Burger a Week (2024)

22/02/2024

🍔Nom Nom Burger 🍔

My first son loved to put potato chips on his burger. It’s hard to believe years later his old man finally had one. Pre-dinner burger before U2 at the Sphere included a stop at

I went with the Nom Nom Burger. A pub style patty cooked to order of their prime beef blend. Melted cheddar with pickles and 1000 island dressing topped with their house-made potato chips in a sesame brioche bun.

I really enjoyed the salty crunch when you bite into this bad boy. The bun had a nice soft compression to it providing a proper bun to patty ratio. Fries were thick and crispy with seasoning.

I deliberately avoided some of the celebrity burgers on the strip. Holsteins is ranked pretty high by the locals and their burgers did not disappoint.

15/02/2024

🍔 Fukuburger 🍔

If you’re in the Las Vegas area and looking for a great burger off the strip checkout Highly rated by locals they offer American style burgers with a Japanese twist.

Since it was my first time I went with the Fukuburger. A nicely seasoned pub style patty with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickled onions, and plenty of wasabi mayo and Fuku sauce. There’s a nice medley here with the savory meat and cheese dancing with the bite and creaminess of the sauces. The pickled onions offering some tang and the lettuce and tomato bringing freshness. I went through quite a few napkins with this bad boy! Paired it with a soft drink and crispy seasoned fries, I left plenty full and satisfied.

12/02/2024

🍔In ‘n Out Double Cheeseburger Animal Style🍔

Out West last week which meant a stop at In ‘n Out. I always go for the double cheeseburger animal style. The fries are a bit meh considering they’re fresh cut but I heard someone order them well done. I’ll try that next time. What’s your favorite In n Out?

27/01/2024

🍔Godzilla Burger🍔

A bit of a crazy week but managed to grab a quick lunch On this visit I went with their BOM - The Godzilla Burger. 1/4 lb beef patty with Togarashi-spiced bacon, provolone cheese, wasabi mayo, lettuce, and tomato. I added an extra patty to make this more of a monster burger (pun intended). Nice spice to this bad boy with the wasabi may offering a bit of a kick along with the Togarishi (a 7 ingredient slice mixture containing red chili pepper) bacon. The lettuce and tomato are a nice addition to cutting some of the heat. My burger was served steaming hot which I really appreciated with some crispy fries. No heat lamp death if you get my drift.

The family run local business chain continues to grow in the Twin Cities with their newest location in Edina. Each location has their own signature branding and design which I really enjoy.

Fun Fact. Did you know Godzilla has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

18/01/2024

🍔Smashed Burger🍔
First burger of 2024 was in Plymouth for lunch trying out the Smashed burger. Two certified angus beef patties with American cheese, butter, and pickles. I opted to add lettuce tomato and onion (LTO) at no extra charge to see how the combo worked. I was glad I did as the LTO added some additional flavors and complexity with the tomato and onion complementing the meat and cheese. I wished it could have had a bit more seasoning. The burgers at Northern Tap House come with a choice of beer battered fries, kettle chips, or soup. I went with chips this time which were amply provided. I’ve been to this location a few times and it is always packed at lunchtime.

Northern Tap House is part of the family owned Lincoln Hospitality Group. With several Minnesota NT locations in Minnesota their restaurants also include with locations throughout Wisconsin ( I posted a while back on the Eau Claire location) and Omaha Tap House in Nebraska. They are also known for some of their massive Bloody Mary’s including the Breakfast Bloody - Bacon Washed vodka, house bloody mix, garnished with a classic NTH skewer, deviled egg, brown sugar bacon, candied bourbon chicken strip, waffle and a breakfast shot. Yousa! That’ll pick you up! I was here for lunch so no Bloody for this boy.

03/01/2024

🍔Howard’s Cheeseburger🍔

Happy Belated New Year’s everyone. My final burger of 2023 was this bad boy from Two nicely seasoned patties, American cheese, caramelized onions, pickle chips, bibb lettuce, toasted bun and plenty of Howard’s sauce. The cheeseburger is $15 for a single or $18 as a double with choice of fries, tater tots, fruit, cole slaw or soup. I made it a double and went with their hand cut shoestring fries which are absolutely fantastic.

