Despite the name of this blog, I’m not normally one to go for burger chains (with the big exception of my White Castle obsession) but the Florida-based Cheeburger Cheeburger seems to be a cut above most fast food franchises.
For starters, Cheeburger is more of a franchise sit-down casual eating franchise than fast food — your order takes around 15 minutes to prepare, so those looking for drive-thru gratification should look elsewhere. Thus it’s more similar to a Johnny Rockets or a Fuddruckers or Fatburger in that respect.
There are about 50 Cheeburger Cheeburger locations nationwide, I happened to have checked out their Malvern / King of Prussia location. As I understand it they all look relatively the same inside, using a 50’s diner theme (like Johnny Rockets). Where Cheeburger Cheeburger differs from Johnny Rockets in terms of its market positioning is the sheer size of their hamburgers.
As you can see, Cheeburger Cheeburger offers hamburgers in sizes that should seriously disturb dietary experts and obesity special interest groups. Their flagship burger, the one pounder, is actually 20 ounces of beef which when fully cooked, yeilds a hamburger just over 17 ounces. This when combined with toppings makes a very formidable burger indeed.
The wall of infamy. Apparently, this only represents a few months of Pounder eaters at this location, which has been open for about two years. Every few months they have to clear out this board and put the photos into thick albums. “Ogre”, a Linebacker at the local high school, is credited with being the only one who ate THREE pounder burgers back to back. There is also a similar board for children under 10 who have achieved Half Pounder burger status. If you manage to finish one of these massive things they send you home with a big stuffed hamburger toy.
Root Beer, served in a Ball mason Jar. I thought this was cute. Free refills.
A HALF order of “Frings”, onion rings and fries combo. Both very good examples, and I liked the dipping sauce a lot, which is a horseradish-laced ketchup/mayonnaise combination. The cheese whiz and the gravy was just OK.
A closeup of the dipping sauces.
The main event. Much to the relief of my wife I am sure, I did not order the Pounder. Instead, I wimped out and ordered the “Serious”, the half pounder, medium (cooked perfectly, although I wish Medium Rare was an option) with bleu cheese and bacon (nice and crispy). Overall I would say this is an excellent burger, especially for a chain operation.
The “Delirious” sized burger (pre-cooked weight 14oz) which I got on a future visit a few months later. It was so huge I had to cut it in half and take the rest home and eat it for breakfast the next day.
Cheeburger is also known for its shakes, which use either Edy’s Vanilla or Chocolate ice cream. These are then modified with various flavor mix-ins using Monin syrups (the kind that Starbucks and various coffee joints use) and mix-ins like Oreos and gummies. I took my shake to go, a Vanilla with Green Mint flavoring with Oreos. I thought it was a very good shake given the fact it wasn’t specialty / superpremium ice cream.
All in all I’d definitely say if you’ve got a Cheeburger Cheeburger near you (there are new locations opening up all over) I’d definitely give it a whirl. I’d certainly be very happy if one of these opened up in the Northern New Jersey / Bergen County area.
Off The Broiler 
I’m surprised at the root beer. I’d have expected, “No Coke! Pepsi!”
Without having visited, but just from the vibe of the pics and your description, I’d say this is closest to the vibe of the (fairly excellent) Steak & Shake franchise than Johnny Rockets.
Well, it resembles Johnny Rockets in that they are going for the same 50’s motif. I didn’t show the complete menu but they have fountain sodas with syrups like Johnny Rockets has and of course there are the shakes made in the real shake mixers. Burger wise, however, they are stylistically very different.
I can only do “The Classic”. I guess if I HAD to eat the larger one, I could…but you can put as many toppings on it as you want! Which is insane.
I shared the half order of frings with my brother and my friend. That thing is huge. I also got a half sized shake, which is…uh, a normal sized shake. At least they give you the option.
I tried the mushroom burger once, but it was pretty blech. Hoorah for the cheeseburgers!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed your cheeburger experience so much. I’m happy to report that I will be opening up a Cheeburger in New Providence, northern Union County. Hope this will be a much closer location for you to visit. We are targeting to open by late Sept/early Oct. Please feel free to contact me. Hope to see you there.
Not quite Northern/Bergen, but a bit closer than King Of Prussia one just opened down in Mercer County, right outside of Trenton in Lawrence. Depending on where you are in Bergen…about half an hour away.
[…] One such place that seems to have resisted change is Holsten’s, in Bloomfield. Opened in 1939, going there is literally like being sent back in a time machine to observe the social habits of pre-WWII and 1950’s American youth. The menu of ice cream treats and food items it serves are totally retro — not by design like one of the newer established 50’s chains like Johnny Rockets or Cheeburger Cheeburger, but because it has ALWAYS been that way. The prices are also remarkably cheap, and while there only are about a dozen or so varietes of ice cream, all of them are made in-house and are very fresh. […]
There is one in central Jersey that I went to a year or so ago. Westfield I think.
There is also one in the Palisades Mall in W. Nyack, Jason. On the fourth floor near Barnes and Noble.
When is the one in New Providence opening? I live in the area, looks like it could be open but I haven’t heard anything about it. We really look forward to it since there isn’t much going on in this town food wise.
Thanks.
Visited the restaurant while in Sanibel Island recently. THE best burger I’ve had and soreasonably priced. Was thrilled to learn there is one in at home in New Jersey, in Lawrenceville, an easy drive! Don’t miss this restaurant
we just got back from Ft. Lauderdale. Based on your reccomendation, we ate there. I had a malt, a chicken sandwich and we split the frings which werent that great. The rings were all globbed together( see my blog for pics).
I just went to Cheeburger Cheeburger (Chadds Ford, Pa.) for the first time last weekend with a few friends. I liked it so much I took a friend this past weekend. It was his first time also. He liked it also. It was definitely worth the 30 minute trip from Newark, De! I kind of expected a picture of John Belushi somewhere on the wall! Oh well, it was definitely worth it and not too expensive.
I went to florida a year ago an ate there the onion rings were to die for. They were so good that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them since. I am trying to find out where the closest one is located, or a recipe for them ,or a special mix you may sell so I can attempt to make them. Help, I live in Providence R.I.