While it's a local chain, Ruby's diners in Southern California are worth checking out on a visit to the area. One of my favorite ones is at the end of the Huntington Beach Pier. Good burgers, great scenery.

Kinda a strange topping, but a fried egg is a popular item on burgers in Portland, Oregon.

Tom's Burgers in Lompoc, CA. Their menu is A-Z meaning burgers with Avocados, Bacon, Cabbage ... Zuccini and many intersting combos in between. Their meat is local and fresh from Santa Maria area cattle farms, plus their fries are great too.

A few burger joints serving tasty, fresh grilled burgers; Big Nick's in NYC, Izzy's in South Lake Tahoe and Kua Aina in Haleiwa. Have to agree that In-n-Out is also pretty good for a chain.

My favorite place for hamburgers in Geen Bay, WI is Krohls, similar to Kopps
in Milwaukee, cooked in butter & then add some butter to the bun. It is located right across the street from Lambeau Field. Order some cheese curds & maybe a bowl of chili with it.

In Chicago--The Weiner's Circle on Clark St. If you're not concerned about cholesterol (and I can't imagine it's too important if you frequent burger joints), then get their flame-broiled burger w/ everything, and a side of cheese fries. Yummmmm....

Have to second O'Connells in St. Louis. Legendary burgers in a great pub setting. It's actually and old tavern, not a "pseudo-old" tourist place.

Also in Seattle (actually in Snoqualmie) is the best burger place - it's the Snoqualmie Diner and Candy place. WONDERFUL! They're old-fashioned type burgers with the buns cooked exactly right. Their milkshakes are also incredible plus they have free samples of their caramel corn and fudge just sitting out for the taking! It's DEFINITELY worth the drive. The people who run the place are soooo nice as well.

Also, I agree, Red Mill Burgers are good if you're in the city (SEA).

IN N OUT no question about it!!!
Just the best!

Cheeseburgers in Paradise in Lahaina, Maui is the best. The view of the harbor, the music and the onion rings made of Maui onion. The burgers are great too. Go early because there's always a crowd.

We love "In N Out Burger" here in Southern Ca. even tho it's a chain. When we travel, 3 of our favorite burger places are in the Mpls. Area. They are "The 58 Club" near Lake Nokomis and the Airport on Cedar and Crosstown Fwy and also "Convention Grill" in Edina and "Lion's Tap" in Eden Prairie. All are yummy and we look forward to enjoying them on every trip.

Dallas Texas- Jacks Burger House on Hillcrest. It is south of Lovers Lane near Southern Methodist University. You can get a cheesburger,fries and large coke for about $5.85. What makes it special is the special seasoning they put on the fries and burgers. They now sell it and I have to say it is very tasty. Parking is awful around there so you might want to go either around 11:00am to beat the crowd. This place has been around since the mid-50's. Anyway it is not fancy, seating is very limited. You can either sit inside at the counter (i think there are about 6 stools) or on the patio which is covered. I hope this helps.

It's a tie between Winstead's and Fred P. Ott's in Kansas City, Mo.

I agree with Liz-its the "Apple Pan" in West Los Angeles-on Olympic near Westwood Blvd.
I've been eating their burgers since 1965 and they are the best I've ever had-anywhere. The sauce they put on the burgers is great-its a relish and its delicious!

The Varsity in Atlanta has the best burgers & hot dogs around. It's also kown as the world's largest drive-in. It's still an old American diner.

Dan:

Dotty's in Madison, Wisconsin was recently torn down in the name of PROGRESS! The owner fought it till the very last second (literally cooking burgers until the wrecking crew came). Someone gave the city a 100 million to build an "arts district" downtown.

Shadow, the Apple Pan is on Pico Blvd. We used to go there all the time when we lived in L.A. Now we love In N Out Burger.

MacDonalds is my kind of place.

Very consistant, a Big Mac is always a Big Mac, the French Fries always have the same amount of salt.... A number 2 is always a number 2.

The restrooms are always clean, the service impecable!!

Oh, how I love the predictability of it!!

Dallas Texas - Jack's Burger House on Hillcrest just north of Southern Methodist University.

Barney Hamburgers in Berkeley/Oakland, CA (maybe in SF too?) is amazing. Consistently rated the best fries in the Bay Area. And the burgers are great too. Interesting combinations abound. This is California, so avocado and other California-type toppings are plentiful on the menu. I've been to the one at Shattuck and Cedar in Berkeley, and I've recommend it.