06-10-10: Tvad Fatburger's better meat and bun (and to me...fries), is what makes it preferable.
I like that they heavily season their meat with pepper, etc - gives it a nice "pop" compared to others.
06-05-10: Bongofury 3X Animal style will slay fatburger.
Not sure I can agree with that. The problem for In & Out is that their patties are not only paper-thin, they are incredibly bland. Adding more patties gives you more meat, but it's still pretty bland, hence the need for "animal sauce".
Now, if you really want a shootout, take a $9 Fatburger XXXL Triple King(24oz of patties)or $13 XXXXL(32oz) and compare it to a 3X Animal Style. Pay close attention to the taste and texture of the meat. Simply no comparison.
Of course, I'd probably take the Tommy's double or triple-cheese burger over both Fatburger and In & out 7 out of 10 times.
Tvad. I agree that Fatburger has great meat and bun. The condiment side is a little different than In-n-Out. The former favors 1000 Island where Fatburger has mayo, mustard and ketchup to order. I find that aspect a little more like McDonalds on the taste spectrum. The taste under those circumstances is a little marginalized (especially when mayo is thrown into the mix) and the if ordered with cheese, it is rarely melted into the patty. I think In-N-Out does a better job with the cheese/grilled onions combo.
I think that Fatburger has the best chocolate malts, made from real ice cream, one of the best I have tasted. In N Out's is super sweet where Fatburger's one is very balanced.
Bongo, I've been to Memphis a few times and like it. Not exactly true Memphis style bbq or cooking, but nonetheless good. I've only had the pulled pork sandwich and catfish, bot were good.
If you hit the Boiling Crab, be prepared to get there early and still have a ridiculous wait to get in(on weekends, at least). They don't take reservations and there can be 100+ people waiting out front. I wasn't joking about 3hours, we actually went to Vietnamese Pho shop in the mall and ate after putting out names in. Otherwise, I would have lost it.
Still, having bags and bags of well-seasoned crab, crawdads, shrimp, corn on the cob, etc. dumped right on the table in front of you is worth wait. The volume of crab boil that they prepare is pretty amazing, and none of it is ever overcooked - perfectly tender and juicy.
Thanks for the tip. Did not know this restaurant and will visit it, as I adore New Awlins food. Check out Memphis Soul Food at Randolph and Bristol in Costa Mesa. Really good gumbo.
OK, since we've gotten thoroughly off the beaten track of burgers in this thread, I feel it is my foodie-arse's duty to inform of a recent tear-in-eye find. I'd heard through several reliable epicurean channels that a breakfast nook of epidemic proportions existed in my own neck o' the woods, and have finally seen the light; heard the choral "Hallelujah"; and been forever enlightened. Matt's Big Breakfast in downtown Phoenix is certainly the best breakfast nook I've yet experienced. To give you an idea of how good, only the coffee is bettered in my estimation by two others (Dana Point and the Embarcadero in SF, for those in the know...). EVERYTHING else is the best I've had. Amar'e Stoudemire has said his fave (there) is the chorizo (certainly homemade, as is everything) pancakes; but they have yet to be on the menu when I'm there. The breads and homemade preserves? Just you wait. The eggs? Like someone is in back catching them before they hit the nest. The hashbrowns? Maybe the best thing of all. The country fried potatoes? Best I've had. The waffle? My god... The bacon? You mean smoked, sliced pork belly? Indeed. I haven't been able to say "No" to the special yet; but when I can, I will try an omelette, as I've seen them whisked by my drooling mug on their way to other tables, and they look incredible. So here's another chalk mark on the Phoenix area map to go along with Binkley's, Pizzeria Bianco and Barrio Cafe (The bar none best tasting menu, wood-fired pizza and Mexican food restaurants respectively in the country). BTW, for you L.A. audio-cureans, any of you had the pork chili verde at Antonio's on Melrose?
Funny you should mention Haven, Bongo, that's been on our list to hit for a few months now. Think we are going in two weeks.
BTW, have you hit The Boiling Crab in Garden Grove? Not sure I'm into the three hour wait, but is a fun time with a big group and the price is great for what you get. May not be the most authentic cajun/Creole crab boil, but is definitely good enough for a fix
Dmob: I am really liking the Haven Gastropub burger in Orange. Everything is right with that one. Check it out. PS: I just had the most amazing lasagna at Santa Fe Imports on Santa Fe in Long Beach. Best red sauce pasta I have ever had, in an obscure joint frequented by cops and dock workers. Probably a 15 minute drive from your place.
And Macdaddy, Bongo's right, you need to go off-menu to get the full In & Out experience. Next time, order a 4x2(4 patties, 2 levels) with Animal fries. Toss in a hand-scooped milkshake made from real ice cream.
I have a friend who is claiming that BLD's(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) burger is the best in LA. Now, that's a tall order because there are so many different levels of burger - fast food, gourmet, family restaurant...
Although, a $16 burger (w/ fries) better change my life to justify it's existence 'cause there is a lot of stellar competition in the $7-10 range.
lol, I'm really missing SoCal right now. It's only May, and this morning the humidity at 6 am was 85%, and the temp was 78. On the way home, the car read 95 degree, and humidity actually went up I think.
I think I need to work on some more deals with my boys in the Newport Beach office.
I have lived here all 51 years. What keeps us out of Texas is 100 degree weather matched to 110% humidity and skeeters the size of Canadian geese.
In exchange, we can laugh at the beach culture foisted on the rest of the country by the Beach Boys and having a movie star as a gov-ner. Yes, there is always a double double grilled onions Animal Style in our golden future.....
I forgot to tell you guys that I have my first In-N-Out burger last week and it was definitely the best "fast food" burger I have ever had. The bun, patty and condiments were awesomely fresh.
