I like trying local, fast food places that you can't get in the U.S., and Friends & Brgrs is one of…read morethose eateries that originates from Finland. For something casual and affordable, I can see why the locals are fans of Friends & Brgrs after having visited myself for dinner one night.
Located in the city center of Helsinki and close to my hotel, after a long day of exploring, I was exhausted and hungry. Craving something casual that won't break the bank, I found Friends & Brgrs, which was better than expected. Friends & Brgrs serves smashed burgers with fries, shakes and everything else you'd expect from a fast food joint. But it's better than anything you'd have in the U.S.
I visited during dinner time and the place was steady, with a few patrons dining inside. You order on the touchscreen and and grab a number where one of the employees delivers your tray of food to you. After asking the staff for recommendations, they said first timers should try their signature, Friends Burger, which is a classic cheese burger with all the usual toppings, with hand-cut fries and the truffle dipping sauce.
My meal was solid. I was seriously impressed by how delicious the burger was from somewhere that's considered a fast food joint. I could easily tell the burger was hand-formed and cooked fresh upon order and the fries were hand-cut. Everything is freshly made here, including the baked buns. Everything just tastes better outside of the U.S. because they don't use trash ingredients - only fresh stuff approved by the EU. I'm a fan. I would totally eat more fast food if the food in the U.S. was like Friends & Brgrs.