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USA Today
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Top 10 Ford Mustangs of all time: A legendary ride through history
Over the course of history, American muscle has come in a ton of different flavors, but perhaps one of the most longstanding and iconic is the Ford Mustang. Introduced at the 1964 New York World's Fair, the Mustang was an immediate sales hit thanks to its affordable price and great looks. More than six decades later, Ford has produced countless Mustang models and variants, each unique and distinct. What's fascinating is they haven't always adhered to a consistent formula, but the execution has always been the same: to give much higher-dollar and more exotic sports cars a run for their money. That's what we call a democratization of performance and power. Below, we've made the difficult choice of narrowing down our favorite Mustangs to the 10 listed in chronological order. Did your favorites make it? Keep reading to find out. 1964.5 Ford Mustang Here's how confident Ford was in the brand-new, first-ever Mustang when it made its debut in 1964: It had journalists take the test cars on a 750-mile trip from Westchester County, New York, back to its headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, for what was clearly intended to be a reliability test. Ultimately, Mustang sales quadrupled what Ford estimated them to be. Part of that, surely, was because of the sheer number of options offered. Not only were there 15 exterior paint colors to choose from, but there were also five different selections for vinyl seat upholstery. Convertibles and hardtops were available side by side, and convertible customers could have either white or black fabric roofs, while hardtops could be had with either white or black vinyl tops. Then there were the engine options. You could get the first Mustang with either a 2.8-liter inline-six with 101 hp, a 4.3-liter V-8 with 164 hp, a 4.7-liter V-8 with 210 hp, or a special, high-compression version of the 4.7-liter that kicked power up to 271. The six-cylinder and 4.3-liter V-8 came standard with a three-speed manual, and the 4.7-liter V-8 had a four-speed manual. Everything except the high-compression 4.7-liter could be fitted with Ford's three-speed automatic. 1964.5 Ford Mustang specs 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 It didn't take long for the iconic Mustang to reach a new stratosphere of iconic with the 1965 Shelby GT350. Built for the track, the first GT350s ignored comfort in favor of lap times. Turning the Mustang into a bona fide Corvette-killer proved no easy task, as the Ford Falcon platform underpinning the car wasn't exactly motorsport material. Engineers had to keep costs down, too. 'The decision to go with the live axle was okay with Ford,' we wrote in a retrospective from 2017, 'as Klaus Arning estimated the development of the [independent rear suspension] would cost upwards of $85,000. The Shelby G.T. 350 utilized the Galaxie station wagon rear end equipped with a towing package with Ford's largest rear brakes at 10 inches in diameter with 2.5-inch-wide sintered metallic brake linings. Best of all, this axle bolted right into the Mustang chassis with very little modification.' The result? Something very good: 'At Interstate speeds, the GT350 is rough and ready,' Donald Farr wrote in 2010. 'It's not a luxury car by any stretch of the imagination. The suspension is stiff, wind whooshes by the open side windows, and header heat rises off the floor pans. The car even smells fast. And did I mention that it's loud? At 65 mph and 3,000 rpm, the blown-out glasspacks drown out any attempt at passenger conversation.' 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 specs 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Super Snake Once upon a time, there was a Mustang with the heart of a GT40. As the story goes, Carroll Shelby was hired to showcase some new Goodyear tires. The Super Snake that resulted was a one-off GT500 prototype that used a monstrous 427 V-8 like one found in the Ford GT40 race car. A Shelby test diver took the car 500 miles around Goodyear's oval test track and averaged 142 mph, thus showing the Goodyears were more than up to snuff. Plans to build more of the GT500 Super Snakes were scrapped, so this is the only one in existence. It might very well be the most valuable Mustang ever. Half a century later, Shelby finally created a 'continuation run' of cars built on real 1967 Mustangs and given all the GT500 Super Snake hardware. The cars are not technically from the time, but they're also not new cars, either. Regardless, when a '67 Super Snake rides again, everyone wins. 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Super Snake specs 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR With plenty of spoilers and scoops, the GT500KR was the nastiest Mustang of its age. Knowingly, KR stood for 'King of the Road.' With just 933 fastbacks built, the GT500KR wears the beautiful, elongated lines that define '60s car design. 'The KR does its talking underhood, though,' we wrote in a 2001 comparison against a 1999 Mustang SVT Cobra. 'In mid-1968, Ford spanked the competition with a surprise of its own: the Bob Tasca Ford–inspired 428 Cobra Jet FE-series big-block in the GT500. Period road tests prove the 428 Cobra Jet could rocket the Shelby Mustang through the quarter mile in 14 seconds flat with 3.91:1 gears; with 3.50:1 cruising gears, 14.5 seconds. This makes the GT500KR a formidable competitor for the SVT Cobra. In perfect tune with a seasoned drag racer at the wheel, the KR will stay flush with the more high-tech Cobra.' We won't spoil the rest. 