Some definitions of addiction (ví-ci-o) say that it is the frequent practice of an act considered sinful or an inveterate habit… and we couldn’t agree more because the new smash burgers from the Spanish chain VICIO have arrived in Lisbon to make everyone’s mouth water.
And that’s just us, we were at the presentation of the brand, which announced its entry into the country with the first take-away restaurant in Lisbon.
We understand VICIO… they’re really addictive!
Needless to say, these burgers go straight onto our list of the best smash burgers in town: two generous slices of crispy matured meat – as il faut – topped with cheddar cheese, French lettuce, pear tomatoes, pickles, special sauce and a brioche bun, just to introduce one of the nine versions that the Spanish brand is bringing to Portugal, the VICIO Originals, the first one we tried… and loved.
We also tried what we think is one of the best smash burger versions in town: the Truffled Cheeseburger, with a double smash burger, fried egg (how delicious), cheddar cheese and black truffle sauce, on a sweet and fluffy brioche bun.
Known in Spain for its irreverence and daring, with a disruptive image created by Alex Puig, winner of “Masterchef Spain” in 2019, VICIO landed in the Portuguese capital this week to bring something new to this already crowded burger market, in both delivery (via Glovo) and take-away formats.
The project, which began in a garage during the pandemic, now has more than 30 stores throughout Spain, and this is the first venture of VICIO’s founders, Alex Puig and Oriol de Pablo, outside the country’s borders, and the choice of Lisbon would be the most obvious, especially because of its proximity.
Portugal is our closest neighbor and Portuguese culture is very similar to ours, so it makes perfect sense for our first international step to be in Lisbon. We’re convinced that VICIO fits in perfectly with the tastes of Lisboners and that, as has happened in every city where we’ve opened, our products will be welcomed with open arms. We came to Lisbon to “give it our own” to the Portuguese and nothing would make us more excited than for this opening to be the success we hope for and for Lisbon to become the first step in a much wider international expansion,” said Aleix Puig, co-founder and president of VICIO.
The menu: at home or to go
For now, VICIO is only available in Lisbon in two formats that are very popular with locals: delivery and take-away .
For home orders, only Glovo has a partnership with VICIO. But if you want to feel the “perfume” and the crackle of these smash burgers, you should head to Rua do Centro Cultural 39, which will be the brand’s first point of sale outside Spain, and which already has a team of 25 professionals selected and trained to guarantee you the best gastronomic experience.
We’ve already talked about the best sellers Truffled Cheeseburger (€13.90) and VICIO Originals (€11.90), but there are seven more delights for you to try, which can be included in menus with fries, drink and dessert (Shakes, Cheesecake with Nutella and Oreo Tiramisú).
Bacon Cheeseburger (€11.90), with a double smash burger, crispy bacon, cheddar, pickles and VICIO sauce on a brioche bun; Pollos Hermanos (€11.90), with extra crispy chicken marinated in Sichuan pepper and Dijon mustard, fresh lettuce, pear tomatoes, pickled red onion with rice and soy vinegar, Korean tartar sauce on a brioche bun; and Vegan Burger (€12.90), with Beyond burger, vegan cheddar-style slice, seasoned avocado, plum tomato and vegan chipotle based on soy drink in a brioche bun, make up some of the standout options from the latest smash burger brand in the capital.
You can also choose from various combos to order for all your family and friends:
- “Combo Sex on the Beach *beach not included” (66,90€)
- “Combo Couple Goals *couple not included” (33,90€)
- “Combo Satisfayer *batteries not included” (15,90€)
Address: Rua do Centro Cultural 39
Opening times: information not available
Menus: at Glovo
VICIO’s debut in Portugal was made official on their social networks, where they used the Rua Augusta arch – among other Lisbon landmarks – as a tourist reference to announce their new expansion into the international market.