It's Official -- -- National Chain Burger Stores Suck

[big black dog]

Maybe a couple of years ago, I gave up on ever expecting any quality product from the big 3 pizza stores. Without exaggeration, I could get a much, much better product by simply picking up a frozen Tombstone pizza and baking it. (Pizza Inn is great though. They don't deliver here, but I gladly go and pick it up rather than order the crap the big 3 serves.)

On to burgers. I used to love McDonalds and Burger King hamburgers. However, for some time, when I would eat them, they just didn't taste right. Especially McDonalds -- It's like I was eating a meat substitute or something. I thought maybe I just didn't like hamburgers anymore.

It has been a long, long time since I cooked any hamburgers at home. But just on a whim, I tried it last night. Didn't do anything special. Just took some ground beef, sprinkled in some salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and fried it up on the stove.

Ate a hamburger using 2 pieces of bread with mustard. It was the best hamburger I've had in years! Crunchy outer texture of the fried burger with a juicy interior; I know I'll never eat that crap again at the national joints -- just like with the pizza.

[mamelukesabre]

Havn’t eaten at either mcD’s or BK in years. but as I remember, mcD’s had horrible food. BK had mediocre burgers and excellent fries. For really cheap really fast, semi-edible food, I recommend bean burritos at taco hell.

[MinorityRepublican]

I go to Rush’s when I’m visiting friends in Columbia. They have two locations I believe.

[jla]

To 17 - LOL I'd bet she doesn't eat many of those.

Once per month I have two bleu cheese burgers. Just about every other day my diet is:

Ready for boiling, then a quick broil in a pan sprayed with olive oil, serve with steamed veggies and chilled fruit, and bon appétit.

[Tijeras_Slim]

That, and a population of 53 is why there is no Lotaburger in Yrrisari.

[dockkiller]

Our dogs hate the new dominors. I eat the crust its so good.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I was just told about a farmer's market that does such out in the country. You buy a whole hog for about $35. They charge to butcher it also but reduce the cost due to many people giving the butcher the skin, innards, head, and other stuff people usually don't eat. Also they sell half cows and a neighbor and I are looking at splitting the cost of one. Only drawback is that you have to come back the next week as you're selecting from live animals and they need a couple of days to prepare it.

[Freedom with Responsibility]

We used to have a George & John's Drive In in Farmington. Their burgers were larger than the LottaBurger, and greasy delicious! Unfortunately, they closed down around 1974. MMMMMmmmmmmmm, I can smell that burger even now.

[jmacusa]

You want a great burger? Get sirloin chop meat(I know its expensive but...) cook it medium/well , add a dash or two of Worcestershire Sauce, a little garlic and some thyme.

[usconservative]

One word: FATBURGER.

Best there is, period.

[LatinaGOP]

Hey Shark, have you tried Lumpy’s in Albuquerque? Not the best side of town on Central just west of Old Coors in the OLD Lotaburger Drive-In building. Excellent green chile cheeseburgers and a novel concept. You walk up to the counter outside, grab a bag and they have the menu on the bag. You check the size buger you want (wimpy, lumpy or plumpy), you check your toppings and then you check how you want your fries cut (skinny, thick or screwy). They have baskets where you choose your potato for your fries (russet or sweet potato) and you put the potato in the bag and take it to the window, one bag per person. They cook your burger to order and cut your fries the way you ordered with the potato you chose (so choose a big one). DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LatinaGOP]

Also, don’t forget Bob’s Burgers Ranchero Burger, but only from the 2 original locations on Central or Isleta. To die for!

[tjd1454]

Culver’s has terrific burgers and an excellent menu and delicious custard ice cream. We go there often whenever we go back to Milwaukee where I was born & raised.

But I like ‘em all. I enjoy a Big Mac, Whopper, Wendy’s Junior Bacon and Cheese, 5 Guys, In & Out, it’s all the same. And, if I must say so myself, I grill a pretty decent burger (like tonight).

I also have to agree with the comment about Dominoes improving their fare. I found the last pies we had there to be very good. Of course I also like Pizza Hut, Papa John’s, Uno’s....

The key is to be hungry. As my mother always told me - everything tastes better on an empty stomach! Visit some of the impoverished places around the world and you will appreciate all the menu choices we are privileged to have enjoy.

[Guenevere]

I agree!

[TeachableMoment]

You will also want to be careful during transport, ie, so it doesn’t spoil. It only takes a bit of heat to dramatically change the flavor, so be aware. Early morning or night, in winter if possible.

[Joya]

I got a salad with grilled chicken at McDonald’s a week ago and the chicken breast had some kind of brown chicken by-product sticking to one side of it, I kid you not. Not a little bit, but pretty thick completely covering the entire side of it, appearing not as if it were there accidentally but as tho’ it’s now part of the serving. That’s the last grilled chicken I will be ordering at McDonald’s.

At Wendy’s the new Baja Salad is very good, it comes with guacamole and a fresh lime salsa, as long as you like Wendy’s chili which is also on it. Their new chicken Go Wrap is delicious. Wendy’s now serves half-size salads and has a pick two for $4.99 menu.

* * * * * * * * * * *
My Wendy’s is a test market for their new “fresh-cut” fries which are so good you’ll think you’re at a steak house.
* * * * * * * * * * *

Can you tell I eat often at Wendy’s? I eat there so often I get tired of it and have to stop.

I also like Subway and am never disappointed with their food; the Subways here have started serving breakfast, but I have not tried it yet.

[LegendHasIt]

Yeah, Lottaburger is pretty decent.

They have had a sign up for about three years now in a vacant lot here in High South Podunk saying “opening soon: Blakes Lottaburger” I got excited when I saw it, and excited when I saw a pile of cement blocks there a few months ago.... But the blocks soon disappeared, and my hopes once again were dashed.

The ‘junk food’ place I really miss though, is “Top Dog” that was on Menaul somewhere around San Mateo in Albq. Their cheese fries made my mouth and tummy very very happy.

[Joya]

Thanks for the ping, I meant to include you in my comment, see 175.

Blake’s Lotaburger has good fries. I got a hamburger at one once, though, and the meat was not fresh, it was really bad. I cringe to think of it.

[Joya]

On to the topic of pizza.

I too have been extremely disappointed lately with all pizza, plastic cheese, skimpy bland sauce, baking soda crust, BLEH.

There’s a new Little Caesar’s in town, ‘ve not tried it yet, but my coworkers have and say it’s good and inexpensive, so there’s hope for that one.

One odd thing to me about the mom and pop pizza shops is that they do not put salt in their pizza dough, not my favorite that way.

Glad to hear Domino’s has raised the bar, will check it out.

ANY pizza place that uses fake cheese, I will NEVER get pizza there again. Ever.

- - -
HG: foodie ping.

[Netizen]

Back in the early ‘90s, when I was just a kid, my family used to order Little Caesar for our “pizza night”. However, my parents stopped ordering from them when they changed their pizza formula around that time.

Thanks, I have wondered for a long time. They used to be the best. Now they are last imo. Talk about eating styrofoam.

[Irish Eyes]

.............Texas doesn’t seem to have the same assortment of hamburger places as the west coast. ............

In- N- Out will be in Texas next year.