While Chilli Con Carne (CCC) burgers have been around since the 1920s, we are of the impression that they tend to be an oddity on local burger houses menus. And there might be a reason for that. If the chilli is overdone and packs too much heat and flavour it will obviously overpower the beef, so few do dare to risk. But Just Burger wants to gamble all with their November burger speciality, and who are we to stop them?
After regaling us with the chilliest burger-eating contest earlier this year, Just Burger are at it again, this time, attempting to build a spicy burger that can be enjoyed by all. The burger is made from a base of rucola, their signature 140gr Angus beef patty covered in melted cheddar cheese, jalapeno slices, and a copious portion of the expected Chilli Con Carne.
The main characteristics in a good CCC are tender beef, spicy yet balanced flavours, a satisfying thick texture and that unique sweetness that sets every CCC apart from the rest. This one has its own distinct sweetness derived from the rich mix of kidney beans, onions, Tabasco and garlic inside, that strikes you as a front note and surprises your palate immediately. This brisk flavour is enhanced with a homely texture and a deep reddish-brown colour. When it comes to the heat factor of chilli, you want enough to grab your attention, but not too much to set your precious taste buds on fire, that you can’t enjoy the other flavours between the bun. The heat does get your intentness, as it should, but it’s not overpowering. It has a nice kick to it, without being overly hot, but possesses that slightly sweet tang which lingers long after each bite. The jalapenos are crunchy and have a moderate kick that helps soup-up the spice scale. One bite of this burger and you’ll wonder why it took you so long to try a CCC burger!
Even though there’s a copious amount of CCC, this is not an overly messy experience, and there are no overflowing condiments or sauces coming out from all sides of the bun, so one can take a moment to indulge in this flavorful burger, and maybe delve into nostalgic memories of both burger and the blend of chilli and cheese which is a very satisfying combination to eat. Indeed this burger is an absolute joy to consume as it has that magnificent taste of a chilli cheese steak sandwich. Maybe the meaty patty helps a lot to create that feeling. There’s a moderate saltiness to the whole burger, but the overall mixture of flavours from the CCC, jalapenos, beef and cheddar definitely works here.
Just Burger are also renown for their crispy fries. Indeed they are the only burger house that made it to our Top 5 Fries hitlist, 2 years in a row! And there’s a good reason for that! These bagged chips encapsulate the purest form and truest feel of the classic French Fry. They have a high percentage of potato content in them as Just Burger imports these exclusively from some Scandinavian supplier only they know of. Apart from the good raw material, the kitchen guys always get the fries crisped to a level we seldom get to experience. They are generously seasoned and aren’t greasy, so they compliment every burger nicely. There’s also a whole army of sauce dips from a selection of tasty and exotic flavours. These sauces really increase the taste properties of the fries by a tenfold. Our favourite sauces are the very spicy habanero, the wasabi & garlic mayos, cajun, parmesan, bearnaise, spicy bbq and tarragon mayo.
Just Burger have done it again and delighted us with a burger creation that we would otherwise only dream about. So get in line, there’s no need to push & punch your way to the front, there’s enough chilli con carne & crispy fries for all this November!
