Inspired by the burrito and sandwich threads, here's one for nominating the best burgers in the Bay.

My vote for a traditional burger is TrueBurger in downtown Oakland on Grand. Just tried it for the first time last week. A-W-E-S-O-M-E! The Mushroom burger was also excellent as well.

As for something fancier--the succulent Lamb Burger at Michel Bistro on Lakeshore, Oakland.

(BTW, Five Guys are overrated, if they were highly rated to begin with.)

Cheap burger is in and out hands down. More gourmet I would go with chop bar near jack London. Outside the bay slaters 50/50 half beef half ground bacon is ridiculous.

http://bearinsider.com/forums/showthread.php?29764-OT-Today-is-National-Burger-Day&highlight=burger

http://bearinsider.com/forums/showthread.php?30700-OT-Another-burger-thread&highlight=burger

I'm still a fan of the Pug burger at the Hungry Cat.

Calcupcakes;842392465 said:

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Inspired by the burrito and sandwich threads, here's one for nominating the best burgers in the Bay.

My vote for a traditional burger is TrueBurger in downtown Oakland on Grand. Just tried it for the first time last week. A-W-E-S-O-M-E! The Mushroom burger was also excellent as well.

As for something fancier--the succulent Lamb Burger at Michel Bistro on Lakeshore, Oakland.

(BTW, Five Guys are overrated, if they were highly rated to begin with.)

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Yes, True Burger! Love the egg bread bun, although I have to go low carbs now. Lettuce wraps for me. : (

Nations and its not close, god I miss those greasy burgers.

True Burger is pretty good - Wood Tavern also has a very good one, as does Park Burger on Park Blvd. in Oakland.

Any burger that combines beef (lean) with Italian sausage ... little mom-pop Italian restaurant in Mtn View ... perfect burger

roolingNot in the Bay Area, but recently in Paris, had the best burger and fries at La Pinup.

I finally broke down and had the $28 Black Label Burger at Minnetta Tavern. It was freakin incredible and worth every penny. It was less like eating a burger and more like eating a fine aged steak (which is essentially what it is).

NYCGOBEARS;842392564 said:

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I finally broke down and had the $28 Black Label Burger at Minnetta Tavern. It was freakin incredible and worth every penny. It was less like eating a burger and more like eating a fine aged steak (which is essentially what it is).

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Is $28 cheap or expensive? (Serious question--you live in NYC, so the cost of things are out of scale with the rest of the world, except San Francisco.)

I keep it simple with The Habit.

Anyone remember Jerry's Gross Burgers on Euclid? Their burgers were really really good.

okaydo;842392568 said:

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Is $28 cheap or expensive? (Serious question--you live in NYC, so the cost of things are out of scale with the rest of the world, except San Francisco.)

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Here that is moderately expensive. You can get a lot of mediocre $15 burgers in NYC.

Corner Bistro is a fantastic old school bar in the West Village that has incredible ($6) burgers.

OneTopOneChickenApple;842392497 said:

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Yes, True Burger! Love the egg bread bun, although I have to go low carbs now. Lettuce wraps for me. : (

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Trueburger is about to open a 2nd location at Broadway and 41st Street - I can't wait.

4505 Burgers on Divisadero in SF makes a mean cheeseburger - pricey, but well worth it.

75bear;842392575 said:

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Trueburger is about to open a 2nd location at Broadway and 41st Street - I can't wait.

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That's still pretty close to their location now. I wished they would open closer to Berkeley, like around Gilman.

SHAKE SHACK!! Opening Tuesday in downtown Chicago and on the Vegas strip at year end. Best classic burgers EVER! Deee LISH!

Pegrube;842392594 said:

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SHAKE SHACK!! Opening Tuesday in downtown Chicago and on the Vegas strip at year end. Best classic burgers EVER! Deee LISH!

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ROFL! Yes, Shake Shack is very good.

The key to a terrific burger? All the best burger places know it...you gotta slather both sides of the patty with castoreum, before and after cooking. Trust me.

Pegrube;842392594 said:

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SHAKE SHACK!! Opening Tuesday in downtown Chicago and on the Vegas strip at year end. Best classic burgers EVER! Deee LISH!

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When are they coming to SF? If never, let me down easy...

socaliganbear;842392569 said:

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I keep it simple with The Habit.

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I tried the Habit over in Woodland Hills for the first time a few weeks ago, and I loved it. After eating so much In N Out on my trip, I determined that I don't like it as much as I did before. It's kind of dry, and esp. if the bun is toasted. I like restaurant burgers, and I know that's a different category. I also love Fatburger and Fuddruckers (esp because of the fixins bar) for chains. Tommy's is good too. Five Guys is too greasy.

