The $777 Burger That Gordon Ramsay Adored and Tried

If you’ve got a surplus of cash, you can follow Gordon Ramsay’s example and splurge on one of the most expensive burgers in the world. This was the adventure the celebrity chef embarked upon during the 2020 “City Slickers” episode of his show “American Road Trip.” Ramsay, along with co-hosts Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix, visited Burger Brasserie at the Bally’s resort in Las Vegas to sample its aptly titled 777 burger.

Ramsay teamed up with head chef Karl Krebs in the kitchen to prepare and construct one of these extravagant burgers. The luxurious patty was crafted from marbled American Wagyu beef, blended from rib-eye cap and chuck. This grilled meat was adorned with aged American goat cheese, crispy pancetta, petite lobster pieces, two slices of foie gras, arugula, and a lavish drizzle of 100-year-old balsamic vinegar. To complement the exquisite meal, the burger was served alongside a bottle of Dom Pérignon Rosé. Opinions varied among Ramsay’s guests on the high-end champagne; D’Acampo found it cultured while Sirieix deemed it “sacrilege” (via YouTube).

Despite its extravagant offerings, Burger Brasserie closed its doors in 2022. Bally’s has since been rebranded as Horseshoe Las Vegas, with the previous site of the burger joint now housing Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Sports Kitchen. The priciest burger at Fieri’s establishment costs a more manageable $27.99.

Regarding the reactions of the road trippers to the $777 burger, D’Acampo described the flavors of the foie gras and lobster as pleasantly prominent, while Sirieix was frustrated by the burger’s height, making it difficult to eat without a knife and fork. This response hinted at his French refinement and aligned with the debated dining etiquette regarding burgers in upscale establishments. Although both Ramsay and D’Acampo were impressed with the elegant creation, Sirieix struggled to overlook its steep price. Ramsay ultimately expressed the experience as “disgustingly expensive, but it’s bloody delicious” (per YouTube).

The hefty price tag can be attributed to the premium quality of the ingredients that justified the restaurant’s charge. For instance, A5 Wagyu steak is seen as the epitome of luxury. While this prized beef hails from Japan, rare breeds of Wagyu also exist in the United States, introduced prior to the import ban in 1997. Similarly, the brasserie used the world’s priciest balsamic vinegar, the genuine Academia Barilla Aceto Balsamico. This D.O.P. certified traditional vinegar from Modena, aged for 100 years, costs over $200 per bottle.

Though foie gras and lobster also carry a significant price, the most extravagant component of the $777 burger is, without a doubt, the accompanying bottle of champagne. Depending on the vintage, the price of these luxurious bottles can vary from $250 to over $5,000. A 2001 rosé variety typically costs around $400.

While the 777 burger is no longer available, there are still various opportunities to indulge in high-end hamburgers. In England, you can visit Gordon Ramsay Burger located inside Harrods and spend £85 (just over $109) on his 1849 burger paired with truffle-parmesan fries. This specialty features a Wagyu patty (Japanese Kobe A5), mushroom ragu, truffle-porcini aioli, pecorino, watercress, and aged balsamic vinegar.

New York City’s Serendipity 3 has been serving guests since 1954. In 2012, it received the Guinness World Record for the world’s most expensive hamburger. The $295 Le Burger Extravagant includes a Japanese Wagyu patty made with herbed white truffle butter and smoked sea salt, topped with cave-aged cheddar, a fried quail egg, and black truffles, all within a white truffle-buttered bun. It’s finished with a blini, crème fraîche, and Paramount Kaluga caviar, all held together by a solid gold, diamond-studded toothpick.

Finally, visit De Daltons restaurant in The Netherlands, which, as of 2021, holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive hamburger. Priced at €5,000 ($5,430.90), The Golden Boy features a Wagyu A5 patty on a gold-leaf-covered, Dom Pérignon-infused bun. It’s topped with Beluga caviar, King crab cooked in Puligny-Montrachet wine, Joselito Bellota Iberico ham, white truffle, English cheddar, tomato pickled in matcha tea, smoked duck egg mayo, a Dom Pérignon battered onion ring, and barbecue sauce made with Macallan whisky and Kopi Luwak, known as the world’s most expensive coffee.