The Thunder Roadhouse
Nick’s Famous Coney Island’s Burger Week burger is the brainchild of Silas Mason, a cook who moved from Tennessee to pursue a career in Portland’s pro wrestling scene. I feel confident in saying that if Mason is half as good with a suplex as he is with a grill, his opponents stand on the precipice of total oblivion. The Thunder Roadhouse (named "thunder" for wrestling and "roadhouse" for the movie Road House, co-owner Carrie Hogrefe tells me) is built on a foundation of locally sourced ground chuck that’s stuffed with the dynamic duo of bacon and onions, then piled imperiously high with grilled jalapeños, cream cheese, house-made barbecue sauce, and some of the crispiest beer-battered onion rings I've had the privilege of encountering mid-bite. There's a lot going on in this burger, but Mason's culinary instincts are on point: The main event here are the jalapeños, which are cut audaciously chunky, but nestled in a bed of cream cheese, their heat is potent without being overwhelming. Meanwhile, the barbecue sauce pairs well with the onion rings, making this a burger that nails the fundamentals while also having some fun along the way. BEN COLEMAN
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!
Back to Burger List
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!
Back to Burger List