Located on Main Street in downtown Stillwater Howard’s was recently opened over the summer by Caroline Smith and Chef Adam To in the old Whitey’s Bar. This fun spot maintains a lot of its old characteristics which I really appreciate. It was a busy Saturday evening but we managed to grab a couple of spots at the bar and had great friendly service. Plenty of items on the menu I need to try next time like their Smoked Trout Dip, Calabrian Chili Hummus, White Chicken Chili, Sausage Lasagna, Meatloaf and Pork schnitzel to name a few. Head east my friends and enjoy the beautiful historic town of Stillwater and checkout Howard’s Bar.

28/12/2023

🍔Toma Cheeseburger🍔

Happy Holidays everyone. Been a bit on the busy side of late but managed to visit for a late lunch last week. Ordered the cheeseburger (made it a double of course). As you can see from my pic the two smashed patties were seared nicely, seasoned well, cheddar cheese on both patties with lettuce, tomato and onion. I ordered it spicy which came with plenty of their piri aioli. A nice kick of heat boasting Mediterranean flavors which really sealed the deal for me. You might want to have a couple of extra napkins when you sink your teeth into this bad boy.

For $12.99 it comes with your choice of side. There’s plenty to choose from ranging from mac and cheese, a variety of salads to fried brussel sprouts. I went with their seasoned fries and brava sauce which I recommend as well. BTW, there are 10 different sauces on their menu to customize your order!

Locally owned and operated, Toma Mojo Grill has two locations in the Twin Cities (Richfield, Minnetonka). A fast casual style restaurant serving up Spanish and Portuguese inspired dished with plenty of bold flavors. This was my first visit and I’ll definitely be back with friends to try out more of their menu which includes a variety of chicken, pork and vegan dishes with plenty of fresh mediterranean flavors.

10/12/2023

🍔 Malaga Burgers 🍔

Just returned home from a couple of weeks in southern Spain where I was fortunate to enjoy lots of Spanish cuisine but as you can imagine I needed to try at least one burger. Headed to and tried out a couple of amazing burgers. Both burgers were pub-style patties of dry aged Txuleton beef which comes from the Basque (Northern) region of Spain. The patties were cooked medium rare with lots of pink and flavor.

The Meri Love (foreground) came with poached onion, duroc bacon, cheddar cheese and plenty of Meri sauce. It was a delicious sloppy mess (in the good way). The other burger we tried was the Tasty Guaca which came with guacamole, lettuce, tomato, spicy mayo, and cheddar cheese. The bun for both burgers was a buttery brioche bun that was perfect for these burgers. The fries were also fantastic. We paired it with some crispy Albariño wine (yes white LOL).

We had great service and conversation with David who did a wonderful job taking care of us and sharing details about the restaurant. I’d highly recommend this place if you ever find yourself in Malaga. If you’re interested in some of the cuisine we had on our trip please check out my stories.

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14/11/2023

🍔Churchill Burger 🍔

If you find yourself on the North side of town please make a stop in Shoreview. Had dinner the other night with some friends which included this double smash burger.

There’s some delicious smash burgers in the Twin Cities and this bad boy joins the team. Two perfectly seasoned patties of with American cheese, caramelized onions, house made pickles, malted fry sauce in between a toasted bun.

The secret to a great smashed burger is the ex*****on. Both patties seasoned and seared nicely. Good amount of rich American cheese. The thinly sliced caramelized onions sit on the bottom bun whereas the tartness of the pickles and creaminess of the fry sauce on the top bun play well against your upper and lower palate. The squishy bun holds it all together. I had it with their fries and enjoyed their beet salad to make sure I got my veggies. Definitely a great reason to travel to this side of town!

03/11/2023

🍔 Grass-Fed Cheeseburger 🍔

Been quite a while since I had a burger One of my favorites was their Red Lentil Burger which had nice bits of heat and texture making it one of my favorite veggie burgers. Unfortunately it is no longer on the menu but decided it was time to try a beef burger. I went with their Grass-Fed Burger. Locally sourced grass-fed beef patty with gruyere cheese, organic bibb lettuce, caramelized onions, pickles, and sriracha aioli. I went with the potato bun versus the whole wheat.

