Burgers Near Me: Burger Stalls and Street Eats

A burger, meat patty in a bun, has roots in Western culture. While minced meat patties trace back to Hamburg, Germany, it was the United States that turned the burger into a fast-food icon in the early 20th century. Since then, burgers have taken the world by storm, becoming a staple in modern eating culture. 

From the US, burgers mushroomed across the globe, and in Asian countries, they quickly became a food trend, sparking curiosity, especially among younger generations.

 

Today, burgers are no longer limited to global fast-food chains, although those still pull in crowds for quick and easy meals. Following their lead, burger stalls began popping up, offering a local, handmade touch. 

By the 1990s, the burger scene evolved further with specialty burger restaurants offering variety, sides, and a more premium experience, one that the younger, trend-conscious crowd gladly embraced.

Fast Food Outlets

For those who remember and those just discovering, A&W was the first fast food outlet to set foot in Malaysia, back in 1963. Best known for their iconic root beer, and with a scoop of vanilla ice cream too. A&W also introduced Malaysians to a variety of burgers, essentially laying the foundation for burger culture here.

Almost two decades later, McDonald’s made its grand entrance in 1982, bringing with it a new wave of American fast food. It was a huge hit. Queues stretched outside the outlets, and their burgers remain a favourite among Malaysians even today.

 

Following in their footsteps, more fast food outlets began popping up, each offering their own spin on burgers. Some added local flavours, but the essence remained the same: convenient, familiar, and satisfying. These outlets carved out a space for burgers in Malaysia’s diverse food scene, creating a unique contrast to traditional local fare.

Gourmet Burgers and Cafés
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Malaysia’s burger scene took a different twist. Gourmet burgers became the thing, and those who offered them focused entirely on burgers. Names like myBurgerLab, KGB, The Daily Grind, and others started popping up, quickly becoming the talk of the town. 

These outlets reinvented burgers, still retaining the essence of burger culture but elevating it to a whole new level.

 

Not exactly your affordable everyday burger, yet the younger crowd was more than willing to pay. The gourmet trend meant thicker patties, unique sauces, artisanal buns, including the much-raved charcoal buns. Let alone fusion flavours that pushed the boundaries of the classic burger.

Following this trend were modern cafés. Flip through their menus and you’ll likely find burgers featured too. Sure enough, the creativity kept flowing - local twists, cheese-loaded patties, and complete burger meals served with fries, salad, or even unexpected sides.

 

Even gourmet burger food trucks began making waves, offering artisan-style burgers on wheels, bringing gourmet flavours to festivals, night markets, and pop-up spots.

Burger Stalls
In the 1980s, Ramly Burger made its mark in the burger stall business, setting a different path and creating a league of its own. They truly offered choices, from egg-wrapped burgers to their own double-patty creations, all elevated with their signature sauces. With Ramly setting the benchmark, other burger stalls gradually entered the scene, shaping a thriving segment within Malaysia’s food culture.

 

Today, spotting a burger stall by the roadside or in front of convenience stores remains a common, and beloved, sight. You’ll even find burger stalls operating within coffee shops or restaurants, naturally becoming part of the local and Malaysian fusion food scene. 

Never underestimate these burger stalls. Their menus might surprise you with flavour-packed options. Cheeseburgers, a favourite among burger lovers, are a staple too. Whether offered as standalones or add-ons, in single or double cheesy layers.

Big Bite Burger Stall (Bandar Rimbayu)
One of the notable things about burger stalls is the grilled patties instead of fried ones. Soft, juicy, and grilled to perfection, these patties are hand- and home-made, kept fresh until it’s time to cook and assemble.

 

While the menu may not feature an extensive list of burgers, there are still choices, along with sides, to go with your burger. One such stall is Big Bite Burger, located at Lou Ho Kee Kopitiam. It’s a winning burger formula. The patties are mouthwatering, and another highlight is their homemade sauces.

Transparency is part of the appeal. You can see how the patties - beef, chicken, or pork, are grilled and how your burger is assembled. For burger takeaways, everything is neatly and conveniently packed.

The video below (from our YouTube) was shot live at Big Bite Burger Stall. It shows how the burgers are grilled and assembled, whether for a meal at the Chinese coffeeshop or for take-away.