Blue Cheese & Bacon Burger @ Cafe Express
[So I know the 'Best Burger In Town' thing has been done before and probably before that, and there even a few dedicated sites dealing with just the burger. Despite all that, the little dish feels like we need to weigh in on the subject. Being from California, home of the In-N-Out, I grew up loving cheese burgers. Since then I have always been a fan, and as a fan, I am always searching for the best and tastiest burger around. Moving to Dallas presented a new opportunity in the wake of a travesty (no more In-N-Outs). So not being able to get my weekly fix of Double-Doubles, I needed to make amends with my stomach and search out some suitable replacements here in the Lone Star state. I'm happy to say I have found some, and over the next month or so I will go over my favorites. I've tested burgers far and wide, expensive to cheap, beef to turkey and these are my findings...]
Now from the outside, Cafe Express is a hard sell as a legit burger joint. They mostly specialize in salads and sandwiches and do a great job at it. They do, however, have a few burgers on the menu, ranging from a simple cheddar and beef, to a more untraditional mushroom and spinach combo. Any of their burgers can be made into a turkey, veggie, or beef patty and since I love animals (especially the cow) I opted for the beef. Right?
I like my burgers simple. I hate too many sauces, lettuce stacked up too high, or flavorless tomatoes. Ideally when I make burgers at home, I like to have just the patty, a little mayo or mustard, plus some fresh red onions and pepperocinis to top it off. I want to taste the meat and not be bothered by some poser salad on top of my burger. Usually when a burger is over dressed or covered with tons of lettuce, pickles, onions, tomatoes, or whatever else they throw in, it usually means the meat is going to be over cooked and dry, so they need to hide that behind other tastes. In my opinion, the meat of the burger should be the most prominent thing about it, not the superfluous additions.
So, I went for the Blue Cheese & Bacon Burger. A big patty, lots of tasty blue cheese crumbles, two big slices of perfectly cooked bacon, accompanied by a small amount of lettuce, red onions, and tomatoes. All this is wrapped between a tasty wheat bun that holds its shape through the meal and was fresh and delicious. Honestly, there is nothing worse than the promise of a great burger, ruined by a stale/dry bun that falls apart after two bites.
Overall Cafe Express has a great burger on its hands. The price is reasonable for the size of the burger and taste, plus throw in some sweet potato fries and you have yourself a meal going. While not the best burger in this round up, it’s a safe haven of delight if you ever find yourself in need of some beef and all your friends are feeling salads.
Price: $7.99
Cafe Express
5307 E. Mockingbird Ln. | Dallas, TX 75206
Other locations in Dallas, Plano, and Southlake
bluecheese bacon burger, i love the sound of it!! yummy
That’s it. Call the corporate office. We need an In-N-Out Burger here, now! Their burgers are great, their fries are fantastic (made in house) and their customer service was rated best of all the fast food joints on the Chowhound Chains board. (That’s because they have about 47 employees working there at any one time!)
I have to differ with you here. You said you like plain burgers, but honestly and truly, don’t you find that it’s all the stuff that goes ON a burger that makes it good and what’s served WITH it, and not the actual burger itself? I eat Gardenburgers with tons of crap (in a good way) on them and the burger seems unimportant. It’s just the delivery system for the toppings (as Ina says about peanut butter in cupcake frosting).
I am not a fan of most west coast burger chains, preferring the southern roots hertiage myself (Little Mint, Hardy’s, Whataburger, etc.).
But, not wanting to miss out on a best burger discussion I have to cast my vote for Carl’s Jr., over In-N-Out.
Oh, my God, that burger looks so good! I have a real weakness for blue cheese bacon burgers. And I agree, going light on the veggies is good for me. I never thought of peperoncini on a burger. That sounds tasty. I think I’ve got some in the fridge, too.
that last picture looks like the burger is drooling over how good it is with it’s tongue hanging out!
I think blue cheese is probably my favorite topping for a burger.
great looking burger, and i love that you can have a turkey or veggie burger in lieu of beef.
but also – those sweet potato fries back there look pretty delicious too!
I want that burger! It looks amazing. I love bacon and blue cheese.
Since we are on the subject of hamburgers, I thought I would note the passing of Wilbur Hardee, founder of Hardee Hamburger chains. You can read his obit here…. http://abcnews.go.com/Business/IndustryInfo/story?id=5234118&page=1
Thanks for that addition Robert, definitely a great man no matter your opinion on his burgers.
Sorry, but my boyfriend, the 450-pound “Big Bear” doesn’t agree. We ordered burgers at Cafe Express. He took one bite and threw it down on the floor.
He demanded his money back (which they would NOT give him) and he walked out.
People in Dallas apparently do NOT understand the boys who were raised in the Florida swamps.
Louise, (chiffOnade)
Clearwater, Florida
Senior Adviser, SeriousEats website
Did he order the Blue Cheese burger? What was so displeasing about it that made him disgusted enough to throw it on the floor?
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I’m not even a blue cheese lover, but that burger looks tasty!
If you love the blue cheese burger then I have got the place for you my friend. Remind me when you’re in LA.
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