PUBLISHED March 18th, 2020 04:30 am
How many vegetarians does it take to run a meatless meat food truck? Zero, according to green entrepreneurs Ken Ming Lee and Sophia Shen. The husband-and-wife team behind popular movie booking app Popcorn, this inventive duo’s latest venture is The Goodburger – a food truck which trundles along Marina Bay, dishing up Impossible burgers of all kinds.
While the meatless meat trend has been flourishing among Singapore’s burger joints, a concept devoted to Impossible meat is unusual – even more so when two meat-eaters are at the helm. “It’s our platform to promote sustainability and kindness,” Ken explains. Rather than eschewing meat entirely, he sees cutting down as a journey – an unending, often tough series of choices to reduce our carbon footprint and be responsible towards animals. To help meat-eaters like himself make the green choice more easily and often, this buns-on-wheels concept was born – boasting homemade Impossible patties with 89% less emissions than real meat, and 100% of the flavour.
Parked along the breezy Marina Bay waterfront since last November, The Goodburger has made fast converts of even the most skeptical CBD workers and tourists. The three-burger menu is lean and mean, with prices ranging from a wallet-friendly S$16 to S$20 – nothing you wouldn’t already pay for a good craft burger elsewhere.
If we had any doubts about how the Impossible burger might match up, one bite of The Classic (S$16) dispelled them. A take on the classic cheeseburger, this pillow-soft number boasts a juicy patty with that coveted pinkish-red center. It comes doused in a yummy secret sauce, and stacked with pickles and onions for extra oomph. We wolfed this down in record time, along with the straight-cut and perfectly crispy fries. Pro-tip: add an extra patty (S$6) for an even more satisfying meal.
Truffle fans will love The Black Tie (S$18), a classy reiteration of the cheeseburger. Comprising the Impossible patty, cheese, truffle aioli, and rocket leaves, this burger is rich and flavourful.
At first bite, this bun delivers a hit of strong truffle fragrance, which quickly dissipates into a subtle aftertaste. The rocket leaves are a unique addition, giving the tender patty an extra bite while soaking up the aioli. For even more truffle, order a side of Truffle Fries (S$12).
The latest addition to the menu, One Night in Bangkok (S$20) rounds up the trio with quirky Thai-inspired flavours. Aromatic herbs – particularly the lemongrass and onions – add a distinctly Asian tang to the Impossible patty. If you fancy tom yum or are looking for more of a kick, this spicy number is for you.
The Goodburger might be only a few months old, but its founders have big dreams; Ken tells us that he hopes to turn it into a chain with brick-and-mortar outlets down the road. Only by spreading the green spirit can prices go down – which, in turn, enables their eco-burgers to be even more accessible. With luck, they’ll be driving the meatless revolution in the near future – one good burger at a time.
The Goodburger is located at The Promontory, Marina Bay, 11 Marina Blvd, Singapore 018940. Open Tue-Fri 12pm–3pm. In the evenings, it is located at Event Square @ Marina Bay. Open Tue-Sun 5pm–9pm.