Oregon Hamburger Review

Another Trip to the Original Pilot Butte Drive-In

2011-12-13T15:51:00.000-08:00

December 13, 2011 - Pilot Butte Drive-In: Bacon Cheeseburger and Tavern Burger.

My friend Dan and I went here for lunch today. It had been awhile since he had been there and I was eager for more burger research. Of course I couldn't branch out, I had to continue my studies of the Tavern Burger, my all-time #1 burger in the WORLD! Dan commented that it looked like a career burger which I thought was a very appropriate description. Dan ordered a Bacon Cheeseburger which at $8.80 is a pretty quality deal for a good sized burger! Dan was wondering what I was doing with my camera when our food arrived as he was ready to dig in. Thanks for playing along with my burger research Dan, and I hope its was worth the wait!!

Pilot Butte Burger - New Bend, OR ~ Westside

2011-12-13T15:40:00.000-08:00

September 29, 2011 ~ Pilot Butte Burger: Chili Cheeseburger and Tavern Burger.

My wife's parents Bob and Mary Ann were visiting and they know of my fondness for the burgers here. I took Bob and Mary Ann here before my son was born. The Westside store is new, very well done, and very clean. The menu is the same and the burgers are just as good! Bob ordered a Chili Cheeseburger which is served open faced and looked quite good. Bob really liked the chili used on this burger. This burger is $11.65. I have a hard time staying away from the Tavern Burger as it is #1 on my current burger ranking. A very quality place that serves very big but tasty burgers! Check out their website at http://www.pilotbutte.com/

American Psycho Burger - Cabana Cafe, SC

2011-09-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

If you are ever in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area I would highly recommend you stop by the Cabana Cafe in Litchfield Beach and order an American Psycho Burger. This is a great "chili style burger" but what makes it unique is the fact that is not an open face burger. Is a burger topped with really good chili, American cheese, Bacon, pickle, fried onions, fried egg, and lettuce. It costs $13 and it is worth it! Before or after you eat your burger you can swim in the ocean or the pool next to your table.

Dickie Jo's - Eugene, OR

2011-09-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

Dickie Jo's is a great burger joint! You know its going to be good by looking at the menu. It has one burger on it and you can make the burger what you want with a variety of options or additions. The only problem that I have is that you cannot get a fried egg on the burger. I ordered a bacon cheese burger and it was excellent! The meat is very good and you can tell that it of high quality. My family ordered various other versions of the birger and everyone was satisfied. YOu can't really go wrong at Dickie Jo's; good burgers at a great price! I will definatley be going back the next time I'm in Eugene.

The Big Mouth Vinnie Burger

2011-04-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

The Big Mouth Vinnie Burger at Teluwut Grille House and Pub in Osage, Iowa. This beast is named after Vinnie Wagner, who was a friend/classmate/wrestling teamate of mine in high school. He also happens to be the owners son. The Big Mouth Vinnie tests your mouth and jaw fitness with two 1/3 pound patties, melted american and swiss cheese, 4 strips of bacon, lettuce, tomato, 6 onion rings, ranch, and BBQ sauce. This burger is $9.99 plus tax.

This post is from Tim "Rusty" Ott. Thanks Rusty.

"Bacon Cheeseburger" - Jody's Drive-In, Take Out

2011-02-27T16:59:00.000-08:00

This is my first visit to Jody's since it changed ownership on February 1, 2011. The new owner is friendly and cooked our burgers herself. She told me the only difference in the burgers is that she uses 100% Ground Chuck patties. I wasn't up for my usual Clogger so I ordered a Bacon Cheeseburger. This is a pretty good burger and it only costs $6.50. The new patty was great and this is another solid burger offering from Jody's. Nothing fancy in this staple bacon cheese, try one out and tell me what you think!

Can't Miss Beer Burger - The Owl's Nest, Sunriver, Oregon

2011-02-23T08:07:00.000-08:00

Certified Angus Beef ground chuck burger served on a pretzel roll then topped with Obsidian Stout beer butter, Tillamook® cheddar cheese and beer battered onion rings. Served with our delicious French fries. I thought the onion rings on top were a little much, but overall pretty good. The pretzel roll was also an interesting touch. But really, anything soaked in Beer sounds pretty good to me.

Post from Brighton Fowler ~ please remember to include the price when submitting burger posts!

Dinker's - Omaha's Best Burger?

2011-01-14T13:48:00.000-08:00

Western Burger with BBQ Sauce - Claimed to be another one of Omaha's "Best Burger Joints!" Dinkers is located off of I-480 and the Martha Street exit. They offer lots of different affordable burgers but my favorite is the Western Burger with BBQ sauce. Your burger comes with a side of onion rings, potato chips or french fries and they will even mix it up and give you half fries and half rings. Wow! Friendly service in a tavern like atmosphere It was delicious!

