Here’s California's Best Burger

Whoever coined the phrase “as American as apple pie,” should probably revise that to reflect that burgers are actually our passion.

Admittedly, “as American as two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame-seed bun,” may not have the same ring to it, but at least it would be factually correct — particularly on Independence Day, where Americans will spend $388 million on patties alone, according to CNBC.

But if you don't feel like grilling your own on the Fourth of July holiday — or your boss’s barbecue invite somehow got lost in the mail — a recent MSN report says there’s a great spot to try in California. If you can't stop by to try one during the holiday, add this burger joint to your list of places to eat the next time you take a road trip.

The site recently published its “Best Burger in Every State” article and found that Father's Office in Los Angeles was the best in the Golden State.

“The Office Burger has brought much-deserved acclaim to this busy gastropub. Their freshly made patty is topped with pungent blue cheese and sweet caramelized onions, and it's the rule of the house that no adjustments be made (not that any are needed).”

There are roughly 50,000 burger joints in America though — 1.6 burger restaurants for every 10,000 Americans — so if that one doesn’t fit your taste, you might try heading across the border to Nevada, where Fukuburger in Las Vegas has an "all-beef patty is topped with standard fare and given an Asian twist with the seasoning in the patty, as well as wasabi mayo and Fuku sauce." Or perhaps visit the Little Bird Bistro in Portland, Oregon.

"The Double Brie Burger is everything you would expect from a James Beard award-winning chef putting out inventive and eclectic fare. It consists of two patties each topped with brie, and it comes served on a brioche bun with spiced ketchup, onion and house-made pickles."

Americans’ love for burgers can be traced to 19th century German immigrants, whose restaurants served ground beef patties that were eaten with utensils. Shortly thereafter, someone discovered you could put bread around the slab of meat. Voila! A sandwich was born. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)

If you’re planning to fire up the grill Wednesday — the No. 1 most popular grilling holiday, according to CNN — don’t skimp on the ingredients. Chefs say a variety of factors go into a great burger, including the meat-to-fat ratio, the type of meat and bun, and even the crisp of the bun.

Consumers mostly agree. A 2009 report found that three out of every four burger-enthusiasts ranked meat quality as either the first or second most important attribute, followed by toppings.

See Also:

• National Hamburger Day: Here's California's Favorite Burger
  

What do you think? Tell us in the comments what makes a perfect burger and where you go to get them.

Photo credit: Shutterstock