Top 5 Hamburgers


Here is how we roll in Cali:

Father's Office, Los Angeles
Hodad's, San Diego
In-N-Out, Baldwin Park
TK Burger, Costa Mesa
Jalama Beach Grill, Santa Barbara

How do you roll?
bongofury
02-23-10: Gawdbless
Carl's Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger, anything with 1520 calories and can potentially give one a heart attack, all for just 6 bucks, just has to be good.
I agree. Of the large fast food chain burgers, Carl's is the best by a long shot. Although, you have to add chili to see the full potential.

Also, the Double Western Burger is still the value buy. That brick stays in your stomach for hours.
In the Philadelphia area:
Barclay Prime
Black Sheep
The Bards
Copabanana
Good Dog Bar (try the one stuffed with blue cheese)
London Grill (on an English muffin, no less)
Rouge

Although it doesn't make this list, I like 5 Guys, but understand Unsound's criticism.

Of course, if you come here on a visit, skip the burgers, as you can get them in any city. Try the hoagies (subs to the rest of you), roast pork, roast beef, and cheesesteaks.
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A hamburger thread has more responses than most audio threads. What does that tell us?

Bongo:

"I'll scatter your ashes but who keeps your rig?"

Me:

It isn't worth much. I've downsized or sold almost everything I have except my 100K crap stucco box, my old Subaru and my 7K stereo. Two serious cancers in my life. One took my wife/life partner, much of our savings, and now I'm dealing with another. Sis has a bad cancer battle now too. All of us had decent health plan (we had Blue Cross PPO), but I guess the Republican's have their solution, "let people die if they do but don't raise the taxes of us rugged individualists who take care of ourselves very well without stinking federal interference thank you very much, and we'll keep stalling and stalling ("F" the nation) until we get one of our own in the WHITE house."
Tvad:

"I was a big fan of Fatburger when they had hand made patties. When they switched to pre-made patties that were pressed too densely, the magic went away."

Good point. Believe it or not crappy Wendy's used to have fresh formed patties that tasted like real backyard grilled burgers (still the same lousy buns though). I remember it well at one of their locations near the BIG CHICKEN in Marietta, GA back heyday of Bachman Turner Overdrive and Boston.
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02-23-10: Tvad
I've never gotten aboard the In-N-Out craze. Their burgers just don't stand out to me.
Agreed. Thin, tasteless, patties. You have to go "off menu" to get anything remotely tasting like hamburger with meat. Four-by patties is the only way, and then it's not exactly a budget burger, is it?

And how they've gotten away with those lame fries all these years is beyond me. I applaud them for cutting the fries right out fresh potatoes in front of your face, but let's make them a little thicker and cook the damn things a little longer, please.
So, I'm still searching for the great LA burger. I'll have to try Father's Office when I get to the west side.
Father's Office has gone upscale, unless you go to the original hole in the wall in Brentwood. I was just at the new Culver City mega-digs and their beer selection is impressive, but they have to pay for the prime real estate...

Try Nickel Diner - 525 Main Street, downtown LA. Great burger and phenomenal deserts. Be sure to try their red velvet cake(w/ crushed malt balls), homemade Ding Dongs, and maple-glazed bacon donuts.
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I'll acknowledge Unsound's complaints about 5 Guys, but I still think that they're among the better ones you can get around here in NJ. Another pretty good one down the Shore, as we say here, which has char broiled burgers, is the Windmill chain, not bad, but I prefer the 5 Guys fries (Windmill's hot dogs are excellent, though, especially when you have them put on the char broiler). I am not as big a fan of the In-N-Out burgers as my son, I guess it's an acquired taste on the West Coast.

I am very pleased to see that no one on this thread has mentioned White Castle burgers, which I find to be awful even if they are a cult fave!
................and what heart attack sandwich in a bun is complete without an order of fries?

Five Guys Fries (large)

1,464 calories
71 g fat (14 g saturated)
213 mg sodium
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Gawdbless, I think that's just the fries they put in the cup, doesn't include the equal amount they then throw into the bag as a bonus!
Take another blood pressure pill Fries (large)

1,464 calories
71 g fat (14 g saturated)
213 mg sodium

add a shake of salt when packaged = 600 mg sodium

add ketchup = 1200+ mg sodium

You only live (and die) once.
D Mob,I helped create the Pharmaka Gallery across the street from the Nickel in 2004. Along with Bert Green, we were the pioneers in starting Gallery Row. They have a wonderful art walk once a month. 20 galleries plus the Museum of Contemporary Art. 5,000 people attend. Usually the second Thursday of each month. Recommend it to all Angel residents.
several competitors in mpls/ st paul, but any burger anywhere (except hickies in ohio) might pale to a 'juicy lucy'
I defy anyone to eat a whole large order of Five Guys' fries. It is way too much even for two people.

