Luxford’s tasty burgers hit the spot

Brandon Terrace

Sometimes you really can’t beat a good burger. Soft bun, juicy meat, sauce and cheese oozing. It’s the classic fast food – quick yet highly satisfying – and generally reasonably priced.

The demise of large burger chains like Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Byron has opened the market up to independents like Edinburgh’s Luxford. Initially a university side project for 18-year-old founder Alexander Gilpin, Luxford Burgers started from a shipping container in Leith in 2020 before opening its first restaurant in St Leonard’s Street in March 2022.

Intoductory popcorn

Since then, the restaurant and founder have received numerous awards, including ‘Independent Restaurant of the Year’ and ‘Scotland Burger Restaurant of the Year’ at the Deliveroo Restaurant Awards 2024, and ‘Rising Star of the Year’ at the 2024 Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

A second restaurant in Brandon Terrace, Canonmills, opened in September 2024, and it is this location we visit on a bright April evening. The space is small and welcoming, with a cinema theme throughout—from the film posters and artwork to the names of the burgers and introductory bag of popcorn.

Milkshakes

There are several burger options, both meat and veggie, along with a vast range of toppings that can be added. I choose ‘The Parasite’: crispy garlic chicken fillet tossed in a Korean gochujang sauce, mayonnaise, spring onions and shredded cucumber. Across the table, he chooses ‘The Shrek’: 2 x 4oz aged scotch beef patties, double vintage cheddar, red onion marmalade, mustard mayo and crispy shallots.

There are several sides to choose from, including loaded fries, so we opt for the sweet potato fries with Cajun sea salt, a side salad and the onion rings.

The food arrives quickly, the quality of the ingredients is high, and the portions are generous.

The sides can easily be shared; we didn’t even finish the fries. The side salad is a little disappointing, being mostly iceberg. The chicken burger is huge and very messy to eat. My one recommendation would be to reduce the amount of sauce, which impacts both the flavour and structural integrity of the final product.

Conversation is not advised while devouring such a beast, so I focus on the Pulp Fiction poster opposite in silence as I ruminate, Jules style, “This is a tasty burger”. Perhaps further influenced by the poster, we decide to indulge in rich, creamy milkshakes, which cost £5, hopefully a reference to the $5 shake in the film.

At around £20 per head for an enormous burger, shared fries and a milkshake, Luxford provides the perfect experience for when only a burger will do.

Kids can build-a-burger for £8 in the run-up to Easter

KIDS EASTER OFFER BUILD-A-BURGER

Each made-to-order Build-A-Burger costs just £8 and can be enjoyed at Luxford

Burgers’ two Edinburgh locations at St. Leonard’s Street and Brandon Terrace.

Available for a limited time only, this exclusive Easter offer runs Monday – Thursday,

12-4 pm, until Monday 21st April. Advanced booking is advised because this palate-

pleasing offer is sure to prove popular!

Luxford Burgers Canonmills, 9 & 9A Brandon Terrace, Edinburgh, EH3 5EA - 0131 662 9349

Open: Sunday-Thursday 12 pm–10 pm; Friday-Saturday 12 pm–11 pm