Quick Answer
A burger that has a fried egg on top of the patty is most commonly called an egg burger or a burger with a fried egg. The egg adds an extra layer of flavor and texture to the burger. Other popular names for a burger with egg include egg-topped burger, eggie burger, egg and burger, sunny-side up burger, over easy burger, basted egg burger, and more. While there is no single “official” name, egg burger is the most widely used and recognized term.
Egg Burgers are a Popular Burger Variation
Adding a fried egg on top of a hamburger patty has become a popular variation found on menus across the United States and internationally. The runny yolk acts as an instant sauce, adding a rich creaminess and protein to complement the beef. The contrasting textures of the soft egg and the crispy burger patty is part of the appeal.
Egg burgers grew in popularity with the gourmet burger movement of the 2000s. As chefs looked for new ways to create unique specialty burgers, the fried egg was an eye-catching topping. The dish has since become a menu staple at restaurants serving burgers.
Common Cooking Methods for Egg Burgers
There are a few common cooking methods used for the fried egg topping:
- Sunny side up – The egg is fried on one side, leaving the bright yellow yolk exposed.
- Over easy – The egg is fried gently on both sides, leaving the yolk runny.
- Over hard – The egg is fried on both sides completely until the yolk is solid.
Sunny side up and over easy styles allow the signature runny yolk to coat the burger when bitten into. Over hard is less messy to eat but doesn’t have the same sauce-like effect.
Serving Suggestions
Egg burgers are typically served similarly to regular hamburgers, on a bun with traditional lettuce, tomato, onion and condiment toppings. Some variations include:
- Replacing the bun with thick slices of toast
- Adding bacon or ham to complement the egg flavor
- Using a breakfast sausage patty instead of beef
- Topping with avocado slices or guacamole
The egg burger makes a satisfying brunch or breakfast sandwich. Due to the rich egg yolk and protein, it can help provide energy to start the day.
Egg Burger History and Origins
Adding eggs to burgers and sandwiches is not a completely new concept. However, the modern incarnation of the egg burger gained widespread popularity in the 2000s and 2010s.
Early Egg Sandwich Predecessors
There are a few precursors to today’s egg burgers:
- 1920s – Eggs Benedict – This breakfast dish features poached eggs served on top of ham and English muffins, covered in hollandaise sauce. The runny egg yolk as a sauce-like topping was an early fine dining example.
- 1930s to 1950s – Diners and luncheonettes – These casual eateries served egg sandwiches made with various breads like toast or rolls. However, hamburger buns and patties were not commonly used.
- 1960s – Egg McMuffin – McDonald’s created the first mass-market breakfast sandwich with a fried egg, calling it an Egg McMuffin. The egg and Canadian bacon were served on an English muffin.
The Modern Egg Burger
The current trend of topping beef hamburgers specifically with fried eggs took off in the early 2000s. Some key moments include:
- 2001 – Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill – The celebrity chef opened this restaurant in Las Vegas and featured an egg burger on the menu. This is one of the earliest fine dining examples.
- 2004 – NYC Restaurants – High-end restaurants in New York City like Prune, Spotted Pig and Harlem Shake started offering their own takes on egg burgers.
- 2009 – Fast Food Chains – As the dish grew in awareness, fast food chains like Sonic Drive-In added egg burger options.
- 2010s – Mainstream Menus – During this decade, egg burgers became widespread across casual dining restaurants, pubs, and bars around the U.S.
The increasing popularity was likely fueled by the rise of gourmet burgers and comfort foods. The egg burger hits the perfect combination of familiar yet trendy.
Egg Burger Options at Popular Chains
Here is a look at some egg burger menu items from well-known fast food and casual dining chains:
| Restaurant | Egg Burger Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sonic Drive-In | Breakfast Burger | Beef patty topped with a fried egg, bacon, and cheese on a bun |
| Denny’s | Ultimate Slam Burger | Beef patty with ham, hashbrowns, and two eggs over easy |
| Red Robin | Sunrise Burger | Gourmet burger with fried egg, bacon, and cheese |
| Hungry Jack’s | Brekkie Burger | Fried egg, bacon, hashbrown, and cheese |
| A&W | Egg & Bacon Papa Burger | Fried egg, bacon, and cheese on a beef patty |
The table shows the creative names that each chain uses for their version of the egg burger. There are some common ingredients as well – bacon and cheese are frequent additions. Hashbrowns and ham occasionally complement the egg topping too.
Egg Burgers Outside the U.S.
While egg burgers originated in American restaurants, they have expanded internationally as well. Here are some examples of egg burgers served around the world:
- Japan – Freshness Burger fast food chain serves the Egg Burger with egg, bacon and cheese.
- Philippines – Army Navy serves the Egg-Normous Burger topped with egg, ham, and sausage.
- Indonesia – Pepper Lunch chain offers rice burgers with beef, egg, and soy sauce.
- Australia – Most burger chains like Grill’d and Hungry Jack’s have an egg burger option.
- India – Egg burgers are growing in popularity at chains like Burger King.
The egg burger has proven to crossover well to many cultures that enjoy American-style hamburgers and fried eggs as breakfast foods. This shows the broad appeal of the egg burger combination worldwide.
Why Are Egg Burgers So Popular?
There are several reasons why topping beef burgers with fried eggs has become such a hit:
Enhanced Texture and Flavor
The hot runny egg yolk acts as an instant sauce, coating the patty and bun with its rich, velvety texture. This contrasts nicely with the crisp exterior of the fried egg white and burger. The egg adds extra protein and a hint of creaminess to balance the beef.
Satisfying Comfort Food
Both burgers and eggs are beloved comfort foods for many people. Combining them creates an extra satisfying, indulgent meal. The familiarity of the ingredients also makes it approachable.
Instagrammable Presentation
The sunny-side up or over easy egg perched atop a burger makes for great food photography. The runny yolk dripping down creates an eye-catching visual. Social media has helped fuel the popularity of photogenic dishes.
Gourmet Appeal
As more chefs reinvented burgers with upscale ingredients like pretzel buns, unique sauces, and fried eggs, the dish gained a gourmet cachet. The egg burger is able to straddle fine dining and mainstream appeal.
Conclusion
The egg burger has clearly emerged as a hit variation combining two much-loved foods – hamburgers and fried eggs. While there is no single official name, egg burger and burger with a fried egg are the most common terms used on menus. Its surge in popularity across all levels of dining can be attributed to unique texture and flavors, comforting qualities, photogenic presentation, and gourmet flair. As fried eggs require minimal extra effort, look for more restaurants experimenting with egg toppers in the future. The deceptively simple egg burger has cemented itself as more than just a passing trend.