In celebration of National Cheeseburger Day on Sept. 18, we put together a "Burger Bucket List" of delicious burger destinations recommended by Macaroni Kid publishers from across the United States.
The cheeseburger is an American classic and -- we think it's safe to say -- one of the U.S.A.'s most iconic foods. There's some dispute on who invented the cheeseburger, but one story we like gives credit to Lionel Sternberger. The story goes that Lionel introduced the first cheeseburger in 1926 at the young and dapper age of 16 when he was working as a fry cook at his father's Pasadena, Calif., sandwich shop, "The Rite Spot" when he "experimentally dropped a slab of American cheese on a sizzling hamburger." We thank him for that.
Cheeseburgers can be as simple as just bun, cheese, and burger. But they can also be dressed up with lots of toppings. We asked our Macaroni Kid publisher moms from across the country to weigh in on their favorites -- and boy did they have a lot to share! Your Foodie Moms narrowed down the list to bring to you our top 25 burger joints (in no particular order) from across the country to put on your "Burger Bucket List" next time you're traveling through, including a few vegetarian options!
1. The Double-Double from In-N-Out Burger - Calif.: Two juicy, tender patties wrapped in fresh lettuce, with a mouth-watering “special sauce.”
2. The Triple Decker from Wahlburgers - Las Vegas, Nev.: Three 3oz burgers, lettuce, tomato, onion, government cheese, Paul's housemade signature Wahl sauce and pickles.
3. The Mini Cheeseburger from Hodad’s - San Diego, Calif.: Lettuce, tomato, sliced onion, shredded cabbage, mustard, mayo, and ketchup.
4. The Cajun Bacon Cheeseburger from Papa & Company - Shreveport, La.: These burgers are made with 3/4 beef and served on fresh-baked rolls. Yes, they can feed two people.
5. The cheeseburger from Shady Glen - Manchester, Conn.: The crispy cheese edges make this burger. Need we say more than crispy cheese?
6. The Sin City from Crave Burgers - Colorado Springs, Colo.: 6oz ground chuck patty, tempura-fried sharp white cheddar, grilled onions, candied bacon, guacamole, lettuce, ketchup.
7. The Smash Burger from Neon Pig - Tupelo, Miss.: House grind includes Benton's bacon, filet, ribeye, sirloin, new york, plus Benton's bacon bits, cheddar cheese, quick pickles, pickled onion, hoisin, and comeback sauce on ciabatta.
8. The Doughburger from Johnnie’s Drive-In - Tupelo, Miss.: This is a must-stop not only for the delicious dough burger but the experience of sitting in the same booth Elvis once sat in.
9. The Thurmanator from The Thurman Cafe - Columbus, Ohio: Two 12 oz burgers, sauteed onions, mushrooms, ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickle, banana peppers, and mayo with cheddar, mozzarella, and American cheeses, served with fries and a pickle spear.
10. The Breakfast Burger from The Union Burger Bar - Southhampton, NY: 8 oz black Angus beef, applewood bacon, fried egg, cheddar cheese, and hash browns on an English muffin.
11. The Pueblo Farmer from The Skirted Heifer - Colorado Springs, Colo.: A burger with an extra layer of cheddar cheese resembling a skirt. Grass-fed beef, Pueblo chilies, pepper-jack cheese, and homemade guacamole on a sesame seed bun.
12. The Luther from KirbyG's Diner - McDonough, Ga.: A donut cheeseburger is only available for limited times throughout the year.
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The donut cheeseburger from KirbyG's Diner in McDonough, Ga. |
13. Tres Quesos from Farmburguesa - Vinton, Va.: This single burger features three locally sourced cheeses: mozzarella, cheddar, and Swiss.
14. The Korean Burger from The Old Whiskey Mill - Port Townsend, Wash.: House-made kimchi, Korean BBQ, pickled red onion, lettuce, cucumbers, and pork belly cracklings.
15. The Johnny Burger from My Brother’s Bar - Denver, Colo.: Don't miss the jalapeño cream cheese, American cheese, Swiss cheese, grilled onions burger served at the oldest bar in Denver. It opened in 1873.
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Butcher & Brew |
16. The B&B Burger from Butcher & Brew - Alpharetta, Ga.: Two patties, sharp cheddar cheese sauce, American cheese, pickles, grilled onions, remoulade, yellow mustard, shredded lettuce.
17. The Tom Brady from Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage in Harvard Square - Cambridge Mass.: “THE GOAT” cheddar, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, red onions with fries, (optional) add bacon or jalapeno-pineapple relish.
18. The Maxi Burger from Dick's Drive-In - Kaukauna, WI.: Only $3 and described as “perfection!”
19. The Juicy Lucy or Jucy Lucy. There is a big debate on where this one originated - but we love both! Matt’s Jucy Lucy or the Juicy Lucy from The 5-8 Club, both in Minneapolis, Minn.? The cheese is inside the meat instead of on top, resulting in a melted core of cheese.
20. The Triple Cheese from Val's Rapid Serv - St. Cloud, Minn: A simple classic made fast and delicious.
21. The Mushroom Swiss from Lions Tap - Eden Prairie, Minn.: Real Swiss and FRESH sauteed mushrooms.
22. The Burnin' Love Burger from Red Robin - Detroit, Mich.: The cheeseburger has everything including those spicy jalapeños.
23. The Cheeseburger from Song & Hearth - Pigeon Forge, Tenn.: A southern eatery in Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa. Juicy, hearty, and delicious.
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Rodeo Goat |
24. The Neil Young Veggie Burger from Rodeo Goat - Houston, Texas: Homemade veggie patty, hydroponic sprouts, beefsteak tomato, avocado, green goddess dressing.
25. The Black Bean Burger from Max Burger - Springfield, Mass.: Avocado, roasted peppers, green goddess dressing, pepper jack cheese, whole wheat toast.
*BONUS BURGER - Beyond THE Meat - Vegan option for our meatless cheeseburger lovers
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| TGI Friday's | Carl's Jr. |
Word on the street says that Beyond Meat makes the best plant-based burger out there. You can find these delicious burgers at these locations.
We hope you get the opportunity to visit and cross a few of these juicy burger joints off of your Burger Bucket List!
But WAIT! Did we miss one that absolutely should make the cut? Fill out this FORM and nominate your favorite burger joint for a chance to be featured in our article and on social media! |
“The best stories are like the best burgers: big, juicy, and messy.”
― A.D. Posey
Try this sweet recipe and fool your Cheeseburger lovers: Hamburger & Cheeseburger… CUPCAKES!
