Bacon Double Cheeseburger at Joey Doggs- Surfside Beach, SC

Lets face it- Myrtle Beach is a tourist trap. As one of the U.S.'s spring break meccas, it draws tens of thousands of young college aged booze hounds in early spring and vacationing American families in search of sun, surf and relaxation the rest of the year. Tourists and spring breaker alike, are tempted by the advertisements of low cost all-you-can eat seafood buffets on billboards, hotel pamphlets and by concierge staff who are most certainly tipped for sending unsuspecting patrons to these establishments. These places will always be in business just based on the mass of people that visit every year- no matter how bad their food is. My advice- don't be tempted by those places as they are almost all overpriced, mostly consist of deep fried items and all of mediocre quality at best. You'd be best to use a crowd sourcing app like Urbanspoon or Yelp to get good honest dining recommendations. Look for restaurants with a large quantity of reviews so you know it's not the owner and their immediate family writing the reviews- that's how we found Joey Doggs.

It's easy to miss Joey Doggs strip-mall location

Joey Doggs prides itself on cooking only fresh- never frozen menu items that include hand formed 90% Angus beef burger patties, all beef hotdogs and both hand cut and hand dipped onion rings. With this in mind Joey Doggs already has an edge over the other mediocre restaurants around it.

Burgers are BBQ grilled and always made to order with your choice of the extensive topping selection including Carolina staples-chili and slaw. You can order burgers a-la-carte with your choice of sides, or as a bowl with both fries and onion rings which we found out later also meant served in a dog bowl!

Food Served in Dog Bowls

Having spent most of the morning in the sun, I was sporting a larger than normal appetite so I went for the double bacon cheeseburger bowl ($7.85) with lettuce tomato, pickle, grilled onions and mayo.

The Bacon Double Cheeseburger at Joey Doggs

The burger came out cooked medium well with two perfectly melted slices of American cheese, nicely thin and crispy bacon, and really fresh toppings on a soft bun. The beef was lightly packed and even though it was cooked medium-well it was still very moist and juicy and had a fantastic beef flavor from the Angus beef they use.

You gotta think that Joey Doggs is where the locals eat. The staff are friendly. The quality is great and best of all, it's not overpriced like almost everything else in Myrtle beach. I recommend you try it out if you are ever nearby.

Aburgeraday rating- 7/10

The Cheddar Style Burger at Cook-Out, Charlotte, NC

Cook-out is a chain of fast food restaurants in the South with more than 100 locations in North and South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. Cook-out features items that you'd typically find at an outdoor cook-out- burgers, dogs, chicken, BBQ and more. Most locations feature a double drive-thru with outdoor seating and many locations feature dine-in seating as well.

Cook-Out

If you are craving a burger you must first choose the size- either their 2oz. small ($1.19), 4 oz. regular ($2.39), 6oz. Large ($2.59) or 8oz. Huge ($2.79), then choose one of 4 distinctly different styles of toppings:
"Cook-out style" ($.65) with homemade chili and slaw, mustard and onions.
"Out West style" ($.65) with BBQ sauce, bacon, mayo, pickles and onions.
"Steak style" ($.65) with A1 sauce, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato and mayo.
"Cheddar style" ($.89) with cheddar cheese, bacon, grilled onions and mayo.

The Cheddar Style Burger at Cook-Out

On this day I went for the small cheddar style burger. The beef patty came well done with nice BBQ flavor imparted by the char-grilling. The gooey processed cheddar cheese and sweet sauteed onions slathered and covered the smoky bacon. Although there was a bit too much cheese (I can't believe I would ever say too much cheese)- the burger was pretty decent and reminiscent of the Wendy's cheddar portobello melt, but at a fraction of the price. The entire bill- including the burger and a soda came in at a bargain price of $3.22 all taxes in!

Cook-out offers a decent burger at a great value and a menu that is sure to deliver whatever you might be hungering for. I'll be going back.

Aburgeraday rating: 6/10

The Kobe Beef Burger at Burger Bar, San Francisco, CA

The Burger Bar is the brain child of famous chef Hubert Keller- executive chef and owner of San Francisco's critically acclaimed Fleur-de-Lys restaurant. With locations in Las Vegas, NV and San Francisco and planned expansion into Beijing and Mexico City, the Burger Bar appeals to upscale diners looking for an unpretentious casual burger with the flair of a 5-star chef.

The elevator in Macy's whisks you up to the 6th floor Burger Bar

The San Francisco location is across from Union Square in the Macy's flagship store where you take an elevator to the 6th floor to get to the restaurant. Once you get there, you are presented with a spectacular view of San Francisco's Union Square- so make sure to ask for a window seat!

Get there early to get premium seating overlooking San Francisco's Union Square

Menu items include various burgers including the basics all the way to the over-the-top Rossini Burger- A kobe beef burger stuffed with braised short ribs topped with a lobster tail, shaved black truffles, truffle sauce served on an onion bun ($60).

