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In-N-Out Burger http://www.in-n-out.com–
Sweet merciful burger. As fate would have it, our burger road trip has been blessed! By divine burger providence, an In-N-Out has opened in Provo, UT! Fortunately for my wife and I, it was only five minutes from where we were staying for the night. Speaking of last night, we had just enjoyed the delicious pastrami filled Crown Burger and were preparing to hit the road again, turning south to Moab, UT. I have not had In-N-Out since 2005 when I visited Las Vegas, we used Vegas Guy for my brothers wedding (his wife is from there). My ultimate plan was to meet up with some friends at In-N-Out, confirm if my delicious memories of this place were accurate, and then hit the road to Moab. My wife pleaded, begged, and reminded me that I had had a burger only 13 hours prior to the creation of this master plan. I reminded her that the Crown Burger is more of a pastrami sandwich, so in my mind it had been days since I had a burger. With this sound logic in my mind, and an eye roll on my wife’s face, we said our goodbyes to our kind hosts and headed out again! By the way, if your wife is looking for a facial surgery to bring back the youthful skin, search forDr. Andres Bustillo.
Ah memories! I love that no matter where the In-N-Out is that you go to, it feels like you are in exactly the same place. The lay-out is the same, the workers look exactly the same, the menu is in the exact same spot…. comforting. We arrived at exactly 11 am. We were able to walk right up to the counter and place our order. I was impressed by the number of people working behind the counter on a Thursday morning. I counted at least 10. There may have been more but since they all looked alike I might have started counting them twice. Everyone was chipper and happy to take my order. I couldn’t wait! I was not the most hungry so I only ordered the single cheeseburger instead of the much beloved Double-Double. Of course I got it Animal Style, with a side of fries, and a chocolate shake… I guess I was hungry after all. My wife, in protest to my burger gorging, ordered a water. I asked if they could make that animal style so they put extra ice in it. The lunch rush must start at 11:05 because by the time we finished ordering the line was almost out the door. With my number in hand, I politely stepped aside and watched everyone bustle frying burgers, cutting fries, and making milk shakes. I wasn’t sure but I think I felt a tear fall from my eye.
My number was called and I was handed my perfect red tray of food. Even though I had had a burger as recently as the night before, my anticipation for this one was as high as it could be. I picked it up, briefly savored the aroma of the grilled onions, and bit in. O-M-B (Oh My Burger)! This was as good as I remembered it! The fries were also amazing. Some people say the fries are “wimpy” but I have to give props to the fresh cut and light taste that they have. Maybe it was the burger euphoria speaking but the shake seemed amazing. The combination of all three made for a wonderful classic burger experience on which In-N-Out has built their reputation.
Go! Go now! If you live any where near In-N-Out I hope you appreciate it! I feared that my memory might have inflated how good this burger actually was since I was not the burger “connoisseur” that I am today when I first had it. Having tried dozens (if I said hundreds you would either think I’m a liar or a glutton, so well stick with dozens) of burgers from all over the country, this burger stands up as an extremely good chain burger. Yes, I’ve had better burgers, but usually they cost $8 more and require a significant time commitment. I am amazed at how In-N-Out can turn out the most appealing and delicious burgers thousands of times a day.
Once we finished this heavenly detour, we were off to Moab to enjoy Arches National Park and other beauties of nature!
(2 votes, average: 7.00 out of 10)Register to vote.Loading...
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Miner’s of Yakima 2415 S 1st St Yakima, WA 98903-1603 (map)
Oh sweet vacation. TIME OFF is what I’m talking about! After our brief foray in Seattle we headed east to visit family on the wife’s side. Aside from being covered in fog, the drive was beautiful! We passed through mountains and tunnels and lakes and valleys. We were heading to a small town called Naches, Washignton (nah-cheese) which is just outside of another town that I have slightly heard of, Yakima (Yak-em-aw). I love the town names in Washington. A lot of Native American influence. So while we were in Naches visiting I asked where was the best place to get a burger. “Oh”, said my wife’s sweet grandmother, “You have to go to Miner’s!”. She said that people will drive in from all around to have a “Big Miner’s” burger. SOLD! I had to try it. So for the second installation of Washington State Burger Tyme we headed to Miner’s of Yakima to try it for ourselves. Did I mention how beautiful Washington is? The drive from Naches to Yakima is about 15 miles and is filled with all kinds of fruit orchards and mountain ranges (in case you can’t tell, I grew up in the south where mountains are still a novelty). We arrived at Miner’s of Yakima at dusk and the scene was pretty amazing. It is a very large restaurant, much larger than traditional burger places we’ve been. The drive-thru featured a row of five full menus which in an of themselves featured a wide array of burgers and sandwiches. Miner’s of Yakima has a signature burger called the Big Miner Burger. There were a selection of 30 or so Milkshakes which was pretty exciting. Fortunately we arrived right before the rush which formed a line behind us.