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR specs 1984 Ford Mustang SVO As a response to fuel shortages and high gas prices of the '70s, the Mustang underwent some market-demanded changes but emerged to usher in the '80s with the Fox body. And one of the coolest of the Fox-bodied Mustangs was the 1984 Mustang SVO. The SVO implemented a ton of Mustang firsts, including disc brakes at all four wheels and intercooled turbocharging for its small-displacement four-cylinder. Because it saved 150 or so pounds over the 5.0-liter Mustang GT, the SVO wound up being quite the handling athlete, with us calling it 'the best-driving street Mustang the factory has ever produced' at the time. It proved you didn't need a giant engine and massive power to make a Mustang fun. Sometimes you just need lightness. Maybe that Colin Chapman guy did know a thing or two about cars. Plus, the SVO was better on gas, which, with ever-shifting fuel prices, is something that's always a plus. 1984 Ford Mustang SVO specs 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R It pretty much goes without saying that if you see an 'R' anywhere in a car's name, chances are it'll be awesome. The 2000 Mustang SVT Cobra R was no exception. With a quoted top speed of 170 mph, the R version of the Cobra had a 5.4-liter, 385-hp V-8, a lowered suspension setup, bigger brakes and wheels, stickier tires, exterior aero bits, and Recaro bucket seats. Oh, and it came with a manual transmission, too. Only 300 were built. 'Our acceleration tests revealed steam catapult-like launches with 60 mph arriving in just 4.4 seconds and the quarter taking 12.9 seconds at 110.8 mph,' we reported in a 2004 road test. 'That compares favorably with the Corvette's 4.8-second run to 60 and 13.3 at 108.6 through the quarter mile. To more reliably and efficiently handle the 5.4's extra muscle, Ford specified beefier axle shafts, a 3.55:1 axle ratio, and a Gerodisc hydromechanical differential with speed and torque sensitivity. But, of course, these goodies would be useless if the suspension couldn't keep the rubber on the ground most of the time.' 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R specs 2001 Ford Mustang Bullitt Whether you believe Steve McQueen's 1968 movie Bullitt delivers either the greatest car chase scene in cinematic history or is the most boring hyped-up movie to date, the first Mustang Bullitt deserves to be on this list simply because of how great it looks. Dark metallic green is a lovely shade on any car, but it's extra special here. We were even able to look past the fake hood scoop. 'Except for balls-to-the-wall acceleration, the Bullitt is by far the best GT ever,' we wrote in 2002. 'The handling is flatter, the styling better and the braking shorter than any non-Cobra that's come before it. The interior is totally cool, and Team Mustang obviously sweat the details with the aluminum trim, red rotors, etc.' We just really, really didn't like the fact that the modified engine made just 5 hp more than stock. Ultimately, we deemed the first Bullitt Mustang had a ton to love but also needed work. 2001 Ford Mustang Bullitt specs 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 The fifth-generation Mustang caught a lot of heat for its continued use of a solid rear axle. But before retiring the technology on the Mustang for good in favor of an independent rear suspension, Ford made it the best version of itself in the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302. In our first drive from 2011, we called it 'the best of all the current Mustangs.' Jason Cammisa wrote, 'It's the best expression of a modern muscle car and, frankly, it's the best all-around sports car to wear a Mustang badge. Unburdened with the extra weight and disproportionate thrust of the supercharged GT500, unafflicted with the GT's cushy suspension, and unfettered by the V-6's incorrect soundtrack, the Boss 302 is, to us, exactly what a Mustang should be.' The Laguna Seca version lost the rear seats and replaced them with a cross brace and added a 1.0mm larger anti-roll bar, Torsen limited-slip differential, stiffer rear springs, and 1.0-inch-wider rear wheels with R-compound Pirelli Corsa tires. Cool in concept, but unless you're tracking it often, we didn't know if the reduction in practicality was ultimately worth the $6,995 premium. 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 specs 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Perhaps this author's favorite Mustang of all time is the 2016 Shelby GT350. As a tribute to the original GT350, it's a very fitting one. From the 5.2-liter naturally aspirated flat-plane Voodoo V-8 with an 8,250-rpm redline came the music of the gods. Perfectly paired with a Tremec six-speed manual transmission, the 2016 GT350 was a delight both on and off track. 'The engineering effort translates into a Mustang that is ridiculously fun and easy to drive at speed,' we wrote in a first drive. 'The readiness of the chassis and suspension gives drivers confidence and a variety of driving situations. Stability, feel, and control have been taken to a new level. The body remains flat during all phases of cornering, and when braking, you'll sense virtually no nose dive or nervousness in the rear. Turn-in occurs immediately, almost as if your thoughts, rather than your hands, are connected to the wheel. The steering is the most precise we've seen from a production Mustang. Save for a touch of understeer, the balance was spot on.' 