The patty was a rectangular shape which took me by surprise. I was concerned the patty was pre-formed and potentially pre-frozen; however once I took a bite the meat was nice, pink and juicy and not compacted at all. Bun was perfect for this burger as well as toasted. The meat could have used a little more seasoning and I should have ordered an extra serving of the sriracha aioli. Came with a healthy portion of kettle chips but we also ordered their sweet potato fries which I highly recommend. It was Wednesday which also meant half price bottles of wine. Perfect for a mid-week casual date night. Menus and specials vary by location so make sure you check them out online before visiting.

A few fun facts. People’s Organic’s flagship Southdale location was one of the first farm to table restaurants to spring up in the Twin Cities. Lots of fun healthy options on their menu. The Minnetonka location used to be a Dunn Bros back in the day. The building, built in the late 1800’s, is part of the historic Minnetonka Mills District located off Plymouth Road and Minnetonka Blvd. It’s just down the block from the Burwell House (I recommend a tour). I’m glad to see they’ve maintained the original structure and integrity of this historic local landmark.

26/10/2023

🍔 Roadhouse Steak Burger 🍔

Grabbed lunch with an old friend a couple of weeks ago right off Highway 7 and 101. It’s a pretty popular neighborhood spot on that side of town. Dove into their Roadhouse Steak Burger - a nine ounce blend of ground Angus chuck and brisket on a butter toasted onion bun with aged cheddar, sautéed mushrooms, and crispy onion straws. Nicely presented burger. The seasoning was done very well on both patty and mushrooms (so easy to over season mushrooms). I liked the lightness of the onions straws which had just enough batter. Comes with a healthy dose of hand cut fries. I also had a side of their complimentary coleslaw. Overall it was executed fairly well. It was a bit overcooked for my pink preference but still remained juicy.

20/10/2023

🍔 Smoked Burger 🍔

Made my way out East to to checkout this bad boy from Available Thursday through Saturday you don’t want to miss it.

There’s a few things that make this burger a standout. First is the patty blend of sirloin, beef cheek, and wagyu beef rib smoked for hours before seared on the flattop. The patty is juicy, rich and smoky with a gorgeous smoke ring. Topped with American cheese from Then red onions which been tossed in beef fat caramelized over oak coals. Plenty of house pickles nestled in a tallow toasted sesame seed bun with a swipe of ketchup mayo based burger sauce.

So much thought and technique is put into this baby. I love the way the smoky burger and onions interact with the cheese and sauce. The bun is absolutely perfect. Head East my friends and let us know your thoughts!

13/10/2023

🍔 DBL Smash Burger 🍔

I really need to work on my photographic skills but had to share this burger with ya’ll. Hit up a couple of weeks ago for a few bites including this bad boy. The DBL Smash is two well seasoned smashed patties with a nice sear and char. Cheddar cheese, thin sliced onions, house pickles, copious amounts of shredded lettuce and special sauce. Topped with crispy bacon the flavors are reminiscent of a Big Mac with bacon. You get the creamy pickley oniony flavors of a Mac coupled with the salty smoky bacon combines for a very good orchestration of flavors. This baby was stacked tall. Didn’t want to mess with it too much for a photo without it toppling over. 😂

Sat at their cool bar where we had great service. Kicked off our meal with a variety of economically priced oysters ($1.49 a piece during happy hour). We also had the green tomato salad and Burrata with crostini. I cannot resist green tomatoes and this salad was yummy. Please check this burger out in this cool funky neighborhood restaurant off Snelling and Grand. The acoustics need some work but the food is worth it.

07/10/2023

🍔 CurderBurger 🍔

After seeing posts by and .table.manners about this burger I had to try one myself. Hit up my local yesterday for lunch and didn’t disappoint.

This bad boy is a Culver’s butter burger that sits on LTO and mayo. The crown jewel is a nice size Wisconsin cheese curd that tops the patty. You can see the curd is as big or bigger than the patty! Made it a meal with fries and drink put the total cost about $13. I don’t do a lot of ‘fast food’ burgers but this one is a must try. It’s only for a limited time so don’t sleep on it.

