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A new fast-food spot has opened on Chesterton Road – yes, another addition to this ever growing foodie hotspot!

5 Akhis is a family-run burger restaurant run by four brothers that focuses predominantly on smash burgers and fried chicken. Located where the old Fusion Hut joint used to be (next to The Tivoli), it offers a more streamlined menu, moving away from the wider-ranging Bangladeshi cuisine that occupied the site previously.

On Your Bike

Stepping inside, the vibe is cool and contemporary. The interior strikes a balance between industrial and rustic, featuring a relaxed, street-smart feel that doesn’t try too hard. A playful centrepiece – a children’s bicycle mounted on the wall with motorised spinning wheels – gives the space a unique character.

Family through and though

It’s refreshing to see the Cambridge branch run by a family team, with a father and son working together. Speaking to the owner, he says the priority is freshness; no heat lamps are used here, and every order is prepared from scratch, meaning the food comes out fast despite the made-to-order approach. It’s also worth noting that the entire menu is fully halal, making it accessible to a wider community.

Watch our video here

Smash Burgers

I opted for the El Pape – a 6oz patty loaded with onion rings, cheese, and their signature El Pape sauce. It’s a feisty, messy, and flavour-packed burger. Despite being their hottest burger, I didn’t feel overly challenged by it but sinking my teeth in, it was incredibly soft and melted in my mouth, likely credited to the beef quality. I must admit, I was impressed for £8.99.

A rather interesting and experimental choice also caught my eye – the “Big Akhi’s” which features four patties in one with strawberry jam, of all things.

Loaded Fries & Tenders

The Flaming Mango tenders are absolutely fantastic; garnished with diced red onions, red chillies, and coriander; it was my personal favourite. They brought a beautiful deep red colour that wasn’t afraid to give you a spicy punch. In fact, it was spicier than their El Pape burger! The chicken itself was incredibly tender, and the added sweetness from the mango gave it an extra dimension rather than just being one-note hot.

I also tried the Chicken Strip Remix and it was damn good. It was a large portion and came garnished with perfectly crispy chicken. The chips weren’t anything to write home about, but the huge slathering of sauce managed to bring them to life with a mild, mysterious spice that I couldn’t quite put my finger on – Cajun, maybe?

Watch our video here

Milkshakes & Mocktails

5 Akhirs also offer a selection of drinks and desserts. The milkshakes are absolutely mental; my Oreo one arrived with what I thought was a white lid, but lifting it revealed a clear dome housing a mountain of whipped cream. I was eating cream literally by the spoonful.

Their mocktails aren’t trying to be high-end mixology, but they hit the spot as a “fun time” drink. They are light, colourful, sweet, and incredibly refreshing in this heat – plus, at £5.49, they’re priced fairly, unlike the many places that charge cocktail prices for a non-alcoholic drink.

For those with little ones, there is also a decent kids’ menu available for £5.99.

Peak Fast Food

If you’re looking for a no-nonsense, high-quality fast-food fix on Chesterton Road then 5 Akhis is well worth a try.

5 Akhis is a great example of when fast food is done with passion. It’s fresh, it’s colourful, and clearly run by people who are passionate about the product. If you’re in the area and fancy something a bit more interesting than your standard chain burger, get yourself down to Chesterton Road and give them a go.

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