"Thurmanator" Thurman Cafe' Columbus Ohio (google that one!) Five Guys is always good Buckeye burger, Ohio Deli Columbus Ohio My very own "Flamin'Face" I put crushed cayennes in the meat (usually bison) I roast fresh picked off of my vine Jalapenos, and put them on top. Melt some hot pepper cheese over the peppers on the burger. Fresh guacomole on the bottom and roasted Habanero salsa on the top. Killer. My wife has plain, with ketchup....
I think the best "non-gourmet" burger I have had anywhere is definitely In-N-Out burger.
We need to get them here in Houston.
That said, I was just in Philly, and went to Daleassandros for the best cheese steak (actually the best sandwich) I have ever had. We blew off a super expensive steak dinner the next night with customers, and drove back over to there for more cheese steaks and beers.
I don't know Macdad, the best sandwich? I'd have to say it came from a Jewish deli, like 5) Art's in B.H. or Studio City 4) Mort's in Pacific Palisades 3) Shep's on Pico (I think it's gone) 2) Carnegie (N.Y.) 1) Webbie's on Laurel Cyn and Ventura (*sniff* gone...) and was probably a hot brisket/pastrami combo with coleslaw, swiss cheese and Russian dressing on rye or onion. Or maybe a tongue/liverwurst combo. Non Jewish deli mentionables: The Tam O'Shanter on Los Feliz has a GREAT sandwich board, and is a pretty good restaurant too. Owned by Lawry's, so the prime rib is terrific, too. Here in Phoenix there are a couple of places, Luke's and Guido's, that make outstanding Italian beef/sausage combo sandwiches (ALWAYS with peppers and provalone). My dad was born and raised in Upper Darby, Pa. I have no excuse for not getting over there one day to try real Philly cheese-steak.
Thanks Tvad. I've been hearing about Langers for years; but it kind of fell off my radar. I'll get there the next time I'm in town, for sure. I used to live across the street from Cal St. Northridge on Nordhoff, and I've never heard of Brent's. I'll give it a try also. Bongo, you just flat out get around! I enjoyed a place in Vegas the last time I was there. It's a small chain. It's called Hash House A Go Go. Take a look at the images Google puts up. It's lot of fun. San Diego's got one also. The dish I had was the featured dish on Man Versus Food.
I grew up in Chicago, and I have never been to Joe Boston's, but I will check it out when I am up there during the holidays.
For Chicago I-talian beef in Chi-town, we go done to Taylor Street area, Al's Italian Beef. Very tasty!!
Also, if you are downtown, I love Vesuvio (it's a great little very old Trattoria) near Navy Pier. It's still has authentic wise-guys hanging out there. Tells you how good it is!!
Well, drove to RMAF this year from Phoenix, and timed it to do lunch in Santa Fe, so I could finally try the green chili cheeseburger at Bobcat Bite. Alas, a sign on the door saying they would be closed 'til the 20th let me know that it wasn't to be. Licked my wounds (and the plate) down the street at Harry's Roadhouse. This place is fabulous! Best strawberry rhubarb pie EVER followed a Buffalo Burger to die for. My daughter-in-law had a turkey panini with goat cheese, roasted peppers and artichoke hearts. I took a bite or three. Best panini I've ever tasted. This place is a GEM, and I'd have missed it altogether if Bobcat Bite hadn't been nice enough to engage in corporate narcissism and take some down time!
I said "followed", not "followed by"! I had to watch them bring pie after pie from the kitchen while I ate lunch. They all looked insane; but strawberry rhubarb is one of my faves, and not a lot of places known for pie have it. I live down the road from The Rock Springs Cafe, THE place for pie in the Phoenix area, a folksy old restaurant that pushes pie out the door in epidemic proportions, and Harry's Roadhouse had them beat hands down across the board. Rock Springs does have a bourbon apple pie that is far and away the best pie they produce, and this pie could sit on the cooling rack next to Harry's pies and not be too embarrassed, I suppose. You have to special order it though, so it's not available by the slice, which is a crime.
Have to add a new burger place to my list. Ultimate Burger in Kona, Hawaii. 1/3 pound organic beef patties. Local grown beef, I would assume Parker Ranch beef. Local baked buns, local grown tomatoes, lettuce, and onions. Topped with blue cheese and homemade aioli type sauce, had to add bacon. Probably tied for #1 on my previous list with Betty Burgers in Capitola, Ca.
I've come to the conclusion that the best dog in the Phoenix area is the one at Delux. I've had the Kobe dog at one of the chophouses, and was a bit underwhelmed. The Delux dog is an all natural hotdog, and they hit it with (if you ask for it with the works) sauerkraut, chopped onion, sweet hot beaver mustard, celery salt and sweet relish. Its not natural cased, and I love natural cased dogs; but this one is something special. The menu says it's an all-beef kosher Niman Ranch dog. It comes with fries, and Delux has very good sweet potato fries, and of course the regular old spud fries.
Vista Pub, Brookings, Oregon. Way down in southwestern Oregon on Hwy 101. Local organic beef, local buns and toppings, handcut homemade fries, and a great selection of Northwest microbrews. Great stuff.
not saying it ranks as the one of the best as I am no burger expert but worth mentioning...
The "Say Uncle" burger at Hydra steakhouse/restaurant in Sandpoint, Idaho. 16 oz of very tasty sirloin split into 2 patties - not for the faint of heart.
I'm by nature a pretty open minded person but I gotta ask what the fans of "five guys" are smoking? expensive soggy and so greasy the bag looks like it got hit with a garden hose. This has got to be one of the great marketing stories or our time. I've had better fries at a gas station!
5 Napkin Burger. Have eaten at the one in Hell's Kitchen in NYC and they just opened one here in midtown Atlanta. Excellent. Try the original.......has caramelized onions with Gruyere cheese melted on it.
I've been to Zinburger now. Twice. I have to say I like it. Kind of matches my sensibilities: I feel that the hamburger is one of the great inventions of western civilization, and should in some cases be treated as such. They treat it as such. Like with pizza, right? You sometimes want a $10.00 pie; and other times you want an over the top wood fired masterpiece. Anyway, here in Phoenix they're at the Biltmore.
OK, kind of off the map for you guys, but I have moved to OKC from Houston for work, and it's been a pretty easy transition, even though the city is much smaller.
But, as far as burgers, I would put Irma's up against any I have had, including Father's Office in LA which I always thought was impossible to beat..
Phoenix area alert... You're going to want to try the burger (and everything else for that matter) at Amuse Bouche in Surprise. This place is very impressive.
I no longer receive the NYC Zagats, are you suggesting that Molly's Sheben had the best hamburger in NYC as rated in the current Zagats, or that it was rated in Zagats? Funny how some restaurants will post signs indicating they were rated in Zagats, when the ratings were actually not complimentary.
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