Inspired by another thread - Best hamburger place, and why?

[After Shock Media]

Lets hear it. I travel often and love a great burger place. Have pretty solid standards of what makes a great burger.

Will already say as I did in other thread the following:
Fathers office: What they call a hamburger is a sandwich that is tasty as a sandwich but sure in the hell is not a hamburger, nor what you would be after if you craved a hamburger.
In and Out: They barely meet the acceptable status and fall into the OK category for a hamburger, giving them some bonus points since they are technically fast food and do at least use fresh ingredients.
Fatburger: Again not thrilled, sort of blah actually and more about the toppings than the burger.

[candyflip]

When I'm here at home:

http://garbageplate.com/

When I anywhere else in the world:

http://www.hardrock.com

[421Fill]

of the chain places, my fave is FatBurger. but the best place where I live for a good burger is a place called CJs BBQ, freaking awesome, imo. I agree with you about i n out, they're ok, but at least it's fresh ingredients... fries are the bomb, tho.

[SBJ]

I love In and Out burgers but they are only in AZ and some places in Cali

[candyflip]

I also really love the streetmeat cart near my office. He get's my money a few times each week.

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by 421Fill

of the chain places, my fave is FatBurger. but the best place where I live for a good burger is a place called CJs BBQ, freaking awesome, imo. I agree with you about i n out, they're ok, but at least it's fresh ingredients... fries are the bomb, tho.

Local is fine and great. Not talking about chains. Hell I have rarely found a chain that is anywhere near decent. Unless it is a very local chain with just a few locations.

[J. Falcon]

Does Burger King count?

[$5 submissions]

Tommy's burgers -- because their chili sauce not only tastes great but packs on enough sustenance to make anyone live through the next Ice Age

In-N-Out -- because FRESH matters

Nation burgers at Berkeley -- Nothing better goes with 24 beers consumed during a frat party

[After Shock Media]

By Tommy's burgers do you mean the ones in LA, that have became a mini chain now?
If so they really are another place that is more about the toppings than the burger itself. The chili burger is pretty damn good, but good luck without the chili. Unfortunately this would hurt it's rankings in my eyes. Also the patty is way to thin which always results in a well done piece of meat that lacks the proper moisture and is not that crumbly.

In and Out suffers one of the same problems. Their beef patty is so thin that it can only be cooked well done and thus dry to boot.

[PersianKitty]

Dicks Drive Inn local to the Seattle area..

and recently found a hole in the wall near the Tacoma Dome called..Friesenburgers

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by PersianKitty

Dicks Drive Inn local to the Seattle area..

and recently found a hole in the wall near the Tacoma Dome called..Friesenburgers

It is what I want to hear.
Any reasons why and what makes them good or great in your mind?

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by J. Falcon

Does Burger King count?

If you really think so in your mind.

[tony286]

the vortex in atl, the burgers are big and cooked to order. i hate a well done burger and the tater tots are yummy.

[fuzebox]

How about the Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay in Vegas?

[Spunky]

Here in B.C.,it's Whitespot..must be their secret sauce

[fuzebox]

Originally Posted by Spunky

Here in B.C.,it's Whitespot..must be their secret sauce

I haven't had a BC burger in years!!!

[MovieMaster]

In N Out - Fresh Home made burger and fries period

Where else can a kid make [10+ per hr starting] flipping burgers.

[d-null]

for consistency and a chain, In & Out for sure

Burger King has potential, but it fails at so many locations, don't know why they screw it up at so many places, but the odd one is ok

Carls could be good too, but way too overboard in the condiments



If I had a choice of all the chain restaurants being close by, I would go to In & Out right now

[PersianKitty]

Originally Posted by After Shock Media

It is what I want to hear.
Any reasons why and what makes them good or great in your mind?

Dick's is just a good basic greasy spoon kinda burger... http://www.ddir.com/

They have a handful of locations in Seattle, employ alot of high school and college kids and give scholarships. A Dick's deluxe is just a couple of little burger patties done on a flattop, special sauce, some lettuce and cheese and is $2.40. Place is open until like 1 or 2 am.

Their fries are handcut (you can watch them on the premises).

There other place has been open less than a year. Friesenburgers..does breakfast too. http://friesenburgers.googlepages.com/ Their namesake burger is two patties (1/2 lb), cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon and a fried egg (not my cup of tea). They also offer deep fried twinkies (not for me either). They also do a buffalo burger and grilled or deep fried hot dogs...and any place that does their own deep fried mushrooms is good in my book.

