Updated Top 5 List

1) The Clogger, Jody's, Redmond
2) The Special (aka The World's Greatest Hamburger), Stanich's, Portland
3) The Lumberjack, Winston Drive-In, Winston
4) The Tavern Burger, Pilot Butte, Bend
5) The Grand Dandy, Dandy's, Bend

#5 the Grand Dandy - Dandy's Drive-In, Bend Oregon

I took my son to Dandy's Drive-In last week! I can't believe I have never been here before since I've been living in Bend for over 15 years. Of course I ordered the Grand Dandy, the largest burger on the menu. Pretty much a standard bacon-cheesburger with good pickles on it. Getting back to the menu - you can almost tell a good burger joint by just having a look at the menu. Very simple with 4 hamburgers, 1 chicken sandwich, a grilled cheese and that's it! I knew this burger was going to be good when I saw the menu. This is a classic drive-in. The waitresses (or maybe they are called "burger girls?") come out on skates to take your order and deliver your food. Also, you either get it to go or eat in the car, no tables or anything. My son ordered a lil' Dandy and claimed it was the best burger he had ever eatin'! While this place is a Bend institution (since 1968) and somewhat of a novelty, the burgers are really good and I would recommend this place to any burger lover. Right in the middle of business 97 in Bend between Neff and Greenwood. Enjoy.

Blacksmith Sliders - Great Happy Hour

I finally made it to the Blacksmith Restaurant for Happy Hour yesterday. Folks have told me it's the best Happy Hour in Bend. Their Sliders are $5 and are pretty good. I don't think they qualify for a top 10 ranking but they are worth noting. There is a burger ($7) on the Happy Hour menu that looks really good and I will need to get one and report back! Many first time visitors are surprised by the "swankyness" of this place but it's a Happy Hour, totally casual and I wasn't the only person wearing jeans and a baseball cap.

Home of the #1 ranked "Clogger" Jody's Hamburger's, Redmond, Oregon

The Clogger is the best thing on the menu in my opinion. While this is not a blog about anything other than burgers (hint: I don't usually order fries, onion rings, etc with my burgers), Jody's tots are the best tator tots I've ever had! I haven't yet ordered the Belly Buster but I'm dying to go here with a friend so we can split it.


Such a great little building for a burger place. I would highly recommend stopping here if you ever drive through Redmond. You can't miss it on the South-side of Highway 126 on the way out of Redmond to Sisters, on the opposite side of Hwy 126 from Chevron. Check it out and let me know what you think! See below for picture of the Clogger!

#2 "The Special" Stanichs, Portland, Oregon

"The Special" is a classic burger at a classic burger joint. I've been going here since 1988 and it hasn't changed since then. The Special (aka the world's greatest hamburger) nearly lives up the its alias. It is the definition of the tavern burger, fully loaded with bacon, ham and a fried egg. Something about the joint I think makes the burger even better. Stanich's is a tavern with pennents all over the wall, they only take cash, and they love to give shit to folks who order their burger cut! One of the best perks is you can order beer on tap with your hamburger! Yes, this is my kind of place and I take everyone I know here for a special. Has never fallen below #3 on my top 10 list and has been a steady #2 for about 5 years. I have never ordered anything else on the menu (except french fries)and never will. I have eatin 2 of these on a couple different occasions but I'm getting too old to do that anymore! Picture coming the next time I get to Portland.

#3 "The Lumberjack" Winston Drive-In, Winston, Oregon

A very good burger at a very good burger joint that me and my family just happened to stop at on our way to the coast. How lucky we are that we chose this place. A classic burger joint with a 50s theme with lots of cars on the wall. Very kid friendly...this helps for road trip with a 4 year old! My son's hamburger came in a car that he played with for the rest of the trip. To the burger though that's the point right. I always go for the "tavern style" burger with all the fixings, plus bacon and a fried egg if they have one. The lumberjack was really not a tavern burger but was very, very good, with bacon, cheese and all the fixings (aka: loaded!) I love pickles and this burger has very good pickles and was just the right size! I was smiling all the way to the coast!

#4 "The Taven Burger" - Pilot Butte Drive-In, Bend, Oregon

"The Tavern Burger", Pilote Butte Drive-In, Bend, Oregon

This is a very good hamburger that was #1 in my top 10 for about 3 years. The joint was sold about 2 years ago and the quality has slipped a little bit in my opinion. It is still in my top 10 though, which says a lot! This place is home to the famous Pilot Butte Burger (16oz burger) and the wager winner burger for me, the "64oz. burger" - the menu says that it feeds a family of 4! I have won several hundred dollars making bets with friends who have never seen this burger before, yet still claim (and bet big) that they can eat it. Its big!