Double Cheeseburger at Mission Burger, Fremont, CA

Today's quest for burger perfection took me to Mission Burger in the Mission district of Fremont, CA. Located in a strip mall beside a used car lot and sharing a building with a pretty decent Mexican place, you'll easily miss this place unless you are looking for it.

Mission Burger

The menu consists of hotdogs, sausage on a bun, burgers and fries- all with very reasonable pricing. Please note that they don't take credit cards (not sure about debit cards) and they offer outdoor seating only so make sure to plan around the weather.

Double Cheeseburger at Mission Burger

I ordered the Double Cheeseburger ($5.29) and it came cooked to medium well topped with american and what looked to be white american cheese served on a toasted hoagie roll- which made it more like a cheeseburger sub sandwich than your typical round burger- a different approach for sure. The beef patties were fairly juicy with good bbq flavor from being char-grilled over an open flame. Good beef flavor, a bit of crumble and  lettuce, onion, tomato, mustard mayo to balance it all out- Not bad at all and worth a trip if you are in the area.

Aburgeraday rating- 6/10

Cheeseburger at Giant Burgers, Union City, CA

Questionable location in a shady strip mall- check
Aging sign that reads 1/3Lb. Giant Burger at entrance- check
Dining area mysteriously empty during a weekday lunch hour- check
Unappetizing fresh meat stacked in kitchen prep area- check
A Cheeseburger from Giant burger...NOT priceless

Giant Burgers

I don't have much to say that's positive about Giant burger, so let's just get to the point. I ordered the Giant Cheeseburger ($3.80). It came with a single patty cooked to well done, that was dry, dense and flavorless. Topped with melted cheese, very powerful onion (may have been cooking onion, but definitely not sweet onion), lettuce, tomato and mayo. The bun was pulled from an open bag within reach of the cash register. Toasting it on the flat-top saved it, but it couldn't save the burger- I left a third of it on the plate and headed out. Not worth the trip, nor worth the effort to do a comprehensive review.

The Giant Cheeseburger at Giant Burgers

Aburgeraday rating: 4/10

The Mama Burger at Val's Burgers- Hayward, CA

I've been trying to find some time to make it out to Val's for months and although it's not far from where I live I just haven't found the time- until today. Val's is located in Hayward, CA in a mostly mixed residential area a bit off the beaten path. They've got ample parking and I was even able to find a spot during a busy Friday afternoon lunch stop.

Val's Burgers

Val's opened in 1958 and has been grilling burgers ever since. It's 900+ favorable Yelp reviews likely helps draw in a lot of business and the burgers keep people coming back. When you walk in it has a bit of a nostalgic diner feel- lots of newspaper clippings on the walls from over the years, signed pictures of obscurely known celebrities who have eaten there, old decor, booth seating and an open seating area along the counter which runs the span of the whole business.

I wish I would have tried this place sooner because Val's does a good burger. The burgers are available in three sizes from the 1/3 lb baby burger to the 1 lb papa burger. All burgers are char-grilled and served with lettuce (cheese an extra $.35 and tomatoes an extra $.25). All other toppings and condiments are at your table to build a burger any way you like including pickles, onions, relish, mustard, ketchup, and mayo.

The Mama Burger at Val's

I went for the 1/2 lb mama with tomato, American cheese and a side of grilled onions- medium rare. I topped it off with lettuce and all the condiments. The burger was cooked perfectly. It was amazingly run down your arms juicy, awesomely flavorful and seasoned just right. The grilled onions came on the side and there was enough to top at least 5 burgers- a great value at $.75 extra that added some caramelized sweetness that made the burger even better. I have to say, Val's makes a near perfect burger- and for that I give Val's an 8 out of 10 and I have to put it on my top 10 burger list.

Aburgeraday rating: 8/10

Biggie Bacon Cheeseburger at Cecil's Burgers, Hayward, CA

Located in Hayward, Cecil's Famous Burgers has been serving up burgers, fries and shakes for as long as anyone can remember. I actually tried to find how long they've been opened, but I wasn't able to find anything- they don't even have a website and rely on Yelp and other sites for their info.
Cecil's is conveniently located in a detached building in a strip mall with a walk up window, outdoor seating and lots of parking in the lot or even on the street. It's not in the best part of town but the street is busy enough that it's safe during most times of the day.

Cecil's Burgers

Cecil's burgers can be ordered in a variety of sizes ranging from the tiny 1/6 lb. regular to the 1/2lb. Biggie meant for big appetities. Not surprisingly, I went for the Biggie Bacon Cheeseburger. 

