Chuck’s Brings Its Smashburger Cult to Fitzrovia

For those who’ve spent the past few years chasing Chuck’s pop-ups across Europe, the wait is finally over. Chuck George — the man behind the now-legendary “no modifications” smashburger — has made London his permanent home, taking up residence at Carousel’s cocktail bar, No. 23 in Fitzrovia. The result: the kind of burger you stop what you’re doing for. No gimmicks, no customisation, no complicated sauces. Just the perfect ratio of meat, cheese, and bun, engineered with the precision of someone who knows that simplicity done right is the only real flex.

Chuck’s signature stack has already built a cult following across Milan, Paris, and Madrid, and for good reason. The anatomy is straightforward but faultless — a crisp-edged patty (single or double), melted cheddar, pickles, white onion, and Chuck’s own house sauce, all held together by a soft potato roll. Fries come as they should: golden, thin, and crunchy. It’s the kind of meal that doesn’t ask for improvement — which is exactly the point. Later this year, the London outpost will also see the addition of Chuck’s fish sauce wings and a crispy chicken burger, both of which have been hits elsewhere.

What makes this move particularly interesting is its setting. Instead of a standalone site, Chuck’s has parked itself inside No. 23, the intimate, 23-seat cocktail bar run by the Carousel team. The match makes sense — Carousel’s agave-heavy cocktail list has the same obsessive craftsmanship and quiet swagger as Chuck’s burgers. Think a smoky twist on a Manhattan made with The Lost Explorer Espadín, or the 75, a tequila, blackberry, and bay leaf mix topped with Krone Borealis bubbles. It’s the kind of bar you could come for the drinks and end up staying for the burger. Or vice versa.

For George, who was born in Newport, raised in Virginia, and trained in New York, this London opening feels like a homecoming of sorts. His background — Filipino-American mother, American father — has shaped a culinary perspective that’s as rooted in classic Americana as it is in global flavour. Before launching Chuck’s, he cut his teeth with the Silkstone Group in New York, working alongside industry heavyweights like Phil Winser (of The Pelican and The Hero) before launching his own concept in Milan in 2022. Within months, his “no-mods” burger had become a sensation, praised for its stripped-back precision and cult-level consistency.

Now, as Chuck’s sets up for the long haul in Fitzrovia, the formula remains unchanged: one burger, one way, done perfectly. Because when the basics are this good, you don’t mess with them.

Chuck’s at No. 23, Carousel, Fitzrovia. Open now.

Book a table at Chuck’s.