This post comes from our Omaha Burger Blogger: Laura ~ thanks Laura

Louis Burger Lust

2010-11-28T21:11:00.000-08:00

Louis Burger Lust - located on 17th and Vinton Street in the historical commercial district of Omaha, Nebraska. Louis Burger Lust offers up one of Omaha's best signature "phatty" burgers. Competitively priced and well proportioned, Louis menu contains an array of burger classics! We tried two of their burgers. I ordered the Swiss Cheeseburger piled high with lettuce, onion, pickles, and tomato. Zippy got the Protein Enhanced Egg n' Bacon cheeseburger! Both burgers were quite tasty! All served up in a small diner with plenty of local flavor! Next up...Stellas!

Direct blog from Laura Friesell and Jon Zimmerman in Omaha.

Nice Laura and Zippy! My first blog from Omaha. I want to come back for more food and good company and of course when you get to Oregon the first burger is on me! Mike

Cheeseburger at 7,500 feet on Mt. Bachelor, Oregon

2010-07-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

Mt. Bachelor offers a unique summer dining experience that they call Sunset Dinners. My folks were visiting for the 4th of July weekend so we decided to give it a try. It is definatley not a burger joint and the menu is good but also on the expensive side. Of course they had a burger on the menu and I couldn't resist. I was pleasantly surprised! It was a hand patted Angus beef burger with a home made bun and it was quite good. It was $12.95 for the burger and fries which was OK considering the burger comes with an amzaing view! I don't think I will make the drive to the Mt. Bachelor parking lot and then take the Pine Martin lift to 7,500 feet just for this burger but the whole experience is what it is about and overall I was satisfied. They have a nice happy hour with amazing views of the Central Cascades and the chairlift ride is incredibly scenic. Check it out if you are ever in the Bend area in the summer.

New Top 5 List

2010-02-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

#1 - The Tavern Burger, Pilot Butte Drive-In, Bend, OR
#2 - The Clogger, Jody's Tavern, Redmond, OR
#3 - The Special (aka the World's Greatest Hamburger), Stanich's, Portland, OR
#4 - Aron's Cardiac Burger, 3 Creeks Brewery, Sisters, OR
#5 - The Grand Daddy, Dandy's, Bend, OR
#6 - The Lumberjack, Winston Drive-IN, Winston, OR

I have gone back and forth on the Tavern Burger in the past several years...but it is back on top! Very good hamburger! Compare it to the Aron's Cardiac at 3 Creeks Brewery, the Tavern is bigger and better and cheaper than the Cardiac. The Cardiac is VERY good and much less greasy than the Tavern, but the Tavern is #1 for a reason!

A Good Burger from Scotland!

2010-01-28T17:27:00.000-08:00

This is the first international post to the Oregon Hamburger Review! Congrats to Ali Rose for a submission from his homeland. He wins a free burger (the current #1 on my top 5, or his choice), once he returns to Oregon to claim his prize! Follow his example folks, please submit your burger posts!

Hey Mike (AceBurger),

As promised, a good Scottish Burger. The Isobar in Leith in Edinburgh, serves an Angus Burger which is amazing! 60z. prime Aberdeen Angus beef on a morning roll, lettuce, tomato, and onions, with a tomato salsa on the side. Also worth getting the add-ons of some Scottish mature cheddar and some bacon (real bacon, not that streaky burnt stuff you Americans eat). Served with hand cut chips, yes CHIPS. A welcome break from the haggis eating at this time of year, it's Rabbie Burns birthday!

Cheers, Ali

Bill Goats Tavern, Shasta City, CA

2010-01-15T17:32:00.000-08:00

Hi Mike (aka AceBurger),

Attached is the Billy Goat Burger from the Billy Goats Tavern in Shasta City. It's not Oregon but it's close and they have good beer and garlic fries too. Massive burger with lots of additions.

And I have a recommedation - if you ever roll a van on the outskirts of Baker city, OR. There is only one place for a burger..... Barley Browns Brewpub has a great "brewpub burger" cooked to taste...... oh and good beer.

Submitted by Ali Rose, January 15, 2010

The Belly Buster, Jody's, Redmond, Oregon

2010-01-15T17:28:00.000-08:00

This photo is courtesy of Ali Rose. Upon sending this he said, "Attached is Ryan and the Belly Buster from the one and only Jodys." I still have yet to eat one of these but is sure looks tempting...

