Twin Cities Burger Battle 2019

Think about filling your belly full of unlimited burgers and beer. At first, this sounds wonderful. But, my crew and I all seemed to have eyes bigger than our stomachs. Seasoned TC Burger Battle participants know the trick is to share each burger with a friend in an attempt to try all 20 burgers. 

For a TC Burger Battle first, the “Judge’s Choice” and the “People’s Choice” was the same burger: Jersey’s Bar and Grill’s Jalapeno Popper Burger. Second place went to the Twin Cities 400 Tavern’s Hangover Burger. These were both SOLID contenders. Our personal favorites included: Casper & Runyon’s Nook, B-52 Burgers & Brew and the St. Paul Grill. 

Full list of participating restaurants and their amazing burgers: 

B-52 Burgers & Brew: The Luchador

Their award-winning B-52 patty marinated in a signature chimichurri sauce topped with center-cut wood smoked bacon, smooth cheddar cheese, fresh house-pickled cucumbers, a sweet shallot marmalade and ghost pepper mayo on a gourmet bun. 

McKinney Roe: Guinness and Whiskey Burger

CAB patty smothered in a creamy Guinness cheese sauce and whiskey glaze topped with crispy fried onions. 

St. Paul Grill: St. Peter Burger

Prime grind beef patty with Vat 17 white cheddar cheese, mixed greens, and tomato bacon aioli on a brioche bun. 

Kendall’s Tavern & Chophouse: Tequila Peach Porker

Beef and pork patty with Fresno pepper tequila peach chutney, arugula and honey goat cheese sauce on a bacon brioche roll. 

Jersey’s Bar & Grill: Jalapeno Popper Burger

Burger stuffed with pepper jack cheese and jalapenos, breaded and deep fried, then topped with spicy cream cheese jam. 

Jellybean & Julia’s: B.O. Burger

Ground beef/smoked brisket blend, creamed cheese blend, bacon, caramelized onion jam and crispy onions. 

The Suburban: The Labor Inducer

Certified Angus Beef burger on a pretzel bun with Cajun remoulade, German spicy mustard, American cheese, caramelized onions and honey cured bacon. 

Herbie’s on the Park: Cambozola Bacon Burger

MN raised beef burger, Cambozola blue cheese, applewood bacon, spicy fig jam and arugula on a toasted bun. 

Muddy Cow: Crunchy Carnita

A burger blend of chuck, brisket and short rib topped with chicken carnitas, crispy fried jalapeños and queso blanco sauce. 

Twin Cities 400 Tavern: Hangover Burger

Pepper jack cheese, applewood smoked bacon, cry baby Craig’s aioli, avocado, hollandaise on Hawaiian roll.

Park Tavern: The Original Park Tavern Burger

Sautéed onions, pepperjack cheese, bacon jam

City Works Pour House and Eatery: OOH MA MI

Togarashi seasoned patty, Korean BBQ braised short rib, Asian slaw seasoned with green onion ginger vinaigrette, spicy ginger pickles, gochujang aioli on kaiser bun. 

Wild Boar: Sriracha Tangler

Grilled and special seasoned beef patty served on a spicy garlic aioli brioche bun with arugula and sriracha onion tanglers.

Cambridge Bar and Grill: The Main Street Classic

This hand-crafted burger has a buttery white cheddar, hickory smoked bacon and a sweet and sassy bbq sauce served on a bun lightly toasted in garlic butter. 

Casper and Runyon’s Nook: Canadian Tuxedo

Their famous exclusive ground chuck burger, topped with aged cheddar cheese, pickled red onions and arugula. Seasoned to perfection, layered with a maple-bacon jam, garnished with a horseradish-garlic mayoli and a cornichon pickle, on an onion bun. 

Stray Dog: Rooser

Roasted garlic aioli, sriracha and honey glaze, sweet and spicy pickle on a chuck and brisket patty. 

UMBRA: UMBRA Burger

1881 Hereford beef, duck, truffle fondue, brioche

Crooner’s Supper Club: Supper Club Steak Burger

Hand pattied blend of brisket, chuck and top sirloin, braised CAB short rib, Eichten’s smoked gouda, bearnaise, garlic aioli, fried onions, bushel boy tomatoes, revol greens on a brioche bun. 

Alary’s Bar: The French Onion Flambeau

All angus beef infused with French onion soup and gruyere cheese, topped with torched gruyere cheese on a brioche bun with herb may.