The most excessive and decadent burger from Centro gets a kosher version

The countless burger joints that have opened in Israel in recent years fall into two schools: the minimalist ones that let the meat take center stage, and the decadent ones where the patty is just an excuse to pile on mushrooms, onions, fried eggs, cheddar, bacon, pulled asado, guacamole, pineapple, and a variety of sauces. There is no doubt to which school Centro belongs, whose first branch opened in a neighborhood in eastern Hadera. Their flagship dish is one of the most decadent around: a split burger served in a "pool" of cheddar, a trend that arrived from abroad and has been widely imitated.

Centro also offers a version with mushroom cream sauce, no less decadent, and the buns are special—brioche with black garlic-flavored glaze, red chili glaze, or truffle glaze, all baked at the owner's factory, Hamada Atamna. But the chain's new branch, the fourth in total (after Dubai and Kafr Qara), brings exciting news: a completely kosher burger joint. It is located at the main intersection of Hadera, on Highway 4, just steps from the police station.

The kosher version uses the same Angus beef as the non-kosher branches, but Atamna had to adapt the buns to meet kosher standards. He is currently setting up a dedicated factory for kosher buns that will be served at this location.

The menu at the kosher Centro is slightly smaller:

1. 150g burger meal — 67 NIS (49 NIS for the burger only)

2. 200g large burger meal — 77 NIS (58 NIS for the burger only)

3. 300g burger — 74 NIS

4. Crispy burger — 54 NIS

The meat is excellent—tasty, juicy, and well-seasoned—and its presence isn't lost amidst the madness of sauces and toppings. So how do you make a decadent but kosher burger? Those wanting the "cheddar pool" get it with a vegan cheddar sauce. The cheese inside the burger is also entirely vegan (84 NIS). You can also order the dish with a mushroom cream sauce, also vegan (81 NIS). There is also a burger with cheddar and gouda (71 NIS).

All three kosher versions are successful, though in the cheddar pool version, you can detect the plant-based texture of the cheese. In the burger with cream sauce, it was very difficult to distinguish from the original. As for the crispy burger: it's not a thick, juicy chicken breast, but a relatively thin slice coated in rice crisps. Because it's thin, it requires only a quick fry, resulting in something resembling a chicken smashburger. It's crispy and served with pesto aioli, adding a fresh twist to a dish we've seen in every possible variation over the last two years.

The most surprising dish was the smashburger (71 NIS), featuring two 100g patties, cheddar, fried onion, and mushroom cream sauce. I usually prefer the minimalist school, but I couldn't stop taking another bite. This slightly crazy combination works amazingly well and creates an addictive experience. It is an excellent, decadent, and—incredibly—kosher dish.

This Centro branch is more of a fast-food joint than a restaurant. Most seating is outdoors, and dishes are served in biodegradable packaging. The smashburger isn't cheap (smashes today cost between 54–72 NIS), but it is definitely worth tasting, especially if you keep kosher and have always fantasized about a decadent burger.

Address: Herbert Samuel 1, Hadera. Kosher.