The best burger for your buck in Philadelphia

It's pretty simple, really. Ground beef patty on a roll. Add toppings to suit your taste. Making a burger is not rocket science. However, making a delicious burger can be an art form, and there are several places around Philly where one can find this edible delight.

PYT Philly
Philly party promoter Tommy Up has truly outdone himself with his trendy little beer and burger joint at the Piazza in Northern Liberties. PYT, which can be found at 1050 N. Hancock Street, is the perfect destination for a unique, tasty burger. On the menu you can find a Royale with Cheese, the TLC (Tastes Like Chicken), several yummy vegetarian options, and much more. Aside from their normal menu, each week PYT presents a new Burger of the Week. In the past they've offered the Cheesesteak Pretzel Roll Burger, the Buffalo Chicken Burger, and this week's special, the Pesto Shrimp Surf & Turf Burger. The cooks at PYT aren't tied down to the idea of beef either, as they have offered burgers made from everything from salmon to buffalo. And don't think for a second that all you're going to get with your meat and bun is some ketchup, mustard, and pickles, no sir! At PYT, expect their mouth-watering special sauce and a variety of toppings ranging from avocado to zucchini. Should your burger jump start your thirst, there are plenty of beers and adult milkshakes on hand to wash it down. PYT is a definite must-see for the burger enthusiast.

Nifty Fifty's
You've never heard of Nifty Fifty's? That's just a shame. In all fairness, it isn't really your fault. Nifty Fifty's mainly exists right outside the borders of Philadelphia. With its original location minutes from the airport in Ridley Park, it now boasts several locations throughout the Philadelphia metro region, including one in the far Northeast section of the city. While the menu is the same at each location, the atmosphere of the original can not be beat. But enough about that, onto the meat! The burgers at Nifty Fifty's may not be as big as those at PYT, but they sure are tasty. The good people at Nifty Fifty's pride themselves on their old school way of bringing burgers to the masses. Patties are hand-cut, trimmed, and prepared on the premises and freshly ground to boot. In keeping with their classic theme, all of you classic burgers can be found here, including their top selling Bacon Cheese Burger. But if you're feeling a little frisky, you can try the Leo Special, the Royal, the Chili and Cheese, or the fun to order Whole Shebang. Regardless of your choice, don't miss out on the other highlight of this awesome joint: the soda fountain. You can choose from well over 100 combinations of syrups and house sodas they offer from the best Cherry Cola you will ever taste to something as off the wall as Chocolate Mocha Passion Fruit Soda, if that's your thing. At Nifty Fifty's, the possibilities are endless.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Yes, Five Guys is a chain and not a local burger joint, although that is how it started out in Arlington, VA. But no self-respecting burger booster can deny the impeccable taste and freedom of choice one gets during an outing at Five Guys. According to their website, there are over 250,000 ways to order a burger at Five Guys. Bear in mind when you order that a regular burger at this place you will be chowing down on two patties. For one patty, be sure to ask for the "Little" version of what you want. At Five Guys, you walk up to the counter, select your burger and how it is to be cooked along with any toppings or sauces you may desire. The possibilities are endless. Don't forget to order some fresh-cut fries during your visit, and one order should suffice. You see, at Five Guys they understand the rapturous feeling one gets when locating bonus fries at the bottom of the bag. To ensure that every patron experiences this foodie nirvana, after filling up a medium sized cup with fries, they dump an equal amount of extra fries in the bag on top of everything else. So while this place may not be local, it is certainly worth a visit.



For more information on these wonderful hamburger havens, check out these links:
PYT Philly - 1050 N Hancock St. Phila. PA 19123
Nifty Fifty's - 1900 MacDade Blvd. Folsom, PA 19033
Five Guys Burgers and Fries - 1527 Chestnut St. Phila. PA 19103