Hawaii's Best Hamburger? Where?

[1stwahine]

Two years ago the Best Hamburger in the islands was at a little hole in the wall diner on Hotel Street called Benny's Resturant. Someday, the recipe will be shared so all can enjoy the succulent hamburger that Benny's was known for.

...how do I know this?

Secret! hahahahaha

Auntie Lynn

[Leo Lakio]

Originally Posted by wala'au haole

KUA AINA burgers in Haleiwa rocks!!!!

Never been to that one, but we did have a great experience when we were in Tokyo in June of 2004. We had been in many parts of the city that day, eventually taking a boat ride up the Sumida River and over to Odaiba. Towards the end of the day, while looking for dinner, we found a Kua Aina burger joint out there.
Nothing like being greeted by a thickly-accented "Aroha!," then eating a burger while listening to Hawaiian music in Japan (good music, too - I think the staff wondered about us when we were singing along to Keali`i Reichel, Sunday Manoa and others), and looking out at a miniature Statue Of Liberty. Another universe, I tell you.

[LikaNui]

Originally Posted by wala'au haole

KUA AINA burgers in Haleiwa rocks!!!!

I agree, even with the looooong waiting line there. Get one avocado tree right behind the shop, too.
Also A Kua Aina shop across from Ward Warehouse in town.

[helen]

Originally Posted by LikaNui

Also A Kua Aina shop across from Ward Warehouse in town.

It moved last month, it's now in Ward Center (same building as Borders).

[mauiwahine05]

you GOTTA try Millyard Cafe on MAUI right by wei wei bbq. THE BEST HAMBURGAHHH EVER!!! cheap too! the hamurger steak plate is mean! and comes with grilled onions, rice and mac salad...also available in mini plate.

[LikaNui]

Originally Posted by helen

It moved last month, it's now in Ward Center (same building as Borders).

Thanks for the news, Helen! (Shows ya how often I go town side. ) Hopefully they've got more seating in the new location.

[Dale]

Originally Posted by LikaNui

Thanks for the news, Helen! (Shows ya how often I go town side. ) Hopefully they've got more seating in the new location.

Bigger area, but no lua!!! You have to walk into the main complex or go bushes!!! Aya those people!!!

[p0id0g]

any word on where the new Fatburger will be opening? my buddies and i were up in Reno this past november for the WAC vball tournament and we drove all the way to South Tahoe just to go to Fatburger because they are just that good. Fatburger.com says that an oahu location is "coming soon".... I can't wait!

[D'Alani]

Originally Posted by 1stwahine

Two years ago the Best Hamburger in the islands was at a little hole in the wall diner on Hotel Street called Benny's Resturant. Someday, the recipe will be shared so all can enjoy the succulent hamburger that Benny's was known for.

...how do I know this?

Secret! hahahahaha

Auntie Lynn

Eh Aunty, I bet was your recipe no?...or was that your restaurant? Must have been so onoliscious!!

[1stwahine]

Originally Posted by D'Alani

Eh Aunty, I bet was your recipe no?...or was that your restaurant? Must have been so onoliscious!!

Yes to three questions! hee hee hee

Auntie Lynn

[Moto]

Originally Posted by Linkmeister

And closed Tuesdays. (That's the road I use to get to H-1, rather than Kamehameha Highway.)

Now closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Just went there yesterday after the Great Aloha Run, and their Hamburger Deluxe is still great and affordable at under $3.00.

As far as parking, I usually street park on the side street past the restaurant. It is difficult to exit the parking lot with the backed up traffic from the traffic light on Kamehameha Highway

[I<3mydoggies]

Yum, a thread after my own heart. I'd have to suggest you guys try Kiawe Grill. They are located on the side of Diners - Kalihi. They grill your burger with Kiawe wood anyway you like it! Homemade and thick! If you are in for adventure you could even try their buffalo or ostrich burger.

[kimo55]

Buffalo? ostrich?
yow.
I'm not that adventurous but their reg. burgers sound like they would be very ono.

[Miulang]

Originally Posted by kimo55

Buffalo? ostrich?
yow.
I'm not that adventurous but their reg. burgers sound like they would be very ono.

