Forged in flame, grilled to perfection, or seared to spec.

The burger is an ever-evolving work of art, from bun to toppings, condiments and everything in between. And we at San Joaquin Magazine are never behind in the times when it comes to the latest and greatest masterpieces that spur last-minute pitstops across town (and towns, from time to time).

Follow along and foster new favorites, or rekindle the flames of burger loves long past as we explore some of the greatest taste-bud pleasing bites around.

Midgley’s Public House

SJM Burger

San Joaquin reigns supreme. This burger is heir to a throne that begins with 8 ounces of Certified Angus Beef and 4 ounces of barrel-smoked prime rib. Thick cuts of bacon make merry alongside onion strings, pickles, lettuce, mayo, and Bruno’s peppers. Partner that with horseradish cream—for an extra kick to senses—and both American and Pepper jack cheese. Let the feasting commence.

296 Lincoln Ctr., Stockton

Squeeze Burger

The Works

Why settle for anything less than The Works? This beast begins with a fresh, 1/3-pound patty, topped with hot pastrami and mushrooms, bacon and melted cheddar cheese. Avocado, jalapeno, dill pickle and tomato, onion, and lettuce is propped on top and lightly garnished in mayo and mustard. Add a fresh, locally made bun—and you have yourself a good time.

856 W. Benjamin Holt Dr., Stockton

Flight Lounge

Good Luck Chuck

Prepare your taste buds for liftoff. Good luck Chuck offers up double patties, layered in roasted pork, ham, and thick cuts of bacon. Lettuce, onion, and tomato tops off the beast. And don’t forget two levels of cheddar and provolone to go along with that lovely burger sauce.

18815 N. Lower Sacramento Rd., Woodbridge

Papa Urb’s

Papa Urb’s Burger

You deserve nothing less, and Urb’s knows how to deliver. Satisfy your craving with a baked sweet bun that’s been loaded up with house pickles, grilled scallions, an egg over easy, and a patty that would make the foodie gods weep at the mere scent of its presence. Enjoy, my friends, with a lovely douse of banana sauce on top.

331 E. Weber Ave., Stockton

The Classics

Chuck’s King Burger

Try on a half-pounder patty, loaded with your usual fixings of lettuce and tomatoes, onions, pickles, and mayo. Then consider any extra additions that can seal the deal on a perfectly seasoned burger.

5939 Pacific Ave., Stockton

Lodi Beer’s Five Napkin

It’s easy to see why you’ll need five napkins for this hand-held entrée. Cheddar cheese melts over a charbroiled burger, aligned with bacon cuts, an onion ring, and smothered in BBQ sauce.

105 S. School St., Lodi

Moo Moo’s Oinker Moo

Both unique and tantalizingly flavorful, this burger is served with BBQ-marinated pulled pork, coleslaw, and deep-fried onion tanglers on a Kaiser bun!

113 N. School St., Lodi

Payter’s Grill’s Nui Nui

Enjoy half a pound of pure, beefy goodness, served on grilled sourdough. You’ll find your usual onions, lettuce and tomato, but bacon, avocado, and American cheese makes this marvel complete. Served with a side of thousand island dressing.

61 Lincoln Ctr., Stockton

Squeeze Burger’s Squeeze with Cheese

Sometimes, it’s important to enjoy the simple things in life. Like a fresh, ground beef patty, decked out in fresh tomato, onions, and lettuce, with dill pickle, mayo, and mustard. And, of course, that lovely cheese skirt. But don’t worry, if you’re in the mood for more, Squeeze Burger has no qualms with upping the ante by adding additional toppings.

856 W. Benjamin Holt Dr., Stockton

Delta Bistro’s Loaded Burger

Try out this divine dinner item that features Niman Ranch beef patties, cheese, the usual tomato, onion, and pickle, and mouth-watering slices of bacon and ham. Did we mention the fried egg on top?

