Mmmm... burger.... (*drool)

In pondering about what to blog and then coming across food thoughts (as I am want to do), I started thinking about what is the best burger and how incredibly subjective is this topic.

There are many levels at which you can categorize a good burger: the gourmet, the cheap eats, the chain/franchises, the mom-and-pop, etc. Also, it's hard not to judge the fries one can get with said burger because fries do make the burger the complete package. Bad fries can bring a good burger down a notch. And if you don't like fries, get lost. (Just kidding. Well... sort of...)

Here is what I love and why (which reminds me I need to Yelp about):

Red Robin - Banzai Burger
(Yes, that is a retarded and slightly racist name, but it's one tasty burger.)
One of the rare times I like having a gooey sauce to cover my hamburger. RR does a really nice balance of sweet & savory by giving you a patty, cheddar cheese, lettuce, mayo, pineapple slice, and some secret teriyaki sauce (which I am sure comes from a bottle, but it's a magic bottle, I swear), layered in-between a nice fluffy bun. Burgers are done up medium rare unless you tell them otherwise. I love a little bit of pink in the middle, but places I'm not familiar with always make me get well done to be safe. However, I've gotten RR burgers a bit on the pink/bloody side and I've yet to have a problem (knock on wood). The burgers are juicy and all the ingredients I mentioned above mix into this caramel mess that is just delicious. (I also made someone a convert to the Banzai Burger.)
You get unlimited steak cut fries that are fried up nice with a crisp outside and soft fleshy inside. While RR's are peppered across this great nation, there are none in the Santa Monica area. It's probably a good thing (for my waistline) but it blows that I have to drive to the South Bay or Cerritos to get one. (There's a place in Glendale, but come on, Glendale? Yeah, exactly.)
A real treat in visiting my gal pal in Portland, OR, is going to the RR up there, and there are at least TWO in her area. The beauty of these great RR's so far is that the burger tastes the same across the board, so big Thumbs Up to RR for consistency.

In-and-Out
Do I dare commit blasphemy and say I do not think their burgers are the best around? DON'T GET ME WRONG now! I love their burgers because of all the good fresh ingredients and it's amazing the standard at which they make them consistently. But their buns are dry and leave a lot to be desired. And their fries? Well, I always get them well done ("wellies") so that they are crisp, but they aren't the same as fries anywhere else that also do provide fresh cut on the spot fries. I'm not one for limp fries. However, it's a good burger, fer shure.

Apple Pan
Local West LA institution. Really solid burgers made by the same cooks who probably opened the joint. There is only a counter with stools that seats about 25 max, and it is always crowded. Why? Good burgers with thick juicy patties, fixin's, cheese and with or without their Hickory sauce. The only reason I don't eat here more often is how busy they are. Fries are good - medium cut being crispy on the outside with enough fleshy potato goodness on the inside. And don't forget their baked daily pies!

Tommy's - Chili Cheeseburger
If I'm not mistaken, Tommy's is a strictly So. Cal. experience. This is one good cheap eats but artery clogging burger! As I wrote in my Yelp review, the way to go is to get their classic chili cheese burger. Now, I will allow someone to order it without the cheese, but if you go to Tommy's and say you want no chili, just get out of line asap. I'm surprised the guys at the windows don't just throw some chili in their face. I would. Ha.
Is it the best chili? Hardly. But it's what makes Tommy's a Tommy's burger. You got a try it! But limit yourself to one about every six months, assuming you want to live a while.

Burger Joint - in NYC
Hole in the wall (at a classy NYC hotel, of course) but this place makes really good greasy burgers, good fries with some awesome horseradish mustard to glob over your burger and fries.
They make excellent milkshakes using milk and real ice cream, but it's such a treat, you can only order it after 2pm (or something like that) because they get so busy. The burgers are a good size, juicy and you can get the fixin's anyway you want it. They even have their own phrases on getting everything on it (though my memory is so lame, I can't recall what it is). Sigh. Too bad we can only fit them in about every other NY trip.