McSorley's Ale House in Soho
I am an unabashed hamburger freak. I make no excuses. One of the first questions I ask when I arrive in a new place is, "Who makes the best hamburgers in town?" That doesn't mean that a hamburger joint will be my first stop but when the need hits me, I want to be prepared.
I will save you having to ask that question because after extensive research, I have come to the conclusion that the best "traditional" hamburger in Hong Kong can be found at McSorley's Ale House (click on the link for directions). By traditional, I mean made with 100% ground or minced beef, served on a bun, not covered with a fried egg whether I want one or not, not including beets or chopped cabbage, not covered by some sauce, etc.
I have also eliminated hamburgers made with Wagyu beef, covered with exotic fixings, served open faced, and costing upwards of HK$250 (US$32) as recently introduced into Hong Kong. Nor am I comparing my favorite with McDonald's, Burger King, Jollibee, Hardees, etc. either. These are fast food venues and cannot compete with a made-to order hamburger served at your table with beer or wine available to order. I have eaten fast food hamburgers in my day but only as a last resort or because I was in an airport or in a huge rush.
Back to McSorley's - their basic hamburger is served with bacon and cheese. They usually have 3 other specialty burgers but the customer can also order it nude or as I do with only grilled onions and grilled mushrooms. The bun reminds me of a Kaiser Roll and is touted to be homemade. All I know is that it's fresh and large enough to cover a half pound of meat. They usually feature an exotic burger like the current offering which is covered with Brie cheese, but I always pass on those as good as they might be.
The sandwich is accompanied by McSorley's excellent Fat Chips (fries) and a very good coleslaw plus lettuce, tomato and a bermuda onion slice, all of which can be piled on top of the burger if you wish. I must admit I always get a side of mayonnaise as I do throw on the tomato and lettuce.
Lest you think that McSorley's only serves hamburgers, I assure you that they have a full pub-type menu including appetizers, soups, salads, other sandwiches, main dishes like Fish and Chips, Beef and Guinness Pie and Chicken Tikka. They also serve desserts which frankly I've never tried - too full. Prices are very reasonable by Hong Kong standards.
While I usually stick to my favorite, I have tried some of the appetizers and my companions have ordered a number of the other items and we all agreed they were quite good. My wife, Pam, who is as addicted to Caesar salads as I am to hamburgers, loves their Smoked Salmon version.
While I've never been there on the weekend, they do serve a brunch that sounds great. It even includes roast beef, surprisingly.
Another piece of good news is that smoking is forbidden, although smokers can step outside to satisfy their addiction, drinks in hand. Since the front of the place is open to the street, it appears to me that it would not be a great hardship for smokers. On the other hand, families and those who do not appreciate second hand smoke are now welcome at all hours.
As do most of the pubs in Hong Kong, McSorley's features lots of sporting events on TV monitors posted throughout. The noise can be a little distracting but there are tables in one section where those who wish a quiet conversation can sit.
For months, I walked by McSorley's sign saying they had the best hamburgers in Hong Kong, thinking, "yeah, right" and never giving them a try. When I finally did, I discovered, at least in my opinion, that they do indeed have the best hamburgers.