Raiderstation

Weather is supposed to be pleasant, with the temperature at 62 degrees with lots of sun.

Spread is Raiders -1.5 and the over/under is 45.5

On tap today, it is really finally chili weather with crusty bread and I will be making a dirty chai martini batch for the wife and I to enjoy

Enjoy the games on tap today fellas

The Royale with cheese at Red Robin still holds up. Maybe it's just the fries.

raider_kin wrote: Sun Nov 01, 2026 6:23 pm Been there much?

I had it when I was in California. Not sure what frequency has to do with it.

If I’m in California I seem to always end up at In-n-Out at some point. Solid fast food burger in my opinion.

Willmark wrote: Sun Nov 01, 2026 2:08 pm Hype.

It’s fast food like other fast food that Californians have pumped to be some sort of quasi religious experience.

California doesn't need nor even think about taking any other state into account when it comes to food. Who gives a crap about Corn Burger in Nebraska or whatever is supposed to be good there?

GoodTimeCharlie wrote: Sun Nov 01, 2026 4:41 pm Don’t know how far it is from ya, but Hayward (I think) has a joint called “Val’s Burgers”. Fuckin’ excellent.

Edit: Just looked it up on Yelp. Looks like no dine-in anymore. May be on the edge of closing down. That’s a shame.

Great call bringing up Val's Burger, place has been there since the 50's.

Haven't been since before 2020, but it was one of the best burgers you'd find anywhere. Strangely enough, I've seen random comments bring it up in burger discussions online over the years. It's almost comical how often I see the references. Once it was a video about In N Out opening up in the UK, someone in the comments name dropped Val's...

Thick steakburger style with a distinct smokey grilled flavor.

What about the Ole 96er or whatever the Heart Attack grill calls its top shelf burger? Walked by the location on Fremont street. Never had a meal there.

As far as the chains go I like in n out for their burgers now and again but those fries have to come out of the frier immediately and not sitting for anytime or they don't do it for me. I don't know what it is about the Golden Starches fake french fries but those are my favorites. Whopper and Carl's Jr. western bacon for the chains also. Loved Kirk's steak burgers in Los Gatos but they seem to have headed downhill. The pineapple cheeseburger used to be incredible. To each their own...

Arsenal Raider wrote: Sun Nov 01, 2026 8:39 pm Great call bringing up Val's Burger, place has been there since the 50's.

I haven't been there since before 2020, but it was one of the best burgers you can find anywhere. Strangely enough, I've seen random comments bringing up Val's in burger discussions online for years. It's almost comical. Once it was a video about In N Out opening up in the UK, someone in the comments name dropped Val's...

It's a thick steakburger style with a distinct smokey grilled flavor. Classic Americana

I’ll be shocked if anything beats Val’s for my personal favorites. Just a spot-on perfect, like you said, “Americana” diner experience. Excellent shakes with a container on the table of malt powder if you wanted extra. Great onion rings. Nuthin’ fussy, just honest-to-goodness hamburger. Thing was mammoth, juicy, perfectly cooked. Damn, I don’t eat burgers as much as I use to, but there’s gonna be one in my near future.

Strangely enough my second favorite was from a tiny standing-room-only joint that couldn’t fit more than 10 people in it in a college area in the Philippines. Pepper forward both black and jalapeño. I’m usually pretty hardline on the ingredients that make a burger my kind of burger, but I’ll remember that burger for the rest of my life.

Willmark wrote: Sun Nov 01, 2026 6:58 pm I had it when I was in California. Not sure what frequency has to do with it.

You never had a poor meal at a place that's usually quality?
You've been lucky.

Comparing burgers is tricky business. I mean do we compare a burger at Sickie's to one at McDonald's? That is not really fair. Fast-food vs chain restaurants vs local favorite is hard to do.

Raider_Dave wrote: Sun Nov 01, 2026 4:17 pm White House? You mean White Castle?

Oops yes. I don't know what happened there. I think I smell burnt toast.

haji81872 wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2026 6:16 am Comparing burgers is tricky business. I mean do we compare a burger at Sickie's to one at McDonald's? That is not really fair. Fast-food vs chain restaurants vs local favorite is hard to do.

I will say this, I never got into the whole smash burger thing. I don't mind them, do enjoy them from time to time but give me a big, thick juicy patty over those any day of the week

I think what we're all saying is non chain places are better burgers

raider_kin wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2026 6:07 am You never had a poor meal at a place that's usually quality?
You've been lucky.

Sure but that has nothing to do with my point.

Hellbound wrote: Sun Nov 01, 2026 3:16 pm Meh...we got Culvers and 5 guys that do that. They both are more sucky than even mediocre

Culver's is absolute gold. A burger with cheese curds and shake is a death row last meal good.