In House Beef Old Fashioned Burger
America's historic burger joints where the recipes never change
True blue burgers
The humble burger is America's most iconic food, but some are more iconic than others. These burgers have stood the test of time, sitting on the menus of their respective restaurants for decades. Even as times have changed, these reliable classics have remained the same and their loyal fans wouldn't have it any other way.
The Original Burger, Louis' Lunch, New Haven, Connecticut
Louis' Lunch is recognised by the Library of Congress as the birthplace of the hamburger. The burgers are still served as they were in 1895 and look a little bit different than the burgers in a bun that most modern restaurants serve. An Original Burger is made with five different cuts of meat, ground fresh and served on toasted white bread. They're topped simply, with just cheese, onion and tomato.
Slugburger, Borroum's Drug Store, Corinth, Mississippi
Slugburgers are a Depression-era speciality, created during a time when many people couldn't afford an all-meat burger patty. The burgers, which are built around a patty fortified with a non-meat filler (in this case, soy grits), were invented in Corinth, Mississippi. Borroum's, the oldest drug store and soda fountain in the state, still sells them for less than $2 (£1.46). The burgers are an acquired taste but are popular enough that Corinth has long held an annual Slugburger Festival.
Double Cheeseburger, All American Hamburger Drive In, Massapequa, New York
The All American Hamburger Drive In is not only the oldest, but the only drive-in hamburger stand on Long Island, having first opened in 1963. The burgers are exactly as the name suggests: simple, all-American fast food-style burgers that set the standard for drive-ins all over the country. They might not be fancy, but there's a reason the joint has been a local favourite for so many years.
Cheeseburger slider, White Manna, Hackensack, New Jersey
Since 1946, White Manna has dealt in classic New Jersey sliders, which are full-sized hamburgers, not the mini appetiser-sized burgers with the same name. Onions are pressed into these griddle-fried patties as they sizzle away and the cheese is placed on top while the burger is still cooking so that it melts completely. White Manna uses soft potato buns to hold the whole thing together.
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Dyer's Single With Cheese, Dyer's Burgers, Memphis, Tennessee
Dyer's has been serving its classic cheeseburgers since 1912. The restaurant boasts a "secret" cooking process that hinges on it never changing the grease used to fry the burgers. The grease is occasionally topped up to keep the supply going, but at least a few drops in the mix have been in there for over 100 years. The business takes the grease so seriously that armed police escorts took charge of it when the restaurant changed locations.
Fried Onion Burger, Johnnie's Hamburgers and Coneys, El Reno, Oklahoma
The Oklahoma fried onion burger is a Depression-era concoction that grew out of a few restaurants in the small town of El Reno on historic Route 66. The burger wasn't invented at Johnnie's, but the restaurant is one of a handful of old El Reno restaurants that still serves them. The burgers were designed to be economical with the meat but heavy on the onions, which are fried right into the patties as they cook on a flat-top griddle.
Double-Double, In-N-Out Burger, Baldwin Park, California
In-N-Out is known for its surprisingly simple hamburgers, and the chain has known not to mess with perfection since it first opened in 1948. The famous Double-Double consists of a toasted sponge-dough bun, two slices of American cheese, two 100% beef patties, onions, lettuce, tomatoes and a secret spread that hasn't changed since opening. There are In-N-Out locations throughout California (and a few adjacent states), but Baldwin Park is where it all started.
Steamed Cheeseburger, Ted's Restaurant, Meriden, Connecticut
Steamed burgers neither sound nor look particularly appetising, but Ted's Restaurant has been using this unique cooking method since 1959, claiming to be the only restaurant in the United States to exclusively steam its burgers. The restaurant says that the steaming creates a better flavour. The blanket of white Cheddar that tops the burgers is also steamed, then scooped on top of the patty, along with the customer's choice of additional toppings.
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Smashed Burger, Workingman's Friend, Indianapolis, Indiana
A legendary dive bar, Workingman's Friend first opened in 1918 and has long been known for its smashed burgers, a Midwest speciality that has more recently gained steam across the United States. The smash method of cooking results in an ultra-thin patty that crisps around the edges, retaining an extra hit of grease from the grill. The burger here has two patties and two slices of American cheese, with a slice of bread in between for added structure.