I placed my order for a Big Miner Burger with cheese, with everything on it, a side of fries, and a chocolate shake. While waiting I looked at some of the accolades that were hanging on the wall including Best Burger in Yakima and also a photo of a prize winning cow that Miner’s bought and used for beef, I’m assuming. We went a grabbed a few tables in the HUGE dining area. Since the food is not pre-cooked we expected to wait but the actual wait was not very long, about twelve minutes for eight people. This can probably be attributed to the twenty plus people they had working behind the counter preparing the food. When our order arrived the first thing that struck me was the size! The Big Miner Burger definitely lived up to it’s name. It was BIG! and full of everything you could ever want on a burger. The patty was probably a third pound or more. It was hard to gauge because it was so big that it was a thin patty but still a lot of meat. This is a fried burger, like I like it, but the patty was not noticeably flavorful or juicy. Rather it provided a good foundation for all of the other flavors to build on. The cheese was a big slice of American that covered the whole patty. The bun was buttered and toasted on the griddle but still was soft and chewy, very nice. The veggies were great. There were about four large slices of tomato and lots of onions that added to the juiciness of the Big Miner. This is definitely a burger that requires both hands to manage. The fries were good. They were very thin cut and fried to a good crisp. They reminded me of how I remember McDonald’s fries tasting when I was a kid. The chocolate shake was good too. It was thick but drinkable. I was able to wash down bites of the Big Miner with big gulps of chocolate. I hada a cup of water for backup in case my mouth got a head of my throat.
Oh vacation! I can’t think of a better way to spend your time off than by going to beautiful parts of the country and trying different burgers! Miner’s of Yakima’s Big Miner Burger is like a good burger that has been enlarged to an almost absurd proportion. It was quite good. It was not too big that I could not finish it but I definitely wanted to take a nap afterward. One feature I liked at Miner’s was the sauce dispensers. You could get five different sauces including ketchup and fry sauce to dip fries in or dress your burger even more. We were there with a group of nine people and were easily accommodated and quickly served. It was a pleasant Burger Tyme. While I’ve never been to Washington and never thought I would end up in Yakima, I would recommend Miner’s. Recommendations would include:
1. Come Hungry!
2. Bring family
3. Enjoy the ambiance.
Stay tuned for more of Burger Tyme adventures in Washington State including the BIGGEST BURGER in Burger Tyme history! That’s right, there is a bigger (much bigger) burger coming!
(3 votes, average: 8.00 out of 10)Register to vote.Loading...
Red Mill Burgers http://www.redmillburgers.com
Oh sweet vacation. TIME OFF is what I’m talking about! So what did I do with the time that I had off? Well, I went with the wife and her family to Washington. I had never been so I looked forward to the trip. Of course I did a little planning and found a few potential Burger Tyme locations! I’m always searching for the best burger and was looking forward to branching out to the northwest! So our flight arrived in Seattle late and we made it to the Hotel at around 11:30pm. I didn’t have time to eat that night and slept late the following morning so needless to say by lunch time I was ready for my first WASHINGTON STATE BURGER TYME! For this edition we made our way, in laws and all, to the supposed Best Burger in Seattle, Red Mill Burgers. This was also rated one of the TOP 20 Burgers you HAVE to eat before you die by GQ magazine. I read some mixed reviews from locals who warned me of the Cash Only and No Cell Phones policy (I like to show up prepared). After weaving our way through hilly downtown Seattle we headed north-ish to 1613 West Dravus St. When we pulled up I saw a line of people that was to the door. This is always a good sign that we’re in for a good Burger Tyme. We parked, walked up, and got in line. The menu was pretty straightforward with a wide variety of burgers and sandwiches. Burger Tyme’s vegetarian member would have been pleased to see the number of Veggie Burger options. Then line did not move particularly fast but we were in no hurry. We were in the mood for a good burger!
