Burger Bridge: Meanest Burger in Gwangju

By William Urbanski

I have eaten well over 2,000 burgers in my life. Not all at once (unfortunately), but given the fact that between one and three burgers per week for the last thirty-odd years have found their way down my gullet, it is safe to say that I know a thing or two about the subject. When I talk at length about my passion for burgers, those who do not instantly turn their heads in disgust share my deep appreciation for the beautiful simplicity of a well-grilled patty or two between a soft, delectable bun. Second only to its Italian cousin pizza, the burger stands proudly near the top of the food pyramid thanks to its sheer boldness and deliciousness.

Without getting into a detailed history of Gwangju’s premium patty purveyors, on occasion these businesses tragically shutter their doors, each time leaving my heart in a million pieces. Classic joints such as Dongmyeong Burger and the legendary First Alleyway have etched their names into the collective Gwangju psyche for all of eternity, but the void they have left, this burger power vacuum if you will, has been filled by a player who at the time of this article, serves up the best grilled cow in the city. You read that right: There’s a new burger sheriff in town and its name is Burger Bridge.

Located in Dongmyeong-dong, the first thing that stands out about the building’s façade is that it looks like a burger joint. When you walk in, you will notice that it feels like a burger joint. The decorum is simple, and the walls are filled with autographed pictures of celebrities who came to feast. The kitchen concept is open, and it is easy to see the grill in action. In terms of overall atmosphere, Burger Bridge is definitely a few rungs above the run-of-the-mill fast food place while still being completely unpretentious: just as a burger restaurant should be. Something else I personally really like is the speed of service: It usually takes less than ten minutes from the time of ordering until you can start cramming food in your face. Burger Bridge does not just make burgers: It provides a consistent burger experience exactly the way it should be. At Burger Bridge, you can go in, grab a mean burger, and go about your day, sated, without having to deal with any sort of nonsense or rigamarole.

Das Menü
While doing extensive burger research for this burger article, I realized there is no shortage of culinary nerds with strong opinions about “fat to beef ratio,” “grass-fed beef,” “mise en place,” “double-ground chuck,” “moist bread with nutty nuances,” “meat profile,” “chuck from a well-marbled steer,” and even something called “Brioche buns.” I have no idea nor do I care what any of these terms mean, but what all these gastronomy geeks forget with all their tech talk is that burgers should be extremely simple: You get a piece of meat, shape it into a circle, and grill it. Then you put it on a bun. “Organic” (whatever that means nowadays) or otherwise fancy toppings have no business touching a burger patty. Furthermore, I am going to just come right out and say it: Burgers are supposed to be a little unhealthy, not unlike an ice cream cone. To summarize, a burger is not just a food: It is an attitude – a smug and outright rejection of nutritionally restrictive societal norms.

Now that we have clearly defined what a burger is and is not, it is time to get down to brass tacks: The three-patty Tower Bridge Burger (타워브릿지버거) is the meanest and best burger in Gwangju, end of story. This bad boy is so big that it had me cursing my lack of cranial kinesis. This burger is so big there is still snow on it in the summer. This burger is so big it plays golf with Donald Trump. It is not a stretch to say that to prepare the Tower Bridge Burger, the cooks at Burger Bridge feed it smaller, weaker burgers. With respect to the rest of the menu, I am happy to report it is solid. There are roughly ten other burgers such as the American Bacon Cheese Burger (아메리칸베이컨치즈) as well as the Bridge Big Burger (브릿지BIG버거), which has two hugely satisfying patties. I have heard some talk about people not being crazy about the sauce on one or two of the burgers, but if you ever find that you are not completely satisfied with a burger, the solution to this problem is to just try the rest of them! Each and every burger there is handmade and seriously delicious, embodying a special place on the burger spectrum. A combo is in the ten-thousand-won range and comes with pop and a very decent-sized helping of fries that burst with flavor in plentiful abundance.

While I do not hold a PhD in advanced burgernomics (yet), it is a matter of scientific and statistical certainty to say that based on every relevant metric, Burger Bridge should be your first choice when you have a hankering for a no-nonsense burger. While I love Korean food, a nice, juicy burger seems to be a quick remedy for the occasional bout of homesickness and the important role it plays in my life cannot be overstated. For far too long, “burgers” in Korea were a tragic parody of what a true burger is. That being said, Burger Bridge is a clear sign that the future is bright and there are businesses that can put together a world-class steamed ham. In conclusion, Bridge Burger should be the first stop on the way to living your level-ten burger life.

Photographs by William Urbanski.

The Author
William Urbanski is a burger aficionado and the managing editor of the Gwangju News. He can be found at Instagram @will_il_gatto

Burger Bridge
Address: 177 Donggyecheon-ro, (Dongmyeong-dong), Dong-gu, Gwangju
광주 동구 동계천로 177 (동명동)
Instagram: @burger.bridge