Sick! Burger Central (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

I don’t usually find myself in Central on a weekend especially not for food but tonight, I am a man on a mission. A burger mission.

It led me down to BaseHall 01, the buzzy gourmet food hall tucked away in the basement of Jardine House. Despite it being a weekend (when Central can feel deserted at times), the place was surprisingly packed.

The reason we were here? Sick! Burger – the brainchild of Chef Chun-wan Lai, who recently clinched the title of champion on reality cooking show "Red Hot Chef". With a fine dining pedigree and something to prove on the fast-casual scene, Chef Lai isn’t just flipping patties. He’s flipping expectations.

Taro and vita-milk shake ($60) – This was an interesting one. A playful blend of taro mochi, taro powder, fresh cream and, supposedly, Vita-milk. I loved the idea but the execution felt a little shy on flavor. The taro stood out fine and the iconic taste of Vita-milk barely registered. A fun concept, but not quite the creamy, nostalgic hit I was hoping for.

Sweet potato fries ($58) – A little on the hard side and borderline dry. The natural sweetness of the sweet potato also didn’t really shine through.

Signature Sick! Burger ($155) – This guy has been here three times already and couldn't stop raving about this burger ever since. He has even gone as far as declaring it the best burger he’s ever had. Bold claim. I had to see for myself.

With Chef Lai's fine dining background, I was a little curious on how he does flipping burgers. 

The burger arrived looking every bit as good as advertised: a juicy Angus beef patty, perfectly seared, nestled between a pillowy brioche bun. It was topped with a sunny side up egg, crispy bacon, fresh tomato slices, caramelized onions, and cheddar cheese (almost fully melted). But what really elevates it? A delicate drizzle of ponzu sauce that cuts through the richness and pulls everything together beautifully.

While I am not sure it was the best burger I've ever had, it was definitely one of the better ones 

in town right now. And I know this too.....it was well worth the trip to BaseHall on a Saturday.

Food Rating: 6.6/10

Price: $$$

Address: BaseHall01, LG/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Central / Hong Kong

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 8:30pm (Mon - Sat)