A hamburger by definition is a patty of meat sandwiched between two halves of a bun usually with some toppings. But as every burger gourmand knows, this ever popular American classic (that came to us from German immigrants and their love of Hamburg Steak) is really much more complex than it sounds. The quality of the meat, how it’s seasoned and cooked, along with the types of bread and toppings used makes all the difference (and it never hurts to serve it up with a side of good of fries). Here’s a look at the burger hot spots of Flagstaff…
Tinderbox
34 S San Francisco
Talk about your gourmet burger, this is the place on Fridays when Tinderbox serves up their burger blueplate lunch special. The Big Time Cheeseburger is made from ground sirloin and striploin steak dressed with their house "secret sauce," TBox Signature Steak Sauce, cheese and chopped greens. If you ever see the “Rancher’s Burger”
(photo above) come back to the specials of the day menu – get it! That one has lamb, venison and Kobe beef ground up together in an extra juicy melt in your mouth special. When part of the blue plate lunch special, the burgers come with a drink, a side salad and potato salad plus awesome fresh, hot donut holes for dessert, all for $10. Quite a deal!
Diablo Burger
120 N. Leroux St
Diablo Burger has ten different burger options on the menu plus an infinite number of combos you can make up to order. All of their burgers are medium-rare char-broiled out of open range-raised, antibiotic-free and growth- hormone free beef from the Diablo Trust ranches of Arizona. They’re served up on a unique DB branded buns (aka a toasted english muffins). Topping options all have fun names like the Wrigley Field with homemade sauerkraut, bacon, swiss cheese and a spicy honey mustard or The Cheech with their house made Holy Guacamole, pepper jack cheese, and jalapenos. Added bonus: the burgers here come served with a side of some of the best fries in town.
Beaver Street Brewery
11 S Beaver St
Beaver Street is known for their beer and burgers. Of special note – the Beaver Street Burger. This bad boy is a half pound of ground angus beef with garlic, fresh basil and sun dried tomatoes mixed in then grilled up and topped with havarti cheese and basil pesto mayo plus lettuce, tomato and red onions all served on a nice fresh bun. My husband has a hard time not ordering this baby every time we go. No kidding. I think maybe once or twice has he departed from this favorite. Worth a try even if you’re dedicated to another standard on their menu.
Josephine’s
503 N Humphreys St
Josephine’s has good food, always with a flare of some sort. Their burgers are no exception. They use freshly ground 80/20 chuck, then you can dress it a variety of ways. The one to try here that is among the best in town: The Flagstaff Burger with roasted poblano peppers, red bell peppers, caramelized onions, smoked gouda cheese, applewood smoked bacon and ancho mayo on a toasted Kaiser roll. Josephine’s owner Chef Tony says his fav is the Tillamook Cheddar with a yellow mustard mayonnaise sauce, shredded iceburg, sharp cheddar cheese and caramelized onions.
Criollo
16 N San Francisco
At lunchtime, Criollo features an Arizona-raised criollo beef burger topped with pickled red onion, watercress and their secret zinger chipotle aioli sauce that makes it mmm mmm good. It’s really the only non-Latin inspired thing on their menu but it’s worth veering out of their norm and sinking your teeth into. The Criollo Burger comes with a side of fries. It goes nicely with one of their tasty margaritas too.
Mama Burger
12 E. Route 66
Mama's burgers are simple but quite tasty. They have an old fashioned flare with downhome goodness reminiscent of what I imagine burgers from the glory days of Route 66 (on which they reside) must have been like. The toppings aren't deluxe by any means (though the house made thousand island dressing is a nice touch) but they get the job done. Mama Burger is easy on the wallet too. You can get a single (with no cheese) for just $3.
Bun Huggers
901 S. Milton Rd
A Flagstaff classic, Bun Huggers has been serving charbroiled burgers (aka “hugs”) cooked up on their big mesquite charcoal fired grill for years upon years. Order up a little (about ¼ pound), regular (1/3 pound) or big (1/2 pound) hug or seven different styles of hugs from a Hula Hug (a burger topped with ham, swiss cheese and pineapple) to a Philly Hug (a burger topped with grilled bell peppers, onions, garlic and swiss cheese). Then add what you like at their topping bar.
It’s About Coffee: The Factory Restaurant and Coffee House
2620 N Steves Blvd.
It’s not really all about the coffee at this small eastside joint. They might just surprise you with their popular burgers for lunch or dinner. They have two types: a 1/3 pound American Kobe Beef Burger or a ½ pound Balsamic Infused Angus Cheeseburger. Both have their charms. Whichever you decide, get the combo with the hand-cut red potato fries to make it a feast.
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