Bar Bar is a no-brainer for Burger Week: 52 weeks a year, it’s a go-to spot for burgers in the bustling (or, more accurately, bursting) neighborhood around N Mississippi. The walk-up window on the patio entices passersby, and with a burger special changing monthly, the audiences attending shows at the attached Mississippi Studios know there’ll always be something fresh on the menu. For Burger Week, the kitchen crew could have simply repeated one of those burgers-of-the-month—but in the spirit of Burger Week, they went with something new. The Hat Trick boasts green chiles, caramelized onions, and pickled jalapeños, with pepper jack cheese and a sriracha aioli, all held together in one of Bar Bar’s admirable potato buns. Unlike some potato buns, these (from Alessio) are dense enough to hold up to the steam of a foil wrapper and spongy enough to soak up any excess aioli. And if you’re worried the Hat Trick might be too spicy, don’t be: It’s sort of the Paul Rudd of burgers—noticeably but not offensively hot. And, like I assume the affable Paul Rudd would be, it’s vegetarian friendly, and, in fact, seems tailor-made for Bar Bar’s house black bean patty. THOMAS ROSS

The Portland Mercury’s Burger Week—AKA the best week of your life—runs from Aug 8-13. Feast on amazing $5 burgers at 35 restaurants… and while you’re at it, we challenge you to donate $5 to Oregon Food Bank for every burger you eat!

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