Where does the hamburger originate from? Not where you think

Where does the hamburger come from? Not where you think.

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When someone mentions the word "hamburger," it's easy to picture a sunny day in the United States, with sizzling grills, ketchup flowing like there's no tomorrow, and a fizzy black soda on the side.

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But what if we told you that hamburgers are not an American invention?

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We know, we just shattered one of the myths you believed with all your heart (there are worse things, but we're not here to discuss how the best coffee in the world is made…).

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If you're not in a hurry, stick around—you’re about to discover where hamburgers really come from.

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It all started in Hamburg… or maybe not

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You don’t need a PhD in linguistics to figure out that "hamburger" comes from Hamburg, the German city known for its massive and prosperous port.

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Apparently, the city's unstoppable industrialization and fast-paced lifestyle proved the need for an easy-to-prepare, high-energy food.

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In fact, many families from Hamburg still argue over who "invented" the first hamburger in history. But who knows—maybe some genius had already thought of putting a piece of steak between two round buns before anyone else.

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Now, let's be clear—we’re not talking about the kind of hamburgers we all devour today, the ones that are truly crafted with care, like our smashburgers. We mean a very simple burger, not even served with bread (oh dear Lord!), just enough to fill the stomach and keep moving—whatever people did back then.

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A hamburger in every port

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Whether it truly originated in Hamburg or not, German sailors (and immigrants looking for a fresh start elsewhere) carried a "Hamburg-style steak" on board for long voyages.

Wherever they went, they spread the love for this kind of meat, and it was in the United States (this time, yes) where it became wildly popular. So much so that three different Americans claimed to have been the first to serve "Hamburg-style steak," but with an American twist.

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• In 1885, Frank Menches claimed he invented it at a fair in New York because he ran out of sausages. Kind of like discovering that frozen croquettes work as ice cubes when you’re desperate (only in cases of EXTREME necessity).
• In 1900, Louis Lassen, a cook in Connecticut, said he served the first hamburger to a customer in a hurry who needed food to-go. Possibly the first "fast food" meal in history, though we completely misunderstood the concept later on.
• And of course, Texas had to jump in. A guy named Fletcher Davis swore he had been making them since the 1880s. The classic "I was first, deal with it" move.

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And then the hamburger conquered the world

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Look, we’re here to talk about burgers, not to solve the mystery of the missing link in modern hamburger history. What is certain is that by the 20th century, the hamburger had won over the hearts and stomachs of Americans, evolving into the versions, recipes, and flavors we know today.

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From the classic cheese-and-pickle combo (yes, hamburgers NEED pickles) to gourmet versions with foie gras or truffles, this dish has more remixes than a Beatles song.

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But what makes a hamburger truly special is how it’s prepared: grilled meat, seared to perfection on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with a flavor that those Hamburg sailors could only dream of.

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Because no, the smashburgers we make at Hideout are not fast food—they're a delicacy (another German word!), made with love, care, and top-quality ingredients. The only thing fast about them is how quickly you'll devour them because they’re that good.

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So, what have we learned about hamburgers?

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Two key takeaways:

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First, next time someone tells you hamburgers are a typical American creation, say nein and hit them with a bit of historical truth.

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Second, if anyone dares to say hamburgers are just fast food, tell them to come to Barcelona and try the smashburgers at Hideout—designed in Brazil, made here. One bite and they'll take back that blasphemy immediately.

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We’ll be waiting for them (and for you) at our Poblenou and Eixample locations!