The Gasoline Grill may need to be on your itinerary if you are hoping for an unforgettable dining experience while visiting the Danish capital. And, for you to be able to understand where the name comes from, you have to visit their original location in the center of Copenhagen, neatly placed near Nyhavn and Kongens Nytorv.
I learned about the Gasoline Grill back in 2019 when my girlfriend and I decided to eat a burger in a different place every week of the year. That was the time I was researching burger places all around Europe, and a friend of mine told me about this unusual place in Copenhagen. But, since we didn’t visit Denmark that year, it would take me a little longer to go there.
That opportunity first happened in 2025, when I arrived in Copenhagen to continue my bike ride towards Oslo. The queue was a bit longer than I expected, but I have no complaints about the rest. I loved it so much that the next time I was in town, I had to go back.
This is why I’m writing this article; more people need to know about this place that makes one of the best burgers I’ve ever had.
Gasoline Grill is where a working gas station meets gourmet street food.
Along with the great burgers, one thing that makes this place immediately interesting to me is that the restaurant is in a real gas station. While your burger is being prepared, you will see some cars pass by and fill their tanks. The station is fully automated, so there are no cashiers there. This arrangement made it possible for a modest roadside burger to take over the establishment and turn it into a popular spot serving what many people believe to be Copenhagen’s greatest burger.
When you go to the Gasoline Grill, you will see that the menu is quite limited. And that is on purpose. For me, it feels like the essence of what great street food should be. Every burger is made fresh with an exceptional patty that is grilled to order. Due to this dedication to freshness, you will have to wait for a couple of minutes. But, don’t worry, the payoff is more than worth your time.
Other than that, all the brand’s ingredients are organic. And they don’t just tell you that. You can taste it! Their buns are homemade and pair perfectly with their meat. And the meat has this smoky yet soft quality to it that tastes perfect. It might have one of the richest, purest meat flavors that I have ever encountered in a burger. I know this because I’ve tried many burgers all over Europe. This is truly one of the best burgers.
Now you might be wondering, with their limited menu, which burger should I try whenever I go to the Gasoline Grill?
Original Burger vs. Cheeseburger: Which Should You Choose?
When exploring their offerings, you will generally look at two foundational choices:
You have the Original Burger, which is the menu item that started it all. It comes with a generous amount of lettuce, fresh tomato slices, and their famous patty. It appeals to the fans of the classic burger-salad hybrid, and it was my choice during my first visit.
During my second visit, I decided to try something else and chose the cheeseburger. I can easily say that it’s a masterpiece. Definitely the best burger in Copenhagen and one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. The melted cheese, pickles, onions, and their special burger sauce all work well together to balance the patty’s strong flavor. This is a streamlined burger with no excesses with a focus on the harmony between meat, cheese, and sauce.
The Gasoline Grill offers plant-based options if you’re not a fan of meat, and my friends reported back to me that their vegetarian burgers were excellent. Perhaps, not as much as their meat-based options, but exceptional as well.
The Story Behind the Success
Based on what I learned on their website, the journey of the Gasoline Grill started several years ago. It began when founder Klaus Wittrup traveled to the United States as a 16-year-old exchange student. This is where he first tasted an American burger, and the experience stuck with him. He looked for different places in Denmark that would replicate the taste but couldn’t find any.
In April 2016, he opened the first Gasoline Grill at Landgreven, the one you can see in the pictures here. For the opening, there was no formal press or advertising. There was only a simple note on Klaus Wittrup’s Facebook page inviting people to stop by and try their burgers. It sold out immediately on day one, and this started the phenomenon that continues to thrive until today.
By spring 2017, Gasoline Grill earned a spot on Bloomberg’s list of the top burgers in the world, the only place from Northern Europe on the list! Today, the brand is larger than just one location. There are multiple burger places across the Copenhagen area—including Landgreven, Niels Hemmingsens Gade, Carlsbergbyen, Værnedamsvej, Hellerup, Parken, and Strandgade, alongside franchised spots in Tivoli and the Copenhagen Airport.
Why You Should Visit the Original Location
While expansion has brought Gasoline Grill to various corners of the Danish capital, making a pilgrimage to the original gas station location remains essential. Only there will you fully experience and feel the real vibe that gives this burger joint its name.
Don’t be put off by the line that’s building outside the small restaurant. They are open every day, starting at 11:00, and they stay open until their ingredients run out. Grab your place in line, enjoy the wait, and reward yourself with one of the finest burgers that Europe has to offer.
Uncovering Gasoline Grill: The Story Behind Copenhagen’s Most Iconic Street Food Burger
Landgreven 10 – Copenhagen
