15 Delicious and Unusual Types of Hamburgers Everyone Needs to Try at Least Once

When we think of a traditional hamburger, it's usually a pretty simple recipe. We imagine the classic bun and meaty hamburger patty, with or without cheese, condiments and veggie toppings including lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle.

Of course, the beauty of a hamburger is that it's so customizable, and around the United States—and even in different parts of the world—you'll find endless variations on the fast food staple. Some, in fact, have become beloved regional dishes, and below we've gathered 15 iconic burger styles that we think everyone should try at least once.

Carolina Burger

In the Carolinas, both hot dogs and hamburgers are often served "Carolina-style." Generally, this means that they're topped with chili, coleslaw and onions, and often served with yellow mustard. These burgers are popular in both North and South Carolina, and even offered at some fast food restaurants to emulate that classic Southern barbecue experience.

 

Chori Burger

Have you ever considered digging into a hamburger with Filipino origins? The Chori burger is a classic from the Philippines, with a patty made with chorizo or longanisa sausage and topped with banana ketchup, mayo and picked green papaya, or atchara, plus lettuce and tomato. It was first served by Merly's BBQ in Boracay and has since spread throughout the country and beyond.

 

 

Frita Cubana

The Frita Cubana is a burger with origins in Cuba, and its recipe is all about the harmonious fusion of both American and Cuban flavors. The patty is made with a season combination of both ground beef and ground pork, served atop a soft Cuban roll with shoestring potatoes or french fries, onions and a spicy ketchup sauce.

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Green Chile Cheeseburger

In Santa Fe, New Mexico, roasted green hatch chiles are a staple, topping everything from Tex-Mex to ice cream, and burgers are no exception. They've been a popular addition since at least the 1950s, adding a smokey and mellow heat that beautifully complements the other traditional ingredients of a hamburger.

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Guber Burger

Peanut butter on a burger may sound strange, but it's considered a local special in Sedalia, Missouri, where it got its origins at The Wheel Inn Drive-In. The burger consists of a patty and bun, usually topped with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and, of course, peanut butter for a twist that's more savory than sweet.

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Also read about: Here's Your Weirdest Pizza-Eating Habit, Based on Your Zodiac Sign

 

Jucy Lucy

While there's disagreement on who exactly invented the Jucy Lucy, what we do know is that it comes from one of the bars on Cedar Ave. in South Minneapolis. While most burgers add cheese on top of the patty, the Jucy Lucy is constructed by adding a layer of cheese to the center of the raw meat patty and then cooking it until they both cook, resulting in a warm, melty core in the center of your burger.

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Loco Moco

The Loco Moco isn't a traditional hamburger, but since its key ingredient is a hamburger patty, we think it still counts. This Hawaiian recipe from Hilo is a rice dish, which adds a beef patty and fried egg before topping it all with a delicious brown gravy.

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Luther Burger

Perhaps the most decadent burger on this list, the Luther Burger takes a classic cheeseburger and makes one twist—in place of standard buns, the recipe utilizes glazed donuts. Though it's unconfirmed, it's said that the burger was named after (and maybe even invented by) artist and producer Luther Vandross. Whether the one you're eating slices a single donut in half to create the bun or uses two whole donuts, don't plan to be extra alert and productive after digging in.

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Oklahoma Onion Burger

Originally invented during the Great Depression to create a satisfying meal without using as much meat, the Oklahoma Onion Burger remains just as tasty and craveable as ever. It's made by adding plenty of thinly sliced onions to ground beef on the grill, them smashing the patty thin to combine them. The result is a thin, crisp patty packed with the sweet and aromatic flavors of caramelized onions, often topped with cheese, mustard and sometimes pickles.

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Rice Burger

Japanese fast food chain MOS Burger invented the rice burger in 1987, compressing and grilling rounded rice cakes to serve as burger buns. The crisp and hearty burger was an instant hit, and while you won't see rice burgers too commonly across the U.S., they're still popular across East Asia.

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Also read about: 13 Regional Ice Cream Flavors Everyone Should Know

 

Slopper

The slopper may not have the most appealing name, but it's mostly a deconstructed take on a classic way to enjoy a burger. It's said to have come from Pueblo, Colorado, sometime in the 1960s, taking a burger with or without cheese and serving it doused in some kind of chili. They're often served open-faced, and the idea is that you definitely eat this one with a full set of utensils, rather than with your hands.

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Slugburger

The slugburger is another classic with a not-so-appetizing title, but that doesn't mean this northeast Mississippi classic can't be tasty. It's also a recipe born out of cost-saving, adding bread crumbs to the ground beef, which is then deep fried in oil to create a crispy, savory patty. Usually, it's topped with pickles, onions and mustard, and got its name because it used to cost five cents (also known as a slug).

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Squeeze Burger

The Squeeze Burger has very specific origins as the signature dish at the Squeeze Inn in Sacramento, California. It's notable for its mega-sized portion of cheese, which extends beyond the edge of the burger, melting on the grill to create a crispy ring around it known as a "cheese skirt." Its silhouette makes it instantly recognizable, and it's made a number of appearances on travel foodie shows.

 

Teriyaki Burger

In America, teriyaki sauce is considered a Japanese food mainstay, when really, it's not a common ingredient, and the sweet yet savory sauce we know and love actually comes from Seattle. The origins of the teriyaki burger are also not fully understood, though it's now a very popular meal in Hawaii. It also comes in different styles, with the patty sometimes topped with a thick teriyaki sauce or marinated in it before cooking. Pineapple is also a common ingredient, complementing the sweetness with a fruity tang.

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Tripleta Burger

And finally, there's the Tripleta burger, which originally came from Puerto Rico. Meaning "trio" or "triple," the name refers to its meaty combination of three meats, typically a steak or ground beef patty with ham and either chicken or another type of pork on toasted bread, plus tomato, lettuce, onion and a ketchup-based sauce.

 

Curious about specialized hot dogs, too? Click HERE to discover some of the most fascinating and delicious varieties around the world.