A: Welcome to VOV24/7’s Food Delight, where we explore the stories, flavors, and people behind the food we love. Today, we’re talking about one of the world’s most popular comfort foods: the burger.
B: At first glance, a burger seems pretty simple: a bun, a patty, some cheese, sauce, and toppings. But at the Vietnam Burger Fest 2026 – Hanoi Edition held at Naco 100 Garden on Au Co Street in Hanoi on September 26, there’s a lot more behind this popular favorite.
B: Vietnam Burger Fest 2026 – Hanoi Edition is an annual event that brings together burger lovers from across the capital city and beyond. Along with burgers, there are drinks, games, and live entertainment, but the main highlight is the burger competition.
A: This year, burger makers came with their own styles, recipes, and ideas, from classic American flavors to more creative takes with different ingredients and influences.
B: And when the final results were announced, one name came out on top.
A: The winner, Snack Shack, is an American sports bar-style restaurant inspired by American and Mexican flavors. Behind Snack Shack is Duc Anh, who spent eight years studying in the United States before returning to Vietnam.
B: For Duc Anh, the restaurant grew from something very personal.
"I've been here for 10 years and I just miss the US flavor. I couldn't find it in any other place, so I just opened my own," said Duc Anh.
A: That sense of nostalgia became the inspiration for Snack Shack’s winning entry - the Western Bacon Cheeseburger.
B: Rather than reinventing the burger completely, his team focused on recreating that familiar American experience as authentically as possible.
"We got the inspiration from the Carl's Jr. burger that I ate a lot when I was in high school and college. I just wanted to bring that back to Vietnam with the taste that I used to have in the United States," said Duc Anh.
A: But here’s an interesting question: in a competition full of creative chefs, unusual toppings, and bold ideas, how can a relatively classic burger still stand out?
B: According to Duc Anh, the key is knowing exactly what your burger is trying to be.
"For us, it was to keep it authentic. We tried to be as authentic as possible and not make a fusion burger or anything. We just tried to make an American burger the way that I remember how it used to be," he said.
A: Authentic doesn’t mean ignoring local ingredients, though. Duc Anh said Vietnamese ingredients were used throughout the burger.
"Vietnamese ingredients were used everywhere, even in the beef and onion, and even our house-made barbecue sauce. Me and my whole team, we taste our burger very thoroughly before releasing it out," he said.
B: One of the judges, Benjamin Schwarz, General Manager of Pan Pacific Hanoi, explains why Duc Anh’s Western Bacon Cheeseburger came out on top.
“Well, for me, it's always important is uh the quality of the meat. And just that the whole burger kind of fits together, that all the ingredients, all, you know, from the spices, from everything, just makes the burger as one and and just comes across good. I mean, I'm a big fan of just, you know, your classic burgers, but I do also appreciate some innovation that fits the overall product,” he said.
A: So although the patty matters greatly, a good burger can’t rely on meat alone. The bun, sauce, cheese, toppings, and seasoning all have to work together.
B: And according to Benjamin, that overall balance is ultimately what separates a good burger from a great one.
"At the end, it's the overall burger, right? The overall combination of the ingredients and everything, because that's what forms the taste," he said.
A: And that’s exactly where Snack Shack stood out. The winning burger wasn’t the most complicated or extravagant entry. But every component had a purpose.
"It was the overall product, the quality, the balance of all the products. No flavor overwhelmed the other. I loved the amount of cheese, the quality of the cheese, the quality of the meat was great, the buns... It wasn't overly fancy, but everything that was on there was quality and just the right amounts," said Benjamin.
A: Apart from Snack Shack’s winning Western Bacon Cheeseburger, visitors could also try other outstanding creations at the festival.
B: Chops Vietnam brought its Umami Bomb, a festival-only burger with three layers of Wagyu beef, ponzu relish, and truffle mayo. Meanwhile, Red’s Burger introduced two new burgers, combining American-style flavors with a touch of Hanoi’s street-food character.
A: With so many different styles and ideas in one place, Vietnam Burger Fest 2026 – Hanoi Edition was a real celebration for burger lovers.
B: And that’s where we’ll leave you today, with the smell of the grill still in the air and, hopefully, a serious burger craving.
A: This has been Food Delight on VOV24/7. Happy eating!
