Best BURGER(s) in Philly ?!? The DEVIL'S ALLEY burger? pics!

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:02:12 GMT

And the downstairs BATHROOM area at the Devil's Alley was like being in one of those "dark" amusement rides at the Jersey shore!!

..

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ann peeples)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:56:25 GMT

I appreciate your trips, Ellen. I may not always rock-but I try!!

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (carolina bob)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:45:09 GMT

Ellen, that Devil's Alley burger is a handsome thing, and I'm glad to know that it tastes as good as it looks ( just in case I ever get back to Philly. ) The price tag makes a lot more sense than the one at Royal Tavern, too.

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:06:41 GMT

annpeeples

I pay no attention to lists-I pay attention to my roadfood friends...

That is about the sweetest comment I've ever heard!
You ROCK, annie !!

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ann peeples)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:21:24 GMT

I pay no attention to lists-I pay attention to my roadfood friends...

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (FriedClamFanatic)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:31:58 GMT

Ah...............another wonderful report and another reason to get off my butt and call my daughterrer in Philly to take me out to lunch! Thanks!

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:47:02 GMT

TnTinCT

Ellen, you are truly the Burger Hunter! Excellent, mouth-watering descriptions and pics, thanks for sharing!

And thanks for taking the time to write! Nice hearing from my CT Roadfood bud..
This DEVIL'S ALLEY brioche roll really soaked up the burger juices..

..

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:43:10 GMT

close-up of the MOUTHWATERING Devil's Alley burger !

And my Devil's Alley bill was a lot cheaper than my Royal Tavern one..
10 bucks, plus tip, and I got out of there for $14.00 (a steal)
(I just drank ice water this time)

...

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (TnTinCT)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:33:08 GMT

Ellen, you are truly the Burger Hunter! Excellent, mouth-watering descriptions and pics, thanks for sharing!

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:54:10 GMT

GREAT burger at the DEVIL'S ALLEY !
VERY similar taste to the Royal Tavern..
good chopped meat, maybe same butcher?!?

more pics coming! time to deal more poker!

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:43:44 GMT

After the Italian Market, I hopped on a Septa city bus up 9th St.
Got off on Chestnut, for the DEVIL'S ALLEY, which is near 19th st

Tons of reviews on YELP...
And the burger here was a much better deal ...1/2 pound for $6.95
(but if one wanted CHEESE , that was $1.50 extra, $8.45 total)
And FRENCH FRIES were only $1.50 extra to add on !

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:15:11 GMT

Pricey cheese in the ITALIAN MARKET, Philly

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:10:17 GMT

After the ROYAL TAVERN burger, I took a short stroll over to the ITALIAN MARKET, which goes along 9th St in South Philly

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:56:16 GMT

Baah Ben

Davydd.......it's just that when you feel your go to places are not on the list, you want to support them.

I hear you Baah Ben, even though you were'nt talking to me...
Yes, it would've been cool if the "50 states, 50 burgers" article had a quick "honorable mention" 2nd place for each state.

They could still write the big paragraph for the winner, and underneath it say "honorable mention: the Devil's Alley burger" .

I'd been thinking the same thing as YOU when I saw that CLANCY'S took down the NM burger award!
I too, thought, what about the BOBCAT BITE?!??
(hence I was very grateful to see BUFFETBUSTER'S Bobcat report and pics last night! )

Good suggestion, Baah Ben!!

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (Foodosaurus)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:07:24 GMT

For anyone that is taking this list too seriously; I would like to point out the Burger they chose for California. The Double Double from In-N-Out.

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (MiamiDon)

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:47:44 GMT

Baah Ben

I wish they would at least give us the top two or three in each state. Many of us have our own opinions and at least this way we'd know if they tried some of the others that we might think are equally as good ...or better.

For instance in Pennsylvania - I'd like to know if they actually tried Tessarro's in Pittsburgh. Or, in New Mexico, did they go to Bob Cat Bite, too? In New York, where else did they try a burger? In Florida, how about Jack's Famous, Le Tub, The Brickyard.............
I found the site for El Rey De Las Fritas..They give a brief description of their Cuban burger made with special seasonings, special sauce and shoestring potatoes. So, we have a Cuban burger and that is the best burger in our State...Good to know.