The Tavern Burger, Pilot Butte Drive-In

2009-12-23T16:21:00.000-08:00

I already have a post on the Tavern Burger but I just had another one last week for lunch. It was really good! It may be coming back up my list to #1. Check out these photos, it is the classic Taven Burger. Well worth the $10.50. Grilled ham, bacon, swiss, cheddar, grilled onions, and to raise your cholesterol, a fried egg, sauce, mayo, lettuce, tomato and pickles. You gotta try one of these!

Pilot Butte Drive-In, Bend, Oregon

2009-12-23T16:14:00.001-08:00

The Pilot Butte Burger! One of the better big burgers you will find anywhere. It is quite big, the burger is 18oz. The Pepsi glass in this picture is a 32 oz. It will cost you $19.00! A really good burger to split. Check out their menu and website at: http://www.pilotbutte.com/burger.htm

Bistro Burger - San Francisco, CA

2009-11-30T20:01:00.000-08:00

Another California burger joint, this one a San Francisco establishment. They serve burgers with Estancia Free Range Grass fed beef. Their slogan is, "Your Burger on Grass." My wife and I stumbled upon this place on Drumm and California in the heart of the financial district. VERY good hamburgers with quality beef and sustainable practices. I ordered a Bacon Cheeseburger Royale ($7.29) and my wife ordered a Bistro Burger ($5.79). These prices are truly remarkable when you consider where this place is located. The Bend Burger Company could learn a few things about pricing at this place, including offering fries and onion rings separately. OK, the draw back? The service was OK but not very friendly but I will give them a break since we are "tourists" and it was our first visit. One of the best deals in SF. The best burger and place in SF? Try the Bell Tower on Jackson and Polk Street. I have been going there for almost 20 years. More on that later...

Moo Moos Burger Barn - Stockton, CA

2009-11-29T22:23:00.001-08:00

I know that my blog is Oregon Hamburgers but I was in Lodi, CA visiting my parents and they took me to this place. I decided to branch out since I don't get to try too many burgers outside of Central Oregon unless I travel to the Willamette Valley or to California. I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Very friendly service, clean and very reasonably priced, especially compared to the Bend Burger Company. The burgers are good but not great. Some people may think the whole Moo Moo thing is too much but it works for this place. I ordered a Chili Moo ($5.95) which was really good. Good chili, great presentation, and it came with a corn bread bun which I liked. Overall I was very happy. My only negative was that the burger itself was not of the highest quality (i.e. frozen patties) and a little overcooked. All the others in my family ordered the Classic Moo ($4.50) which was a good classic hamburger and they were all satisfied. Their onions rings and shakes were very good as well. Please tell me what you think. This place is located just off of I-5 on the north side of Stockton and there is also one in Lodi, CA. A great place to stop for Duck or Beaver fans on the way to the Rose Bowl! Check out their website and menu at: http://www.moo-moos.com/menu.php.

Bend Burger Company - Bend, Oregon

2009-11-29T21:52:00.000-08:00

I have been to the Bend Burger Company twice now. Their burgers are quite good, however I spent $11.95 on a Bend Burger with bacon and cheese, fries and a soda. That's too much money for me to spend on a lunch, let alone a hamburger. Their menu is what I would call "gourmet", meaning there are lots of choices of toppings such as blue cheese, garlic, fry sauce, and ham with pineapple. I can't get over the cost when I can get a burger that is just as good (AND in my top 10) for half the price. I know I've mentioned before that I'm not a huge french fry fan and all the burgers at the Bend Burger Company come with french fries which drives up the cost and leaves me feeling guilty for not finishing my entire meal. Suggestion - make really good french fries or onion rings and don't include them with the hamburgers. In closing, if you want a good burger in downtown Bend and are willing to pay over ten dollars per person for lunch, this is a good spot to go!

Updated Top 5 List

2009-08-02T17:02:00.000-07:00

1) The Clogger, Jody's, Redmond
2) The Special (aka The World's Greatest Hamburger), Stanich's, Portland
3) The Lumberjack, Winston Drive-In, Winston
4) The Tavern Burger, Pilot Butte, Bend
5) The Grand Dandy, Dandy's, Bend

#5 the Grand Dandy - Dandy's Drive-In, Bend Oregon

2009-08-01T16:39:00.000-07:00

I took my son to Dandy's Drive-In last week! I can't believe I have never been here before since I've been living in Bend for over 15 years. Of course I ordered the Grand Dandy ($5), the largest burger on the menu. Pretty much a simple yet excellent bacon-cheeseburger with good pickles on it. You can tell a good burger joint by having a look at the menu. Very simple with 4 hamburgers, 1 chicken sandwich, a grilled cheese and that's it! I knew this burger was going to be good when I saw the menu. This is a classic drive-in. The waitresses (or maybe they are called "burger girls?") come out on skates to take your order and deliver your food. You either get it to go or eat in the car, no tables or anything. My son ordered a lil' Dandy ($2) and claimed it was the best burger he had ever eatin'! While this place is a Bend institution (since 1968) and somewhat of a novelty, the burgers are really good and I would recommend this place to any burger lover. Right in the middle of business 97 in Bend between Neff and Greenwood. Enjoy.

