Some hot news: I’ve recently become a burger girl and I have a slight suspicion as to how it happened. My partner consumes them at least once a week, sometimes after his main meal as a midnight snack, and it’s that kind of free spirit I aspire to. As a result, Black Bear Burger has become somewhat of a joint favourite (I’ve eaten there three times in the past month), so when the Camden outpost opened up in Boxpark, I couldn’t wait to try it out.
If you're like me, then you'll be surprised to find that Camden is home to a Boxpark that officially took over Buck Street Market in September 2024. But it makes sense that it’s the home of the burger chain’s latest venture after conquering Shoreditch’s Boxpark, Victoria and Canary Wharf Market Halls, Exmouth Market and Brixton, its first-ever restaurant.
Black Bear Burger was founded in 2016 and has had residences at KERB and Street Feast.
DesignMyNight Reviews Black Bear Burger In Camden
Black Bear Burger was founded by Liz Down and her husband Stew, who got the idea to start the pop-up and trade on Broadway Market. The pair were driven to make simple eats done well; their bespoke buns are delivered from a bakery each day and high-welfare British meat from a small beef farm in Devon via an award-winning butcher is what’s used to make the patties. All prep is done in-house too, from cutting their own fries to making their own sauces and spice rubs.
Even though I’d been a fair few times, there were items on the menu I hadn’t yet tried so I was excited to get stuck in. Due to the nature of its location, there wasn’t any table service but there were, however, plenty of seats available upstairs in the diner-style shipping container should you prefer to eat in. My partner and I slid into leather banquettes and ordered immediately, choosing to pair our feast with a pint of Camden Hells (£6.90).
I opted for The Classic (£10.50) and it did not disappoint. Cooked medium, the patty was incredibly juicy and smoky (thanks to the addictive burger seasoning), smothered in gooey cheese and uplifted by a generous helping of tangy pickles. The bun was firm and held its shape - it refrained from going soggy while still carrying the juices and I devoured the entire thing in only a couple of bites (nothing to do with the size, I was just incredibly hungry).
Beary good bites: The Black Bear Burger menu is short but sweet.
If I had chosen The Black Bear with two patties (£14.80) like my partner, I don’t think I’d have been able to eat it as quickly. His looked like a piece of art; like a savoury layer cake with salty curls of bacon peeking out the side.
Lashings of tart onion jam dripped down as he bit down and mentally went to his happy place. We could see why this pick had won the National Burger Awards - it was sublime. Garlic mayonnaise added subtle creamy notes that tied its sweetness together and married it with rich, fatty components.
Not to be overlooked were the steakhouse rub fries (£5.50) served with a habanero honey mayonnaise. These tasted like what would happen if you accidentally dropped potatoes in a vat of roast beef dripping and then had to fish them out to make chips. They were marvellous and easily inhalable on their own without the spicy dip.
We also ordered a portion of regular fries (£4.95) alongside a variety of sauces (garlic mayonnaise, BBQ, burger, and hot sauce), but I couldn't manage too many as I found myself bursting at the seams after attempting the chicken wings (£8).
When it comes to indulgent eats, these guys certainly aren't winging it.
We were offered a buffalo and blue cheese-drizzled tray of them and a maple sriracha edition too. Crispy chicken skin fell off the bone effortlessly and there was a satisfactory amount of meat behind the glossy glaze. The former acted as a palate cleanser for the sweet sriracha ones - these were sticky, garlicky and perfectly acidic but got a little too much after a while, unlike the burgers. To put this theory to the test, I, unregretfully, see another trip happening again in the next couple of weeks.
Overall: Black Bear Burger In Camden
There's a reason why Black Bear Burger is a name on every patty-loving Londoner's lips. It nails the simplicity of the much-loved food and elevates it with high-quality ingredients and homemade signature condiments that give each bite the Black Bear touch. I enjoyed dining at the Camden venue, but wouldn't go there for a sit-down meal in the future (I'm looking at you, Exmouth Market, for that). However, a quick bite to eat before a gig? Yes, please.
Hungry for more? Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Camden.
