Burger Toppings Guide

The best burgers get the toppings right. A good patty with fresh British beef is just the start; what you put on top can transform a burger.

This Honest guide breaks down the most popular and creative burger toppings out there. From cheeses and pickles to kimchi, fried eggs, and homemade sauces, you’ll get plenty of ideas to make a creative burger that hits on flavour, texture, and structure.

You’ll find tested combinations and new ideas worth trying. It’s everything we’ve learned about toppings on the grill, in the kitchen, and behind the pass.

15 Best Burger Toppings (Ranked by Flavour, Texture & Popularity)

This list combines timeless favourites with bold additions. Each one brings something different, whether it’s crunch, heat, or richness, and many feature across our menu. Here’s how they stack up.

1. American Cheese

Creamy, salty, and built to melt fast. It hugs the patty, stays smooth, and gives you that classic cheeseburger bite without taking over the rest of the stack.

Pair it with: Beef burgers – it’s perfect on a smashburger, pickles, ketchup and mustard.

Honest Tip: Go for a single or double layer and melt it directly on the patty. Add pickles for bite, and keep the sauce light so it doesn’t slide.

2. Mature Cheddar

A classic for a reason. Adds richness and a sharp, savoury bite that holds its own against beef with a good melt.

Pair it with: Beef burgers, smoky bacon, and onion relish.

Honest Tip: We use mature cheddar in our core beef burger for good reason. It melts clean and finishes bold.

3. Smoked Streaky Bacon

Sweet, salty, and crisp. It cuts through soft cheese or creamy sauces with proper crunch.

Pair it with: American chees with beef or chicken burgers.

Honest Tip: You’ll find it in our Honest and Tribute burgers, or add to any burger.

4. Red Onion Relish

A sweet relish that is cooked down for over six hours at Honest, balancing the meat and cutting through cheese.

Pair it with: Cheddar, thick Honest classic beef patties, and bacon.

Honest Tip: Ours are made in-house and feature in the Honest burger. Swap out the Honest cheddar with Blue cheese for a real treat.

5. Halloumi

Firm, salty, and chewy with a good bite. Works well against fresh veg or crispy bacon.

Pair it with: Rocket, tzatziki, pink pickled onions or avocado.

Honest Tip: Try it in our South Kensington local for a beef-and-halloumi combo that holds nothing back.

6. Onion Rings

If you want to seriously upgrade your burger, order some onion rings and put them inside your burger. Adds crunch and height to your stack.

Pair it with: Bacon, melted cheese, our homemade BBQ mayo sauce.

Honest Tip: We hand-coat ours in a gluten-free batter made fresh every day. Serve one inside the bun and the rest on the side. Check out our signature onion rings here.

7. Kimchi

Fermented, spicy, and sour. Adds heat and funk, especially with beef.

Pair it with: Gochujang, bacon, or blue cheese.

Honest Tip: Kimchi’s part of our Warren St special, a burger with bold, Korean BBQ flavour.

8. Pulled Pork/Pork Rib Meat

Rich, soft, and slow-cooked. Adds moisture and depth without overpowering the patty.

Pair it with: Slaw, mustard, pickles.

Honest Tip: Best added in small layers to keep your burger balanced, not messy.

9. Coleslaw

Crunchy, creamy, and cooling. Cuts through heat or fatty toppings.

Pair it with: Hot sauce, pulled pork, or grilled chicken.

Honest Tip: Our Ranch slaw brings herbs and tang to the mix. Keep the portion light to avoid a soggy bun.

10. Buffalo Sauce

Sharp, spicy, and buttery. Brings heat and acidity to cheese-heavy stacks.

Pair it with: Cooling ranch mayo, pickles, or onion rings.

Honest Tip: We use it in our Buffalo burger to fire up flavour without drowning the rest.

11. Vegan Cheese

Creamy, savoury, and melts well when done right. A smart dairy-free alternative.

Pair it with: Mushrooms, pickled veg, or our vegan chipotle mayo.

Honest Tip: It’s part of our Plant burger and holds up under heat and sauce.

12. Pickles / Gherkins

Sharp, sour, and crunchy. They bring balance and brightness to every bite.

