A burger isn’t just a burger in this country: It’s a deeply local food. You can only find these riffs on the classic in certain pockets of the U.S. Get ready to bookmark some favorites.
Green Chili Cheeseburger
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Santa Fe Bite
Santa Fe, New Mexico
While you can eat your fill of this icon up and down the state (there’s even a dedicated trail to follow), this one is noteworthy for its slow-cooked sirloin patty and just-hot-enough Hatch pepper blend. Though not traditional, add the applewood smoked bacon. You won’t regret it.
Carolina Burger
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Duke's Grill
Monroe, North Carolina
Forget lettuce and tomatoes! Say you want this burger “all the way,” which is code for a patty buried in chili, tangy coleslaw, and onions.
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Bean Burger
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Cappy's Restaurant
San Antonio, Texas
Being a proud Texan, I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never actually tried this local legend. This version swaps out the classic refried beans for black (which are pureed and spread on like a condiment), then gets piled with salsa, guacamole, cheddar, and Fritos for crunch.
Steamed Cheeseburger
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Ted's Restaurant
Meriden, Connecticut
No griddle or grill, just steam cooks these world-famous “cheeseburgs,” as fans lovingly know them. The old-school process melts away the fat and produces a supremely juicy patty. They come topped with the classic stuff, nothing fancy. I guarantee you won’t miss the char.
Onion Burger
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Tucker's Onion Burgers
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Proof that sometimes less is more, this ridiculously simple prairie staple comes with a mountain of grilled white onions topped with melty cheese. Yellow mustard recommended.
Olive Burger
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Weston's Kewpee Sandwich Shop
Lansing, Michigan
This family-run joint, credited with creating the Michigan delicacy, still uses Great-grandma Bowlin’s original recipe from the 1920s. Her exact “olive sauce” concoction is top secret, but the main components are mayonnaise mixed with chopped green olives and their brine for a sharp, salty experience.
Butter Burger
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Solly's Grille
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
“America’s Dairyland” really delivers with this national treasure: a patty topped with a scoop of…wait for it…butter that melts over the meat. Order it “Cheesehead” style (above), and you’ll also get stewed onions, three types of cheese on a brioche bun, and that cute little wedge.
Pastrami Burger
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Crown Burgers
Salt Lake City, Utah
For meat lovers only. Invented by a Greek immigrant restaurateur, this is equal parts beef patty and meltingly tender shaved pastrami. “Fry sauce” (the state’s beloved spin on Thousand Island) and a sesame bun make it perfect.
Jucy Lucy
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Matt's Bar
Minneapolis, Minnesota
This ’grammable spectacle consists of two patties that wrap around an oozing molten slab of American cheese. (How you know you’re eating the original: There’s no “i” in the name—a spelling error that stuck after it was put on the restaurant’s menu.)
Jackie Iadonisi’s number one priority in life is to not look back and think: "I could have eaten that." As Delish’s West Coast eater-at-large, she hosts and produces videos on Youtube and Snapchat. She has previously worked as a food correspondent for The Travel Channel, Access Hollywood, and The Real Daytime.
