PrintThree Best Burgers in the U.S.: No Agreement Anywhere
Bon Appétit magazine's three finalists for the best burgers in America are:
- The green chile cheeseburger at: Bobcat Bite, 420 Old Las Vegas Highway, Santa Fe NM 87505; 505-983-5319
- The bacon cheeseburger at: Taylor's Automatic Refresher, 933 Main Street, Helena CA 94574; 707-963-3486
- The Meerscheeseburger at The Meers Store and Restaurant, 26005 State Highway 115, Lawton OK 73501; 580-429-8051
When I asked Bon Appétit's Andrew Knowlton about the criteria and methodology the magazine's editors used in selecting the three finalists, he gave a Solomonic answer.
"Of course our selections are subjective and open to debate. But I can tell you that anybody who eats at any of the three finalists in any category will not be disappointed with the food itself or the people and the stories behind the food."
What's interesting about the magazine's selections is that there is very little overlap with all the other best burger lists by such fine taste-budded writers like Alan Richman (in GQ) and Ray Sokolov in the Wall Street Journal. There are more best burger lists from some noted burger lovers here on AHT.
The Bobcat Bite is number 12 on Richman's list and doesn't appear at all on Sokolov's. Meers General Store and Taylor's Refresher are nowhere to be found on their lists, and I'd be willing to bet 25 Shake Shack burgers that Richman and Sokolov have been to Taylor's, given the fact they are both experienced food and wine geeks who know their way around the Napa Valley, where Taylor's is located.
Richman's top three are the Not Just a Burger at the Spiced Pear Restaurant at the Chanler Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, the Luger Burger at Peter Luger in Brooklyn, and the Sirloin Burger at Le Tub in Hollywood, Florida.
Sokolov's top three are not readily apparent from reading his story, but reading between the patties, I would say his four favorite burgers are at the Apple Pan in Los Angeles and surprisingly, a trio in Atlanta: the bacon cheeseburger at the Earl in East Atlanta, the burger at the Vortex, and the Ghetto Burger at Ann's Snack Bar.
So what can we conclude? The most beautiful, best burgers are in the eyes of the burger holder. My three favorites change on any given day, but today I would give the nod to the Apple Pan, the Spotted Pig in New York City's Greenwich Village, and Telepan, also in New York. On other days I would mention Resto (Manhattan), the Good Fork in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and the Red Mill in Seattle. As you can see, my list is dominated by New York burgers.
What does that say? I'm a hometown burger boy, like most people I know. And, as Knowlton said, you will not be disappointed by any of the above-mentioned burgers.
So what are your top three burgers?
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14 Comments:
I consider burgers to be in two categories, flat and fat. Of the fat, let me nominate O'Connell's, one of the great saloons of the US, in St. Louis. And for the flat burgers, a double at Carl's Drive In in suburban St. Louis, is absolutely world class. Frank Cunetto, the owner, won't expand beyond his 16 seats because he understands that the speed with which he gets the burger to the customer is critical. The first bite is absolutely stunning.
lemons at 9:48AM on 08/14/07
did you mean Solomonic answer?
QueenCeleste at 10:07AM on 08/14/07
Thanks for the catch, QueenCeleste. The change is now reflected in the post.
Adam Kuban at 11:14AM on 08/14/07
I can honestly say I was disappointed by Spotted Pig's burger, due mainly to the overwhelming blue cheese.
By the way, the burger at EGG in Williamsburg (where Steve Tanner of Pies & Thighs now cooks) is worth checking out.
SoundBitesNYC at 3:21PM on 08/14/07
Oh, the glory of the Bobcat.
Not only do I get to indulge in this wonder of ground cow flesh on a fairly regular basis, and take pictures:
Juicy Bobcat, but I write this comment whilst sipping my go-juice from a mug that will never let me forget that it's always time for a burger...
My Java Mug
Next time you are in the Southwest - make a point to get there. You will wait awhile, but you will not leave unhappy.
tenacity at 4:35PM on 08/14/07
I've lived in Seattle for 6 years now, and will concur that Red Mill makes one of the best hamburgers I've ever eaten. First place, however, has to go to Westport Flea Market in Kansas City, MO. I grew up in Kansas, but hadn't been back to K.C. for almost a decade. I traveled through K.C. again in June and went well out of my way for an afternoon at the historic burger joint. You place your order at a counter (Flea Market burger, medium rare) and when it's ready, they call your name and you pick it up at the grill window, where you dress your own burger with the available table full of standard condiments. This was the exchange between me and the cook who handed me my burger and fries basket:
Cook: Ryan, I appreciate your order.
Me: (surprised) Thank you... I appreciate you making such an outstanding burger. It's been almost ten years since I've been back here.
Cook: Ten years! Where you livin' at now?
Me: Seattle. It's hard to find good barbecue or a solid burger out there.
Cook: Yeah, yeah, but I bet they make a helluva fish sandwich.
nordicfraley at 4:47PM on 08/14/07
The whole notion of these burgers being the three best in America implies that the judges sampled all the burger in America. All these top or best lists should instead be referred to as lists of really good burgers or really interesting burgers or historically significant burgers or just favorite burgers but to make the claim that they are somehow better than all others is a bit silly. My personal favorite burgers are White Manna, All American Drive Through and either Melon or Clarkes. Here in NYC I am really digging Shopsins sliders and Blue 9 these days. I couldn't for the life of me tell you if any of these places are the "best" but I think they are all fantastic.
beef aficionado at 7:09PM on 08/14/07
Charlie Beinlich's in Wilmette(?), IL comes in first, followed by a Kobe Burger I had at the Bellagio in Vegas, followed by my dad's spicy burgers cooked during my childhood.
Maybe the Billy Goat should be on there, too...
Smylie at 10:37AM on 08/15/07
I work in a restaurant in Tokyo japan, and we won 3rd best in the city... I have to say I love our burger. it is of the 'fat' kind. Big and juicy, and we add an asian tomato salsa that kicks butt.
other than that, I have loved all kinds of burgers all over. But I am now looking only to eat burgers from local raised non industrial beef. we need to stop ag biz madness and support our small farms.
lshannon at 7:49PM on 08/15/07
Shannon, which restaurant? I spent four months in the Tokyo area and had more than a few burgers; I'm hoping I tried yours!
Smylie at 5:35PM on 08/16/07
Boston is a pretty lousy burger town. It's a compeltel obsession with big huge mostrous pub burgers. That said, Abe and Louie's makes a kickass burger.
tamerlanenj at 8:56AM on 08/21/07
Head to Somerville, tamerianenj! R.F. O'Sullivans burgers are amazing.
LoDega at 10:43AM on 08/21/07
The Black Angus burger at Stoudt's brewpub in Adamstown PA is sublime. It's all about the bakery fresh roll baked on-premise
boweryant at 9:11PM on 03/06/08
Whataburger (the Texas chain)
I love hamburgers and never miss a chance to try a new one and never had a hamburger I didn't like. I read about hamburgers from all over the world.
But I never enjoy any hamburger at any price as much as a Whataburger. If I eat a Whataburger and nothing else I don't care if I eat another thing the rest of the day.
eatorama at 1:31AM on 03/07/08