Burger Wars Episode LII: The MEATJedi [BurgeReview]

By now you’re probably tired to the point of boredom about reading reviews of Yianni latest venue MEATMarket. Their new take and family addition into the burger world, this time looking for the established fast food / franchise niche. Could the MEATCult survive this franchise take on their classic? 

The Place

MEATBillboard

Got to the place, a couple punters but that was it, probably it’s in the past when you had to wait an hour to give your order to Yianni and another one to get the famous Bobcat burger, funny we humans, we complained at that time for long queues now maybe the topic will be the non existing queue. The venue on the mezzanine overlooks the Jubilee Market Hall which gives a bit of distraction for the few minutes wait. The menu is dominated by double, a take on a big mac style, 4 options, a Philly cheesesteak, and dogs. 

Ordering and open kitchen

Sitting arrangements

The downstairs market

I went for the Dead Hippie, 2 beef patties, lettuce, minced white onions, pickles, cheese, and the special dead hippie sauce. As a side some chilli fries, and poppaz. Order took less than 5 minutes, so let’s talk about the food. 

MEATOrder

MEATInstagram

The verdict, the poppaz were amazing, the jalapeños and cheese, spicy, completely melted, just great. The hippie, well for me a premature death, it was ok, amazingly it was cooked medium rare, even though the patties were one of slimmest I have ever seen, thanks god there are two of them, the meat was a bit tough to be honest, sauce was pretty nice, raw onions gave a nice crunchy texture, cheese fully melted quite nice, the bun was a bit rubbery, and no juices, a thing that might be Yianni signature, greasy, juicy, a completely messy experience, it was the opposite, there was no liquid remains after eating the hippie. Chilli fries, definitely not my thing, the mustard too overpowering, nice spicy touch, but the fries were as expected completely saggy. 

The damage, 12 quid for the burger and the chilli fries 

The conclusion, honestly don’t see myself coming back, in my opinion if you compare it to previous MEATVentures quality has been compromised, it’s indeed fast food concept and I might put the bar too high but not sure Yianni delivered with this one. I will give them a 7 in my scale. 

Poppaz

Fries

Dead Hippie

Meat reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Slicer” 

Kramer: Look at this. This sandwich is terrible. Everywhere you go, they give you this misshaped shardy meat. Look at this, I haven't had a decent sandwich in 13 years

Jerry: Neither have I

MEATMarket

T: 020 7240 4852

Burgers / Fast Food

Approx Damage: £15pp

Area: Covent Garden

Borough: City of Westminster

Twitter: MeatMarketUK

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Burger Wars Episode XXXVIII: The Red Light MEATstrict Buzz

There is a new burger in town. Wait! It’s not new to be honest, so let me rephrase, there is an old burger with a new venue in town. Yes you probably guessed right I’m talking about MEATLiquor. So you will find in the next couple paragraphs as probably in the thousands of food bloggers, cult fans, die hard treekies, groupies and associates of the Meatwagon/#Meateasy or should I say Meatcraziness a few lines to try convince you why is good to wait a long long time for a burger and don’t die while you are in the process. 

MEATstrict

I see the new venue some sort of Matrix Reloaded situation for that I would need to elaborate. To be completely honest I never went to #Meateasy, shame on me as my friend Tehbus and his friend Cheese & Biscuits would say, but after experience a 3 hour queue to order and then 2 more to get a cheese burger when the Meatwagon was parked in The Florence near Brixton I decided the burger was not good enough for all that time waiting. 

MEAT Menu

Liquor Menu

But now things have change a little I have to say, the famous Yianni apparently settled down in a quite reasonable space near Bond Street and is open from noon ‘till late, giving you the chance of avoid the huge hype/buzz created by establish London bloggers and twitter cult followers and enjoy fast food at its best. The decor is neon red illuminated and immediately took me to Berlin the urban/anarchic/street art decor is amazing and goes perfect with the place and the food. 

Are you sure we're not in Berlin? Ah! I knew I should have take that left turn in Albuquerque

With my classic paranoia of finding a huge queue and waiting 10hrs to get in I got to the place in a rather strange time something around 3ish. The place wasn’t empty, not surprisingly but plenty of options to sit down, I studied the menu and decided not to trust my luck so my only hope Obi Wan was to order almost everything from the menu, and then say to the lovely waitress this isn't the bill you’re looking for. 