I tried the Kobe beef burger ($16.50)- medium rare, topped with American, caramelized onions and house made aioli all served on a ciabatta roll. The burger was cooked perfectly and came out with juices running. The patty was loosely packed and was held together by the American cheese. The Kobe beef delivered a whollop of beef flavor and could be one of the most flavorful burgers I've had. The beef flavor was strong- almost gamey- something that you don't get from straight chuck and makes the meat get noticed in your burger. It also had good fat content but wasn't too greasy. Caramelized onions delivered added sweetness and the garlic aioli rounded things out.

The Kobe beef burger at the Burger Bar

The Burger Bar won't disappoint when it comes to burgers- they know how to make a great burger and they do it well. The Kobe beef burger is one of those burgers you'll love and always remember 'cause it's just downright good and it tastes different enough to be memorable.

Aburgeraday rating: 8/10

Cheeseburger at Gott's Roadside- San Francisco, CA

With 3 Bay Area locations in St.Helena, Napa and in the SF Ferry Building, Gott's Roadside has the reputation for making one of the best burgers in the city. Gott's has a wide menu selection ranging from seafood to burgers to hot dogs to salads, beer, wine and shakes and is a popular hangout for pre-Giants game fans.

The burgers are by far the most popular item on the menu and are chargrilled, 100% family farm raised Niman Ranch Beef- ground fresh daily. One of their signature burgers is the green chili cheeseburger ($8.99) with jack cheese, lettuce, grilled onions, salsa verde, charred Jalapeño mayo on a toasted egg bun. Once chargrilled and assembled, all burgers are given a quick steam in a contraption that softens up the egg bun.

I ordered the Cheeseburger ($7.99) medium-rare, however, the first one came out medium well- their standard doneness- so I sent it back and asked for it medium-rare again. I was sitting at the bar overlooking the kitchen and watched as they prepared my second burger. The burger went on the grill and one minute ran into another, then three, flip and repeat...and it was again being overlooked right before my eyes. The cook didn't even poke the meat to check for doneness, which should have been a given since I just sent the last one back...but instead it arrived at my table- well done again- sans the quick steam.

The cheeseburger arrived topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and special sauce on a toasted egg bun. The special sauce is mayo based, slightly sweet and a tad spicy with dill or sweet pickle relish chunks. The well done burgers weren't as juicy as they should have been, however the flavor was quite beefy even though it was drier than I'd like. The cheese could have used additional melting and in the rush to send out my second burger, it missed the quick steam that my first burger received and the bun lacked the softness that it needed. I took a bite or two and sent it back and asked for my money back...I wasn't about to wait another 10 minutes.

Apart from my 2 returned burgers, what I did eat was acceptable but it definitely would have been a better experience if I got it the way I ordered it. Gott's normally has a good reputation for their burgers and is often rated as one of San Francisco's best...but not on this day.

Aburgeraday rating: 6/10

The Ding Dong Style Pterodactyl Burger at Pinky's Westside- Charlotte, NC

Pinky's Westside grill is a roadhouse style burger bar that has built quite the cult following recently. Located near Uptown Charlotte just off the I-77 on the west side and marked by it's VW bug painted in patriotic stars and stripes on the roof, it's nice to occasionally go somewhere to try something out of the ordinary. Pinky's does make traditional fare including sandwiches, hot dogs and your more typically topped burgers, but it's the burger topped with peanut butter and Sriracha that I was after on this visit.

Pinky's has limited parking in their lot but ample overflow parking is available across the street. Both sit down, bar and patio seating are available and Pinky's is open late to satisfy that late night burger craving.

When scanning the menu you may want to try the crisscut potatoes topped with melted pimento cheese or the deep fired pickles as an appetizer or side dish to any of Pinky's burgers.

Pinky's burger menu offers burgers in 3 sizes- The Pterodactyl- a single 5 ounce patty, the mammoth- with two 5 ounce patties, and the Triple G- with you guessed it- three 5 ounce patties. Burgers are available in 4 styles- "Everything" with mayo, onion, lettuce, tomato and pickles, "Westside" with mustard, chili, slaw and onion and "Ding Dong Style" Topped with crunchy peanut butter, honey- cilantro slaw and Sriracha sauce.

I went for the Ding Dong Style Pterodactyl burger with pepper jack cheese ($4.60). The burger came out on a nice soft bun and was cooked to medium. The burger was juicy and the hit of crunchy peanut butter was noticeable, but not overpowering. Some might think that peanut butter on a burger as an odd thing. Well, if you think about other meat and peanut combinations- like thai pork satay, the peanut/meat infusion really isn't that odd and this actually works really well together. The sriracha added some zip and a hint of sweetness and the slaw cut through everything and balanced it all out- and for $4.60 this makes for a real value when it comes to burgers. The Ding Dong style burger didn't disappoint and I'd recommend it to anyone tired of the same old burger.

