Who Makes Your Favorite Slider?

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (buffetbuster)

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:55:30 GMT

kaszeta-
I have only been to Motz and Hunter House and thought highly of both. Looking at your list, those other places must really be good. Thanks so much for the info!

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (kaszeta)

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:28:53 GMT

The places I've been for Sliders in Detroit (aside from White Castle) include, but aren't limited to (in approximate order of my preference)
1. Telway (Madison Heights and Detroit). The Detroit location is not in the greatest area; go to the Madison Heights one.
2. Bates (Livonia and Farmington Hills).
3. Motz (Detroit).
4. Brayz (Hazel Park)
5. Greene's (Farmington)
6. Hunter House (Birmingham)
7. Bray's (Westland)
I've written up Bates on my blog (http://offbeateats.org/20...mburgers-livonia-mi/), and my Telway review should post tomorrow as well. The others I've been to, but not with the camera, so they'll wait for another visit.

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (buffetbuster)

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:31:30 GMT

kaszeta-
Beautiful! I now know where to go next time in Detroit. And I would love to hear about some of the other slider joints you mentioned.

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (kaszeta)

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:14:54 GMT

While I still didn't have time to do the "grand tour of Slider joints" that I hope to do at some point, at least I got to go back to Telway on last week's trip to Detroit:

Telway really does these the right way. Instead of making those little ridiculous "punched with five holes" pre-made meat discs like White Castle, a Telway slider starts with two things: a small lump of ground beef that gets pressed flat onto the grill (giving it a sear that many slider joints lack), and starting with fresh onions instead of dried. They cook them burger side down with the onions on top, and then flip the whole mess over afterward. When it's almost don, the put the bun over it, and cover the mess with a towel.

The result is the perfect slider: Greasy, moist, fresh bun; seared meat; crisp dill pickle; and sharp but sweet stringy onions.

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (MellowRoast)

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:30:03 GMT

Here's an interesting side-by-side taste test from a blogger. http://www.cheese-burger.net/stories/krystal-v-white-castle.html

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (bartl)

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 18:38:21 GMT

I wonder how many people realize that "sliders" as a nickname was originally supposed to be a put-down, referring to the greasiness and laxative effects of the burgers?

Bart

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (kaszeta)

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:36:50 GMT

I was just at Telway in Madison Heights, MI last weekend. Mmmm, I'm reminded of how good a slider can be.
(Pics once I get around to uploading them....)

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (fishtaco)

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:22:47 GMT

ynotryme

I never understood why anyone would order sliders, seems to me instead of one big hamburger with one bun, it's 3 small ones with 3 buns.

Guess ya never had a White Castle, have you?

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (buffetbuster)

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 06:39:33 GMT

Foodbme-
Thanks for bring that place up. I just drove past last Friday night and was curious about it. Next time, I'm stopping in!

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (Foodbme)

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 02:53:03 GMT

The Chicago Hamburger Company, Phoenix AZ.
Home of the 97 cent "Windy City Slider"
Their other stuff is pretty good too!
http://www.chicagohamburger.com/

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (Foodbme)

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:17:48 GMT

ynotryme

I never understood why anyone would order sliders, seems to me instead of one big hamburger with one bun, it's 3 small ones with 3 buns.

It's like ordering a pizza and telling them to cut it in 6 slices 'cause you don't think you can eat 8!

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (ynotryme)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:53:21 GMT

I never understood why anyone would order sliders, seems to me instead of one big hamburger with one bun, it's 3 small ones with 3 buns.

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (MellowRoast)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:31:13 GMT

CajunKing: Never have had that problem.

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (Foodbme)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:03:30 GMT

ScreamingChicken

Fred's Parkview in Burlington, WI calls its 1/4-lb burgers "sliders" and while they're certainly very good IMO they're too large to be named as such.
Brad

You are correct sir! a 1/4# Hamburger is not a slider.

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (CajunKing)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:54:19 GMT

ann peeples

That must have been a fun comparison test!!!

I wouldn't have wanted to be around them an hour later when the real comparison test began (toot toot)

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (MellowRoast)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:45:45 GMT

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (ann peeples)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:14:59 GMT

That must have been a fun comparison test!!!

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (MellowRoast)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:35:49 GMT

Krystal, the one and only "true" slider! However, a group of us had fresh White Castles and Krystals side-by-side in Nashville recently. They were so close in flavor and appearance, we all were taken by surprise. If I'd been blindfolded, I (Mr. Picky himself) would have been hard-pressed to tell which was which (other than Krystal automatically comes with yellow mustard, has a slightly thicker bun, and WC has holes in the patty). While I believe Krystals tasted better before the Davenport family sold the chain in the late '90s, it was gratifying to observe there was no discernable difference in the quality or taste of the two burgers when both brands were fresh and on the table. Our group of ten picky slider lovers walked away with everyone in agreement. I was blown away and shook my head in disbelief, as did everyone else.

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (fishtaco)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:24:52 GMT

White Castle, the one and only "true" slider. Except in the Navy where bugers are called sliders. But when you are cooking on a rocking and rolling Destroyer in heavy seas, those things are gonna slide around on the grill!

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (ScreamingChicken)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:28:03 GMT

Fred's Parkview in Burlington, WI calls its 1/4-lb burgers "sliders" and while they're certainly very good IMO they're too large to be named as such.

