Review: Kongz, a smash burger spot on Princes Street

Visiting Kongz at 139 Princes Street was a spur-of-the-moment decision, and it immediately answered a nagging question about Edinburgh’s fast-food scene. Where in the city centre can you find smash burgers so unapologetically messy they arrive with a pair of disposable gloves?

I had walked past this spot assuming it was another generic franchise muscling in next door to McDonald’s. Their social media had honestly given me mild concerns, and my expectations were low. In reality, Kongz feels far more like an independent Scottish business than a faceless corporate chain. Good! Originally making a name for itself in Glasgow as the self-styled “King of the Grill”, this Princes Street outpost brings a much more interesting, local energy to the strip.

The Classic Kongz and the plastic glove dilemma

My order was straightforward, yet it took two attempts to explain to the counter staff that I wanted only the burger, not a full meal deal. It was an early lunch, and given the sheer calorie count radiating off the menu, I did not want to overeat. Ordering a solo burger is clearly a rare request here.

Once fed into the system, I was handed a buzzer and left to find a table. While this beats loitering awkwardly by the counter, it poses a slight logistical headache for solo diners who have to abandon their bags at a table when the buzzer goes off. The buzzer itself also carried a slightly odd, truncated message instructing diners to “when flash and vibrate, please take the meal”, which felt strangely hurried.

When the food arrived, it came in a large black box packed with napkins and disposable gloves. I had hoped for the sleek black nitrile gloves favoured by Instagram chefs, though what you actually get are thin, clear plastic ones reminiscent of dog-walking bags. Apologies for the mental image, yet they proved essential.

The Classic Kongz (£10.95) stacks two 3oz Aberdeen Angus smashed beef patties inside a branded brioche bun with red cabbage, crispy onions, gherkins, jalapeños, cheese, and their house Kongz sauce. These patties are smashed exceptionally thin, meaning the burger is far too floppy to hold up for a neat photo. As soon as you bite in, the juices run everywhere and the meat begins to crumble. Long live the gloves, even if my environmental conscience felt a slight twinge.

Beyond the beef: kebabs, pakora, and industrial vibes

The dining room leans into a clean, black-and-red industrial look. On my visit, the downstairs section was locked off, so everyone was restricted to the upstairs seating area, though the space felt tidy enough for a brisk weekday lunch.

While the Classic Kongz was decent enough, it will not force me to rewrite my list of Edinburgh’s best burgers. Where Kongz genuinely catches the eye is the sheer ambition of its wider menu, which reflects its Glasgow street-food roots. Alongside loaded fries and chicken pakora, the kitchen serves German doner kebabs and even 10-inch German doner pizzas.

If I maintained a list of Edinburgh restaurants serving doner-topped pizza, it would be remarkably short, and Kongz would sit in the hall of fame. If this place stays open late, my main fear is that it will become my go-to stop after a few too many pints when only something gloriously unhealthy will hit the spot. Next time, the German doner burger is firmly in my sights.

Sitting right in the middle of Princes Street, Kongz puts you within easy reach of Edinburgh’s biggest landmarks and transport links. If you are looking to walk off a heavy lunch or plan a full day around the New Town, here are a few practical options nearby:

• Sightseeing and culture: Cross the street into Princes Street Gardens for uninterrupted views up to Edinburgh Castle, or head east towards the Scott Monument and the Scottish National Gallery on The Mound. You can book local walking tours and attraction passes in advance through GetYourGuide.
• Shopping: Princes Street covers high-street staples, while a short walk north onto George Street or east to St James Quarter brings you to independent boutiques and designer flagship stores.
• Transport: Edinburgh Waverley railway station is less than a ten-minute walk east along Princes Street, making regional rail connections simple via Trainline. Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams also stop directly outside on Princes Street, and drivers looking for city centre spaces can pre-book nearby parking through JustPark.
• Accommodation: Staying in the New Town keeps everything within walking distance. For boutique rooms close to the action, check availability at Hotel Du Vin in the nearby Old Town, or compare city centre apartments and hotels on Booking.com.
• Eating in: If you want to tackle a messy smash burger or a German doner pizza without risking your clothes in public, you can order Kongz straight to your door via Just Eat.

Overall

Kongz brings big Glasgow street-food energy and dangerously messy smash burgers to the heart of Edinburgh’s main shopping thoroughfare. The counter service can be slightly clunky, and the solo burger will not dethrone the city’s gourmet heavyweights, yet the sheer variety of halal burgers, pakora, and German doner pizzas makes it an intriguing newcomer. Standing outside on Princes Street, faced with a choice between McDonald’s and Kongz, there is zero doubt where you should go.