The Charcoaler Restaurant- El Paso, TX

The Charcoaler in El Paso, Texas, looks like it fell out of time capsule from the 1950s. That is a good thing. A beautiful glass fronted open building sits back from busy Mesa Drive with an expansive lawn stretching to the seriously retro sign out front. This is truly a classic drive through restaurant.

You pull your 1955 Chevy up to one of four speaker signs depicting a chef holding a big sign with the menu on it. A helpful voice crackles on the speaker asking you for your order. You reply Cheeseburger ($1.95), French fries ($1.00), Onion Rings ($1.55) and a chocolate shake ($1.20). “Sorry, we only have vanilla shakes today.” The voice crackles back. You answer that is fine. “That will be $6.19. Please pull around to the window.”

You oblige and pull up behind three other hamburger hopefuls in the queue. When you get to the window, a neatly dressed young man takes your money and hands you three identical white paper sacks, with the Charcoaler logo on them and a small red cup with your vanilla shake. You thank the man and pull the car under one of two 100-foot long awnings, that will shield you form the Texas sun while you feast.

In bag number 1, you see your hamburger, wrapped in white paper. It is a thing of classic burger beauty. Maybe 2 or 3 ounces of a thin beef patty sitting on a pillowy white bun with sesame seeds. The diameter of the bun and hamburger patty are identical. You take a bite and savor the combination of meat, bun, onion pieces, pickle chips, and American cheese. But what’s this? The ketchup is spicy - an unexpected pleasure for your taste buds.

The onion rings are something completely unexpected. Huge slices of sweet onion, lightly battered in tempura-like crust. Perfect if they only had ranch dressing in which to dunk, but spectacular none-the-less with ketchup. The fries disappoint in relation to the rest of the experience. They are hot, thick and a little too greasy, but not bad.

You get ready to pop the clutch in your muscle car and hit the streets, when you remember you are driving a Chevy Tahoe burning $4 gas every 12 miles or so.

Burger 4 spatulas out of 5
Fries 3 spatulas
Onion Rings 5 spatulas
Vanilla Shake 4 spatulas

The Charcoaler Drive-In Restaurant
5837 N. Mesa Drive
El Paso, TX

Whataburger - El Paso, TX

Whataburger in El Paso, Texas is a ubiquitous presence. You cannot drive more than a few miles without seeing another of the anachronistic orange W hanging up in the air. The logo reminds me of the logo for the band Weezer. For this reason alone, I had to check it out, even if it is a chain. Their site says they have stores in 10 southern states. My friend Steve, who used to live in El Paso, said they are all over the place.

The orange theme runs strongly throughout the store. It came off charmingly seedy and dated. But the place was clean and well lit. I ordered at the counter. $5.69 for a Bacon & Cheese Whataburger Combo with fires and a drink. I was handed an orange striped Styrofoam cup and a number 3. I filled up with iced tea and took a faux-oak booth.


In no time at all a very sweet girl clad in the orange uniform brought out my lunch to the table. Besides my meal on its tray she carried a molded plastic tray with compartments for condiments, napkins and other assorted necessities. It was orange of course. I thought a unique and nice touch - worth the trip alone.

The burger appeared to be your standard 1/4-pound patty. It sat on a white, ungrilled bun. The whole team accompanied the burger - lettuce, tomato, bacon, American cheese, mustard, onion and pickle. It was surprisingly good for a chain burger. What a Whopper probably tasted like before microwave ovens.

The fries were thin and crisp and salty, sort of like McDonald’s. At least the closest I have tasted. I mean that as a compliment.

Burger 3 spatulas out of 5
Fries 4 spatulas

Whataburger
Multiple Locations
El Paso, Texas
http://www.whataburger.com/

Rosco's Burger Inn - El Paso, TX

Rosco's Burger Inn in El Paso, Texas is a delightful and friendly throwback of a place. I travelled here after a couple of days of work in Juarez. Rosco's has a great location on a Y of a street. The checkerboard sign beckons to burger lovers. I parked my puny borrowed Tahoe among the really big SUVs in the lot. Stepping inside, I felt instantly welcome and took a seat at one of the faux-wood laminate tables. The place probably hasn't changed much since it was founded in 1955. It shouldn't.

There are 8 tables and a counter in the front room. The cooks toil behind the counter. There is an extra room on the side with another 6 or so tables. I went to the side room to find the bathroom, but saw two doors marked "Not A Bathroom". I was directed outside, as it should be, to a sparkling clean room smelling of chlorine.


I ordered a double-cheeseburger with everything, fries and onion rings. The double paddy mess was great. Thin hot patties were stacked high with onion, pickle, tomato, mustard and American cheese on a nicely toasted bun. This is your classic burger joint burger that only works when all the ingredients play together. And they play well at Rosco's.

The medium cut fries were, hot salty and tasty. Onion rings were the best of everything crispy, large and breaded crunchy.

I didn't get prices since I wasn't given a menu and I ordered from the waitress' recommendation. I think it all came to about $13 with a drink. I guess I will have to return to complete my review. Not a problem. I can't wait.

Burger 4 spatulas out of 5
Fries 4 spatulas
Onion Rings 4.5 spatulas

Rosco's Burger Inn

3829 Tompkins Rd
El Paso, TX 79930

(915) 564-9028

Frisco Burger Inn - El Paso, TX

Frisco burger Inn, in El Paso, texas, allowed me to combine my two passions, burgers and building houses in Juarez. I decided to search out the best burger in El Paso, while on a recent trip to Juarez. El Paso is right across the border from Juarez, so it was an easy mission. After reading a few on-line blogs, I settled on Frisco Burger Inn.

Me being from the San Francisco Bay Area, where we never say "Frisco", the place had one vote in it's favor right away, just for flying in the face of convention. Located in a strip mall, in a somewhat tired looking suburb, east of town, Frisco burger sported a faded sign with a painting of the Golden Gate Bridge on it. The place was so packed, that the hostess pointed to a chair at a two person table where one chair was already taken. My table partner "Ralph" was friendly and recommended the double-meat cheeseburger ($5.49). I got the basket which includes fries ($6.49). I wanted onion rings ($1.70), but Ralph had gotten the last basket of the day. Despite my hints, he didn't offer me a taste. They were also out of milk-shakes ($1.90) and ($2.49).

The table was black laminate top and it was teamed with red sparkly naugahyde chairs. Ralph and I discussed his favorite restaurants in Juarez and my food quickly came. The fries were medium thick, skinless, hot and crispy (4.5 spatulas out of 5). The burger bun was grilled on the outside, an unusual touch that worked. The beef was cooked medium and the burger was juicy. American cheese works well with this style of thin burger. It really hit the spot. I give it a solid 4 spatulas.

Ralph confirmed this was the best burger in El Paso, and judging by the throng still streamimg in when I left, most El Paso folk must agree.

Burger 4 spatulas out of 5

Fries 4.5 spatulas

Frisco Burger Inn

3111 N. Yarbrough Drive

El Paso, TX 79925

915-591-6737