There are easier ways to price a burger. You could round up to $18. You could call it a special and leave it at that. But Tanya Christos, who runs Twohey’s in South Pasadena with her family, had a better idea.
“I went to our chef and said, I want to develop a special burger just for the 250th celebration — and I want to sell it for $17.76.”
Thus was born the $17.76 Burger, a monument to both American history and the kind of irrational generosity that makes a neighborhood restaurant a neighborhood institution. The base is Twohey’s own All American — a half-pound Angus patty with lettuce, tomato, and onion — but the kitchen went considerably further in the name of patriotism: barbecue pulled pork, apple coleslaw, smoked bacon, barbecue sauce, and a brioche bun to hold the whole glorious enterprise together. It comes with fries. Christos estimates the actual market value at somewhere around $25 or $26.
She is selling it for $17.76.
The burger was also Twohey’s entry in SoCal Burger Week — the first time the storied restaurant has competed in the annual bracket-style event, which pits local burger destinations against one another for regional bragging rights. Organizers, Christos notes, typically focus on standalone burger stands, but made an exception once they learned that Twohey’s got its start as exactly that.
The $17.76 Burger runs through Sunday. The broader July 4th menu — which adds beef ribs and twin lobster rolls — continues through the end of the month.
As for whether the price survives beyond July? Christos was thoughtful. “It won’t be $17.76,” she said, “but it’ll be the celebration burger.” America, apparently, has earned a permanent place on the menu.
You can devour it slowly this weekend and then vote for it at SoCalBurgerWeek.com. Like we did.
Twohey’s is at 1224 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena.
