It is a passionate argument in a burger city nicknamed Cowtown, that’s. Everybody has their favourite, from no-fuss classics to flashy connoisseur variations with their aioli and brioche buns.

We’re throwing charcoal on the grill and stoking the fires of debate by doing The perfect burger our “Wildcard” class the 2023 CultureMap Fort Value Tastemaker Awards. The Wildcard class adjustments yearly relying on what’s new. And there is presently no delicacies hotter than hamburgers.

This pool of candidates contains eating places serving wide-ranging kinds, together with the smashburger, the pitmaster burger, the creative truffle burger, the quirky burger made with beer-infused native elements, and the standard grilled burger served with lettuce, tomato and onion.

Examine the choices — and all the opposite nominees — in a particular editorial collection main as much as the Tastemaker Awards ceremony and signature tasting occasion, happening April 27 at The 4 Eleven (411 S. Most important St.).

The occasion, hosted by Fort Value chef Jon Bonnell, will function bites and drinks from the nominees. Please notice that advance ticket gross sales finish on April 2. Get them right here.

Listed below are the ten eating places nominated for Greatest Burger, in alphabetical order:

B&B Butcher & Restaurant
The Retailers at Clearfork steakhouse is aware of the best way to get creative with burgers in a giant method. Perhaps he is topping them with a thick layer of indulgent truffle butter and slathering them with truffle aioli and three-onion jam, like on the Truffle Burger restaurant. Or possibly he is serving them face-to-face with fried oysters, tenderloins, and pork stomach like they do with the Carpet Bagger Burger. There’s additionally the Hill Nation Burger with smoked sausage, barbecue sauce, and pepperjack cheese; and the Butcher Store Burger loaded with thick applewood-smoked bacon. All are served with fries and are solely out there for lunch.

The bearded woman
The pound burgers at all times flip heads at this South Most important Road gastropub and patio. One instance: The Invoice Dill, a mile-high pickle-themed burger topped with fried pickles, bacon, dill ranch, queso made with Martin Home Brewing Firm’s Greatest Maid pickle ale, and Martin Home’s Salty Woman beer-soaked pickles. There’s additionally the BOTM (burger of the month), a restricted particular that lets your creativity run wild. Marchs signature is The Jambalaya, stuffed with actual sausage and hen jambalaya together with blackened shrimp and foul gravy. Put together to get messy.

Dayne’s Artisan Barbecue
Dayne Weaver’s elusive OG Burger is obtainable from her barbecue trailer as a particular on Thursdays and Fridays solely, and rumor has it they will promote out by lunchtime. Made up of two juicy patties produced from a mixture of floor beef and brisket trimmings, the smoky smashburger attracts legions of followers for its heavenly, tacky goodness. Resulting from its restricted provide, the burger has achieved legendary standing. Search for it to be a day by day menu providing as soon as Daynes opens her bodily location within the up and coming Westland space at Camp Bowie West.

Dutch burgers
This TCU space burger hub has a ton of historical past. Named after legendary TCU graduate and soccer coach Dutch Meyer and situated within the former dwelling of one other iconic TCU burger joint, Jons Grille (the unique, not the reincarnated model lately opened by Jon Bonnell on West Berry Road) . Burgers are principally conventional right here; they arrive with pound patties, shredded lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles if desired. Barely flashier variations embody additions like hickory barbecue sauce, bacon, blue cheese, mushroom and swiss cheese, fried onion, and jalapeo string.

Fred’s Texas Café
Having relocated after over 40 years to its authentic location on Currie Road in Camp Bowie West in 2022, Freds has picked up the place it left off. The appear and feel with a patio stage for reside music, ice-cold schooners, and rustic Texas decor continues to be the identical, as are the medium-rare Black Angus burgers that also include a giant pile of hand lower fries. Whereas the Diablo Burger with chipotle pepper and grilled onion continues to be well-liked, do not sleep on the inventive newcomers on the menu just like the Enchilada Burger; Guajillo Burger with Dr Pepper Candied Bacon; and the Spicy Todo Jalapeo Burger with fried jalapeos, jalapeo cream cheese, and jalapeo jam served on a cheddar jalapeo bun.

Prostitute grid
There’s nothing outrageous about this hidden Stockyards burger shack, the place orders are taken and picked up from an outdoor window. Hooker is the surname of Ruth, who runs the place together with her mom, Kathryn. Right here, fried onions are pressed into skinny Hereford beef patties, which practically disintegrate between the mashed and toasted buns on the griddle. The ensemble comes wrapped in purple and white checkered paper and is a deliciously addictive mess. The preferred is the common, which comes with mustard and pickles. Prospects can add cheese, jalapeos, bacon, chili, inexperienced chili sauce, or a fried egg. Hookers is open late on Friday and Saturday nights to welcome the honky-tonk after-dancing crowd.

JD’s burgers
After shedding its roof to excessive winds throughout the storms on March 2, JDs Hamburgers continues to be working laborious to reopen. The Westland District burger café and patio debuted final September, drawing completely happy crowds from West Fort Value and past for its lengthy record of Southern-inspired burgers and bites like deviled eggs, salmon patties, and fried inexperienced tomatoes. Burger varieties embody Sherlie Ann & Donnie with bacon, peach pico de gallo, and Swiss cheese; the Cheryl & Bo with Hatch chile queso; and the extra conventional Allie Mae & JD with shredded lettuce, American cheese, caramelized onions, tomato, and pickle ribbons. All come on a toasted sourdough bun and could be served with candy potato fries or long-cut okra fries.

Kincaid’s burgers
The longtime Camp Bowie Boulevard burger joint advanced from a Nineteen Forties grocery retailer and continues to be family-owned and operated, now with 5 areas all through Tarrant County. Lauded on numerous greatest burger lists over the a long time, Kincaids retains issues easy with their half-pound grilled burgers offered with the traditional texture of lettuce, sliced ​​tomatoes, white onions, and pickled fries. Add-ons embody cheese, chili, and bacon, and all burgers include mustard until the client requests in any other case. There are fancier choices, just like the Cowtown Deluxe with pimento cheese, bacon, and jalapeos and grilled onions, but it surely’s the standard authentic that has stored prospects coming again for generations.

Little purple wasp
This downtown eatery and bar is frequented by the native burger elite for its knife + fork cheeseburger. The beefy ensemble can include a meatball or two, every melted with aged cheddar and stacked with thick-cut tomatoes, purple onion slivers, pickle slivers, crunchy lettuce, and tangy wasp dip. A toasted potato sandwich retains all the pieces in place. The idea is owned by restaurateur Adam Jones and chef Blaine Staniford, who additionally personal and function close by downtown eating locations Grace and the brand new 61 Osteria Italian restaurant.

Wishbone and Flynt
Ask for the Flynt Burger at this South Most important Road hub for high-quality home-cooked fare. With a customized blended patty of quick ribs, floor chuck, and breast seared in wealthy, luxurious duck fats (a recreation changer), the result’s juicy and flavorful. The burger comes with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles, together with spicy slices of white cheddar melted on prime. A fluffy toasted brioche bun holds all the pieces in place.

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The Greatest Burger class is sponsored by Nolan Ryan’s Goodstock. The Tastemaker Awards occasion will function a Burger Throwdown the place attendees could have the chance to vote for his or her favourite slider.