Neal Ungerleider
Traveling the U.S. in search of burger perfection
On May 26, millions of Americans will celebrate Memorial Day with backyard barbecues. While most of our grills will be filled with the usual Grade-A meat from local butchers and supermarkets, dozens of restaurants across the country will serve Kobe-beef burgers topped not with ketchup and mustard, but truffles and foie gras. The price tags on these wallet-busting burgers can reach $175...
Traveling the U.S. in search of burger perfection
On May 26, millions of Americans will celebrate Memorial Day with backyard barbecues. While most of our grills will be filled with the usual Grade-A meat from local butchers and supermarkets, dozens of restaurants across the country will serve Kobe-beef burgers topped not with ketchup and mustard, but truffles and foie gras. The price tags on these wallet-busting burgers can reach $175...
Neal Ungerleider Traveling the U.S. in search of burger perfection On May 26, millions of Americans will celebrate Memorial Day with backyard barbecues... more
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1
Wall Street Burger Shoppe
New York, N.Y.
Richard Nouveau Burger: $175
McDonald's may have the golden arches, but New York's Wall Street Burger Shoppe has a hamburger that's literally covered in gold. The $175 Richard Nouveau burger is 10 ounces of Prime Kobe beef topped with 25 grams of black truffles, seared foie gras, aged Gruyere and a double whammy of edible gold flakes; it's topped with a homemade "golden truffle" mayonnaise that includes both gold flakes and black truffles. According to co-owner Heather Tierney, "it's kind of a work of art." An extra bonus: The burger shoppe's hash browns are fried in luxurious goose fat.
2
DB Bistro Moderne
New York, N.Y.
Burger Double Truffle: $150
In 2001, celebrity chef Daniel Boulud arguably kickstarted the luxury hamburger trend with a $27 burger stuffed with short ribs, foie gras and truffles at his DB Bistro Moderne in New York. These days, the same sandwich goes for $32, and comes with black truffle and vegetable mirepoix on a parmesan roll topped with lettuce, tomato, horseradish mayonnaise and tomato confit. But that's not even the most expensive burger on the menu. For $150, guests can experience the DB Burger Double Truffle, layered with a staggering 20 grams of shaved black truffles.
3
McGuire's Irish Pub
Pensacola, Fla.
Grand Burger: $100
Every day is St. Patrick's Day at McGuire's Irish Pub, where the entire Panhandle comes to chow down on burgers and read through the pun-spun menu. The centerpiece of that menu is a $100 burger made from fresh-ground filet mignon and served with caviar, onions, beefsteak tomatoes and a grand magnum of Moet & Chandon White Star Champagne. Guests are also allowed to construct their own hamburgers—the menu offers up such unique inspirations as a hot fudge sundae burger, a peanut burger and a "terrible garbage burger."
4
Olde Homestead Steakhouse
New York, N.Y.
Japanese Kobe Wagyu Burger: $81
Sometimes, ground beef is not enough. For $81, the Olde Homestead Steakhouse will stuff a 14-ounce Japanese Kobe Wagyu burger stuffed with four ounces of "barely seared sirloin medallion." The side of tater tots is accompanied by executive chef Oscar Martinez's sake-onion ketchup and miso and ginger aioli. According to co-owner Greg Sherry, they wanted to create "the most decadent food item of 2008."
5
Burger Bar
Las Vegas, Nev.
Rossini Burger: $60
Hubert Keller's second Las Vegas operation is a casual hamburger restaurant that offers a luxury burger that could give his nearby Fleur de Lys a run for the money. The Rossini burger is a $60 Kobe beef patty topped with sautéed foie gras, shaved truffles and Madeira sauce on an onion bun. The Rossini is almost the equal in decadence of Keller's Fleurburger 5000. Other luxury burgers include the $24 Surf & Turf burger topped with a grilled half lobster, there's even a turkey burger topped with foie gras and truffles.
6
Megu
New York, N.Y.
Burger Bento Box: $30
Megu is one of New York's priciest Japanese restaurants—and that's saying something. Owner Hiro Nishida has created a remarkable hamburger-based lunch box for patrons at the Tribeca restaurant. For $30, one can sample a Kobe beef hamburger accompanied by a yuzu ceviche salad, soup and dessert. For $15 more, you can swap the burger for a Tajima beef ribeye steak, but where's the fun in that?
7
21
New York, N.Y.
'21' burger: $30
New York's old-school luxury lunch treat, the 21 burger is a tribute to the city's tradition of decadence. Served in a historic speakeasy, the legendary 21 burger is a massive slab of meat served with green beans, roasted tomatoes, onions and a choice of potato. Although it no longer costs $21, the '21' is still a strong seller. The flavorful burger includes, among other things, duck fat, fresh thyme and marjoram. As for the club, it's still a bastion of New York's powerful. Lucky private parties can dine in 21's famous Wine Cellar dining room.
8
The Continental
Atlantic City, N.J.
Kobe sliders: $28
Located in a shopping mall overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Continental is home to America's priciest sliders, or mini-burgers. For $28, guests can purchase a six-pack of Kobe beef sliders topped with Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and caramelized onions. The Kobe beef sliders aren't the only high-end take on comfort food on the menu either; guests can also sample tuna tartare potato skins for $13, French onion soup dumplings for $8 and a heart-stopping "cheesesteak eggroll" for about $13.
9
Circa 55
Beverly Hills, Calif.
U.S. Kobe burger: $22
Los Angeles has yet to embrace the triple-digit hamburger. However, Beverly Hills' Circa 55 understands how to make a fine luxury hamburger: Their $22 Kobe burger is one of the most expensive in SoCal and is topped with a slab of Humboldt Fog goat cheese and grilled Bermuda onions. Accompanied by Portobello mushrooms and fine French fries, it's available for lunch and dinner and is one of America's finest burgers, if not our most expensive.
10
Spago
Beverly Hills, Calif.
Hamburger: $22
The lunch-only $22 hamburger at Wolfgang Puck's legendary restaurant is one of America's most expensive lunchtime hamburgers—and a prime example of less being more. Topped with grilled onions, garlic aioli and Vermont farmhouse cheddar, it's a luxe take on the homestyle L.A. burger ethos pioneered by legendary restaurants like the Apple Pan and Tommy's Original. Chef Puck is himself a hamburger fan—in 2002, the New York Times recruited him to analyze the menu at, yes, McDonald's.
[source: https://www.forbestraveler.com/food-drink/most-expensive-burgers-story.html ]
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