Israelis, especially younger Israelis, are often broad-minded globetrotters, and as such tend to be enthusiastic adopters and adaptators of international foods. Israelifications of global cuisine of course run the gamut from the inspired to the eccentric, but one of the trend's true successes has been the humble hamburger.

 

While in America, spiritual home of all burgerkind, choices of burger toppings at the average greasy spoon or fast food joint are limited mostly to cheese, bacon, or extra cheese and extra bacon, here cultural concerns tie one's hands when it comes to mixing meat, dairy and crispy bits of pig. But in Israel at least, dietary restrictions are the mother of invention, so burgers are treated to a wide array of toppings and sauces you'd never see at a hamburger stand in Kansas. And among the finest purveyors of this hybrid Israel-burger is national chain Burgers Bar.

The base product of Burgers Bar is a solid made-in-house all-beef hamburger, clocking in at a standard weight of 220 grams (that's about half a pound, a pretty beefy burger), though 150 and 300 grammers are also available to suit varying appetites. Toppings are where things get interesting: there's the ubiquitous fried egg, of course, but also omelet, roasted pepper, roasted eggplant, avocado, portobello, chimichurri, pesto, charif, tehina and more (including ketchup, mustard, mayo and barbecue sauce for traditionalists, naturally).

The rest of the menu consists of comfort food guaranteed to soothe the soul of any homesick Westerner. Other sandwich options include lamb burgers, chicken or steak sandwiches on ciabatta bread, a mushroom-based veggie burger and a premium burger made out of ground entrecote, all available with the same plethora of topping options. A lineup of tortilla wraps draw upon the same ingredients as the sandwiches. And yes, there are hot dogs, chicken fingers and even an aged entrecote steak too, as well as hot wings (and the beer that such things demand). Don't forget a side of fries or onion rings.

Burgers Bar is literally all over Jerusalem, with branches on Shammai Street and Jaffa Road downtown, as well as in Talpiot and the German Colony. Happily, one of Jerusalem's best kosher burgers is never far away.