110 W. Fremont St., Stockton

Porter’s Pub’s Chorizo Burger

You can’t stop this tastebud-tingling choice from unhinging your foodie desires! Enjoy a half-pound patty, layered in chorizo and bacon, a fried egg, avocado, and jalapenos. Add chipotle mayo to make this the ultimate zinger. If you have room to spare, you can’t go wrong with a side of sidewinder fries, beer battered and twisted to perfection.

121 S. School St., Lodi

Towne House Restaurant’s Burger

You’ll find nothing but the best at Towne House, where they serve grass-fed beef patties topped with Jarlsberg swiss cheese, butter lettuce, and balsamic braised red onion, heirloom tomatoes, aioli, and a house-crafted brioche bun.

2505 W. Turner Rd., Lodi

Tin Roof’s Tri-Tip Burger

Fresh ground tri-tip sirloin is on the menu at Tin Roof, served up as a half-pound patty that’s loaded with lettuce and tomato, caramelized onions, pickles, and thousand island dressing.

171 S. Guild Ave., Lodi

Flip’s Burgers’ Mad Cow

Oh, yes. We’re all a little mad here. And it doesn’t get much better than one of Flip’s burgers, propped between a fried egg, grilled onions, pepper jack cheese, and jalapenos—all doused in chipotle sauce. Might we add that this tasty entrée looks doubly delicious doubled down with double the ingredients? I think we’ve made our point.

2503 W. Waterloo Rd., Stockton

Fenix’s The Bomb

With signature ground beef, specialty cheese, a house-crafted sauce, and house brioche bun, you’re going to be getting a side of fries with that—but may not have room.

117 W. Elm St., Lodi

Sliders

Whether you’re hanging with friends and planning to share, or prefer your burgers sample-sized, sliders are always in season. Below are our top picks!

Bob’s at the Marina

Room for one? Bob’s Slider is a mini burger that’s big on flavor. Enjoy a 2.5-ounce patty, abundant in grilled onions, cheese, mustard, and ketchup.

6639 Embarcadero Dr., Stockton

Squeeze Burger

What’s better than a slider with a skirt? Not much! Enjoy three beautiful mini-burgers for an adult-sized order, and two for your little tyke.

856 W. Benjamin Holt Dr., Stockton

Midgley’s Public House

Come here often? We know we do! When you’ve got pork belly, wrapped in bacon and deep-fried, served with fresh lettuce, tomato, and a flavorful sauce, it doesn’t get much better in mini-paradise.

296 Lincoln Ctr., Stockton

Delta Bistro

Let’s start with Niman Ranch, gourmet natural burgers. Next, add the fixings of lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles. Square it off with cheddar cheese and chipotle sauce and voila! That smile of yours is worth a thousand sliders.

110 W. Fremont St., Stockton

Towne House

Drop into our favorite classy joint for a few Kobe Sliders, rich in truffle aioli, aged white cheddar, and served on a house-crafted brioche bun.

2505 W. Turner Rd., Lodi

Over the Top

What’s between those buns? Only the best, overloaded bites this side of the Central Valley! Foodies, eat your heart out. But, you know, don’t have a heart attack. Or choke. Portion control, people.

Chuck’s Chili Burger

You can’t go wrong with Chuck’s; whose burgers are customizable masterpieces. And the chili burger is perfect to slip some cheese and onions over, along with mushrooms, and Ortega chilis. Mmm!

5939 Pacific Ave., Stockton

Moo Moo’s Double Teriyaki

Double the beef! This beauty is slipping in Teriyaki sauce and covered with melted Swiss cheese. Let the flavorfest loose with sautéed mushrooms and a mayo-spread Kaiser bun.

113 N. School St., Lodi

The Creamery’s Pastrami Burger

Brian’s Pastrami Burger, to be exact, is a 1/3 pounder beef patty that’s been topped off with sliced pastrami, jack cheese, the always fresh and ever obligatory lettuce, tomato, and onion trio, and doused in a special burger sauce. Want to up the flavor? Order a shake to go right along with your order.

