Honestly, the prices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and let’s throw in “fourth meal” while we’re at it—are still pretty good in Oklahoma City, especially when compared to the national average. We might be 50 out of 50 in education, but we’re number one in burgers!
That being said, a standard order of quality cheeseburgers and French fries for two people will still run you around $30 to $40, and that ain’t right!
Earlier last week, while working on my Mary’s Swap Meet article, on the side of the road I spotted a cute hamburger stand called Just Burgers, 7821 N.E. 23rd St., where a guy could have a stacked burger, hot fries, and a cold beverage for $10 American.
“Are you serious?” I asked myself.
Though suspect, once my trip to the flea market was done, I decided to stop by and, wouldn’t you know it, a combo special is only $10 and some change. While at first I was merely curious, now you have my attention!
I went back later in the week to make sure it wasn’t a typo, a glitch, or a special sale that only I could remember. Luckily, it wasn’t any of those, because this is Just Burgers’ m.o., offering simply 100% pure beef “smash” burgers at a darn good price that can’t be beat.
Showing up around lunch on a Friday, the place was hopping, packed with road construction crews, moms with cars full of kids, and me, with my dog Sean riding shotgun.
Walking into the small building, I first noticed there is really no place to sit and eat there, as Just Burgers is more of a “to-go” eatery. Ordering my food and taking my buzzer, I noticed they had outdoor benches and tables off to the side.
So, while I waited, Sean “watered” the weeds near the road as I noticed that there is a summertime addition to Just Burgers, a small ice cream shack selling shakes and novelties that looked pretty darn good.
Looking at the ice cream menu on the wall, I made a mental note to check this place out later in the summer. Besides, the buzzer had gone off just then, telling me my cheeseburgers and fries were ready to go.
My wife, feeling a little under the weather, was excited when I got home, and the carnal smell of the meat roused her and her senses. Her order was an Original “JB” ($4.50) that included the smashburger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, mayo and their secret JB Sauce.
Along with a box of the highly recommended seasoned and battered “JB” Fries ($3.25) that were topped with both onions and the “JB” sauce, her single-patty burger was truly phenomenal. The smashed patty and the cheese combined to make the burger extra juicy, with its toasted bun being the glue that held nothing back.
While she was enraptured with her burger, I tore into mine—the combo special—which included the Double Up with Cheese ($7.50), regular fries ($2.75), and a can of Fanta soda.
Featuring two perfectly cooked beef burger patties with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, and ever more of that JB Sauce that I sincerely hope Just Burgers plans to bottle and sell someday—it’s really that tasty.
But, even better, this doubled-up burger is one of the best smashburgers I have had in a long time. Much like the Original but, of course, doubled-up with extra meat and cheese, this burger is cooked to perfection, eschewing the mayo and mustard for the JB Sauce that complements the whole thing.
Dipping my remaining fries into a shallow ketchup puddle, I realized that Just Burgers is a real contender for “Best Smashburger” in Oklahoma City, not only for their food, but also for their cost-effectiveness. Can’t beat that.
So, if you want a great burger with only a pocket full of dollar bills, you really can’t do better. Besides, like Just Burgers’ mantra says on their menu, they are “flat foot good!”
Cómpralo ya!
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Follow Louis Fowler on Instagram at @louisfowler78.
