Five Guys: The American Burger Joint Makes its Hong Kong Debut

We’ve got the skinny (fry) on Hong Kong’s very first Five Guys, now open in Wan Chai…

District: Wan Chai
Cuisine: Burgers
How much: Burgers start at $55. A meal including fries and a drink will come to around $150 per head.
Must Order: All-the-way bacon cheeseburger and cajun fries for the full Five Guys experience.
The Best For: A quick bite with friends.
Sassy Tip: Grab a free cup of peanuts to nibble on while you’re waiting for your number to be called.

With local favourites serving up perfect patties and stateside stalwarts joining Hong Kong’s ranks, there’s never been a better time to be a burger lover in the 852. After months of staring longingly at the red and white hoarding, the day to check out Five Guys’ first Hong Kong location finally arrived. Since the burger joint’s opening in 1986 by the five Murrell brothers (see what they did there), Five Guys has established a cult following; with fans praising the joint’s creamy milkshakes, thick cut cajun fries and of course, their signature beef burgers. Naturally, we were excited to get a chance to check it out.

After being welcomed into the store by Five Guys’ super-friendly team of servers, we set about ordering from the extensive menu. There are 15 free toppings on offer to help you customise every burger, sandwich, and hot dog, and there are 11 different mix-ins to choose from for their milkshakes, including bacon bits. Yes, really. We decided to try a few different items (for the sake of the review, of course) and ordered a Bacon Cheeseburger, Cheese Dog, and both the Five Guys style and the Cajun style fries between two.

After watching the servers build our burger and hot dog, (every item is made fresh to order in front of you), we set about trying them. The bacon cheeseburger certainly lived up to the hype, with two flavoursome beef patties, crispy bacon, oozy cheese (which is melted between the patties as soon as they come off the grill), fresh, crunchy salad and a soft bun. All Five Guys burgers are served well-done and juicy to bring out the flavour of the meat, and the one we tried certainly delivered on this promise.

Already feeling quite full from the generously sized burger, we tackled the cheese dog. Despite neither of us usually being hot dog lovers, we were impressed. The meat was full of flavour and really complemented by the relish that we ordered with it. These hot dog sceptics both agreed that we would order it again. Five Guys prides itself on always perfect french fries, with every server going through special “fry calibration” training to ensure they never serve up a soggy chip. Ours were perfectly crispy, although a little too salty for our taste. Just like the burgers, the portions are incredibly generous. We’d recommend sharing a regular portion between two, and you’ll probably still be full!

We didn’t get a chance to try the milkshakes during our sneak preview but will 100% be going back to check them out now that the store is open. If we’re feeling brave, we might even ask for the bacon mix-in.

Our verdict: If you’re looking for a casual, diner-style atmosphere to catch up with friends, and simple, fast food done really well, be sure to check out Five Guys. But be warned, you’ll likely have to queue! Despite being best known for their fresh ground beefburgers, Five Guys serves several vegetarian options, including the veggie sandwich, cheese veggie sandwich and the grilled cheese. And if you’re looking for gluten-free eats, every burger and dog on the menu can be served bunless.

Five Guys, Wan Chai, 60 Johnston Road, Shop 1B, G/F – J Residence, Wan Chai, 3618 9122, www.fiveguys.com.hk