Readers agree, this old school, no-frills restaurant makes the best burger in metro Phoenix
As basketball fans filled out brackets and anxiously waited to see which of the 68 teams were eliminated first during the highly-anticipated yearly NCAA Division 1 college basketball tournament that is March Madness, The Republic held its own bracket-style competition between 16 of our favorite hamburger restaurants in metro Phoenix.
For the last several weeks, thousands of readers have voted in the March Madness-inspired Burger Bracket to decide who makes the best hamburger in metro Phoenix.
Round one ended on Sunday, March 10. Round two, between the Elite 8 ended on Sunday, March 17. The Burger Bracket Final Four, ended Sunday, March 24. And in the championship round, two old-school joints went head-to-head in a run off that closed at midnight on Sunday, March 31.
It was an intense battle, with over 3,000 votes placed in the final round. But the people have spoken, and The Chuckbox restaurant in Tempe is officially your 2024 Burger Bracket champion.
Fans love The Chuckbox for nostalgia and great burgers
The Chuckbox is the place to go for old-school burgers and nostalgia near ASU in Tempe. Options include a half-pound ground beef burger, a bacon cheeseburger and a guacamole and bacon burger. The menu features a few appetizers, a veggie burger and a few chicken options, but the main draw are the mesquite grilled patties that come with an all-access-pass to the condiment bar. In addition to soft drinks, there's draft beer available by the glass or pitcher.
General manager Chris Guthrie said the Burger Bracket win is an honor, especially since it was voted on by the general public. "We've been doing this over 50 years, and I think we do a pretty good job of it," Guthrie said.
The restaurant opened in 1972 and has undergone very few changes since then. Guthrie said it is extremely important to him and the rest of The Chuckbox staff to provide consistent quality so that people who visited the restaurant five decades ago can return today and have the same experience they remember.
"It's something we take a lot of pride in, that we work really hard to keep our products the same. Even with the changing times and the economy and everything, we are very proud to say that we don't sacrifice quality to save money. And while most companies fight to go along with the trends, we try just as hard to stay the same," Guthrie said.
How to visit The Chuckbox
The Chuckbox is open 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant is cash only.
Details: 202 E. University Drive, Tempe. 480-968-4712, thechuckbox.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best burger in metro Phoenix comes from one of the oldest restaurants
