Hamburger America
bold and brash? more like the saltless and the smashed
Hamburger America opened in 2023, launched by George Motz, burger historian who produced a 2004 documentary by the same name. A luncheonette-style spot, you can cozy up to the counter or stake out a larger table to grab burgers, of course, as well as tuna salad, egg salad, a slice of pie or an egg cream.
When I popped in on an unseasonably (but also…is it?) warm October night, my friend Stefani and I ordered at the counter, collected our numbers and opted to sit outside. I was truly torn between going with a classic smash burger or Oklahoma style aka "George Motz's fried onion burger.” From everything I’ve seen, the fried onion burger is really incomplete without the cheese - a cooking choice I don’t necessarily respect but ultimately understand.
We waited just over five minutes for our numbers to get called and our deep metal trays to get plopped onto the long counter. I grabbed my tray and headed back to my table and noticed something…interesting.
For context, when you order your classic smash, it comes with pickles, diced raw onion, mustard and cheese by default - “all-in” toppings. I ordered mine with just pickles and onions because I’m ultimately a mustard hater, but I’m willing to have it atop a Chicago dog if push comes to shove.
I received my burger wrapped in paper, with two plastic cups on the side: my pickles and onions packaged away like I’m in a TikTok mom fridge restocking video. Stefani, who ordered her burger “all-in” received a fully assembled burger. Feeling targeted for my lactose intolerance but I will traverse on.
First impression was a mixed bag. Great crust, excellent toasted little bun and the perfect amount of raw onion (a pile). But I noticed that the patties themselves were lacking in…salt? Could it be? I asked Stefani her thoughts and she said the cheese itself was super salty, so she couldn’t tell if her patty was or was not lacking in salt. Another strike against the cheeseless!
By the time I got about halfway through, the pickles and onions married with the patties a bit more to add some brine and acid and make sure I finished on a high note. Ultimately, it was a decent little bite, but certainly not the best.
A confession I expressed to a few people that was met with affirmations and adamant nods: I like Shake Shack more! However I’m not ranking large chains here, so for the sake of Burger Diva standings, Hamburger America doesn’t need to worry about that.
As of now, Hamburger America comes in at number twelve in my ranking, below Little Grenjai and above Smacking Burger. But I’ll leave you with a question: should I return for the fried onion burger, no cheese? Will that impact my decision?
The arm cuff sitting in your ketchup is giving me stress 😂
As a condiment that can sometimes be found on a burger they are excited to see your journey!