It’s getting colder and that means burgers become even more satisfying! I’m still hunting for that top burger in the city, and Niku Butcher Shop is definitely holding hard to that top spot. Will the burgers from Blind Butcher, PLS on Post or Flash Crash $6 Burger topple that beast?
1. Butcher’s Wagyu Burger from Blind Butcher
One night when I was on my own for dinner, I headed down to the Castro to try out Blind Butcher. I had read some great things online about the burger, so I was eager to go in and try. Their Wagyu Burger comes with bourbon caramelized onions, kasseri cheese, and horseradish aioli served on ciabatta. It definitely looks impressive when it comes out, the bourbon caramelized onions definitely added a lot to the burger, and the kasseri cheese was an interesting and melty choice. The burger itself was well seasoned, but the patty was a bit grainy and had a bit of an unpleasant mouthfeel. I did get over it after a few bites, but I definitely prefer a different texture in my patty. The fries were delicious, and they also have a great cocktail menu to boot!
2. Korean Smash from PLS on Post
On my next free evening, I decided to check out a fairly new burger place that opened up in Hotel Zeppelin: PLS on Post. They are doing a variety of smash burgers and shakes, and I opted for the Korean Smash with sharp cheddar, Korean cucumbers and a gochujang bbq glaze with a side of fries. It definitely looked fantastic when it came out, and I was really excited to dig in. Sadly, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations as everything was a bit sweet without a lot of spice (which I expected from the gochujang). For the price, I definitely wanted more, but the fries were definitely a winner for me.
3. Bullish Burger from Flash Crash $6 Burger
Finally, I found myself heading to the Sunset Squares Food Hall in Soma to try out Flash Crash $6 Burger. Yes, they have a burger for $6, but no I didn’t end up trying it. I opted for the HODL Meal which is a Bullish Burger (a double Flash Burger with bacon), garlic fries and a beer, all for $15.99. I was really ready to hate this burger after they lost my order for 20 minutes then ended up bringing me a BLT for some weird reason. But when I finally got the burger, I was really wowed. The burger had that nice seasoning you really want in a burger, and the beef was well cooked and juicy. The toppings are pretty standard, but it was really well executed and an excellent burger. And cheap! The Bullish burger itself will run you $12 which is a pretty good price, but the meal deal really made it a steal. And the garlic fries were absolutely stunning. I was really impressed with how well they made this burger, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised considering they make an excellent Detroit-style pizza as well. I’m definitely heading back here to give the $6 Burger a go and see if it can really wow me just the same.
Winner: Niku Butcher Shop
While Flash Crash $6 Burger really did hit every note I am looking for in a burger, I think the 50/50 Wagyu Beef patty from Niku really just makes it slightly better. However, this burger is definitely right up there with it, pulling in and number two on my list. Sadly, the other two burgers didn’t excite my palate enough. I am so excited to find a fantastic cheap burger, and it just makes me want to search even harder to find more amazing burgers in the city. Any tips? Please let me know in the comments!
My current top five:
1. Niku Butcher Shop
2. Flash Crash $6 Burger
3. Barney’s Gourmet Burgers
4. Monsieur Benjamin
5. Flippin’ Burger
Honorable mentions:
Classic toppings/burgers:
Nopa
Epic Steak
4505 Burgers and Barbecue
Magnolia Brewing
The Showdown
Spruce
Frankie’s Java House
Wayfare Tavern
Fort Point Valencia
Unusual toppings/burgers:
Sons Addition
ABV
Biergarten
Rock Club Burger
Multiple toppings/burgers:
Flipper’s Gourmet Burgers
Papa Mak’s
Brickhouse
Super Duper Burgers
Beep’s Burgers
Sides:
Umami Burger
Wes Burger ‘n’ More
