If that burger looks unbelievably delicious (if a bit high in calories), then you need to take advantage of the fact that today (Sept. 18th) is National Cheeseburger Day! Indiana is well known for tenderloin sandwiches, (check out some of the best tenderloins in the state here) but Hoosiers make a mean burger as well.
Boogie Monster – Boogie Burger (Indianapolis)
You’ll find The Boogie Monster at Boogie Burger in Broad Ripple, an Indianapolis neighborhood about 6 miles north of downtown. While this gut-buster isn’t for everyone, it’ll certainly fill you up with two 1/3rd pound burger patties, a heap of grilled pastrami, cheese, bacon, a fried egg & thick-cut onion rings. It’s okay if you have take half of it home in a doggie bag. Boogie Burger also has a full menu with several other great burgers like the Maui Wowie, Disco Inferno and the Wild Wild West burger. Don’t forget to pick up a side order of Garlic Fries or Cheese and Bacon Fries.
Double Cheeseburger – Working Man’s Friend (Indianapolis)
Food writers and bloggers have enshrined the hamburger at the establishment founded by Macedonian immigrant Louie Stamatkin in 1918 as the best in the city. Is it the utterly unadulterated, quality beef? The well-seasoned grill? Knowing that you’ll fit right in whether you are wearing a suit or a uniform and work boots? Flattened on the griddle until the patties become a patchwork of crispy peaks and valleys, this burger melds with layers of creamy American cheese into a soft, homey bun—a combination as comforting as it gets.
Lugar Burger – FARMbloomington Restaurant (Bloomington)
Rated “Best Burger in Indiana” in 2009 by Food Network Magazine, it is almost entirely sourced from Indiana ingredients from the Buffalo Nickel Ranch espresso-chili-rubbed ground bison to the Scholars Inn fresh-baked bun to the Capriole Farms chef-recommended goat cheese. Add locally sourced bacon to put it over the top. Fans of the restaurant include Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, Indiana University basketball coach Tom Crean and “Small Town” musician John Mellencamp. Other specialties: FARMfamous Garlic Fries (with Parmesan, chili flakes and tumeric aioli)
The Duane Purvis All-American Burger – Triple XXX Family Restaurant (West Lafayette)
Some regulars order this burger with an egg on top—but we think that’s going too far. After all, this 1/4-pound ground sirloin cheeseburger on toasted sesame seed bun and named for a Boilermaker football player from the 1930s already features a thick smear of creamy peanut butter. Perched on a hill leading up to the Purdue campus, this diner, named after the Indiana-made root beer, has been drawing in customers since 1929.
Tom Crean & Crimson Burger – Opie Taylor’s (Bloomington)
Known for its burgers and 34 oz. Big Lebrewskis, this favorite has been serving IU students and alums since 1984. The burger named for IU’s head basketball coach is served with buffalo sauce and mozzarella on a toasted bun and includes a side of buffalo fries. The burger is big, messy and perfectly spicy. Make sure to have some napkins nearby to clean up the inevitable sauce drippings.
The ‘Settle For Less Ugly Elk’ Quarter Pound – Bub’s Burgers and Ice Cream (Carmel)
While this Carmel landmark is known for the Big Ugly Burger as featured on Man vs. Food, you can watch your waist when you order a burger made with lean elk. Bub’s doesn’t add extra fats or oils to this full-flavored, never gamey burger, though they suggest you order it medium rare.
Of course there are many more great burgers in Indiana that can be mentioned here, but these are some of the best of the best. If burgers aren’t your thing, be sure to check out Super46.com to see the full list of the 46 best burgers, tenderloins, pulled pork and other sandwiches in Indiana.
What is your favorite food to eat in the Hoosier state?
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