Photo courtesy Pasadena Chamber of Commerce via Facebook
With almost 1300 local eaters and voters weighing in, Dog Haus/Dog Haus Biergarten took the overall best Cheeseburger category in the 2024 Cheeseburger Challenge sponsored by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, biting off 29% of the vote, followed by The Stand at 23%, and in a surprising result, Clearman’s Galley/Clearman’s Northwoods Inn came in at third place with 16% of the vote.
According to the Chamber, not everyone voted in each category and, in some categories, there were fewer entries.
“Cheeseburger Week is always great fun,” said Pasadena Chamber President and CEO Paul Little. “I enjoyed burgers from Lucky Baldwin’s, Dog Haus, New York Chicken and Gyros, Clearman’s Galley, El Portal, The Stand and the Royce at the Langham Huntington Hotel.
Added Little, “It may not have been great for my waistline, but my taste buds were delighted.”
The 2024 Challenge also added a “Favorite Burger Created Specially for Cheeseburger Week,” with additional categories not limited to burgers, such as “Favorite Alternative to a Burger” and “Favorite Burrito.”
“Our goal,” said Little, “was to involve as many restaurants as possible and introduce new customers to their offerings.”
Pasadena’s annual celebration of Lionel Sternberger’s 1924 “accidental” creation ran January 21 to January 27, as diners enjoyed food created especially for the event, took advantage of deals, followed cheeseburger crawls and eventually cast their votes in the 2024 Cheeseburger Challenge.
Categories ranged from “Favorite Burger” to “Favorite Dessert after a Burger”.
This year, the Pasadena Chamber introduced a Cheeseburger Passport for more ambitious diners, with prizes awarded to those visiting at least four participating restaurants.
Here are the complete Cheeseburger Challenge results:
The Favorite Burger Created for Cheeseburger Week was Twohey’s with 33% of the vote, followed by Lucky Baldwin’s at 31% of the vote, while El Portal/Yahaira’s and The Royce Wood Fired Steakhouse at the Langham, tied at 12%
Pie ‘n Burger took the “Favorite Lunch Counter Burger” category, followed by Brookside Golf Club, and Cindy’s Diner/Fox’s Restaurant tied for third place.
The Stand won “Favorite Traditional/Throwback Cheeseburger,” followed by Dog Haus/Dog Haus Biergarten, and then In ‘n Out.
Dog Haus/Dog Haus Biergarten also took the “Favorite Sliders”category, followed by Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, with Lucky Baldwin’s and Twohey’s tying for third place.
As part of its runaway victory, Dog Haus/Dog Haus Biergarten also won in the “Favorite Gourmet Burger” category, followed by The Stand and a tie between Craft by SMoke and Fire and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar.
The “Favorite Alternative Burger” was Chick-fil-A, with Pasadena Sandwich Company in second place, followed by Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles.
The Favorite Bar Burger DogHaus Biergarten also took the “Favorite Bar Burger” category, followed by Clearman’s Galley and a tie between Granville and Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
Other winners included:
Favorite Turkey Burger:
- Clearman’s Galley
- Urth Café
- Barney’s Beanery
Favorite White Table Cloth Burger:
- Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
- The Raymond 1886
- The Royce Wood Fired Steakhouse at the Langham
Favorite Veggie/Vegan Burger:
- The Stand
- True Food Kitchen
- Tie: Sage Plant Based Bistro/Twohey’s
Favorite Burrito
- El Cholo
- El Portal
- Burrito Express
Favorite Dessert After a Burger:
- Pie ‘n Burger
- Twohey’s
- The Great Maple
According to Little, every participating restaurant was entered in the Favorite Cheeseburger category and restaurants could then enter themselves in as many as three additional categories in the Challenge.
“We really appreciate all the restaurants that took part, especially those that had special offerings or pricing,” Little said. “Participating restaurants reported an uptick in burger business throughout the week.”
