The best burger chains in the UK range from fast-food value at McDonald’s and Burger King from around £5, up to gourmet options like Five Guys, GBK and MEATliquor where a burger costs £9 to £14. The gap between fast-food and gourmet burger pricing in the UK is significant. Here’s how the main UK burger chains compare.
Best burger chains UK at a glance
| Cheapest | McDonald’s / Burger King, from £5 |
|---|---|
| Best mid-range | Wendy’s / GBK |
| Best gourmet | Five Guys, MEATliquor |
| Typical gourmet burger price | £9 to £14 |
| Last updated | July 2026 |
How UK burger chains compare
McDonald’s and Burger King remain the cheapest way to get a burger meal, especially using saver menu items and app-exclusive pricing, see our McDonald’s and Burger King menu prices pages. GBK and Wendy’s sit in the middle, offering more premium toppings and quality than fast food but below the price of a fully gourmet burger, see our GBK menu prices and Wendy’s menu prices pages. Five Guys and MEATliquor represent the higher end, with bigger portions, hand-formed patties and a higher price to match, see our Five Guys menu prices and MEATliquor menu prices pages.
How to save at burger chains
Combo meals bundling a burger with fries and a drink are cheaper than ordering each item separately at almost every chain. Sticking to a classic burger rather than a loaded or premium topped version keeps the core cost down, since extra toppings add up quickly at gourmet chains. App-exclusive deals are common across fast food chains especially, so checking before you order is worth it regardless of which chain you’re visiting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest burger chain in the UK?
McDonald’s and Burger King are the cheapest, especially using saver menu items and app deals.
What’s the difference between GBK and Five Guys?
Both are gourmet-positioned, but Five Guys tends to have larger portions and a higher price point than GBK.
Is MEATliquor expensive?
It sits at the premium end of burger chains, with indulgent, larger builds reflected in a higher price than mainstream chains.
Are combo meals cheaper than ordering separately?
Yes, at nearly every burger chain, combo pricing undercuts buying a burger, fries and a drink individually.
How the UK gourmet burger category developed
The gourmet burger trend arrived in the UK through the 2000s and 2010s, with early entrants like GBK and Byron helping shift expectations away from purely fast food burgers toward thicker, more considered patties served with table service. That first wave was followed by a second generation, Honest Burgers, Patty & Bun and others, that grew directly out of London’s street food and market scene, bringing a slightly more casual, informal energy than the earlier sit-down gourmet chains. Five Guys and Shake Shack later brought established US brands into this already crowded UK market, adding international competition to a category that had been largely homegrown.
Comparing value across burger tiers
Fast food chains remain the cheapest way to get a burger, but the quality gap to gourmet chains has narrowed over the years as fast food menus have added premium options. Mid-tier chains like GBK and Wendy’s offer a reasonable middle ground, better quality than pure fast food without the full gourmet price tag. At the premium end, Five Guys and MEATliquor charge more but deliver noticeably larger, more indulgent builds that justify the price for an occasional treat rather than a regular meal.
More frequently asked questions
How did gourmet burgers become popular in the UK?
Early chains like GBK and Byron shifted expectations in the 2000s and 2010s, followed by street-food-originated brands like Honest Burgers and Patty & Bun.
Is there a big price gap between fast food and gourmet burgers?
Yes, though the quality gap has narrowed as fast food chains have added premium options at the lower end of the price range.
How these UK chains compare on value
Pricing across the chains covered here varies more by portion size and ingredient quality than by brand reputation alone, worth comparing on a genuine per-item basis rather than assuming a well-known name automatically means better or worse value. Checking current app-based deals for each chain before deciding, rather than relying on standard menu pricing, often changes which option actually works out cheapest on a given day. Loyalty schemes, where available, can shift the value calculation considerably for anyone visiting a specific chain regularly rather than as a one-off.
What to check before choosing between these chains
Confirming your nearest branch of each chain actually exists locally is worth doing before comparing options in detail, since availability varies considerably by region and not every chain has full UK coverage. Checking recent reviews for your specific local branch, rather than the chain’s general reputation, gives a more accurate picture of what to expect on the day. Considering which chain best suits your specific occasion, whether that’s a quick solo visit or a larger group meal, matters as much as price alone.
Do these chains have full UK coverage?
Not all of them, availability varies by region, worth checking your specific local area before assuming a chain has a nearby branch.
Should I check local reviews before choosing?
Yes, reviews for your specific local branch give a more accurate picture than a chain’s general national reputation.