El Perro Negro on Woodlands Road named among the world's best burger places
A Glasgow burger restaurant has made it onto a global stage. El Perro Negro, founded by Nick Watkins in 2014, has been named number 56 on the inaugural World's 101 Best Burger Places list, making it the first Scottish restaurant to receive the accolade and the only one on the 2026 list.
The ranking is produced by Upper Cut Media House. More than 1,500 burgers are evaluated every year by an independent global network of culinary experts, chefs, food journalists and certified meat specialists, judged on criteria including meat quality and provenance, cooking technique, composition, consistency, guest experience and ethical sourcing. There is no application process and no fee, so inclusion is earned entirely on merit.
El Perro Negro now sits alongside internationally known names including Bleecker Burger and Hawksmoor in London, Gasoline Grill in Copenhagen, Wagyu Mafia in Tokyo and Amboy Quality Meats in Los Angeles.
The restaurant has built its reputation on a straightforward philosophy: grass-fed, dry-aged British beef, sourced with care and handled with precision. It has twice been named UK's Best Burger at the National Burger Awards, in 2019 and 2021, and Nick Watkins was named UK Burger Chef of the Year in 2025.
Nick said the team has never been interested in shortcuts or gimmicks. They try to keep things simple, sourcing the best beef and ingredients they can and putting them together with care. Being recognised alongside some of the best burger restaurants in the world, he said, is a real validation of all their hard work.
The recognition came just before El Perro Negro's second appearance at Meatopia Glasgow, the open-fire food festival at SWG3 in June 2026, where Nick collaborated with Elliot Cunningham, founder of London open-fire concept Lagom.
Burger fans can try the award-winning burgers at the restaurant's Glasgow home on Woodlands Road, as well as at Bonnie and Wild in Edinburgh's St James Quarter. It is a proud moment for a business that started out as a Glasgow favourite and is now recognised around the world.
El Perro Negro is at 152 Woodlands Road, Glasgow. Follow the restaurant's social channels for opening hours and the latest specials.