Burger Meister

(North Beach)
759 Columbus Ave.  
415-296-9907 Map it
www.burgermeistersf.com

E + D Award Winner; no reservations; cash only
$
American
cheap eats, lunch, open 7 days, take-out

2008 EAT + DRINK AWARD: Best Burger

SCENE: The newest Burger Meister in San Francisco—it joins the Castro and Cole Valley locations—this small eatery exemplifies speedy dining at its best. Patrons of all ages order at the register, then grab tables underneath colorful murals of San Francisco, while a soundtrack of ’80s throwbacks such as the Thompson Twins and Eddie Money sets a cheery mood.

EATS: You could order a chicken cheesesteak or a hot dog if you really wanted to, but it would be a shame to miss out on the burgers: Gigantic, all-natural, half-pound Niman Ranch patties are juicy, fresh and grilled to order. Our favorites are the bacon cheeseburger, topped with Niman’s applewood-smoked bacon and cheddar, and the mushroom-and-onion burger, piled high with sautéed sweet red onions and shrooms. And the fries, fatter than frites but not quite steak fries, have just the right amount of crunch to stand up to their beefy counterparts.