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Original poster

Which burger would you prefer?-Cultural differences?

246 replies

Stopshoutingtv · 19/08/2026 21:55

Option A: Bbq burger on a burger bap with cheese, ketchup, salad, wedges and corn on the cob

Option B: Grilled burger (no bap etc) with plain pasta and salt

We had Dds friend over for lunch after Dd asked her if she wanted to come for burgers and toasted marshmallows. She was quite confused about the burger as has it like option B at home, aside from at McDonald’s.

Which burger do you prefer and can anyone guess which country we’re in?

OP posts:
Original poster
Stopshoutingtv · 20/08/2026 10:33

BadBadCat · 20/08/2026 10:30

In the 70s when Birds Eye Beef Burgers first became popular I remember having them with chips and baked beans. It seemed quite common in those days to not have them in a bun.

I think it was only when MacDonalds took off that Brits started serving them in a bun to mimic the takeaway experience.

Serving burgers with salted pasta though sounds weird and I don't think most people in Portugal have them like that- certainly not what I saw when I visited.

It isn’t in restaurants etc with pasta from what I’ve seen, but def in homes and at school

OP posts:
Original poster
Stopshoutingtv · 20/08/2026 10:33

BillieWiper · 20/08/2026 10:29

If they eat McDonald's then they know a burger comes in a bun with sauce and sometimes salad. Why would they be confused by it?

Even if someone had never seen a burger before there's nothing confusing about it. It's pretty obviously a sandwich of sorts with meat and whatever else inside.

Maybe they thought you were putting marshmallows on it?!

Edited

I think she maybe thought we were having it the way they do as she only ever has it on a burger bap at McDonald’s

OP posts:
986ttujgc · 20/08/2026 10:32

My husband does that - burger patty, rice and salad.....and he's English. Though basically it's just a meat patty or like a giant meatball....so not unusual in Northern Europe e.g. Ikea meatballs with chips. Never heard of it in Portugal when I lived there.

To the OP who said they salted a salad.....don't you put salt in?

BadBadCat · 20/08/2026 10:30

In the 70s when Birds Eye Beef Burgers first became popular I remember having them with chips and baked beans. It seemed quite common in those days to not have them in a bun.

I think it was only when MacDonalds took off that Brits started serving them in a bun to mimic the takeaway experience.

Serving burgers with salted pasta though sounds weird and I don't think most people in Portugal have them like that- certainly not what I saw when I visited.

BillieWiper · 20/08/2026 10:29

If they eat McDonald's then they know a burger comes in a bun with sauce and sometimes salad. Why would they be confused by it?

Even if someone had never seen a burger before there's nothing confusing about it. It's pretty obviously a sandwich of sorts with meat and whatever else inside.

Maybe they thought you were putting marshmallows on it?!

ThatBliddyWoman · 20/08/2026 10:23

A, but without the BBQ sauce! If I am dieting then B.

Somewhere in the med?

Original poster
Stopshoutingtv · 20/08/2026 10:21

Elmtrees · 20/08/2026 10:15

Woohoo, I guessed correctly!!Grin

Is plain pasta with salt something that's common in parts of Portugal or is it just a preference of this child?

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Well done! 🥇
My kids have it somstimes at school
too, so it must be a thing. They also salt the salad sometimes too 😩

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 20/08/2026 10:20

Lomonald · 20/08/2026 10:19

Oh no not the breadbin was an actual heirloom!

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Me and my sister did have a look on eBay to see if we could find one the same as a replacement 😂

Original poster
Stopshoutingtv · 20/08/2026 10:19

OvernightBloats · 20/08/2026 10:01

Probably more common in Portugal for a hamburger (without bun) to be served with rice or fries. I would think that serving it with plain pasta was not as popular because it sounds disgusting!

Yes I said above it’s often also with rice and veg/salad, they have it with pasta at school too, my kids love it. The rice and veg ive started to do, but salted pasta I just can’t get on board with!

OP posts:
Lomonald · 20/08/2026 10:19

Needmorelego · 20/08/2026 10:13

My mum definitely still has her circa 1985 Tupperware biscuit cutters (many sizes that stack together in a little case).
Sadly her circa 1969 bread bin broke recently and she had to replace it.

