Ok, I've got to agree with Sokolov and our blogger on most counts - best burgers aren't chain burgers and of chain burgers, In-N-Out stands out. But a word must be said in defense of what Sokolov calls the "curse."

Just last week I found myself burning down I-10 in western Florida, which is fairly sparsely populated, when an urgent requirement for lunch came over me. Starving, I hopped off at the next exit and found myself contemplating the rather dubious dining options of a place which rejoices in the name of DeFuniak Springs (no offense intended, Floridians, it is beautiful country and I love it). At least within a reasonable distance from the interstate, the only appetizing (?) option I could come up with was a Burger King. And let me tell you, that double beef whopper with cheese, while admittedly no match for your high-falutin' "pub and restaurant" burgers, was like an oasis in the desert to me. Yes, the bun fell apart. Yes, I got a whole days worth of calories and sodium in my lunch. Yes, my arteries seized up before I could get back to the I-10 on-ramp. But that burger was ambrosia to me under the circumstances. And I don't consider myself - to quote Sokolov - an "insensitive lout" as a consequence.

It's all relative.

Tom.

Sent by Thomas | 12:03 PM ET | 03-14-2007

I lived in Orange County for 9 months...and I definitely did enjoy In N Out Burgers.

Now that I live up here in the Midwest, though, I have to say that Culvers makes a pretty tasty burger. Fuddruckers is fine, too but its not In N Out.

Sent by Paul | 12:53 PM ET | 03-14-2007

New to the DC area, i recently had my first Five Guys burger (at the airport even!) and it was hands down the best I've had in a long time. My all time favorite, though, is Winstead's steakburger in Kansas City, where I grew up. The patties are as flat as a pancake- I always order a double! With a special chocolate malt, of course.

Sent by Sara | 1:05 PM ET | 03-14-2007

I have been a burger connoisseur since the age of 5; having grown up in the Y-Generation as many others, burgers became a food-fact-of-life through fast-food conditioning. To this day, I would challenge anyone to a burger eat-off, and at the same time a best-burger critiquing. That being said, the best burger EVER made comes out of Tacoma, WA off of Center Street: Little Holland AKA "Mikey Burger". The double cheeseburger they offer is what I believe to be the best burger on the face of the planet. My runner-up would probably be the 1-pound Western Trail Boss Burger served up by Calamity Jane???s in Sandy, OR. This beauty comes to you larger than life with 4 thick slices of farm-style bacon, 1-pound of beef, with barbeque sauce and a bun the size of a couch pillow; served with steak fries. I'd recommend a Widmer Hef' to wash it down... Not for the faint of heart, literally!

Sent by Brian | 5:02 PM ET | 03-31-2007

i must agree that the mikey burger in tacoma wa is the best ever, i am driving over 4000 miles roundtrip from keller tx to have my family try mikey burger, i grew up in puyallup wa and am quite familiar with its greatness

Sent by andy | 7:29 PM ET | 04-27-2007

It wasn't exactly a burger, but a Maid-Rite sandwich in Marshalltown, Iowa, was a heaping helping of crumbled ground beef piled high on your bun, which was then folded neatly shut and wrapped tightly in paper before landing in front of you at the counter, or inside your takeaway bag. You could get any combination of mustard, pickle, and onion on it, or nothing at all, but never ketchup. They didn't serve fries and they didn't have ketchup on the counter. I don't know what Maid-Rites are like anywhere else, but this humble spot in Marshalltown was one of the busiest lunch spots in town almost any day of the year, with factory workers sitting next to attorneys while putting away those warm fragrant sandwiches. I haven't been to Marshalltown since 1984, and I wonder if that eatery is still serving those simple wonderful sandwiches.

Sent by kathryn | 10:06 PM ET | 04-28-2007

how can you give the title world's best burgers uf all you eat is in the US ?? Is the US the whole world ??

Sent by bob | 3:31 PM ET | 06-04-2007

You can never be sure you've tasted every burger so there can never really be a world's best burger. We have a world series for baseball. Many things are sold as best in the world or a like phrase. All this means in reality is damn good. It's just marketing, not American imperialism.