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 specs 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse The Shelby GT350 is no more, but fans of the current-generation Mustang can get their fix with the Dark Horse, which was a finalist in our recent Performance Vehicle of the Year event. Though there's the 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 under this hood instead of the berserk Voodoo engine, you still get a Tremec six-speed manual if you so choose. Plus, the automatic-equipped Dark Horse currently holds MotorTrend's shortest braking-distance record (from 60 mph to a standstill) to date at just 86 feet. This means it beat out all the Ferraris, Porsches, and other high-performance stuff we've tested. 'When you put the spurs to the Dark Horse, a tuned version of Ford's naturally aspirated Coyote V-8 pushing an even 500 horsepower howls through a standard active exhaust,' we wrote in our PVOTY review. 'In our testing, we hustled a manual-transmission-equipped model like the one we had at Chuckwalla to a 0–60-mph time of 4.1 seconds. (We got it down to 3.7 in an automatic-equipped car.)' 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse specs Photos by manufacturer, MotorTrend staff, Ryan Lugo
USA Today
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Disney World's Hall of Presidents quietly reopens with Trump figure
Disney World's Hall of Presidents has reopened after a temporary closure earlier this year. A longtime staple of the Magic Kingdom at Disney World, the attraction is particularly popular, especially during presidential election seasons. Following President Donald Trump's second win in November's election against former Vice President Kamala Harris, many have wondered whether his previous animatronic will be updated or replaced with a new one. Is Disney World's Hall of Presidents reopened? According to WDW News Today, Disney World's Hall of Presidents attraction quietly reopened on June 29. Disney's website also lists the attraction as open from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m. Disney World officials did not immediately respond to the USA TODAY Network's requests for details. Did Disney reuse the previous Trump animatronic? It is still unknown whether the Trump animatronic is brand new or if Disney made updates to the previous one. Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY Network, reached out to Disney for confirmation. What is Disney's Hall of Presidents? Is Hall of Presidents a ride? Among the thrill rides and meet-and-greets with fictional characters, Disney World's "Hall of Presidents" is a multimedia presentation and stage show that seeks to educate parkgoers on the formation of the U.S. and all 45 of its presidents. The show features narrations from some of the presidents as they highlight various historical events and critical documents, including the signing of the Declaration of Independence and facts about the Civil War. Walt Disney himself reportedly called for the attraction initiall. Disney Wiki says that the show was initially intended for Disneyland's theme park in Anaheim, California. Since technology had not advanced enough to support his vision, Disney instead focused on bringing a single animatronic president to life, creating Abraham Lincoln for the 1964 New York World's Fair. As plans were coming together for the new Florida theme park, Disney employees found that they could incorporate his vision for a show on the U.S. presidents. In October 1971, the attraction opened with the park, with then-president Richard Nixon ending the roll call. Which theme park has the Hall of Presidents? Where to find it at Disney World near Orlando, Florida Disney's website How many presidents have been added to Disney's Hall of Presidents since opening in October 1971? Since its original opening, it has added nine new presidents to its lineup: Do the US presidents record special speeches for Disney's Hall of Presidents? The show features a segment dedicated to the current president, during which they deliver a brief speech. Every sitting president since Bill Clinton has recorded his own remarks for the Hall of Presidents at the White House. How long does it take for Disney World to add a new president to the attraction? It took Disney World six months to reopen the attraction after it closed in January. According to Plan Disney, it takes roughly a year from the election to produce a new animatronic leader. For example, Trump was added in December 2017 after the 2016 election, and Biden was added in August 2021. "There are many steps involved including several levels of models as well as an interview with the actual president. So the voice you hear in the attraction will be the president's real voice," Plan Disney says. Conspiracy theory about the Trump figure made by Disney Since President Trump was added to the lineup back in 2017, the appearance of his animatronic has caused some controversy. A few parkgoers and social media users claimed the figure also resembled Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee. This led to rumors that Disney, anticipating Clinton's win in the 2016 election, had begun building a robot with her likeness, only to repurpose it after Trump won. According to Snopes, this rumor has never been confirmed or even addressed by Disney officials. How much are tickets to Disney World in Florida? Tickets to any of Disney's theme parks start at $119, prices rising depending on the season and which day you attend. Disney World also just announced its "Summer Magic Ticket" offer exclusively for Florida residents. As of May 6, parkgoers can purchase tickets for as low as $60 per day, with no blackout dates. The offer is valid from May 18 through Sept. 27, 2025.