Brad

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (tiki)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:18:04 GMT

White Castle!

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (Foodbme)

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:33:13 GMT

The Spotted Donkey Cantina in Scottsdale AZ makes great
Green Chile Meatloaf Sliders
Asadero cheese, caramelized onions, grilled tomato, chipotle ketchup and side of chorizo gravy with Donkey fries $10.00
The Chorizo Gravy is as good as the slider!
http://www.spotteddonkeycantina.com/index.html

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (phatphil)

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:09:39 GMT

on the road - white castle

at home - home made on kings hawaiin mini rolls with carmelized onions and a drop of wheresyoursister sauce

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (Pancho)

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:09:00 GMT

easydoesit

The Cozy reminds me of Nick's, a little shop in the college town of Brookings SD. Their only product is a hamburger or cheeseburger and pie. Chips but no fries, like the Billy Goat in Chicago. They cook the burger using what they call the "tank fry" method, which is similiar to Dyers in Memphis. I haven't been in Nick's for years, but was sitting at the counter one day watching the cook drop small, round balls of meat into a large pan with several inches of boiling liquid. He would let them cook for a bit, then use a spatula to smash them flat to the bottom of the pan. I asked him what the liquid was, and he said suet. Didn't sound too appetizing, but I got over that when he put my plateful in front of me. They were cheap, and according to their website, you can still get one for 1.18. Now I need a reason to go back to Brookings.

I was at Nick's last summer on a motorcycle cross country trip. Stopped for one and ended up eating four doubles! Dick, the owner came over and commented that I must have been hungry. They were fantastic.
http://www.nickshamburgers.com/

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (kaszeta)

Sat, 08 May 2010 13:43:34 GMT

KingT

Where in Detroit should I go?

Off the top of my head..., some of the better Detroit Metro slider joints are: Telway in Madison Heights, Grady's Lounge in Roseville, Comet in Royal Oak, Greens in Farmington Hills, Brayz in Hazel Park, and Hunter House in Birmingham. I know Detroit proper still has a few, but none are coming to mind.

I hear a lot of talk of NJ sliders, and like White Mana, but I think this is one place where the Detroit area can hold it's own.

Marcus Hamburgers is also worth checking out if you haven't been there, although it's not a slider (they serve burgers on hot dog buns, and have been doing so for a long time)

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (KingT)

Fri, 07 May 2010 23:51:13 GMT

kaszeta

I saw the title and was going to answer "Bates, in Livonia", and then saw that the first post mentioned that. I love that place.

I'm still planning on doing the "slider tour of metro Detroit" sometime when visiting the SO's family.

Aside from the above mentioned Bates, where would one go in the Detroit area for other great sliders? I might be out there and would hit as many of them as I know about since I've loved sliders since my youth and have always loved White Castle.

Eat Rite Diner in STL is also a great stop. I have most of the places mentioned on here in my mental notes should I ever be within an hour two drive from them. Its very saddening to me that here in Chicago, other than the 50+ White Castles we have no great slider joints, they all died off like so many other things when Chicago went from a Blue Collar town to a booming metropolis. Slider places seem to be found in blue collar towns and oldtime Midwest cities.

Its also amazing how many imitators popped up after White Castle came into the game. I have heard of what seems like 100s of old chains like Prince Castle and the above mentioned Little Tavern, and then theres the place in North Miami posted about above. I guess Krystal was basically the only one to survive but even they arent knocking the champ out. It would be cool if someone did a book about all these places of the past and the ones that survived to stand today. Maybe I'll do that one day.

Where in Detroit should I go?

Sliders are actually best (like everything else) when prepared correctly using fresh ingredients (in their case, the beef) They are pretty easy to make at home as long as you can work fast and best made on a flattop. I have a recipe feature on sliders at home here.

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (MiamiDon)

Wed, 05 May 2010 12:00:04 GMT

The best slider I have had was at Arnold's Royal Castle in North Miami.

But then again, I've never been to any of the places mentioned here, like White Castle, etc. I hope to grab a White Rose later this month.

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (SassyGritsAL)

Wed, 05 May 2010 11:35:23 GMT

I like my sliders steamed w/onions and extra mustard. We have a place here that is one of the oldest restaurants in Huntsville (Big Spring Cafe) and serves the best sliders ever. They call themselves "The Home of the Greasy Burger". It is a very samall diner w/only one table and about 12 counter stools. So most get their orders to go. The burgers are really not that greasy unless you as for extra grease (which some people do). You can get them loaded (lettuce, tomato, etc.), but I like mine the original way (onions and mustard). They also serve great chili and slaw dogs too. Usually I order two sliders and either a chili or slaw dog to get the best of both.

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (Jim2903)

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:35:04 GMT

Foodbme

Are you not in Nashville any longer There's Krystals in Nashville!

There's White Castle in Nashville, too -- I saw them across the street from each other. Maybe I was at the nexus of the universe

RE: Who Makes Your Favorite Slider? (kaszeta)

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:43:04 GMT

I saw the title and was going to answer "Bates, in Livonia", and then saw that the first post mentioned that. I love that place.

I'm still planning on doing the "slider tour of metro Detroit" sometime when visiting the SO's family.