Your Top 5 Burgers

I would just like to know some of your favorite burgers. I travel alot and always looking for a great burger.
 
1. Brooks Sandwich Shop....Charlotte, NC
2.Harolds Diner....Hilton Head, SC
3. Penguin...Charlotte, NC
4. Irv's....Los Angeles
5. Zarzour's...Chattanooga, TN
 
Extra One
In-N Out ......West coast(I know a chain but its good)

In history, or currently?
I've never really tried to quantify .
(puts on thinking cap)

Unfortunately, my #1 burger place, Come Back Inn in Melrose Park IL, ceased to be about five years ago. However, numbers 2 through 5 are:

    2. The Country House ( 3 locations in Chicago's western suburbs )
    3. Hackney's ( 6 locations throughout Chicagoland )
    4. Moody's Pub ( far north side of Chicago )
    5. Schoop's ( approx. 18 locations, mostly NW Indiana but a couple in Chicago's so. suburbs )

Too many diners, dives etc that serve great burgers...so I'll list my favorite chain burgers...because most of us can find these!

1. TGI Fridays..lots of choices..great quality at a fair price!
2. Five guys...at least our local ones make them right!
3. In N Out...wish we had these on the east coast..."trash burgers" done right
4. BK Whopper...not a true burger...but closer than the other big two!
5. Ran out of ideas...I guess some of the steak chains...but who'd order a burger there!??
 
Some of the burgers listed in other posts above won't help me in NJ...that's why I did chains!!!!!

leethebard


Too many diners, dives etc that serve great burgers...so I'll list my favorite chain burgers...because most of us can find these!

1. TGI Fridays..lots of choices..great quality at a fair price!
2. Five guys...at least our local ones make them right!
3. In N Out...wish we had these on the east coast..."trash burgers" done right
4. BK Whopper...not a true burger...but closer than the other big two!
5. Ran out of ideas...I guess some of the steak chains...but who'd order a burger there!??
 
Some of the burgers listed in other posts above won't help me in NJ...that's why I did chains!!!!!

 
um.....so there's not one local restaurant in New Jersey that serves burgers?????
Ok.....

That wasn't what I said...Listing burger joints across the country is meaningless for many...so we hear a name....we won't ever get there.....I was listing chain burgers that are easily available to most folks here that I like...granted there are far better burgers here in Jersey and at Roadfood places across this great land. Sorry for the misunderstanding!

leethebard


That wasn't what I said...Listing burger joints across the country is meaningless for many...so we hear a name....we won't ever get there.....I was listing chain burgers that are easily available to most folks here that I like...granted there are far better burgers here in Jersey and at Roadfood places across this great land. Sorry for the misunderstanding!

 

 I would just like to know some of your favorite burgers. I travel alot and always looking for a great burger.
 
This is the original posters question. He/she wanted to know of your favorite burgers, he also mentioned that he/she travels alot.  So basically you responded by mentioning a bunch of burgers at places that completely defeat the purpose of roadfood..
 
Oh- here are my favorites
 
1- The Sport- Livingston MT- this is truly #1- the best burger I've ever had
2- Tessaro's - Pittsburgh PA
3- Stockman Bar- Livingston MT
4- Stellas- Bellevue NE
5- Ward's Publick House- Warwick RI
 
And my favorite fast food burger
1- Kidd Valley- Metro Seattle

1. Every burger I have ever had after a night out
2. Thirsty's - Cape Coral, FL - Jeanie Burger
3. Good Stuff Eatery - Wash. DC - Colletti or the Melt
4. Morton's - when people with steaks look on with envy - good big burger
5. double to triple at Steak and Shake - for childhood memories and Lee's need for fast food.

In no particular order:

Fred's Bar; Burlington, Wisconsin
Tessaro's; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Paradise Pup; Des Plaines, Illinois
The Country House; Clarendon Hills, Illinois

and finally, a three way tie, all in the Twin Cities metro area:

Lion's Tap (for standard burgers); Eden Prairie, Minnnesota
5-8 Club (for Jucy Lucy burgers); Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Nook (for Jucy Lucy burgers); St. Paul, Minnesota

Runners up include:

Hackney's; Chicago metro area
Moody's Pub; Chicago, Illinois
Schoop's; NW Indiana
Sobelman's; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dick's Bar; Hudson, Wisconsin

EDIT:
Michael Hoffman's post below reminded me to add:

Gahanna Grill; Gahanna, Ohio (although I'd skip their signature item, The Beanie Burger and go with one of their "second tier" burgers.  The Beanie Burger includes cole slaw on top of the sandwich as well as a bowl on the side.  All in all, far too messy to eat, and more cole slaw that one human needs in a single sitting.)

