The story of the hamburger goes something like this. 18th century sailors stationed overseas became partial to a German concoction of minced beef and breadcrumbs dubbed the “Hamburg steak.” At the end of the war one enterprising young man began marketing a version of the German style steak in the streets of New York City. In order to make the dish more portable for the bustling lunch crowd he came up with the idea of placing the beef patty on a bun and the modern hamburger was born.

Today you will find a variety of hamburger choices on almost every restaurant menu. From bacon to Brie it seems that nothing is considered too extreme for a hamburger. Everyone has a favorite topping and a favorite hamburger joint. In fact one episode of the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother was based entirely on the quest for a perfect hamburger.

Residents of St. Paul know the best hamburgers can be found at the Nook on Hamline Avenue. The Nook has been known for great burgers since 1938 and from Mickey’s Original burger to the Nookie Supreme you won’t find a more delectable Hamburg steak on a bun anywhere in the world.