Food

HIALEAH (CBS4) ― Everybody has their favorite hamburger and the joint that makes it, but according to the Food Network, the best burger in Florida is one you may never have heard of, unless you're Cuban-American and from Hialeah. If you want what the magazine says is Florida's Best Burger, you'll need to know what a Frita is, and where to find El Rey de las Fritas.

The Food Network traveled the country to find the best burger in each state for the June issue of Food Network Magazine, and the burger they declared the best in Florida has Cuban roots and got it's South Florida start in Hialeah. It's called a Frita, and it's made at El Rey de las Fritas, which has 6 locations in South Florida.

While most people are familiar with the typical All-American burger, a Frita is made with seasoned ground beef, and sometimes a ground Spanish sausage called Chorizo. It's usually topped with lettuce, onions, and a spiced ketchup-based sauce, but the key item in a true Frita is shoestring potatoes piled on top of the patty.

The drink of choice with a Frita is a batido, similar to a  milkshake or fruit smoothie depending on the flavor.

Food Network Magazine said it enlisted the help of food critics around the country to help select the "state burger" for each state, and said their chose was based on a few criteria beyond taste;  exciting, interesting, and wacky are three key words they used.

"This spot's name means "King of the Fried Burger," a fair claim," the article said.  "The small Miami chain reportedly has family ties to Havana's first restaurant specializing in the frita, Cuba's take on a slider. The thin, beef-and-chorizo patties are fried, then topped with shoestring fries and a secret tomato-based sauce."
 
There was no explanation of how each burger was picked, except to say they tried to select "the one burger" which was a must-try in every state.

That may explain why the Frita won over traditional burgers, including the well-known Whopper made by Miami-based fast food giant Burger King.

The magazine expects the choices will touch off a searing debate, and expects their editors to be grilled about their selections.

Here are the choices for all 50 states.

 
STATE                         BURGER                                              RESTAURANT
Alabama                      Large Cheeseburger                              Creek Bank Restaurant
Alaska                         Bacon Cheeseburger                             Long Branch Saloon
Arizona                       Habanero Cheeseburger                        Carlsbad Tavern
Arkansas                     Hubcap Burger                                      Cotham's In the City
California                     Double-Double                                      In-N-Out Burger
Colorado                     The Juarez                                           Jack-N-Grill
Connecticut                  Steamed Cheeseburger                         Ted's Restaurant
Delaware                     Prime Rib Burger                                  Nage
Florida                        Frita Burger                                          El Rey De Las Fritas
Georgia                       Down Low Cheeseburger                       Holeman & Finch Public House
Hawaii                         Loco Moco                                           Hukilau Café
Idaho                          Big Jud Special                                     Big Juds
Illinois                          The Slayer                                            Kuma's Corner
Indiana                        Lugar Burger                                         Farm Bloomington
Iowa                            Famous Garbage Burger                        Hickory Park Restaurant Co
Kansas                        Steakburger                                          Winstead's
Kentucky                    Hamburger                                           W.W. Cousins
Louisiana                     Cajun Shrimp Burger                             Mason's Grill
Maine                         Seven-Napkin Burger                             Owls Head General Store
Maryland                      Heart Attack on a Plate                         Mother's Federal Hill Grille
Massachusetts             English Burger                                      Christopher's Restaurant & Bar
Michigan                     Hamburger                                           Hunter House Hamburgers
Minnesota                   The Vincent Burger                               Vincent-A Restaurant
Mississippi                  The Slugburger                                     White Trolley Café
Missouri                       Inside Out Burger                                  Blanc Burgers & Bottles
Montana                       Cheeseburger Deluxe                            Ford's Drive-In
Nebraska                    Twisted Cork Burger                              Twisted Cork Bistro
Nevada                         Classic Patty Melt                                Kilroy's
New Hampshire            Chiliburger                                            Gilley's PM Lunch
New Jersey                  The Best Cheeseburger in the World        Stage Left
New Mexico                 Green Chili Cheeseburger                      Clancy's Irish Cantina
New York                     Cheeseburger                                       Burger Joint
North Carolina               The Raleigh Times Burger                      Raleigh Times Bar
North Dakota                Double Cheeseburger                            Hi-Ho South
Ohio                            Burger                                                  Terry's Turf Club
Oklahoma                    Fried Onion Burger                                Johnnie's Grill
Oregon                        Skyline Burger                                      Skyline Restaurant
Pennsylvania               Angus Burger                                       Royal Tavern
Rhode Island                Murder Burger                                       Haven Brothers
South Carolina              Redneck Cheeseburger                         Nu-Way Lounge & Restaurant
South Dakota               The Squealer                                        Hemmer Brothers
Tennessee                   Cheeseburger                                       Rotier's
Texas                         Hamburger                                           Perini Ranch Steakhouse
Utah                           Spicy Moroccan Lamb Burger                Acme Burger Company
Vermont                       Scibek Sizzler                                      The Shopping Bag
Virginia                       Cheeseburger                                       Ray's Hell-Burger
Washington                 Dork Burger                                          Lunchbox Laboratory
Wisconsin                    Brat and Bacon Pretzel Burger               Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co.
West Virginia                The Doublewide                                    Hillbilly Hot Dogs
Wyoming                    Bison Burger Platter                              Terry Bison Ranch

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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