Your favorite Burger joint...

Chuck 'n' Freds. This was a dive run by two fishing buddies. It served breakfast and lunch and the afternoon and evening was for fishing. They had a bulletin board with the day's fishing report, one of the most accurate in town. Decor ran to baseball hat's on the wall from various people and firms that frequented the place. Lots of fishing gear and trophies on the wall too. Every booth had a stack of 3x5 photos of people fishing--most often Chuck 'n' Fred--and what they were catching.

It's the burger joint in a generic B movie called Truth or Consequences New Mexico. ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120383/ ) They retired completely a number of years ago now so I might miss some details.

The burgers were amazing. A robust bun, griddle fried meat with a combo of seasonings I haven't figured out exactly. Probably some worcestershire, but not lots, and a hint of garlic, salt and pepper is as close as I've come.

The pinnacle of the burgers there was the bacon mushroom cheese burger.

Two 1/4 # burgers, two slices of cheese. (Might only have been one, but this was a huge burger)

Meaty bacon, thickly cut and enough to really be present in the burger.

The mushrooms were a medium small dice of button mushroom. They were a bit overcooked, but that worked well in the burger. They were dark, very dark heading into blackness. With a tang in the mouth I haven't placed exactly to a flavor or technique. I assume these were done ahead on the griddle, and held to order, mabye splashed with soy, or more worcestershire, or lemon, maybe red wine vinegar?, probably some garlic too.

Lettuce and onions in a mixed shred. Kind of an odd way to do it but it worked and was well balanced.

Real cheddar cheese. Not processed. It was probably bought pre sliced as it was always uniform, but it was the real thing.

Fry sauce in the burger, more on the side for the fries and for adding to the burger. Fry Sauce is a peculiarly Utah thing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fry_sauce

It's basis is a combination of mayonnaise and ketchup--probable the brainchild of a returned missionary who enjoyed mayo on the fries in some European country and tried both simultaneously back home in Utah. It's often doctored with other flavorful tasty things, lemon juice, onion, garlic, buttermilk and even smokey barbecue sauce at another burger joint--The Training Table.

Now comes the trick. For most people, once you pick up the burger you're committed. You can't put it back down and hope to pick it up again in one piece. Unless you have extra large hands to re-encompass the whole pile it becomes when set down. The whole burger was probably 5-6 inches tall when served.

Good fries too.

They did a mean breakfast as well. When the no smoking in restaurants law was passed, there was an exception for "private clubs"--normally places that focus on alcohol. Chuck 'n' Fred's and a few other joints created a group private club membership called Smoker's Anonymous. These were restaurants that catered to a blue-collar smoking crowd and needed to maintain a smoking atmosphere to stay profitable. The law hurt Chuck 'n' Fred's and there were a couple of law suits against Smoker's Anonymous, but as I recall, SA won out for a while. I don't think there are any SA restaurants still open. most of the SA joints served good tasting food, but weren't upscale at all. Another SA place, Jo-Jo's Too had monster sandwiches with good quality fixings. It was Jo-Jo's Too as there was a first establishment in a truck stop in another part of town, but same management.

I don't eat a lot of burgers, but I do like Ron's Place in Kenosha, WI. They have a burger called the T Hurst special. Think of it as a ham and cheese sandwich with a good meaty burger or a cheeseburger with nice, smoky ham. They serve it with grilled or raw onions. They're also known for their versions of Long Island Iced Tea. A stop at Ron's Place is a ritual when I go there to buy Italian groceries at Tenuta's across the street. :bounce:

I usually like my burgers pretty simple, but up the way from me is a place called Coasters. They make a big burger, hand formed, that comes on a great bun. I get it with cheese and sauted peppers, onions, and mushrooms. It's messy, sloppy and when Im done I'm a mess from the eyebrows down, but boy it's great. There is a lot of good looking thinks on the menu there, but I can never get past that burger.

Tony

There's a place here in pensacola called "Jerry's". It's a little hole-in-the-wall joint that has some GREAT burgers. I was surprised they made a "road food" book recently too.

Char hut in south florida - awesome burgers!

there are two joints in the Quarters that do a great job. I cannot remember the names. One they cooked them under a hub cap! Too funny but good and the other was on the edge of the quarter, port of call! Real good!

I had one of the best burgers ever at a place in clearwater florida called jo-anns chili bordello. Jalapino burger topped with jalapinno jack cheese on a jalapino roll, outstanding!

And there is always a dozen Krysyals after a good night!

