Burger Bar in San Jose might have been what musician Chuck Berry was thinking about when he gushed on “Back in the USA” about a place where “burgers sizzle on an open grill day and night.”
The restaurant, founded in 1953 by Albert Berger, predates the classic song by six years and was the first of five Burger Bars, followed by 25 Burger Pits. Only this location remains. The last Burger Pit closed on April 23.
“Rumors have been circulating about us,” Burger Bar co-owner Nick Barrita told San José Spotlight. “We have had a lot of people panicking because they were afraid that we would be the ones to close.”
Fortunately, the concern is unfounded. Burger Bar survives and survives on South First Street like an insect trapped in amber, with its classic drive-in exterior, a marquee that says “Burgers 5 for $9.99” and the unmistakable aroma of fried food wafting through the large parking lot. . .
“When my family bought this place 10 years ago, we didn’t know much about it at first,” Barrita said. “But if you stand at the counter, people will tell you how long they’ve been coming and their history with the place.”
The Barrita family was already in the restaurant business before purchasing Burger Bar, having founded La Victoria Taqueria in 1988, which has grown to six locations.
But with Burger Bar, the family quickly realized they were stewards of a beloved institution.
“We have grandparents who came here when they were children and brought their grandchildren,” Barrita said. “We wanted to make sure we kept everything in line with that story.”
A big part of the story is the burger bag, a tradition since the place opened, when the deal was 10 burgers for a dollar. Barrita said that on a good day, they prepare about 80 bags, about 400 burgers. Over 100 bags on a big day.
The burgers are thin (eight patties per pound of meat), but they are the restaurant’s best sellers. They come with mayonnaise and condiments mixed with barbecue sauce, and Barrita said they’ve been served like this for 1 years.
Longtime customer Lorenzo Jamal said he’s been coming to Burger Bar since at least 1996, when he was a kid. He always orders the same thing: a bag of hamburgers and a soft drink.
“The taste sets them apart from other burgers like McDonald’s and I think the price is excellent,” he told San José Spotlight.
Burger Bar offers more conventional burgers, such as the second most popular item: the steak sandwich, which sells in almost the same quantities as the bag of burgers. It’s a quarter-pound burger served on a bun with barbecue sauce. There’s also the quarter-pound deluxe burger, which comes with lettuce, onion, mayonnaise and condiments, and the half-pound colossal burger, with lettuce, red onion, pickles, tomato and cheese.
One change the Barrita family made was to start cooking burgers to order instead of making them in advance. That includes the half fried chicken, which more informed customers order by phone to avoid the 20-minute cooking time, and the fries, which are hand-cut daily and seasoned with a little salt.
While burgers make up the bulk of orders, the menu also includes popcorn shrimp, fish and chips, chicken sandwiches, burritos and amazing chili. For dessert, there are apple empanadas, churros and a variety of smoothies, including a delicious strawberry milkshake.
Burger Bar was serving most of its menu items long before Barrita took over, and doesn’t feel the need to alter what has been a successful formula.
“Anyone who is hungry will find something there that makes them happy,” he told San José Spotlight. «The food is good and always affordable. “You can’t beat him.”
Contact Robert Eliason at [email protected].
Editor’s Note: The Biz Beat is a series highlighting small businesses and local restaurants in Silicon Valley. Do you know of a business that you would like to see featured? Let us know at [email protected].
Burger Bar
Located at 1101 S. First St. in San Jose
(408) 293-0900
Open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