Aburgeraday rating- 6/10

Cheeseburger at Mo's Grill- San Francisco, CA

This week's burger quest brought me to the popular North Beach area of San Francisco where hilly side streets are dotted with everything from tattoo parlors to fashion stores to restaurants. Mo's on Grant street serves up some killer breakfasts as indicated by 90% of the plates that were being brought to tables around us on this Sunday around lunch time. I think I even saw a breakfast chili burrito the size of small child being served to one of the patrons sitting next to us!

Mo's Grill. San Francisco, CA

Mo's claim to culinary fame is the rotating barbecue grill that rotates slowly as passersbys on the street peek in to see slowly cooking burgers and steaks dripping their lucious juices onto the flaming volcanic rock grill beneath. Seating is limited to about a dozen tables and bar seating that can host about 8 more so you can expect a wait during busy hours, however the service is fast and keeps people moving in and out the door briskly.

Beef grilling over volcanic rock

All burgers are made from 7oz center cut Angus corn-fed ground chuck- generous for most gourmet $7 burger joints- ground daily and hand formed into patties and cooked to order.  I ordered the Cheeseburger ($7.75)- medium-rare with American cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato and onion- all served on a toasted kaiser roll. Pickles spears are available upon request.

Cheeseburger at Mo's

The burger came out perfectly cooked, however the romaine lettuce was bitter so I removed it. The soft kaiser bun was soft but only after you got passed it's overly toasted exterior. I don't like fighting through the bun to get to the meat and in my opinion the importance of a soft bun that can be easily bitten through is a crucial for a good burger. The American cheese was substantially thick but could have benefited from additional melting. The beef was super juicy and seemed to be seasoned perfectly. The ground chuck was pretty compacted, not overworked, but not entirely crumbly either. The beef taste from the ground chuck was lacking and wasn't very complex- very one dimensional you might say. They've been using chuck for years and people love their burgers- I just prefer something a little more complex. I was surprised that the grilled flavor from the volcanic rock below the grill wasn't as present as I thought it would be and you couldn't really taste the grilling. Now while Mo's cheeseburger may not be in my top 10 list, it's still a pretty decent burger, and anyone with a healthy appetite for a big breakfast should not pass this place up- it's worth it just for that. But since I only rate the burger, and not the ambiance, service or other items of the menu, Mo's fell short of my expectations.

Aburgeraday rating: 6/10

The Truffle Burger at Umami Burger- San Francisco

Already a staple and well known name on the L.A burger scene, Umami burger is a relatively new player in the Bay Area and opened it's first location in San Francisco in 2011, and a second in Palo Alto March 2013. The name 'Umami' refers to the 5th taste component beyond sweet, salty, sour, bitter and is loosely translated from it's Japanese origins meaning "pleasant savory taste" that can be found in foods.

Umami Burger- San Francisco, CA

The front of the building is unassuming and absent of obnoxious signage. The only thing that tells you that you are in the right place is the overhanging facade with simple orange back-lit outline of a burger. You'll find some limited outdoor patio seating, full dine-in order at your table seating and limited seating at the bar. The decor is open, inviting and modern chic.

If I could use one word to summarize the menu at Umami it would be "fresh" as Umami makes almost everything on the menu from scratch- from the pickles, to the cheese, to the condiments. Condiments include house-made mustard, ketchup, garlic ailioli, and a semi-spicy/sweet diablo sauce. *Tip- try the truffle fries! They are thin cut fries topped with truffle cheese...a side of garlic ailoli or house made ketchup make the perfect dipping addition.

Burgers are a 6oz hormone-free beef patty that is ground fresh daily and come from cows that are first grass fed, then finished with a grain diet. Umami suggests ordering their burgers medium-rare to maximize flavor while retaining moisture, but you can order it any way you like.

Their "Umami burger" is their most popular burger, however, the menu includes some daily specials including the "Brunch burger", topped with pork belly, a fried egg, house-made American cheese and diablo sauce (available only on weekends).

The Truffle Burger

I tried the Truffle burger- medium rare, topped with house-made truffle cheese and a truffle glaze ($12). The burger was cooked on a flat-top and came out with an awesome crust locking in incredible juiciness. The freshness and great depth of flavor of the beef was equally impressive. I really appreciated the simplicity of the ingredients. Rather than overwhelming my palate with a bunch of condiments, the burger was simply topped with truffle cheese and a truffle glaze that added richness, complexity and complimented the fantastic "meatiness" of the burger. The overall result was an incredibly juicy and luscious burger that is absolutely a must try and the Truffle burger from Umami burger goes down as one of the best burgers that I've had in a long time and should be on everyone's burger bucket list.

Aburgeraday rating- 8.5/10