The flat top grilled beef patties were thin, yet moist. Bacon- crispy but what I liked the best was the buttered and grilled bun. It was like biting into garlic bread without the garlic. A crunchy buttery crust with nice chew. The special sauce, ketchup, onion, and tomato added to the overall girth of the burger- Damn it was good. 

Biggie Bacon Cheeseburger at Cecil's Burgers

If you are ever driving on the East Bay and craving a burger, the convenient location on Tennyson Rd. just off the 880 is worth the detour.

Aburgeraday rating: 7/10

A Giant with bacon and Cheese at Nation's Giant Hamburgers- Fremont, CA

I should have heeded to the warning that the yellow conditional health inspection pass communicated to would-be patrons. It was hanging from the entrance window like a yellow beacon shouting "look at me" to every passer by. I really should have turned away- but I didn't, I was too hungry and too bothered to find somewhere else. I wanted a burger, I had that craving, and I'd been to Nation's before and it was actually pretty good- but not on this day.

Visitor's to Nation's (at least at the Fremont location) shouldn't expect a modern building with fancy decor, but rather something more akin to a old school diner or greasy spoon. The building is old, in an unassuming and partially run-down strip mall which would normally be perfect for an old school burger joint.

Nation's Giant Hamburgers

The burgers are done on a flat top in an open kitchen that the entire restaurant can see- and as I watched the cook making my order I knew that my bacon cheeseburger didn't have a chance right from the start. I watched her cook, mash, poke, flatten, flip and squeeze every last ounce of juice out of the burger during the cooking process.

Giant with cheese at Nation's Giant Hamburgers

My Giant burger with bacon and cheese came topped with ample ingredients- letttuce, tomato, and wayyyy too much onion. I think I could have knocked down anyone with my breath for hours after eating this baby. The meat was crumbly- mostly due to dryness, and the bacon was thin and too crispy- I prefer my bacon thicker. The sauce tasted a bit weird to me and overall this just wasn't a very good burger. This place could do so much better!...but maybe next time...but for me I doubt that there will be a next time.

Aburgeraday rating- 4/10

Double Decker at Foster's Freeze, Milpitas, CA

On a Saturday afternoon my wife's cravings for some ice cream, and my hunger for a burger brought us to Foster's Freeze in Milpitas, CA. Foster's freeze has been serving up ice cream and burgers since 1946 and has multiple locations across California. Famous for their soft serve, they have a decent array of carnivorous choices on the menu including hot dogs and hamburgers.

Foster's Freeze

Visitor's and families with small children beware- the parking lot and area around the building is infested with  somewhat aggressive squirrels that have no problem chasing you if you have food. Although none enter the building, the limited seating inside forces people to the parking lot and leading to a non-stop frenzy for squirrels and a serious problem for children afraid of of them. The owners really need to do something about it.

Anyways, I was here for the burger, not the ambiance...the Double Decker burger comes with 2- 1/4lb griddle top cooked beef patties, bacon, Swiss cheese, Lettuce, tomato and pickle along with their "All american sauce" which is similar to McDonald's Mac sauce. Even though the burger patties weren't all that appealing, the bun not so fresh and the bacon crisped beyond recognition, the sauce saved the day.

The Double Decker Burger at Foster's Freeze

I won't be going out of my way to find a Foster's freeze when I'm in the mood for a burger, and if I find myself there again, I'll probably go for another one. The burger is OK, but not great.

Aburgeraday Rating- 6/10

Giant with Cheese at Bob's Giant Burgers- Fremont, CA

Bob's Giant Burger's has been a Fremont, CA institution for many years. Located on Fremont Blvd near Grimmer, Bob's has a pretty simple and inconspicuous store front that has plenty of parking and outdoor seating (no indoor seating).

Bob's Giant Burgers as seen from Fremont Blvd.

The menu is pretty limited. Some beef and turkey burgers, grilled cheese, hot dogs, fish burgers, fries, onion rings, soda's and shakes. Prices aren't steep with dining for 2 coming in at about $20.

Today I tried the Giant with cheese ($4.89). Burgers are flat top fried and all items are cooked to order so plan to wait a few minutes for your order to come up. The buns are toasted and burgers are topped with special sauce, a generous portion of fresh onions, pickle, tomatoes and lettuce.

The Giant with Cheese

The Giant with cheese had a good sized juicy single patty, and a soft and lightly toasted bun. The cheese was a nice melty american. The special sauce was tangy and cut through the fat. The onion was a bit potent this go 'round but all in all a great burger. 

I'd recommend Bob's to anyone who might be having a craving for a simple no-fuss American burger.

Aburgeraday rating- 7/10

Bob's Giant Burgers

40720 Fremont Blvd

(between Clough Ave & Woodland Ter)

Fremont, CA 94538

(510) 656-3356