The “no fries” issue is one that’s addressed on the back of Island Burgers’ menu. Lack of funds initially prevented the existence of a deep fryer, but as time went on and funds increased, there wasn’t even room for a fryer or an expansion. Instead Island Burgers offers Dirty Potato Chips and “Real Big Baked Potatoes”. I haven’t tried either, instead I grabbed some fries from Ted’s Montana Grill, near my office.

The Tijuana burger is a beast.

• The flame grilled burger arrived warm despite delivery from 9th Avenue to 6th Avenue.
• Jack Cheese arrived melty but not spicy. I like to see some jalapenos in my jack cheese.
• Bacon was crisp but portion was lacking. I counted two big strips. I need at least three or four on a burger like this to give the bacon the flavor presence it deserves.
• The guacamole was creamy and fresh. The cilantro didn’t overpower the burger as one might imagine.
• The sauteed onions, which tasted like they’d been sprinkled with Cajun seasoning, weren’t crispy at all and soggied up the top bun almost halfway through. I could do without these if they’re not going to be crispy.

The beef wasn’t very flavorful on its own, but it possessed a nice outer char and it was loosely packed, fatty, and cooked to order.

Conclusion

• Since the burger was so loosely packed, the nice outer char was essential. It was tasty and really held the entire thing together.
• The best method of attack was cutting it in half.
• The bun was fluffy but not airy, it had some well-needed structure which helped absorb the moisture of the onions, guacamole, and burger patty.
• The no fries was an annoyance because I had to coordinate the timing of getting fries from somewhere else and the arrival of my burger delivery. Maybe next time I’ll just try a classic baked potato ($5) with bacon, butter, sour cream, cheddar, and chives.
• I’ve heard good things about their namesake shakes but at $4.75 each, I was hesitant to get it by delivery. If I have the chance to eat at Island Burgers, I’ll definitely check it out.

Island Burgers & Shakes