The Champions Burger culinary tour is hitting the road again with several key stops in September. Málaga, San Sebastián de los Reyes , and Santa Marta de Tormes are preparing to host the traveling festival that brings together some of the country's most renowned burger restaurants in a competitive format open to the public.
With free entry until capacity is reached, pet-friendly venues , and extended hours, the event features over 20 top-notch offerings served from food trucks , along with sweet and side options. The atmosphere is further enhanced by a neon archway at the entrance and a voting system where the audience has the final say.
Dates, venues and times confirmed
In Málaga , the event will take place at the Port's Cruise Terminal from Thursday, September 11th to Sunday, September 21st. The venue will be open Monday to Thursday from 6:00 PM to midnight and Friday to Sunday from noon to midnight . The entrance will feature a striking neon-lit archway, inspired by classic American highways.
In San Sebastián de los Reyes , the festival lands in the parking lot of The Style Outlets from Thursday 11 (initial opening at 19:00 p.m. ) until Sunday 21 September, respecting the same extended afternoon and evening hours during the week and continuity from midday on weekends.
In Santa Marta de Tormes (Salamanca), the food truck stop will be located on Avenida de la Serna from September 18th to 28th , in a space of approximately 6.000 m² . It will open at 19:00 PM on the first day, and will then maintain the regular schedule of the route. In addition to burgers, there will be fries, fried chicken , and sweet treats such as ice cream and desserts.
How the competition and voting system works
The public takes center stage: after trying each burger, the QR code on the receipt is scanned and the burger is rated. Criteria include the bun , the meat , the combination of ingredients, the presentation, and originality , encouraging brands to innovate and pay attention to detail.
At each venue, the three burgers that receive the most audience votes win local recognition, and throughout the competition, rankings are compiled that will culminate in the grand national final. This year, the final event will bring together 35 establishments to crown the best smash burger in the country, and the Best Burger in Europe will also be chosen from among guest entries.
The Malaga venue will include a space featuring restaurants run by influencers (Moflete, The Ox, Hades, and Smash Hiro), whose creations can be enjoyed but are not part of the competition . The festival maintains its commitment to sustainability : reusable cups and recycling bins will be available in each city to reduce waste.
As an added bonus, a Mustang will be raffled off among the voters . And to avoid waiting, the organizers remind everyone that it's possible to order through Uber Eats , an option that helps skip the lines and includes a €3 discount per burger when available.
Participants and outstanding proposals
Málaga: Grills lit by the sea
Streetfood Burger (La Gamberra 2.0) combines red brioche, aged beef, slow-cooked shredded rib, smoked cheddar , smoked mayo, caramelized bacon and a snack-like crunchy touch.
Muralla Burgers (All-Star) offers brioche with premium ribeye steak, double smoked cheddar, Golden sauce , bacon bits , All-Star touch, crispy onions and straw potatoes.
Dak Burger (Top 1) mixes premium ribeye and shredded black angus with red cheddar, sweet bacon , crispy onion, toasted mayo 2.0 and a crispy finish; offers a vegetarian version and a gluten-free option.
The VicBros Burger (Multiorgasmic) features brioche with aged beef, smoked cheddar, caramelized onion, mini pork belly, double sauce and crispy bacon bits; a gluten-free option is available.
Soul Coffee Beer (La Invicta) is based on artisanal brioche, double aged ribeye patty, double cheddar , grilled ribeye sauce, smoked bacon and house pickles.
Godeo (Royale Gold) features brioche with edible gold, creamy sauce, bacon jam, ribeye steak, smoked cheese, 48h rib , smoked sour cream and crunchy bacon.
TarantÃn Chiflado (La Bichota Pro Max) boosts the intensity with cheese brioche, wagyu with double cheddar, fried rib medallion, mac & cheese croquette and sauce syringe; with a vegetarian version.
Rico Burger (The Winner) features a potato brioche, aged ribeye medallion, caramelized bacon, melted cheddar , crispy onions, house sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan.
Nola Smoke (Nonna) opts for a signature truffle carbonara, Galician meat cooked in a kamado, 48h braised rib ragout , potato bread and Parmigiano Reggiano.
Tokio Jarana (The Winner) combines ribeye steak, brioche with reduction, truffle cheese cream, 48 h caramelized wagyu , smoked gouda and crispy cured beef.
Vacarnal Burger (XXL Carnal Sin) combines aged black angus ribeye steak, brioche with bacon and cheese, Route 66 sauce, cheddar, 48h smoked rib , crispy onion and Emmy-style cream.
Circo Burger (Santa Trufa) premium ribeye steak with truffle sauce, American style bacon , extra creamy cheese, parmesan sprinkles and black brioche.
Zamppa (La Picasso) offers matured beef, American cheddar, bacon jam, "Picasso" paint, crispy onions and a bite of sushi; with a gluten-free option.