The Irish Sun
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
New Disneyland attraction SLAMMED by Walt Disney's granddaughter who calls mechanical tribute to him a ‘robotic grampa'
WALT Disney's granddaughter has slammed the entertainment giant for turning its late founder into a 'robotic grampa'. Disney is unveiling an animatronic Walt Disney for Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration this July - despite repeated protests from his granddaughter Joanna Miller. 4 Joanna Miller, the granddaughter of Walt Disney, is against the company's plan to create an animatronic of their founder Credit: Getty 4 Miller says her grandpa would have hated being digitally revived - as pictured in an illustration of Walt Disney presenting a Disneyland model Credit: Disney 4 Pictured is an illustration of an animatronic Abraham Lincoln on a stage Credit: Disney Joanna Miller 'I think I started crying,' she said, recalling the moment she first saw the figure. 'It didn't look like him to me.' Miller said she voiced her concerns early on, sending a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger when the idea was first proposed. She said she later met with Iger and the team responsible for creating the attraction, telling him: 'I strongly feel the last two minutes with the robot will do much more harm than good to Grampa's legacy. "They will remember the robot - and not the man.' Despite Iger being 'very kind" and despite his promises to protect her grandfather's legacy, she said her request that they scrap the animatronic was ultimately ignored. Miller told the LA Times she wasn't speaking on behalf of any family members except her grandfather and mother. She added that it 'pains' her to call out the very company he created. Most read in The US Sun She explained: "The idea of a Robotic Grampa to give the public a feeling of who the living man was just makes no sense. "It would be an imposter. They are dehumanizing him. People are not replaceable." Disney announces brand new theme park She also argued that her late grandfather had "told Sam McKim that he never wanted to be an animatronic", claiming that she has been provided with first-hand proof to back this up. The figure will appear in a new attraction called Walt Disney - A Magical Life, located in the park's Main Street Opera House. The proposal to show 'what it would be like to stop by Walt's office' was The company said it would be "a fitting tribute" to the man who made "significant advances with Audio-Animatronics". Walt Disney co-founded The Walt Disney Company (originally called Disney Brothers Studio) in 1923, with his brother Roy O. Disney. Walt is regarded as a pioneer of Audio-Animatronics, famously bringing Abraham Lincoln to life at the 1964 New York World's Fair. Josh D'Amaro, chair of Disney Experiences, told people at D23, the company's annual fan event: 'Creating our first Walt figure is an idea that's been whispered in the hallowed halls of imagineering for years, decades, even.' Read more on the Irish Sun He added: 'We just had to wait for innovation to catch up with our dreams. And we're finally ready.' Disneyland California, which opened on July 17, 1955, will celebrate its 70th anniversary this July. 4 Disneyland California will celebrate its 70th anniversary this July Credit: Getty
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
National Burger Day! Have you tried the ‘New Jersey slider'? Burger ranks among best in US
A New Jersey burger joint's unique take on a beloved American staple has earned it a top 10 spot among the most delicious in the U.S., according to a new list from USA TODAY. "New Jersey sliders" — so named for their handheld size — are one of the tastiest regional burgers in America, and White Manna Hamburgers in Hackensack does it the best, says a pro travel and food writer with the USA TODAY's 10BEST panel. The Bergen County staple's unusual take on the burger ranks among meaty delights across the U.S. that are steamed, deep-fried, slathered in green chile or avocado, Asian-infused or stuffed with cheese. There's no better way to celebrate National Burger Day 2025 (yes, it's May 28) than by honoring a local eatery's take on a classic staple. Here's what makes it stand out, and how you can grab a slider or two of your own. White Manna Hamburgers has served up their burger sliders since 1946, when Louis Bridges opened the original restaurant after purchasing a diner showcased at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Still housed in its historic 1940s building, White Manna in Hackensack sticks to the basics when it comes to their meaty morsels: Golf ball-sized nuggets of fresh, extra lean ground beef (delivered daily from a local supplier) is sizzled on a griddle top, then topped with thinly sliced onions, pressed flat and served on a Martin's Potato Roll. A USA TODAY food expert