I ordered the wings, the fried pickles, mac and three cheese, onion rings, and a bacon and cheese burger. 

Wings and Pickles 

Red Red Wings 

Red Red Pickles 

Mac & Three Cheese, Rings, and Red Burger

The verdict, the burger was quite good, but not as good as it was the first I got a long time ago in a meatwagon far away, probably too much expectation or anticipation. Still is one of the best around town. I love what they do with the crunchy bacon almost glued to the juicy patty and the melted cheese balancing the picture. 

The damage, 14 quid for a burger, fries and a MEATlager 

The conclusion, good burger I have to say, strong flavour, good balance, however what blew my mind was the wings and the fried pickles top marks for them, actually I think the pickles are the best ones I have had. The mac and three cheese is a no no, don’t waste your time on this, mine was bland. Good onion rings. I will give Yianni and MEATLiquor a 9 in my scale. 

Tadaaaaa! Yianni's Creation the bacon cheeseburger MEATstrict style

PS don’t forget the night vision goggles to be able to see the food as the red light MEATstrict doesn’t help. 

The neon red atmosphere remind me the Seinfeld episode “The Chicken Roaster” 

Jerry: What's going on in there? 

Kramer: What? 

Jerry: The light! 

Kramer: Oh the red, it’s the chicken roaster sign, its right across my window. 

Jerry: Can't you shut the shades? Kramer: They are shut

MEATLiquor

T: 020 7224 4239

Burgers

Area: Marylebone

Borough: City of Westminster
Twitter: MEATLiquor

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Follow You, Follow Me… Burger Wars Episode XIII: The Mandalorian Wagon

I have been trying to eat in The Meat Wagon since my friend Luna sent me a post from Helen (Food Stories) after she experienced the bobcat burger. The problem is that Yianni (Meat Wagon’s owner) isn’t all the time in a specific location so you have to check his website and twitter account (themeatwagonuk) periodically to see where he’s heading and enjoy his version of street food.

The Wagon parked at the beer garden

I was able to track down the wagon twice to The Florence a really nice pub near Brixton, the wagon was parked at the beer garden, the specialties of the day were burgers, philly cheese steak, and chilli dogs.

The Florence

In my two visits I tried to go for the triple (burger, philly steak, and chilli dog) but only was able to eat the bobcat burger, a cheese and bacon burger, and the philly cheese steak, the bobcat burger comes with green chillies and cheese, apparently Yianni tried different types of cheese until he found the perfect one to go with his burgers, but my favourite is the cheese and bacon, the bacon is crispy and the flavour is amazing. The queue was huge to order the burgers, the thing is that the buzz the wagon is having in the blogging and twitter communities is huge, so if you track him down I recommend to go quite early to avoid problems.

The Bobcat Burger

The verdict, the hunt wasn’t in vain, this burger is quite good, awesome flavours, it’s the kind of burgers for traditionalist that wants no more than cheese and bacon on it and let the patty speaks by itself.

The damage, 6 pounds for any burger, chilli dog, or the philly steak.

The conclusion, AWESOME... I can’t wait to try it again, the philly steak was really good but the burgers are amazing, this is definitely another level, it doesn’t look like you’re eating street food. I will give them a 7 in my scale and for street food the Meat Wagon has a 10 just flawless.

The huge queue I experienced it was exactly as the one in the Seinfeld episode “The Soup Nazi”, thanks god Yianni is not as moody as the soup Nazi.

George Costanza: Medium turkey chili.

Jerry Seinfeld: Medium crab bisque.

George Costanza: I didn't get any bread.

Jerry Seinfeld: Just forget it. Let it go.

George Costanza: Um, excuse me, I think you forgot my bread.

Soup Nazi: Bread, $2 extra.

George Costanza: $2? But everyone in front of me got free bread.

Soup Nazi: You want bread?

George Costanza: Yes, please.

Soup Nazi: $3!

George Costanza: What?

Soup Nazi: NO SOUP FOR YOU!