Green Chile Cheeseburger, The Owl Bar and Cafe, San Antonio, New Mexico
Green chile burgers are a big deal in New Mexico and the Owl Bar and Cafe, open since 1945, serves what may be the earliest version, though other restaurants make similar claims. Legend has it that scientists working on the Manhattan Project ordered their burgers with a side of green New Mexico chilli. When there weren't enough clean bowls to serve it in, the cook smeared it right on the burger and a classic was born.
Hackneyburger, Hackney's on Harms, Glenview, Illinois
Hackney's on Harms has been serving its self-proclaimed "famous" Hackneyburger since 1939. Customers can request their burger on a bun, but the half-pound (227g) patty of freshly-ground meat is traditionally served on toasted house-made dark rye bread. It's best enjoyed with a side of Hackney's other signature dish, a "brick" of crispy French-fried onions.
Jucy Lucy, Matt's Bar, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Shortly after neighbourhood watering hole Matt's Bar opened in 1954, the Jucy Lucy (that's correct, with no "i" in Jucy) was born, and the burger has since been replicated around the world. The Jucy Lucy is marked by molten American cheese inside the thick beef patty, which oozes as you bite into it. It's greasy and messy and requires more than a few napkins, but that's exactly what makes it so great.
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Ground Round, Miller's Bar, Dearborn, Michigan
This no-frills joint hasn't changed in terms of recipes or service since it opened in 1941. Miller's Bar's single-patty Ground Round is served with or without cheese, stacked with pickles and onion on an uncomplicated bun. The burgers are served on squares of waxed paper and patrons sitting at the bar still order on the honour system, simply telling the bartender what they had before they pay and go, just like in the old days.
Butter Burger, Solly's Grille, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin is the land of dairy so it's no surprise that in addition to cheese, restaurants would put creamy local butter on their burgers. Solly's, which opened in 1936, is the home of the Butter Burger. The sirloin patties aren't just cooked in butter, but butter is also spread on top after it's cooked. Solly's serves its original-recipe Butter Burgers with stewed onions, but it has also developed new versions with additions like mushrooms, bacon and jalapeños.
Beef Burger, Pie 'n Burger, Pasadena, California
Pie 'n Burger has been a fixture in Pasadena since 1963 and its speciality is no-frills, classic California-style burgers. The patty is made with top-quality freshly-ground beef and it's topped with tomato, pickle and lettuce, with the option of cheese. The key to the burger is the restaurant's homemade thousand island dressing.
Galley Boy, Swensons Drive-In, Akron, Ohio
The Galley Boy burger is a double cheeseburger with not one but two different special sauces and an olive perched on top. You'll find it at Swensons Drive-In, a regional Ohio fast food chain that got its start in Akron in 1934 and now has locations all over the state. The real magic is in the sauce: one is creamy and similar to a tartar sauce, while the other is a tangy barbecue spread.
Stanley Burger, Stanley's Famous Hamburgers, Central Falls, Rhode Island
Stanley's Famous Hamburgers was founded in 1932 by Polish immigrant Stanley F. Kryla. He wanted to make an all-meat hamburger that was still affordable to Rhode Islanders suffering during the Great Depression. Today's Stanley Burgers are still made from top-quality ground beef and topped with grilled onions and pickles. It's similar to an Oklahoma fried onion burger, which originated well over 1,000 miles (1,609km) away.
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Big Guy, Stevenson's Bar & Grill, Cleveland, Ohio
You might think Stevenson's is a fairly nondescript Cleveland dive bar but it's been slinging patties since the 1920s and the burgers have been ranked as some of the best in the country. The Big Guy is the bar's double-patty cheeseburger (there's also a one-patty Lil Fella) and while it's not revolutionary, it has all the elements of a perfect bar burger. The patties are thin and crispy, the secret white sauce is creamy, and it's topped with a nice balance of shredded lettuce, pickles and melted cheese.
Original Redcoat Special Hamburger, Redcoat Tavern, Royal Oak, Michigan
In operation since 1972, the Redcoat Tavern is an ale house and wine bar, but the house speciality is a big juicy burger. While the tavern offers some updated takes on its burger, the original is the real deal. It features a half-pound (227g) of the restaurant's freshly-ground proprietary beef blend with tomato, lettuce and a mayo-based special sauce. Customers are invited to customise the burger to their own tastes, adding things like bacon, pickles, cheese and other goodies.
