San Francisco’s Best Burger

Here in San Francisco, we’re lucky to have a plethora of great burger joints to choose from, though everyone has a favorite. We set out to determine as objectively as possible which burger joints stood out among the rest, and along the way also tried to find the best fries, most reasonably priced meal, and the tastiest burger in the Bay.

Best Overall: Super Duper｜721 Market St

Winner of best overall burger joint in San Francisco by our aggregate rating system is Super Duper, a fast casual burger place taking over the Bay Area. The chain was quick to gain popularity after opening their first location in 2010, and Mayor Ed Lee even declared April 28th Super Duper Day on its one-year anniversary. The place serves simple burgers with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion and house-made super sauce on a sesame bun. It’s a simple combination, but the burger comes together well. The meat is juicy and the flavor is increased by the use of Super Duper’s homemade sauce, which helps bring a real cohesiveness to the ingredients.

While other burgers were better in terms of value or taste, namely at the comparably priced Roam (1923 Fillmore St), the burger at Super Duper is not the only attraction. We were surprised by the quality of the complimentary house-made pickles, which are served both sweet and spicy. Another hit was the fries, which were served perfectly golden-brown. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, the fries retained enough potato flavor to make them perfectly enjoyable without a condiment, though individual portions of delicious homemade sauces are free if requested. All of this is available relatively affordably, with a single-patty Super Duper burger and a side order of fries costing $10.50.

Best Burger: Barney’s｜4138 24th St

Amongst many great burgers, one stood out head and shoulders above the rest. Barney’s is a comfortable sit-down restaurant located in Noe Valley. Quiet and relatively uncrowded for a burger joint, the staff make sure to tailor each burger to the customer’s specifications, the juicy 6oz patty appropriately raw to one’s taste. The burger itself is presented slightly unfinished, condiments, toppings, and an open bun left to be sorted and stacked by the customer.

The burger itself has a satisfying bite, and each of its many flavors rises to the top of the palate one by one. The patty itself is tender and warm, while the large bun is fluffy and light, absorbing the natural juices of the burger without becoming oversaturated. The condiments, romaine lettuce along with freshly-sliced pickles, onions and tomatoes, had a fresh, natural taste that enhanced the quality of the burger. Barney’s was one of the few burger joints where each of the ingredients maintained a high quality.

The fries were not at the level of the comparably-priced Umami Burger (242 King St), but served their purpose in offering a great side dish to the burger itself. Though somewhat under seasoned, the rich flavors of the burger helped alleviate most of the qualms we had with the fries.

The price of this pinnacle of hamburgerdom is a hefty check, but we left Barney’s satisfied knowing that at the very least, we had found the best burger of the lot. A single-patty burger and a small order of fries at Barney’s will run you $12.75, though the burger itself is large and well-adorned.

Best Value: In-N-Out Burger｜333 Jefferson St

In-N-Out Burger is a very prominent burger chain located all around the Bay Area. This fast food restaurant is filled with long lines daily. The staff are extremely nice but they don’t approach the customer like other burger places such as Barney’s (4138 24th St). Instead the customer must go to the staff member for assistance. The burgers are made the same for each customer. It is comprised of one or two juicy patties and contains an excessive amount of spread made to increase the flavor and juiciness of the overall burger. Although the bun is lacking in crunchiness, the flavor and taste of the burger make up for it.

The value of the burger is what makes this burger chain so popular. At a generous price of $2.50, it is unmatched by any burger restaurant on the West Coast. With such a low price, it is a great place to take friends and family for a happy meal.

In-N-Out’s fries are very similar to the fries one might find at amusement parks. These mediocre fries contain high amounts of salt. The fries lack crunchiness and they don’t have the most essential trait on their fries: potato flavor. Their softness diminishes the long-lasting flavor of the fry on your palette. Yet again, one can’t expect that much from these fries. With a price of $1.60, it really lowers the expectations. At an affordable price of $4.10, In-N-Out remains the best option for a cheap quality meal.

Best Fries: Umami Burger｜2184 Union St

Umami Burger’s burger itself was somewhat of a disappointment, its many flavors somewhat over-jumbled and too complex as a whole. The fries, however, were another story entirely. While the eye-watering $7.99 price may put off some, the aptly-named “umamified” fries– coated with a healthy dose of truffle oil and cheese– are well-balanced and could be a meal on their own. When confronted about the price, our green-haired waiter shrugged sheepishly and said, “they’re the core of what we do here”.

As a true sit-down restaurant, every item on Umami’s menu boasts a high price, and each dish also has a unique twist that separates it from fast-food mainstays. With elegant cutlery and fashionable, unfinished wood tables, Umami more resembles a trendy San Francisco eatery than a traditional burger joint. Some items are a hit and others a miss– the signature Umami Burger, with its crispy cheese, cold, cooked tomatoes, and excess of sugary ketchup being a prime example of an item that is unique but not quite on the mark.

The fries, however, are a resounding success. The luxurious, truffle-infused cheese coating is a mainline to food heaven, provided it is taken in moderation. The fries themselves are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, and provide the perfect complement to a good burger. Delivered perfectly warm and well-seasoned, they are excellent by themselves, no “umamification” required. However, the adventurous burger-hunter searching for something new is strongly encouraged to take the plunge and try the truffle fries for the full Umami Burger experience. An Umami burger and a side order of umamified fries will cost a head-scratching $20.50.

Cowritten by Ryan Stewart ’17 and Avinash Ganesh ’18 and Joe Woldemichael ’19

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Joe Woldemichael

Joseph Woldemichael is a sophomore. This is Joe’s first year on the Paper Tiger. He is Co-editor of the Features section. Joe began writing poetry in the 7th grade. He loves reading books and playing basketball in his down time. He also likes hanging out with his friends — and he loves sleeping.

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