[IllTestYourGirls]

I traveled through Maine this summer two places stick out. Fat Boys in Brunswick had one of the best burgers Ive tasted. Fat juicy and seasoned perfectly. The other place is Macs Seafood grill I think that was in Auburn, best fried clams I have EVER had. Shucked, battered and fried in front of me.

If you are traveling around never eat the chains its a waste of money

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by MovieMaster

In N Out - Fresh Home made burger and fries period

Where else can a kid make [10+ per hr starting] flipping burgers.

Do not care what the people make. This is just about best burger places and there are countless mom and pop or hole in the wall burger places that are making them fresh with every order.

Originally Posted by d-null

for consistency and a chain, In & Out for sure

Burger King has potential, but it fails at so many locations, don't know why they screw it up at so many places, but the odd one is ok

Carls could be good too, but way too overboard in the condiments
If I had a choice of all the chain restaurants being close by, I would go to In & Out right now

Non chain please, unless they are indeed your favorite.

Hell with In and Out, Burgerking, McDonald's, Carls Jr (Hardees), Jack in the box, etc. Can you get a patty cooked the way you want, i.e. medium rare or medium? Or do you always get them well done no matter what.

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by IllTestYourGirls

If you are traveling around never eat the chains its a waste of money

That is the intention of thread. I always try to find both a burger place and a hotdog place everywhere I travel to try. Tricky with the hotdog as some sort of are just in the same family as a hotdog if you know what I mean.

[PurrrsianPussyKat]

There is a little hole in the wall called Tony's lunch in girardville pa. They have a burger called a screamer. Best you'll ever have! If you'd rather have a hotdog, they have growlers too.

They are only open from 7:30 pm to 1:30 am thursday - sunday.. so I hope you're a night owl. ;)

[smax]

Whenever talking "best" of food I can not put any chain in the conversation - In & Out,Fatberger, Carls, Whataburger all glorified Micky D's. You gotta find that dinner or mom and pop place or even bar, in Austin Casino El Camino is tits. My evidence, an Amarillo burger -Roasted Serrano chiles, jalapeño jack cheese and cilantro mayonnaise cooked medium.

Salivate bitches!




None of the chains mentioned in thread have shit on something like this

[After Shock Media]

That is what I am looking for Smax. Again something you just can not get in large chains.
I do love the addition of chilies on some burgers. Serrano's though eh? How is the heat level? I know a standard Ortega green chili or a hatch chili kicks major ass but neither has much heat, just great flavor.

[smax]

The heat factor is not bad at all and cilantro mayo goes perfect with it

[smax]

New Orleans best is a place called Port of Call right on the edge of the Quarter and they server their burgers with a baked potato instead of fries which I found unique. If by chance of hell you find yourself stuck in Oklahoma City, Johnnie's Charcoal Broiler makes a good burger as well, #9 theta with cheese

[HorseShit]

fuddruckers

[~Ray]

I like fatburgers, hold the mayo and relish, add mustard.

[LiveDose]

I love Red Robin but I know there are killer Mom & Pop type joints all over the States...

[HorseShit]

I know there are fuddruckers in cali asm

[PurrrsianPussyKat]

Originally Posted by After Shock Media

That is what I am looking for Smax. Again something you just can not get in large chains.
I do love the addition of chilies on some burgers. Serrano's though eh? How is the heat level? I know a standard Ortega green chili or a hatch chili kicks major ass but neither has much heat, just great flavor.

If heat is what you're after, you definitely want to try a screamer!

[d-null]

I tend to stick with chains because I think with volume comes freshness.... I hate to go to the independent where they are only selling a few dozen burgers a day

[marketsmart]

huts, austin tx...

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by jdavis

I know there are fuddruckers in cali asm

They are OK, have great mustard.

Originally Posted by PurrrsianPussyKat

If heat is what you're after, you definitely want to try a screamer!

Nope not really after heat. Was just asking about it. I like flavor myself. Often heat just overwhelms everything.

