The Burgers of Fremont Avenue North

Presuming that you can pass by Paseo’s Cuban sandwiches, up on Fremont Avenue North–maybe you just don’t have time for the omnipresent line–you have your choice of burger shacks just a little bit up the way. Both stake out different territory, as our SunBreak Burger Team was to discover.

Uneeda Burger calls itself a “casual, road-side burger shack” but it’s a little too new and neat for shack status. There’s an outdoor patio, full on sunny days, and “signature” burgers run from $6.25 to $12.00. (You can upgrade to Wagyu beef for an extra $3.00 or $4.00, for 1/4-pound and 1/3-pound patties.) A side of fries is $2.50, and a shake will set you back $5.00.

Ingredients are fresh and crispy, as you’d expect. RvO complained that he couldn’t really taste the patty in his bacon cheese combo (blame it on the bacon); I found the BBQ Smash a pleasant surprise–the BBQ sauce was a slightly piquant addition, not smothering the burger as is usually the case. Upper bun BBQ-y, bottom bun grease-sponged. Was it an $8.50 surprise? Not really, but it was in the ballpark. We’re getting a little spoiled for burger quality these days–I would come back to rummage through the menu some more.

Across the street is a more authentic-looking actual burger shack, low-slung, with a Herfy’s sign. There’s an absurdly extensive menu that promises you everything from burgers and teriyaki to fish ‘n’ chips and club sandwiches. You want something else? Puttanesca? Make ‘em an offer. Fries are crinkle-cut, prices are in that reasonable $5-ish range, and shakes are a bargain compared to Uneeda.

RvO stayed basic with his burger choice, but liked the bun, and pronounced it a good lunch hamburger. Nothing you’d go out of your way for, but for road-side dining, it hit the spot. I was curious to taste their teriyaki, so I picked the teriyaki chicken burger with de rigueur pineapple slice. A hefty breast of chicken, well-cooked and tender, was a little light on teriyaki actually, but otherwise a step up from chain fast food.