Hamburger Reviews
This page is dedicated to the pure joy that comes from biting into the perfect hamburger. Aside from some mention of the chains below, this is a listing of the very best. No second place, not sort-of ok. Not even any pretty good.

Boulder, Colorado
Hands down the best burgers in Boulder are at The Village Coffee Shop. These are 1/4 lb. burgers grilled in the typical greasy spoon fashion and they come out just perfect.

A close second if The West End Tavern which serves up awesome thick burgers. However, their fries suck and usually come out warm instead of hot.

Frisco, Colorado
Barkley's has excellent thick burgers - absolutely perfect.

Hawaii
There are 51 L&L Drive In's throughout the state. One of the best burgers anywhere, they are made the way only found in Hawaii where there is a slight soy sauce taste to them (which is awesome). And their fries are the best in the world - period!

Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the capital of bland everything tastes the same food. Which makes it even more surprising that they get a mention here. The Feed Bag serves some of the best greasy spoon burgers and fries I have ever had. As you bite into the front, a river of grease pours out the back. Everything cooked to order and delivered both hot and perfect.

Purdy's is in Richardson and one other location. Identical to Fuddruckers (see below) except they deliver it perfect 99% of the time.

Seattle, Washington
Kidd Valley serves some of the best greasy spoon burgers and fries I have ever had. As you bite into the front, a river of grease pours out the back. Everything cooked to order and delivered both hot and perfect. Slightly better than The Feed Bag (see Dallas).

Fuddruckers
I think Fuddruckers makes the best thick burgers I have ever had anywhere. And this is amazing when you consider that they are a nationwide chain. About 10% of the time the blow it serving it warm (instead of hot) or the fries come late, etc. But the other 90% of the time you get the best 1/2 lb. hamburger made.
When are they going to put a Fudruckers in or near Boulder, Colorado????? We have to drive over an hour when the craving hits.

Ruby Tuesday
Not a great burger. But easily the best burger I have ever had in any chain restaurant. They get it right about 80% of the time (and you can send it back the other 20% of the time for them to redo it). Their fries are average but the burger melts in your mouth and tastes really really good.

Other Chains
Red Robin - A good, not great burger when they serve it correctly (hot, correct toppings, etc.). I've found that if I go by myself, they can do it right about 75% of the time. But if 2 or more people order, it comes out right about 10% of the time. Only go if you have no alternative and are dining by yourself.

Chili's - An adequate, not good burger when they serve it correctly. This happens about 20% of the time. I had one time that I sent it back 3 times because each time it came out barely warm. And finally gave up and went elsewhere. (I go there occasionally because my wife likes the nachos there.)

The Bottom of the Barrel
Wendys - Once upon a time Wendys actually made ok hamburgers. Not great but you could get something decent. Nowadays they don't even cook the cheese on the burger so you bite in and get cold cheese on a warm patty. And at one Wendys it's so bad that wanting hot meat is a "special order." And they wonder why their sales are decreasing...

Burger King - I don't know if this should even count as a hamburger. Can you tell the difference between a patty at Burger King that has been grilled until it is solid charcoal, sat under a heating lamp for 15 minutes, and then microwaved afterward when ordered - and a piece of shoe leather? On the flip side, if you go in when it is not busy and ask them to cook one while you wait, it's not bad. Not great, not even good, but not bad either. But it requires special ordering it. The one exception is the Burger King in the Overlake section of Bellevue Washington where they do this without your asking.

Mc Donalds - Does anyone actually think what they serve does anything more than resemble burgers?