The Impossible Burger: Meatless But Meaty?
Picture this: you take a bite of the Impossible Burger and you’re suddenly thinking, “Where did you slip that steak‑like flavor?!” It’s the kind of food that makes vegans double‑take and meat‑eaters hesitant. We took it for a taste‑test, but first, let’s peek under the hood.
What’s Inside?
All the wizardry is wrapped up in a neat little package of plant‑based ingredients. There’s soy protein, a dash of coconut oil, some heme (that’s a protein that gives the burger its iron‑rich, umami vibe), plus a secret sauce that screams “meat.” Think of it as molecular gastronomy meets eco‑friendly fast‑food.
Does It Tasting Like Real Meat?
- “Realistic, yet not too browned.” A few reviewers say the bite is downright convincing. The texture is surprisingly close to a real patty, and the juiciness? Pretty on-point.
- “A little cheat‑code flavor.” Some argue the taste is a touch too syrupy or artificial, but overall, the pros outshine the cons.
Want to Try It Yourself?
If you’re curious, you can snap the ShopBack app and head to Three Buns / Potato Head where they serve the iBurger with a side of ShopBack Go!. Or, instead of cashing out more, earn:
- $4 cashback via Quandoo
- $2.50 off with HungryGoWhere
- $1.50 return from Eatigo
Where to Find Impossible Foods in Singapore?
It’s not just about patties. Singapore’s food scene is a playground for culinary creativity, so you can munch on Impossible meat in:
| Restaurant | Dish |
|---|---|
| Ahh Buns | Impossible Sausage Roll |
| Dumpling Kingdom | Impossible Dumplings |
| Ginger & Poppy | Impossible Burger Sandwich |
| FoodSphere | Plant‑Based Steak Slices |
Final Thoughts
The Impossible Burger is a tasty reminder that sustainability can still feel as satisfying as a good steak. Whether you’re a carnivore curious about chasing greener horizons or a vegan exploring new flavor territories, this plant‑based patty provides a solid middle ground. Grab a bite, share a laugh, and maybe reinvent your own “meatless” menu—because dishes that taste so good they fake meat? Who says the future of food needs to be boring?
Photo: Shopback
WHAT IS THE IMPOSSIBLE FOODS MEAT MADE OF?
What makes the Impossible Burger taste like it might be meat is this thing called “heme”. (Not to be confused with hemp, which is a completely different type of plant altogether, and is illegal to consume in Singapore.)
What is heme? It’s basically what was produced from soy protein and a genetically engineered yeast.
Great news for our Muslim friends: Impossible Foods 2.0 is also halal certified.
Here’s a photo of its ingredients before they were magically combined by the Impossible Foods lab:
And a breakdown of all the ingredients, complete with their chemical names so you know exactly what you’re putting in your body:
Photo: Shopback
WHAT DOES THE IMPOSSIBLE BURGER TASTE LIKE?
I first got my taste of it when I went to New York last year. There was a very specific kind of earthy and root-like taste to it.
Was it because of all the years I’d spent eating mock meat at Vegetarian Bee Hoon stores? I knew it didn’t taste like mock meat.
But it tasted familiar somehow, even though I’ve never had the Impossible Burger before. I knew this flavour, I just didn’t know what it was.
All those reviews outside that said it tasted like meat was somewhat true: it had bite, and it had a pinkish middle with a smoky, meaty flavour. But I couldn’t forget that familiar taste that reminded me of a root vegetable.
To make sure I wasn’t just dreaming it up, I invited a colleague who loves meat to follow me on my second foray into Impossible Foods.
Photo: Shopback
We ordered two burgers at Three Buns – the Impossible Chedda ($23++), and the Bun DMC ($16++). I know it’s a little dark, but can you tell which is which?
The burgers were sliced into half so we could test both real meat and Impossible meat at the same time.
Sitting side by side, it was tough to tell the difference between the two based on their looks.
They looked like regular burgers. Sliced in half, they both look red and juicy in the middle.
Photo: Shopback
They even came with their own packaging, Without the stickers, we wouldn’t have been able to tell them apart.
In fact, there was a point in time while eating both, we couldn’t tell them apart.
Only when I took a nibble at the “meat” in the middle – and tasted that familiar “root vegetable like” taste – could I tell which was which.
My meat lover colleague says that the Impossible Burger reminded her of lean meat. She finished her half of the burger, which says something considering she never finishes her veggies.
WOULD WE HAVE THE IMPOSSIBLE BURGER AGAIN?
Her verdict was that she’d only have it again if she was out with a vegetarian friend.
But I think I like it enough for me to want to have it on a regular basis. Unlike some meat burgers, The Impossible Burger doesn’t leave me feeling like I’ve greased my stomach with oil.
I’ll probably try it at Empress next, because I want to know how an Impossible dumpling would taste like.
Right now, the prices for the Impossible Foods Meat is still a little high. We’re dreaming for the day they appear on our supermarket shelves, or the bar chor mee at our favourite hawker centre.
But for now, it’s still going to be a choice between a slightly bigger hole in my wallet versus filling an Impossible Foods sized hole in my stomach.
This article was first published in Shopback.
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