7 Overpriced Burgers And 8 That Are Hidden Deals
Ever feel like you need a loan to buy a burger?
Welcome to the wild world of buns and beef, where some patties are stacked with gold leaf and ego, while others serve up juicy perfection for the price of a bus ticket.
From wallet-crushing monstrosities to hidden gems that deserve a standing ovation (or at least a happy food dance), we’re unwrapping the truth, one overpriced bite and one secret deal at a time. Extra napkins recommended. Things are about to get deliciously absurd.
1. Golden Flake Fleecing
Serendipity3’s “Le Burger Extravagant” slaps you with a jaw-dropping $295 price tag! Sprinkled with actual gold flakes and truffle mayo, this NYC sensation is basically edible jewelry.
Though the ingredients are premium (Wagyu beef, anyone?), you’re mostly paying for bragging rights. Save those Benjamins for something that won’t disappear in five bites!
2. Robin’s Robbery
Whoa – Red Robin’s “Madlove Burger” hits your wallet at $18+ before you even think about those bottomless fries! While tasty with its candied bacon and fancy aioli, the price feels like highway robbery for a casual chain restaurant.
Remember when their burgers were actually affordable? Those days vanished faster than their tabletop towers of onion rings!
3. Umami Unimpressive
Umami Burger lures you in with promises of flavor explosions and Instagram-worthy presentations. Yet for $16-20 per burger (fries sold separately!), these trendy LA creations often leave stomachs growling.
Sure, they sprinkle fancy mushroom powder and parmesan crisps, but size matters! Half the time you’ll need a magnifying glass just to locate the actual patty.
4. Minetta’s Money Pit
It costs $38 for the Black Label Burger at Minetta Tavern, and that’s before you even add one side! Why does a steak cost less than ground beef?
Of course, in the burger scene in New York City, their dry-aged beef combination is famed. But after a beer and a bare burger, leaving $50 lighter feels like being robbed in a posh alley.
5. Au Cheval’s Gold Rush
Chicago’s Au Cheval serves a burger so hyped, people wait hours just to spend $20+ on meat between buns! Though admittedly delicious with that perfect egg on top, the final bill makes wallets weep.
Add bacon ($4), fries ($7), and suddenly you’re dropping $40 on fast food’s fancy cousin. Is it good? Absolutely! Worth remortgaging your house? The jury’s still deliberating.
6. Father’s Office Fiasco
Father’s Office in LA serves a legendary Office Burger with zero flexibility – want ketchup? The answer is a firm “no.” Modifications? Forget about it!
While their caramelized onion and blue cheese masterpiece tastes divine, paying premium prices ($18+) for a burger with dictator-level rules feels like culinary tyranny. Their motto should be “our way or the highway” – and many choose the highway!
7. Vegas Burger Gamble
“Vegas prices” are elevated to unprecedented levels at Mandalay Bay’s Burger Bar! Specialty selections like Kobe beef may make you bankrupt faster than the slot machines, while their basic burgers start at $17.
Even if the Strip location is good real estate, why spend more than $25 on a burger that would only cost $12 elsewhere? Making your money vanish without a trace is the true Vegas magic trick!
8. In-N-Out’s Secret Weapon
In-N-Out’s Double-Double remains the undefeated champion of burger value at under $5! These West Coast wonders never freeze their beef, making each bite taste like it should cost triple.
Animal Style fanatics know the secret menu elevates everything. Though lines wrap around buildings, the wait feels justified when your wallet stays as stuffed as your stomach – a true miracle in today’s economy!
9. Schoop’s Crispy Miracle
With its “Mickey” burgers that hang deliciously over the bread and have crispy edges, Schoop’s Hamburgers in Indiana creates nostalgic enchantment. Established in 1948, this Midwest gem maintains pricing well within the affordable range of $7 to $9.
The key? Fancy clothes burgers pale in comparison to the lacy, caramelized crust created by those shattered patties. No pretense, simply well cooked meat that won’t break the bank!
10. Shack Attack Value
Shake Shack does a fantastic job of bridging the gap between gourmet and quick cuisine without charging gourmet prices! Fans return for their ShackBurger ($6–8 depending on location), which has the secret ShackSauce and excellent potato buns.
The quality-to-cost ratio is mathematically poetic, despite being somewhat more expensive than drive-thru rivals. Even famous people wait in line with everyday people – the ultimate burger equalizer!
11. Manhattan’s Hidden Treasure
Tucked behind an actual curtain in Le Parker Meridien hotel lies Burger Joint – NYC’s worst-kept secret! This dive-bar-meets-luxury-hotel anomaly serves no-frills burgers ($9-11) that taste like rebellion against Midtown’s $20+ burger scene.
The cash-only policy and graffiti-covered walls scream “we care about burgers, not Instagram.” Finding affordable excellence in Manhattan? Now that’s the real magic trick!
12. Pasadena’s Time Machine
With counter seating, paper-wrapped classics, and pricing that somehow managed to avoid inflation, Pie ‘n Burger takes you back to 1963! Modern gourmet burgers pale in comparison to the homemade burgers ($8–10) served at this Pasadena institution.
Cash-only and computer-free, they have spent more than 60 years concentrating on making the best burgers. Merely the pilgrimage is justified by the homemade thousand island dressing!
13. Cincinnati’s Flavor Explosion
Terry’s Turf Club in Cincinnati looks like a neon explosion but serves burgers that could make a vegetarian question their life choices! Their $12-14 masterpieces come loaded with house-made sauces like burgundy wine or béarnaise.
The portions? Massive! While hipster burger joints charge extra for every topping, Terry’s throws the kitchen sink at you for one reasonable price. Talk about Midwest generosity!
14. Atlanta’s Rebel Yell
At Atlanta’s The Vortex, their warning sign clearly reads “not for everybody” – burgers served with a side of anger! Burger salvation awaits behind the skull-shaped entrance: half-pound monsters ($12–15) that need your mouth to be unhinged.
In fact, their “Coronary Bypass” series may be harmful to health. But servings that could feed a small town for these prices? Compared to your arteries, your pocketbook remains healthier!
15. Street Cart Sensation
Royal Grill Halal Food Cart proves NYC’s best burger might come from a sidewalk! Their $6 cheeseburgers (yes, SIX DOLLARS in Manhattan!) deliver spice-infused patties that laugh at fancy restaurant versions costing four times more.
The secret? A magical blend of halal spices and that sizzling street cart grill. Though you’ll eat standing up beside honking taxis, your wallet and taste buds will thank you for discovering this concrete jungle gem!