Once our turn came up in line I placed my order for the Red Mill Deluxe w/Cheese with everything on it, a side of fries, and a chocolate shake. When I stepped aside to let everyone else order I saw the most amazing thing. BACON! Bacon as high as the the eye could see. Seriously they had the biggest pile of cooked bacon that I’ve ever seen ready to be put on some lucky burger. After recovering from “bacon awe” I sat down and waited for our order to be called up. Given how busy Red Mill was at this lunch hour, it only took about 10 minutes for our order to be ready.
While waiting I was able to enjoy various memorabilia on the wall including a letter from a child begging Red Mill to open a restaurant in West Seattle. Once I got my order I was first struck by the vegetables. The best way to describe them is “pretty”. It was the nicest lettuce, tomatoes, and onions I think I’ve ever had on a burger. The patty was 1/4 pound and fried. It’s juiciness was overpowered by the large bun which was toasted on the griddle. They put a special “Mill Sauce” on it which seemed to be some variation of ketchup mixed with mayonnaise and a few other seasonings. It was pretty good. The fries were thick and well cooked. They were very crunchy on the outside and still soft on the inside. Other Burger Tymers ordered the onion rings which were quite good (I don’t even really like onion rings). The milkshake was good but not great. They did have a large variety of shakes to choose from so maybe I should branch out next time.
So what did I think of the best burger in Seattle? It was pretty good. It could stand a little more flavor and a little bigger patty. I should have followed the GQ’s recommendation and tried the Double Bacon Deluxe with Cheese. This burger has been rated the top burger in Seattle for many years but I would venture a guess that is by virtue of the lack of true burger competition in the Seattle area. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good burger, but it felt unfinished, like it had all of the right ingredients but lacked something that would make it stand out as unique amongst other burgers. All in all, if you are in Seattle and are craving a good burger, you will not leave Red Mill Burger unsatisfied.
Stay tuned for more of Burger Tyme adventures in Washington State including the BIGGEST BURGER in Burger Tyme history!
(3 votes, average: 7.33 out of 10)Register to vote.Loading...
Oh holidays. The fourth of July was just around the corner. By the time most people were off of work for the holiday, I rounded up a few other coworkers who were craving a Freedom inspired Burger Tyme and decided on the great American Sam’s Deli Diner. Most of us were working near the energy corridor in West Houston which fortunately (and most importantly) is where Sam’s Deli is located. After a few carefully orchestrated emails instructing time and place we all arrived at Sam’s Deli. I did not expect to find the legendary Sam’s Deli in a strip mall. From what I understand, they have moved into this new location recently. But don’t let the outside appearance fool you. Once you cross the threshold of their glass doors, you feel like you’re in a diner world all by itself. The first thing you see is a looong counter, with signs telling you to “Place Order Here”. There were a lot of people there for lunch when we showed up. Almost every table was filled. Fortunately we knew exactly were to go thanks to the many helpful people behind the counter who were very busy taking orders, grilling burgers, making milkshakes, and calling peoples names to pick up orders. While we were waiting to place our orders we were asked many times if we would like something to drink while we waited. I thought this was great. The first thing I noticed while looking over the menu was the prices. They seemed about 5 years out of date. I’m not complaining but my lunch budget was suddenly able to get me a little more than I was used to.
My turn came and I was excited! I placed my usual, Cheeseburger, everything on it, seasoned fries, a chocolate shake (made with Bluebell ice cream), and a cup of water. Feeling adventurous, I asked the lady if I could get a fried egg on my burger. “Absolutely” was here response and I was absolutely thrilled when this all came out to less than $8! The wait gave us a good opportunity to find a place to sit. After about ten minutes or so my name was called. I sat down and beheld a pretty impressive spread. Upon my first bite one thing stood out from all of the other burgers I’ve ever eaten. It was a tender burger. I bit through it effortlessly. It was very good. The patty was fried to a juicy point that complimented all of the other ingredients. The veggies were good with the tomato standing out as being very good. The bun was fresh and soft and was toasted on the griddle just the way I like it. The seasoned fries were great! They would be more accurately described as seasoned battered fries. The milkshake while good seemed more like runny chocolate ice cream than an actual shake.