Originally Posted by d-null

I tend to stick with chains because I think with volume comes freshness.... I hate to go to the independent where they are only selling a few dozen burgers a day

Good burger places have high turn overs and are typically very busy. Some of the best places you can see them taking the actual chuck and or other meats and grinding it on premises. Some of my favorite places, you often have to wait 5-10 minutes to even place your order around lunch time due to lines and crowds. They typically have no issue moving several hundred orders during a lunch shift.

[Spieglergirls]

MICHAEL'S BURGERS in Canoga Park, Ca.

Michael's is a hole in the wall place that cooks up great charbroiled burgers. I brought some of their burgers to a Digital Playground set one time - and now they always ask me
to bring them to the set when they shoot our girls.

Bonus: Their burgers are cheap! A 1/4lb Cheese Burger w/ Sm. French Fries & Medium Soda - ONLY $3.99

MICHAEL'S BURGERS
Located at:
7225 Topanga Cyn. Blvd Canoga Park, CA 91303
(818) 704-8893
michaelsburger[dot]com

[bDok]

in ocean beach ca a place called hodads.

then chain places like fuddruckers (sp?) and in n out.

tk burgers in newport beach. I believe there is another one now as well in orange county.

[Doctor Dre]

My favorite place for burgers is McDonalds and harverys.

[Helix]

Millers bar and grill on Michigan Avenue Dearborn Michigan. Best tasting cheesburger I ever had. Nothing out of the ordinary, just fresh meat grilled perfectly with all of the usual toppings. The odd thing is they never run a tab on paper, the bill never comes to the table. You just walk up to the register and tell them what you had, they already know what you ate, and how many beers and what kind of beer. Nice people too.

[aico]

In and Out is my favorite.

Wendy's ain't too bad either.

Edit: well some Wendy's, some are crap.

[Peaches]

For a non-chain - Holeman and Finch here in ATL. But you can only buy it after 10PM

http://www.holeman-finch.com/

And if you could make it travel well (which you can't) then you'd combine it with fries from Shaun's which are cooked in duck fat.

http://www.shaunsrestaurant.com/

Besides In and Out, Whataburger is my 2nd choice for best chain outside of ATL:

http://www.whataburger.com/

And 5 Guys (they have vinegar for your fries too....) inside ATL:

http://www.fiveguys.com/home.aspx

But I personally like my hamburgers the best

[bloggingseo]

I love Fuddruckers burgers but technically they are a chain in Texas though. You can put the fresh ingredients on the burger yourself and the burger itself is cooked perfectly.

[DefaultMan]

I'm all about the In-n-Out Burger. It's like crack!

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by DefaultMan

I'm all about the In-n-Out Burger. It's like crack!

Why?
They are OK fast food wise but still they really are bleh burger wise.

[aico]

Originally Posted by After Shock Media

Why?
They are OK fast food wise but still they really are bleh burger wise.

Because they taste really fucking good, that's why. Maybe bleh to you, but obviously some people think they are good if not great.

[After Shock Media]

Originally Posted by aico

Because they taste really fucking good, that's why. Maybe bleh to you, but obviously some people think they are good if not great.

Then they could explain right? Thread does ask about the why and me asking again is of no damn issue when someone leaves it out. Perhaps I am curious. Maybe it is research and I am trying to build a blog or something. I just do not live in your world where if someone asks for comments or even gives you a comment card when you buy something and you just respond with "cause I like it". Ends up as an invalid entry really.

[aico]

Originally Posted by After Shock Media

Then they could explain right? Thread does ask about the why and me asking again is of no damn issue when someone leaves it out. Perhaps I am curious. Maybe it is research and I am trying to build a blog or something. I just do not live in your world where if someone asks for comments or even gives you a comment card when you buy something and you just respond with "cause I like it". Ends up as an invalid entry really.

well I hate to break it to ya, but when it comes to food, how it tastes is pretty much it.

[bronco67]

In PortChester, New York there's a little place called Burgers, Shakes and Fries. Just a couple of guys who started their own place and got great reviews.

It's weird buger, on some kind of bread slices, but it's the best burger I've ever had. On that first bite, that motherfucker exploded tasty beef grease all over the inside of my mouth.

I've been back every weekend since then.

[JJ Gold]

The absence of Whataburger is the only bad thing about living in Southern California.

Tommy's comes close but Whataburger will always be the genuine article.

All Whataburger locations are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 a year.

Case closed.

[JJ Gold]

I didn't know single locations were cool in this thread.

Hodad's in OB-San Diego.

I go there all the time but not often enough.