5756 Pacific Ave., Stockton

Victory Grill’s Ultimate BBQ All American Cheeseburger

The name says it all. Double your enjoyment with double meat, in a combination of lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mustard, and ketchup. Then, drop BBQ pulled pork on that bad boy.

1765 Monte Diablo Ave., Stockton

The Other Meat

Remember! It doesn’t need to be mooing. San Joaquin has loads of between-the-bun options to go with your side of fries. We’ve got our favorites ready, but are you? Seriously, grab a napkin or something. You’re already drooling.

 A Moveable Feast’s Black Bean Burger

Vegetarians delight! This burger conquers your foodie cravings and comes loaded in tomato, cucumber, sprouts, and delectable sauce—all served up on a toasted bun!

Commonly found along Kettleman Lane in Lodi

Squeeze Burger’s Buffalo Burger

Now here’s a burger that tips the scales in outlandish, but grandish flavor! Enjoy a Buffalo Bacon Squeeze, topped with hickory smoked bacon, red onion, and tomato, all while covered in melted cheddar cheese, mayo, and that deliciously obligatory buffalo sauce.

856 W. Benjamin Holt Dr., Stockton

Lodi Airport Café’s Gourmet Turkey Burger

Do blue cheese crumbles, caramelized onions, avocado, and tomato sound like the perfect fit for a turkey burger? Then get ready to sink your teeth into honey Dijon and a toasted bun hosting all that flavor!

Hwy 99 & Jahant Rd., Acampo

The Creamery’s Luau Marinated Teriyaki Chicken

This sweet and savory specialty is a hit, with teriyaki marinated chicken breast, melted jack cheese, and thick pineapple slices. Top it off with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and onions on a grilled bun.

5756 Pacific Ave., Stockton

Midgley’s Public House’s Black Bean Veggie Burger

Fear not, foodie herbivores. Even if your friends are chowing down on Midgley’s over-the-top SJM burger, you’ll have your own black bean patty in tow, overflowing with lettuce, tomatoes, and caramelized onions—layered in pickles, avocado, and a lovely veganaise spread.

296 Lincoln Ctr., Stockton

Mezzo’s Lamb Burger

When you seek gourmet, the term “burger” doesn’t pop up so often, does it? And yet, Mezzo’s Lamb Burger is the key to a higher foodie fortune, wrapped in warm pita bread and layered in oven-dried tomatoes, feta and onion, arugula, mint, and Tzatziki.

3499 Brookside Rd., Stockton

Midnight at Burnie’s Breakfast Chicken Sandwich

While this beauty teeters on the edge of what we consider a “burger”, we can’t help, but indulge. Enjoy a fried chicken breast filet with bacon, shredded cheddar and jack cheese, a hash brown and country gravy, all with a lovely fried egg resting on top.

3221 W. Hammer Ln., Stockton

Glutton for Punishment

Midnight at Burnie’s Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Burger

Who can resist the charms of a burger that isn’t afraid to walk the fine line between both dinner and dessert? Midnight at Burnie’s offers up a whimsical feast of patty, hash brown and bacon, with an over-easy egg, all between two cinnamon rolls.

3221 W. Hammer Ln., Stockton

Breaking Down the Beef

Certified Angus

A brand of beef that’s typically sold at USDA Prime and the high-end of USDA Choice quality. 10 quality-control standards must be passed for beef to have this labeling.

Certified Organic

As happy as a beef-raised cow can be, given its upcoming demise. Cattle have unrestricted outdoor access, enjoy nothing but organic feed and grasses, are given no antibiotics and no hormones, and have a lengthy paper trail to document that all this is, in fact, true.

Kobe Beef

The original Kobe references to a type of high-quality beef called Wagyu that’s raised in a specific region of Japan. Due to lax laws on labeling in the US, many cattle farms can claim that they have “Kobe-style”, and “American Kobe” beef, and often do not qualify for the actual beef-quality that hails from Japan.

Natural Beef

Watch the wording! This cow can’t be given antibiotics or hormones, but can be fed less agreeable food and treated the same as common cattle.