Review a la Dunya: Does 'Hunger Diaries' offer the best burger in town?

By Wishal Raheel

Ever since Burger Hub started the idea of gourmet burgers in Lahore, the city has been flooded with burger joints of all sorts. With all that choice, however, a lot of confusion has come in.

So, where do you go for some of the best burgers in the city?

Well, we started checking out some burger places and now have an entire list of the best burger joints in Lahore. Let’s start with a rather new addition to the burger scene in the city, a small eatery by the name of Hunger Diaries that opened its doors just recently. We tried some of its burgers, wraps and appetizers and here’s what we think.

Let’s start with the appetizers!

Their mozzarella sticks which cost only Rs. 350 are among some of the best we have tried in the city and are to die for. They come with a dip that will leave you wanting more. Of course, you’ll have to tell yourself to stop since this is just the beginning of your meal! The potato skins are also recommended if you want to add more cheesiness to your appetizer. The damage to the wallet on account of potato skins was just Rs. 275.

 Photo: Wishal Raheel

Onto the main course

The restaurant has a surprising variety of items to choose from given the fact that it’s a rather small place. You can choose from its range of wraps, sandwiches and its signature stuffed burgers. Here’s our take on all three categories.

The Low Blowskey burger

This isn’t one of their signature cheese stuffed burgers (coming to that later) but it is still one of the best burgers that they probably have. Priced at Rs. 450, the beef patty just melts in your mouth and the honey mustard sauce complements the entire experience. The burger consists of crispy onion rings sitting on top of the patty giving you the perfect balance between textures; the crispiness of the outer coating of the onion rings combined with the softness of the burger patty and the sweetness of the onion itself. The combination is divine.

 Photo: Wishal Raheel

Love in a Wrap

Their wraps are extremely light but packed with flavor. Love in a wrap is basically a wrap consisting of chicken fajita strips, lots of vegetables and a light dressing. The dressing doesn’t overpower other flavours present in the wrap and that is perhaps the best thing about it. It is ideal for when you don’t want a very heavy meal or if you have a small appetite generally and costs just Rs. 275.

 PhotoL Wishal Rahee

lThe HD Classic Club Sandwich

This club sandwich for Rs. 300 can compete with some of the best club sandwiches in Lahore, including the one served at Rina’s. It has a blend of flavours and textures that is just perfect. The sandwich doesn’t become soggy like some club sandwiches do and that was something we loved about it. For someone with a small (or even normal) appetite, this club sandwich cannot be finished without help; the serving size is huge!

Photo: Wishal Raheel

The signature Gouda Fountain Burger

The eatery is particularly known for its signature stuffed burgers. These burgers have beef patties stuffed with the finest of cheese. We tried the Gouda Fountain which, as suggested by its name, is stuffed with melted Gouda cheese. It costs Rs. 650. The whiskey river sauce complements the cheese making this burger an explosive mixture of flavours and textures. You really can’t get enough of this burger!

Mint margarita

It is important to wash down such a flavour bursting meal with an impressive drink. Their mint margarita is extremely refreshing and has just the right amount of mint, unlike what is served at most other restaurants. At no point in time while consuming the drink will you feel like you’re gulping down mint chutney - something that has happened a lot to us at many other restaurants. And it’s priced just right too – Rs. 150.

Onto the downside

There’s always room for improvement, no matter how good a place may be.

First of all, in time, we hope they get a larger place as currently it is a very small setup.

Secondly, we hope that someday they start baking their own buns. We have realised that all of the in-house produce, including the patties, the sauces, were absolutely amazing, apart from the buns, which could have been better. If this place starts baking its own buns eventually we feel it will give most other burger joints some very tough competition - not that it isn’t doing so already!

This was our take on this incredible little eatery. It is definitely a place we would recommend to everyone.