Tokyo: Golden Brown

This looks fantastically wonderful. Looks like a board game.......but no. It's a take home make your own burger kit from Golden Brown. More from Ways & Means.

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Japan: Freshness Burger (Tokyo)

Hamburgler has some more tokyo burgers for you:

So heres the thing (and yes, I have only had three burgers in Tokyo).  It would seem that what Americans consider a hamburger patty wouldn't be considered a hamburger patty here (and its not fair too say because I have only eaten fast food and chain restaurant burgers in Tokyo), but the trend is that the burger patty is more like a sausage patty in look, texture, and taste, sans the sausage seasoning. So its all about how you dress it up. Freshness burger dresses it up well, and 380 yen (probably around 4.10 USD) it does the job.

Still sticking with Mos Burger though.

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Japan: First Kitchen (Tokyo)

The Japanese Hamburgler tour continues:

This place is great for their selection of french fries and right next too Ueno Station. BBQ, Basil, and a mess of other fries I don't know.  The burger is one of those sausage type patty's, so add the bacon and the egg and its just like a breakfast sando, which it was at 11:00 am (and yes thats one day in the future because I time travel).

I think it was all about 750 yen, but worth it for the air conditioning (excuse for buying anything here).

Now where can I get me some "Flavor Potato"

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Japan: Mos Burger (Tokyo)

Hamburgler writes in with the first stop in his Japan adventure:

Hey hamburger, Come-here-che-wa.  You could use a break from stuffing your face with delicious cream-filled spongy cake treats and get some food.  

At first you think you ordered wrong (or pointed at the wrong thing) cause the Mos Burger looks like a Bon Jovi sized sausage patty from McDonalds, but makes up for it with interestingly folded lettuce, gobs of mayo, and a teriyaki style sauce.  The french fries are great, and the cola comes with mini-cubes for maximum ice exposure. It's 710 yen (thats about 8.00 USD right now).

You can even get in your private air-conditioned smoking room, eat beef, and drink at the same time. I'm free again.  

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Rontoms: UPDATED 7.31.2009

Before his big trip to Japan, Hamburgler (the original) fuels up:

Oh my, one last burger. This was fantastic. Praline Bacon and fried heirloom tomatoes, and some fancy natural ground. $9.00. Will look forward to having that again.

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ORIGINAL POST: 5.27.2008




Hamburgler:

This one surprised. $9.00 Cheeseburger with potato salad or house salad. Natural Misty Ilse ground angus beef with herb aioli, pickled red onions, sharp cheddar, on brioche. Add bacon $1.00.

It was cooked perfect to order (medium rare of course) and the herb aioli shined.

Nice summer patio.

Rontoms
600 E. Burnside St.
Portland, OR 97214
(503)236-4536

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Five Guys: UPDATED 7.31.09

PDX Gwailo is back in town and the feast continues:

Stopped in at one of our local “Five Guys Burgers and Fries” outlets. According to their website, Five Guys started in Arlington, VA, in 1986, and now has over 400 locations.

The menu is simple, hamburgers, hot dogs, and french fries, with an abundance of “free toppings” that enables one to have their sandwich served in any of “over 250,000″ toppings.

If one is to believe the posted sign endorsements, as well as repetitive statements on their website and menus, this burger is the greatest thing since sliced bread, having won numerous awards from various newspapers, websites, and magazines.

One curious category that these awards fall into is “Cheap Eats”, and I’m not sure north of $10 for a hamburger, fries, and drink fall into the genre. The small order of fries is 2.79, though the descriptor of “small” is probably misleading. The order comes in a small foam drink cup, but the server then pours a second serving in the bag, much like the old days of when you ordered a milkshake, got the serving glass as well as the mixing cup delivered to you.

Burger toppings, as I said, are abundant, “free”, and your choices include Mayo, Relish, Onions, Lettuce, Pickles, Tomatoes, Grilled Onions, Grilled Mushrooms, Ketchup, Mustard, Jalapeno Peppers, Green Peppers, A-1 Sauce, Bar-B-Q Sauce, Hot Sauce

The standard burger is two patties, and they also offer a “little hamburger” which one would assume is a single patty. Patties appear to be hand-formed, and, I have to say, are rather good. Fries need no extra seasoning, but a “cajun version” is offered along side the standard fries as a choice at no additional charge.

Five Guys
2606 Cedar Hills Blvd
Beaverton, OR 97005

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ORIGINAL POST: 12.28.08






Looks like Hamburgler is moving belt notches this holiday season:

Hopped in a urban camouflaged Grand Caravan to remain inconspicuous in route to the strip mall where Beaverton got its own Five Guys.