SonOfCalVa;842392557 said:

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Any burger that combines beef (lean) with Italian sausage ... little mom-pop Italian restaurant in Mtn View ... perfect burger

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Son of Cal - any chance you can share the name? I work down there and am always looking for a good burger.

In no particular order:
SF: Umami, Roam, Super Duper, 4505, Park Tavern (Marlowe burger)
Mtn View / palo alto: Counter, Jefferies, Peninsula creamery, Kirks, Mayfield bakery (thick bacon)
Sacramento: Squeeze in, Nationwide, Hefty, Stockton Burger (pastrami topping)

and corner bistro in NYC - wait in line near bar, have a mug of beer, pick up burger on paper plate, crisp bacon

hehatenate;842392645 said:

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Son of Cal - any chance you can share the name? I work down there and am always looking for a good burger.

In no particular order:
SF: Umami, Roam, Super Duper, 4505
Mtn View / palo alto: Counter, Jefferies, Peninsula creamery, Kirks, Mayfield bakery (thick bacon)
Sacramento: Squeeze in, Nationwide, Hefty, Stockton Burger (pastrami topping)

and corner bistro in NYC - wait in line near bar, have a mug of beer, pick up burger on paper plate, crisp bacon

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Umami in Old Town Pasadena was good.

Black Laberl Burger at Minetta Tavern in NYC.

Anything at Kuma's Corner in Chicago - I like the Lair of the Minotaur there but evertyhing is great and they have Jack Daniels on tap!

I am partial to Father's Office in LA.

Calcupcakes;842392465 said:

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Inspired by the burrito and sandwich threads, here's one for nominating the best burgers in the Bay.

My vote for a traditional burger is TrueBurger in downtown Oakland on Grand. Just tried it for the first time last week. A-W-E-S-O-M-E! The Mushroom burger was also excellent as well.

As for something fancier--the succulent Lamb Burger at Michel Bistro on Lakeshore, Oakland.

(BTW, Five Guys are overrated, if they were highly rated to begin with.)

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Interestingly the greatest item at TrueBurger is a hot dog. Yes, their spicy coleslaw dog is awesome. Burgers and fries are good too. I would also recommend Umami burger just a few blocks away. The meat quality of the burgers there is rediculous.

-kap

NYCGOBEARS;842392564 said:

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I finally broke down and had the $28 Black Label Burger at Minnetta Tavern. It was freakin incredible and worth every penny. It was less like eating a burger and more like eating a fine aged steak (which is essentially what it is).

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you went!

socaliganbear;842392569 said:

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I keep it simple with The Habit.

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they opened up a location down in the south bay, right next to a Five Guys, and a few blocks away from In N Out. really good the 1st time i went, and then it all went downhill from there

Nations's greasy burgers hit the spot sometimes, as do Shake Shack's. there's a time and a place...

Umami opened up a joint in palo alto. not a fan, although the meat is good. i really like Father's Office in LA when i went--NO you cannot make any modifications to it.

edit: ^what Unit2 said.

Some local to me in Berkeley/Oakland:

Phil's Sliders: the sliders are great, as are the tots. But they just don't give you enough food!
Smokehouse (on Telegraph): relatively cheap, good burgers, great fries and open super late. Cash only is annoying sometimes
Barneys: a chain, but still great. A nice Burger restaurant to sit, eat and converse. Love their skinny fries.

Boss Burger to open soon in Albany. Will cook entirely with beef tallow. No vegetable oil.

http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2014/10/24/boss-burgers-opening-soon-in-albany-commits-to-using-tallow-for-all-fried-foods/

So over the summer I was watching this show on the Travel Channel called "Burger Paradise 3."

And they featured this burger stand around Crenshaw and Pico called Capitol Burger.

You can watch the segment here:
http://www.travelchannel.com/video/las-burger-capitol

It's a really run-down place, but their food looked good. And since I was visiting my folks who live not too far away, I decided to drop by.

Boy was it disappointing on every level.

Anyways, I learned my lesson about trusting food-themed TV shows.

I like the Apple Pan in LA a lot. That's a great old school burger.

NYCGOBEARS;842392564 said:

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I finally broke down and had the $28 Black Label Burger at Minnetta Tavern. It was freakin incredible and worth every penny. It was less like eating a burger and more like eating a fine aged steak (which is essentially what it is).

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Didn't see this when I posted earlier. Twinsies! Anyhwhere that gets beef from Pat La Frieda is good by me.

Unit2Sucks;842392679 said:

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Didn't see this when I posted earlier. Twinsies! Anyhwhere that gets beef from Pat La Frieda is good by me.

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You da man unit!

Father's Office is still the best I've ever had.

hanky1;842392682 said:

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Father's Office is still the best I've ever had.

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I only like it. For me it's too tricky. Too much going on.