This North Carolina burger joint ranks among the nation’s best. Why fans crave it

A North Carolina restaurant ranks as a top burger joint — again.

Nick’s Old Fashion Hamburger House in Lexington bolstered its fan-favorite status when it ranked No. 17 on a list of the nation’s “20 best places to grab a cheeseburger,” according to the review website Yelp.

To create the list, published Sept. 9, Yelp said it studied burger joints across the country. Then, it “ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews” left over time from Elites, who are regular users of the platform.

Why do fans crave the NC burger joint?

Nick’s was the only restaurant in North Carolina to earn a spot on the national list. The restaurant launched in 2010 in Lexington, a roughly 20-mile drive south from Winston-Salem.

While the area is known for a style of barbecue , Nick’s has fans praising its cheeseburgers. On Yelp , users said they couldn’t get enough of patties loaded with cheese and quality ingredients.

“There are a few different burgers on the menu, but Elites rave about ‘The Noah,’” Yelp wrote in its report. “This burger features pimento cheese, bacon, jalapeño, barbecue sauce, mayo, and onions.”

For those feeling ambitious, there’s the “intimidator,” a cheeseburger stacked with five patties. The menu also includes chili dogs, fries and other favorites, helping the restaurant garner 4.6 out of five stars on Yelp.

Nick’s earned a spot on the recent list after making its mark last year. In September 2023, Yelp used similar criteria to name the restaurant the No. 1 place to eat a burger in North Carolina, McClatchy News reported.

On the latest list, the nation’s top-ranked burger joint was Shige’s Saimin Stand in Wahiawa, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

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