While studying the oddly globular bits of jalapeño and cheddar cheese embedded in the new Burger King Stuffed Steakhouse Burger, we got to thinking about all the weird stuff Americans do to burgers. From patties topped with fried mollusks and chocolate, to creations inspired by a certain reality-TV personality, the US restaurant website Zagat has come up with 10 burgers that make us shudder…
Bam’s Roadhouse Grill: There are a lot of ways to get kids to eat spinach and artichoke, just don’t do it like they do at this Texas American, where the two veggies are stuffed along with cheese inside the Popeye’s Burger. ($8)
t: 512-267-90010
The Popeye’s Burger from Bam’s Roadhouse Grill
BGR: Last summer, this DC-area chain debuted the seasonal Snooki Burger, a patty (described as “a little spicy, a little charred”) based on the MTV Jersey Shore reality TV show cast member. Topped with grilled jalapeños, cream cheese and a fried pickle. It’s ironic as the actual character, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, used to suffer from an eating disorder. One of these bad boys would soon put that right – she’d pack on those pounds in no time. ($9.99)
t: 202-299-1071
The Snooki Burger from BGR
Kuma’s Corner: These days, you so rarely find a burger literally cooked with emotion. So thank goodness for the Slayer Burger at this heavy metal-themed restaurant in Chicago. More pile o’ spicy mess than actual sandwich, the half-pound slab of beef sits on a mound of fries and is topped with “chili, cherry pepper, andouille, onions, jack cheese and anger”. Yes, that’s right, the menu actually says “anger”, so don’t cross this burger. ($13)
t: 773-604-8769
The Slayer Burger from Kuma’s Corner
Neptune Oyster: We understand the logic – cheddar cheeseburgers are tasty, and fried oysters are also tasty. But this Boston seafooder’s Neptuneburger – a cheddar cheeseburger topped with fried oysters, garlic mayo and relish – tests the limits of surf ‘n’ turf acceptability. ($15)
t: 617-742-3474
The Neptuneburger from the Neptune Oyster
Mallie’s Sports Grill: At 185.6 pounds, the Record Breaking Burger requires four grown men to hoist it into the oven, where it cooks for 14 hours. The nearly 120 pounds of ground round beef is wedged between a custom bun — the top and bottom each weighing in at 20 pounds. When done, it’s stacked with 30 pounds of toppings: lettuce, tomato, onions, cheese, bacon, and, of course, pickles and condiments. Not surprisingly this eatery in Southgate, MI, requires 72 hours advance notice for this bad boy. ($499)
t: 734-287-0800
The Record Breaking Burger from Mallie's Sports Grill
