It's National Cheeseburger Day. Celebrate like a chef at their favorite Phoenix restaurants
Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article was unclear about where you can get Dom Ruggiero's Hush Burger. It is available from Fire at Will.
Monday, Sept. 18, is National Cheeseburger Day. Sure, it's another made up holiday, but it's also a great time to settle the debate of whether or not cheese improves burgers.
According to a YouGov survey, 74% of Americans prefer cheese on their burger. Whether you're in the majority or an outlier who hates all that cheesy goodness, the holiday is a good time to get out and try some of the best that metro Phoenix has to offer.
To set you up for success, we asked a few of the top chefs in the Valley where they get their favorite cheeseburgers.
Here are 11 restaurants in metro Phoenix to celebrate National Cheeseburger Day (or enjoy a burger anytime the craving strikes).
Chris Bianco recommends Bad Jimmy's
The famous pizzaiolo and James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Restaurateur in 2022 who is opening his newest restaurant in Napa, gets his cheeseburger fix from pop-up vendor Bad Jimmy's. If Jimmy's isn't popping up, Bianco's second choice is Hillstone for the "great" classic cheeseburger grilled medium rare.
Details: 108 E. Pierce St., Phoenix. @badjimmys on Instagram.
Roberto Centeno recommends Espiritu Mesa
The James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef Southwest 2023 and "Chopped" champion, makes his favorite himself at his restaurant, Espiritu. It's made with dry-aged beef, sharp cheddar and chiltepin aioli served on a brioche bun. Get it with a side of papas al disco and spicy ketchup. Aside from his restaurant, he also enjoys charcoal burgers from the Chuckbox in Tempe.
Details: Espiritu, 123 W. Main St., Mesa. 480-398-8129, espiritumesa.com.
Christopher Gross recommends Shake Shack
The James Beard Award winner chef of fine dining restaurant Christopher's at Wrigley Mansion, named "a true culinary ecstasy," says his favorite is a Shake Shack burger, doctored to the nines with cheese, bacon, no sauce, tomato or lettuce. "Just cheese, bacon and a pile of French fries in between the bun with the burger and extra black pepper plus a big chocolate shake."
Details: Shake Shack has multiple locations in metro Phoenix. shakeshack.com.
Donald Hawk recommends Harvey's Wineburger
James Beard nominee for Emerging Chef 2022 and the executive chef of Valentine, Hawk is a burger lover and expert. He spent five years finalizing the burger on his restaurant's menu, but when he craves a cheeseburger, he heads to classic Phoenix dive, Harvey's Wineburger. His go-to order is the Garlic Patty Melt, which is made with bacon, grilled mushrooms and homemade garlic sauce. He wants to go on record saying that cheese absolutely belongs on a burger.
Details: 4812 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-248-9950, harveyswineburger.com.
Cory Oppold recommends Fire at Will
"Chopped" champion, one of our chefs to watch 2023 and owner of Course restaurant answered without hesitation: "Dom's at Fire at Will ... thing is so good." The Hush Burger comes topped with American cheese, caramelized onions, fancy sauce and pickles on a brioche bun.
Details: Fire at Will at 4912 E. Shea Blvd., #108, Phoenix. 480-207-1819, eatfireatwill.com.
Dom Ruggiero recommends Fire at Will
The owner of the Hush Public House, Fire at Will and soon-to-open Bar Cena, loves his own burger, the Hush Burger, "obviously." But he did admit that he's also partial to Ingo's, which is prepared with certified angus beef, Wisconsin cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickle, Russian dressing on a housemade bun.
Details: Fire at Will at 4912 E. Shea Blvd., #108, Phoenix. 480-207-1819, eatfireatwill.com.
Lawrence (L.T.) Smith ALSO recommends Fire at Will
Chef and owner of Chilte, which opened in February 2023 and was recognized as one of the best new restaurants in the US in September, wrote, "Hush burger from fire at will ??."
Mark Tarbell recommends the Original Hamburger Works
The chef, restaurant owner and Emmy Award-winning host of "Plate and Pour" and "Check Please," wants his burgers "greasy." He claims the best one "has to be (made with) chuck and high in fat," and cooked on the griddle. His current go-to place is The Original Hamburger Works in Phoenix because of the classic burgers and "its old school buffet with all the fixin's and toppings."
Details: The Original Hamburger Works at 2801 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix. 602-263-8693. greatburgeraz.com.
Rene Andrade seconds Bad Jimmy's, The Chuckbox and, of course, Espiritu
"Does it have to be one?" asked the James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef Southwest chef of Bacanora. Then he listed his favorites, starting with "Obviously Bad Jimmy's," a pop-up burger joint. Thankfully for everyone, Bad Jimmy's will soon be a brick-and-mortar store, giving easier access to the smash burgers that have garnered a cult following. Andrade's other favorites are The Chuckbox in Tempe, The Stand and Espiritu Mesa. Andrade says yes to cheese.
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Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow @banooshahr on X, formerly Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: National Cheeseburger Day 2023: Celebrate at these Phoenix restaurants
