The minute I take a look at the SteakBurger from the Apple Pan my mouth starts watering.

The Apple Pan has been on my bucket list for years but in my defense, I haven’t been to the west coast of the U.S. since 2007.

I’m not sure how much longer I can put off a rendezvous with Apple Pan.

The Apple Pan
10801 W Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, California

*picture courtesy of Cesar Hernandez

As an avid student of the ever-evolving history of the hamburger, Beef Burger interests me immensely.

Beef Burger was part of a larger Florida based chain named Biff Burger.

When the original Biff Burger company went out of business, the franchisee Ralph Havis renamed his location Beef Burger.

Beef Burger
1040 W Gate City Blvd
Greensboro, North Carolina

*picture courtesy of Fleur de Lolly

Everything about the WORLD FAMOUS Big Bronco Burger calls out my name in the middle of the night.

I mean, what exactly is there not to like?

At over 60 years old, Bronco’s Hamburgers still understands the importance of fresh beef & quality ingredients.

There are a handful of restaurants who I can think of who should take a page out of their book.

Bronco’s Hamburgers
4540 Leavenworth Street
Omaha, Nebraska

*picture courtesy of Bronco’s Hamburgers

In Utah, the two things I’m looking to eat are burgers topped with pastrami & fry sauce.

 It is a quarter-pound hamburger patty on a sesame seed bun with fry sauce, Lettuce, Tomato, and Onions, Cheese, with lots of Hot Juicy Pastrami

Fry Sauce was popularized by another local Utah burger chain, Arctic Circle.

Crown Burgers
377 E 200 S
Salt Lake City, Utah

*picture courtesy of Jeff Terry

Since 1935, K’s Hamburger Shop has been serving burgers from meat ground on site.

Breakfast is served all day which is very attractive to me since that’s my wife’s favorite meal, the whole happy wife thing you know.

But let’s get back to that burger, it looks great doesn’t it?

K’s Hamburger Shop
117 E Main St
Troy, Ohio

*picture courtesy of First We Feast

I need to come clean here, I’ve eaten NFA Burger a couple of times.

The first time was when they participated in my Hamburger House Party.

A month after that we partnered at one of his pop-ups and I signed a few of my books. I ate two NFA Burgers on that celebratory occasion.

Can you blame me if I’d like to eat one in its natural habitat?

NFA Burger
5465 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Dunwoody, Georgia

*picture courtesy of myself

The Green Chile Cheese Burger was birthed at the Owl Bar & Cafe.

The Green Chile Cheeseburger is just that, a cheeseburger topped with chopped green chiles or a green chile sauce.

In 1948 at the Owl Bar & Cafe, the scientists from the Manhattan Project were rumored to be enjoying Green Chile Burgers nightly after long days working on the atomic bomb.

Burger List Add-on: Visit the Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail

Owl Bar & Cafe
77 Us Highway 380
Socorro, New Mexico

*picture courtesy of NewMexico.org

I’ve eaten a few Butter Burgers in my life but I’ve never eaten THE Butter Burger from Solly’s Grille.

Solly’s are the originators of the Burger Butter in 1936.

It’s simple, knife a giant smear of real-deal burger on the top bun, and cover your burger.

Then watch as the magic happens.

Solly’s Grille
4629 N. Port Washington Road
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

*picture courtesy of Solly’s Grille

Top Notch first came to attention when it appeared in one of my favorite films, Dazed and Confused.

In my mind, I’ve visited many times but it seems the planets have never aligned themselves properly to make this happen.

One day I will one pull right into the drive-in, put my window down, order and enjoy a burger, fries and chocolate shake.

Top Notch Hamburgers
7525 Burnet Road
Austin, Texas

*picture courtesy of John Sanchez

A few years back I fell in love with the Jersey Dawg food truck who brought New Jersey-style sliders to Miami.

Along with those delicacies, he also introduced me to a slider topped with Taylor Ham (a bologna-esque sliced pork product).

The White Rose Diner in Linden, New Jersey created the Jersey Burger, which adds Taylor Ham to their 3 oz slider.

White Rose Diner
1301 E Elizabeth Avenue
Linden, New Jersey

*picture courtesy of Nick Solares

I became acquainted with Chef Bobby Marcotte and his Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

Guy Fieri christened him Bobby the Butcher and I was intrigued with his Carnivore Emporium.

I’m dying to walk into the Butchery portion of the building but even more ecstatic to enjoy a burger made from their freshly ground beef.

The Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery
58 NH-27
Raymond, New Hampshire

*picture courtesy of New Hampshire Made