And baughman's post on page two of this thread jogged yet another great Burger memory:

Kewpee Burger, Lima; Ohio

Maybe more as they occur to me.

Buddy

Bates - Livonia Michigan (This is the one I grew up on and is still great)
Millers - Detroit
Crablis - Urbana Ohio
Slyders - Dayton
Krazy Jims - Ann Arbor Mi

...Russ

Crabill's    Ubana, ohio
Peter Luger NYC
EW Becks   Sykesville MD
Iron Bridge Wine Company   Columbia MD
White Castles

Buddy, thanks for reminding me about Fred's Bar and Paradise Pup; both very good ( especially the Pup. ) Some other favorites:

          Dog n Suds
          Fatburger
          Bill Grant's Wonderburger
          Steak n Shake
          Five Guys
          Portillo's
          White Castle 
          Ollieburger ( can these still be had anywhere? Ollie's Trolley maybe? ) 
         
         

1. Crazy Cow, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI
2. Gahanna Grill, Gahanna, Ohio
3. Crabill's, Urbana, Ohio
4. The Top Steakhouse, Columbus, Ohio
5. White Castle -- anywhere.

Carolina Bob


         Portillo's
       

Never had the burger.  It would be hard for me to not order an Italian beef but next time I will try.  Might actually have room for the chocolate cake shake if I skip the beef.

Another vote for the Sport in Livingston, MT. Thanks for reminding me to stop on my bike trip this June. Also, a few more great Madison,  Wisconsin burgers:
The Blue Moon
The Village Bar
The Plaza
Slice's
Tony Frank's
All great...I rotate from week to week.

All Michigan. Sorry.

1. Jon's Goodtime Bar-Inkster
2. Miller's - Dearborn
3. Fraser Flashback Burger - Fraser
4. Bronx Burgers - Warren
5. Seeburger Cheesburgers - Mt Clemens

Have not sampled Sidetrack in Ypsilanti, or Red Coat Tavern in Royal Oak. Do not order hamburgers when out-of-state.

What do you order, if not hamburgers?
One thing I love about burgers (and fries)is that they are a 50 state dish.

I remember having this awesome burger last time we were at Hard Rock Cafe in Niagara Falls several years ago.  I believe it was their Hickory BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger
 
Of course 5 Guys Burgers & Fries in Farmington, CT is yummy
and I just went to
Wild Willy's Burgers in Worcester, MA this past week and tried a bison burger with a horseradish sauce for the first time.  It was quite delicious.
 
I've been to another place that used to be in Plainville, CT with "burgers as big as your head" and those burgers I thought were by far superior to some of the others.  It burnt down, however.
 
Well, that is 4 tasty burgers to report

Some of my favorites:

Nick's Place - Syracuse NY - The Awesome Burger really is pretty awesome - even the bun is special.
Clyde's - Washington DC - still the best burger in DC
Natty Greene's - Greensboro NC - 1/2 pound monsters of goodness
The Abbey Burger Bistro - Baltimore MD - interesting burger selections, cozy Balto place away form the madness of Inner Harbor (of course, I love the Harbor too)
Grubstake - San Francisco CA - I wish I could go back for the Portugese food (I didn't know that was one of their niches when I went) but the burger on the sourdough bread was San Frantastic.

Peter Luger's in Brooklyn

and then

a long drop off to many places I might point to as a potential personal number 2 and down

Well, I haven't traveled much since the kids were young, and I don't get to eat out much anyway, so this may be a short list.


Kidd Valley in the Seattle area

Eichardts Pub & Grill in Sandpoint, ID.  They have maybe 5 different burgers on the menu at all times, but one of the best I ever had
there was a special one night.  An elk burger with Thai sweet chili sauce on it.  Yum!  Don't forget the garlic fries!

Serv-a- Burger in Sandpoint.  Good fast food burgers.

Dusty's in Wenatchee, WA.   Also fast food and the only decent burger here.

And my favorite is....

