The short answer
Four burger orders to compare at LEON, Nando’s, Honest Burgers and Pepe’s. Check calories, verified macros and the sides a burger figure leaves out.
What do we mean by a “healthy burger”?
There is no single burger that is healthiest for everybody. Here, “healthier” means a manageable, identifiable portion, useful nutrition information where available, and room to make a deliberate choice about sides. It does not mean a restaurant has received a health endorsement.
We selected three chicken burgers and one straightforward beef burger, rather than sorting a huge menu by the lowest calorie number. The figures below describe individual burgers. Even where a restaurant includes a side in the price, that side may be a separate nutrition entry.
The shortlist
The orders to know.
Single burgers were chosen for clear portions and practical comparison. We considered the full available nutrient panel, not protein alone. No taste rankings or claims of being the UK’s healthiest burger are made.
For a fully described portion: LEON chargrilled chicken
LEON publishes both the burger weight and a full nutrition panel, which makes this a particularly usable comparison. It is a chicken-thigh burger with its standard sauce, rather than an imaginary plain version created by subtracting ingredients.
UK; check your branch
- Calories
- 439 kcal
- Protein
- 27g
- Carbs
- 38g
- Fat
- 19.5g
Portion: One 228 g burger; no side or drink.
- Fibre
- 1.9g
- Sugars
- 4.2g
- Saturates
- 2.7g
- Salt
- 2.1g
Ordering note. Keep the published figure for the standard recipe. If you customise it, do not guess a precise calorie saving for removed mayonnaise.
For a simple chicken order: Nando’s
Choose the single Grilled Chicken Burger when you want a clearly named burger portion. We verified its menu calories, but have not reproduced older macro values as if they were freshly checked.
UK; check your branch
- Calories
- 443 kcal
- Protein
- Not verified
- Carbs
- Not verified
- Fat
- Not verified
Portion: Single burger; excludes sides and drinks.
Calories verified; protein and other macros not independently rechecked for this review.
Ordering note. Count any chosen side separately. The single and double burgers are different orders.
For a beef burger: Honest’s original Beef
The plain Beef entry has a full official nutrition panel. It offers a useful baseline before cheese or extra toppings, although its saturated fat and salt also deserve attention. The meal is not just the burger number: Honest serves a choice of side.
UK; check your branch
- Calories
- 582 kcal
- Protein
- 32g
- Carbs
- 64g
- Fat
- 21g
Portion: Burger only; the side included with the restaurant order is additional to these values.
- Fibre
- 2.9g
- Sugars
- 23g
- Saturates
- 9.2g
- Salt
- 2.6g
Ordering note. Decide between chips, coleslaw and salad as part of your meal. Do not assume a dressed salad has no energy or that an included side is already in the burger figure.
Honest Burgers menu and side choices ↗Honest Burgers official nutrition matrix ↗
For piri-piri chicken: Pepe’s Chicken XL
This grilled burger is another option to check locally. Its published base calories need the specified flavour addition before they describe the finished burger. We include it with that qualification, not as a guaranteed lower-calorie winner.
UK; check your branch
- Calories
- 443 kcal
- Protein
- Not verified
- Carbs
- Not verified
- Fat
- Not verified
Portion: Base burger: 443 kcal before 20 ml flavour; no sides or drink.
Base calories only; do not treat this as the finished meal total.
Ordering note. Use the branch menu and selected flavour. Fries, a drink and dip in a meal upgrade are additional.
Pepe’s UK menu ↗Pepe’s Welling menu: portions and flavour additions ↗
Compare the actual orders
Figures belong to the portions described. “Not verified” means we could not confirm that value for this review; it does not mean zero. See each order above for all verified nutrients and its source.
Swipe across to compare the portions →
| Order | Portion / inclusions | Calories | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEON: Chargrilled Chicken Burger | One 228 g burger; no side or drink. | 439 kcal | 27g |
| Nando’s: Grilled Chicken Burger | Single burger; excludes sides and drinks. | 443 kcal | Not verified |
| Honest Burgers: Beef Burger | Burger only; the side included with the restaurant order is additional to these values. | 582 kcal | 32g |
| Pepe’s: Chicken XL | Base burger: 443 kcal before 20 ml flavour; no sides or drink. | 443 kcal | Not verified |
Before you order
Compare one burger with one burger
Avoid comparing a single chicken burger with a double beef meal including fries. Start with an equivalent portion; then compare the whole order you would actually buy.
Let the side do a different job
If the burger is the part you came for, choose an accompaniment intentionally. Vegetables or salad can add variety, while chips can remain part of the meal. The goal is an order you understand, not a list of forbidden foods.
Protein is one column
A higher protein number does not cancel the rest of a nutrition panel. Look at salt and saturated fat too, especially when this is a frequent lunch. We expose those published values below each verified order.
Frequently asked questions
Is grilled chicken always the healthiest burger?
No. The whole recipe and meal matter. Grilled chicken is one option, not a health guarantee.
Are chips included in the Honest burger calories shown here?
No. These values come from the separate Beef Burger nutrition entry. Add the side you select.
Research, sources & limits
Official menus and nutrition pages were checked on 18 September 2026. Restaurant publication dates, where supplied, are separate from that check date. These are desk-researched recommendations, not reports of visits or a taste test. Availability, recipes and portions can change.
- NHS: eight tips for healthy eating ↗
- LEON Chargrilled Chicken Burger: nutrition ↗
- Nando’s UK food menu ↗
Menu calories checked; other macros are not reproduced from older records.
- Honest Burgers menu and side choices ↗
- Honest Burgers official nutrition matrix ↗
Linked by Honest Burgers’ allergy information page. Burger values exclude a side.
- Pepe’s UK menu ↗
- Pepe’s Welling menu: portions and flavour additions ↗
Branch-specific PDF; base calories exclude the stated flavour addition.
Published nutrition does not guarantee allergy suitability. Check current ingredients and cross-contact information with the restaurant. Restaurants linked to Menuu have their own dated menu records; external recommendations are not a promise of app coverage.
