I am a food snob. I can’t help it. Life is too short to waste time eating something that doesn’t taste delicious. And, when it comes to burgers, I am particularly snobby. I won’t tolerate a wimpy burger. Fortunately, Fort Wayne knows how to do burgers. Here are my top 3 choices for best burgers in town, followed by the top 3 crowd sourced from Twitter.

1-    Henry’s Burger

Made to order with a plethora of topping choices, including avocado, bacon, blue cheese, jalapenos, sprouts, and several varieties of cheese, this burger is classic in every sense of the word. A thick, juicy burger served on an onion bun, it’s absolute perfection. If you’re looking for a great burger served in a comfortable neighborhood setting, this is the one for you.

Dash-In to this downtown favorite.

2-    Dash In’s Ciderhouse Burger

Black Angus beef, charbroiled to order and served with Crispin cider glazed onions, bacon and Gouda cheese on a toasted onion roll. My mouth waters just typing that description. The tangy sweet flavor from the Crispin Cider onions pairs well with the mild Gouda and the savory Black Angus beef. And of course, it has bacon. Need I say more?

3-    Kaysan’s 5^th Down’s Bulgohgi Burger

I am a big fan of mixing traditional American fare with international flavors. Bulgogi sauce is a traditional Korean marinade made with soy sauce, sesame seeds, oil, garlic and a little sugar, lending a unique and powerful flavor to any meat. This burger is Certified Black Angus marinated in Korean spices and served on your choice of onion or Kaiser roll. I am partial to the onion roll, but you simply can’t go wrong either way.

Crowd sourced:

1-    Five Guys’ Bacon Cheeseburger

Known across the nation for their stacked and loaded burgers, Five Guys soared to the top of the list when I reached out to Twitter for feedback. The Bacon Cheeseburger comes loaded with lots of gooey cheese and a generous serving of bacon. The fries are pretty famous too; a natural fry with the peel still on, they are typically stuffed into the bag.

The Big Buster: A Fort Wayne Tradition

2-    Hall’s Big Buster Burger

Perhaps the most well-known burger in town, the Big Buster Burger is a must-try for anyone visiting Fort Wayne. It’s a sizable double decker hamburger with cheese, shredded lettuce, and Don Hall’s famous sauce. Though not the fanciest on this list, it’s definitely a classic.

3-    Red Robin’s Royal

This monster burger combines two of my favorite things: burgers and breakfast! Crowned with a fresh fried egg and topped with hardwood smoked bacon, American Cheese, crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes and mayo. I am not kidding when I say it’s monster. You won’t be leaving hungry if you give this one a try.

Honorable mentions, solely because they aren’t offered all the time: Bravas Burger Nights and Tuesday Burgers at The Oyster Bar. If you get a chance to try burgers from either place, I highly recommend it.

I eat out. A lot. If you’ve been following my posts, you know that already. While I’ve focused on particular restaurants thus far, I thought I’d do something a little different this time out. I’m starting a series of posts I call my “Favorite Fives.” Each list will be – you guessed it – my five favorite foods in a particular category.

Entrées, appetizers, desserts, you name it, I have a list for it. Some posts may be pretty detailed, some may just hit you with the facts. The first list is one of the latter and equally the easiest and the most difficult for me to assemble: my favorite five hamburgers. The beauty of hamburgers is that they’re like snowflakes…no two are quite the same.

5.         Lunch Box Café Hamburger

It’s the burger with history! The Lunch Box Café uses Gardner’s Drive Inn’s original recipe. Gardner’s, once the place to see and be seen in Fort Wayne, lives on through this sandwich.

Learn more about the Lunch Box Café

4.         Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger

This is a burger I first discovered in Charlottesville, Virginia, and was thrilled when the chain came to Fort Wayne. These burgers are a mouthful – order a “little cheeseburger” for a single patty (plenty of food for most people I know). And boy, do you get a lot of fries. A regular order can feed two. Get ‘em Cajun style for some extra kick.

Learn more about Five Guys

Don Hall's Gas House is one of many Fort Wayne locations where you can find the Big Buster!

3.         Hall’s Big Buster

It’s a burger I’ve mentioned before and one that’s a hometown favorite.

Learn more about Don Hall’s

2.         Penguin Point’s Super Wally

I recently re-discovered Penguin Point, and I’m kicking myself for all the time we’ve spent apart. It’s the Wally Sauce that makes this burger, and coupled with a side of crinkly fries and a soda, it’s nearly the perfect meal.

Learn more about Penguin Point

1.         Culver’s ButterBurger with Cheese

A burger lover’s delight, the buttered bun and fresh toppings (I get mine with ketchup, mustard, lettuce, pickle, and onion) make this one my favorite. Culver’s has great sides, too, my favorites being the onion rings and Wisconsin cheese curds.

Learn more about Culver’s