Great Burgers in the Sacramento Area

For something so simple in concept, the hamburger is something that can vary widely from restaurant to restaurant. The hamburger can be a tasteless chunk of overcooked meat on a stale bun, or it can be tasty, tender, and paired with interesting toppings. Here are some places in the Sacramento area to get great hamburgers.

The Squeeze Inn
http://thesqueezeinn.com/
7916 Fruitridge Ave.
Sacramento, CA.
916-386-8599
They are not kidding with the name-you either have to stand in line to try to get a seat at the 10-or-so-seat counter, sit outside, or take your order to go. However, it is worth it. The burgers are topped with so much cheese it runs over the sides, leaving a yummy ring of hardened cheese around the edges. The meat is good, the toppings are good, the fries are good...and the prices are reasonable. Parking and seating suck.

Nationwide Freezer Meats
1930 H St
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 444-3286
The name comes from their previous incarnation as a meat packing plant, but now all they do is delicious, delicious burgers. Made from French-cut sirloin, these babies are flavorful, tender and large. The French fries are made from large hunks of potato and there are entire cans of salt on the tables-a real man's man burger joint.

Hamburger Mary's
www.hamburgermarys.net
1630 J St
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 441-4340
This place is crowded, and there's a good reason for it. A wide range of hamburger choices, including different meats like Ahi tuna, ostrich, salmon and of course beef. There are also all kinds of interesting toppings like high quality cheeses, pineapple and even macaroni and cheese. Just a warning-this location is smack in the middle of "Lavender Heights", so keep your mind open.

Burger Station
10361 Rockingham Dr Ste 900
Sacramento, CA 95827
(916) 363-2535
This place scores low on the atmosphere meter, but the burgers are good and so are the toppings. They serve ostrich, a low-fat, low-cholesterol but high-flavor alternative to beef. They also have some non-burger options and great onion rings.

Famous Burgers
6500 Folsom Boulevard,
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 731-5323
A variety of interesting toppings on good-tasting, tender meat and a good bun. Again, not the best ambiance, but it seems the best burger places rarely score high in that department anyway.

Murder Burger
978 Olive Drive
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 756-2142
A Davis tradition! Very little inside seating and a few tables outside, but great burgers with great toppings. They serve ostrich or bison as an option to beef. Revel in the carnivorism! Be sure to try the cheese fries and the garlic fries with your burger.