What is the best hamburger in Spain? It is a difficult question to answer, and reaching a universal verdict is nearly impossible. Yet Best Burger Spain took on the challenge with a national contest that has become a benchmark in the restaurant world. From February 1 to February 28, the jury and the public sought to identify the country’s standout burger. The championship has grown in stature, with about 290 establishments in contention, and roughly half of them were eventually excluded from consideration.
“We want to let consumers decide what their best hamburger really is,” explains Iván de la Plata, organizer of Best Burger Spain. The event is guided by a jury of 40 professionals, including gastronomy YouTubers, members of the National College of Gastronomy Critics, and Michelin-starred chefs, among others. The jury’s assessment accounts for 40 percent of the final score, with the remaining 60 percent determined by the restaurant’s performance.
How does the championship unfold? Diners visit any of the 290 registered restaurants, sample the hamburger, and vote via an app. At the same time, undercover juries visit venues to assess taste, service, and overall ambiance. “The goal was not merely to win, but to learn how to operate at the highest level. We transformed the entire restaurant operation, trained staff, upgraded equipment, and communicated everything through social media,” notes winner Javier Alfonso, who captured Best Burger Spain 2022 for the creators of the Junk Burger project.
Expanding food distribution
Imagine a football match and no snack at hand. A delivery service can fix it with a single click. Food delivery remains popular for sports fans. Uber Eats data shows more than 3,000 hamburgers ordered per hour in 2022, amounting to over six million burgers sold through the platform.
Restaurants recognize the value of these delivery channels, and sales rise as a result. Sundays see peak hamburger consumption, especially on match days. Uber Eats data supports this trend, highlighting specific spikes around major match days and tournaments, reflecting how sports events drive appetite for burgers.
The essence of the competition lies not only in the product but in the entire process: quality, presentation, and service all influence customer choice. Delivery adds a new dimension, expanding reach beyond the dine-in experience. “Delivering allows us to bring a different perspective to customers and reach more people,” says Maldonado, winner and a notable figure from the MasterChef universe. The concept behind the burgers is not a daily staple; premium ingredients, distinctive sauces, and a distinct narrative differentiate these creations.
After the competition period ends on February 28, finalists will advance to a showcase at the Estrella Galicia Museum in A Coruña on March 7. The final will feature 10 to 20 finalists, and the judging panel will determine which hamburger is crowned best in Spain for 2023.