Greece: Jimmy the Greek (Gourmet Burger Union)
GBU have paid homage to the land of Plato, the Olympics, and drunken British tourists with this Mediterranean-themed creation (named after disgraced former American football commentator Jimmy Snyder). A lamb patty topped with hummus, mint, cumin, Kalamata olives, grilled pepper, garlic aioli and halloumi cheese, it should really be called ‘My Big Fat Greek Burger’.
$68. 1/F, 45-47 Cochrane St, Central, 2581 0321; gbu.hk.

Germany: Deutsch Burger (McSorley’s Ale House)
McSorley’s has been running its international burger menu all year, and in October it’s the turn of the Germans to shine. The Deutsch burger features a thick beef patty topped with sauerkraut, Emmental cheese, and pastrami, with a generous helping of German potato salad on the side. Wash it all down with a cold pint of Erdinger ($50). Wunderbar.
$98. 55 Elgin St, SoHo, 2522 2646.

Great Britain: Beef Burger (The Chinnery Bar, Mandarin Oriental)
The Chinnery Bar holds many secrets. There’s a secluded and little-known lovers’ table, the gateway to a hidden private dining room (Krug), and countless intrigue-laden conversations among patrons are carried out in hushed tones: “What we need is an execution guy...” Another of their MI6-style secrets is that they serve one of the greatest burgers in town. Indeed, the item is so well hidden that it’s not even listed on the menu. The simply named Beef Burger is a textbook construction of well-proportioned bun smeared with mayo, beef patty (seared brown on the outside, perfectly pink in the centre), lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, cheddar and pickles, while the accompanying chips come wrapped in The Times. Wash it down with a shandy in a frosted pewter mug, and you’ve got what is known as a ‘Luncheon’.
$168. 1/F Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Rd, Central, 2825 4009; mandarinoriental.com/hongkong
 

France: French Burger (Harbourside at the InterContinental Hotel)
The selection of internationally themed burgers at the InterContinental takes some beating. There are Thai and Peking duck options, plus the Wagyu beef and o-toro Nobu burger ($1,288, only available by special request). However, their most popular is the beef burger with foie gras and truffles, otherwise known as the French burger – and compared with Nobu this one’s a bargain, at ‘only’ $270.
18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2721 1211.

Australia: Like No Other Burger (Waygu Lounge)
This is a serious contender for biggest burger in town. Featuring an enormous La Rose Noire bun, an eight-ounce 100 per cent Australian Wagyu beef patty, and the option to adorn further with all your favourite extras (we go for fried egg), don’t even think of ordering a starter.
$135. 3-5 Old Bailey St, Central, 2522 1438.

Hong Kong/Pakistan: Islamic Beef Burger (Islam Food)
We debated whether or not to call this a burger, but it’s such a treat it just had to be included. Ground beef sautéed with spices then pocketed inside a flaky cushion of dough make it reason enough to make the jaunt to Kowloon City... as the late-night queues outside the shop testify.
$40. G/F, 1 Lung Kong Rd, Kowloon City, 2265 7888.

Macau (originally Los Angeles): Triple Fatburger (Fatburger at The Venetian)
You can roll your eyes at this one, but until we get our own Fatburger, we’ll stick the Macau flag on this puppy. Originating in fast-food capital California, this thick patty comes loaded with pickles, relish and mayo, and sits happily on a cushion-soft bun. We could insert an American fat joke here, but we’ll likely be piling on the pounds ourselves when the Wan Chai outlet opens.
$80. Festivita Food Court, Grand Canal Shoppes, The Venetian Macau, Cotai Strip, Macau (no phone).

USA: Brooklyn Bad Boy (Harlan’s Burger)
Harlan Goldstein may no longer be affiliated with the restaurants that bear his name, but the original Brooklyn bad boy left his mark with one of the best burgers between here and Bubby’s. The meat is famously juicy, with an enticing shade of pink at its centre, and is dotted with thyme. The made-on-the-premises bun is slightly eggy and butter-kissed, while the imported cheddar comes on top of a marbled beef patty with crispy bacon and truffle mayo. Truly a bad-ass burger.
$198. 2/F, IFC Mall, 8 Finance St, Central, 2805 0566.

New Zealand: Grilled Beef Burger with Tomato Confit and Horseradish Mayonnaise (Lobby Lounge, Four Seasons)
The chef who invented this burger is a New Zealander (although he’s since moved to Singapore). He added a layer of beetroot between patty and bun to make this a resolutely Kiwi burger. Nowadays you’ll need to ask for the topping, or walk in wearing an All Blacks jersey. The bun is freshly baked; where the baker uses Japanese flour, adds chopped shallots and white onion to the dough, then rolls it in parmesan cheese.
$175. Four Seasons, 8 Finance St, Central, 3196 8888.