says the burger has a distinctive flavor profile since the onions are cooked directly into the meat. The diner has also earned praise from celebrity chefs, been featured on The Food Network and The Travel Channel and appeared in several publications, including Thrillist and The New York Times. Where: White Manna Hamburgers is located at 358 River Street in Hackensack Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online ordering? Yes! They offer an online ordering portal where you can schedule a pick-up time. It looks small, can I dine inside? Sure can! How much is a burger? $2.05 for a hamburger, $2.50 for a cheeseburger USA TODAY's top 10 list included the most "delicious and unique" types of burgers that showcase America's diverse food heritage. Since they are unique to their region, none of them earned a "rank," but rather a spot on the list. Here's the full list by region: Northeast region Connecticut steamed cheeseburger: Ted's Restaurant in Meriden, although Jack's Lunch in Middletown (a 1920s staple) gets credit for the one-of-its-kind steamed creation New Jersey slider: White Manna in Hackensack Southeast region Mississippi slugburger: Borroum's Drug Store and Soda Fountain in Corinth South Carolina pimento cheeseburger: Chubby's Burgers & Brewhouse in Columbia Frita Cubana: Originated in Cuba, but found a home in Miami's Cuban-American community, with El Rey de las Fritas offering the "real-deal" Midwest region Juicy Lucy: Cheese-stuffed burger at two Minneapolis, Minnesota bars — Matt's Bar and the 5-8 Club Southwest region Oklahoma onion burger: Thinly sliced onions pressed into patties. Locals flock to Onion Burger Day in El Reno every May. New Mexico's green chile cheeseburger: The Owl Bar in San Antonio is the place to try a chopped Hatch green chile and melted cheeseburger. Western region California burger: Fresh avocado makes the burger distinct. The original Habit Burger & Grill in Santa Barbara does a fresh, local take. Hawaiian burger: Marinated in sweet teriyaki, topped with grilled pineapple. Kauai's Bangkok Happy Bowl reps the Asian-infused flavors best. Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. This article originally appeared on NJ restaurant's burger sliders among best in U.S., USA TODAY expert
USA Today
24-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
10 different types of burgers that define American flavor
Pimento cheeseburgers are one of the most famous type of burgers from the South – Photo courtesy of LauriPatterson / E+ America's burger landscape extends far beyond fast food chains. Each region boasts its own distinctive take on this beloved staple, reflecting local ingredients, cultural influences, and culinary traditions. Here's a coast-to-coast journey through 10 unique types of burgers that showcase America's diverse food heritage. Regional types of burgers A Connecticut steamed cheeseburger is a juicy regional burger style with a distinctive texture – Photo courtesy of Ted's Restaurant Northeast region The one-of-a-kind Connecticut steamed cheeseburger originated in the 1920s at Jack's Lunch in Middletown, Connecticut. Unlike traditional grilled patties, these burgers are steamed in special metal cabinets, producing an exceptionally juicy texture. The beef patty gets topped with a hefty slab of steamed white cheddar cheese. Ted's Restaurant in Meriden is famous for this regional specialty, which remains largely unknown outside Connecticut but inspires fierce loyalty among locals. Advertisement New Jersey sliders are one of the tastiest regional burgers in America – Photo courtesy of White Manna Hamburgers The New Jersey slider dates back to 1946 when Louis Bridges opened the original White Manna restaurant after purchasing a diner showcased at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Golf ball-sized nuggets of fresh ground beef fry on a sizzling griddle top, then get topped with thinly sliced onions and pressed flat. The onions cook directly into the meat, creating a distinctive flavor profile. The original White Manna in Hackensack remains in its historic building from the 1940s, serving sliders on soft potato rolls topped with cheese. Southeast region Family-owned Borroum's Drug Store has one of the best slugburgers in Mississippi – Photo courtesy of Visit Mississippi Despite an odd name that has nothing to do with garden pests, the Depression-era Mississippi slugburger is also enjoyed in Tennessee and Alabama. The flattened patty, usually beef or pork mixed with flour or soy, is deep-fried rather than grilled, creating a crispy exterior and tender interior. Advertisement Traditionally served with mustard and pickles on a simple bun, it earned its name either from the "slug" of dough used or because it once cost a nickel (slang for "slug"). A sure slugburger bet in Mississippi is Borroum's Drug Store and Soda Fountain in