JFG Nation, the Hard Rock Cafe here in DC recently hosted me, the JFGal, and a friend who calls herself Saheez for their 2016 Hard Rock Cafe DC World Burger Tour 2!! Saheez is not her real name. Actual conversation:

“Hey, what should I call you in my post.”

“Put me down as SAHEEEEEZ.”

“Haha… Wait, are you serious?”

You guys may remember that the Hard Rock DC had me out last summer for their World Burger Tour, during which the JFGal and I tried to eat five burgers. That experience linked here.

Anyways, the World Burger Tour 2 is here, and around until June 30. The World Burger Tour, btw, is where the Hard Rock features localized signature burgers from around the globe.

This year, in June, the Hard Rock Cafe DC World Burger Tour 2 features burgers from London (above), Mumbai (India), Montego Bay (Jamaica), and Seattle. Three people eating four different burgers is a much easier ratio than two people eating five burgers.

The the picture of a happy JFG about to gorge himself. Hard Rock Cafe DC World Burger Tour 2 —- giddyup.

The English Breakfast Burger from London, England, is a certified Angus Beef burger topped with ham, sausage, fried egg, portobello mushroom, arugula and garlic aioli, and served with baked beans.

Rapid Reaction:

JFG: “Like it a lot! Tastes like a breakfast burger – a lot going on, and the burger gets a bit overwhelmed by the eggs and ham. Still, good balance and not too salty. The beans, while I was skeptical at first, turned out to be great! Tender and had lots of green pepper flavor.”

JFGal: “This was only ok for me. Too much breakfast for me. Beans were tasty.”

Saheez: “It’s ok. I’m just not big on egg. Why does everyone put egg on everything? Beans were good though.”

JFG: “Blasphemy! I love eggs.”

The Tandoori Chicken Burger from Mumbai, India was a dark meat chicken patty seasoned with spices and herbs, topped with mint mayo and served with cucumber.

In reality, the ground chicken “burger” was topped with cucumber and the mint mayo came on the side.

Rapid Reaction:

JFG: “The chicken burger was super tender! Burger had TONS of spices, and the entire thing eaten together definitely was South Asian in flavor profile. The cucumber kept everything fresh and the addition of the mint mayo REALLY reminded me of raita, the Indian yogurt side. Yummy.”

Saheez: “Agree, flavor profile is good but I wish the burger patty was thinner.”

JFGal: “I like the flavor but this isn’t a burger.”

This was the burger I was most excited about from this Hard Rock Cafe DC World Burger Tour 2: the Java Lava. Angus beef patty grilled and dressed in a house made espresso rub topped with lava sauce, crunchy Java onions, bacon, melted cheddar, garnished with a fried jalapeño.

At first my group thought this was the Jamaican Jerk Burger until we saw the fried jalapeño. I dunno – momentary insanity.

Rapid Reaction:

Saheez: “WHOA this one is good. This one is really REALLY GOOD.”

JFGal: “Now THAT’S a burger. I would eat that again and again.”

JFG: “The Java Lava burger was delicious. Just a great bacon cheeseburger that added some additional smoky coffee elements which gave the burger a nice smoky almost sweet flavor, and the fried jalapeño and lava sauce punched up the heat without being unbearable. The crunchy onions were a nice touch, and overall the burger had a great mix of texture and Flavors: creamy cheese, crunchy onions, crisp bacon, saucy Lava sauce, crisp jalapeño, soft patty etc etc. Awesome burger!”

Finally the Jamaican Jerk Burger from Montego Bay, Jamaica featured an Angus beef patty, mango jalapeño cream cheese, jerk mayo, and banana pepper rings.

Love the color of the arugula on this burger. Tasting the jerk mayo side by itself, it was SPPIIIIIICCCY.

Rapid Reaction:

Saheez: “WHOA THIS ONE IS SPICY. Need to cool my mouth off, let me add some of the mayo….OMG THAT MADE IT SPICIER! This is too spicy for me.”

JFGal: “I think the burger actually lacks a little flavor until you add the mayo to it. Decent jerk flavor. The spice builds the more mayo you eat.”

JFG: ” Oh yeah this one has a burn for sure. I think the jerk flavor gets lost in the burger, and I’m not sure what the banana pepper rings really do but add texture. But once that mayo goes on WOOOOOOOOO that’s some HEAT. Not for the weak tongued.”

Final Hard Rock Cafe DC World Burger Tour 2 ranking:

JFGal and Saheez: Java Lava first, Jamaican Jerk 2, then the Tandoori Burger, last is the Breakfast Burger.

JFG: Java Lava, Tandoori, and then tie for Breakfast Burger and Jamaican Jerk.

We also got a chance to try the new Poutine fries, which were EXCELLENT.

A nice brown gravy, soft cheese curds, and decent crispy fries. Nothing mind blowing, but very comforting as expected. Carb city, B.

I’ve written about these before, but we of course had to sample all of the Hard Rock Cafe’s other artisan fry varieties…

…and finished it off with the HRC amazing apple crisp and chocolate lava cake.

So there you go! World Burger Tour 2! Special thanks to Lauren, Katelyn, Isaiah and Sensei Swag for making our experience memorable. Now go stuff your face with that Java Lava burger.

PURCHASED AT: Hard Rock Cafe, DC.

Thoughts? Please comment below or hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy or LIKE my Facebook Page and message me there. I also have Google+!! Let’s hang out.

Sincerely,

The JFG