When it comes to cheeseburgers, Dog Haus doesn’t mess around. And for Pasadena Cheeseburger Week, Wurstmeister Adam Gertler is more than happy to explain why the brand’s signature sliders and burgers stand out in a crowded field.
“This location, the Old Town location, is my favorite Dog Haus,” Gertler said Thursday at the Pasadena outpost. “We have over 60 Dog Hauses, and they all have a great look and feel to them. But this one, none of that had really been figured out yet. So it really feels like a local place.”
The Old Pasadena location was the second Dog Haus ever opened, following the Hill Avenue original. It was also the first to introduce a full bar, setting the stage for the brand’s signature pairing of craft beers with their indulgent hot dogs and burgers.
But the real star of Dog Haus’ cheeseburger lineup? King’s Hawaiian Bread.
“It is kind of the secret weapon,” Gertler said. “Especially when you toast that bread—it gets that great crispy sheen because of that little bit of sugar in the bread. That sweetness, when it caramelizes, gives you a crunch, but then you get this pillowy softness. Then you meet the really savory meat, the cheese, and all that, and it just makes an explosion in your mouth.”
Now, King’s Hawaiian is a common sight in grocery stores nationwide, but when Dog Haus debuted in 2010, it was still something of a novelty. “I feel like our reputation has grown as King’s Hawaiian has grown,” Gertler said. “Now, a lot of people make sandwiches on Hawaiian bread, but when Dog Haus started over 10 years ago, it was not super common.”
For Pasadena Cheeseburger Week, the Dog Haus lineup includes its classic cheeseburger and a slider that Gertler describes as “just a flavor bomb.”
“The slider is great because it’s just meat, cheese, mayo, caramelized onion,” he said. “Simple, but so much flavor.”
The full-sized cheeseburger, meanwhile, is Dog Haus’ take on the drive-thru classic, complete with their house-made burger sauce. “You’ll recognize it as that kind of secret sauce,” Gertler said with a grin. “Everybody calls it a secret sauce. Everybody’s got the same secret. It’s the worst-kept secret.”
One unique touch? Dog Haus uses white American cheese, sometimes called Swiss American. While many burger joints offer cheddar or pepper jack, Gertler insists that American cheese is the true king of the cheeseburger.
“There was a period in the ’90s and maybe even early 2000s where people were more into cheddar and pepper jack,” he said. “But at the end of the day, a burger needs the melt of American cheese. It stays melted. Even after a few minutes, it still eats melty. Cheddar cheese will congeal a little bit quicker. So even though it tastes great, it doesn’t have that melting quality.”
With Pasadena Cheeseburger Week heading toward its weekend conclusion, Dog Haus is hoping to “run the table” as it did last year, winning several Cheeseburger Week Awards.
And as the brand celebrates its upcoming 15-year anniversary in April, it’s clear their formula—King’s Hawaiian buns, simple, quality ingredients, and a fun place to hang—is still working like a charm.
