Wheres the beef? Newsroom staff reviews local burger joints

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce claims its fair city to be the originator of the cheeseburger, invented by a hungry local teen back in the 1920s. In honor of the city’s weeklong celebration of that disputed claim, our staff bravely volunteered to test-drive the burger fare at several homegrown burger spots (of course, leaving out McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, Carl’s Jr and, sadly, In-N-Out). What we discovered was sometimes delicious, sometimes disappointing, but always filling.

Bobby’s Place (Formerly Rick’s Burgers), 680 E. Walnut, Pasadena, (626) 844-3510.

Est. 1964 (Name change occurred in August 2011; former manager now owns the place. Nothing else has changed, I was told.)

The Order: Cheeseburger ($3.35), fries ($1.90), chocolate shake ($2.10).

The Verdict: A cheeseburger as basic as a VW Beetle built the year this place opened. Patty is a thin, quarter-pound piece of pressed hamburger. Ours came medium-well — we were not offered a doneness option. Bun is basic white-bread burger bun. Accoutrements include American cheese, onion, lettuce and tomato, all very fresh. The result is a generic cheeseburger that isn’t made until you order it. It’s good, but not great. Fries are excellent, so are the shakes. Staff is efficient and pleasant. Seating consists of 10 outside tables. If you crave time travel back to the 1960s, this cheery, well-kept burger hut is the place.

Jon F. Thompson

Pie ‘n Burger, 913 E. California, Pasadena, (626) 795-1123.

Est. 1963

The order: Cheeseburger, side of fries, slice of boysenberry pie

The verdict: The favorite burger joint of many, if not most, Pasadena natives, Pie ‘n Burger says what is does and does what it says. Simple and unpretentious, the burger, toppings and service are of the highest quality. The bun, while toasted, can get soggy, and fries are better elsewhere. But when topped off with a slice of homemade pie, these minor quibbles quickly fade.

Dan Evans

Burger Continental, 535 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, (626) 792-6634.

Est. 1970 (by current owners)

The order: The House Classic

The verdict: Let’s be clear, Burger Continental is not for burger lovers. It’s a place where you get a belly dancer and three-piece jazz band interpreting Radiohead’s “Kid A” — at noon, on a Sunday. This place may have a loyal following, but my “house classic” burger with cheese — a burger with Thousand Island dressing for $7.89 — barely met the standard of zoo concessions fare. But then, I was so distracted by the environment, I hardly noticed.

Jason Wells

The Counter, 140 Shoppers Lane, Pasadena, (626) 440-1008.

Est. 2003

The order: 1/3-pound 100% natural angus beef burger, horseradish cheddar cheese, Bermuda red onion, dill pickle chips, blend of lettuce, tomatoes, sun-dried tomato vinaigrette on a multigrain bun, regular order of French fries, and a Diet Coke. $14.36, inc. tax.

The verdict: Cooked to medium, the patty was well proportioned within a pile of toppings. The multigrain bun didn’t overbear and fit in nicely. The toppings were ample and fresh, but the flavors didn’t stand out, even the horseradish cheese. The service was great, the menu was easy, and the parking was ample. The burger was pricey, though, which is the cost of building it yourself.

Tim Berger

The Original Tops Burger, 3838 E. Colorado, Pasadena, (626) 449-4412.

Est. 1952

The order: Tops Special, 1/4-pound patty, topped with pastrami, mustard and American Cheese. Side order of sweet potato fries.

The verdict: Thin patty, a bit overcooked, but the pastrami makes up for it. The bun was also very thin and didn’t add anything; surprisingly it manages to keep the burger together. The toppings didn’t compete with the flavor of the pastrami, but were nothing special. Restaurant is very clean with friendly service. The meal cost $10.53, about $2 more than I like to pay for a burger and fries like this. The onions soaked in banana pepper juice made for a good side.

Adolfo Flores

Tops Drive-in, 1792 E. Walnut, Pasadena, (626) 584-0244.

Est. 1987

The order: Chili Cheeseburger and sweet potato fries.

The verdict: Very messy burger, but that’s to be expected with the chili. The chili tasted good, but it needed a kick of something to make it stand out. Patty and bun were thin. The onions, pickles and tomato were covered by the chili so it was hard to taste them. However, the crunchy pickled carrots on the side complemented the soggy burger. The restaurant decor looks dated, but is very clean. Overall not bad for $7.38 when you need something quick.

Adolfo Flores

Jake’s of Pasadena, 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; (626) 568-1602.

