From the mid-1800s, hamburgers have endeared themselves to food lovers. What’s there not to like about a soft toasted bun, crisp cool lettuce, sweet, vine-ripened tomatoes and a nice juicy seasoned meat patty in the middle of it all?

It’s no wonder the burger is hailed as “America’s favourite food”.

However over time, burgers evolved to become loaded with sauces and layers of cheese, not exactly the model for a wholesome, nutritious meal — especially if it’s from a fast-food chain.

Enter Malaysia’s own home grown brand Harley’s Burger and Roaster, with its “healthy fast food”.

Harley’s places great emphasis on using only the freshest, highest quality natural ingredients in its pursuit to serve the best burgers in Malaysia.

It uses zero artificial ingredients meaning there are no additives, colouring, flavouring or preservatives in its outstanding remake of classic favourites. Their meat is never frozen to maintain the integrity of flavour.

Every patty served at Harley’s is prepared fresh daily using 100% premium halal Australian beef and halal chicken, grilled to your order and sandwiched in between their homemade burger buns.

The most popular item is their 2×2 Burger, where two patties are fried with mustard and topped with caramelised onions, gherkins, lettuce and tomato. It is superbly juicy and flavourful, and will definitely fix your burger cravings.

Harley’s also offer 3×3, 4×4, 5×5 and the humongous 6×6 burger for those who subscribe to the motto “Go big or go home”.

Non-meat eaters can opt for their vegan paneer patty (cottage cheese) which is lightly pan-fried to crispy and chewy perfection.

The Crispy Chicken is just simply awesome, being wonderfully crispy on the outside yet tender and juicy on the inside. A word of caution – their sesame coated chicken wings are dangerously addictive!

Harley’s is proof that burgers don’t have to be off-limits when you’re trying to eat right.

When incorporated into a healthy, varied diet, research shows that red meat can be a good source of high-quality protein and essential nutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamin B12.

Chicken is an excellent source of highly-digestible proteins, B vitamins, iron, zinc and copper.

It is slightly longer than normal to get your meal here but it more than makes up for it in freshness and deliciousness.

The system is that you place your order at the counter, pay, collect a UFO buzzer and go sit at your table. Your buzzer will flash and vibrate when your order is ready for collection.

The owner says that much of the items on his menu are inspired by his many visits to the popular “In-N-Out Burger” when he spent many years in California.

Harley’s milkshakes are thick and creamy, and their French fries are also made to order and use the two-step frying method for maximum crispness on the outside and fluffy softness on the inside.

Prices here are very reasonable considering their location in Damansara Heights. The basic Hamburger is RM8.50, Cheeseburger is RM9.50, Chicken burger is RM9.50, two pieces of Crispy Chicken are RM10 and their signature 2 x 2 burger is RM15.

If you’re into coffee then you’ve hit the jackpot at Harley’s. They serve premium Yunnan and Myanmar specialty grade coffee from farm to your cup.

The beans are carefully selected by hand and roasted in-house by their artisan Baristas.

They roast the Yunnan Peaberries for about 17 minutes, then cool and store it. The ideal time to use them is four days after roasting, up to 25 days for the optimum taste. After 25 days they are discarded if not used.

The roasted Yunnan Peaberries are used for the house signature espresso blend, which is extra aromatic and a pleasure to sip after your meal.

If you’ve saved room for dessert, there are a variety of cakes calling your name from their cake counter, the loudest being the Nutella Crunch and the Lemon Cheesecake.

Harley’s is one outlet that surely delivers on its tagline – “American favourites, Quality ingredients, Freshly made”.