MD - Maybe you can try it? You've been to the Brickyard, probably been to Le Tub, Jack's Famous, too.

It's a local chain. Yes, I've been to the one on Bird Road. To my taste, Fritas Domino El Original at 936 SW 67th Avenue is better. They make what I think of as "angel hair" fried potatos, instead of shoestrings. I was told by another restaurateur that they have a special machine for shredding them.

For anyone contemplating a visit, beware that both are kind of dives, and english is in short supply.

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (Baah Ben)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:11:56 GMT

Davydd - Good point. I just have to stop getting sucked in to responding to these lists.. It's just that when you feel your go to places are not on the list, you want to support them.

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:00:57 GMT

My VERDICT ????
Should the ROYAL TAVERN burger deserve to be called the "BEST BURGER in PA"?????
(by the Food Network magazine staff, June/July issue)

My ANSWER???
An overwhelming YES !!! Sure, why not??!?
It was a great tasting , beefy burger on a nice fresh brioche roll;
all the parts blended together SO well...
I just did'nt want that burger to END! I savored every bite!

Of course, I have'nt tried EVERY burger in PA, but then again, neither did the Food Network Magazine person who declared it the best....

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (AaronM)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:01:59 GMT

nocarolina

Ellen, that Royal Tavern burger looks mighty fine, but there ain't no way that I'm paying ten bucks for a burger that doesn't even come with a side, be it fries, coleslaw or whatever. Here in Chicagoland, there are a number of places ( Hackney's, Country House, Moody's Pub ) where you can get a half-pound charbroiled burger with fries, coleslaw and a soft drink for around fifteen bucks, and that includes tip ( all three places are excellent, BTW. )

I'll have to try one of those after running the Chicago Martathon in October. Sounds like a good post-run meal.

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:56:44 GMT

Here's the ROUGE burger; (date visited March 2009), Philly

It had a juicy "butter burger" type of taste.... a little TOO thick, though ( tough to fit in mouth)..

...

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:53:43 GMT

Davydd

I just joined Yelp.com . I know MiamiDon has done some reviews. Anyone else?

YES !! ME !!
I've posted reviews, complete with pics..
I espescially like being the first one to review a place, and/or being the first to post food pics.
Miami Don and I often share our reviews with each other, and also paste them onto our Facebook page.
I am one of about 60 "Ellen F" 's that post on there...

Reviews are sorted by names of the restaurants, etc, (and it's more than just restaurants)
and ALSO by the dates written , which I love...

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (carolina bob)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:32:00 GMT

Ellen, that Royal Tavern burger looks mighty fine, but there ain't no way that I'm paying ten bucks for a burger that doesn't even come with a side, be it fries, coleslaw or whatever. Here in Chicagoland, there are a number of places ( Hackney's, Country House, Moody's Pub ) where you can get a half-pound charbroiled burger with fries, coleslaw and a soft drink for around fifteen bucks, and that includes tip ( all three places are excellent, BTW. )

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ken8038)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:10:46 GMT

<<My bill was $27.00 (I think he forgot to charge me for the fries, perhaps?)
So I walked out of there for $32.00, after the tip... >>

Like somebody else said, we're talking about a neighborhood tavern. And it's in a city noted for it's low prices in its neighborhood taverns. $32 for a burger, wings, fries and a beer is ridiculous. I'm thinking if i went there with my wife and daughter and we each had the same thing it would be a hundred dollar meal!

I wonder if the prices were lower before thier burger became the Best Burger In Pennsylvania....

Anyway, nice report Ellen, looking forward to Park Two. Thanks.

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (Davydd)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:23:57 GMT

I just joined Yelp.com so I could use it on my iPhone. I haven't posted any reviews. Didn't know about the picture thing. I could be dangerous there. I know MiamiDon has done some reviews. Anyone else?

Baah Ben, Like anything else the 50 burgers is just an opinion. Get 50 different people doing it and you'll get 50 different lists. It is a starting point to take with a grain of salt I think. Locally an article just came out in a weekly newspaper that ranked the five top new burger joints in the Twin Cities and I couldn't agree with it just with the two I had tried.

