Hey there! I’ve been continuing my hunt around the city looking for the best burger I can find! Part 9 has Black Sands Brewery as the best (and actually it’s been the best since Part 3), but I’m certain there must be something better! This time, I sought out burgers from Son’s Addition, Burgermeister and Southern Pacific Brewing on my quest for the best burger.
1. Son’s Addition
I was lured by the sound of the burger at Son’s Addition as it had a few toppings that were a bit more unusual than the standard burger I seem to be finding in San Francisco. They use a Marin beef burger topped with white cheddar, bacon-onion jam and a charred scallion aioli. I’m a huge fan of bacon jam and onion jam, especially on a burger, so I knew I had to get here to give it a try. A lot of things on the regular menu also sounded great, but I skipped them, as I knew I was there for the burger. (Although I did give the kimchi deviled egg a try, and it was a great amuse bouche to whet the palate before the beefy main course.) The burger did look pretty spectacular when it arrived as it was a thick patty. It was also a very tasty burger. It could have been a bit meatier, but the the jam and the aioli really made the burger something special. The bun was a fairly simple sesame seed bun, but the seeds definitely added a bit of texture to the burger. There was also a fair amount of well-cooked fries on the side and some house made dill pickles. And it was a decent sized burger for $16, coming in a bit pricier than others but definitely not as expensive as other places. It definitely satisfies the burger craving, but it also feels like there is room to really make it into something spectacular.
2. Burgermeister
I had other burger plans the night I tried out Burgermeister, but some friends of mine and I ended up having an impromptu meeting, so after a few drinks with them, I came here because it was just around the corner. I decided on the Firehouse Burger as I love anything spicy. The burger arrived, and it looked pretty good with an egg, jalapenos and pepper jack cheese. All the burgers also come with fries. The burger itself was pretty tasty, and there was definitely a lot more heat to it than I was expecting. The bun was a bit soft, but it didn’t really fall apart too badly. The fries were fairly crispy and did not disappoint. (Although it felt like I would have liked a few more of them.) It was a pretty solid burger, but at $15.50, I’m not sure the price justification is there for what the burger really was.
3. Southern Pacific Brewing
Last on the list this week, is the Brass Hat Burger from Southern Pacific Brewing in the mission. I had come here for drinks with a friend visiting from out of town, and I somehow heard about the burger, so I knew it was one I was going to have to come back for. The burger has onions, pickled jalapenos and a sweet chili sauce on it with pepper jack cheese. It comes with fries, but for an additional fifty cents, you can get it with sage fries instead. It runs a fairly high $17.50, but they include tax in all their pricing (like Europe and it’s amazing), so it’s not as bad as it seems. The burger did look fantastic when it came out, and there’s a lot of sauce and juice coming out so it’s a really messy burger. The bun had a nice crunchy exterior, and a fluffy inside, and it really held up well to all the juice. The sweet chili sauce on a burger really was a revelation, and the jalapenos added some nice acid. It was really well balanced with a great tasting beef patty. The fries were also fantastic, and they make their own in house ketchup. It turns out homemade ketchup is a bit of a controversial topic, but I loved the extra details they put into making everything in-house.
Winner: Southern Pacific Brewing
While I’m still a major fan of the Black Sands Burger, I really do think the Brass Hat Burger takes the edge. I am a big fan of spicy toppings on burgers, but these weren’t overpowering and added a great flavor. The use of homemade sauces on the burger and for the fries really let it slightly beat out Black Sands though. And while I’ve revisited the Black Sands Brewery burger and it really is a fantastic burger, it is a bit like a fancy In-N-Out, so it really lacks the creativity behind the Brass Hat Burger. It’s definitely more of what I’m looking for in a great burger, with amazing sides and a lot of love put into it. I don’t know if their regular burger is any better, so maybe I’ll have to give that a try sometime as well. Son’s Addition also comes in quite high on the list as their burger also was different and had a great deal of flavor to it. I am also planning on adjusting the amount of burgers in the rankings by keeping Super Duper Burgers at the bottom of the list. I definitely think a good way to judge a burger I’m eating is to ask myself “Is it better than Super Duper Burgers”?
Ranking:
1. Southern Pacific Brewing
2. Black Sands Brewery
3. Wayfare Tavern
4. Son’s Addition
5. Gaspar
6. Wes Burger ‘n’ More
7. Epic Steak
8. Umami Burger
9. ABV
10. 4505 Burgers and BBQ
11. Super Duper Burgers
Wow, congratulations to Southern Pacific Brewing! I hope they know what a great honor this title holds!!
It did sound very creative and delicious, and I agree that making everything in-house give an edge. Looking forward to trying them out!
I think it just shows a bit more love and care when things are made there as opposed to brought it. I was surprised as well! I wasn’t sure anything was going to beat Black Sands Brewery as it’s such a great deal and a delicious burger!