[harry chickpea]

it's kinda like Krystal....sometimes you've just GOT to have one.

Amazingly so, Southlander. When we lived in south Florida, there was one Krystal on Sunrise in Ft. Lauderdale. Every month or so I had to make a special trip to get my minimum quota of five Krystals.

Any opinions on Hardee's big burgers?

I like the mushroom swiss burger. It has one of those "gotta have more" tastes that just about stops on the last bite.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by 3am green coffee

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Five Guys. The Birmingham location is at the Brookwood Mall, in the outparcel across from Jason's Deli. You can see it from the road. It's a chain that started in the DC area and has only recently begun expanding.

Here's are a couple of pictures.


Well, now I know what I'm doing for lunch today.

You know, I'm just not enthralled with Five Guys. Tried it once and wondered what all the fuss was about.

[southernnaturelover]

They're actually building a brand new Hardee's next to our new casino. I thought that company was about to bite the dust, but I guess not. I still prefer the old Hardee's back in the 80's when they had the big roast beef and the fish sandwich on the long buns. I haven't liked them since Carl's Jr took over.

[AllenKarber]

I remember Hamburger Heaven down there,and Five Guys sure does look good!

[3am green coffee]

Jack's and Hamburger Heaven have both been mentioned on here. Some of you might not be aware of the connection.

Jack's is a local chain, started here in Alabama by Jack Caddell. It was originally very good. As they expanded and Jack got out of the regular running of the business, the quality started to wane. The chain was passed to his kids, then sold to somebody else. At one point Jack's food was actually pretty nasty, the service turned to crap and the stores were all dirty. I figured they were on the road to bankruptcy.

Once out of Jack's, Jack opened Hamburger Heaven as just a little homestyle hamburger joint over in Irondale. It was at that time the best hamburger in town. The building was a dump, but they sure made a good burger, awesome onion rings and amazing milkshakes. People would come from miles around to eat there. If you tried to go at lunchtime, you'd sometimes end up standing in line for 20 to 30 minutes.

Then Jack sold Hamburger Heaven to the guy who owns Lloyd's out on 280 and went back to Jack's to try to bring it back from near death. His efforts paid off, and Jack's became really good again, at least for a chain. They introduced some new burgers, put a new emphasis on customer service and actually started cleaning their dining areas for a change. (I don't know if I can recommend it now, because it's been years since I've eaten at a Jack's.)

After Jack sold Hamburger Heaven, however, the new owners decided to expand into a chain themselves. The problem now is that Hamburger Heaven's quality isn't consistent. Usually the food is really good, but occasionally it isn't. Once not too long ago the bottom half of the bun on my burger was a soggy mush in the bottom of the container, like it had been soaked in water. I had to eat what was left with a fork. I've gotten soggy fries, too. Then other times it's amazing. It boggles the mind. They also don't have consistent hours. A while back I showed up at the Homewood store at 7pm to find them already closing up, when the sign on their door says they're open until 8:30. That was the third time that happened.

So, if you go on one of their good days, you'll get a really, really good burger. But if you go on a bad day, you might be left wondering what the hell everyone who recommended it has been smoking.

That's something I'll say about Five Guys. Their burgers are messy and frustrating to eat, but they consistently taste good. Usually the people who don't like Five Guys are put off by the mess they make.

[3am green coffee]

Oh, one other suggestion:

One of the best hamburgers in town is at John's City Diner. John's is an upscale diner-type restaurant (with waiters and cloth napkins), and it's a little more expensive than most of these other places that have been mentioned. Even so, their hamburgers are thick and juicy and have been marinated in something to give them just a bit of a barbecue flavored kick. It's on a toasted kaiser roll with the regular trimmings, and they serve it with thick cut fries and a pickle spear.

John's still serves the cole slaw where you pour the red dressing on it yourself from a bottle, inherited from its previous incarnation as John's seafood restaurant. John's was a Birmingham institution for decades, until the original owner retired and sold it to the current owners. The current owners restyled it as John's City Diner and completely changed the menu, but they kept the slaw to at least keep a hint of continuity. One of my favorite meals there is a bacon cheeseburger with fries and a side of John's slaw.

But then, everything else on the menu is good, too.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by 3am green coffee

Oh, one other suggestion:

One of the best hamburgers in town is at John's City Diner. John's is an upscale diner-type restaurant (with waiters and cloth napkins), and it's a little more expensive than most of these other places that have been mentioned. Even so, their hamburgers are thick and juicy and have been marinated in something to give them just a bit of a barbecue flavored kick. It's on a toasted kaiser roll with the regular trimmings, and they serve it with thick cut fries and a pickle spear.

John's still serves the cole slaw where you pour the red dressing on it yourself from a bottle, inherited from its previous incarnation as John's seafood restaurant. John's was a Birmingham institution for decades, until the original owner retired and sold it to the current owners. The current owners restyled it as John's City Diner and completely changed the menu, but they kept the slaw to at least keep a hint of continuity. One of my favorite meals there is a bacon cheeseburger with fries and a side of John's slaw.

But then, everything else on the menu is good, too.

Damn, you're right about John's. When my office was across the street, I would order a cheeseburger from them every couple of weeks. Their fries were great, too.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by 3am green coffee

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Five Guys. The Birmingham location is at the Brookwood Mall, in the outparcel across from Jason's Deli. You can see it from the road. It's a chain that started in the DC area and has only recently begun expanding.

Here's are a couple of pictures.





Well, now I know what I'm doing for lunch today.

I am in Kansas but I am craving one of those burgers now. Gee thanks!

EDIT - YAHOO!!! I searched for locations and there is a Five Guys in Olathe, Kansas, which is not too terribly far from me. That burger looks SO good I may just make the trip over there in rush hour traffic for dinner. I'd go now, since I haven't had lunch yet, but my daughter is using my car today and I'm stranded. And I'm hungry. I had some Fiber One and an apple but that's not cutting it.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by Bette

Houston's (restaurants) - it's a chain

Mmmmmm - Houston's. I have never had their hamburgers. I usually get soup and salad (BIG salad with hot bacon and honey mustard dressing with cheese bread on the side and yummy soup - I like the baked potato and tortilla soup). DH always gets the prime rib. Maybe I'll try a hamburger next time.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by Dean Trails

MMMMmmmmm......................hamburgers!!
Too bad you can't have an "In and Out Burger"!!!
But, I think they are only in California????????
Yummy.............

I think there is an "in and Out Burger" about a quarter of a mile North of me in the DFW metroplex so I'll have to try that sometime. I really don't need it but it's worth at least "one" try, or maybe more...