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See our slideshows of America’s Best Burgers and Best Hotel Room-Service Burgers.
It’s consistently one of the most contentious food topics across the nation. Who makes the best burger? In New York City alone, the classics—Peter Luger, Corner Bistro, P. J. Clarke’s—must defend their meat cred from sizzling newcomers like Black Iron, Back Forty, Five Napkin Burger, and Shake Shack.
In the final analysis, the beauty of a burger depends on personal preference for patty size, toppings, and sides, but we still scoured the 50 states for our list of the top 10 ways to serve beef in a bun. Doing our two-fisted (and multiple-napkin) diligence, we ordered our burgers loud-and-proud in greasy-spoon diners, late-night taverns, hip downtown joints, indie chains, and even a few haute cuisine temples where the homegrown chefs know their Wagyu from their Black Angus and occasionally add foie gras or short ribs to the meaty mix.
- See our slideshows of America’s Best Burgers and Best Hotel Room-Service Burgers.
We’re flexible: regional toppings like chile con carne, fried eggs, and artisanal bacon are just fine with us, though a plain, good old-fashioned cheeseburger also appeals to our appetites. Of course, a champion burger also deserves heroic sides. Golden-brown fries always hit the spot, but we also enjoyed the sizable pickles, grits, and even scrapple that showed up on our plates.
Tradition must be taken into account, even if the tradition in question might taste strange to outsiders. At Dyer’s Burger, a Memphis institution since 1912, the all-beef patties are dunked in a cast-iron skillet of boiling hot vegetable oil. Out in Hawaii, Oahu’s Kua’Aina Sandwich Shop has been offering enormous charbroiled burgers topped with slices of fresh, island-grown avocado or pineapple for the past 25 years.
When it comes to the Big Apple, the burger battle becomes more contentious. It also becomes more difficult to pick a clear winner, which is why we chose two. The no-fuss, no-attitude Black Iron Burger Shop’s house special is a delectable version involving two patties topped with grilled onions and horseradish cheddar. And our other pick? Well, as tough as it is to spurn restaurants with a proud hamburger history, this one is also a newcomer to Gotham’s burger circuit.
Here is Travel + Leisure’s highly opinionated, highly subjective, and high-calorie take on where to find the best burger in America.
- See our slideshows of America’s Best Burgers and Best Hotel Room-Service Burgers.
Comments (4)
Open / CloseGo to Lefarm in Westport CT for one of the finest if not the finest burger
Lefarm in Westport CT is home to probably the best burger in CT if not the country. You have to cut the burger in 1/2 because once you pick it up you can't put it down. i wrote about it in my blog at http://chewingthroughlife.blogspot.com/2009/10/le-farm-westport-freinds-and-family.html
you will want to run to Westport to get this most excellent burger.<...
Best Burgers
Made me very hungry! But I agree, would like to see by city or state!
BETTER BURGERS WITHOUT THE FUSS
Forget the fancy restaurants. Many of NYC's bistros and pubs have the best burgers without have to pay $25. Like Walker's in Tribeca, Corner Bistro and Spotted Pig in West Village.
Burgers
You should list the best burgers in each state. I am not going to Ca. today to get a burger.
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