The Ranch Smokehouse (F*cking Bestia) combines black gratin brioche, aged ribeye steak, 12h pulled pork, nachos , American cheddar, bacon jam and smoked sauce.
K-Chopo (Royale-K-Chopos) offers potato bread, 175g of Galician ribeye steak, smoked gouda, creamy sauce, crunchy bacon , gherkin and caramelized onion.
Hall of Fame and influencers: available, but out of the running
The event will feature a space for established brands and content creators : Gottan (Lil Wayne) , with gratinéed brioche, aged ribeye steak, and Japanese-style pancetta; Moflete (La Premiada) , with truffle cheese, Iberian ham , and toasted egg yolk; The OX (La Elegida) , with long-aged meats, glazed bacon, and pistachio; Hades (La Pecadora) , with house sauces and cheddar; and Smash Hiro (Sweet Child) , with double cheese and bacon jam, a gluten-free option available . To round things out, Cheeck’s will be there with its fried chicken bites in brioche buns and Asian-inspired sauces.
Those with a sweet tooth will have four sweet options at hand : Ioan pastry shop (donuts), Las Torres de Ciriaco (cheesecakes), Locopolo (ice creams) and Puto Café (coffees and hot drinks), designed to round off the visit with something sweet.
Santa Marta de Tormes: Smash Edition and brands in contention
Jisma Burger arrives from Murcia with a striking offering: glazed pink brioche, snack- like crisps , smashed ribeye steak with cheddar, 48h rib, bacon jam and a signature sauce with a provocative name.
Tximist Smash Burger , with several podium finishes on the circuit, offers black and gold brioche, smashed ribeye steak, American cheddar , truffle cheese cream, slow-cooked rib and signature sauce.
Nolito's (Blue Diamond) signs an iconic blue brioche burger with glitter powder, fat smash , US style rib, bacon jam, cheddar, crispy bacon and smoky sauces.
The Surti (Kryptonite) combines brioche, ribeye fat smash , cheddar, pulled beef with parmesan and Tasty and pistachio sauces for a creamy and aromatic profile.
Dalù Burger (The Champions) features brioche with American sauce and crispy onion, beef smash , cheddar and homemade bacon jam, seeking balance and a clean bite.
Umbrella (La Bellaka) adds smashed ribeye steak, bacon bits , white cheddar, slow-cooked rib, crispy onion, house sauce and a final spiced dusting.
Bandido's brings black potato brioche in syrup, its own smash meat , double red cheddar, caramelized and crispy onion , bacon, spicy sauces and a shower of aged cheese.
Delacalle is betting on a smash burger with double cheese (cheddar and emmental), potato brioche, jam and crispy bacon, 2.0 sauce and a finishing touch of melted cheddar.
El Poble (Fat Tony) features potato bread with fat smash, smoked cheddar , pickled gherkin, bacon and guanciale jam, crispy chips and house sauce.
Dak Burger , recently awarded in San Sebastian, combines premium ribeye steak with shredded black angus , sweet bacon , toasted mayo 2.0, red cheddar and a spiced crispy finish.
The Muralla (Pryngles's Smash) features a potato chip-like sauce, shoestring potatoes, cheddar, bacon , and parmesan; it was recognized as the best burger in Spain and second in Europe in 2023.
Street Food Burger (La Gamberra 2.0) repeats with red glazed brioche, ribeye meat, smoked and shredded rib , white cheddar, smoked mayo, caramelized and crispy bacon.
Route news and what's coming up
After attracting over 4 million visitors last year, The Champions Burger is touring more than 50 cities this year . It has already visited Córdoba, Barcelona, ​​AlmerÃa, Murcia, Logroño, Zaragoza, Alicante, Asturias (Siero), Madrid (Las Rozas), Madrid city, Gijón, Badajoz, Cádiz, Valencia, Valladolid, Santander, Vitoria-Gasteiz, San Sebastián, León, Barakaldo, Benidorm, and A Coruña, and will also be in Torrevieja and Vigo before the September leg.
The grand final will take place in December with the 35 burger joints that received the most votes along the route. In addition, the Best Burger in Europe will be chosen , further solidifying the competition's international profile and its commitment to innovation within the smash format.
At a recent stop, Mijas crowned Nolito’s as the most voted, leaving Dak Burger as runner-up. Recent results also include the success of Gottan Grill , which took the Spanish and European titles in 2024.
To optimize your visit, the organization recommends ordering through Uber Eats when available (avoid queues and add savings per burger), and reminds you that the venues have rest areas , free access until capacity is reached, and pet-friendly spaces to bring your pet.
With confirmed venues, unified schedules , and a diverse selection of brands, The Champions Burger route is gearing up for September: the public votes, the grills are nonstop, and the best proposals will be vying for a spot in a final that promises to be highly competitive.