02/10/2023

🍔 Oui Burger 🍔

My pictures don’t do this burger justice but here we go. Visited last week to check out a taste of Paris in Minneapolis’ North Loop. I was confident that the burger would be delicious as has always put top notch burgers on his menus and I wasn’t disappointed.

It starts with two nicely seasoned four ounce patties of Wagyu beef from basted with Herbes de Provence butter, velvety Gruyère cheese, nestled between a buttered and toasted brioche bun. The bun is house-made using Chef Fhima’s 130 year old family starter - the same used for house baked baguettes. The burger is wrapped in tin foil which steams the bun and burger. The bun is generously buttered which causes a bit of bun deflation ( I just came up with that) but happily the wrapping of the burger helps the cheese melt and enhances the overall symphonies of the ingredients as the flavors permeate within the steamed tent. It also comes with a side of pomme frites and some house-made pickles. I added the pickles about halfway through and enjoyed the tart acid that cut into the richness of the burger.

I’d highly recommend you check out this indulgent bad boy and let me know what you think. I started with an Arc de Triomphe - a well done take on the old fashioned. We finished our meal with French Coconut Pie which I highly recommend. One of my favorite French dishes is bouillabaisse which I plan to try on my next visit. In the meantime say oui to the Oui Burger - sorry I couldn't help myself. :0)

26/09/2023

🍔 Oklahoma Burger 🍔

Whenever I see an Oklahoma style burger on the menu it’s an automatic yes! Met a friend and old-time coworker .edina last week to catch up over a smashed style burger. There’s plenty of burgers to choose from on their menu including the Butter Burger which my friend enjoyed tremendously.

The Oklahoma comes as a double with caramelized onions (of course) American cheese, spread ( aka burger sauce) in a pillowy toasted brioche bun. The burger was seasoned and nice oniony flavor underneath the bottom patty. The cheese and spread adding the creaminess we enjoy on our cheeseburgers. Overall it was well executed. I made it a combo adding crinkled fries and a soft drink. A little on the expensive side for fast casual but I left satisfied and full.

18/09/2023

🍔 Parlour Burger 🍔

Happy National Cheeseburger Day friends. I celebrated a little early on Friday with the infamous Parlour Burger

Two ample beef patties of brisket, chuck and ribeye well seasoned with white American cheese in a toasted egg bun. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve had it but the first one many years ago blew my mind. This burger consistently delivers every time. Friday’s trip was special as I introduced three co-workers to this bad boy one of whom was visiting from our Amsterdam office.

Happy National Cheeseburger Day!!! Let’s keep it classy!!!

08/09/2023

🍔 Earth and Vine Burger 🍔

Yesterday was my Mom’s 88th trip around the sun and she wanted to sink her teeth into a grand burger so we headed over to as the team has set up there and have been slinging some pretty fine burgers. I’ve had a number of their burgers and they never disappoint. Mom went with the Cheese Please and absolutely loved it. I went with the Earth and Vine (pictured) - two 4oz smashed beef patties (I made it a double) with herb roasted mushrooms, gooey Swiss-American cheese, home-made red wine bordelaise sauce all set in a toasted brioche bun.

The earthiness of the mushrooms and richness of the bordelaise sauce and cheese provides a wonderful flavor and complement to the nicely seared and seasoned patties. The seasoning on this burger was extremely well balanced which can be a bit challenging for cheese and mushroom burgers. We topped off our meal with Lil Nikki’s Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookie - whipped cinnamon and vanilla buttercream encased by two chewy oatmeal cookies from Whenever Nikki bakes she always hits it out of the park.

We had a great time seeing the team of Even though they were battling a downed POS system they provided great food and hospitality. We also had a chance to catch up with Zac Gleason AKA who founded Such a great vibe over there with colorful artwork, lots of windows, great brews and a friendly and attentive staff. Thanks to everyone for making my Mom feel so welcome and special!