Sent by Wade | 11:05 PM ET | 08-30-2007

Being a strong burger lover, and raised on burgers from all sorts of restruants and prices... from 50 cents (rare now a days) to burgers costing upwards of $10, I would have to say the best I have found around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area (which has not been previously mentioned or blatently obvious) would be Val's burger stand in St. Cloud MN, order it with a small fries and you get a half-full paper bag of the most Delicious fries and a delicious burger. The stand is hard to find and never looks open, but it ususaly is. A little akward for your first time ordering, and always bring cash when possible. But never can i travel up to St. Cloud with out making one artery clogging stop at Val's.

Sent by Jim | 4:42 AM ET | 09-10-2007

My vote is for The Apple Pan's Hickory Burger, located in Los Angeles, CA on Pico Blvd. Everything is 'just right'. The crisp lettuce, the hickory/ketchup sauce, the beef patty, the tillamook cheese, the deliciously crispy fries and the 50's era cup holders for your coka-cola.

Sent by Greg | 1:37 PM ET | 09-10-2007

I have to agree that In N'Out has the best chain burgers, hands down. I've had Five Guys and they were good, just not my type. The best burger I've ever had is in New Haven CT at a shack like place called Louis Lunch. They claim to have invented the modern day hamburger back in 1894, and they still make the burgers excatly the same. I respect the fact that they make the whole burger their way, steambroiled with an option of cheese and onions. And they also don't have mainstream soda's.

Sent by Ryan Foster | 1:32 PM ET | 09-11-2007

OK, I'm from Chicago where no truly superlative burger comes to mind, except maybe the cheeseburger at Windy City Gyros off of Irving Park. That was alway a hot, gooey pleasure to eat. But I moved to California recently and came to like/sometimes love In-N-Out Burger. It feels depraved to eat one, but they are good. A stranger and I were both waiting for our orders once and she turned to me and said "I just moved back from Hawaii. I've been gone 5 years and I could not wait to get back to California and have another In-N-Out burger." We both laughed. It may have been her first meal back. But the world's best burger that I've ever had the pleasure to order, is a seven dollar cheeseburger at Beck's Prime in Houston (more than one location). It is a smoked burger, never frozen, it is dripping with juices. It is a vision of heaven on a bun. Above average burgers (depending on the care they are made with) can also be had at the 59 diner, Rudyards (both Houston) & Whataburger (Texas).
I'm telling you, go to Beck's Prime! You will never forget it.

Sent by John | 10:30 PM ET | 11-07-2007

I have to add my favorite- Pie and Burger in Pasadena Calif. It's a homemade patty with a lightly grilled bun and loads of wonderful thousand island sauce. Also, you can't beat in-n-out. When my daughter returns from college, this is her 1st stop.

Sent by linda | 7:27 PM ET | 11-08-2007

Note all your comments and visited your beautiful country on a number of occassions and had many great and (occassionally) not so great burger experiences.

However if you come down to Australia try a place in Melbourne and Brisbane called Burger Edge.They will "blow you away".They are the best tasting burgers you will ever eat.

Put them in the states and people will go crazy over them.

Sent by felicity | 4:46 AM ET | 02-13-2008

Brian I can not agree more with you Mikey Burger aka The little Holland.
The sad thing is there only open wensday-saturday. I've lived in Tacoma my whole life and travelled the world eating burgers. And I still say Mikey burger is the best. It's locally owned and there is no way a chain can beat that. So I say T-Town is home of the best hamburger

Sent by Kolin | 12:59 AM ET | 04-30-2008

In Los Angeles, the Apple Pan makes a very solid, old school burger. The best I've had in LA, however, is at Tom Bergin's. Tom Bergin's is an Irish restaurant/bar that's been there forever. They make a perfectly sized grilled burger, juicy, charred, with a bun that isn't too large and doesn't fall apart. Perfection.

Sent by Vince | 1:44 PM ET | 07-07-2008

Gotta try the Mikey burger--been here 14 years and never heard of it. The best burger I've ever had so far is Bem Ermii's in Palau. Their Swiss Mushroom/Bacon burger is the best I've ever tried!

Sent by Em | 7:01 PM ET | 08-06-2008