Cheeseburger(s) In Paradise

So…  This is our new Blog!  People are always telling us that we see the world a little bit differently than everyone else.  And when they ask for our opinions or recommendations, we get a lot of “I never thought of that” responses back.  So we thought it might be fun to start writing down our opinions, observations, and recommendations for things no one has asked us about (yet).

What better way to start than with food.  Everyone loves food!

We recently embarked on a vacation to paradise.  This particular paradise was Oahu.  Ten days of fun in the sun and splashing in the surf can make a person hungry.  Jimmy Buffet sings about a “Cheeseburger In Paradise”, so we decided to go out and see who has the best…

Cheeseburger In Paradise (Waikiki Beach)
http://www.cheeseburgerland.com/Cheeseburgerland/Waikiki_Beach.html

We first tried Cheeseburger at their Las Vegas location several years ago, and tried them again at their Waikiki location in 2007 while on a family vacation.  Since we were already familiar with them, we decided to start here as a known reference sample.  As usual, Laren and Edna did not disappoint!  Their “big gooey, five napkin” burgers are big enough to not need fries to help fill you up.  They are gooey with cheesy goodness without being an overly drippy grease-fest.  Lots of different topping combinations to choose from, but even their simplest “Cheeseburger In Paradise” for $8.95 makes a perfect meal.

Jimmy Buffet’s at the Beachcomber
http://www.jimmybuffettsatthebeachcomber.com/

Jimmy was responsible for creating the words Cheeseburger In Paradise and in 1997 he sued Laren and Edna claiming they illegally used the title of his 1978 hit song.  After a four-year legal battle, a settlement was reached allowing Laren and Edna to continue using the name at two of their Hawaii locations.
In 1985 Jimmy got into the restaurant business, and it seems he definitely knows how to make a cheeseburger!  We tried the Beachcomber Double Cheeseburger and the Lahaina Burger.  Both very much better than your average run-of-the-mill burger, but seemed a bit on the greasy side.  Served with fries to help fill out the plate.  Great atmosphere for a burger-and-a-beer, with a nice second-story view over the Kalakaua strip in Waikiki.

Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
http://teddysbiggerburgers.com/

Teddy’s was recommended to us by a Segway of Hawaii tour guide.  We have heard many times that it’s always best to trust the locals when you want to find good food in an unfamiliar neighbourhood.
Teddy’s has a spot right on the Waikiki strip, but we were day-tripping around the island that day and decided to stop in at their Kailua location.  “Bigger Burgers” is not just a slogan…  their 9oz “Biggest” burger is pretty huge, and you can “Monster Double” it if that’s not enough!  Lots of great toppings, including some pre-configured specialty combos.  We tried the Hawaiian Style (teri & grilled pineapple) and the Kailua Style (teri, mushroom, swiss, & grilled onions).  Super tasty, but very messy.  A couple of points off for including a big hunk of onion skin in with the grilled onions.  A few more points off for not having a restroom or running water to wash hands at this location.  A staff member came around every once in a while with a basket of those little pre-packaged moist towellettes, but that just didn’t cut it.

Overall, we would have to say that Cheeseburger In Paradise (Waikiki Beach) is still our favorite!  Teddy’s tasted good, but was almost too messy to eat, and had other demerits to our overall experience there.  Jimmy has the words, the attitude, and the atmosphere - he just doesn’t have the best burger.  Cheeseburger In Paradise may have borrowed the words, but their burgers are by far the most satisfying complete experience.

That’s how we see it!
Lorne & Shari