For fast food this is pretty much as good as it gets, and since we are from Portland should we bedwet about the Styrofoam cups? (we wouldn't, it would be disrespectful when visiting other cultures....besides, have you ever drank beer from a Styrofoam cup on a really hot day, its ice cold top to bottom!...going to fan on it more later).

Anyhow, they got the usual suspects. Its worth the trip if you are burgering, plus they have bacon and cheese hotdogs., HEY, they have bacon and cheese hot dogs. Get some problems already.

Five Guys
2606 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, OR 97005

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California: Rosti

I think PDX Gwailo's calling all of us out!

Who goes looking for a burger at a classy Italian place? Who actually orders one? PDXGwailo, that’s who. While you guys are safely hidden between your screens vicariously eating, I’m taking one for the team. Or two. Or six. Mmmmmm, burgers.

Rosti offers meatball sliders, 3 to an order, on fresh baked in house ciabiatta’s, some nice mozzarella, and a dab of homemade red gravy, on the burger, and on the side. The also make a full-size version. With the minis or the biggin’, you can choose beef or turkey for your grind. The beef mince was fine, no noticeable presence of additives or fillers, soft in texture, mildly-spiced. My personal palate would have preferred a heavily noticeable dose of fennel and garlic, but that’s not their recipe.

Alright Hamburlgers, to arms!

Also, for those confused on PDX Gwailo's nation hoping tour, the order of submission was lost during the blog transfer. I apologize for the confusion, and suggest you do as I do and just imagine he has a magic flying hamburger...

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Illinois: Palatine Inn (Suburban Chicago)

PDX Gwailo seeks out the Queen:

It’s not the Billy Goat (someone already posted about), but then nothing in Chicago is. But Chicago is full of good burgers, and one of the few, if not only, places I have ever been that serves the “Queen Burger” virtually everywhere. Too lazy to look up the origin, I am going to take a stab here at saying the Queen Burger is so named because it is covered with a mound of sliced (queen size) green olives, one of my three favorite things in the world to eat.

This one, at the Palatine Inn was done perfectly as requested, medium rare, served dry, with tomato, lettuce and pickle on the side. They will offer you a choice of self-applied condiments.

Bonus Pickle, and (drumroll).....Free Matzo ball soup!

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Texas: Culvers (McKinney/Dallas)

PDX Gwailo keeps going like a man obsessed (aren't we all?)

I wrote about wishing I could hit a Culver’s a couple weeks ago. Got my chance this week in McKinney, Texas, a suburb of Dallas within spitting distance of Oklahoma.

The sign outside of Culver’s says “Home of the Butterburger”, but the butter has nothing to do with the patty, but rather the fact they butter the buns, before toasting them. I don’t know whether it actually makes a difference or not, but the holy two B’s (butter and bacon) make anything better for me.

Culver’s is also known for fresh custard, whatever that is, sounds too healthy for me, and, being a Wisconsin based chain, are in the unique position to offer a side of deep-fried cheese curds.

Hand-formed patty, cooked to order, bakery buns, hot fried cheese curds and a butter burger? Heaven on a sliver of wax paper.

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Wisconson: "I Divides" adventure (Tomah)

PDX Gwailo impresses us all with and iron constitution/stomach:

A Burger where the I Divides
If you've ever driven Chicago to Minneapolis, you know where the "I" divides, it's Tomah, Wisconsin, where Interstates 90 and 94 split and go their merry ways west ward.

I only had a minute here, too damned bad, because Tomah is a cranberry mecca, and offers at least two shops full of cranberry Tschostkes. OK, I am kidding, I didn't want to hit those, but they are there. I also did not have time to visit the most excellent Midwestern burger chain "Culvers", which is home to the extremely tasty "Butterburger". Hit one of those as soon as you can.

No, I was reduced to the heat and eat 99 cents cheeseburger @ the Kwik Trip truck stop. But note that I opted for that before I would eat at the clown restaurant.

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California: Cinco De Mayo (Culver City)

Proving right his massive investment in Pepto Bismol, PDX Gwailo continues

Cinco De Mayo, Culver City, CA
Formerly “Lucy’s #2”, Cinco De Mayo is a place I have been eating burgers in the middle of the night for over 20 years. Located on Sepulveda Blvd, between Venice and Washington in Culver City, CDM is a late night hang-out for fans of fast, full-menu, cheap entrees. I’ve always had cheeseburgers there, they offer a choice between regular and jumbo, and are able to make an ordinary institutional food service burger into something rather special. The griddle-friend 3 oz patty is placed on a well-toasted bun and served with the whole range of salad condiments, pickle, onion, mayo, salad, chopped lettuce.