Pair it with: American cheese, ketchup, mustard.

Honest Tip: We don’t mess about; our burger pickles are sliced for maximum impact.

13. Tomato

Juicy, fresh, and sweet. It lifts heavy patties and gives a refreshing taste.

Pair it with: Lettuce, mayo, cheddar.

Honest Tip: Use one thick slice like in our California burger, instead of several thin ones, to avoid slipping around.

14. Shoestring Fries

Crispy, salty, and fun. Adds crunch and seasoning in one go.

Pair it with: Cheese, any sauces and beef burgers.

Honest Tip: We pile them into our Waterloo burger for crunch and salt in every bite. One of our favourite limited-time specials is the Truffle Raclette, where we add truffle dust to flavour the shoestring fries.

15. Fried Egg

Soft yolk adds richness and a breakfast-style twist. Adds height and novelty.

Pair it with: Bacon, cheese, or sautéed onions.

Honest Tip: Make sure it’s over-easy and well-drained; runny eggs can wreck your bun.

Honest Picks: How We Top Our Burgers

We asked the Honest team how they top their burgers. Some go classic. Some go rogue. Here’s how we build ours.

Faye – “One onion ring inside the burger.”
Adds crunch, sweetness, and a bit of height.

Stefan – “Add shoestring fries to a double smashed and bacon burger for that extra crunch.”
A proper stack, salty and crispy all the way through.

Gemma – “Swap cheese for blue cheese in the Honest burger.”
Punchy, sharp, and pairs great with the red onion relish.

Dom – “Double smashed with blue cheese when I’m feeling adventurous (don’t shoot me).”
Big flavour, soft bun, loads of umami.

Marcus – “Always add the bacon gravy to your order for ultimate sauciness.”
It’s not on the burger by default, but a great dipping bowl for the side.

Lucy – “Add chips in your burger for the ultimate butty.”
It shouldn’t work, but it does.

10 Creative Burger Topping Ideas to Try at Home

These combos are pulled from real Honest specials and local burgers we’ve run.

1. Chipotle Mayo + Bacon Dust Fries + Double American Cheese

• Smoky chipotle mayo, extra bacon, and crisp fry bits for texture.
• Works with beef or fried chicken.

2. Jollof Sauce + Ata Din Din Mayo

• Tomato-rich jollof base with a peppery mayo for heat and depth.
• Best with beef and something crisp (lettuce or onion) to keep it balanced.

3. Crisp Sandwich Crunch (Torres Crisps)

• Add crisps at the end for proper crunch (don’t let them go soft).
• Works well with cheese, grilled onions and a punchy sauce.

4. Wild Garlic Pesto

• A herby, garlicky layer that cuts through beef and bacon.
• Try it with cheddar and pickles for a sharp finish.

5. Halloumi + Harissa Mayo + Smashed Avocado

• Salty halloumi, smoky-spiced mayo, and a creamy layer of smashed avo to round it out.
• Add pickled onions to lift the whole thing.

6. Bavarian Smoked Cheese + Currywurst Mayo + Shoestring Fries

• Smoky cheese + spiced mayo + crispy fries = big flavour.
• The shoestring fries offer the perfect crunch.

7. Mortadella + Smoked Mozzarella + Confit Garlic Dijonnaise

• Deli-style: salty meat, soft cheese, and a garlic-mustard mayo hit.
• Great with onions and pickles for contrast.

8. Kimchi + Gochujang Burger Sauce + Bulgogi BBQ Bacon

• Spicy, sour, and savoury all at once, kimchi does the hard work.
• Keep other toppings simple (cheese + lettuce is plenty).

9. Jamaican Curry Mayo + Grilled Pineapple + Honey Chipotle Buffalo Sauce

• Sweet, spicy, and a bit tangy, pineapple cuts through the meat.
• Best on fried chicken with bacon for extra bite.

10. Treacle-Cured Smoked Bacon + American Cheese + Shoestring Fries

• Sweet-salty bacon with classic melted cheese and a crunch.
• Add pickles to keep it sharp.