24/08/2023

🍔 Big Rig Burger 🍔

When the company picnic has a food truck serving burgers it’s an easy decision. Had this bad boy a couple of weeks ago from These are the same folks behind and

The Big Rig is a seasoned plump pub style burger with white American cheese, lettuce onions and plenty of pickles topped with their fancy sauce in a brioche bun. Came with a side of rock fries (think potato wedges) and chipotle ranch sauce for dipping and some heat. Plenty of food here to fill the tummy!

18/08/2023

🍔 Lex Burger 🍔

Hit up one of my favorite spots on the East Side of the river. Can’t beat the old school charm of Celebrating number two son’s graduation we feasted on lots of items including the Lex Burger. One of the benefits of burgers at places known for great cuts of meat is often the burger gets the side benefits.

A key benefit of the Lex Burger is it’s made from the beef trimmings of the Lex’s steaks. A nice healthy size pub style patty seasoned and cooked to temp. Topped with Swiss cheese, lots of Lex sauce on a bed of lettuce with onions and dill pickles on a toasted brioche bun. Served with a side of thin cut fries.

I always enjoy my visits to The Lexington and love the classic vibe and attentive service. During the summer months they offer rooftop dining but bear in mind it’s first come first serve. Looking forward to some live jazz later this year.

09/08/2023

🍔 Animales Burger 🍔

One of my favorite burgers on the west side of the river. Available Tuesday and Wednesday nights from the folks located

I always add an extra patty as it’s one of the best smashed burgers in town. Perfectly seasoned with white American cheese, house made pickles on a toasted milk bun. I added pork belly this time which was thick and flavorful. If you haven’t had this bad boy put it on the top of your list.

01/08/2023

🍔 The Aristocrat 🍔

One of my favorite neighborhood restaurants is located right off Plymouth Road and 494. Providing fresh and homemade Italian dishes for over 20 years they’ve also been known to put out some darn good burgers. This here is The Aristocrat - a nod to the infamous Big Mac. I’m a massive fan of Big Mac style burgers and I’ve dug into this one a few times and it always leaves me with a full tummy and a smile.

It starts with one of their home-baked buns and two well sized smashed patties from The grind is 75-25 which adds a little extra fat which means a little extra flavor. Topped with local Wisconsin cheese, lettuce, pickles and onions and a generous dollop of aristocrat sauce. Comes with a generous side of fresh-cut shoe string fries or fruit. Lots of good ‘Big Maciness’ in this bad boy.

A couple of tidbits and history. When I’m not getting a burger here I usually order the Linguine de Mare which comes with a yummy tomato saffron broth. With corn season upon us they are also serving up their Sweet Corn Ravioli for a limited time. One of my first burgers here quite a while back was their Lamb Burger - maybe we’ll see that one day? Asking for a friend. Did you know that before Bacio moved in and totally remade the location it was a Leann Chin’s?

25/07/2023

🍔 Longanisa Burger🍔

This was my third visit to I’m a huge fan of their Filipino dishes including Chicken Adobo, Pancit Conton (stir fried noodles), Tortang Talong (fried eggplant), and Lumpia Shanghai (crispy spring rolls) but it was time to try their Longanisa Burger.

It starts with their in-house longanisa sausage. Similar to a chorizo but just a hint less heat but yummy and spicy nonetheless. Topped with cheddar cheese, Fresno chilis, pickled red onions, patis (fish sauce) mayo nestled in a house baked bun made with ube giving it a dark purple hue. Ube comes from purple yams and if you’ve hit Kalsada’s day menu they serve up the most beautiful lavender pancakes using it.

First bite in you get a complex set of spiciness tickling your mouth. There’s some nice heat to it as well but it doesn’t over-power the burger. The mayo helps temper some of the heat. I also added an egg which helped as well. My only wish was the egg wasn’t runny so I didn’t get the yolk drip to encompass the patty. If you’re looking for a burger that’s a little off the beaten path please check it out. Comes with a generous portion of fries as well.

If you’re visiting for the first time I suggest going with a larger group to sample lots of Filipino dishes. Kalsada is located near Snelling Avenue and Selby in what was once Saint Augustine’s. They offer a day menu from 8am-2pm on Saturday and Sundays. Open 4pm-8pm Tue-Sat, 4pm-8pm Sunday. Closed on Mondays.

