Introduction
When it comes to burgers, there are some restaurants that stand out from the rest. These iconic burger restaurants have been serving up delicious, old-fashioned recipes for decades, and they have become beloved by burger lovers everywhere. From classic drive-ins to modern burger joints, these eight iconic burger restaurants serve up some of the best burgers around. Whether you’re looking for a classic cheeseburger or something a little more creative, these restaurants have something for everyone. So grab a seat and get ready to enjoy some of the best burgers around.
8 Iconic Burger Restaurants That Serve Old-Fashioned Recipes
If you’re looking for a classic burger experience, there’s no better place to go than an iconic burger restaurant. These restaurants have been serving up delicious burgers for decades, and they’re still going strong. Here are 8 iconic burger restaurants that serve up old-fashioned recipes.
1. In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger is an iconic West Coast burger chain that has been serving up delicious burgers since 1948. The burgers are made with fresh, never frozen beef and are cooked to order. The menu is simple, but the burgers are delicious. The signature “Double-Double” is a classic.
2. Shake Shack
Shake Shack is a modern burger chain that has become an iconic restaurant in its own right. The burgers are made with 100% all-natural Angus beef and are cooked to order. The menu is simple, but the burgers are delicious. The signature “ShackBurger” is a classic.
3. Five Guys
Five Guys is a classic burger chain that has been serving up delicious burgers since 1986. The burgers are made with fresh, never frozen beef and are cooked to order. The menu is simple, but the burgers are delicious. The signature “Bacon Cheeseburger” is a classic.
4. White Castle
White Castle is an iconic burger chain that has been serving up delicious burgers since 1921. The burgers are made with fresh, never frozen beef and are cooked to order. The menu is simple, but the burgers are delicious. The signature “Slyder” is a classic.
5. Whataburger
Whataburger is an iconic Texas burger chain that has been serving up delicious burgers since 1950. The burgers are made with fresh, never frozen beef and are cooked to order. The menu is simple, but the burgers are delicious. The signature “Whataburger” is a classic.
6. Wendy’s
Wendy’s is an iconic burger chain that has been serving up delicious burgers since 1969. The burgers are made with fresh, never frozen beef and are cooked to order. The menu is simple, but the burgers are delicious. The signature “Baconator” is a classic.
7. McDonald’s
McDonald’s is an iconic burger chain that has been serving up delicious burgers since 1955. The burgers are made with fresh, never frozen beef and are cooked to order. The menu is simple, but the burgers are delicious. The signature “Big Mac” is a classic.
8. Burger King
Burger King is an iconic burger chain that has been serving up delicious burgers since 1954. The burgers are made with fresh, never frozen beef and are cooked to order. The menu is simple, but the burgers are delicious. The signature “Whopper” is a classic.
There’s no doubt about it—hamburgers are delicious. Topped with grilled onions or smothered in cheese, this delightful dish is known as one of America’s tastiest comfort foods. Although plenty of newfangled, modern burger spots pop up each year, sometimes you just want to sit down and enjoy a classic. Because of this, we dug deep to find some of the oldest burger restaurants in the country that grill up iconic recipes.
Some of these places have been around since the turn of the century and have menus that have stayed the same since then. Others still use their vintage recipes but have incorporated modern choices into their menus in recent years to draw in new customers. There’s even one famous 100-year-old burger joint that literally uses the same cooking grease as it did when it first opened. These restaurants all have the same thing in common—they serve top-notch burgers with a side of history.
From the restaurant that’s considered to be the inventor of the American hamburger to award-winning spots that have become neighborhood landmarks through the decades, here are eight burger joints that still serve old-fashioned recipes. Bon appetit!
Considered the birthplace of the American hamburger, Louis’ Lunch has been serving this delicious sandwich for over 125 years. People travel from far and wide to get a taste of their iconic burgers, made from five different types of meat (ground daily) and then cooked to order using the shop’s 100-plus-year-old cast-iron grills. Today, the restaurant is 4th generation-owned and has been featured on both the Travel Channel and the Food Network.
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Dyer’s has been serving up delicious burgers since 1912 using the same cooking process its founder used over 100 years ago. It’s believed that the “secret” ingredient is the restaurant’s century-old cooking grease, which gets strained daily. In fact, this grease is so vital that it has been transported over to Dyer’s other Memphis locations (via police escort) so that the restaurant’s outposts can make deliciously juicy burgers, too.
If you want an award-winning slider that will transport you back in time, you must check out White Manna Hamburgers in New Jersey. Initially founded in 1939 at the World’s Fair, these mouth-watering burgers are made using perfectly seasoned ground patties, pillowy-soft buns, and optional grilled onions. White Manna burgers are so good that they’ve been featured in the New York Times and on the Food Network and Travel Channel.
Voted North Valley’s Best Burger three consecutive years in a row, Big Earl’s Greasy Eats is a must-visit burger joint in Arizona—it’s been crafting delicious melt-in-your-mouth burgers since the 1930s. The restaurant, which was born out of a gas station, uses hormone-free meats, freshly baked buns, and real mayonnaise and chops all its vegetables by hand. Be sure to try the Big Earl Burger, that’s made with Black Angus beef, pickles, and seasoned mayo.
For nearly 100 years, Stanley’s Burgers has been a Rhode Island staple. Started by a Polish immigrant named Stanley Kryla, the burger joint still makes an impressive list of burgers today—including the double mushroom burger, double bacon burger, and the iconic Stanley’s burger.
Lankford’s, which started as a grocery market store in the 1930s, is known as one of the best places in Houston to pick up burgers. Lankford’s burgers are truly out of this world, made using ingredients like pimento cheese, brisket, sausage, and sunny-side-up eggs. Perhaps you’ve seen them on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
Cozy Burger makes, you guessed it, incredible comfort food, including top-tier burgers. The spot opened in 1922, when its founder, Bob Kinkel, began making coin-sized burgers after getting inspired by White Castle. Over 100 years later, Cozy Burger’s pint-sized sliders are still one of the most popular burgers in town.
Not only does Red’s Giant Hamburg in Springfield make some of the best burgers in the state, but the spot is also the world’s oldest drive-thru restaurant. Started in the 1940s, the eatery is known as a Route 66 legend until this day. Be sure to order a side of their chili and a root beer float if you stop by.