There used to be this place in Tulsa, OK (Admiral & Memorial)called "Burger Station" that made the most awesome burgers... My favorite sandwich was their BLT... :bounce:

Hamburgers really are getting a lot of attention these days... I think I've tried more new burger joints over the last month then I ever had before...

checkout

www-dot-ahamburgertoday-dot-com (been a lurker a long time, but haven't posted the required 15 times yet; please don't hate me ;)

For those close to NYC, there are really some top burgers out there.... Think I'll hit another one this weekend! :)

The "Squeeze Inn" 7918 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento, CA 95820

There is a place in St.Petersburg FL called The Dairy Inn and their burgers are pretty good..definitly not fast food standard, cooked to order, with all the toppings plus not only can you get french fries, but tater tots. Been around for about 40 years, the place gets really busy around 11:30 a.m.:)

Fuddruckers (I think it's a national chain) can make some serious burgers and they can weigh in at up to 1lb each. They also have Ostrich burgers there which are good as long as you don't get them cooked too well (they tend to dry out). My burger from fuddruckers goes 2/3lb with bacon, fried onions, jalapenos, tomatoes and dripping wet with BBQ sauce. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Five Guys also makes a decent burger, but a totally different joint. They throw a bunch of small patties together on a smaller bun. Your choice of toppings and they got plenty. Really good, but a giant greaseball. Not sure about the availability outside of DC/MD/VA though.

TK Burger in the OC, California. Can't stress it enough. There are two of them that I know of, complete dives but that's part of the charm. The patties aren't that huge, which is something I prefer, but the flavor is just amazing. Its got the requisite tomato, lettuce, onion, mayo and ketchup on a soft bun. I don't know if its their well-seasoned griddle or what, but wow, it just goes straight to your brain's pleasure center.

When I'm on the East Coast I like the burgers at The Coffee Shop in Union Square. Unlike TK Burger, this place is more where people who want to be seen go, which can be somewhat tedious, but their burgers are my fave in NYC. Pretty much for the same reasons above, its just the flavor of the grill they use.

Hey poster of the original post, (sorry, I forgot your name) what's your favorite place???

When we went to Virginia two years ago, our grand-nephews introduced us to Five Guys Burgers and Fries. 

They were voted best burger in 2010 by Zagat, and I tell you, now that we have three of them in Tucson, yeah boy!! 

We were there today as a matter of fact.  Maybe that’s what prompted me to search out a previous thread on the topic of burgers.

The other day while zipping about town I wanted a snack.  Stopped at a Burger King and got one of their mushroom and swiss BK Toppers.

 

Hot, fresh and juicy it brought back memories - I had forgotten just how awful canned mushrooms can be.

 

 

mjb.

 

 

The best burger joint in RI is in the worst part of the state, Central Falls. Its called Stanley's. Has been there since the 30's in the same location, they didn't add a second until 2000ish but the new one isn't the same. They do burgers that are mixed well with a lot of onion strings for lack of a better word before cooking, similar to those places that cook the burger over a thin slice of onion. Their classic "stanley burger" is grilled with onions topped with dill pickle slices. They are smaller burgers, not like the monstrosities you get served at chilies or something, and they are priced as such, at only $1.99 which I think is a pretty good deal. I usually get two, three if I'm feeling ballsy because I only make it there once or twice a year. My favorite part about it is it still has that old school 50's diner feel which I absolutely love. This is reminding me how long its been since I last went...

A representative few great burger places in the LA area presented in alphabetical order:

 

• Apple Pan (it's impossible to say what makes an AP burger so incredibly good... it just is)
• Fat Burger (yeah baby!)
• Father's Office (spectacularly good)
• Foundry on Melrose (as good as Father's Office)
• Hamburger Habit (what I said about the Apple Pan, just not quite as good... but a lot less crowded!)
• Hamburger Hamlet (grew up eating at HH; their hamburgers still great, excellent bar, but service is an issue)
• Howard's Bacon and Avocado Burger (great B&A, great patty melt, too)
• In and Out  (triple-triple, animal style)
• Islands (Linda doesn't care for Islands because she thinks their basic hamburger size is too large.  In any case, good meat which you can get medium-rare if you ask although they'll tell you can't, decent choice of beers, and plenty of girly drinks if you happen to be fortunate enough to be lunching a deux)
• Marty's  (on the west side, close to Fox and Rancho Park; good blend of meats which they grind daily; they close -- usually in the late afternoon -- when they run out of meat)
• Oinkster
• Ritz Carlton Hotel coffee shops (okay, not the world's greatest hamburger, but certainly good enough.  It's a lovely and wondrous place to eat with antiques, music, real silver, cute little miniature ketchup bottles, attentive service, all kinds of non-burger alternatives for your non-burger eating friends, you don't have to wear a tie or even long pants, and surprisingly fair prices.  Can't go wrong)
• Rustic Canyon (same class as Father's Office and the Foundry)
• T-Burger
• Tommy's (can be very hard for out of towners to understand -- especially the chili.)
• Twoheys (excellent coffee shop burgers)

 

BDL

Edited by boar_d_laze - 12/8/11 at 10:43am

In Milwaukee the top two joints are pretty unanimously Sobelman's and AJ Bombers.

