I was sorely disappointed in the Burger Joint in Bethesda. I want to hit Ray's Hell Burger this weekend.
Are they an offshoot of Ray's The Steaks? I've been wanting to go there for awhile but I hear it's a major PITA to get in.
Yeah, what's up with that? It's like they dump a bunch of Seasoned Salt on it, which absolutely destroys the burger.
OK, I finally got over there on Saturday evening. The place was packed, but the bussers are pretty good about shooing potential campers off their tables; this is not a place you can linger. The burger was OUT FREAKIN' STANDING, perfectly cooked to order (medium-rare), and the bun held up well despite the copious juices. The burger itself was awesome - enough fat to give it some depth, but not so much that it was greasy. In short, this place makes Five Guys look like McDonalds. Too bad it's about a 35-minute drive from my house.
There a place in Hoffman Estates right off the I-90 BArrington road exit called the Assembly. The burgers are good, but really, everything else on the menu is pretty good, especially the filet mignon quesadilla. Here's the menu---they brew their own beer there, too. http://www.assemblyrestaurant.net/menu.htm Just south of Wrigley Field on Clark Street is a place called the Irish Oak. If I'm in the neighborhood, I'll always stop by and get a Southwest Burger. They'll make it if you ask for it, but it hasn't been on the menu in about three years.
RIP...age 98...there must really be something in that secret sauce: http://patch.com/new-york/nanuet/s/fylbt/inventor-of-mcdonalds-big-mac-dies-at-98
now I understand that this is a burger thread but how can I not acknowledge the founder of General Tso's Chinese chicken also passing away at age 98: http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3042881
I would enjoy trying Gen Tso's chicken the way this guy originally made it. Before the sweet sauce that comes in a 55 gallon drum.
My secret ingredient is adding a bit of beef liver to the meat mix. Also of course homemade Buns that are ridiculously easy to make and taste much better.
Orlando recently got a The Habit Burger Grill which are a recent entry into the nationwide burger chain arena. They have most notably won recent "Best Burger in California" contests over the vaunted "In N Out Burger" cult. https://www.habitburger.com/
They've just opened a couple of Cheescake Factory outlets here in Qatar. Went and had a burger there yesterday... was delicious but my stomach felt like it was going to explode afterwards. There would have been de brie everywhere...
I like making my own burgers and I add some extra stuff in the meat to make it great, some times I add grounded up flax seeds or cinnamon.