In-N-Out Burger may be the cheapest and fastest option for those college students on a budget, but it is certainly not the best-quality burger in town.
Fortunately, the Daily Wildcat has comprised a list of the best burger joints around Tucson based on a twitter poll we ran, so the next time you crave a well-cooked burger, you won’t have to settle for average.
What’s your fav Tucson burger joint?
— Daily Wildcat (@dailywildcat) October 25, 2016
1. Lindy’s Diner on 4th — 431 N. 4th Ave.
Fortunately for those who live at District on 5th apartments, the best burger joint in Tucson is only a five-minute walk away.
You may recognize this local burger mecca from its appearance on an episode of Man v. Food where Adam Richma successfully finished its famous OMFG burger, a three-pound burger comprised of 12 slices of cheese and 12 beef patties. Each burger even has the option to double the amount of patties.
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“My favorite burger is the mac ‘n’ cheese burger because its like two meals in one,” said communications sophomore Lauren Wyatt. “And my favorite side is the tater tots because they have the perfect crunch.”
Lindy’s offers the craziest burgers with the best names. With burgers like the Dirty Sanchez, Rusty Trombone, Kush and Blue Suede Cow, you will be sure to find something new to try every time.
2. Zinburger — 6390 E. Grant Rd. and 1865 E. River Rd. #101
Zinburger, known for more than just its burgers, has an extensive wine list that helped put this popular destination on the map. Zinburger has total of five locations, all in Arizona. Two of them are in Tucson, and the closest one to campus is five miles away on River Road and Campbell Avenue.
In addition to its wine bar and burgers, they have a variety of fries, including ones made out of zucchini, sweet potato. They even have truffle-flavored ones if you’re feeling fancy.
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Milkshakes are also well-known here, and they have a total of seven different options to choose from including flavors like Nutella Hazelnut Crunch and Banana Royale.
Zinburger has a “craft your own burger” option where you can choose from either a grass-fed beef patty or an angus beef patty, as well as toppings including goat cheese, feta, guacamole, a fried egg and even onion rings.
3. Diablo Burger — 312 E. Congress St.
Located just a SunLink ride away from campus in downtown Tucson, this swanky little burger hotspot is known for its English muffin buns.
“There’s a lot of things we do different here—we twice fry our fries so that they’re always nice and crispy,” said Tori Llames, a bartender at Diablo Burger. “We use an English muffin as a bun instead of regular bread.”
Llames said that the taste is better all around because everything consists of local organic products.
The menu has a whopping 12 different burgers, including ones that feature spicier ingredients like sriracha mayo and jalapeños that will surely make you want to down six glasses of water.
Burgers aren’t the only thing you will find highly appetizing on this funky menu. In addition to burgers, the restaurant serves a quirky grilled cheese topped with pesto, a fried egg and grilled tomato.
4. Monkey Burger — 5350 E. Broadway Blvd.
You will most likely go bananas for this burger joint, quite literally, if you try its famous spiked shakes. Located near the Park Place Mall, Monkey Burger has served up delicious burgers since 2009.
Also known for its spunky wall art, this joint gives off a fun, happy vibe that customers continuously rave about.
“It’s casual and modern, upbeat,” said John Barkman, a Tucson native. “It’s actually got like a 1950s-meets-batsey [vibe],” Barkman said.
In addition to burgers, Monkey Burger offers piping-hot specialty fries topped with a variety of ingredients like green chilies, bacon and cheddar cheese.
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