Mark
Any web developers up for putting together the gastro-appreciation site Foodiogon.com?
hey MHedges:

You DEFY anyone? I mean, it would be stupid and excessive, I agree, and one would wish one hadn't, but I can't imagine its actually being much of a challenge for a person with will and appetite. I mean, it is a big portion, but gluttony could easily manage it. Have you seen some of the people waddling around out there? Ever witnessed an eating contest?
Well you guys got me craving a burger so I just had a Five Guys double Cheeseburger....fagetaboutit!
02-24-10: Bongofury
D Mob,I helped create the Pharmaka Gallery across the street from the Nickel in 2004. Along with Bert Green, we were the pioneers in starting Gallery Row. They have a wonderful art walk once a month.
Very cool. My girlfriend and I have gone to Wurstkuche(across from the old Al's Bar) a few times for sausages, Belgian frites, and beer then done the art walk around there. But, I didn't know it extended over by Nickel Diner. I really like that area - just enough edge to keep the yuppies out, but not the war zone downtown used to be.
We lost our art space after 5 years due to a change of owners in the Million Dollar Hotel. Closed in September; was on the NW corner of 5th and Main. U2 played on the rooftop of a store on 7th and Main in 1987. I lived in a loft in 4th and Main. Saw that show--was amazing--you can see me on the street in the video for Where the Streets Have No Name. Bert Green Fine Art and Pharmaka started the airwalk in 2004 when it was real dicey. Now--hipster central.
Hudsons in Couer d A'lene, Id Very simple: They only sell them with your choice of pickles and a slice of onion plus two homemade sauses. No fries, no shakes. Best burger I have ever eaten. 22 seats. 2.65 for a single
Rnm4 -

Your right - sure it would be possible to eat a whole large order of Five Guys fries. But I don't think very many people actually do it.

Mark
Jody Maroni's stand in Santa Monica/Venice area had pretty good sausages. Back in the day I'd buy one and walk over to watch the guy juggling chainsaws, or talk to the skater playing his electric guitar. The Peoples Republic of Santa Monica indeed. Loved the farmers market there, but not as good as the one in Berkeley. Now if only I could find a killer mussel & frites place outside NYC.
Houston Top 5:

1) Goode Company Taqueira and Hamburger

2) Pappas Burger

3) Beck's Prime (it's almost not fair having one at the Memorial Park Golf Course)

4) Xtian Totem

5) Cafe Express
MacDad, I'm guessing that Pappas Burger is related to Pappadeaux's? We have a Pappadeaux's (pronounced "Pappa Does") in Phoenix, and it's an insanely good Cajun Creole food restaurant. When I was in Houston three years ago, I found out that there's a slew of places this guy has, like Mexican; BBQ etc, all with "Pappa's" in the name in a creative way.
My question is: Are they ALL great?
It's the Pappas Family, they own about 60 restauants, mostly in Texas, they are all insanely good. As an aside, my wife an I both worked for them while in college then right afterward as managers, and I can tell you they are unbelievably well run.

Super clean, best of everything.
Fatburger - LA
In-n-Out - LA area
Tommy's - LA
Island Restaurant, W LA
Five Guys Burgers & Frys - Crestview Hills, KY
Zips - Cincinnati, OH
"The skating guitar player was Harry Perry"

Thanks Dekay - I had forgotten his name.

Found this on search: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Perry_(musician)

Which reminds me of my favorite thought on humanity:

"We are all connected in one way of another"
Rcprince:

"Surprised no one has mentioned the Big Kahuna burger (from Pulp Fiction"

Actually I referenced PF in thread, so perhaps I planted a subliminal thought in your mind. Don't ever underestimate a $5 dollar shake.
Harry Perry has become a pest!!! He skates up to mostly young couples and plays loud obnoxious "music" until they pay him to go away, it's sad!!
Bye:

You are welcome.

Heard Harry passed away, few years ago I think, but it would seem he's still present and accounted for.

Have not been to Venice in years, though we may visit next week (will be going to Venice and Motor, which is close enough).

I have late 80's photos of Larry with my mother, who is now 84 years old.

Her comment after hanging with Larry was it's too bad you had to quit playing the guitar (broke the crap out of my left hand in a car crash).
In Virginia, you haven't lived until you've feasted at Carytown Burgers and Fries here in Richmond. Great onion rings, too!

http://www.carytownburgersandfries.com
.
I used to like Rockenwagner's in Venice in their early days. Never forget their thinly sliced, super tender seasoned lamb loin piled high on a pretzel bread bun. No burger/sandwich outside of the NYC 21 Club burger came close to that. IMO of course.
Byegolly. Yeah, that was a good one. He has a new inexpensive sausage joint on Abbott Kinney. Speaking of that side of town, I also liked Cora's Coffee Shop in San Mo. They made a pretty tasty burger a la the tradition of the Apple Pan and Pie and Burger.

Macdad: Christian's Totem in Houston rocks. Nice selection of toppings. BTW: Your Top 5 has been "googled" and now appears in the organic search line, right below yelp, when you type in Top 5 Burgers Houston.
Not sure if it's still there but remember years ago when living in Chicago, Boston Blackies had good burgers.
Dusty

Hard to get excited about burgers in NYC when they carry NYC real estate prices. Pizza, yes, burgers, no. The Shake Shack is a joke; most burger joints in the city charge 7 to 10 dollars for what routinely sells for 2 to 4 in the rest of the country. Only the Corner Bistro has a worthy burger and it is a 45 minute wait on a good day. Just my opinion.
Wendy's bacon bleu burger is one of the few we have in Kazoo and I confess to eating one. Something about the two flavors is good depite the horrific Wendy 'burger' flavor.

:^D

I forgot we also have Red Robin but a $10 burger should be way better that that!

OK I'm reaching here...
I'm game for guacamole on my patty, but don't if its Roquefort, Saga, Danish, or Gorgonzola - blue cheese on burgers is gross. Double that for pineapple on pizza. Dude!
Byegolly there is also a black and blue burger at BW3, a blackened hamburger with bleu cheese, alas they are always overdone and not worth the price...

agree about the pineapple on pizza (ugh) but that is not the same thing!
New York:

In no particular order:

Dumont Burger in Brooklyn
Donovans in Brooklyn
Shakeshack in NY
Lure Bar in NY
Royale in NY
Johnnie Macks in Brooklyn
DBGB in NY
More to discover