All The Way burger, Brooks' Sandwich House, Charlotte, North Carolina
If you order an All The Way burger from Brooks' Sandwich House, you'll get a hamburger with a generous scoop of Southern-style all-beef chilli placed right on top of the patty. The joint, which opened in 1973, specialises in burgers and chilli, so it's only natural to combine the two. Cheese and bacon are optional, otherwise the burgers come simply dressed with mustard and onions. Hot dogs here are topped with chilli too.
Five-pound burger, Ed Walker's Drive-In, Fort Smith, Arkansas
As Fort Smith's oldest restaurant, Ed Walker's is famous for its French dip sandwich, unique curbside beer service and its regular hamburger. But the five-pound (2.2kg) hamburger is what truly puts it on the map. This is the biggest hamburger in all of Arkansas and costs $32.99/£24 (or $37.99/£28 if you make it a cheeseburger). The burger is served cut into wedges like a pizza since it's far too heavy to lift whole.
Cheeseburg, White Hut, West Springfield, Massachusetts
Double Bacon Cheeseburger, Hodad's, San Diego, California
Originally a beachside stand that served freshly cooked burgers to hungry surfers, Hodad's (which now has multiple locations) has been run by the Hardin family since 1969. The restaurant is known for its enormous burgers – the menu's "mini" burgers are about the size of a standard burger. The Double Bacon Cheeseburger has become an icon not just for its sheer size, but because of its pressed bacon "patty" which is much more substantial than typical bacon strips.
Sliders, Motz's Burgers, Detroit, Michigan
Motz's is another Midwest mainstay that specialises in sliders. The restaurant has changed its name a few times over the years, but the sliders have essentially remained the same since 1929. Available in single or double size, and with or without cheese, these little burgers are topped with grilled onions, pickles, mustard and ketchup with the option of adding bacon. Motz's has grown to include "bigger" burgers on its menu too, but the sliders remain its standout item.
Dino's Cheeseburger, Dino's, Nashville, Tennessee
Billed as East Nashville's oldest dive bar, Dino's has been serving its famous cheeseburger since the 1970s. The 5.5oz (156g) patty is impressively thick, fully encased in Cheddar cheese and topped with generous portions of onion, tomato, pickle and lettuce. Those with fancier tastes can add avocado or a fried egg, or ask for the burger to be prepared animal-style, with grilled onions and mustard cooked onto the patty.
Double Cheeseburger, Gilley's Diner, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Gilley's started its life in 1912 as a portable lunch counter that was towed by horse. It's changed names over the years and its current namesake is former, late employee Ralph Gilbert who worked there for over 50 years. The joint has been parked in a permanent location since 1974 and stills serves a solid Double Cheeseburger, with juicy patties and generous ooze of cheese.
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Tostada Burger, Chris Madrid's, San Antonio, Texas
It makes sense that Chris Madrids' two specialities – burgers and tacos – are combined in the restaurant's Tostada Burger. The burger is topped with house refried beans (from original owner Chris Madrid's mother's own recipe), fresh salsa, tortilla chips and Cheddar cheese. Although the most popular burger at the joint, which has been open since 1977, is the Cheddar Cheezy, the Tostada Burger is a true original.
Chili Cheeseburger, Kincaid's Hamburgers, Fort Worth, Texas
Kincaid's Hamburgers first opened as a grocery store in 1946, but owner Charles Kincaid's butcher O.R. Gentry started cooking burgers that overshadowed the retail element of the store. The restaurant still serves O.R.'s original burgers, including this juicy cheeseburger topped with a dollop of hot chilli. Kincaid's has also expanded its burger menu to include the Cowtown Deluxe with pimento cheese and bacon, and the Cattleman with BBQ sauce and onion rings.
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Cheeseburger, Kewpee Hamburgers, Lima, Ohio
With the mantra "Hamburg, pickle on top, makes your heart go flippity-flop", you just know that Kewpee's no-nonsense cheeseburger is going to deliver. Kewpee's roots date back to 1918 when its first stand opened in Flint, Michigan, but the chain has since become exclusive to Lima, Ohio, which saw the first of its three locations open in 1928. Despite being a fast food joint, the patties are ground in house, giving them a homemade flavour.
Cheeseburger Deluxe, Charcoal Pit, Wilmington, Delaware
A Delaware favourite for over 60 years, Charcoal Pit's award-winning burgers haven't changed since the restaurant opened in 1956. The recipe is a closely guarded secret, but The Pit, as locals call it, doesn't conceal the size of these big juicy burgers. The Cheeseburger Deluxe comes in both quarter-pound (113g) and half-pound (227g) sizes to satisfy big appetites.
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