Blacksmith Sliders - Great Happy Hour

2009-05-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

I finally made it to the Blacksmith Restaurant for Happy Hour yesterday. Folks have told me it's the best Happy Hour in Bend. Their Sliders are $5 and are pretty good. I don't think they qualify for a top 10 ranking but they are worth noting. There is a burger ($7) on the Happy Hour menu that looks really good and I will need to get one and report back! Many first time visitors are surprised by the "swankyness" of this place but it's a Happy Hour, totally casual and I wasn't the only person wearing jeans and a baseball cap.

Home of the #1 ranked "Clogger" Jody's Hamburger's, Redmond, Oregon

2009-05-04T14:41:00.000-07:00

The Clogger is the best thing on the menu in my opinion. While this is not a blog about anything other than burgers (hint: I don't usually order fries, onion rings, etc with my burgers), Jody's tots are the best tator tots I've ever had! I haven't yet ordered the Belly Buster but I'm dying to go here with a friend so we can split it.

Such a great little building for a burger place. I would highly recommend stopping here if you ever drive through Redmond. You can't miss it on the South-side of Highway 126 on the way out of Redmond to Sisters, on the opposite side of Hwy 126 from Chevron. Check it out and let me know what you think! See below for picture of the Clogger!

#2 "The Special" Stanichs, Portland, Oregon

2009-04-18T23:38:00.000-07:00

"The Special" is a classic burger at a classic burger joint. I've been going here since 1988 and it hasn't changed since then. The Special (aka the world's greatest hamburger) nearly lives up the its alias. It is the definition of the tavern burger, fully loaded with bacon, ham and a fried egg. Something about the joint I think makes the burger even better. Stanich's is a tavern with pennents all over the wall, they only take cash, and they love to give shit to folks who order their burger cut! One of the best perks is you can order beer on tap with your hamburger! Yes, this is my kind of place and I take everyone I know here for a special. Has never fallen below #3 on my top 10 list and has been a steady #2 for about 5 years. I have never ordered anything else on the menu (except french fries)and never will. I have eatin 2 of these on a couple different occasions but I'm getting too old to do that anymore! Picture coming the next time I get to Portland.

#3 "The Lumberjack" Winston Drive-In, Winston, Oregon

2009-04-18T23:22:00.000-07:00

A very good burger at a very good burger joint that me and my family just happened to stop at on our way to the coast. How lucky we are that we chose this place. A classic burger joint with a 50s theme with lots of cars on the wall. Very kid friendly...this helps for road trip with a 4 year old! My son's hamburger came in a car that he played with for the rest of the trip. To the burger though that's the point right. I always go for the "tavern style" burger with all the fixings, plus bacon and a fried egg if they have one. The lumberjack was really not a tavern burger but was very, very good, with bacon, cheese and all the fixings (aka: loaded!) I love pickles and this burger has very good pickles and was just the right size! I was smiling all the way to the coast!

#4 "The Taven Burger" - Pilot Butte Drive-In, Bend, Oregon

2009-04-18T23:04:00.000-07:00

"The Tavern Burger", Pilote Butte Drive-In, Bend, Oregon

This is a very good hamburger that was #1 in my top 10 for about 3 years. The joint was sold about 2 years ago and the quality has slipped a little bit in my opinion. It is still in my top 10 though, which says a lot! This place is home to the famous Pilot Butte Burger (16oz burger) and the wager winner burger for me, the "64oz. burger" - the menu says that it feeds a family of 4! I have won several hundred dollars making bets with friends who have never seen this burger before, yet still claim (and bet big) that they can eat it. Its big!

"The Clogger" - Jody's Drive-In, Take-out, Redmond, Oregon.

2009-04-18T22:43:00.000-07:00

"The Clogger", Jody's Drive-In, Take-out, Redmond, Oregon.

-This is a really good tavern style burger that costs only $7.75. It is not too big, but no pushover either. It's a 1/3 pound burger with grilled ham, bacon, cheddar and jack cheese, and all the trimmings (except tomatos which I don't care for). I know that I am biased because I work in Redmond, so I eat this more than any other burger. Maybe that's why it sees time at #1 on my all time list, because I can keep eating them and they just keep gettting better. Also, I know there are other great burgers on the menu, but the only other burger I have ordered is the cheeseburger. The Clogger started off at #5 on my list when I first had one in 2007.