island.
You may have even read about the happy hours and parties taking place across the city and the bunch of fitness events you can sign up for and watch.
But there’s also loads more going on across the capital and we’re particularly excited for the Knockout Burgers part of Showdown Week.
We’ve teamed up with the organisers and more than 35 bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants across the city to bring you some incredible burger deals.
Fancy an amazing burger with a twist? Here are nine to try in Abu Dhabi this week.
Afya Restaurant
This casual spot at the cool Traders Hotel has come up with a burger to match its setting: quirky. The bun is made from pepperoni pizza for a start, then between it is a burger, beef short rib, beef bacon, onion rings, salad, lettuce, tomato and cheese. Sounds like a belly-buster, right? Well, it also comes with nachos, parmesan fries and barbecue sauce. You’ll struggle to get a belt on after all that, championship or otherwise.
Dhs79. Traders Hotel Abu Dhabi, Khor Al Maqta (02 510 8888).
Amerigos Mexican Bar and Restaurant
The Torta de Milanesa is a genius invention that combines the best bits of a burger and a fajita. A breaded chicken breast is loaded with refried beans, cheese, guacamole and chipotle mayo and served with a mountain of fries and a glass of hops.
Dhs90. Radisson Blu Abu Dhabi, Yas Island (02 656 2412).
Angar
If Indian food is your favourite, then you need to try one of these awesome spicy burgers. The Punjabi Burger includes chunks of chicken tikka, house-pickled carrots and cucumber and cumin raita on a saffron bun. Or, if you want a vegetarian option, the Mumbai Pao features beetroot, chickpeas, red beans, quinoa and grilled paneer, all served on a spinach pao. Both come with a side of vegetable pakora or poppadums and Indian hops to wash it down with. This is the kind of fusion food we like.
Dhs60. Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi, Yas Island (02 656 0600).
Bareburger
The Mighty Quaker has been created just for Knockout Burgers. It has a double venison patty, cheddar cheese, beef bacon, caramelised onion, portobello mushrooms and smoky barbecue sauce. This delightful combination is all sandwiched in a brioche bun and served with a choice of fries or salad (if you think that’ll make it all healthy).
Dhs65. Marina Village, Marina Mall (02 441 1723).
Hamilton’s Gastropub
This smart venue on Saadiyat Island is serving up a hearty burger with a fancy twist. The Hamilton’s Flaming Burger features a beef patty topped with lettuce, onions, veal bacon, melted cheese, foie gras and spiced mayonnaise. There’s a premium-beverage based sauce poured on top and set ablaze, as well. Now that’s what we call making a dramatic entrance.
Dh75. Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Saadiyat Island (02 697 0000).
Stock Burger Co.
These out-there creations are the total opposite of a bog-standard cheese burger. Choose from a satay burger topped with pickled cabbage and satay sauce, all-day breakfast burger with bacon, eggs, tomato and hash browns, or, if you like bit of a spice, there’s always the nacho burger, served with guacamole, spicy tomato salsa, sour cream, pickled jalapeño and crispy nachos. The deal also includes some hops to go with it.
Dhs80. Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi, Dhafeer Street (02 657 4864).
The Manhattan Lounge
Head to this stylish lounge and pick up a super burger loaded with braised brisket, coleslaw, shallots, barbecue sauce, parsley and chives. It’s joined by a skewer of cherry tomatoes and gherkins, plus a bottle of hops for less than Dhs100.
Dhs95. The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi (02 498 8443).
The Retreat
The Nasty Burger Round 11 has taken The Retreat’s original Nasty Burger and made it that bit more formidable (or beautiful, depending how you look at it). It comes with breaded chicken, smoked-pepper mayonnaise, jalapeños, creamy buffalo mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, tangy tomato salsa and homemade guacamole, all sandwiched in a brioche bun. Meanwhile the Heavyweight burger is only for those who really mean business, with a grilled US Angus beef patty topped with seared foie gras, mustard mayonnaise and homemade onion jam. It all sounds anything but nasty.
Dhs75 (burger only), Dhs85 (with a bottle of hops). The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, Khalifa City A (02 616 9999).
Zerofat
The good news is that not all these burgers will leave you fearing that your jeans won’t fit afterwards. The burgers from ZEROFAT are good for you and totally delicious, and the Showdown Week Detox Combo even comes with an antioxidant-packed healthy mocktail. The shroom beef burger is one of the healthy homegrown restaurant’s best-selling dishes, and it features a tender beef patty, ranch sauce, crispy onions, caramelised bacon jam and low-fat Swiss cheese. The burger is normally Dhs80 by itself and here it’s Dhs70 with a drink, so you’d be foolish not to try it.
Dhs70. The View Tower, Al Muroor Road (600 542 524).
