..but ask for the steak fries if you, like Jimmy Buffet, need some French fried potatoes.”
For those of you who are not familiar with the song by Jimmy Buffet, let me help you get up to speed…”I like mine with lettuce and tomato, Heinz 57 and French fried potatoes, a big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer.” Universally, cheeseburgers should be served with all of the above, and there some places here in Zihuatanejo that do it right, complete with all the fixings. So if you are on vacation and are really craving a good burger or if you live here and need to get your fix….READ ON!
It was hard to pick a winner, so here are the top five, in no particular order….
La Sirena Gorda (Located at the end of the Fisherman’s Walk) serves a very juicy burger, cooked just the way you like it, with a slab of melted cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato and homemade french fries. Although there is no Heinz 57, there is plenty of ketchup and mustard. You might think why a place known for its excellent fish tacos have burgers, but they do and trust me, they are good!
JJ’s Grill* (Located on Vicente Guerrero, one block behind the Municipal Beach) famous for its American food should have a damn good burger, and guess what? They do. Served with bacon, lettuce and tomato, it has excellent char-grilled flavor and there is A-1 Steak Sauce (no Heinz 57, same idea) available for those of you who like to add a little spice to your meat. Comes with fries, but ask (special order, off the menu) for the steak fries if you, like Jimmy Buffet, need some French fried potatoes
Casa Bahia* (located on the road to Puerto Mio) has some very good food, overall. The spot has one of the best views of Zihuatanejo Bay. All this aside, Walt and Will have put cheeseburgers on the menu knowing full well that people need a good cheeseburger now and then. Their burger comes out cooked to perfection and has a yummy taste, Will says the secret is simplicity, and white pepper. The fries are pretty good too. They have Heinz 57. (Editor’s note: JJs Grill and Casa Bahia, are no longer open)
Puerto Mio (the hotel, located just above the port) offers up a DEE-licious burger, with cheddar cheese and all the fixings. No Heinz 57 or A-1, but you do get a wonderful side salad and some very very good home cooked fries. Why does a hotel have such a good burger; well the secret is the meat, and rumor has it, theirs is Texas Beef, say no more.
And last but not least, the hamburger stand on the corner of Vicente Guerrero and Nicolas Bravo, in front of the pharmacy, conveniently located across from the local beer-to-go stand. If you are tempted, he serves them up with two kinds of cheese, avocados, jalapeños and pico de gallo. I highly recommend this burger after a night on the town; they hit the spot.
You might have noticed that none of our favorite places have big kosher dills. Nobody has good dill pickles. We are waiting patiently for big crisp pickles to show up on our plates. No burger is truly complete without it. And, if Jimmy Buffet makes it down our way, he will say the same.
-March 2000
