Thanks Bob. I was trying to remember the name of Char-Grill when I posted above. It is my favorite in North Carolina, but I still like the one in Madison a little more; not that they compete with one another. Cook-Out is another small chain in this area that is pretty good (a drive-up place); it is expanding now it seems.

In Milwaukee, WI it is Kopps! Kopps has great burgers...I think that they fry them up in a big splat of butter. The fries and frozen custard are also delicious!!

In Seattle Red Mill burgers are the best hands down! What makes them great??? Hmmm...well for one they are HUGE! The toppings are super fresh and the burgers are always grilled perfectly!

Mr. Kay's here in Charlotte. Been around about 35 years. Best fries you've ever tasted. Owned by a very friendly Greek family. Stop by a time and two and they know your name.

In Sacramento on 16th street there used to be a place called Country Burger. YUUUUMMMMMY. It had the best sauce, pickles, tomotaoes and made to order with nice hot fries that were fat, not those skinny Mcfries. Alas a couple of drive-bys and other difficulties and it's gone. I'll take Kal's word about Tiny's, it's DH's favorite spot too. Me-well I haven't consumed a burger since early 1996.

Tomotaoes?

Dan Quayle taught me to spell.

Hey Arabella -- I know Mr. K's on South Blvd. from when I lived in Charlotte. They have the best onion rings in the world!

In the DC area, Five Guys. It's now a chain, but that's just because it's so darn good, and there are just a few locations. You can find one just off King Street in Old Town Alexandria, and there's one on Route 7 in Alexandria, near Northern Virginia Community College.

Lisa, I'm headed there for lunch tomorrow. I'll enjoy some onion rings in your honor.

O'Connells Pub in St. Louis Mo. Big juicy burgers. They have been around for decades and there still is always a line for lunch. Rumor has it they add the drippings from their top round for roast beef to the burger meat. It is a hard burger to beat.

It might be a chain, but In N Out Burgers are the best! Try a Double Double ordered "animal style".

Boston Blackie's in Chicago has a great burger.

JT Kirk: Houston's is a chain. There is one here in Chicago and they do have a good burger, too.

The Maid-Rite in Greenville, Ohio.

They boil the meat in beer

Excellent

Mickey Gilly's in Branson Missouri and bluecheese burger at Ed Debevic's in Chicago!

I have to second Louis Lunch in New Haven. Ask for ketchup and you'll get a lecture about how this isn't Burger King, you don't get it your way, you get it our way.

I forgot...Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago..."Cheezbugah Cheezbugah"

Speaking of Chicago, would the
"Cheeseburger Pizza" at Gino's East in Chicago count?
Let's seeeeeee.....243 more days until Wrigley, Gino's, The Goat....

In Salt Lake City, Crown Burger is tops. Try the Pastrami burger (meat on meat) with onion rings and a Coke. It'll clog your pipes, but what a way to go.

The Skyline Tavern and Tillamook restaurants are two good places in Portland, Oregon for burgers. Tillamook uses their famous Tillamook cheddar cheese. Order a Brown Cow shake to go along with it.

I have to agree with the suggestion for In N Out - chain or no chain, it's one of the best burgers ever!

Red Mill, Kidd Valey and Dick's in Seattle, for he-man, mocha malts and bag o' grease heaven respectively, but my surfer's knobs still ache for Hamburger Henry on 2nd Avenue in Long Beach, Calif. Huge menu, nothing bad.

The Arctic Roadrunner in Anchorage still has marvelous burgers, onion rings which are not rings, but will leave one in a bathtub (yum) and a nice outside place to sit by the creek and watch the ducks and the truckers. Plus all the free Jalapenos you can eat before wanting to jump into the creek with the ducks (even if it's frozen, like half the year.)

The Apple Pan in Los Angeles, been there since the 40's. Looks exactly the same, small counter, tiny building right next to a huge mall on a very busy street (Olympic). Only a small counter, people have to stand around waiting for seats. The servers pour ketchup for you. The pie is to die for.