All American Burger is the ultimate home-grown, fast food icon. It’s also arguably America’s most beloved sandwich. Whether you call it a burger, a beef burger, or just a plain old burger, this juicy double-handful of ground beef on a bun with toppings has been gracing the menu of fine restaurants and roadside diners for almost 200 years. The humble hamburger gets an upgrade when you visit any of America’s gourmet burger joints such as Shake Shack, Burger and Barrel, Smashburger and The bend. These innovative eateries — located in major cities across the country — serve up delicious variations on this all-American classic that are sure to tickle your taste buds.
All American Burger Hint: Always request your burgers be cooked medium or medium-well.
Most of the burgers served at American gourmet burger joints are made with 100% ground chuck. This delicious, all-American meat is sold pre-ground at the supermarket. Be sure to check the “sell by” date though. Ground chuck has a short shelf life because it contains a high percentage of fat.
Most burgers should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Medium Rare is 150°F, Medium is 160°F, and Well Done is 170°F. These temperatures are applicable for both beef and lamb burgers. Most Americans prefer their burgers cooked medium or medium-well. If you like your hamburger rare and bloody, you’ll have to travel to a country that has a lot of sheep and goat herders.
Go for handmade beef patties
At almost all American burger burger joint, you’ll find the burgers are made with freshly ground, hand-formed patties made from American-raised beef. Smashburger’s signature burgers are made with 100% all-natural, antibiotic-free, certified humane beef. All of BEND Burger’s patties are made with 100% grass-fed beef that has been certified by the American Grassfed Association.
At The Burger and Barrel, you can choose from two types of patties and types of burger – a classic 80/20 blend or a more premium 75/25 blend. If you like your burger with a spicy kick, order The Jalapeño Burger at The BEND. This smoky, spicy burger features pepper jack cheese, jalapeño jalapeno pepper slices, chipotle mayo, and fresh jalapeño relish.
Add some veggies
While most fancy burger joints offer a traditional All American burger, many of them also feature creative veggie-friendly options that are sure to please herbivores and carnivores alike. The BEND Burger offers a mix of roasted vegetables like red bell peppers, zucchini, and onions, along with goat cheese and spicy honey-roasted walnuts, sandwiched between a toasted, herb-infused bun.
At The Burger and Barrel, you can enjoy a fresh, crunchy salad made with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and a house-made dressing. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the blue cheese, candied walnut, and red wine vinaigrette.
Go for Brilliant Beehive Cheese
What all American burger would be complete without melted cheese? Of course, you can order American, Swiss, or Gruyere cheese on just about any burger. But why not go for a BRILLIANT alternative? At The BEND Burger, you can order your All-American burger with Swiss or BRILLIANT Beehive Cheese. This flavorful, creamy, cultured cheese is imported from Switzerland and is made using the full-fat milk of cows grazing on Alpine pastures. At Burger and Barrel, you can choose from several cheeses including Gruyere, BRILLIANT Beehive Cheese, pepper jack, and smoked cheddar.
Fresh, crispy Breading and a creamy sauce
If you like your burger topped with crispy Breading, you’ll find the chefs at these gourmet burger joints sure know how to please. At The BEND Burger, you can order your All American burger with crispy, seasoned Breading, BRILLIANT Beehive Cheese, and a tangy BEND sauce. The BEND sauce is a house-made blend of creamy blue cheese, chives, roasted garlic, and a splash of buttermilk.
At The Burger and Barrel, you can choose from a variety of crispy Breading options, including sea salt and black pepper potato chips, Parmesan and herb potato chips, seasoned Breading crumbs, or a blend of seasoned Breading crumbs and potato chips.
Summing up All American Burger
The American hamburger is the ultimate home-grown, fast food icon. It’s also arguably America’s most beloved sandwich. Whether you call it a burger, a beef burger, or just a plain old burger, this juicy double-handful of ground beef on a bun with toppings has been gracing the menu of fine restaurants and roadside diners for almost 200 years. If you like your burger with a side of nostalgia, you can visit an old-fashioned diner and order an All-American burger. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can travel to a gourmet burger joint and order one of their signature versions of this classic sandwich.