On The Road For National Burger Day
For food lovers, special days of the month that celebrate favorite foods bring joy even to those working on the road. On May 28th, the nation celebrates Burger Day, honoring America’s most famous sandwich. Finding a burger in the U.S. isn’t difficult, because they are available at countless fast-food joints and even at upscale restaurants featuring toppings like gold leaf. Working as a trucker means traveling across the U.S., and there are plenty of burgers to try. This National Burger Day, we’ll look at how Burger Day came to be, where truckers can find these famous sandwiches, and which burger joints can only be found in certain locations.
How Burger Day Started and Became a Roadside Tradition
Grabbing a burger at a diner seems to be a go-to choice for anyone who has spent a long time on the road. Truckers, commuters, and road trippers all need a place to pull over and grab a bite to eat, and the iconic burger has long been a tradition for those driving across the U.S. America loves burgers so much that it created National Burger Day on May 28th. The origins of National Burger Day don’t go back very far, but hamburgers themselves have been around for a long time, and exactly where they came from is still debated.
The hamburger became the perfect quick meal at roadside diners for truckers and others looking for decent food without having to travel too far off the highway. From the West Coast to places like Alabama and all across the U.S., the hamburger reigns supreme. It even comes in vegetarian and vegan options, all still designed to resemble the original.
The Best On The Road Burger Joints
Working on the road means primarily relying on restaurants and fast-food joints for food. To celebrate National Burger Day this year, look to roadside diners, fast-food chains, and truck stops with the best food to enjoy America’s favorite sandwich. Diners have long been popular in the U.S., serving American classics like meat loaf, fried chicken, and the unmistakable hamburger. Some diners on Route 66 still remain popular, such as Sid’s Diner in El Reno, Oklahoma, which serves its famous burgers with fried onions. Other diners and restaurants can be found along major highways across the U.S., and many of them stay open late for those working on the road.
Special Burgers Found Only in Certain Locations On The Road
There are plenty of fast-food chains across the U.S. that serve burgers in different ways, and many of them can be found on the road. There are some burgers, however, that you can only find in certain locations around the country, making them especially worth seeking out on National Burger Day.
In the Northwest, the burger chain of choice is White Castle. There are also some locations on the East Coast, and the fast-food chain has opened a few locations in Las Vegas and Arizona. Other than that, these slider-sized burgers with their famous steamed onions are primarily found in northwestern states. If you are driving through Detroit, Louisville, Chicago, or other major cities in the region, look out for the white-and-yellow castle with its namesake written in blue, and pull over for a slider—or 10—to celebrate National Burger Day.
If you are driving through the South or Southwest, especially Texas, it would be hard to miss the big orange W of Whataburger. On this year’s Burger Day, if you find yourself on the road near a Whataburger, pull over and try a Double Meat Whataburger with a side of gravy. Or, if you are feeling brave, try the jalapeño cheeseburger for some extra heat.
On the West Coast, In-N-Out Burger is king, and California used to be the only state to feature the red logo with its yellow arrow beckoning drivers to try its burgers. Now, In-N-Out has expanded to other locations along the West Coast and has started to spread to other parts of the U.S. It hasn’t made its way to the East Coast yet, so make sure to snag a Double-Double with Animal Style fries when you’re working on the West Coast, just in case.