Best Burger Toppings by Type

Not every topping works with every patty. The best pairings bring balance: flavour, texture, and contrast. Here’s a quick guide to toppings that suit different burger bases, plus the sauces that bring it all together.

Beef Burgers

Hearty, rich, and bold. These toppings bring sharpness, salt, and smoke to round things out.

• Mustard – Sharp and tangy, cuts through fat.
• Mature Cheddar – Strong enough to stand up to beef.
• Pickles – Bright crunch with just the right bite.
• Red onion relish – Adds sweetness and depth.

Honest Tip: Stack with care. Pickles on the bottom with any other veg crunch like lettuce, with beef and cheese on top.

Fried or Grilled Chicken Burgers

Lighter flavour, softer texture. Add crunch, spice, and creaminess to make it sing.

• Slaw – Crisp and fresh, adds volume and bite.
• Mayo – Creamy base that carries heat or citrus.
• Chipotle Sauce – Smoky heat that works with fried or grilled chicken.
• Lettuce – Simple crunch that gives a refreshing taste.

Honest Tip: Use slaw as a buffer between chicken and sauce for better hold.

Veggie or Vegan Burgers

Great for loading up texture and colour. Play with soft, sweet, and crunchy layers.

• Avocado – Creamy and cooling, balances spice.
• Tahini Sauce – Nutty and rich, works well with grilled veg.
• Vegan Cheese – we use a smoky ‘cheddar’
• Roasted Veg – Charred courgette, pepper, or aubergine adds body and bite.

Honest Tip: Use firm veg layers to anchor looser ingredients like avocado or sauce.

These bring it all together. Spread evenly and sparingly; too much sauce kills the stack.

• Aioli – Garlic-rich and creamy.
• Hot Sauce – Proper heat and punch.
• Chipotle Mayo – Smoky, creamy, and built for burgers.
• BBQ Mayo – Sweet, smoky, and a bit tangy.
• Bacon Gravy – Our homemade beef and bacon gravy is perfect for dipping or pouring. Learn how to make our signature bacon gravy with this easy-to-follow recipe.

FAQs About Burger Toppings

What’s the most popular burger topping?

Cheese is the clear winner. According to YouGov, 64% of UK adults say it belongs on a burger.

Other top choices include:

• Onion (46%)
• Lettuce (43%)
• Bacon (40%)
• Tomato (39%)

These classics bring salt, crunch, and contrast. Exactly what a good burger needs.

What burger toppings go well together?

Go for contrast. Good combos balance rich, sharp, and fresh elements.

• Something rich (cheddar, bacon, vegan mayo)
• Something sharp (pickles, jalapeños, hot sauce)
• Something crisp or cool (lettuce, slaw, tomato)

What toppings are best for veggie burgers?

Veggie burgers are a chance to mix texture and colour.

• Avocado or tahini – creamy and soft
• Beetroot or onion – sweet and sharp
• Grilled veg or slaw – crunch and smoke

What’s the best sauce for burgers?

That depends on your toppings. The best sauces add contrast – choose from creamy, spicy, tangy, or sweet.

Go-to options include:

• Mayonnaise or aioli – smooth and neutral, works with almost anything
• Mustard – sharp and punchy, great with cheese and beef
• Hot sauce – adds heat and acidity
• BBQ sauce – sweet and smoky
• Relish or chutney – sweet-sour balance for rich patties
• Gravy – rich and savoury, often used as a dip or poured over the stack

The key is balance. Use one or two sauces max, too many and the flavours get muddled.

How do I stop my burger from getting soggy?

Soggy buns come from poor stacking and too much moisture.

Here’s how to fix it:

• Put lettuce under the patty as a barrier
• Use soft buns that hold their shape but don’t fall apart

Build Better Burgers, One Topping at a Time

There’s no one way to top a burger, but the best ones get the balance right. Sharp with creamy. Rich with fresh. Crunch with melt.

Use this guide as a starting point. Mix the classics with something new. And if you want to see how we do it, check out our menu and find your nearest Honest restaurant now. Every burger comes with homemade rosemary chips, ready to enjoy on the side (or add to your burger as a topping).

Learn More with Honest

• Burger Sides: The Best Sides to Serve With Burgers