O crítico nacional de hambúrguer, Kevin Alexander, fez durante um ano um Burger Quest, passando por 30 cidades dos Estados Unidos e consumindo 330 hambúrgueres para escolher os melhores.
Ele disse que a tarefa não foi assim tão fácil, esbarrando em problemas de logística, malha aérea, hospedagem, etc, dos Estados Unidos. “Os hambúrgueres são os mais democráticos dos alimentos”, disse Alexander, podendo ser encontrados em bares ou em restaurantes de elite. O encontro dos melhores hambúrgueres levou ao conhecimento da geografia das cidades, bem como de sua estrutura de classes. “Comi hambúrgueres com chefs renomados, escritores, fotógrafos. Comi hambúrguer com alguns dos meus melhores amigos. Comi hambúrguer com minha mãe.”
“Isso começou como uma missão bastante direta. Não aguentava mais de ter que confiar nas opiniões de outras pessoas sobre qual o melhor hambúrguer na América e eu queria descobrir sozinho. E então eu lancei uma ideia que eu nunca pensei que meu editor (ou seus chefes) aprovaria – mas quando eles aprovaram, e eu parti, e esta simples exploração dos melhores hambúrgueres da nossa nação se transformou em algo muito mais complexo. A missão também foi sobre isso, mas se tornou uma celebração e documentação da culinária do país. Isso se transformou em histórias de pessoas e lugares, tanto quanto sobre a comida. A busca tornou-se um diário vivo da maneira como vivemos, pensamos e comemos agora.”
“Aqui está uma lista classificada dos 100 melhores hambúrgueres que eu comi durante o ano passado. Esta não é uma lista de todos os excelentes hambúrgueres que eu já comi na minha vida. Se eu não comi o hambúrguer no ano passado, ele não está na lista – por isso haverá alguns buracos em lugares que eu não tive a chance de ir.”
Segue abaixo a lista com o link para o estabelecimento original para maiores informações:
100. JUCY LUCY
Matt’s Bar – MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
99. LB BURGER WITH AMERICAN
LowBrau – SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
98. POPE BURGER
The Pub on Passyunk East – PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
97. BLOCK BURGER
Block 16 – OMAHA, NEBRASKA
96. BURGER AMÉRICAIN
Le Diplomate – WASHINGTON, DC.
95. CHEESE BURGER
Fountain Porter – PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
94. TATTOOED MOOSE BURGER WITH AMERICAN
Tattooed Moose – CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
93. BOCADO BURGER STACK (WESTSIDE STYLE)
Bocado – ATLANTA, GEORGIA
92. CLASSIC CHEESEBURGER
Stanton’s City Bites – HOUSTON, TX
91. THE ATOMIC BURGER
Atomic Burger – NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
90. THE SINGLE WITH GRILLED ONIONS AND HOUSE PICKLES
Great State Burger – SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
89. CHEESEBURGER
Solly’s Grille – MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
88. DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER
Johnny’s Grill – CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
87. THE MACK
Ray’s Hell Burger – WASHINGTON, DC
86. THE PADDY SHACK BURGER
The Paddy Shack at Half Time Rec – ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
85. CHEESEBURGER
Travis Coffee Shop – ST. CLAIR SHORES, MICHIGAN
84. CHEESEBURGER WITH AMERICAN
R.F. O’Sullivan & Son – SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETS
83. THE SOUL BURGER
Earnestine & Hazel’s – MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
82. THE VAULT BURGER
Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge – ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
81. DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER WITH MUSTARD AND MAYO
Swensons – CLEVELAND, OHIO
80. THE BANG BANG BURGER, SINGLE
Bang Bang Burgers – CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
79. HOOK BURGER
Red Hook Lobster Pound – BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
78. THE SPRUCE BURGER
Spruce – SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
77. CHEESEBURGER
JG Melon – NEW YORK, NEW YORK
76. CHEESEBURGER
Miller’s Bar – DEARBORN, MICHIGAN
75. THE GHETTO BURGER
Ann’s Snack Bar – ATLANTA, GEORGIA
74. THE EVERYTHING
Ted’s Restaurant – MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT
73. THE NO. 5 SPECIAL
Keller’s Drive-In – DALLAS, TEXAS
72. BACON CHEESEBURGER
Neighborhood Services – DALLAS, TEXAS
71. THE LPG CHEESEBURGER
La Petite Grocery – NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
70. JUMBO CHEESEBURGER
Nite Owl Ice Cream Parlour – MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
69. HAMBURGER WITH GRUYÈRE
Rose’s – BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
68. DOUBLE CHEESE WITH EVERYTHING, ONIONS GRILLED
Bill’s Hamburgers – VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA
67. CLASSIC BURGER WITH CHEDDAR
Uneeda Burger – SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
66. SOUTH BURGER
South – SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
65. WOOD GRILLED HAMBURGER
Nopa – SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
64. CHEESEBURGER
Remedy – DALLAS, TEXAS
63. SLAGEL FARMS BEEF BURGER
Owen & Engine – CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
62. FEDORA BURGER
Bar Sardine – NEW YORK, NEW YORK
61. THE ROYALE WITH CHEESE
Justine’s Brasserie – AUSTIN, TEXAS
60. CLASSIC CHEESEBURGER
Ruby’s Café – NEW YORK, NEW YORK
