If hamburgers are an attraction, then Slater’s 50/50 is a circus and a carnival and a ride, all in one. It’s a training exercise in excess, and a FastPass to burger (and cheeseburger) nirvana.
A quick perusal of the menu will tell you all you need to know about their creations, from basic to insane. The original 50/50 has the signature beef and bacon blend patty, some pepper jack cheese, some avocado, a sunny-side up egg and some chipotle mayo on a brioche bun. That’s the basic cheeseburger here.
But if that’s not enough and you’re really hungry, how about the Pasadena farmhouse burger? It’s over 1 pound of meat, including an Angus beef patty, a signature, 50-50 patty, some fried chicken, topped with pepper, jack and American cheese, Nashville, slaw, a handful of pickled red onions, some sautéed mushrooms, and a drizzle of Tapatio ranch sauce.
I know, right? And yes, it gets crazier.
There is a 24K burger, which is 1/2 pound of Wagyu beef, 24 karat gold-dusted brioche bun, 24 karat gold-dusted billionaire bacon, some bacon jam, some arugula, some truffle cheese, and garlic aïoli. That’s gold, Jerry, gold.
Perhaps you brought some friends with you to enjoy the mystery and magic of Cheeseburger Week. May we suggest the King’s Luau burger?
It’s four King’s Hawaiian rolls, sliced spam, pineapple, of course, a sunny side up egg, to American cheese, some coleslaw (!), a third of a pound of the signature 50-50 beef and bacon blended patty and it’s all served with about 1,000 french fries. That’s what I’m talking about, people.
We were far more civil during our visit. We went with the bacon chili crunch. That’s Angus beef topped with melted cheddar, cheese, slaters bacon, chili, and a crunchy layer of potato chips on a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato and red onions. We skipped the onions. And we were very happy.
We split both burgers, and the second burger was the Lone Star Smoke. This is an Angus beef burger, topped with smoked bacon, some cheddar cheese, some crispy, onion, rings, some pickles, some smoky barbecue sauce, and garlic aïoli on a brioche bun. We skipped the fries this time and went with the salad. That’s on us.
We’ve only barely highlighted the insane menu at Slaters. If you choose to spend a Cheeseburger Week here, you will never ever ever go hungry, maybe ever again maybe.
We might just be back soon, though, because we didn’t try the PB and Jellousy — Angus beef, thick cut bacon, peanut butter and strawberry jelly (!) on a honey wheat bun, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
It’s a carnival, remember?
Slaters’ 50/50 is at 61 North Raymond Avenue, Pasadena. (626) 765-9600. www.Slaters5050.com.