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:15:31 GMT

AaronM

Anyway...$10 for the burger, $10 for the wings, $4 for the fries...

Assuming you got a drink and gave a tip you spent over $30??? Seems about 3 times what it should have cost. The burger looks good, but WAY overpriced.

Yes, overpriced !! (I got so caught up with trying out this burger that I did'nt even realize how overpriced it was till you guys all alerted me!)
The burger SHOULD'VE been $7.50-$8.00 with some fries THROWN IN...
Your math is right, too... as I did end up spending over $30 ..
I had a "Rogue Chocolate Stout" beer for $5.00

My bill was $27.00 (I think he forgot to charge me for the fries, perhaps?)
So I walked out of there for $32.00, after the tip...
But , at least I walked out of there VERY satisfied!

On YELP.com, there are 90 REVIEWS for ROYAL TAVERN...quite a lot, huh?!?
It gets 4 stars (out of a possible 5 stars)
However, I'm about to be the FIRST person that will actually put a PIC of the BURGER on that site! (all those reviews, but yet not one pic of that luscious piece of meat!) (gotta do my good civil duties!)
I've been checking this thread every few hours , (every break I've had from dealing poker!) More coming later when I get home tonight!
Very exciting responses thus far; thanks guys and gals !!!!!!!

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (Baah Ben)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:58:55 GMT

I wish they would at least give us the top two or three in each state. Many of us have our own opinions and at least this way we'd know if they tried some of the others that we might think are equally as good ...or better.

For instance in Pennsylvania - I'd like to know if they actually tried Tessarro's in Pittsburgh. Or, in New Mexico, did they go to Bob Cat Bite, too? In New York, where else did they try a burger? In Florida, how about Jack's Famous, Le Tub, The Brickyard.............
I found the site for El Rey De Las Fritas..They give a brief description of their Cuban burger made with special seasonings, special sauce and shoestring potatoes. So, we have a Cuban burger and that is the best burger in our State...Good to know.

MD - Maybe you can try it? You've been to the Brickyard, probably been to Le Tub, Jack's Famous, too.

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (acer2x)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:50:12 GMT

Ellen,

Actually, I liked the ones at Loie and Standard Tap better. Now I'll have to try Royal Tavern although all that mayo doesn't appeal to me at all. Yes, South Philly natives call it "Pash...Unk"

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:53:38 GMT

acer2x

In July 2005, Alan Richman of GQ ranked the Rouge Burger #4 on his list of “The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You Die.”

So did you like your ROUGE burger, acer Steve?
I actually had a Rouge burger in late March....(I'll post pic asap)
Although I enjoyed it, I much preferred this Royal Tavern one...
I remember the Rouge being plainly cooked (no char, and just a little sear)... although they use good meat...
I found the ROYAL'S to have a MAJOR BEEFY TASTE, which I LOVED!
The meat quality was excellent, good fresh taste...

Stay tuned for Italian Market pics !!!
And the DEVIL'S ALLEY BURGER !!!

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (ellen4641)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:48:33 GMT

Brad_Olson

Is it flattop-grilled?

So is Passyunk pronounced "pass-yunk", "passy-unk", or "pa-sie-unk"?

It's actually charbroiled, although it's hard to tell under all my gook...

Real good TRY on all those "PASSYUNK" pronunciations...!!
I used to always pronounce it your 2nd guess, "PASSY-UNK"...
cause I did'nt know any better...

Then a native Philly guy corrected me, and said it was officially "PASH-UNK"

Re:Best BURGER(s) in Philly ??!!?? (pics included) (Davydd)

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:15:09 GMT

Ellen, The Royal Tavern certainly looks worthy. That's a nice pink to the burger.

In Minnesota they chose the burger at Vincent's which is one of the finest French restaurants in town across the street from where I used to work in downtown Minneapolis. The fine dining restaurants are kind of going on the economic defensive in coming up with inexpensive menu items. Normally, Vincent's could set you back a hefty sum of money. I've eaten there for a light lunch costing me over $20. The burger is new since I last ate there and is served at the bar as I understand. Coming from Vincent's I would say I'll have to try it someday but there are so many other menu items I would rather have. Too bad, I no longer work downtown or I would have been there when that article came out.