59. THE SEAMUS WITH AMERICAN AND GRILLED ONIONS
Gabby’s Burgers & Fries – NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
58. CHEESE BURGER WITH AMERICAN AND GRILLED ONIONS
Cassell’s – LOS ANGELES, CA
57. DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER WITH EXTRA FRIED ONION
Motz’s Burgers – DETROIT, MICHIGAN
56. DO IT MURPH STYLE
Off-Site Kitchen – DALLAS, TEXAS
55. THE MEATSTICK
One Eared Stag – ATLANTA, GEORGIA
54. BEST DAMN GRASS FED CHEESEBURGER
4505 Burgers & BBQ – SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
53. SINGLE ONION BURGER WITH CHEESE
Tucker’s Onion Burgers – OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
52. SIRLOIN BEEF BURGER WITH AMERICAN AND GRILLED ONION
Sketch Burger – PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
51. THE TRICK DOG
Trick Dog – SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
50. SINGLE BURGER WITH AMERICAN
Wilma Jean – BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
49. THE BURGER
Little Octopus – NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
48. CHEESEBURGER
H&R Sweet Shop – MOUNT PLEASANT, SOUTH CAROLINA
47. THE PARLOUR BURGER
Parlour – MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
46. CHEESEBURGER WITH TILLAMOOK CHEDDAR
The Two Bells Bar & Grill – SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
45. OAK-FIRED PRIME STEAK BURGER
The Lounge at Bourbon Steak – WASHINGTON, DC
44. CLASSIC CHEESEBURGER
Stinky’s Bar & Grill – PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
43. DOUBLE BURGER A LA AMERICAINE
Little Bird Bistro – PORTLAND, OREGON
42. DARIO’S CHEESEBURGER
Dario’s Brasserie – OMAHA, NEBRASKA
41. THE HAPPIEST BURGER
The Happiest Hour – NEW YORK, NEW YORK
40. THE CHEESEBURGER
Saint Dinette – ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
39. LE BIG MATT
Emmy Squared – BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
38. 5OZ GRASS-FED BEEF PATTY
JM Curley – BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
37. THE MINI MARKET BURGER W/ AMERICAN AND GRILLED ONIONS
Westport Flea Market – KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
36. CHEESEBURGER WITH GRILLED ONIONS
Hubcap Grill – HOUSTON, TEXAS
35. ONION BURGER WITH CHEESE
Robert’s Grill – EL RENO, OKLAHOMA
34. SINGLE BURGER WITH AMERICAN
Boilermaker – NEW YORK, NEW YORK
33. DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER WITH THE WORKS
Kopp’s Frozen Custard – MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
32. ZACK’S SPECIAL
Zack’s Hamburgers – CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
31. PLANCHA BURGER
Launderette – AUSTIN, TEXAS
30. DOUBLE BURGER WITH AMERICAN
Tastee Diner – ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
29. GREEN CHILE CHEESEBURGER
Santa Fe Bite – SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO
28. THE ALL-AMERICAN
WesBurger ‘N’ More – SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
27. THE BURGER
Father’s Office – SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA
26. THE KIMCHI BURGER
Mint Modern Bistro & Bar – NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
25. HAUS BURGER
Grindhaus – BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
24. THE JOHN T. BURGER
Hog & Hominy – MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
23. TAVERN BURGER
Little Jack’s Tavern – CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
22. BLACK SANDS BURGER
Black Sands Brewery – SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
21. CHEESEBURGER WITH AMERICAN AND GRILLED ONIONS
Tookie’s Hamburgers & More – SEABROOK, TEXAS
20. HAMBURGER WITH AMERICAN
Pie ‘N’ Burger – PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
19. A BURGER WITH CHEESE AND EVERYTHING
Nic’s Grill – OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
18. SECRET BURGER
Craigie on Main – CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
17. THE SINGLE
The Company Burger – NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
16. HUSK CHEESEBURGER
Husk Nashville – NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
15. SINGLE CHEESEBURGER
Town Topic – KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
14. THE LITTLE GUY
Stevenson’s Bar & Grill – CLEVELAND, OHIO
13. BURGER STACK
Fred’s Meat and Bread – ATLANTA, GEORGIA
12. SEBASTIAN’S STEAKHOUSE BURGER
The Brindle Room – NEW YORK, NEW YORK
11. SINGLE CHEESEBURGER
Au Cheval – CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
10. DRIVE-IN CHEESEBURGER WITH GRILLED ONIONS
Garaje – SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
9. CLASSIC BURGER WITH SHARP AMERICAN
Redcoat Tavern – ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN
8. BURGER WITH CHEESE “ALL THE WAY”
Brooks’ Sandwich House – CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
7. THE MOTT BURGER
Mott Street – CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
6. THE OZERSKY BURGER
Knife Dallas – DALLAS, TEXAS
5. PROPER BURGER
Duke’s Grocery – WASHINGTON, DC
4. THE TAVERN BURGER
Loretta’s Northwesterner – SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
3. CHEESEBURG, FRIED ONIONS
White Hut – WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
2. THE BURGER
Raoul’s – NEW YORK, NEW YORK
1. “NICK’S” CHEESEBURGER WITH GRILLED ONIONS
Stanich’s – PORTLAND, OREGON
Fonte: Thrillist, traduzida e adaptada pela Equipe BeefPoint.