San Francisco Archives - BURNESSIE TRAVELS

Super Duper Burgers

As a general rule, I can’t eat when I’m hungover. I know, it’s like being robbed of the only pleasurable thing about the morning after the night before: the sheer speed at which you can get through the contents of your kitchen without even considering it, let alone without feeling remotely guilty about having eight meals in a day. So to say that I finished this burger, chips and milkshake off on a killer hangover – that, my friends, is a high accolade.

After a few too many wines in San Francisco the night before, I’d dragged myself around Alcatraz, of all places, before collapsing in my dorm bunk for a well earned nap. Waking a couple of hours later, not overly hungry but having promised myself a Super Duper Burger at some point during my time in San Fran, I dragged myself off to the nearest store of theirs just in time before they closed for the night. After all, burgers are a must eat to complete any trip Stateside.

What I instantly loved about Super Duper before I’d even tried their food, is that two burger patties is the standard order, so a bun with only one burger is called the Mini. How brilliant is that – a regular sized one patty burger is considered mini. It’s just the most American thing ever. Burgers here come with free toppings in the shape of lettuce, sliced tomato, red onion, grilled onions, jalepenos and housemade pickles – or any combination of those you fancy. It’s extra for cheese and bacon (either 50 or 75 cents for the former depending on if you’ve opted for the standard or mini, and $1 for the latter); as well as between $1 and $1.50 for the following additions: avocado, mushroom, egg or blue cheese. I went in for the Mini with cheese and bacon and could absolutely be convinced to go full American next time with two patties as standard, because man, Super Duper know how to burger.

If you’ve got room (and you should make room), their skin on fries ($2.75) can be pimped out with cheese and garlic for some serious indulgence ($3.25) and frankly you’d be a fool not to wash it all down with one of their deliciously thick milkshakes made with organic soft serve ice cream ($4.75 for a regular, $5.75 for a super shake). Super Duper are also well known for serving up excellent egg sandwiches and donuts for breakfast, but the sheer number of amazing brunch options on offer in San Francisco meant I didn’t have time to squeeze that in, but it’s worth noting.

Interestingly, whilst Super Duper are very much a fast food outlet, they reflect slow food values, and a part of their ethos is that burgers shouldn’t cost $3, so their prices are above the likes of other fast food places such as In-N-Out. The higher prices allow Super to source sustainably and locally, with high quality at the forefront of their priorites – not just when it comes to ingredients but also designers and sign painters for their store interiors. All this and their packaging is 100% eco friendly and compostable. Pretty great right? It doesn’t even add that much to the price, with the standard double patty coming in at $7.70 and a mini at $5.50. Mini, I mean really. Never change, America.

Several locations in and around San Francisco, visit website for further details.

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The Best Burgers In The World

To celebrate the holiest day of the year, National Burger Day, I’ve rounded up The Best Burgers In The World for you to feast your eyes on. Get ready to salivate… TRIED AND TESTED Bleecker St Burger Possibly the best burger in London. At least, it’s my favourite out of all I’ve tried so far. Bleecker …

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In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out is quite rightly an American institution. Forget McDonalds, forget Burger King and Wendy’s, forget Five Guys even – In-N-Out is the best burger in the US of A. And I’ve had quite a few.

Being British and never having been to the West Coast of America, I’d never heard of In-N-Out until I was a student. I used to camp out on the sofa to watch the Oscars and there were all these reports of stars apparently going to this fast food place for burgers after the ceremony. Katy Perry smuggled In-N-Out into the Golden Globes; Adele swung by post Grammy’s and Anthony Bourdain reckons it’s the best restaurant in LA. It’s rumoured to be one of Gordon Ramsay’s favourite spots and even Julia Child was a huge fan. It’s such a big deal that an In-N-Out truck has catered at the Vanity Fair after party since 2012 to save celebrities going through the nearest drive thru.

Heading off to California at long last with a huge list of food to try, In-N-Out was at the top of it. An American colleague of mine sent me away with strict instructions: get the Double-Double, Animal style. I did as I was told and oh God, did it pay off. Two patties cooked with mustard sandwiched together with bright yellow American cheese, lettuce, tomato, grilled onion and extra In-N-Out burger spread, which comes from a secret 60 year old recipe. It was as near to perfection as a burger can be, made even better by the fact we ate them in the back of our Uber in true fast food fashion.

Being an A-lister favourite, you would be forgiven for thinking it would be at the higher end of the fast food price point. You would also be wrong. This burger comes in at a whopping $3.70, with a regular cheeseburger costing you $2.55. Not only is it the best fast food I’ve ever had, but it’s the cheapest fast food I’ve ever had. It’s nigh on ridiculous.

I only have a few gripes: forget the fries; I found them disappointing. I know those who disagree with me but I wouldn’t order them again, I’d sooner go for two burgers if I was that hungry. Or maybe even if I wasn’t. Secondly, I need In-N-Out to be in London, or at the very least available on the East Coast because it’s nearer and I go to NYC more than anywhere else in the States. Alas they can mostly be found in California, but also have presence in Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Texas and Utah. And lastly, can LAX please up their game and get an In-N-Out in the departures terminal? As much as I want to see a M&S food in the arrivals of every British airport, I absolutely want to kiss California goodbye Double-Double Animal style.

Have you had an In-N-Out burger? Tell me what you thought in the comments!