An American barbecue classic, burgers are seeing a boom. That’s right, the Philadelphia region is experiencing a burger boom. Please, try to contain your excitement.
With the recent influx of burger varieties in Philadelphia, you may wonder where you can enjoy a juicy beef patty without the hassle of heading down I-95 into the metropolis. The answer may surprise you: there are burgers all around.
The Ultimate Best Burger Crawl of Delco:
Stop 1: Jake’s Wayback Burgers
I decided to set out and find the best burger our suburbs have to offer. My first stop was Jake’s Wayback Burgers’ newest location at 202 S. Newtown Street Road in Newtown Square.
My experience was enjoyable, as I had expected a more fast-food-feeling environment. I was pleased to see my burger cooked, from fresh beef, after I ordered it. This does mean the wait time is slightly long, but the juicy burger I got was well worth it.
Though Jake’s only offers American cheese, the burgers feature fresh lettuce and tomatoes and a variety of toppings, such as fresh or grilled onions, pickles, sauces, bacon and even a fresh sunny-side up egg on their monthly special, the “Breakfast Burger.”
Overall, I felt Jake’s Wayback was a better choice than your average chain, but maybe not the best burger around.
Stop 2: Pappou’s Pizza Pub
My next stop was Pappou’s Pizza Pub, located at 415 Baltimore Pike in Morton. Pappou’s is a personal favorite; I traditionally find that their bar food rivals the best in the local area. As expected, their burgers did not disappoint.
Pappou’s burgers, although fairly small, are only about $2 each and are extremely juicy with an impressive variety of toppings for a dive bar in Morton.
Stop 3: Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Pappou’s reminded me how a nice, juicy burger can lift your spirits and led me to Iron Hill Media, located at 30 E. State Street in Media. I walked in to find a packed bar, but no wait for a table in the main restaurant.
Iron Hill is first and foremost a brewery, and the Russian Imperial Stout I taste-tested on my recent visit was impressive. I ordered the Sante Fe burger, traditionally a turkey burger, that I requested as a beef patty instead.
The staff was very accommodating and said it would be no problem to make that switch.
The burger arrived Pittsburgh style, with minimal seasoning and a char coating—which ended up being the burger’s most pronounced flavor. The Santa Fe-style rendition hit the table layered with guacamole, tomato, bacon, pepper jack cheese and ancho-honey mayonnaise, and was served with a side of standard French fries.
Stop 4: Wimpy’s Original
After Iron Hill, I visited Wimpy’s Original, located at 1015 N. Providence Road, Media. I was pleasantly surprised upon my entrance into this ’50s-esque burger joint, as each staff member greeted me. They seemed to know it was my first visit, explained the menu and sent me to a table to look it over and decide on my order.
I went with a traditional Wimpy burger with cheddar, lettuce, tomato and onion. Wimpy’s offers five cheeses and a wide variety of toppings. They also use Angus beef, so my burger had that amazing Angus taste reminiscent of childhood barbecues. My burger had great natural flavor, although it was underseasoned and overcooked. So, the search continued for the best burger in Delco.
Stop 5: Stephen’s on State
My next stop was Stephen’s on State, at 105 W. State St. in Media. Traditionally a steakhouse, I had no doubt that Stephen’s burger would be phenomenal. I sat at the bar and was disappointed by the lack of variety of beers, and ordered a loaded burger that came with onions, mushrooms, bacon and cheese.
I ordered the burger mid-rare, but it came out mid-well. This flub did not stop the burger from dripping juices and having a distinct flavor that betrayed Stephen’s superb spice blend. Stephen’s had made a mark as a candidate for best burger.
Stop 6: Five Guys
For the next stop on the never-ending burger trail, I decided to stop by a local favorite: Five Guys. My personal favorite Five Guys is in Lawrence Park Shopping Center at 1991 Sproul Road in Broomall.
I love walking in to find the chalkboard listing the farm that my French fries came from. I always order the little bacon cheeseburger and leave stuffed to the gills.
Though Five Guys cook all their burgers to well, they are sure to be juicy and dripping. Five Guys cannot be awarded Delco’s best burger, but it certainly stands solid as Delco’s best fast-food burger.
Stop 7: Teresa’s Next Door
My final stop led me to Teresa’s Next Door at 124-126 N. Wayne Ave. in Wayne. It was my first time dining at Teresa’s, and I was impressed.
Teresa’s offers a game burger that changes daily. On my visit, the burger was llama. Though I did not sample it, I was extremely intrigued.
However, I ended up ordering the prime burger mid-rare with bacon and cheddar cheese, and it was absolutely amazing. Paired with a drink from a near textbook-sized beer list, Teresa’s definitely wins.
I tried many burgers. I enjoyed most of them. But, the verdict is in and the best was, undoubtedly, Teresa’s Next Door.
Have you tried any of the above? What’s your favorite of the round-up? Share with us in the comments!
Photo credits: All images courtesy of Christy Gilpatrick with the exception of the following: Jake’s Wayback, Stephen’s on State and Five Guys.
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