It’s been a while since I ate from the “Burger Man,” so I did it last night. I ordered a chicken burger with everything.

Now the burger man in Tanjung Bungah has been around for more than a generation. He’s been setting up shop in our beachfront town for more than 30 years. I don’t know precisely how long, but way longer than my mere 10 years I’ve been eating from him.

People line up for his burgers, beef and chicken patties, and his chicken or beef hot dogs because they are unique. It’s not your normal American burger, and actually the meat itself is not the driver of the food. It’s his unique take on the burger which makes it special.

What is his take? First off, red cabbage. He piles high the red cabbage on the grill, mixing it with sauteed onions. It’s a delight to see. He presses the burgers hard on the grill, as he also does with the split hot dogs, getting rid of all the excess moisture. Then when ready, he places an egg mixture on the grill, putting the burger on the egg, and folding the egg around the burger. He plops it on a butter toasted roll, adds the grilled vegetables and sauce, and it’s ready to go.

The burger man of Tanjung Bungah. I wonder if that’s a good name for a novel?