Burger porn
The wackiest, tastiest, messiest burgers in the West.
Smell that? That hint of smoke and char in the air – the siren call of the burger, as I like to think of it – as people start firing up the coals for the three-day weekend. Here, a few Western wonders to inspire your grilling.
Sushi burger At Seattle’s Katsu Burger, a sushi chef-turned-grillmeister spins beef into a whole new kind of burger (pictured above). Meat is panko-breaded and deep fried, then slathered with fiery mayo, sweet-and-spicy sauce and traditional toppings like pickles and bacon. Even sides get the East-meets-West stamp: nori shoestring fries, green tea milkshakes, wasabi coleslaw.
Gross or great? To make its Yo-mama burger, 15 Romolo tops grass-fed beef with peanut butter and crispy bacon – and San Francisco eaters swear by it. For veggie lovers, I’d put my money on the “bunny” burger: chickpea and mushroom pate with pecan salsa verde.
Cheesburgerlandia The usual beef-lettuce-tomato combo wedged between two Texas-toast grilled cheese sandwiches. Dubbed the YouCanHasCheesburger, it even has Stumptown street cred – served straight from the tiny Brunch Box food cart in SW Portland.
Wild bites For those craving more meaty adventures, go for the kangaroo burger with horseradish sauce or ‘gator burger with curry fruit tapenade at San Diego’s Crazee Burger. Ostrich, wild boar, buffalo, antelope…you name it, they grill it.
