While many Singaporeans are anxiously awaiting the arrival of famous New York burger institution Shake Shack sometime next year, there are a number of top-notch gourmet burger joints in the city that simply cannot be missed.

No preservative-laden, processed nonsense here; just juicy, imported beef patties showcased with contemporary interpretations.

Here’s our top 6 picks:

Black Tap

If you live by the “go big and go home” mantra, then you must relish the over-the-top milkshakes and generously portioned burgers with a huge helping of fries from this award-winning burger eatery. Black Tap, which comes all the way from New York, is famous for its Insta-worthy, gravity-defying CrazyShakes that are bound to please anyone with a sweet tooth.

As for burgers, there’s the All American for burger purists and there’s Greg Norman, a delightful crowd favourite that combines blue cheese with a Wagyu beef patty.

For something a little more oriental, go for the Cantonese BBQ Burger, an off-centre jumble of Swiss cheese, bacon and spicy pickles with sambal barbecue sauce and Cantonese mayonnaise with black bean and garlic.

Our advice? Leave the body-hugging dress at home and come in your comfiest trousers – you’re going to need the room for this indulgence.

Fatburger

Don’t be repulsed by the name – the “fat” in “Fatburger” is but an acronym for “Fresh. Authentic. Tasty”, which are what you can expect from this Hollywood burger chain.

Two Singapore outposts have opened since its arrival in September, and each is co-branded with Buffalo’s Express, a casual chain that is known for its chicken wings and chicken sandwiches.

Burgers are offered in a variety of sizes, including the humongous four-patty Quad Fatburger (which earns you a spot on their wall of fame if you can finish it).

All of them are cooked to order and hand-crafted to your liking.

On a carb-free diet? Get the Skinnyburger instead, where beef patties replace the burger buns. Complete your meal with freshly-made onion rings, fries, ice-cream milk shakes and a side of wings from Buffalo’s Express.

Mo & Jo Sourdough Burgers

Ever thought you’d see a cranberry-Camembert flavour combo in a burger?

Well, now you can try it for yourself at Mo & Jo by Baker & Cook founder Dean Brettschneider and chef Jenna White.

The Naughty CCC has a large perfectly fried chicken breast smeared with fresh cranberry sauce and topped with slices of Camembert; all flavours which, surprisingly, complement one another and are well-balanced.

Obvious from its name, Mo & Jo forgoes the typical brioche buns and dishes out its burgers with sourdough bread instead, with soy-linseed sourdough and gluten-free bun options as well. This family-friendly eatery champions healthier burgers, so you’ll be comforted to know that their sourdough burger buns are made daily, no preservatives are used and even the various relishes and sauces are home-made.

Those eating clean can come here and enjoy the Goddess: a veggie burger with a beetroot-quinoa patty covered in crumbled feta, mayonnaise and a tangy tomato relish.

Don’t forget to grab a Mo & Jo’s very own craft beer to pair with your burger.

Three Buns Quayside

The name Potato Head will definitely ring a bell for beach lovers and sun-worshippers, as the Indonesian brand that became a household name with its iconic Potato Head Beach Club in Bali unveils Three Buns Quayside at Robertson Quay.

The interior features sustainably-made furniture and potted plants hanging from the ceiling for a lush tropical vibe.

This award-winning burger and cocktail establishment serves expertly crafted tropical cocktails as well as signature burgers made from scratch.

Be sure to try the four exclusive burgers available only at this location – Bun DMC, a nod to head chef Adam Penney’s childhood featuring a watermelon-rind relish; Da Cheese Master, a classic cheese burger with a white miso paste twist; Red Man Burger, a beef rendang burger involving 24-hour sous vide beef cheeks, topped with handmade virgin-coconut mayonnaise and sandwiched between burger buns made with coconut oil and coconut milk; and Truffello, a meat-free option that sees juicy portobello mushrooms slathered with garlic miso truffle-butter sauce and served with a truffle oil-infused coleslaw.

Hans Im Glück

Hailing from Munich, this is the first international stop for the established German burger grill restaurant.

Here, you’ll be faced with an extensive menu of reasonably priced beef, chicken, vegetarian and vegan burgers with sourdough or multigrain buns – or just go Naked (without the bread buns) if you wish. You may also notice that the European burgers here seem to be healthier and less greasy compared with their sinful, cheese-loaded American counterparts.

Order the vegetarian Abendrot, a nutritious burger with Parmesan cheese, grilled vegetable tartare, rocket leaves and – wait for it – a dense olive patty (yes, you read that right).

Carnivores will appreciate the Birkenwald, which features a thick and juicy beef patty topped with mushrooms and sour cream-chive sauce.

Do note that Hans Im Glück serves only well-done beef burgers.

Burgs by Project Warung

Hawker centres aren’t usually the first place anyone would go to for a burger fix, but nicely tucked in Golden Mile Food Centre is this below-the-radar halal gourmet burger spot.

The brainchild of three young Singaporeans, this local burger stall is where you should go for quality burgers minus the hefty price tag.

Dig into the Nacho Fish & Chips Burger, a pollack fillet fried in a house batter and elevated with a nacho cheese-tartar sauce.

Its Teriyaki Chicken Burger is also a must-try, thanks to its delicious combination of chargrilled marinated chicken thigh, sesame coleslaw plus a sunny side up with bonito flakes.

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