 

Sobelman's is the older of the two joints.  Its a crowded corner bar and grill on a fairly isolated street near Marquette University.  The place is freakishly clean for a pub and grill.  The Sobelman burger is a 1/3 lb grass-fed patty topped with three cheeses jalepenos and fried onions.  In my opinion what really makes it special is the bun which is simple, a bit rustic, and baked fresh just for Sobelman's.

 

AJ Bombers is in a much busier location and is nearly always a madhouse.  Its a fun type of atmosphere with graffiti all over the walls, and a fun rail system thing overhead that can be used to deliver peanuts from the bar to any table in the place.  The menu is straightforward but everything is very well executed.  One of the stranger things on the menu is a chunky peanut butter bacon cheeseburger which is actually pretty good and way more than a sum of its parts.  As most people omit the fries from their order as there are already free peanuts, the peanut butter isn't that unnatural and really just makes the whole thing very Earthy--and in the mood for a milkshake.  The Milwaukee Burger which was recently crowned the champion of Milwaukee is a 1/4 lb organic grass-fed patty, WI colby cheese, bacon, and Schlitz onions.  For those not familiar with Schlitz, its the "beer that made Milwaukee famous."

both these places were on some show on foodnetwork the other day. I happened to sumble upon it and it was a burger challenge, who had the better burger. They both looked wicked good.
 

 

Each one is different and unique in themselves. There is fast food joints and , middle and upper fast food joints. I think it depends on your mood of the day and how hungry you are. Example I like Checkersfor junk type and 5 Guys   for upper type. Mc Donalds double cheese sometimes.

Oh My!  McD's dollar menu, double cheese burger (plain please, don't care for reconstituted onions), a small fries and then ironically I like a diet Coke (very little ice please) to wash it all down.

Though if I could, I would have a "Loco Moco" (two scoops steamed white rice, a hamburger patty topped with an egg over easy and brown gravy all over please) at the New Liberty Grill on Union Mall in Honolulu everyday!!

BDL.....Can you air mail me a double chili cheese & chili cheese fries from Tommy's?.....I have cloned the chili as close as I remember it tasting & run it for burger special occasionally, but nothing like the real deal.

 

Boars Head Bar and Grill just outside Minneapolis on HWY 212. Burgers are great, dinner plate of some of the best fries I have ever had and cold beer!

That's what I forgot to say, chefedb you hit the nail on the head! 

When we go for the "upper type" of burger places, ya' know the ones where you can sit down and have a server etc, you normally can get a pretty good beer too!! 

BIG BONUS!! 

The other day while we were out Christmas shopping we stopped into one of those "grill & bar" types with in house brewed beers, YUM-O!!

Discounting burgers overall I will go out of my way to go to a Chick-Filet  place .I think they are excellent except their shake is almost non dairy like the rest .(whipped oil and thickeners and air) Leave a shake in your car full come back in a while and the cup looks like someone drank 3/4 of it. In fact most all of them are non dairy cept Wendy's as far as I can see, and oh yea Steak and Shake. (I love good shakes)

There aren't any around here in New England that I have seen, had my first Chick-filet experience on vacation to florida last year. Love that place, wish they had some up here.

 

Them and I keep hearing amazing things all of the web about in-and-out burgers. Unfortunately I have never seen one of those in New England either. We did just start getting 5 guys burgers a couple years ago. They are good for a chain

 

Posted by chefbuba 

If only.  We must find a way to get together for lunch.  Let me know if and when you're coming out here.  They've added something to the menu which they call a "Mega."  Triple chili-cheese burger, chili-cheese fries, and a 54 oz soda.  Don't forget the (hot) yellow peppers.  I'm not sure when you left, but their newer stores (including the one in Monrovia/Duarte) have drive through windows.    

 

Great chili dogs, too.  Even if they weren't far more geographically favorable than Pinks, the lack of a half hour line might be enough to tip the regular chili-dog balance in Tommy's favor. 

 

BDL

Edited by boar_d_laze - 12/13/11 at 10:47am

We have lived on "the mainland" now for four years and we have yet to have a Chick-Filet

as for milk shakes with real ice cream, doesn't Jack In The Box also make those? 

I'm North of you in WA.... I left LA in 2000, the store that was closest to my house was in Eagle Rock, it was one one of the old style buildings, no inside seating, but did have a drive through.

 

I lived in LA for 7 years, I never went to Pink's, I won't stand in line for a $6 hot dog.

I would wait for a seat at the Apple Pan on occasion. Not all that great, but it's the whole experience with the counterman, hickory burger with cheese, fries, slice of their great pie and a cup of coffee poured piping hot from the urn on the back counter.

i have always, always wanted to go to pinks in L.A. as i soo loovve hot dogs and with everything i can fit on a bun...do you know the owners bdl? doesn't matter much if you don't..if i'm there, i'll just walk in the kitchen and introduce myself...but  it would be good to have someone to lunch with.....chefbuba.. $6 dollar dog? when was the last time you were at a ballgame? mega mega bucks and  for a boiled(steamed) skanky doggie at best....if i have a choice, griddle fried or grilled is best...

joey