The Three Best Burgers in the U.S.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the three best burgers in the U.S. are right here in Atlanta.
After a rundown of great burgers across our nation, and acknowledging readers’ likely anticipation of the Los Angeles picks, columnist Raymond Sokolov writes, “Nevertheless I think the best burgers in America are three time zones away…in Atlanta.”
He then proceeds to list the three best burgers in the U.S. as those found at the Vortex, the EARL, and—in the number one spot—at Ann’s Snack Bar. “This,” he writes of Miss Ann’s “Ghettoburger,” “is the next level in burgerhood.”
This is making me hungry. And I’ve kind of been craving a good burger lately. I have to admit I had not heard of Ann’s Snack Bar until reading this.
What do y’all think of his picks?
You can read the article here without logging into WSJ for the next seven days.
I saw that article the other day and it made me sad that I’ve never been to any of those places for a burger! I’m going to the EARL tonight to see a show…I think I may have to eat there beforehand.
i have never been to ann’s either, or for that matter heard of it. do i hear a field trip in the making here, miss sabrina?
and ryan, you absolutely must try a burger at the earl. i would concur with the wsj that the burgers at the earl and the vortex are the best i have ever had.
my housemate and i have debated endlessly about which has the better burger and they are both so good, we are never able to really reach a conclusion.
Kudos to Ms. Ann for the recognition. I finally made it there a few weekends ago after hearing about it for years. It’s all that and more. Be prepared to wait for your best burger in America, but do go before she retires (she says it’s going to be within the next year).
Ann’s ghettoburger is truly a mind-blowing experience, that’s true.
But my money’s on the EARL.
As someone who doesn’t eat red meat, the culinary delight of a burger is lost on me. However, as an Atlanta, I’m glad to say suck it LA…suck it hard.
After reading the article I’m actually salivating. “Even better is the well-charred number with beautifully crisped thick-cut bacon at the Earl, in East Atlanta.”
I couldn’t agree more. Haven’t made it to Miss Ann’s — thanks for the heads up on her impending retirement, John.
I love that we have such diverse offerings (Vortex as “pseudo biker bar,” the Earl is one of the better music venues in the city and Ann’s shack that seats all of 8) — and that they totally dominate the rest of the country’s burgers.
I live a couple blocks from Ann’s Snack Shop. It’s a little scary–they’re not kidding about the ghetto burger thing. The burgers are ridiculously huge and messy, but they aren’t really my style. I definitely wouldn’t call it the best I’ve ever had. I prefer the burgers at almost any of the taverns in the area (Aces, Vortex, Earl, Thinking Man’s Tavern). Then again, I’m a native Californian, so when I think ideal burger, I’m thinking In ‘n Out, not Big ‘n Greasy.
When I moved into a fixer-upper house in East Atlanta, I could get my family to help me on almost any construction project as long as I promised them magical EARL burgers when we were done. Long live the blue bacon burger! (Even though now I eat the delicious tofu pita instead)
Like Bonnie, I also have kept the EARL in business with my Blue Bacon Burger problem. And like her, when my parents come to town, they want an Earl burger. Never fails. Vortex burgers are good, but Earl’s are better, IMO, and Vortex doesn’t have sides nearly as good. Also, I think the EARL’s service is better.
Can’t believe I hadn’t even heard of Ann’s – will be trying one promptly.
Go Atlanta! Maybe we need a new burger-related motto for the city. Burger tourism dollars and that kind of thing.
Miss Ann’s isn’t that scary, every time I’ve gone there has always a table of cops on their lunch break. And it will seat more than 8 if you count the patio, but she won’t serve more than 8 at a time I guess. I actually enjoy the splits more than the burgers because the burgers are just sooooo huge. I wish I new more places that served splits, the only other one I’ve found is Red’s Tasty Express at the Curb Market.
No one mentioned 5 Guys? It’s got to be up there with the Earl and Vortex. Sure it doesn’t have much in the way of ambiance, but you go in and order you burger, and fries and that’s it. That’s what you want, that’s what you get.
i love five guys kortez, but not an atlanta native. it was born and raised in alexandria, va. that being said, they deserve to be on any list of best burgers.
I really have had a hankering for a good burger, so yes, a field trip may be in order. However, I have to admit that I may be more inclined to try the EARL burger before Ann’s…I think I’d have to psych myself (and my stomach) up for that experience.
you have never had an earl burger? oh dear, sabrina, that must be rectified.
I’ve heard lots about the EARL and The Vortex, but I am so hooked on the Bison Burgers at Ted’s Montana Grill that I’ve never even bothered to try anything else.
Isn’t it cool that all three of these spots are within like 5 miles of one another? We could have a Burger Binge Day and just hit them all up for Lunch, Dinner, and the highly important alcohol diffusement.
I can’t imagine a wall street journal reporter going into the Ghettoburger place. I’ve never actually went in there but i’ve driven past it many many times. It’s on memorial. go east from moreland about a half mile and it’s a small buidling on your right with a screened in porch. I never even noticed that it was called Ann’s but there are big banners that say “home of the Ghettoburger” (up until a fw months ago there was 1 ripped up banner but they are legile now.) I guess I’ll have to try the ghettoburger if it’s the best in America.
Here is another link to the WSJ article that is still working:
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117348069193432668-vp14m65e_UDoMdN1U2BeaMYFkoo_20070408.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top