Est. 1947

The order: Build-your-own burger with cheddar cheese, bacon, avocado, pico de gallo, lettuce, red onion, relish and Thousand Island dressing on a sesame-seed bun.

The verdict: Jake’s has upped its burger game from years past with larger beef patties, friendlier service and topping choices that include five kinds of cheese, a dozen sauces, myriad veggies and “premium” items such as bacon, egg, chili and avocado. The patty was grilled nearly well-done, but still relatively juicy and with a touch of pink. The lightly toasted bun accents generous topping portions, including bacon fried to a perfectly decadent balance of crispy and soft. Just make sure the boss is buying: cheese, avocado, bacon and some other items each add $1 to the $6 burger base price, bringing this order to $9 plus tax — or nearly $20 with a side and a beer.

Joe Piasecki

Lucky Boy’s Drive-In, 640 S Arroyo Pkwy., Pasadena, (626) 793-0120.

Est. 1961

The order: 1/4-pound cheeseburger

The verdict: The best reason to go to Lucky Boy’s Drive-In in Pasadena is that it’s 1:30 a.m. and there’s no 24-hour Del Taco in sight. This half floral- wallpapered diner, half walk-up stand is open until 2 a.m. seven days a week. I got a 1/4-pound cheeseburger, but with just that sliver of meat, the burger tastes more like a lettuce, tomato and onion sandwich. The newsroom staff tells me Lucky Boy’s is a better morning-time destination with to-die-for breakfast burritos. I’d tell you myself, but I’m allergic to eggs!

Katie Landan

Wolfe Burgers, 46 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, (626) 792-7292.

Est. 1979

The order: 1/4-pound cheeseburger (pepper jack cheese) with small fries and a Pepsi.

The verdict: On a menu that can overwhelm with options, the standard cheeseburger was solidly above average. The patty was thin, but satisfyingly meaty, and not overdone (the standard Wolfe Burger is 1/3 of a pound, for more heft), while the bun was sufficiently spongy and fresh. The basic lettuce-tomato combo was only OK, but the option to get onions (grilled or not), avocado or mushroom added to your burger makes up for a lot. Fries were crispy, and prices were reasonable.

Daniel Siegal

B-man’s Teriyaki Burger, 3007 Huntington Drive, Pasadena, (626) 568-0386.

Est. 1999

The order: The ABC cheeseburger, with avocado, B-Man’s teriyaki sauce and two types of cheese is a meal on its own. Add the fries and you really have to sit and let it all sink in for a while before you can move again. This is what a burger looks like and what a burger tastes like, with a twist. The burger is nice and big, oozing with flavor that makes your mouth water. The cheese melts really nice over the entire production and just adds to the presentation of the burger. Once you get your eyes on one of these culinary wonders, you want to dig right into it. Me oh my was this a treat. That burger is one of the better ones I’ve had in a while, and trust me, I know burgers. Never had one with teriyaki sauce, but it sure did not disappoint my taste buds.

The verdict: It’s burgery!

Raul Roa

Connal’s Burgers, Salads & Subs, 1505 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 794-5018.

Est. 1958

The order: A Connal’s Special — double-cheeseburger, seasoned fries and a large drink, $5.99 before tax. For 40 cents more, trade your Coke for a Connal’s special drink: Sprite mixed with wild cherry syrup and slices of lemon and lime.

The verdict: The steady stream of customers at mid-afternoon tells you something about this spot’s comfortable place in the neighborhood. The burgers are traditional and unspectacular (slabs of ground beef with shredded lettuce, pickles and tomato) and a guy behind the counter shouts your number and greets regulars with a warm “How are you doing, my friend?” The huge menu includes steak sandwiches and shrimp, but the white tile and ‘50s decor (with Elvis, Chevy and vintage ads for hot fudge) announce the clogged, beating heart of a classic burger shack.

Steve Appleford

Orean the Health Express, 817 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, (626) 794-0861.

Est. 1979

The order: Veggie salad burger, regular fries, chocolate/vanilla dairy-free milkshake.

The verdict: Orean is on a dilapidated stretch of North Lake Avenue, directly next to a McDonald’s and across the street from a Roscoe’s, KFC and Carl’s Jr. Despite its proximity to these fast-food giants, Orean offers something the others don’t: completely vegetarian burgers, burritos and chicken nuggets. The salad burger, made with vegetables, sunflower seeds and black beans, fell apart when I took my first bite. They also don’t offer vegan cheese yet, and their only option for cheeseburger lovers is a plain cheddar. But considering the cost (under $6), it’s a great option if you’re looking for a quick, cheap, vegetarian bite on the go.

Tiffany Kelly