Corinth. Chubby's pimento cheeseburger comes with fried green tomato and is topped with house-made pimento cheese, Duke's mayo, and lettuce – Photo courtesy of Experience Columbia SC The South Carolina pimento cheeseburger combines two regional favorites: burgers and pimento cheese. The patty gets a creamy spread topping made with sharp cheddar, mayonnaise, pimentos, and secret spices that vary by family recipe. The burger gained prominence in Columbia, South Carolina, where it's said to have originated in the 1960s. The warm burger melts the pimento cheese into a gooey, spicy-sweet topping. Get it at Chubby's Burgers & Brewhouse. Advertisement The Frita Cubana from Miami's El Rey de las Fritas is one of the best in Florida – Photo courtesy of Mercedes Gonzalez / El Rey de las Fritas Originating in Cuba, the Frita Cubana found a second home in Miami, Florida's Cuban-American community. The beef patty, frequently mixed with chorizo, is seasoned with paprika and cumin, cooked on a griddle, then topped with crispy shoestring potatoes and sauteed onions and served on a Cuban bread roll. Dating back to 1930s street vendors in Havana before migrating to Florida in the 1960s, the Frita is a distinctive regional variation unlike any other American burger. When you visit Miami, Florida, get a real-deal Frita experience at El Rey de las Fritas. Midwest region The Juicy Lucy from the 5-8 Club comes stuffed with oozy cheese – Photo courtesy of Meet Minneapolis In Minneapolis, Minnesota, you'll find the Juicy Lucy, featuring cheese stuffed inside the patty rather than on top, creating a melty core that erupts with the first bite. Two Minneapolis bars — Matt's Bar and the 5-8 Club — have famously feuded over who invented it in the 1950s. Advertisement The traditional version uses American cheese sealed between two thin patties before cooking, though variations with different cheeses have emerged. Served on a standard bun with minimal toppings to keep focus on the cheese-filled patty, the Juicy Lucy (or "Jucy Lucy" at Matt's) represents Midwestern ingenuity. If you're in Minneapolis, enjoy one at any of these spots. Southwest region An Oklahoma onion burger features a tangle of fried onions – Photo courtesy of bhofack2 / iStock Via Getty Images The Oklahoma onion burger originated during the Great Depression at the Hamburger Inn in El Reno, Oklahoma, when cooks pressed thinly sliced onions into patties to stretch ingredients during tough economic times. Located on historic Route 66, the Hamburger Inn became a popular stop for travelers, helping the onion burger gain fame along the Mother Road. The signature preparation involves smashing a generous amount of thinly sliced white onions directly into the beef patty while cooking on a flat-top grill, creating a caramelized union of beef and onions. Traditionally served on a simple white bun with American cheese, pickle slices, and yellow mustard, this unpretentious creation became a beloved specialty across the state. Locals flock to Onion Burger Day held in El Reno every year. Advertisement Cheeseburgers topped with Hatch green chiles is New Mexico's famous regional burger – Photo courtesy of Photography By Tonelson / iStock Via Getty Images New Mexico's green chile cheeseburger features a beef patty topped with roasted, chopped Hatch green chiles and melted cheese. The chiles provide a special smoky heat that ranges from mild to eye-watering. The Owl Bar, in San Antonio, New Mexico, and (now closed) Bert's Burger Bowl, in Santa Fe, claim to be its birthplace. The state even has an official Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail for enthusiasts. Western region Avocado gives the California burger its classic fresh flavor – Photo courtesy of Habit Burger & Grill The California burger was initially defined in the early 20th century by its fresh toppings — ingredients that were a novelty in many parts of the country but abundantly available year-round in California's agricultural paradise. Today, the California burger is known for adding creamy avocado, reflecting the state's dominance in avocado production since the 1850s. The original Habit Burger & Grill in Santa Barbara serves a burger with two beef patties, fresh smashed avocado, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayo. Combining buttery avocado with fresh produce and a juicy beef patty creates a distinctive burger that represents California's emphasis on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Advertisement The Hawaiian burger, with sweet pineapple and tangy teriyaki sauce, is a regional treat – Photo courtesy of Bangkok Happy Bowl The Hawaiian burger features a beef patty marinated or glazed in sweet teriyaki sauce, often topped with grilled pineapple. Reflecting Hawaii's Japanese influences and tropical ingredients, this burger emerged from the islands' diverse culinary heritage.