Sam’s Deli is one of the best places in Houston to get a burger. I was surprised when the other Burger Tymers told me that this was not the best burger they have had at Sam’s Deli. Is it possible to get better? Apparently so. I loved how friendly the employees were. I loved the large menu and how flexible they were with adding things that weren’t the “norm”. I didn’t love the milkshake. It was good and went well with the burger, but it was nothing more than the Bluebell Ice cream they claimed it was made of. That being said they do have somewhere around 20 different flavors so maybe I should try something other than chocolate next time, because there will be a next time. Happy Independence Day!!!!!!!!! Find more info
Texas Burger Guy
Cook’s Tour
(3 votes, average: 7.00 out of 10)Register to vote.Loading...
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Click here for a map
Today is one of those days where I get excited over the possibility to try a new burger. A co-worker of mine suggested a few days ago that we give Sparkle’s a try as he had heard that they have won the prestigious award of Best Milkshake in Houston. So today a few of us made the journey south of downtown Houston to Sparkle’s Hamburger Spot. Our first reaction when we arrived was “Wait, is that it?” This is Burger Tyme’s first experience with a burger stand. This stand has a lot of character. There were painted signs all around the bright blue building and the crowd of people waiting for their orders told me that this place did not need the bells and whistles of typical burger joints (A/C, inside dining, etc). I was surprised to see that they did accept credit cards as well as take phone orders. Seating is limited to the picnic tables out front and fortunately for us the weather was perfect for outside dining. There was a nice mixture of customers, ranging from police officers, to office professionals, to construction workers, and neighborhood locals. We waited in line and were able to place our order. The menu had many favorites including one of my personal favorites, Chicken ‘n Waffles.
I placed my usual order of a cheeseburger with everything on it. At sparkle you have the option of fries, curly fries, and onion rings. I opted for the curly fries. I went with the regular coke instead of a milkshake with my meal (I got one after I ate) because I typically don’t like milkshakes with meals. This was by far the least expensive excursion for Burger Tyme. Burger, fries, and a drink came to about six bucks. You can’t beat that! One thing to note at Sparkle’s is that you are going to wait. They receive a lot of phone orders so even though there may only be 3 people at the stand waiting, they could have eight other orders that were phoned in before yours. It’s not a bad thing but just be prepared to wait for your food. While I waited, I enjoyed the wonderful aromas that were emanating from this burger stand. After about twenty minutes of anticipation my order was ready. I eagerly opened the box and was greeted by a very appetizing sight. The burger looked very promising. The cheese was perfectly melted over the fried patty. The patty itself was hand formed and was thicker in the middle than most burgers I’ve had. It could stand to be a little more seasoned as the patty just tasted like ground beef. That’s not a bad thing but there was no uniqueness to the flavor. The vegetables were merely adequate. The lettuce and onions were in small bits and tended to fall out of the burger. The bun was toasted but was a little on the dry side. Overall, the burger was good and for $3 was amazing. The curly fries on the other hand were $2 and all I got was what you see in the picture. For 2/3rds the cost of the burger I expected a little more
Sparkle’s Burger Stop amounts to one great Burger Tyme experience. As long as the weather is nice and you have time to wait you can get a good burger for a great price. While I wouldn’t put this as one of the best burgers I would say this is one of the best places I’ve been and would like to try some other menu items. One thing to note was the GREAT!!!! Milkshakes! As I mentioned previously, I did not get a milkshake until after I ate my burger. The others who came with me stated that the milkshake matched up perfectly with the burger and made it much more enjoyable. After I had my milkshake I determined that on my next visit to Sparkle’s I will have a milkshake with my burger.
Here’s a hint – Call ahead. If you don’t have time to wait as long as we did, you can call ahead and your order can be ready when you get there.