Kirk's in Palo Alto, CA   I haven't been there is maybe 20 years, though I understand they are still open but have moved from the original place.  There is nothing special about these burgers but wow were they ever good.  And that's all there is on the menu.  Burgers, chips, pop.



btw, one of the burgers I was LEAST impressed with was the
VERY expensive burger at Nepenthe in Big Sur.

bill voss


What do you order, if not hamburgers?
One thing I love about burgers (and fries)is that they are a 50 state dish.

 
Based on recollection...
Whatever our server recommends.
 
Don't generally seek out great hamburger restaurants when we travel.  

Ever since I posted on this thread the other day, I've had a nagging feeling that I had omitted one of my favorite burgers from the list, but it wasn't until earlier today that my brain cells finally kicked in. The Beacon!! How could I possibly forget those great chili cheeseburgers at the Beacon in Spartansburg SC? The aging process is a cruel mistress...

I travel a lot as well, and have for the past 20 years.  I've had tons of great burgers and should write 'em down so I don't forget.  Anyway, here are the one's that I can remember as standouts.

The Fish Place  -  Mulberry, FL   Best hamburg ever! (Good fish, too)
Zarzour's   -    Chattanooga, TN
Maid-Rite -  Greenville, OH   ( loosemeat sandwich)
Hump's    -  Knoxville, TN  ( The Humpburger)
Kaelin's     -  Louisville, KY  (originated the cheeseburger)

I know someone will object to a loosemeat sandwich as a hamburger so I'll add White Castle, Sam and Andy's Deli, Knoxville, TN.  One of my all time faves and probably been closed about 15 years now was Dixie Hamburger in Hamilton, OH.

Being a big fan of New Mexico's green chile cheeseburgers, no surprise my list would heavily lean that way.
#1. Bobcat Bite - Santa Fe, NM
 
#2. Buckhorn Tavern - San Antonio, NM
#3. The Owl Bar - San Antonio, NM
 
#4. Tessaro's - Pittsburgh, PA
#5. Pine Club - Dayton, OH


Just missing the cut would be an onion burger from Robert's Grill in El Reno, OK, a butter burger from Solly's Grille in Milwaukee, WI and Le Tub in Hollywood, FL.

This is a difficult undertaking for me.  To me, burgers are either a fallback when there's nothing better or more interesting to eat on a menu (which is pretty often when I'm travelling), or, something cooked at home.  It's rare that I set out to get a destination burger.  That said:

1. Pat La Frida Short Rib Burgers cooked at home.  They're incredible.
2. Bobcat Bite-Santa Fe, NM- an all-time classic
3. db Burger- DB Bistro Moderne, NY, NY- Yes it's $32.  Yes it's worth every penny. 
4. Burger Joint, NY, NY-Best fast food burger in NY
5. In-N-Out, West Coast- the only major chain restaurant I ever patronize
Runner-up: White Manna, Hackensack, NJ- best "slider" type burger anywhere.

I will say that every time I go into Peter Luger's (not more than once or twice a year), I'm a little jealous of folks at other tables enjoying those amazing looking burgers.  Then my steak arrives, and I never think of the burger again.


 

My favorite burgers are all in Florida, probably because I don't travel enough.   The first one is definitely #1, but the others change according to my mood.
 
The Brickyard in Daytona Beach  Flame-grilled cheeseburger with grilled onions under the cheese:
 

 
 
Le Tub in Hollywood Beach
 

 
 
Ocean Grill at Black Point Marina in Cutler Bay -  Cheeseburger with tobacco onions and ranch dressing
 

 
 
Titanic Restaurant & Brewery in Coral Gables (adjacent to Mark Light Stadium at U. of M.) - Pepperjack Cheeseburger with Grilled Onions
 

 
 
Shorty's BBQ (Original Dadeland Location) - Hickory Grilled Cheddar Cheeseburger
 

 
 

Beautiful pics, MiamiDon.  If you are ranking the burger at The Brickyard as being better than the ones we had at Le Tub, then I have to get there.

Pigiron

1. Pat La Frida Short Rib Burgers cooked at home.  They're incredible. 

Pigiron, is there anyone else selling these burgers at retail yet besides freshdirect.com?

David_NYC

Pigiron

1. Pat La Frida Short Rib Burgers cooked at home.  They're incredible. 

Pigiron, is there anyone else selling these burgers at retail yet besides freshdirect.com?

 
As far as I know, they're exclusive with FreshDirect.  I'm acutally moving out of the city very soon, and I plan on ordering as many of those burgers as I can fit into a cooler before I go.  I hope they freeze well.