The Great Burger Hunt — Part 1

Nothing says America like an amazing burger. And I love a good burger. I spent quite a fair amount of time hunting all over London for the best burger, and moving back to San Francisco gave me the opportunity to do the same here. This post is just the beginning of my quest to find the best burger in San Francisco! I’ll be comparing three burgers per post and the winner will move on to the next round. Here’s the first three burgers on the list:

1. In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out Double Double with both types of onions and well done fries.

In-N-Out Burger is that chain that everyone wants to eat at when they come out to California. It was also the first thing I ate after stepping of the plane. It makes the list because there is a single location in San Francisco, although it’s more likely someone will eat it at one of the the other locations. It’s pretty much a no-frills burger, with the exception of the grilled onions that are available. Personally, I always ask for grilled and plain onions, but I do have a slight onion obsession. I also find the fries a bit lacking unless you order them well-done. The bun is also nothing special, but it does the job of holding the burger together. That being said, you get a really tasty burger for not a high price, so it’s always a good place to stop if you’re in the mood for something on a much better level than McDonald’s. But it may be hard to justify going to Fisherman’s Wharf to get if you’re in San Francisco.

Patty: ★★★★☆
Bun: ★★☆☆☆
Sides: ★★★☆☆
Value: ★★★★★

2. Super Duper Burgers

Super Burger with garlic fries

Super Duper Burgers has become a bit of a San Francisco staple. When I went, I had to get the Super Burger (I mean it’s practically the name of the restaurant) with a side of garlic fries. The burger itself is really tasty with a nice bun to hold it all together. The patties had a great juiciness and meaty flavor. They also offer a few more options than In-N-Out which is nice, as I’m also a huge fan of blue cheese on burgers (which will be my plan sometime in the future). The fries were nice, but the cheddar being thrown on cold was a bit of a let down. They also do breakfast, but sadly, no breakfast burger it seems. (I mean who wouldn’t want a burger for breakfast with a nice egg on top?) While it’s not the best burger I’ve eaten, it’s really good for the price and with several locations, it makes for a convenient quick bite.

Patty: ★★★★☆
Bun: ★★★☆☆
Sides: ★★★☆☆
Value: ★★★★☆

3. Gott’s Roadside

Kimchi Burger with sweet potato fries

Gott’s Roadside is located in the iconic Ferry Building along the Embarcadero. There can be a bit of a line during lunch hour, but I took my chances and went in to try it. I was immediately drawn to the Kimchi burger because it has so much that I like. Kimchi? Bacon? Egg? I’m sold. I’m also a fan of sweet potato fries, so clearly that was the direction I needed to go. Sadly the burger itself was kind of boring. I didn’t really get anything from the kimchi except a ton of salt, so the burger itself tasted like I was eating a salt bomb. I don’t remember much about it except for that. I didn’t get much of a flavor from the meat either. For the $13 price tag, it was a disappointment. The sweet potato fries weren’t that amazing; I’ve definitely had better. Considering how there seem to be tons of people lining up for the place, I really expected more. Maybe I should give them a second chance, but given my first experience, it may take a lot for me to go back in.

Patty: ★★★☆☆
Bun: ★★★☆☆
Sides: ★★☆☆☆
Value: ★★☆☆☆

Winner: Super Duper Burgers

While In-N-Out hold a special place in my heart, the burgers at Super Duper Burgers have a slight edge. For just a bit more, you get a much better burger and sides. Keep an eye out to see how it compares to three more burgers in Part 2 of The Great Burger Hunt.