As you know, I prefer mine simply with pickles, onion, mustard, but in my excitement at being back at CDM for the first time in ten years, neglected to tell them. They have incredible fresh squeezed juices, as well, if you are into that kind of thing.

Cinco De Maya
11204 Washington Pl
Culver City, CA 90230

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Wisconson: Anchor Bar (Superior)

The PDX Gwailo tour continues...

The Anchor Bar, Superior, Wisconsin:
One would hope for two things: 1) the name of the town also describes the upcoming burger one is planning on consuming, and 2) in Wisconsin, one had better find some pretty damned fine cheese, even if their cows are pissed off, instead of contented like in California.

We went in search of the “Gallybuster”, which, although they couldn’t spell it correctly, promised a solid pound of ground beef and three slices of (your choice) of real cheese. Diners in close proximity to us heard us talking over the proposed entrée, and upon hearing from them that we should try the “five pounder” at a place down the street, we thought, maybe we’ll save some capacity, and go for that tomorrow, instead of this paltry 16 ouncer!

So we ordered from the menu, which had some “different” combinations, like the Green olive and Crème Cheese burger; the Sour Cream and Mushroom, the Cashew and Swiss.

I ordered a combo I have never seen anywhere, despite having traveled the globe and having consumed hamburger sandwiches for the past 116 years.

“The Reuben Burger” - a heaping mound of sauerkraut and gooey real swiss cheese atop at finely grilled burger on a fresh bakery roll, accompanied by perfect hand-cut fries. The burger was served naked, and I ordered a nice chilled bottle of IBC RB to wash it down.

It was great. Better than great. This joy is easily in my top five for the week. Worthy of “Superior.”

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Jody's Drive In

Fellow Oregon Burger-blogger AceBurger shares a plate of Jody's Drive-In over in Redmond, Oregon.

This is a really good tavern style burger that costs only $7.50. It is not too big, but no pushover either. It's a 1/3 pound burger with grilled ham, bacon, cheddar and jack cheese, and all the trimmings (except tomatos which I don't care for).

Check out his site, the Oregon Hamburger Review

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Hobnob Grille

Burger Commander writes in with a new PDX patty:

My friend “The Baconess” and I have been trying to get together for a burger for a couple weeks now, and when we finally had an evening off to chase one down, we decided to try this new spot near her house, Hobnob Grille. We wasted little time getting to a window booth and quickly decided against the happy hour “mini burger”.

We each ordered the Hobnob Burger ($10). The bartender suggested we pair it with gruyere. “The Baconess” insisted on adding bacon to hers ($1.50 for each add-on). Though the burger came with fries, but just reading the name of the “Buttermilk Onion Rings” our appetites wouldn't let that one slip by and we added those as well.

We each dressed our burgers with the provided baby greens and tomato, in addition to the chipotle cream cheese and tomato jam that were already spread on the bun. The mild heat from the spicy chipotle cream cheese was the first thing I noticed, but after a few bites, it was the flavor of the meat that came through. You could tell they spent some time getting the right mix of spices to grind into the burger meat at Hobnob.

The Hobnob burger came with a small handful of fries, just enough to snack on, but its obvious that the chef wants the burger to be the star of this plate. They were nice enough, with just enough salt and seasoning.

The onion rings came with the burgers, arranged in a sort of “Great Wall of Onion Rings” and served with a chipotle barbecue sauce.

To prove her status as a true burger maniac, also attached is a picture of The Baconess giving daps to the most bitchin’ headstone in the Lone Fir Cemetery.

Hobnob Grille
3350 SE Morrison St
Portland, OR 97214
503.445.3665

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Pause: UPDATED 04.10.09

UPDATED: 04.10.09



She wants to be known as BurgerBooty and we will oblige.

