Top Five Cheeseburgers for Less Than $5–and Our Top Five Cheeseburgers for More Than $5


I'm just another blue red-blooded American who loves him some bloody beef and flavorful cheese on a big, toasted bun. If there's a beer and a ball game (anything but baseball, please), that makes the experience all the more merrier. 

I won't discuss consistency or any of the particulars where foodies make their critiquing claims. But I like me some cheeseburgers. I do regularly devour meals in the following three food groups: burritos, breakfast burritos and burgers (the other two may come in another post). Which is why I got the delightful task of tracking down the best of what OC had to offer on a bun–for less than $5 and more than $5.

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The only rule: Each burger I tried had to be some variation of or as close to a cheeseburger as possible, based on what said burger joint/restaurant/stand had to offer. After many miles driven to the furthest burger outposts in our county (damn, OC is much bigger than I thought!), many a burger consumed and several TUMS later, we have the breakdown for what my belly most recommends, depending on your budget.

LESS THAN $5

TK Burgers


$4.29: Long considered In-N-Out's OC burger nemesis, TK is the pride of OC's burger-eating masses. Many a man has tried to second-guess its finger-licking goodness; most have been proven wrong. TK has all the key components to present a simple yet delicious cheeseburger. No flashy claims or tough-to-say ingredients. Just meat, cheese, a bun and the veggies. And like everyone in the burger biz, there's a “secret sauce” (is any secret sauce all that secret, or anything more than a variation of Thousand Island?). Though we're just talking burgers, the “Big Bargain Combo” is absolutely the way to go. TK's fries are a big part of the sell–thick and crunchy, and you're never cheated on quantity. I recommend asking for an extra cup of sauce and adding a shot of ketchup. Extra perk: There's always a nice-looking lady working the counter–that's part of the TK Burgers business plan.
2119 W. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach,





Apollo Burgers
Bacon cheeseburger, $4.35: Apollo is one of those places that has been in the neighborhood for ages and goes about its business without much acclaim, but with enough local knowledge to keep it afloat. The charbroiled bacon cheeseburger is the pride and joy. Get some chili for tipping or topping, and you're got yourself one hell of a meal and a great way to carb-load.
12012 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove,

Cheeseburger, $2.65: Surely, the king, right? From a publicity standpoint, certainly. It's the California burger that even New Yorkers know about. Stacked against the legends of OC Burgers, it would probably fit somewhere into the top three, especially considering the price. But OC Burgerdom is about more than the white-and-red burger empire. That said, if I was told my last meal would consist of all the meat and cheese and “secret sauce” In-N-Out packs into the Double-Double, I wouldn't join the gods any less disappointed.
Various locations; visit www.in-n-out.com for a complete list.

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MORE THAN $5



The Soul Burger, $9.50 with fries or salad: I don't know how much “soul” the Soul Burger has, but the combination of pepper jack cheese and chipotle sauce makes this burger. Don't get me wrong, the meat on this hearty burger is tasty, but the bit of spice makes this a definite must-try. Memphis is a mellow OC gem that most people know for music and happy hour, but it has a solid menu, top to bottom. The burger was a recommendation from a friend–and well-worth the price.
2920 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, (714) 432-7685. 201 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, (714) 564-1064. www.memphiscafe.com.



Slater's 50/50


The 50/50, $9.95: If you like burgers, chances are you also like bacon. Bacon on burgers is most always a welcomed addition. What about bacon combined with the beef, making for a flavor-filled patty? Yeah, absolutely worth kicking that vegetarian phase you've pursued while trying to impress some man or woman. Just don't make it a regular part of the diet because cholesterol numbers aren't supposed to match the distance you drive a golf ball.
6362 E. Santa Ana Canyon Dr., Anaheim,

Number One, $10.50: A good burger starts with the slab of beef. Naturally. But the extras can make or break the success of said burger. The Number One is one of those fantastic burgers that is delicious because of all its components: caramelized onions, gorgonzola, bacon, arugula (like the Crow Burger [see next entry], the deviation from lettuce is a good one). Because the burger was as good as it was, I'll overlook the fact that the waitress seemed to have attitude over my only ordering a burger with no extras. I'm on an alt.-weekly budget, lady!
412 Walnut Ave., Huntington Beach,

The Crow Burger, $8: The first bite of the “Crow Burger” is a bit of tastebud overload. Is it the marinated meat? The mixture of tallegio and gorgonzola cheeses? The rosemary bun? Or the mixture of it all? Probably the latter. At first glance, the burger appears all meat and greens. But the first bite assures you that the dining experience is worth the extra change. No slouching on any of the ingredients, which were all gourmet. All I know is that I scarfed the thing down too quickly to take any notes. That's a good sign. If you want to feel dignified in talking about the spot, be sure to call it a gastropub. Apparently, that means something special. Whatever. Call it what you like; what's important is that the place makes a damn fine burger and has a nice array of beer to complement the meal.
2325 E. Coast Hwy., Corona Del Mar,

The Rider's Club Cafe
Make Your Own, $7.95: Arguably, the best burger in OC. Seriously. The Rider's Club is another one of those DIY burger places (well, you don't actually work the grill, just pick the toppings) located in a far-too-small space. I opted to top mine with blue cheese. Earmuffs or blinders for you young readers: The thing was orgasmic. From the first bite, I felt I had reached burger nirvana. After all the years of searching and contemplating where to travel along the burger-consumption spiritual path, I had reached the pinnacle. For OC. And the place had a bunch of locally brewed beer options. Double score.
1701 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, (949) 388-3758; www.ridersclubcafe.com.
There you have it, 10 burgers you must try in OC. We didn't miss anything. No contestation on any of these selections. You probably shouldn't even take any time to comment. Just go eat burgers and be happy. If you're a vegetarian, well . . . bad move.