06/07/2023

🍔Bacon Cheeseburger🍔

Was in NYC a few weeks ago to see a few of my favorite actors in a couple of off-Broadway plays. Managed to sneak a couple of burgers in including the infamous in the Upper East Side. You know you hit the right place when there’s already a line outside in the middle of the afternoon. We were lucky to snag a spot at the bar and quickly get a cool drink and a look at the menu. I went with the bacon cheeseburger and a side of cottage fries. Yes, I said cottage fries. When was the last place you got cottage fries? Lots of bacon piled on this bad boy with a nice amount of cheese. The thick pub style patty was nicely charred and very pink in the middle just like I love. We also grabbed a slice of chocolate chip cake for dessert.

The iconic cash-only JG Melon has been serving up burgers, cottage fries and their infamous Bloody Marys since 1972. I love old school places like this with lots of personality, nicely poured drinks, great service and prompt food even though the place was packed. A great place to visit after visiting The Met.

30/06/2023

🍔 Coalition Burger 🍔

Been a while since I was back Met up with a friend at their nice little bar and caught up on the latest. I do like a pub style burger and Coalition has always done a pretty good job. A nice thick patty of local cheddar cheese, lettuce tomato onion, sliced pickles, burger sauce, between a soft toasted bun.

Not everyone is a fan of LTO thinking a ‘salad’ isn’t appropriate for a burger but I enjoy a California style on my non-smash burgers. The LTO with the pickles and cheese provided a ‘Big Mac’ flavor which I really like. Very nice burger to bun ratio. Accompanied with some fresh cut fries. It hit the spot.

Located in a historic brick building built in 1886 on Lake Street in downtown Excelsior, the exposed brick and high ceilings provide a lovely vibe. There’s a second location located at 50th and France in Edina.

20/06/2023

🍔 Nordic Burger 🍔

I was fortunate to grab one of these bad boys in May before (formerly Rok Eatery) switched over to a new music lounge concept. I loved their eclectic menu of Japanese and Nordic cuisine. The Nordic Burger did not disappoint. A third pound patty of nicely seasoned and seared and topped with generous amounts of Raclette cheese, nestled in a toasted brioche bun with caraway pickles and pink peppercorn aioli. The saltiness and richness of the meat paired with the nutty flavor of the cheese made this a wonderful flavor bomb. I’m sorry to see it go but maybe it’ll pop back up in the future (asking for a friend).

Looking forward to the new music lounge concept and drink menu. A very cool location at the old Schmidt Brewery off West 7th.

14/06/2023

🍔 Cheeseburger 🍔

Had dinner with a friend and had to try their cheeseburger. i’m a big fan of their La Belle Vie Lamb Burgers (a must try!) but wanted to try out this pub-style burger.

A good steakhouses is notorious for putting some pretty darn good burgers and this baby is no exception. A nice sized beef patty, well seasoned, with shredded lettuce, white American cheese, and a generous portion of bacon mayonnaise. The bun is toasted and has a nice soft feel to it. My cross-shot suggests the top bun is too thick but it compresses nicely to create nice bun to patty ratio.

I expected a decent burger and wasn’t disappointed as these are the same folks that brought us the Parlour burger, the Dirty Double (RIP 🥲) and Char Bar. If you make a visit to PS Steak make sure you also tryout their Denver Cut.

11/05/2023

🍔 Jalapeño Bizness 🍔

If you haven’t heard launched their Spring menu last month which includes some old favorites as well as some new. On my most recent visit I went with the Jalapeño Bizness. It starts with signature 6 ounce, short rib, brisket and chuck patty infused with bacon, pickled jalapeños, and cheddar jack, then topped with house smoked American cheese and spicy mayo within a toasted brioche bun.

The heat on this burger is well balanced allowing you to savor the smokiness and bite of the patty coupled with the creaminess of the cheese and mayo. You might want to lean in when you’re devouring this bad boy as there will be some serious drippings which I sopped up with some crispy tater tots.

I love the fact that Chef Mik is always mixing things up with his menu plus always offering a cheeky named burger of the week. If you like a bit of heat with your burger please check out 328 and don’t forget to pair it with a side of wings and one of my all-time favorites the Mn Poutine.

Burger a Week