Hamburger

A hamburger, often known as a burger, consists of fillings—usually a patty of panfried or grilled ground meat, typically beef—placed inside a sliced bun, sesame seed bun, or bread roll. These patties are often served with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, bacon, or chilis, together in the bun or roll. The filling of the burger can be topped with condiments such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish, or a "special sauce", often a variation of Thousand Island dressing. A burger with the patty topped with cheese is called a cheeseburger, in which case "hamburger" often refers to a burger without cheese. Under some definitions, a hamburger is considered a sandwich.

Hamburgers are commonly prepared at home and typically associated with fast-food restaurants but are also sold at other restaurants, including high-end establishments. There are many international and regional variations of hamburgers. Some of the largest multinational fast-food chains feature burgers as one of their core products: McDonald'sBig Mac and Burger King's Whopper have become global icons of American culture. Hamburgers are staples of fast food and are usually served with a side of french fries.