The terrific burgers of Davao City

Dabawenyos love their burgers. 

 

And they’re not content to just get their burgers from any fastfood joint. Gourmet burger shops have been popping up all over the city to satisfy this mad craving. To stay ahead of the competition, these burger places often have something unique and distinct that make them stand out from the rest. 

 

I like burgers, but I’m not a big meat eater. So the task of checking out all these joints was a bit daunting. It took me a long time to try out all of them, but good thing my husband and friends are burger fans and this gave them the perfect excuse to tag along and go to their favorite burger joints nearly every weekend. 

 

In no particular order, here's seven of the best burger joints in Davao City.

 

Riley Simon Grilled Burger and Ribs

 

Riley Simon makes some of the best burgers in the city, but they are better known for their ribs. The patty is thick, big (six inches in diameter!), and juicy. The veggies are always fresh, and the finished sandwich itself is always flavorful. It's big. I mean, really big. I could hardly finish the RS junior burger (P70) and I haven’t even tried their giant burger yet – out  of sheer fear of its size, I admit, since this Goliath can serve up to four. 

 

As I mentioned above, they're also known for their tender, flavorful, smoked-grilled ribs. Kids in particular love their cheesy fries, which is crispy and cheesy at the same time. They have two branches: one on Mabini Street, Marfori Subdivision, and another along Quimpo Boulevard, Ecoland Subdivision.

 

Bob’s Burger Palace

 

I had a hard time finding this restaurant. It claims to have the best burgers in Davao, and this hole in the wall takes pride in the fact that their burgers are pure and unadulterated. People who like their patties medium rare have sung praises about how you can really taste the meat; they only use salt and pepper to flavor their patties and nothing else. 

 

What else they’re known for: Bob's uses real dill pickles with their burgers, good onion rings, and one of the few places in Davao that serves pancakes or French toast for breakfast for less than P100.

 

You can find them inside the Habana compound along Rizal Street.

 

Gino’s Burger Joint

 

Gino’s was a small burger joint that grew big and started having several branches all over the city. My husband absolutely loves their burgers because they’re so juicy. 

 

You literally have to eat over a plate to make sure you don’t make a mess of your clothes. And if that’s not enough, they also have giant burgers and stuffed burgers; regular burgers have patties stuffed with cheese, bacon and mushrooms. 

 

They have several branches now: one at the intersection of Sandawa going to DCOTT, another one along Lapu-Lapu street, one along Jacinto at Metro Lifestyle, and one in Bajada.

 

Backyard Burgers  

Pioneers of the “build-your-own” burger movement here in Davao, the Backyard is known for their smoked burgers and regular promos. It’s a little too pricey for my taste but a good place to go to if you want to experiment with your burgers. 

 

They currently have two branches: one along Quirino Avenue and another in Phase 2 Ecoland Subdivision.

 

Harley’s Boulevard Motor Cafe

 

If you’re looking for great tasting burgers at student prices, then Harley’s is the place to go. Their burgers aren’t as big as those made made by the other joints listed here, but they make up for it by being delicious and affordable. Like any all-American diner, they also serve sloppy joes, chilli cheese fries, Buffalo wings, and ribs. 

 

If you’re feeling especially brave, you can try your luck with getting into their “Wall of Fame.” How? By beating the current title holder who ate the most number of chillis in under a minute. 

 

You can find Harley’s Café along Juan Luna corner Guerrero Street.

 

Space Burger

 

Space burger is Davao’s answer to Burger King, tastes a lot like their burgers too. Their burger is better than the average burger you get from the usual fastfood joints but faster and more accessible. 

 

Their flame-frilled burgers are filling, comforting, and definitely more flavorful than the ones that you find in any fast food chain. Space Burger's most popular branch is along JP Laurel Avenue, but there's another one along Mt. Apo Street beside Davao Doctor’s Hospital.

 

Vegan Hygenic Foodhaus 

 

I had no plans of including this place until I tasted their vegan burger. Considering it doesn’t have any meat, butter, or eggs, their vegan burger is really good. 

 

I’m not saying it’s the best burger I’ve ever tasted but if you want to try a healthier, yet still tasty, alternative to the usual all meat burger, then this is the place to go. They have  a tiny store front just in front of Plaza Del Carmen along F. Torres Street.

 

Also try their vegan pizza, pink lemonade, and vegan versions of popular Filipino dishes. – KDM, GMA News