Also, the burger at Father's office in Santa Monica was pretty much as good as it gets.
If they would just triple my salary/bonus, I could almost afford to live in SoCal and pay the income tax, sales tax, gasoline taxes (it's about $0.30 more per gallon than Southeast Texas), property taxes......
Come to think of it, I'll stay in Texas and just keep visiting Cali. Maybe as a state Texas can buy California out of foreclosure next year and we can all move there??
.... And a 3rd for Kuma's in Chicago! Last time I had the "Slayer". Took me three days to finish! My #1 in Chgo. #2 and #3 would probably be Ram Brewery and Montana Ted's.
I have to second the Kumas in Chicago , the best burger I have ever had in a restaurant, with cool oil paintings of bears eating meat on the walls also, ha !
Hit Sunin Lebanese Cafe again last night for dinner. Corner of Westwood Blvd & Santa Monica. Great value buy dinner. Terrfic rice pilaf, juicy marinated kabobs, creamy hommos, and the Almaza Lebanese beer really is good. Tasty dinner for two w/ a couple of beers - ~$40 (ours was ~$60+, but I always overaeat)
Javier's in Laguna has one of the best grilled/sauteed Calamari steaks I have ever had. Always perfectly tender and juicey, never overcooked and rubbery.
Macdad: also love Ikko for sushi. Right around the corner from Anjin. Also love Javiers for their mole. El Matador in Costa Mesa is a great mid-scale Mexican Restaurant and Taco Mesa is a great taco stand. I love their tacos calamari and tacos al pastor.
PS: Father's Office has a newer sister restaurant in Culver City, which is about 30 minutes closer than the Santa Monica location to OC. While at the Dodgers, go to Phillipes The Original for French Dipped Beef Grinders. A LA tradition.
Bongo, I ate at Anjin last week with some of the Japanese guys I work with, it was sublime, a great dining experience. We ended up at Javiers tonight, about the 100th time I've been there.
Going to Father's tomorrow, and the Dodgers game. I love SoCal, there's a reason it costs so much to live here, it really is great.
There are some incredible places in Newport. The Crow Bar in Corona Del Mar is a wonderful restaurant with world class bar food/American Comfort. It is on 2325 E. Coast Highway. Anjin is a combo Japanese/Korean steakhouse. 3033 Bristol in Costa Mesa; two blocks South of South Coast Plaza. You self-grill meat on small bbq's. Catalina Fish Kitchen on 670 W. 17th St in Costa mesa is hipster central. Great fresh fish. Daimon's Japanese on 16232 PCH in Huntington Beach has more eye candy per capita than any other restaurant.
I'm in Newport Beach for work the next couple of days, and I can't get the guys I'm entertaining convinced we should drive to, even though I offered, to Santa Monica to Father's Office. So where should I take them, that's close to NB?
Haven Gastropub in the City of Orange just opened and has an awesome one--juicy meat with St Angur cheese, roasted red peppers and wild argula. Very good and memorable.
OK, I was in LA for the weekend to attend the 67th anniversary of the Atwater Village Lion's Club Breakfast (pedestrian at best; but I get to see a lot of folks I grew up with), and I took the opportunity to try Oinkster in Eagle Rock. It was featured on Diners Drive-ins and Dives, so I showed up with more than slightly elevated expectations, and the joint did not disappoint. The Oinkster pastrami is clearly the must-try item; but the pulled pork is also quite good. The pastrami sandwich is thick with meat (he cures it himself), and topped with red cabbage slaw, caramelized onions and Gruyère cheese. I've been staying away from fries lately, trying to lower my carb intake; but this guy makes his own ketchup (!!!), so I ordered some. He calls them "Belgian" fries, and uses a combination of beef shortening and rice oil to cook them in. He makes two kinds of ketchup, and they are both stunning: regular, and chipotle. I went back again on my way out of town and had a burger, as a fat black gentleman had suggested I try one while we were standing in the (very) long line on my first trip. It was great. More carmelized onions, some pastrami, sharp cheddar and avocado... This GREAT dressing. They called this one "The Royale" (Don't ask. I didn't go to Burger King). They have rotisserie chicken that I have yet to try. It looks good. I had an Horchata milkshake on my first visit. Expensive at $4.50; but I would have it again. It was great. Their website has all sorts of info, including a link to the D,D&D segment. This place is fun. I'll be going back next LA trip for sure.
All of a sudden there are a couple more on my (local to Phoenix) radar: Smashburger (I ate at the one on 20th and Camelback) Blu Burger Grill (101 and Northern) Blu Burger being the better of the two. Better than most, really. They have Angus, Kobe and Bison to choose from. Lots of variation possibilities. I liked it better than Cheeburger Cheeburger by a wide margin. Smashburger is recommended too; but not as enthusiatically as Blu.
Thanks to this thread I finally got off my ass and went to The Counter, which I had been meaning to do for a long time. Not the original in SM, but a newer one in Marina. Good burgers and fixin's. Solid recommendation.
Kuma's in Chicago. A metal burger place. Usually an hour wait to be seated (well worth it). Great metal playing on the stereo, and each burger is named after a metal band.
Yep, sounds gimmicky. But strip all the metal aside, and you still have a menu full of the best burgers I've ever had.
85 % lean , high quality ground beef, Worcestershire , black pepper , chopped green onion, chopped fresh jalapeno, chopped fresh basil, a little fresh garlic, all mixed in the meat. top with tillimook smoked cheddar, or smoked Gouda ,lettuce , tomato ,thin cut onion. my favorite. I will sometimes add pan seared panchetta and some of the grease to the ground beef before cooking on the grill.
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