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Oh no not the breadbin was an actual heirloom!

missipop · 20/08/2026 10:17

I wouldn’t like either options presented in the OP.

I’m a bit weird as I like a plain burger in a plain bun and don’t like any cheese, ketchup, pickles or sauces with it.

In an ideal world it would some fried onions and/or sliced tomatoes in it.

I would never eat chips with it either, just home made coleslaw or salad if it was going.

Interesting about the country being Portugal!

Elmtrees · 20/08/2026 10:15

Stopshoutingtv · 20/08/2026 09:45

Bingo! 🇵🇹

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Woohoo, I guessed correctly!!Grin

Is plain pasta with salt something that's common in parts of Portugal or is it just a preference of this child?

Needmorelego · 20/08/2026 10:13

Lomonald · 20/08/2026 09:38

We had a crinkle cutter mum got it from.a market stall that was demonstrating them, she definitely still has it along with her microwave egg "boiler"

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My mum definitely still has her circa 1985 Tupperware biscuit cutters (many sizes that stack together in a little case).
Sadly her circa 1969 bread bin broke recently and she had to replace it.

Bacha1910 · 20/08/2026 10:10

To be honest it's how one of my kids would want it here in the UK. Though she likes butter on the pasta.

MsIceSandwich · 20/08/2026 10:06

Stopshoutingtv · 19/08/2026 22:18

Yes true 🤣 but it terms of a burger, surely it has to be a burger bap, rather than burger roll? Doesn’t make sense

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Burger bap 😱It's a burger bun.

Theresalittlebitofwitchinyou · 20/08/2026 10:03

A for me (although veggie version) but DH version b both Northern Ireland

OvernightBloats · 20/08/2026 10:01

Probably more common in Portugal for a hamburger (without bun) to be served with rice or fries. I would think that serving it with plain pasta was not as popular because it sounds disgusting!

Organicsunflower · 20/08/2026 09:52

Woodfiresareamazing2 · 20/08/2026 09:49

Which one?!

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The flag indicates Portugal.

Original poster
Stopshoutingtv · 20/08/2026 09:51

Woodfiresareamazing2 · 20/08/2026 09:49

Which one?!

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Eh? 🇵🇹

OP posts:
Woodfiresareamazing2 · 20/08/2026 09:49

Stopshoutingtv · 20/08/2026 09:45

Bingo! 🇵🇹

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Which one?!

Original poster
Stopshoutingtv · 20/08/2026 09:45

Elmtrees · 20/08/2026 08:31

Spain or Portugal?

Bingo! 🇵🇹

OP posts:
Lomonald · 20/08/2026 09:38

Needmorelego · 20/08/2026 08:40

My mum had a cutter especially to make crinkle cut chips.
She probably still has it but doesn't do homemade chips anymore.
She also doesn't use the (terrifying to me) deep fat fryer which made the chips delicious.
Oven chips are just not as good 🙁

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We had a crinkle cutter mum got it from.a market stall that was demonstrating them, she definitely still has it along with her microwave egg "boiler"

BlackCat14 · 20/08/2026 09:34

My eyes have been opened- I’ve never even considered a burger without its bun (or bap, or whatever you want to call it).

If the burger and pasta also came with a herby tomato sauce that would be fine (no different to meat balls) but I wouldn’t want it without the sauce, just burger and pasta sounds very dry. And I also wouldn’t call that “having a burger” I’d call it a pasta dish.

ToadRage · 20/08/2026 09:25

I have never had option B. If i was invited for burgers I would expect option A.

rc22 · 20/08/2026 09:24

Needmorelego · 19/08/2026 22:10

When I was a child if people had burgers at home they were usually served with chips or mash - no buns.
Unless it was very specifically a BBQ. Then you got a bun.
(which was probably once a year when relatives came over on the august bank holiday 😂)
My daughter likes to eat burgers with rice. Even if at a BBQ. No buns for her. Even at McDonald's or Burger King she doesn't eat the bun.
Never had burger with pasta. Although whats the difference really between meatballs and pasta vs burger and pasta other than the shape of the squished up meat 🤔
Conclusion.....
Does it matter?

Growing up, we often had burgers with mash, vegetables and gravy and no bun. We also had burger, chips and beans without a bun.