Ostrich and buffalo are actually better for you than beef, and they're pretty ono, too (taste better than ground turkey to me). I'm waiting for the next time we can afford to go a local place up here called the Sakura Bistro so I can some nice sauteed alligator! (Last time we went, they were all sold out! ) I've heard alligator tastes like chicken....

Miulang

[kimo55]

eh, i know beef is awful for ya. So could swine be. But hey. ya only go round once in life and kalua pig is so ono and a good burger can make my day.

besdies; i tried vegetarianism and i got so hypersensitive to daily life... smoke, pollution, noise, the slightest bit of fast food...
it couldn't be done.

[Creative-1]

No one's mentioned Liliha Bakery. Their burger is excellent. Hand formed. Put into their own buns. Tarter sauce. It's only a couple bucks.

[kimo55]

Originally Posted by Creative-1

Hand formed.

ugh.
hand formed.
avian flu,
necrobacilliss bacteria,
here we come.

[Dave]

Jack in the box makes some good burgers for fast food, Teddys are nice and meaty, but Burger in paradise takes the cake for nicest ambiance I mean you can't beat it being right on the beach!

[Palolo Joe]

Originally Posted by kimo55

ugh.
hand formed.
avian flu,
necrobacilliss bacteria,
here we come.

How else are they supposed make hamburger patties? With their feet?

[SusieMisajon]

Used to be this place, called 'Ferdinand's'...only burgers. Had one big Toro, sitting under a cork tree, too.

[Pomai]

FYI..

Teddy's now serves an 18 OUNCE MONSTER BURGER!

You can't see it in that photo, but there are THREE patties stacked up inside that monster!
I wanted to cut it in half to show the inside, but my nephew was in too much of a hurry to eat it.

I took my nephew visiting from the mainland to Teddy's in Waikiki this past week when he brought upon this interesting revelation to me. When I asked him what he ordered he told me the EIGHTEEN OUNCE MONSTER DOUBLE COMBO. I first doubted him when he told me that and then was shocked to learn IT'S TRUE. There it was staring at me on the menu! Since when did Teddy's offer this heavyweight? Last I remembered, the largest they had was a 9 ouncer.

The MONSTER DOUBLE COMBO is made up of THREE 6 oz. patties stacked on each other, served with the standard Super Sauce, fresh Lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion, fries and drink. For $10.85 it really actually is a pretty good deal in comparison to other "gourmet" burger joints.

Amazingly my (still growing) teenage nephew wolfed down the entire sandwich, PLUS the heap of fries it came with.

I must say, Teddy's consistently excellent flame-grilled burgers plus great fries, friendly service and reasonable prices keeps them at the top of my list.

http://teddysbiggerburgers.com

[Samurai123]

Originally Posted by LikaNui

Gordon Biersch, for the burger with bits of bleu cheese in it.

I just ate this burger and you were absolutely right on! Really great burger and those garlic fries - Yummmmm!

[WindwardOahuRN]

Originally Posted by pzarquon

Well, that's the price of a "gourmet" burger. Heck, the very best burgers will easily put you above $10. I imagine to some folks, paying so much for what's essentially ground beef and bread is ridiculous, but when I'm reallyin the mood, a $8 Kua`aina burger combo is just too tastly to resist.

I figure, if a cheap-ass fast food burger combo costs me $5 for both the cheap-ass burger and the cheap-ass fries, a $3 premium is pretty reasonable to upgrade the components several fold. The price variation between low-end and high-end is definitely easier to take than in, say, sushi, or wine.

As far as the beef variety goes, I have to vote with Kua 'Aina. Really annoying that they almost never have avocado, though. What really pissed me off was when they would claim that at the old North Shore location when there was a loaded avocado tree right outside the place.

If you want to go veggie, try the portobello burger at Big City Diner.

[LikaNui]

Originally Posted by Samurai123

I just ate this burger and you were absolutely right on! Really great burger and those garlic fries - Yummmmm!

You're welcome. And thanks for reminding me -- I haven't been there for a while and had sort of forgotten about it.

[LikaNui]

Originally Posted by WindwardOahuRN

As far as the beef variety goes, I have to vote with Kua 'Aina. Really annoying that they almost never have avocado, though. What really pissed me off was when they would claim that at the old North Shore location when there was a loaded avocado tree right outside the place.

Surprisingly, I actually did find an avocado on that little tree not once, but twice. Every other time... empty tree.
Still a darned good burger, just better with avocado.