I’d just about had my fill of grey wet bone-chilling weekends so this Sunday afternoon I decided to be pro-active about “beefing” up my cheer. I got out my newly compiled Portland Hamburger Wish List and headed out to Pause on Interstate to check off my first PH goal. In the relative quiet of late afternoon, I got comfy at the bar and ordered up their near perfect “Everyday Special” – two sliders, one blue cheese and bacon and the other Tillamook cheddar with a lovely dab of special sauce, fries and a pint of Stone Brewing Company (San Diego) ale or soda all for a mere $7. The beef is amazing. As listed in earlier postings, Pause grinds their own beef daily. And it’s juicy flavorful Strawberry Mountain aged chuck. The plump little 2 oz. sliders were a beautiful medium rare and drippin’ pink juices on my plate - which I eagerly sopped up with soft fresh bun. Yum. Fries are wonderful, hand cut, lots of good potato, nicely crisped and accented with just the right amount of crunchy salt. Homemade pickles and pickled onion garnish add a warm homemade touch. No photo of my meal, I devoured it on the spot. But here’s a photo of my friend’s ½ lb. bacon cheeseburger which was more than I could handle on a Sunday afternoon.

Gotta say it. Before I made it to the second burger on my PH Wish List, I had to go back for a repeat yesterday. It was every bit as luscious as I remembered. They were having trouble keeping Stone on tap, so subbing Lagunitas IPA which is a bit hoppy for my taste. So, I savored my Everyday Special with an lovely glass of Ninkasi Spring Reign (not included in the $7 price). The Pause that really refreshes!

UPDATED: 01.21.09



PattyDaddy likes:

Lunch today was delicious! I hit Pause at least twice a month. Best burger I've found North of Burnside. They still grind their own beef and serve it with a smile. Juicy, flavorful, and still only $8 with very good fries. You can tell this burger is made by someone who cares. Bottomless lemonade was $2.50.

UPDATED: 11.22.07




Burgers, softening up your favorite social lubricant:

WhopperChomper & ToastedBun attempt to counter the effects of a full day of wine tasting with a stop at Pause before the winery trek begins.

WhopperChomper went the traditional route 1/2 lb burger with all the trimmings & Tillamook Cheddar ($8). Massive burger, massive flavor. Glad I went with the big burger, I was able to keep partying well into the night after the wine tasting trip... ToastedBun ate the sliders & didn’t fare so well.

ToastedBun opted for the 2 sliders ($5) with a side of fries (. “The sliders came with a special sauce that was quite tasty!”

Sadly, that didn’t prove to be enough to defend ToastedBun’s full-day onslaught of wine tasting. If you’re going to drink all day, get the regular burger. If you’re only going to drink for part of the day, you’ll be fine with the sliders. :)

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ORIGINAL POST: 9.14.07






"Hamburgler" and "RarePattie" found some delicious hamburgers at Pause in North Portland (that pic might just find its way to Girl's Eating Sandwiches)

"RarePattie" went straight for the gut, a 1/2 pounder with Bacon and Blue Cheese for $10.00. The "Hamburgler" had the "Everyday Special" which was two sliders, one cheddar, one bacon-blue cheese, fries, and a beer for $7.00. Happy stomachs.

The fries were especially good as well. Special Bonus Pickle! (some mustard infused pickle I think like at Castagna).

Pause
5101 N. Interstate Ave.
Portland, OR 97217
(971)230-0705

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Christopher's Gourmet Grill

UPDATE: 12/14/2008



BurgerMeister is on a burger rampage:

Bacon, cheese, mmmmmmmmm.

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UPDATE: 6/6/08




The Grill Master gets some:

I know that people have taken pics of this place before, but i don't know if they took pics of the bacon cheese burger, so here are some!

Right now this is my favorite burger in town (the veggie burger with bacon at the Laurelthirst tavern comes in a close second, though). Reasonalbly sized patty, shredded lettuce, nice chunks of tomato, good sauces, and they get the bacon just right. Not too chewy and not burnt. Normally i don't like the steak cut fries, but they season these guys just right!

The only weird thing about today's trip there was the music. Normally they are playing R&B but today they played a recording of some dude covering "more than words" by Extreme. Sucks to be that person! Another thing that changed is that they now have a burger basket deal, where you can get a 20oz soda and fries for a little bit more. Not sure why they needed that as the prices were already good ($4.50 for a bacon cheeseburger,) but I'm not complaining!

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ORIGINAL POST: 3/22/08



Hamburgler:

This place has got some great burger deals. That burger up there is the "Louisiana Cheese Burger" with a delicious spicy hot link topper along the usual suspects. With fries its $5.50.

They also have chicken burgers, fish burgers, and the "Man Up Cheese Burger" (bacon, egg, double cheese, and a hot link).

Christopher's Gourmet Grill
3962 NE MLK Blvd.
Portland, OR 97212

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